Effects of Adding Vertical or Horizontal Force-Vector Exercises to In-season General Strength Training on Jumping and Sprinting Performance of Youth Football Players.

ABSTRACT: Abade, E, Silva, N, Ferreira, R, Baptista, J, Gonçalves, B, Osório, S, and Viana, JL. Effects of adding vertical or horizontal force-vector exercises to in-season general strength training on jumping and sprinting performance of youth football players. J Strength Cond Res 35(10): 2769-2774, 2021-Football is characterized by short-term high-intensity triaxial activities that require optimized neuromuscular capacity. Thus, training routines must consider the direction of force application, particularly when strength exercises are performed. This study aimed to explore the effects of adding vertical or horizontal force-vector exercises to a 20-week in-season general strength training program on jumping and sprinting performance of youth football players. Twenty-four well-trained male under-17 players participated in this study and were randomly assigned to a control, vertical, or horizontal training group. Control group performed a general strength training program (free weights, eccentric-overload, and body mass exercises) once a week during 20 weeks. Vertical and horizontal groups additionally performed back-half-squat or barbell hip-thrust, respectively. Vertical group improved vertical jump (VJ) (squat jump, likely 4.5; ±4.4% and countermovement jump, likely 4.9; ±4.1%), horizontal jump (HJ) (most likely 7.5; ±2.7%), and sprint (10 m, likely -1.6; ±2.0% and 20 m, very likely -3.3; ±1.6%). The horizontal group showed unclear results in VJ; however, large improvements were observed in HJ (most likely, 13.0; ±4.8%), 10 m and 20 m (very likely -3.0; ±1.8% and most likely -3.8; ±1.0%, respectively). Back-squat and hip-thrust showed an important transference effect to both jumping and sprinting performance. If considering the effects of back-squat on VJ, hip-thrust improved HJ and sprint to a greater extent. This study reinforces the importance of performing both vertical and horizontal force-vector exercises to enhance physical performance during football in-season, even when performed only once a week.

Exploring the Effects of Playing Formations on Tactical Behavior and External Workload During Football Small-Sided Games.

Baptista, J, Travassos, B, Gonçalves, B, Mourão, P, Viana, JL, and Sampaio, J. Exploring the effects of playing formations on tactical behavior and external workload during football small-sided games. J Strength Cond Res 34(7): 2024-2030, 2020-This study aimed to identify the effects of playing formations on tactical behavior and external workload during football small-sided games. Twenty-three semiprofessional footballers integrated 3 different playing formations in a 7-a-side small-sided game, according to their specific player positions: team 4:3:0 (4 defenders and 3 midfielders); team 4:1:2 (4 defenders, 1 midfielder, and 2 forwards); and team 0:4:3 (4 midfielders and 3 forwards). Based on players' movement trajectories, the following individual and collective tactical variables were calculated: total distance covered and distance covered while walking, jogging, running, and sprinting, distance from each player to both own-team centroid and opponent-team centroid, individual area, team length, team width, and surface area. Approximate entropy was computed to identify the regularity of each variable. The team 4:3:0 promoted players' space exploration with moderate physical efforts. The team 4:1:2 promoted compactness and regularity of the team with increase in the physical efforts. The team 0:4:3 promoted team balance and adaptability on space coverage with increase in physical efforts. Concluding, different playing formations support different game dynamics, and variations on external load were directly linked with the variations on tactical behavior. The analysis of tactical behavior through quantification of variability of patterns of play and quantification of distance covered at different velocities were the most useful information for the analysis of the effects of practice task manipulations. Therefore, in a practical sense, strength and conditioning coaches should plan and monitor these tasks in interaction with the head coaches.

Genetic diversity and potential routes of transmission of Mycobacterium bovis in Mozambique.

Bovine tuberculosis is a zoonotic disease with largely unknown impact in Africa, with risk factors such as HIV and direct contact with animals or consumption of Mycobacterium bovis infected animal products. In order to understand and quantify this risk and design intervention strategies, good epidemiological studies are needed. Such studies can include molecular typing of M. bovis isolates. The aim of this study was to apply these tools to provide novel information concerning the distribution of bovine tuberculosis in cattle in Mozambique and thereby provide relevant information to guide policy development and strategies to contain the disease in livestock, and reduce the risk associated with transmission to humans. A collection of 178 M. bovis isolates was obtained from cattle in Mozambique. Using spoligotyping and regions of difference analysis, we classified the isolates into clonal complexes, thus reporting the first characterisation of M. bovis strains in this region. Data from MIRU-VNTR typing was used to compare isolates from a number of African countries, revealing a deeply geographically structured diversity of M. bovis. Eastern Africa appears to show high diversity, suggesting deep evolution in that region. The diversity of M. bovis in Africa does not seem to be a function of recent importation of animals, but is probably maintained within each particular region by constant reinfection from reservoir animals. Understanding the transmission routes of M. bovis in Mozambique and elsewhere is essential in order to focus public health and veterinary resources to contain bovine tuberculosis.

Effects of different re-warm up activities in football players' performance.

Warm up routines are commonly used to optimize football performance and prevent injuries. Yet, official pre-match protocols may require players to passively rest for approximately 10 to 15 minutes between the warm up and the beginning of the match. Therefore, the aim of this study was to explore the effect of different re-warm up activities on the physical performance of football players. Twenty-Two Portuguese elite under-19 football players participated in the study conducted during the competitive season. Different re-warm up protocols were performed 6 minutes after the same standardized warm up in 4 consecutive days in a crossover controlled approach: without, eccentric, plyometric and repeated changes of direction. Vertical jump and Sprint performances were tested immediately after warm up and 12 minutes after warm up. Results showed that repeated changes of direction and plyometrics presented beneficial effects to jump and sprint. Different practical implications may be taken from the eccentric protocol since a vertical jump impairment was observed, suggesting a possibly harmful effect. The absence of re-warm up activities may be detrimental to players' physical performance. However, the inclusion of re-warm up prior to match is a complex issue, since the manipulation of volume, intensity and recovery may positively or negatively affect the subsequent performance. In fact, this exploratory study shows that eccentric exercise may be harmful for physical performance when performed prior a football match. However, plyometric and repeated changes of direction exercises seem to be simple, quick and efficient activities to attenuate losses in vertical jump and sprint capacity after warm up. Coaches should aim to develop individual optimal exercise modes in order to optimize physical performance after re warm activities.