Syfte: Syftet med denna studie är att med hjälp av multivariata parametrar undersöka skillnader i fysisk extern belastning under den mest intensiva perioden (MIP) av match för spelare på ungdomselit och seniornivå samt att identifiera eventuella skillnader mellan positioner och halvlekar.Metod: En kvantitativ retrospektiv studie tillämpades, där spelare från ett seniorlag (SEN)spelandes i högsta divisionen i Sverige samt fotbollsspelare från ett ungdomselitlag (U19)från samma klubb spelades i näst högsta divisionen för åldersgruppen deltog i studien. Fysisk extern belastning mättes med hjälp av Global Positioning System (GPS). MIP analyserades utifrån spelares taktiska utgångsposition och med hjälp av multivariata parametrar. Rullande medelvärden användes för analys av 1-min MIP.Resultat: SEN täckte signifikant längre distans under den mest intensiva 1-mintusperioden av match jämfört med U19 (SEN 140 ± 22,3 m; U19 120 ± 24,1 m, p < 0.001). Vid jämförelse mellan positioner täcker SEN-Lateral längre distanser än U19-Lateral under mest intensiva 1-mintusperioden av MIP-kinematik (135 ± 23.5 m vs 104 ± 40.3 m, p = 0.015).Slutsats: Sammanfattningsvis konfirmerar denna studie en skillnad av den mest intensiva 1-minuters perioden för senior- och ungdomsspelare för MIPk. Studien visar att seniorspelare positionerade lateral på planen täcker längre distanser under MIPk jämfört med U19 på samma position. Praktiker bör beakta dessa skillnader i sina träningsupplägg för att kunna förbereda ungdomsspelare för de fysiska krav som ses i seniormiljön / Aim: The present study aimed to investigate differences in physical external load during the most intense period (MIP) of match play for youth and senior player and to indentify possible differences between positions and halves, with multivariate parameters. Method: A quantitative retrospective study was applied, players from a senior team playing in the highest division in Sweden participated in the study as well as football players from a youth elite team from the same club playing in the second highest division for the age group. Physical external load was measured using Global Positioning System (GPS). MIP was analyzed based on players' initial tactical position and using multivariate parameters. Rolling averages were used to analyze 1-min MIP.Results: SEN covered significantly longer distances during the most intense 1-min period of the match compared to U19 (SEN 140 ± 22,3 m; U19 120 ± 24,1 m, p < 0.001). When comparing between positions, SEN-Lateral covers longer distances than U19-Lateral during the most intense 1-minute period of the MIPk (135 ± 23.5 m vs 104 ± 40.3 m, p = 0.015).Conclusions: In conclusion, this study confirms a difference in the most intense 1-minute period for senior and youth players for MIPk. The study shows that senior players positioned laterally on the pitch cover longer distances during MIPk compared to U19-Lateral. Practitioners should consider these differences in their training programmes in order to prepare youth players for the physical demands seen in the senior environment.

Huvudsyftet med studien var att undersöka elitfotbollsspelares uppfattningar kring vilka hinder och möjligheter som finns för att idrottspsykologiska rådgivare ska ges inträde i en fotbollsförening. Ett ytterligare syfte var att undersöka vad som karaktäriserar en framgångsrik idrottspsykologisk rådgivare vid samarbete med elitfotbollsspelare. Populationen utgjordes av åtta svenska elitfotbollsspelare. Kriterierna för att inkluderas i studien var att deltagarna skulle tillhört en a-lagstrupp i en elitfotbollsförening (Allsvenskan och Superettan) säsongen 2015. Insamlingen av data utgick från kvalitativ ansats, genom intervjuer och analyserades utifrån kvalitativ innehållsanalys. Resultatet visade att idrottarna påpekade fler hinder än möjligheter för att den idrottspsykologiska rådgivaren ska ges inträde i en förening, där skepticism mot idrottspsykologi nämndes som ett exempel. Gällande karaktärsdrag visade resultatet att idrottarna hade en större samsyn i förhållande till de hinder och möjligheter som framkom. Slutligen diskuterar författarna förslag på framtida forskning, metodkritik och implikationer. / The main purpose of the study was to examine elite soccer players perceptions of which barriers and possibilities exists in order to give sport psychology consultants entry in a soccer organization. Another purpose was to examine what characterizes a successful sport psychology consultant in their cooperation with elite soccer players. The population was eight swedish elite soccer players. The criteria to be included in the study, was that the athletes had pertained a first team squad in an elite soccer organization (Allsvenskan and Superettan) in the season of 2015. Data collection was done through qualitative approach, through interviews and was analyzed by qualitative content analysis. The results showed the athletes pointed out more barriers than possibilities to give the sport psychology consultant entry in an organization, where skepticism towards sport psychology was mentioned as an example. Regarding characteristics the results showed that the athletes had more consensuses in relation to the barriers and possibilities that appeared. Finally the authors discuss suggestions in terms of future research, methodology reflections and implications.

