Team Regulatory Strategies and Performance in Elite Handball.

Purposes: The purposes of this research were: 1) in a preliminary study, to identify regulatory strategies used by players and coaches according to situation reward structure (Gains vs. Losses); and 2) in the main study, to analyze the effect of the interaction between situation reward structure (Gains vs. Losses) and regulatory strategy (Prevention vs. Promotion) on team performance (scoring a goal) in real-world settings. Methods and Results: In the preliminary study, 25 adult male handball players and 19 coaches playing and coaching at national level in the French championships completed a version of the Regulatory Focus Strategies Scales after reading four handball game scenarios (two gain-oriented and two loss-avoidance oriented). Two-way ANOVA with repeated measures revealed that when the reward structure was gain-oriented, participants had higher scores in promotion regulatory strategy than in prevention regulatory strategy, and conversely. For the main study, a sample of 199 game phases was selected from 84 games played in the Lidl Star League (2017-2018 season). Mixed method analysis revealed a significant team regulatory fit effect, that is an interaction effect between reward structure and regulatory focus strategy on team performance. When there was a fit, both in loss-avoidance oriented and gain-oriented reward structure, performance was higher (OR = 1.64 and OR = 0.86, respectively) than when there was a mismatch (OR = 0.59 and OR = 0.27). Conclusion: These results confirm the applicability of the Regulatory Fit Theory in a real-world setting with professional players, and extend grounded social cognition research regulatory fit literature to team level.

Relative age effect among U14 football players in Portugal: do geographical location, team quality and playing position matter?

BACKGROUND: Relative age effect (RAE) has been found to be particularly pronounced between 13 and 15 years of age in male football. However, the extent to which the phenomenon varies within a country demands a more comprehensive approach. PURPOSE: To examine the effects of geographical location (north; centre-north; centre-south; south; islands), team quality (top-ranked; middle-ranked; bottom-ranked) and playing position (goalkeeper; defender; midfielder; forward) on the birthdate distribution (Q1: January-March; Q2: April-June; Q3: July-September; Q4: October-December) of U14 Portuguese players selected for the national inter-association tournament Lopes da Silva. METHODS: A total of 2,693 players (mean age: 14.12 ± 0.38 years), selected by the 22 regional football associations for the last seven editions of the tournament (2013-2019), was included in the sample. RESULTS: Chi-square analysis showed a small-to-medium RAE in the U14 cohort compared to the general Portuguese male population (p < .01). Furthermore, the multinomial logistic regression model revealed that the probabilities of selecting Q1 players (vs. Q4) differed (p < .01) based on geographical location (increases of 76.3% in the north and 87.3% in the centre-north zone compared to the regional teams from islands) and team quality (increase of 94.6% in top-ranked compared to the bottom-ranked teams). The playing position did not affect the magnitude of RAE. CONCLUSION: Our findings confirm that besides being present in U14 Portuguese male football, the magnitude of RAE is influenced by demographic factors. This study also supports the notion that coaching staffs tend to choose players based on attributes associated with chronological age, seeking to achieve short-term competitive outcomes.

Morphological and Fitness Attributes of Young Male Portuguese Basketball Players: Normative Values According to Chronological Age and Years From Peak Height Velocity.

The aims of the present study were: (i) to describe the structural and functional attributes of young male Portuguese basketball players aged 12-16 years and (ii) to generate normative data according to chronological age and years from peak height velocity. A total of 281 male Portuguese young basketball players between the ages of 12 and 16 years were assessed in this study. Chronological age, maturity parameters (maturity offset and predicted age at peak height velocity), morphological (body mass, height, and skinfolds and length), and fitness (sprint, change of direction ability, jump, and upper body strength) attributes were measured. Descriptive statistics were determined for the age and maturity status, and the 10th, 25th, 50th, 75th, and 90th percentiles were chosen as reference values. Descriptive and normative values of the players' morphological and fitness attributes, stratified by age and maturity status, are provided. The normative values of age at peak height velocity (category YAPHV = 0) showed that regional basketball players presented average values (50th percentile) of 169.8 cm for height, 173.3 cm for arm span, 55.6 kg for body mass, 3.34 s for the 20-m speed test, 10.31 s for the T-test, 4.75 m for the 2-kg medicine ball throw, 66.9 kg for the combined right and left handgrip strength, and 30.1 and 35.9 cm for jump height in the countermovement jump (CMJ) and CMJ with arm swing, respectively. In conclusion, these results may be helpful to quantify and control an athlete's performance over time and to adjust strength and conditioning programs to biological demands.

