As previous literature updates, I have performed a PubCrawler search looking for football articles in NCBI Medline (PubMed) and GenBank databases.

Following studies were retrieved for this week:

1 Integration of a Knee Flexor Bias or Hip Hinge Bias Resistance Training Program With Combined High-Speed Running in Academy Soccer Players

Reference: J Strength Cond Res. 2025 Jul 9. doi: 10.1519/JSC.0000000000005210. Online ahead of print.
Authors: Steven Ross, Nicholas J Ripley, John J McMahon, Paul Comfort
Reference: Strength training has been shown to mitigate risk of hamstring strain injury and enhance athletic performance. However, most training studies are focused on single exercise interventions and, therefore, lacking in ecological validity. In this study, we investigated the effects of combined resistance training and curvilinear high-speed running, with resistance training sessions having either a hip hinge bias (Romanian deadlift; RDL) or knee flexor bias (Nordic hamstring exercise; NHE), on knee flexor strength, jump, and sprint performance. In total, 37 male academy soccer players (17.1 ± 0.2 years; height, 178.3 ± 2.5 cm; body mass, 70.6 ± 0.7 kg) were randomized into 3 groups (RDL, NHE, and control) and completed 6 weeks of training. Knee flexor strength was improved in both intervention groups compared with the control (p ≤ 0.05; g = 0.85-1.62); however, adaptations in sprint (g = 1.14-1.44) and jump performance (g = 1.08-1.57) were superior in the NHE group than in the RDL and control groups. The results of the study indicate that both interventions were effective in improving knee flexor strength and athletic performance, but interventions that include the NHE seem to be more effective.

2 Normative data and objective benchmarks for selected force plate tests for professional and youth soccer players in the English Football League

Reference: J Sports Sci. 2025 Jul 11:1-18. doi: 10.1080/02640414.2025.2523671. Online ahead of print.
Authors: Andrew J Badby, Paul Comfort, Nicholas J Ripley, Peter D Mundy, Marcos A Soriano, Francisco J Robles-Palazón, Jack Fahey, Paul Sindall, Christopher Bramah, John J McMahon
Summary: The aim of this study was to establish objective benchmarks for countermovement jump (CMJ), countermovement rebound jump (CMRJ), and isometric mid-thigh pull (IMTP) metrics in male professional and youth soccer players. Professional (N = 139; age: 24 ± 5 years; height: 184 ± 7 cm; mass: 81 ± 9 kg) and youth (N = 137; age: 17 ± 1 years; height: 178 ± 17 cm; mass: 72 ± 8 kg) soccer players were recruited from 7 separate clubs. Many CMJ (25/32), CMRJ (24/30), and (2/2) IMTP metrics discriminated between age groups. Significant (p < 0.05) differences were identified in CMJ outcome (4/4), propulsive kinetic (6/6), and relative propulsive kinetic (4/4) metrics, but trivial non-significant (p > 0.05) differences were identified in strategy (4/4) metrics. Rebound jump portion propulsive kinetic (4/4) metrics and braking depth demonstrated moderate to large differences between groups, but only one relative propulsive kinetic (1/4) metric demonstrated significant (p < 0.01) differences. Professional soccer players also demonstrated significantly (p < 0.001) greater IMTP peak force (3031 ± 549 N vs 2441 ± 452 N; g = 0.788) and relative peak force (37.39 ± 5.35 N/kg vs 34.01 ± 4.74 N/kg; g = 0.446) than youth soccer players.

3 Comparison of external load during differing microcycle structures across two competitive seasons in elite female Portuguese soccer players

Reference: Front Sports Act Living. 2025 Jun 26:7:1608382. doi: 10.3389/fspor.2025.1608382. eCollection 2025.
Authors: Rafael Oliveira, João Paulo Brito, Renato Fernandes, Mário C Espada, Fernando J Santos, Matilde Nalha, Piotr Zmijewski, Ryland Morgans
Download link: https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/sports-and-active-living/articles/10.3389/fspor.2025.1608382/full
Summary: This study aimed to: (i) compare the accumulated load between three and four training sessions per week plus a match across two consecutive seasons in elite female soccer players, and (ii) compare the training/match ratio (TMr) of external load. Data from 10 players in each season were analysed during the study period. The microcycle structure of the first season included three training sessions (3dW) and a match per week, while the second season included four training sessions (4dW) plus a match per week. The following measures were used for analysis: duration, total distance, high-speed running distance (HSR, > 15 km/h), number of accelerations (ACC, > 1-2 m.s-2 [ACC1]; > 2-3 m.s-2 [ACC2]; > 3-4 m.s-2 [ACC3]; > 4 m.s-2 [ACC4]) and decelerations (DEC, < 1-2 m.s-2 [DEC1]; < 2-3 m.s-2 [DEC2];< 3-4 m.s-2 [DEC3];< 4 m.s-2 [DEC4]). The accumulated load was calculated by summing key metrics for all training sessions and matches, while TMr was calculated by dividing the accumulated load by match data. The main results showed that all variables showed meaningful differences (p < 0.05) except for ACC4 and DEC4. Specifically, total distance was higher in 3dW than 4dW (p = 0.007), while the remaining variables were higher during 4dW. Moreover, all TMr were higher in 4dW than 3dW (p < 0.001 for all variables except for ACC4 and DEC4). As expected, this study showed that adding one training session per week increased accumulated load and TMr for several key variables.