The growing body of literature on women's football has focused mainly on the development of the game and experiences of past and present players. Despite the emergence of research on women's football internationally there has not yet been exclusive attention to either of these areas in the Scottish context. Using an interpretive framework this thesis is organised around four main themes: the development of women's football in Scotland; socio-demographic characteristics of women footballers; the process of socialisation; and, the subculture of women's football. The synthesis of elements within the interpretive framework ensures that the research offers an interpretation that is both contextualised historically and informed by an understanding of the meaning of football in the context of players' private lives. In relation to the history of the game, the development of women's football in Scotland has indeed been shaped by the particular Scottish context. The research concludes that the socialisation of women into football in Scotland is an interactive and often a reciprocal process. The subculture of women's football in Scotland is characterised by three interlocking group cultures. The meaning of football in players' lives influences the nature of their individual membership to these group cultures and the importance they attach to elements of subcultural capital. The various meanings attached to football give rise to potential sources of tension between the dominant, emergent and residual elements of culture within the subculture. This original theoretically and empirically informed study of women's football in Scotland makes a contribution to the growing body of research on women's football and to our understanding of the social and historical significance of sport in Scottish society.

Rastreamento visual em sequências de imagens tem sido muito estudado nos últimos 30 anos devido às inúmeras aplicações que possui em sistemas de visão computacional em tempo real; entretanto, poucos são os algoritmos disponíveis para que tal tarefa seja realizada com sucesso. Esta dissertação apresenta um método e uma arquitetura eficazes e eficientes para rastrear jogadores em jogos de futebol. A entrada do sistema consiste de vídeos capturados por câmeras estáticas instaladas em estádios de futebol. A saída é a trajetória descrita pelo jogador durante uma partida de futebol, dada no plano de imagem. O sistema possui dois estágios de processamento: inicialização e rastreamento. A inicialização do sistema é crítica no desempenho do rastreador e seu objetivo consiste em produzir uma estimativa aproximada da configuração e características de cada alvo, a qual é usada como uma estimativa inicial do estado pelo rastreador. O sistema de rastreamento utiliza Filtros de Kalman para modelar o contorno, posição e velocidade dos jogadores. Resultados são apresentados usando dados reais. Avaliações quantitativas são fornecidas e o sistema proposto é comparado com outro sistema correlato. Os experimentos mostram que o sistema proposto apresenta resultados bastante promissores. / Visual tracking in image sequences has been extensively studied in the last 30 years because of the many applications it has in real-time computer vision systems; however, there are few algorithms available for this task so that it is performed successfully. This work presents an effective and efficient system architecture and method to track players in soccer games. The system input consists of videos captured by static cameras installed in soccer stadiums. The output is the trajectory described by the player during a soccer match, given in the image plane. The system comprises two processing stages: initialization and tracking. The system startup is critical in the tracking performance and its goal is to produce a rough estimate of the configuration and characteristics of each target, which is used as an initial estimate of the state by the visual tracker. The tracking system uses Kalman filters to model the shape, position and speed of the players. Results are presented using real data. Quantitative assessments are provided and the proposed system is compared with related systems. The experiments show that our system can achieve very promising results.