Training Experience and Maturational, Morphological, and Fitness Attributes as Individual Performance Predictors in Male and Female Under-14 Portuguese Elite Basketball Players.

ABSTRACT: Ramos, S, Volossovitch, A, Ferreira, AP, Fragoso, I, and Massuça, LM. Training experience and maturational, morphological, and fitness attributes as individual performance predictors in male and female under-14 Portuguese elite basketball players. J Strength Cond Res 35(7): 2025-2032, 2021-The association of the biological maturation, morphological attributes, and fitness attributes of 13- to 14-year-old players selected to regional basketball teams, which participated in the Portuguese Festival of Youth Basketball, was analyzed in the study. A total of 416 under-14 Portuguese elite basketball players (male, n = 224; female, n = 192) were evaluated in this cross-sectional study. Maturational parameters (maturity offset and predicted age at peak height velocity), morphological attributes (body mass, stature, skinfolds, and lengths), and fitness (sprint, agility, jump, and upper-body strength) attributes were measured. In addition, basketball game performance was assessed using technical statistics (rebounds and point averages) and the performance index rating (PIR). Correlation analyses indicated that male players with better PIR/minute were taller, had a longer hand span, had more free-fat mass, and demonstrated better results in all jumping tests, upper-body strength tests, 20-m speed test, and agility T-test. Female players with better PIR/minute were significantly older, more matured, heavier, taller, and had longer arm and hand span. They also demonstrated better results in jumping tests, medicine ball throw, had greater practice experience, and were subjected to higher training loads. Multiple regression analysis showed that combined stature, handgrip strength, agility, and countermovement jump (with arm swing power) can be considered strong predictors of PIR per time played for male players. The prediction model for female players indicated that maturity offset, practice experience, and agility were the strongest predictors of basketball performance. In conclusion, the results of this study indicate that around puberty, physical fitness attributes of elite basketball players of both sexes are associated with game performance parameters. Two regression models have been estimated to predict the performance of youth basketball players of both genders.

Differences in Maturity, Morphological, and Fitness Attributes Between the Better- and Lower-Ranked Male and Female U-14 Portuguese Elite Regional Basketball Teams.

Ramos, S, Volossovitch, A, Ferreira, AP, Barrigas, C, Fragoso, I, and Massuça, L. Differences in maturity, morphological and fitness attributes between the better- and lower-ranked male and female U-14 Portuguese elite regional basketball teams. J Strength Cond Res 34(3): 878-887, 2020-During a national championship, the anthropometric, physiological, and maturation attributes of 13-14-year-old players of regional selection basketball teams and their association with team's final classification were analyzed. Body parameters (body mass, height, skinfolds, and lengths) were measured and physiological capacities assessed by sprint (20 m), agility, jump, and upper-body strength tests. Chronological age, maturity offset (years from age at peak height velocity; YAPHV), and predicted age at peak height velocity were calculated. In both sexes, no significant differences were found for maturity. Anthropometric and physiological analysis indicated that male players from finalist's teams were significantly faster, were more agile, threw the medicine ball longer, and showed lower percentages of body fat than players from lower-ranked teams. Further, semifinalists were faster than lower-ranked players. In the same sense, female players from semifinalist teams demonstrated to be significantly faster, more agile, and threw the medicine ball longer than female players from lower-ranked teams. In addition, discriminant analysis showed that speed (in boys) and the combination of speed and upper limb strength (in girls) could successfully discriminate players with different performances in a championship. In conclusion, speed and upper limb strength appear to be the physical attributes associated with better team performance in youth basketball. Coaches should be aware of the relationship between the improvement of these physical attributes and the teaching-learning process of the basketball game.

Differences in maturity, morphological and physical attributes between players selected to the primary and secondary teams of a Portuguese Basketball elite academy.

The present study aims (i) to compare the maturational, morphological and fitness attributes of young basketball players of primary and secondary teams of an elite basketball academy, and (ii) to identify the set of morphological and fitness attributes which better discriminate the players from the two teams. A total of 116 male basketball players of an elite basketball academy were divided into primary (team A) and secondary (team B) teams in two age groups (U-14 and U-16). All the players were evaluated during two consecutive seasons and data related to players' practice experience, maturational, morphological and fitness attributes were collected at the beginning of the competition period. The results of the study suggest that: (i) in both age categories, team A players were older, more mature, bigger in size and had greater fitness profiles than team B players; (ii) stature and abdominal resistance were identified as discriminant attributes for youth basketball player performance; (iii) aerobic capacity for U-14 and agility for U-16 were identified as specific discriminant attributes for performance in youth basketball. Coaches are recommended to avoid premature talent identification and provide players with opportunities to progress through the talent pathway, at least until U-16 age category.