4 A systematic review and meta-analysis of various injury prevention programs in youth soccer players

Reference: BMC Sports Sci Med Rehabil. 2025 Jul 10;17(1):190. doi: 10.1186/s13102-025-01246-8.
Authors: Daniel Castillo, Diego Marqués-Jiménez, Maurizio Bertollo, Marcos López-Flores, Luca Bovolon, Antonio De Fano, Dario Pompa
Download link: http://bmcsportsscimedrehabil.biomedcentral.com/counter/pdf/10.1186/s13102-025-01246-8.pdf
Summary: Considering injuries as a serious problem which affects player availability and performance, soccer clubs have strong incentives to develop and implement various injury prevention programs (IPPs). The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to examine, consolidate and summarize the research on the effects of various IPPs on injury incidence in youth soccer players. A search was conducted in Cochrane Library, PubMed (MEDLINE), Scopus and Web of Science. A total of 3827 records were identified through database searches which were filtered to 19 studies that met the selection and inclusion criteria. The search was concluded in December 2024. A methodological quality scale was also employed as a valuable tool to assess the risk of bias in the selected studies. A total sample of 28,200 youth soccer players were analyzed in the included studies. 12 studies reported positive effects of the IPP on overall injury incidence, while four studies found no significant effects. Moreover, most studies showed increasing effectiveness with higher adherence or compliance. Overall, injury prevention programs were shown to significantly decrease the likelihood of injury (RR = 0.615 [95% CI = 0.512; 0.739]; z = -5.20; p < 0.001). Subgroup analyses conducted for age (Q (1) = 2.84, p = 0.092), duration of intervention (Q (1) = 1.87, p = 0.172), type of injury prevention program (Q (1) = 0.00, p = 0.955) did not reveal significant differences in injury incidence, suggesting that the overall effect of injury prevention programs is not significantly influenced by these factors. This systematic review and meta-analysis suggest that different injury prevention programs are likely effective in reducing injury risk and lowering the injuries among youth soccer players, suggesting their potential protective effect in injury prevention.

5 Should GPS data be normalized for performance and fatigue monitoring in soccer? A theoretical-practical discussion on high-speed running

Reference: Front Sports Act Living. 2025 Jun 25:7:1603767. doi: 10.3389/fspor.2025.1603767. eCollection 2025.
Authors: Ricardo Pimenta, Hugo Antunes, João Ribeiro, Fábio Yuzo Nakamura
Download link: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12239930/pdf/fspor-07-1603767.pdf
Summary: High-speed running (HSR) is one of the performance metrics of interest, as the volume of HSR during matches has been increasing over the last decade, which suggests that weekly training loads should be adjusted to align with this trend, enabling players to cope with match demands. However, the use of HSR thresholds lacks a solid rationale for their application and fails to account for individual player capacities, likely not reflecting their actual HSR efforts. As such, this theoretical-discussion provides important implications for training prescription, aiming to optimize performance and minimize fatigue. It emphasizes the significant differences in the conceptualization of HSR and highlights the advantages of adopting a normalized approach that reflects the physiological, mechanical and neuromuscular aspects related to HSR, as well as the intermittent profile of football matches. Practical HSR threshold definitions tailored to the capacities of each athlete are proposed, enabling a more evidence-based approach for the interpretation of training loads and game/player profiling. More specifically, within our proposal, HSR can be subdivided into two types: (1) HSR-1, characterized by an entry threshold based on a normalized critical speed, and (2) HSR-2, defined by an entry threshold corresponding to 75% of the athlete’s maximum speed.