The aims of this thesis were to; firstly, address the numerous concerns for athletes associated with exercise-induced dehydration and electrolyte loss; secondly, to examine the development of methods of assessing soccer players’ performance; and thirdly, to investigate the inter-relationship between soccer-specific tests. Finally, through a series of studies, the effect of electrolyte loss on subsequent soccer-specific performance was examined. / Chapters 1 and 2 comprise of detailed literature reviews, which introduce the pertinent issues related to hydration, electrolyte loss and assessment of soccer performance and outline areas of necessary future research. Chapter 3 measured the effect of short-term fatigue, through a repeated sprint ability (RSA) test, on subsequent skill performance, via the Loughborough Soccer Passing Test (LSPT), in thirty international level female soccer players. No significant differences were observed in any of the movement, penalty or total time taken to complete the LSPT between the pre- and post-RSA scores. / Chapter 4 investigated the hydration status and electrolyte loss of 14 professional soccer players (mean ± SD; Age: 24.1 ± 3.5 years; Height: 1.78 ± 0.07 m, Body mass (BM): 72.6 ± 12.1 kg) during normal “in-season” training and subsequently examined the effect of beverage sodium (Na⁺) on RSA performance. It was found that RSA performance was significantly improved in professional soccer players by the inclusion of 21.32 mmol·L⁻¹ Na⁺ in a beverage, when compared to a control beverage. / Chapter 5 examined the effects of 60 min of soccer-specific training on LSPT performance, hydration status and core temperature (Tc) when ingesting either a carbohydrate-electrolyte (CHO-E) or control (CON) drink. Seven healthy male soccer players (age: 23 ± 2.9 y, height: 1.7 ± 0.04 m, mass: 62.7 ± 6.7 kg) each completed a carbohydrate-electrolyte (CHO-E) and a control (CON) trial. There was an improvement in movement time (p = .034) and overall LSPT performance (p = .031) post-exercise in CHO-E when compared with CON. No differences were observed in Tc or absolute and relative body mass loss between trials (p> .05). / The final investigation of this thesis is detailed in chapter 6, where the purpose of the investigation was to examine the effect of beverages with different Na⁺ concentrations in soccer players on repeated sprint and soccer skill performance during and after soccer-simulated activity in a hot and humid environment. 12 healthy, male, semi-professional soccer players volunteered for this study (mean ± SD: age 24.5 ± 3.3 y, height 1.8 ± 0.06 m, BM 78.1 ± 9.4 kg). The results highlighted that the RSA performance was improved in both the High-Na⁺ and Na⁺ trials when compared to the CON trial at each time point (p < 0.05). A significant improvement in LSPT performance was observed in the Hi-Na⁺ trial compared with CON trial at all measurement time points (p < 0.05). / The findings from this thesis highlight that the addition of Na⁺ to a beverage can enhance sprint and skill performance in soccer players when the beverage is consumed during sport-specific training in a hot and humid environment. / 本論文的研究目的包括; 首先，探討運動員在運動時脫水和流失電解質的眾多顧慮;其次，考究足球員表現評估方法之發展; 第三，通過一系列的研究，調查電解質流失對隨後足球專項表現的影響。最後，就不同足球專項評估方法的相互關連性進行研究。 / 第1章和第2章包含詳盡的文獻綜述，當中介紹了水合作用、電解質流失和足球員表現評估方法的議題，並帶出未來需要研究的方向。第3章探討透過反复衝刺能力（ RSA ）測試引致的短期疲勞對足球表現的影響。30名國際級女子足球運動員在短期疲勞前後進行LSPT技術測試。結果顯示，RSA前後的LSPT成績 (不論動作、懲罰或總完成時間)均無顯著差異。 / 第4章調查了14名專業足球運動員（平均值±標準差; 年齡： 24.1 ±3.5歲，身高：1.78 ±0.07米，體重（ BM ）：72.6 ±12.1千克）於”比賽季”常規訓練的水合狀態和電解質流失，並隨後研究飲料鈉（Na +）對RSA表現的影響。研究發現， 與對照組相比，運動員飲用包含21.32 mmol.L -1 Na +的飲料後，RSA表現有顯著提升。 / 第5章研究攝入碳水化合物-電解質飲料（ CHO - E）或對照飲料（CON ）後，60分鐘足球專項訓練對LSPT表現，水合狀態和核心溫度（Tc）的影響。七名健康男性足球員（年齡：23 ±2.9歲，高度： 1.7 ±0.04米，體重： 62.7 ±6.7千克）各完成一個碳水化合物-電解質（ CHO - E）和一個對照組（CON ）試驗。與CON組相比，，CHO - E組在運動時間（P = .034 ）和整體LSPT表現（P = .031 ）均有顯著提升。兩組間的Tc或絕對和相對體重流失則無顯著差異（P> 0.05 ）。 / 在最後第6章，本論文研究在高溫高濕環境下的足球模擬活動期間和隨後，不同Na +濃度飲料對足球員的反複衝刺和足球專項技巧表現的影響。 12名健康的男性半職業足球運動員自願參加本研究（平均值±標準差： 24.5 ±3.3歲，身高1.8 ±0.06米，體重78.1 ±9.4千克） 。結果顯示，與CON組相比，高Na +和Na +組在所有測量時間點中的RSA表現都有顯著提高（ P <0.05）。至於LSPT表現，高Na +組則比CON組在所有測量時間點均有顯著改善（ P < 0.05）。 / 綜上所述，本論文的研究結果強調，在飲料添加Na +可提高足球運動員在炎熱和潮濕的環境訓練時的短跑和技術表現。 / O'Reilly, John Timothy. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2014. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 116-137). / Abstracts also in Chinese. / Title from PDF title page (viewed on 08, November, 2016). / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only.