Analysis of Scoring Sequences in Matches of the Portuguese Premier League.

The aim of this study was to examine the sequences of the first two goals scored in soccer matches in accordance with a range of different match contexts. Data from 1506 matches played in the Portuguese Premier League during six consecutive competitive seasons (2009-10 to 2014-2015) were analysed using descriptive statistics and the chi-square test in order to verify the association between variables and a Cox regression analysis was used to predict the time the second goal was scored in function of the time of the first goal scored in the match and the scoreline. The results revealed a higher frequency of the second goals being scored in the second half of a match (58%) and in the last 5 min periods of each half. A positive association was found for home teams and score-doubling goals (58%), as well as for away teams and score-equalizing goals (56%). For home and away teams the score-doubling goal of a match was strongly and positively associated with a win outcome for home (93%) and away teams (92%), while the score-equalizing goals were associated with a draw (home and away teams: 44%) and loss outcome (home: 33% and away teams: 32%). Finally, the Cox model showed that if the first goal was scored in the second half of the match, the probability of the second goal being scored was three times higher compared to the first half.

Age-related effects of practice experience on collective behaviours of football players in small-sided games.

The purpose of this study was to examine whether offensive and defensive collective behaviours emerging in six-a-side football games (GK+5 vs. 5+GK) varied according to age-related practice experience of young, male players (U16, U17 and U19yrs). Players' were not instructed to implement specific tactical plans and their movement trajectories (2D analyses) were recorded using 10 GPS units. Four common measures of team dispersion investigated in previous research (surface area, stretch index, length and width of a team) were used to analyse team performance behaviours. After recording these collective variables, we used sample entropy (SampEn) and cross-sample entropy (Cross-SampEn) measures to assess the regularity and synchronization of participant actions in teams. Results demonstrated clear age-related variations in effects on the collective performance measures analysed. In attacking phases, older and more experienced players occupied a greater surface area and displayed higher values of team width and stretch index. In defensive phases, significant differences were observed in team length and stretch index. Cross-SampEn analysis demonstrated a greater synchronization between offensive and defensive surface areas and team width in older age groups (U17 and U19yrs). Data suggest how coaches can manipulate practice task constraints to enhance development of team tactical performance behaviours in developing footballers between 16 and 19yrs of age.

Scoring mode and age-related effects on youth soccer teams' defensive performance during small-sided games.

This study aimed to examine the scoring mode (line goal, double goal or central goal) and age-related effects on the defensive performance of youth soccer players during 4v4 small-sided games (SSGs). Altogether, 16 male players from 2 age groups (U13, n = 8, mean age: 12.61 ± 0.65 years; U15, n = 8, 14.86 ± 0.47 years) were selected as participants. In six independent sessions, participants performed the three SSGs each during 10-min periods. Teams' defensive performance was analysed at every instant ball possession was regained through the variables: ball-recovery type, ball-recovery sector, configuration of play and defence state. Multinomial logistic regression analysis used in this study revealed the following significant main effects of scoring mode and age: (1) line goal (vs. central goal) increased the odds of regaining possession through tackle and in the defensive midfield sector, and decreased the odds of successful interceptions; (2) double goal (vs. central goal) decreased the odds of regaining possession through turnover won and with elongated playing shapes; (3) the probability of regaining possession through interception significantly decreased with age. Moreover, as youth players move forward in age groups, teams tend to structurally evolve from elongated playing shapes to flattened shapes and, at a behavioural level, from defending in depth to more risky flattened configurations. Overall, by manipulating the scoring mode in SSGs, coaches can promote functional and coadaptive behaviours between teams not only in terms of configurations of play, but also on the pitch locations that teams explore to regain possession.