6 The effects of 8 weeks of dynamic hamstring stretching or nordic hamstring exercises on balance, range of motion, agility, and muscle performance among male soccer players with hamstring shortness: a randomized controlled trial

Reference: BMC Sports Sci Med Rehabil. 2025 Jul 9;17(1):187. doi: 10.1186/s13102-025-01216-0.
Authors: Elham Hosseini, Mohammad Alimoradi, Mojtaba Iranmanesh, Farzaneh Saki, Andreas Konrad
Download link: https://bmcsportsscimedrehabil.biomedcentral.com/counter/pdf/10.1186/s13102-025-01216-0.pdf
Summary: This study investigated the effects of an eight weeks exercise regimen with either Nordic hamstring exercises or dynamic hamstring stretching (DHS) on balance, range of motion, agility, and muscle performance in male soccer players with hamstring shortness. Sixty participants were divided into three groups: NHE (n = 20), DHS (n = 20), and control (CO; n = 20). The NHE group performed Nordic hamstring exercises, the DHS group engaged in dynamic stretching, and the CO group did not receive any intervention. Assessments were conducted before and after the interventions using active knee extension test (AKET), sit-and-reach test (SR), Y-balance test (YBT), Illinois agility run test (IAT), and countermovement jump test (CMJ). The results showed significant improvements in measured parameters for both the NHE (AKET: 16.16%; SR: 11.33%; YBT: 16.25%; IAT: 12.84%; CMJ: 7.28%) and DHS (AKET: 2.17%; SR: 5.51%; IAT: 4.54%; CMJ: 1.26%) groups, while no significant changes were observed in the CO group (p ≤ 0.001). The NHE group demonstrated superior effects compared to the DHS and CO groups, except for the countermovement jump test. The findings suggest that including NHE in training regimens is recommended, particularly for soccer players with hamstring shortness. Therefore, both NHS and DHS positively influenced performance, range of motion, balance, and agility. However, NHE proved to be more effective, yielding more improvements that are significant across the performance, range of motion, balance, and agility parameters.

7 Heart rate variability in female soccer players, before, during, and after a COVID-19 positive test

Reference: Sci Rep. 2025 Jul 9;15(1):24675. doi: 10.1038/s41598-025-10747-y.
Authors: Koulla Parpa, Ana C Paludo, Karuppasamy Govindasamy, Georgian Badicu, Marcos Michaelides
Summary: The purpose of this study is to examine the impact of COVID-19 infection on heart rate variability (HRV) in female soccer players, with a focus on identifying changes in autonomic regulation before, during, and after a COVID-19 positive test. Seven elite female soccer players (age: 20.14 ± 6.41 years, height: 162.43 ± 4.32 cm, weight: 51.73 ± 5.65 kg) were included in the analysis after consistently recording their HRV during the specified period. Morning HRV measures were completed using photoplethysmography via the HRV4 training smartphone application, a validated tool for field-based monitoring, along with self-reported data. The players were tracked for at least 30 consecutive days before testing positive for COVID-19 using a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test. They were also requested to record their HRV while they had COVID-19 until a negative PCR result was obtained. The study presents data on RMSSD, LnRMSSD and HR for the 30 days prior to COVID-19, as well as for the 3 days (day – 3), 2 days (day – 2), and 1 day (day – 1) leading up to COVID-19. Also, data for the first 5 days following a positive COVID-19 test are included. The results of this study indicated that LnRMSSD measurements were significantly lower 2 days (day – 2) and 1 day (day – 1) before the onset of COVID-19, as well as during the first four days following a positive COVID-19 test, compared to baseline. In addition, RMSSD measurements were significantly lower during the first 4 days after a positive COVID-19 test, while resting heart rate was significantly higher during the first and second days following a positive COVID-19 test, compared to baseline. Our findings suggest that reductions in LnRMSSD, reflecting decreased parasympathetic activity, may serve as early indicators of COVID-19 infection in elite female soccer players, potentially allowing for pre-symptomatic detection through daily HRV monitoring.

