EXPRESS: Spotlight Personnel: How Hiring and Turnover Drive Service Performance versus Demand

In many sectors of the entertainment industry a few employees are in the public spotlight when performing the key service. For example, in professional team sports a team of players competes in games and in TV shows a cast of artists acts in different episodes. These employees, coined spotlight personnel, are an essential but expensive element of ongoing service delivery. Despite their importance and cost, very little is known about how changes in spotlight personnel affect service performance and demand. To address this gap, this paper uses unique data on professional German soccer teams tracking the quantity (number of players) and quality (average transfer price) of spotlight personnel hiring (incoming transfers) and turnover (outgoing transfers), objective service performance (winning percentage) and demand (ticket sales) across four decades, utilizing both traditional and novel time series methods. The results show that service performance and demand are primarily affected by spotlight personnel hiring rather than turnover. Hiring quantity decreases service performance yet increases demand whereas hiring quality benefits both service performance and demand. The analysis further uncovers that these effects are subject to dynamic interactions and nonlinearities. Investment scenarios showcase how understanding these effects can substantially improve managerial decision making.

COVID-19 Pandemic Impacts on the Mental Health of Professional Soccer: Comparison of Anxiety Between Genders

This study verifies associated factors with trait and state anxiety in professional soccer teams during the COVID-19 pandemic. The sample was composed of 315 athletes, coaches, and physical trainers of professional soccer teams during the COVID-19 pandemic. From this amount, 214 were classified with trait anxiety, and 315 were classified with state anxiety using the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI). This study is an epidemiological and cross-sectional study. We applied an observational method, and we performed a remote measurement. The measurement was made via online questionnaires in male and female individuals working on soccer teams (soccer professionals or athletes) who could be affected by anxiety during social isolation in the COVID-19 pandemic. Each questionnaire was composed of sociodemographic questions, self-perceived performance, and STAI. The main results indicated a significant difference between female vs. male soccer professionals in state anxiety (54.97 ± 9.43 vs. 57.65 ± 9.48 index) and trait anxiety (54.21 ± 5.74 vs. 55.76 ± 6.41 index) with higher results in men. Sociodemographic variables impacted significant differences between female and male athletes and professionals of soccer clubs, and anxiety during the pandemic COVID-19 period impacted self-perceived performance analysis. The present results highlight the importance of cognitive behavior therapy for professional soccer teams.

Is the Integration of Additional Eccentric, Balance and Core Muscles Exercises into a Typical Soccer Program Effective in Improving Strength and Postural Stability?

Soccer teams integrate specific exercises into their typical workout programs for injury prevention. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether the incorporation of a brief and supplementary training program that involves eccentric, balance, and core exercises into the weekly soccer schedule can cause positive neuromuscular adaptations. Twenty-one soccer players were randomly allocated to either a training (n = 11) or a control group (n = 10). All players followed their teams’ typical program, consisting of 4–5 soccer-specific sessions plus 1 match, weekly. Training group players additionally performed biweekly, hamstring eccentric, balance, and core stability exercises for 8 weeks. Isokinetic concentric and eccentric peak torque (PT) of the hamstrings and quadriceps, changes in the center of pressure (COP) during a 30 s single-leg stance, and a supine bridge (trunk stability) test were assessed before and after the intervention. After the intervention, a 27% increase in hamstring concentric PT and a 33% reduction in COP sway in the stance test, were observed for the training group only (p < 0.05). These improvements were significant only for the non-dominant leg. Furthermore, the control group displayed an increase in COP sway during the bridge test compared to baseline values (p < 0.05), which reflects a deterioration in postural balance over time. Consequently, incorporating small doses of hamstring eccentric, proprioception, and core stability exercises into a typical training program of youth soccer players improves strength and postural balance in the non-dominant leg, as well as core muscle performance.