Rastreamento visual em sequências de imagens tem sido muito estudado nos últimos 30 anos devido às inúmeras aplicações que possui em sistemas de visão computacional em tempo real; entretanto, poucos são os algoritmos disponíveis para que tal tarefa seja realizada com sucesso. Esta dissertação apresenta um método e uma arquitetura eficazes e eficientes para rastrear jogadores em jogos de futebol. A entrada do sistema consiste de vídeos capturados por câmeras estáticas instaladas em estádios de futebol. A saída é a trajetória descrita pelo jogador durante uma partida de futebol, dada no plano de imagem. O sistema possui dois estágios de processamento: inicialização e rastreamento. A inicialização do sistema é crítica no desempenho do rastreador e seu objetivo consiste em produzir uma estimativa aproximada da configuração e características de cada alvo, a qual é usada como uma estimativa inicial do estado pelo rastreador. O sistema de rastreamento utiliza Filtros de Kalman para modelar o contorno, posição e velocidade dos jogadores. Resultados são apresentados usando dados reais. Avaliações quantitativas são fornecidas e o sistema proposto é comparado com outro sistema correlato. Os experimentos mostram que o sistema proposto apresenta resultados bastante promissores. / Visual tracking in image sequences has been extensively studied in the last 30 years because of the many applications it has in real-time computer vision systems; however, there are few algorithms available for this task so that it is performed successfully. This work presents an effective and efficient system architecture and method to track players in soccer games. The system input consists of videos captured by static cameras installed in soccer stadiums. The output is the trajectory described by the player during a soccer match, given in the image plane. The system comprises two processing stages: initialization and tracking. The system startup is critical in the tracking performance and its goal is to produce a rough estimate of the configuration and characteristics of each target, which is used as an initial estimate of the state by the visual tracker. The tracking system uses Kalman filters to model the shape, position and speed of the players. Results are presented using real data. Quantitative assessments are provided and the proposed system is compared with related systems. The experiments show that our system can achieve very promising results.

The purpose of this investigation was to evaluate the relationships between two types of vertical jumps and change of direction (COD) test in collegiate soccer players (n=24). 5-5 COD test was utilized to measure soccer athletes’ COD ability. 3m acceleration (3mAcc), Total time (TT) and Partial time (PT) were measured by two sets of timing gates. Countermovement jump (CMJ) and static jump (SJ) with 2 different loading conditionings (0kg and 20kg) were employed to evaluate athletes’ leg dynamic strength. Strong statistically significant relationships were found between COD test variables (r =0.71 to 0.90), and between vertical jump variables with PT and TT (r = -0.41 to -0.81). These results suggest that leg dynamic strength is vital for NCAA Division I soccer players’ COD performance and SJ 0kg jump height can be used to predict for COD performance.

PURPOSE: Examine the effect that a competitive season has on performance characteristics in male soccer players. METHODS: 17 Division I National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) male soccer players participated in this study. As part of an ongoing athlete monitoring program, each player completed two maximal effort countermovement jumps each with a PVC pipe, 11kg bar, and 20kg bar during pre- and post-season testing sessions. Jump height (JH), allometrically-scaled peak power (PPa), and reactive strength index-modified (RSImod) were compared using a series of 2 (season) x 3 (load) repeated measures ANOVA. RESULTS: Statistically significant main effect differences existed for season for JH (p = 0.003) and RSImod (p = 0.016), but not for PPa (p = 0.081). Statistically significant main effect differences existed for load for JH and RSImod (both p < 0.001), but not for PPa (p = 0.369). CONCLUSIONS: A soccer season appears to negatively affect the explosive and reactive strength performance characteristics of Division I male soccer players, namely JH and RSImod. In contrast, the relative peak power of male soccer players remained unchanged following the completion of a season. The high volume and intensity of matches and practice experienced over the course of a collegiate season may negatively affect the explosive characteristics of Division I male soccer players, which indicates a need to consistently monitor and alter training loads to maintain performance levels.

The purpose of this study was to develop a physiological profile of elite Australian Youth soccer players. Over three years, 150 players from the U'17, U'20 and U'23 national squads were tested for six measurements - height, weight, sum of eight skinfolds, vertical jump, maximum oxygen consumption and speed over twenty metres. Comparisons were made between those selected in the final team (classified as Successful) and those who failed to be selected (classified as Unsuccessful) to determine any significant differences between the two groups A physical and physiological profile was obtained for each player - expressed as a single value in both numerical and graphical formats. Players were ranked based on this score to determine significant differences between successful and unsuccessful players. Several significant differences (p<0.05) were found between Successful and Unsuccessful groups for a number of the variables primarily in the performance area rather than in the anthropometry parameters. For all squads, significant differences (P<0.05) were found between those who made the squad and those who did not when ranked based on their physical and physiological score. This study highlights the importance of the application of scientific testing to soccer Furthermore, it provides a system by which players' results can be analysed and ranked, and expressed in a format that provides the coach with immediate feedback as to an individual's specific strengths and weaknesses as a basis for training and team selection.

<p>Background: Three epidemiological studies conducted in Rwanda have highlighted that many people at different levels in the community of soccer do not implement accepted control measures for reducing the risk of injuries. However, little is known about what soccer community members themselves know about injury prevention. Purpose: The aim of this study was to identify perceptions of factors influencing the implementation of soccer injury prevention strategies in Rwanda.</p>