8 Posterior Tibial Slope Characteristics and Their Relationships With Thigh Muscle Morphology, Activation Patterns, and Dynamic Knee Valgus in Male and Female Soccer Players Before and After Fatigue: A Descriptive Laboratory Study

Reference: Orthop J Sports Med. 2025 Jul 1;13(7):23259671251350303. doi: 10.1177/23259671251350303. eCollection 2025 Jul.
Authors: Gerda Strutzenberger, Florian B Imhoff, Jakob Ackermann, Laura Zehnder, Daniel P Fitze, Sandro F Fucentese, Johannes Scherr, Stefan Fröhlich, Jörg Spörri
Download link: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12231958/pdf/10.1177_23259671251350303.pdf
Summary: Soccer players are at high risk of anterior cruciate ligament injury as well as reinjury, with higher rates in women and in the supporting leg, and fatigue impairs the neuromuscular control of the knee joint. However, little is known about the bony anatomy of the knee joint and its relationship with neuromuscular measures related to knee stabilization, and studies investigating anatomic and biomechanical measures simultaneously are widely lacking. The aim was to investigate (1) whether posterior tibial slope (PTS) characteristics and thigh muscle morphology differ between sexes; (2) whether thigh muscle activation patterns and dynamic knee valgus differ between sexes and fatiguing states during a drop jump (DJ); and (3) whether certain relationships among PTS characteristics, thigh muscle morphology, thigh muscle activation patterns, and dynamic knee valgus exist. Magnetic resonance images of 32 healthy national-level soccer players (15 female, 17 male) were acquired, and their PTS characteristics and thigh muscle anatomic cross-sectional areas (CSAs) were determined. Muscle activation patterns, as well as dynamic knee valgus (quantified as medial displacement of the knee joint center [medial knee displacement, or MKD] in the anatomic frontal plane), were assessed via surface electromyography and 3-dimensional motion capture while participants performed DJs before and after a fatigue protocol. Female players had smaller hamstring and quadriceps CSAs (P < .001). During DJ landing, female players demonstrated significantly greater hamstring activity (P = .04). There were significant sex differences in the lateromedial hamstring activation ratio (P = .03), with female players exhibiting greater medial than lateral hamstring activation (ratio <1.0), whereas male players presented opposite activation patterns (ratio >1.0). MKD was greater in female players than in male players (P = .02). Moreover, in female players, the steeper their lateral PTS was, (1) the greater their quadriceps-to-hamstring activation ratio and the lower their hamstring activity, (2) the smaller their lateromedial hamstring activation ratio, and (3) the lower their MKD. In male players, a steeper lateral PTS was associated with greater quadriceps activity only. No fatigue-induced differences were observed. Among soccer players, thigh muscle morphology, muscle activation patterns, and dynamic knee valgus during DJ landing are sex dependent. Moreover, there are distinct sex-specific associations between PTS characteristics, thigh muscle morphology, and measures related to neuromuscular control of the knee joint. These study results may further highlight the importance of also considering sex and the bony anatomy of the knee joint in the design of neuromuscular prevention and rehabilitation, or the choice of graft type. However, future studies are needed to assess the effects of sex- and/or knee anatomy-dependent prevention efforts or graft choice on clinical outcomes.

9 Perceptual-cognitive skills and talent development environments in soccer: A scoping review

Reference: PLoS One. 2025 Jul 8;20(7):e0327721. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0327721. eCollection 2025.
Authors: Andrew O Triggs, Joe Causer, Allistair P McRobert, Matthew Andrew
Download link: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12237070/pdf/pone.0327721.pdf
Summary: Perceptual-cognitive skills are a key performance component within professional soccer. Consequently, their role within talent development environments has gained increasing attention. Despite this growing interest, research linking perceptual-cognitive skills to the talent development process remains relatively limited. The present study provided a scoping review examining perceptual-cognitive skills within soccer-specific environments within the last three decades, with a particular focus on outcomes relevant to talent development contexts. Following PRISMA guidelines, specific inclusion and exclusion criteria were set, where 55 studies were included in the final review. Narrative analysis identified key themes in the literature, including visual search behaviours, cognitive capabilities, performance, and methodologies. These themes are discussed with areas for future research identified to support the work of stakeholders in talent development contexts (e.g., coaches, scouts, academy directors), to re-direct future research efforts to further bridge the gap between science and application.