Fluctuations of Training Load Variables in Elite Soccer Players U-14 throughout the Competition Season

Excessive daily training load (TL) can affect the musculoskeletal system health of youth elite soccer players. The purposes of this study were (i) to describe the TL and session rating of perceived exertion (s-RPE) throughout the competition season; (ii) to analyze the weekly (w) differences of acute (daily) workload (wAWL), chronic workload (wCWL), acute–chronic workload ratio, training monotony (wTM), and training strain (wTS) among three periods over the season (early-, mid-, and end-season) by playing position; and (iii) to compare the TL variables during competition periods for the whole team. Twenty young elite soccer players in the under-14 category participated in this study. The game positions were considered as six wide defenders and wide midfielders (WM), five central defenders and central midfielders, and four strikers (ST). Daily monitoring was continued for 26 weeks during a full competition season. According to the league schedule, the season was divided into three periods: early-season from w1 to w8, mid-season from w9 to w17, and end-season from w18 to w26. The main results were that the higher TLs were detected in the early- and mid-season. There was a wAWL and wCWL decrease for all playing positions from early- to mid- and end-season, but the wCWL change was significant only from early- to mid-season (p ≤ 0.05). For all playing positions but ST, there was a considerable wTM increase from early- to mid-season. When compared with all other playing positions in terms of wAWL and wCWL, WM showed significantly greater values (p ≤ 0.05). Throughout the season periods, all workload indicators showed a considerable reduction, although there was a significant increase in the three other workload-derived variables (all with p ≤ 0.05) and namely: (i) wACWLR from mid- to end-season; (ii) wTM from early- to mid- and end-season; and (iii) wTS from early- to mid-season. Daily training load and s-RPE had significant fluctuations during all macrocycles of the competition season (p ≤ 0.05). In addition, in the mid-season, wTM and wTS were higher. Training load monitoring (in terms of, e.g., wAWL, wCWL, and s-RPE) could be the key for coaches of soccer teams to prevent overtraining and injury, especially in U-14 players, who are more susceptible to being affected by high workload.

Running Performance of High-Level Soccer Player Positions Induces Significant Muscle Damage and Fatigue Up to 24 h Postgame

This study aimed to determine the impact of a soccer game on the creatine kinase (Ck) response and recovery and the specific Global Positioning System (GPS)-accelerometry-derived performance analysis during matches and comparing playing positions. A sample composed of 118 observations of 24 professional soccer teams of the Brazil League Serie A was recruited and classified according to playing positions, i.e., Left/Right Defenders (D = 30, age: 25.2 ± 5.8 years, height: 187 ± 5.5 cm, weight: 80 ± 5.8 kg), Offensive Midfielders (OM = 44, age: 25.1 ± 0.2 years, height: 177 ± 0.3 cm, weight: 73 ± 1.2 kg), Forwards (F = 9, age: 25.1 ± 0.2 years, height: 176.9 ± 4.3 cm, weight: 74.5 ± 2.1 kg), Left/Right Wingers (M = 23, age: 24.5 ± 0.5 years, height: 175 ± 1.1 cm, weight: 74 ± 4.4 kg), and Strikers (S = 12, age: 28 ± 0.2 years, height: 184 ± 1.0 cm, weight: 80 ± 1.4 kg). Blood Ck concentration was measured pre-, immediately post-, and 24 h postgame, and the GPS-accelerometry parameters were assessed during games. Findings demonstrated that Ck concentrations were higher at all postgame moments when compared with pregame, with incomplete recovery markers being identified up to 24 h after the game (range: 402–835 U/L). Moreover, Midfielders (108.6 ± 5.6 m/min) and Forwards (109.1 ± 8.3 m/min) had a higher relative distance vs. other positions (100.9 ± 10.1 m/min). Strikers [8.2 (8.1, 9.05) load/min] and Defenders [8.45 (8, 8.8) load/min] demonstrated lower load/min than Wingers [9.5 (9.2, 9.8) load/min], Midfielders [10.6 (9.9, 11.67) load/min], and Forwards [11 (10.65, 11, 15) load/min]. These results could be used to adopt specific training programs and recovery strategies after match according to the playing positions.