Influência das variáveis contextuais no desempenho das equipes nos últimos 10 minutos do jogo de handebol / The influence of contextual variables on the team's performance in the last 10 minutes of the handball match

O objetivo do presente estudo foi verificar a associação dos diferentes indicadores de desempenho, registados nos últimos 10 minutos do jogo de handebol, com o desfecho da partida em função da qualidade do adversário, local e equilíbrio do jogo. A amostra foi constituída por 1551 processos ofensivos e 1549 processos defensivos registados em 150 períodos de 10 minutos, observados em 75 jogos, realizados por nove equipes da Liga Portuguesa de Handebol de Seniores Masculinos na época de 2008/2009. Para o registro dos dados foi desenvolvido um sistema de observação, composto por oito variáveis de desempenho (relação numérica, fase do jogo, substituições, ações ofensivas, ações defensivas, sanções disciplinares, resultado da posse de bola e resultado do jogo) e três variáveis contextuais (local do jogo, qualidade do adversário e equilíbrio da partida). A análise da relação entre o desempenho, o resultado da partida e as variáveis contextuais foi feita com recurso ao teste do Qui-quadrado e aos modelos log-lineares. Os resultados obtidos sugerem que os indicadores associados ao resultado final são: a eficácia do goleiro, a eficácia de finalização, as substituições defesa-ataque e o número de contra-ataques. O equilíbrio da partida relaciona-se significativamente com o número de substituições, as interrupções do ataque por faltas defensivas, a eficácia de finalização da 1ª linha e os erros ofensivos

The purpose of this study was to verify the association of different performance indicators, registered in the last ten minutes of handball game, with the match outcome according to quality of opposition, game location, and match equilibrium. The sample consisted of 1551 offensive processes and 1549 defensive processes recorded in 150 ten-minute periods from 75 matches played by nine teams from the Portuguese Handball Men League in the 2008/2009 season. The observational system included eight performance variables (numerical relationship, game phase, substitutions, offensive actions, defensive actions, personal punishments, result of ball possession and match outcome) and three contextual variables (game location, quality of opposition and match equilibrium). The relationship between performance and contextual variables has been analyzed using log-linear models and chi-square test.The results suggest that the indicators associated with the match outcome are: the goalkeeper efficacy, the shot efficacy, the defense-attack substitutions and total of fast breaks. The match equilibrium was significantly related to the number of substitutions, defensive fouls, offensive errors and the efficacy of long-distance throws

Effects of Match Location, Match Status and Quality of Opposition on Regaining Possession in UEFA Champions League.

The present study aimed to examine the independent and interactive effects of match location, match status, and quality of opposition on regaining possession, analysed by the type and zone of ball recovery, in matches played in the 2011-2012 UEFA Champions League. Twenty-eight matches of the knockout phase were evaluated post-event using a computerized notational analysis system. Multinomial logistic regression analysis was applied to identify the effects of the previously mentioned situational variables on ball recovery type and zone. Match status and quality of opposition main effects were observed for both dependent variables, while main effects of match location were only evident for ball recovery zone. Additionally, the interactions Match location (*) Quality of opposition and Match status (*) Quality of opposition were significant for both type and zone of ball recovery. Better teams employed more proactive defensive strategies, since, even when winning, they tried to sustain their defensive success on actions that aimed to gain the ball from the opponents. Results emphasized the tendency for home and losing teams to defend in more advanced pitch zones. Better-ranked teams were also more effective than worse-ranked teams in applying defensive pressure in more advanced pitch positions. The findings of the study suggest that the defensive strategies used by better teams imply more intense and organized collective processes in order to recover the ball directly from the opposing team. Furthermore, defending away from own goal and near the opponent's one seems to be associated with success in elite soccer.

Offensive sequences in youth soccer: effects of experience and small-sided games.

The present study aimed to analyze the interaction and main effects of deliberate practice experience and small-sided game format (3 vs. 3 and 6 vs. 6 plus goalkeepers) on the offensive performance of young soccer players. Twenty-eight U-15 male players were divided into 2 groups according to their deliberate practice experience in soccer (i.e., years of experience in federation soccer): Non-Experienced (age: 12.84 ± 0.63 years) and Experienced (age: 12.91 ± 0.59 years; experience: 3.93 ± 1.00 years). The experimental protocol consisted of 3 independent sessions separated by one-week intervals. In each session both groups performed each small-sided game during 10 minutes interspersed with 5 minutes of passive recovery. To characterize the recorded offensive sequences we used the Offensive Sequences Characterization System, which includes performance indicators previous applied in other studies. No interaction effects on the offensive performance were found between both factors. Non-parametric MANOVA revealed that the factor "experience level" had a significant effect (p<0.05) on performance indicators that characterize the development of offensive sequences, especially in 6 vs. 6 + GKs. While experienced players produced longer offensive sequences with greater ball circulation between them, the non-experienced participants performed faster offensive sequences with a predominance of individual actions. Furthermore, significant differences were observed (p<0.05) in the development and finalization of offensive sequences within each group, when comparing small-sided game formats. Evidence supports that small-sided games can serve several purposes as specific means of training. However, the manipulation of game format should always consider the players' individual constraints.