10 A potential relationship between soccer shoes and pes cavus: a pilot study

Reference: BMC Sports Sci Med Rehabil. 2025 Jul 8;17(1):185. doi: 10.1186/s13102-025-01242-y.
Authors: Stephan Becker, Lukas Maurer, Carlo Dindorf, Jonas Dully, Michael Fröhlich, Oliver Ludwig
Download link: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12235932/pdf/13102_2025_Article_1242.pdf
Summary: Preventive team testing showed an above-average number of pes cavus among soccer players. This raised the question of whether wearing relatively small soccer shoes – as it is often the case for soccer players – shoes might be responsible and cause a kind of foot compression and a muscular-induced pes cavus. This cross-sectional study included 198 male youth and adult soccer players (age: 18.6±5.8 years, height: 176.3±14.8 cm, body mass: 69.9±11.5 kg). The delta between shoe and foot length was compared with arch index (AI) and normalised truncated navicular height (NTNH) and especially for those whose shoes were too small. The data confirms that among soccer players, 34% had a pes cavus, only 15% were free of pes planus or pes cavus and 27% wore shoes that were too small. Contrary to the authors hypothesis, the NTNH revealed a general relationship with the delta between foot length and shoe length. Players with shoes that were too small had a significantly higher arch (AI = 0.24) than players with adequate shoe size (AI = 0.25), but on average, the arch was still in the range of a normal foot. No correlation was found between the magnitude of the delta and the AI value for the subgroup of players whose shoes that were too small. The data confirm the increased prevalence of pes cavus among soccer players, but could not confirm the authors‘ hypothesis that this may be caused by wearing shoes that are too small.

11 Is low-carbohydrate diet score associated with body composition and functional capacity in semi-professional adult soccer players?

Reference: BMC Res Notes. 2025 Jul 8;18(1):279. doi: 10.1186/s13104-025-07347-4.
Authors: Sara Arefhosseini, Mina Araminejad, Helda Tutunchi, Mehrangiz Ebrahimi-Mameghani
Download link: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12236010/pdf/13104_2025_Article_7347.pdf
Summary: The present study aimed to determine the link between low-carbohydrate diet score (LCDS), anthropometric indices, and functional capacity in semi-professional soccer players. One hundred nine semi-professional male adult soccer players in Tehran were studied. Anthropometric measures, body composition, serum creatine kinase (CK), and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) were evaluated. Functional capacity was determined using countermovement jump and Queen’s College step tests. LCDS was estimated using a validated 168-item food frequency questionnaire for each soccer player. Mean body mass index (BMI) and fat mass (FM) were 21.86 ± 1.79 kg/m2 and 10.40 ± 4.11%, respectively, while mean LCDS was found 7.43 ± 2.64. Results of functional performance revealed that mean jump height and maximum oxygen consumption were 37.09 ± 4.92 cm and 59.28 ± 42.8 ml/kg/min, respectively. No significant differences in age or BMI were found among LCDS quartiles. Although mean FM in the lowest quartile of the LCDS was lower compared with other quartiles, the differences in FM and fat-free mass were not significant among LCDS quartiles (p > 0.05). Moreover, we failed to observe any associations between LCDS and body composition or functional performance. Our results revealed that LCDS was not associated with either body composition or functional capacity in semi-professional male soccer players.

12 Acute effects of the RAMP warm-up on sprint and jump performance in youth soccer players

Reference: Front Physiol. 2025 Jun 24:16:1612611. doi: 10.3389/fphys.2025.1612611. eCollection 2025.
Authors: Fatma Gözlükaya Girginer, Sinan Seyhan, Görkem Açar, Muhammed Fatih Bilici, Ömer Faruk Bilici, Çağlar Soylu
Download link: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12234454/pdf/fphys-16-1612611.pdf
Summary: Pre-competition warm-ups play a critical role in optimizing athletic performance and minimizing injury risk. This randomized, controlled crossover study investigated the acute effects of the Raise, Activate, Mobilize, and Potentiate (RAMP) warm-up protocol on key performance parameters in young male soccer players. Fourteen participants (aged 16-22 years) completed three different warm-up conditions-no warm-up (control), static stretching, and RAMP-on non-consecutive days with a 48-h washout period. Performance was assessed using 30-m sprint and vertical jump tests, each performed twice per session with the best trial recorded for analysis. A one-way repeated-measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) revealed that both vertical jump height and sprint performance differed significantly across conditions (p < 0.05). Post hoc Bonferroni comparisons indicated that the RAMP group exhibited superior results compared with static stretching (Effect size: d = 0.41) and control (Effect size: d = 0.52), while no notable difference was observed between static stretching and control conditions. These results suggest that the structured progression of the RAMP protocol-combining exercises that elevate body temperature, activate key muscle groups, improve mobility, and enhance neuromuscular readiness-can acutely enhance explosive strength and sprint speed by effectively priming the neuromuscular system. This study contributes novel insights by demonstrating the acute efficacy of the RAMP method in youth soccer players, a population that has been underrepresented in previous literature. Although the study was limited to male amateur athletes and focused on short-term performance gains, the findings indicate suggestive potential for implementing the RAMP protocol as an evidence-based approach in pre-competition preparation.

