This study aimed to investigate the effects of contextual variables on running performance in Brazilian professional soccer players. Twenty male players from one club participating in the 1st Division of the Brazilian soccer championship were analyzed during 35 matches. Global Positioning System was used to determine total distance (TD) covered, distance covered and actions in high intensity and sprinting, and the number of accelerations, and decelerations. The independent variables used were match location, match outcome, opposition ranking, change of head coach, and distance traveled to play the matches. Total distance was higher in a way than home matches (9,712 vs. 9,533 m; p ≤ 0.05), and losses than draws and wins (9,846 vs. 9,400 vs. 9,551 m; p ≤ 0.05), whereas distance in sprinting was higher in draws than losses (203 vs. 175 m; p ≤ 0.01). Changing the head coach during the season resulted in overall lower distance covered in high intensity, sprinting, high-intensity actions (p ≤ 0.01), and decelerations (p ≤ 0.05). Higher values for distance covered in sprinting and high intensity were found in matches without travel compared to those with long-travel (p ≤ 0.05). Overall, running performance was affected by the location, match outcome, change of head coach, and distance traveled during the season.

SummaryStudy aim: This study compared the effects of intermittent negative pressure therapy (INPT) vs. active recovery therapy (ART) on post-match physiological parameters such as serum CK level and skin temperature of the lower limbs in elite soccer players.Material and methods: Twenty healthy male professional soccer players from a Brazilian first division soccer club were enrolled in this randomized, parallel arm, open label, comparative study. After participating in 2 soccer matches, they were randomly assigned to two groups (n = 10) to receive a 30-min session of INPT (intermittent exchange of hypobaric pressure range 33 to 51 mmHg) or ART (self-myofascial release, mobility and stability exercises, and cycle ergometer exercise). The intervention was conducted after a match with assessments immediately before and after the intervention and again 24 h after the intervention.Results: A significant interaction effect (F2,36 = 4.503, p = 0.018, η2 = 0.130) was observed, indicating that the decrease of CK from pre-intervention to 24 h post-intervention was greater in the INPT than in the ART group. Lower limb skin temperature was significantly lower after INPT than after ART (p < 0.003).Conclusions: Serum CK level and skin temperature of lower limbs showed better recovery up to 24 h after the intervention with INPT in elite soccer players.

Backgroundː Soccer performance can be analyzed by different physical parameters such as linear speed and power. In addition, movement quality evaluations are used to assess individual functional capacity and a widely used tool is the functional movement screen (FMS). Objectives: The present study had three aims: 1) analyse the association of FMS final score and individual FMS scores with peak and relative muscle power and 10-m and 30-m sprints of young soccer players; 2) analyse the association between muscle power and speed from different categories controlled by FMS score; 3) compare peak and relative muscle power and 10-m and 30-m sprints between athletes with results of FMS >14 and < 14 scores in different categories. Methodsː Fifty-six Brazilian players from U15, U17, and U20 participated in the research. Subjects performed anthropometric measurements, FMS, muscle power, and 10-m, and 30-m sprint. Resultsː The results showed no association between FMS score and muscle power and speed (p > 0.05). However, stability-push-up showed small association with peak and relative muscle power (r = 0.28, p < 0.05; r = 0.29, p < 0.05, respectively). The in-line-lunge test showed inverse and small correlation with 10-m sprint (r = -0.28; p < 0.05). Relationship between peak and relative muscle power with 10-m and 30-m sprints showed moderate and small association in all categories, respectively (r = -0.76-0.32, p = 0.01). In addition, it was not found difference among players above and below 14 score. Conclusionː Based on these findings, the 14 score shows to be a weak cut-off value and it can be assumed that there are no association between FMS and power and speed in youth soccer.