Technical staff structure, planning methods, methodological practices and load management in soccer (Estructura de los cuerpos técnicos, métodos de planificación, prácticas metodológicas y gestión de la carga en fútbol)

Soccer performance depends on several interrelated factors regarding technical, tactical, physical and psychological areas. Over the last decades there was an increase in match congestion. The increased match frequency and the associated injury risk have highlighted the importance of physical condition, increasing the need to implement new training methodologies with a special focus on load and fatigue management, as well as non-specific complementary training. The main objective of this study was to provide information on the structure and characteristics of the technical staffs, the methodological training practices, as well as the workload and fatigue control methods used in soccer, examining possible differences based on gender, category and competitive level. 190 soccer teams from 20 different countries participated in the study, by answering a survey. The results reveal that there are differences in the structure of the technical staff, the planning models, the methodology and the workload control depending on the category and the competitive level. Gender only appears as a discriminating variable, in relation to the most used complementary training contents. The weekly microcycle is the preferred planning model (80.89%), regardless the competitive level. However, in lower categories, medium and long term periodization are also used (23.80%). The weekly volume of complementary training increases as category (p=0.000) and competitive level (p=0.000) does. Strength training is the most used non-specific content (84.89%). However, its importance is reduced in lower categories (38.5%). Load and fatigue control are only extended among teams of superior category (p=0.000) and competitive level (p=0.000). Resumen. El rendimiento en fútbol depende de varios factores interrelacionados entre los que encontramos las áreas técnica, táctica, física y psicológica. Durante las últimas décadas ha existido un aumento en la congestión de partidos. La mayor frecuencia de partidos y el riesgo de lesión asociado han puesto de manifiesto la importancia de la condición física, aumentando la necesidad de implementar nuevas metodologías de entrenamiento con especial énfasis en el manejo de la carga y la fatiga, así como entrenamientos complementarios. El objetivo principal de este estudio fue brindar información sobre la estructura y características de los cuerpos técnicos y las prácticas metodológicas de entrenamiento, así como los métodos de control de la carga de trabajo y la fatiga utilizados en el fútbol, ​​examinando posibles diferencias por género, categoría y nivel competitivo. 190 equipos de fútbol de 20 países diferentes participaron en el estudio, respondiendo a una encuesta. Los resultados revelan que existen diferencias en la estructura de los cuerpos técnicos, los modelos de planificación, la metodología y el control de la carga de entrenamientos y partidos según la categoría y el nivel competitivo. El género solo aparece como variable discriminante en relación con los contenidos complementarios de entrenamiento más utilizados. El microciclo semanal es el modelo de planificación preferido (80.89%), independientemente del nivel competitivo. Sin embargo, en categorías inferiores también se utiliza la periodización a medio y largo plazo (23.80%). El volumen semanal de entrenamiento complementario aumenta a medida que lo hace la categoría (p<.001) y el nivel competitivo (p<.001). El entrenamiento de fuerza es el contenido de entrenamiento complementario más utilizado (84.89%). Sin embargo, su importancia se reduce en categorías inferiores (38.5%). El control de la carga y la fatiga solo se extiende entre equipos de categoría y nivel competitivo superior (p<.001).

KULTURNO I EKONOMSKO POVEZIVANJE ALBANIJE I KOSOVA I METOHIJE 1967–1971.

Major changes in the position of Kosovo and Metohija’s autonomy in the late 1960s affected the province’s relations with Albania. In 1967, the Yugoslav State Secretariat of Foreign Affairs and the Yugoslav Federal Executive Council began to encourage cultural and economic ties between Kosovo and Metohija and Albania, justifying this as a strategy for the normalization of relations between Yugoslavia and Albania. Following the joint commemorations of the anniversary of Skanderbeg’s death in Priština and Tirana, an agreement was reached on the use of textbooks from Albania in the Kosovo and Metohija school system. The two sides organized mutual visits of folklore and art groups, as well as friendly matches of soccer teams. Kosovo companies were allowed small border traffic with Albania without any prior interstate agreements between Belgrade and Tirana. Constitutional changes in Serbia in 1969 enabled the expansion of economic and cultural cooperation between Kosovo and Albania. The University of Priština and the University of Tirana signed an agreement to hire professors from Tirana as lecturers at Priština faculties. In 1971, scientists from Tirana participated in the work of the Kosovo Archives, the Provincial Library, and the Priština Museum, while 41 Albanian professors gave lectures at the University of Priština. Reports by Albanian lecturers from Kosovo enabled the Albanian state leadership to be acquainted in detail with the political situation in Yugoslavia.