13 Effects of Soccer Cleat Stud Patterns Worn Versus Lower Extremity Injuries in the English Premier League

Reference: Orthop J Sports Med. 2025 Jul 7;13(7):23259671251353762. doi: 10.1177/23259671251353762. eCollection 2025 Jul.
Authors: Sabrina M Pescatore, Sterling J DeShazo, William M Weiss
Download link: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12235092/pdf/10.1177_23259671251353762.pdf
Summary: Soccer has driven increased player physical demands, resulting in elevated levels of lower extremity injuries, especially among elite players. The aim was to analyze the potential effects of soccer cleat stud patterns worn by players who sustained lower extremity injuries in the English Premier League (EPL). Cleat models, 510 players, and 221 injuries were analyzed from the EPL 2021-2022 season. The injured player cohort was established using Transfermarkt.com, and cleat stud patterns-categorized as very aggressive (VA), mildly aggressive (MA), and nonaggressive (NA)- were obtained from footballbootsdb.com, product websites, and online reviews. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% CIs were used to assess the risk of lower extremity injury. Poisson regression, multinomial linear regression, chi-square tests, and t tests were used to assess the relationships between age, position, cleat type, and injuries. VA stud patterns had significantly higher injury odds compared with other models (ORVA, 1.362 [95% CI, 1.008-1.842]; P = .023), while MA stud patterns had significantly lower injury odds (ORMA, 0.579 [95% CI, 0.352-0.952]; P = .016). NA stud patterns were not significantly associated with the odds of injury. Cleat type and player position together were significantly associated with differences in observed versus expected injuries (χ2 = 37.89; P < .0001; df = 6). Players aged between 23 and 30 years had a significantly higher incidence of injury compared with players aged 18 to 22 years (β23-26-year-olds = 0.4205; P = .03; β27-30-year-olds = 0.5199; P = .006). EPL players wearing VA stud patterns may have a higher risk of lower extremity injuries compared with those with MA or NA patterns. Older age and player position, combined with cleat type, were associated with increased risk of injury.

14 Visual information processing characteristics of tactical decisions of soccer players in 3V3 offense scenarios

Reference: BMC Sports Sci Med Rehabil. 2025 Jul 5;17(1):181. doi: 10.1186/s13102-025-01231-1.
Authors: Tianyu Gao, Peng Shi, Duoyao Zhang, Guodong Wang, Jianming Zhang
Download link: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12228365/pdf/13102_2025_Article_1231.pdf
Summary: The purpose was to quantitatively access the visual search of soccer players in the 3V3 offensive tactical situation and explore the eye movement characteristics and information processing mechanisms of high-level athletes under multi-target tracking. Using the expert-novice research paradigm, eight second-level soccer players were selected as the expert group, and eight university students majoring in soccer were selected as the novice group. Real match 3V3 offensive tactical scenarios were used as stimulus materials. The Dikablis Professional head-mounted eye tracker with D-lab software was used to record and process the participants’ eye movement data and decision-making agility data. Experts were invited to independently score the reasonableness of offensive tactical decision-making data. Independent samples t-tests were conducted for intergroup comparison analysis on SPSS 25.0 software. The tactical decision-making agility and rationality of the expert group were significantly higher than those of the novice group (P < 0.01). The reason for this difference in behavior is that the expert group took more fixations and saccades to deeply visually process the position and size of the gap area. At the same time, to gain opportunities to score goals, they prioritized the extraction and processing of information from the far offensive player area, which is closer to the goal. They used a following fixation mode to search for both offensive and defensive players, repeatedly observing the positional characteristics and changes in the gaps created by both sides. They used fewer fixations for visual search of the goal area and defensive player area, forming a visual allocation principle of far offensive players > near offensive players > gap > marking players > pressing players > covering players > goal. The expert group can effectively balance decision-making agility and tactical rationality, effectively identify key information, deeply process the extracted information, and adopt different search strategies to handle key and non-key information, forming an economical and effective visual allocation principle to complete efficient perceptual prediction.

