The aim of this paper was to determine how the size of the pitch affected technical and tactical actions of the goalkeeper when playing small-sided games. The participants were 13 male youth players, including 3 goalkeepers. Three different pitch sizes were used (62 x 44 m; 50 x 35 m; 32 x 23 m). On each pitch, the players played three matches of 8 minutes, with 5-minute breaks between matches. Numerous variables were recorded and examined: defensive and offensive technical and tactical actions, opponent’s shooting zone, length and zone of the offensive action, and goal zone where the shoot was directed. An ad hoc observational tool was used. A descriptive analysis was described. The Fisher’s exact test was used when the expected distribution was below 5 or included values below 1%. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. The results showed that the technical-tactical actions of the goalkeeper differed among pitch sizes. In defensive actions, when the pitch was larger, the 1-on-1 situations took precedence, whereas when the pitch was smaller, the proportion of blocks increased. In offensive actions, the goalkeepers did not show a wide variety of actions when the pitch was larger, but when the pitch was smaller, passes with a hand or foot increased. These results show that the size should be taken into account when planning and designing tasks.

Background: Several studies have examined the differences between the different small-sided game (SSG) formats. However, only one study has analysed how the different variables that define SSGs can modify the goalkeeper’s behavior. The aim of the present study was to analyze how the modification of the pitch size in SSGs affects the physical demands of the goalkeepers. Methods: Three professional male football goalkeepers participated in this study. Three different SSG were analysed (62 m × 44 m for a large pitch; 50 m × 35 m for a medium pitch and 32 m × 23 m for a small pitch). Positional data of each goalkeeper was gathered using an 18.18 Hz global positioning system. The data gathered was used to compute players’ spatial exploration index, standard ellipse area, prediction ellipse area The distance covered, distance covered in different intensities and accelerations/decelerations were used to assess the players’ physical performance. Results and Conclusions: There were differences between small and large SSGs in relation to the distances covered at different intensities and pitch exploration. Intensities were lower when the pitch size was larger. Besides that, the pitch exploration variables increased along with the increment of the pitch size.

Cochepin. TReacLab: An object-oriented implementation of non-intrusive splitting methods to couple independent transport and geochemical software. Computers Geosciences, Elsevier, 2017, 109, pp.281-294 This is a PDF file of an unedited manuscript that has been accepted for publication. As a service to our customers we are providing this early version of the manuscript. The manuscript will undergo copyediting, typesetting, and review of the resulting proof before it is published in its final form. Please note that during the production process errors may be discovered which could affect the content, and all legal disclaimers that apply to the journal pertain. Reactive transport modeling contributes to understand geophysical and geochemical processes 9 in subsurface environments. Operator splitting methods have been proposed as non-intrusive 10 coupling techniques that optimize the use of existing chemistry and transport codes. In this 11 spirit, we propose a coupler relying on external geochemical and transport codes with 12 appropriate operator segmentation that enables possible developments of additional splitting 13 methods. We provide an object-oriented implementation in TReacLab developed in the 14 MATLAB environment in a free open source frame with an accessible repository. TReacLab 15 contains classical coupling methods, template interfaces and calling functions for two 16 classical transport and reactive software (PHREEQC and COMSOL). It is tested on four 17 classical benchmarks with homogeneous and heterogeneous reactions at equilibrium or 18 kinetically-controlled. We show that full decoupling to the implementation level has a cost in 19 terms of accuracy compared to more integrated and optimized codes. Use of non-intrusive 20 implementations like TReacLab are still justified for coupling independent transport and 21 chemical software at a minimal development effort but should be systematically and carefully 22 assessed. M A N U S C R I P T A C C E P T E D ACCEPTED MANUSCRIPT

The aim of this study was to design and validate an observational instrument used to analyse the in-game behaviour of the football goalkeeper (GK) in defence and attack. The validation and reliability testing processes were carried out by twelve experts through five steps. Contents validity was calculated using Aiken’s V and the kappa index was used to analyse reliability. The observational tool was divided into three different content blocks: GK’s offensive actions, GK’s defensive actions, and opponent’s actions taken before a GK’s defensive action. Only three out of the total of 24 items achieved low values that, after modifications, recorded optimal values (values higher than .90) in accordance with the Aiken’s V. Following step one, new proposals were evaluated after a pilot test. The reliability test scored optimal values (values higher than .85). An observational sheet was developed to manage the quantitative and qualitative assessments of experts, and the proposed tool was accepted as valid and reliable.