15 Preventive Effect of Cross-motion Swing Exercise on Groin Pain in High School Male Soccer Players: A Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial

Reference: Orthop J Sports Med. 2025 Jul 3;13(7):23259671251351333. doi: 10.1177/23259671251351333. eCollection 2025 Jul.
Authors: Hiroshi Mori, Sadao Niga, Yasuaki Mizoguchi, Yu Okubo, Hiroshi Hattori, Toby Hall, Kiyokazu Akasaka
Download link: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12227873/pdf/10.1177_23259671251351333.pdf
Summary: Groin pain in soccer players arises from various causes, most commonly kicking, and as such can significantly affect performance. A new form of exercise, the cross-motion swing exercise (CMS), may help prevent groin pain but is untested. The aim was to evaluate the effectiveness of the CMS in preventing groin pain in high school soccer players. This study involved 135 male high school soccer players <18 years from 4 teams competing in a high school soccer league in Japan. Teams were randomly assigned to an intervention group (2 teams; n = 65 players) or a control group (2 teams; n = 70 players). The intervention group performed the CMS in addition to their usual warm-up, emphasizing coordination and kicking movements, while the control group continued their usual warm-up exercise. The intervention period lasted 16 weeks, with compliance monitored weekly. Data were collected through weekly Google form surveys. The primary outcome was the incidence of groin pain at any time during the study period. The intervention group had a significantly lower incidence of groin pain (9.4%) compared with the control group (23.1%). Cox proportional hazards regression analysis indicated a significantly reduced risk of groin pain in the intervention group (hazard ratio, 0.309; 95% CI, 0.108-0.880; P = .028). The number of injuries was 6 in the intervention group and 18 in the control group, and injuries due to the kicking motion were 0 in the intervention group (0%) and 7 in the control group (38.9%). The CMS significantly reduced the incidence of groin pain in high school soccer players. This suggests that coordination-based exercise, closely mimicking the appropriate sports-specific movement, was effective in reducing injury. The study supports incorporating the CMS into regular training to reduce the incidence of groin pain in male high school soccer players.

16 A Higher Thigh Muscle Injury Incidence in Professional Male Soccer Players Returning to Play After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction: Analysis of 110 Cases From the UEFA Elite Club Injury Study

Reference: Am J Sports Med. 2025 Jul 8:3635465251353213. doi: 10.1177/03635465251353213. Online ahead of print.
Authors: Francesco Della Villa, Håkan Bengtsson, Martin Hägglund, Romain Seil, Eric Hamrin Senorski, Jan Ekstrand, Markus Waldén
Summary: Previous literature has suggested an important association between a history of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction (ACLR) and future thigh muscle injuries, but more and larger studies are needed, particularly for quadriceps muscle injuries. The aim was to determine the incidence of hamstring and quadriceps muscle injuries after return to play (RTP) from ACLR using patellar tendon (PT) and hamstring tendon (HT) autografts in professional male soccer players. A total of 5447 players from 74 clubs were followed prospectively from July 2001 to May 2022. The injury incidence (number of injuries per 1000 hours) was compared between players with ACLR and those without ACL injuries as well as for players with ACLR between a 2-year period before the ACL injury and a 2-year period after RTP. The rate ratio (RR) was calculated with the 95% confidence interval (CI) and examined for significance with Z statistics. There were 110 ACLR cases (76 PT and 34 HT grafts) in 107 players included. Players with ACLR had a 60% higher thigh muscle injury incidence (RR, 1.6 [95% CI, 1.3-2.0]) within 2 years after RTP compared with players without ACL injuries. Players with ACLR had a doubled thigh muscle injury incidence (RR, 2.0 [95% CI, 1.4-2.9]) in the 2 years after RTP compared with 2 years before their ACL injury. Players with a PT autograft had a higher quadriceps muscle injury incidence (RR, 3.5 [95% CI, 1.4-8.8]) in the 2 years after RTP compared with 2 years before their ACL injury, whereas there was no difference in the hamstring muscle injury incidence in players with an HT autograft (RR, 1.7 [95% CI, 0.5-5.8]). ACLR in professional male soccer players was associated with an increased thigh muscle injury incidence, particularly quadriceps muscle injuries in players with a PT autograft.

17 Lessons Learned from Implementing Injury and Illness Surveillance in Professional Football: Introducing a New Implementation Framework

Reference: Sports Med. 2025 Jul 11. doi: 10.1007/s40279-025-02276-5. Online ahead of print.
Authors: Montassar Tabben, Bahar Hassanmirzaei, Gurcharan Singh, Riadh Miladi, Mokhtar Chaabane, Pierre McCourt, Andreas Serner, Ben Clarsen, Zied Ellouze, Mourad Mokrani, Rodney Whiteley, Pieter D’Hooghe, Marco Cardinale, Yorck Olaf Schumacher, Roald Bahr
Summary: Injury and illness surveillance (IIS) systems play a crucial role in professional sports by monitoring athlete health, informing preventive strategies, and enhancing performance. Although international bodies, such as the International Olympic Committee, have established comprehensive guidelines, implementing these standards across diverse sports environments and specifically in football (soccer), remains challenging. This paper reflects on the experiences gained from implementing IIS systems in various football settings, including the Qatar Stars League and the Asian Football Confederation. It explores the successes and challenges encountered while adapting surveillance protocols to specific contexts and introduces a framework aimed at standardizing and optimizing IIS implementation. The findings underscore the importance of centralized oversight, routine data collection, and stable staffing to ensure consistent data quality. The integration of electronic data tools and real-time monitoring has further improved data accuracy and reporting. However, maintaining engagement across large geographical regions and addressing regulatory variations continue to pose challenges. We propose a step-by-step framework for IIS implementation that addresses these complexities while providing a strong foundation for expanding surveillance across other sports settings. This framework seeks to promote a more consistent approach to injury prevention and health management, with the potential for universal validation through collaboration with experts worldwide.

18 Training Impulse and Session Ratings of Perceived Exertion as Perceived by Athletes and Observed by Coaches During Preseason Football Camp

Reference: J Strength Cond Res. 2025 Jul 9. doi: 10.1519/JSC.0000000000005169. Online ahead of print.
Authors: Valerie Smith-Hale, Ruben Mendoza, Cody Vargo, Max Schoen, Linda Jimenez, Matthew VanSumeren, Jordan Sabourin, Brian C Rider, Jeffrey Martin, E Whitney G Moore, Tamara Hew-Butler
Summary: Quantification of internal training load (TL), through wearable technology, represents an emerging metric for TL management in sport. The accuracy of subjective vs. objective assessments of TL, as perceived by athletes and observed by coaches, has yet to be evaluated during long-duration football practices (>2 hours). The purpose of this study was to evaluate relationships among objective heart rate (HR) and subjective ratings of perceived exertion (RPE) assessment of TL in collegiate American football athletes, and their coaches, during preseason camp. Twenty-four athletes (first-year, n = 6; returning, n = 18) and 2 coaches (football coach [FBC], n = 1; strength and conditioning coach [SCC], n = 1) participated. Athletes wore chest strap HR monitors during the first 6 days of preseason football camp for an objective TL assessment using training impulse (TRIMP: average exercise HR × duration of practice). Subjective TL was assessed by both athletes (perceived) and coaches (observed) using a session ratings of perceived exertion (sRPE; 0-10 rating scale; 10 = maximum effort). The average practice duration was 142.3 ± 35.5 minutes, with 139 total observations across 6 practices. Significant (alpha level p ≤ 0.05) relationships were noted between TRIMP and sRPE from the athletes (r = 0.62), FBC (r = 0.68) and SCC (r = 0.49). When subdivided into first-year and returning groups, relationships were stronger between TRIMP and sRPE with first-year athletes (athlete r = 0.68; p = 0.001; FBC r = 0.79; p = 0.001; SCC r = 0.64; p = 0.001) than for returning athletes (athlete r = 0.60; p = 0.001; FB coach r = 0.70; p = 0.001; SCC r = 0.40: p = 0.001). These data suggest that subjective athlete perceptions and coach observations of TL are in low-moderate agreement, indicating these are not interchangeable, during long-duration preseason football camp.

19 Health problems in top-level female football players: a four-season prospective study in the Finnish top football league

Reference: Sci Med Footb. 2025 Jul 11:1-17. doi: 10.1080/24733938.2025.2524175. Online ahead of print.
Authors: Iida Mustakoski, Einari Kurittu, Tommi Vasankari, Tuomas Brinck, Jari Parkkari, Olli Heinonen, Mari Leppänen
Summary: The objective was to examine the prevalence, incidence rate, and burden of health problems among top-level female football players in Finland. During the four-season follow-up, altogether 372 players (mean age 20.6 years) from 13 teams participated. Players reported all health problems (sudden-onset injuries, gradual-onset injuries and illnesses) weekly using a mobile application. Training exposure was collected at the team level from coaches and individual match exposure from the match statistics. Prevalence, incidence rate, and burden of injuries and illnesses were calculated. The average weekly response rate was 87%. The weekly prevalence of any health problem was 23.1% (95% CI 21.0-25.3%). Prevalence of health problems causing moderate or severe modifications in sports participation/performance (substantial health problems) was 15.8% (95% CI 14.2-17.7%). Altogether 783 injuries (5.5 injuries per 1000 hours) and 586 illnesses (1.7 cases per 365 player-days) were reported. Seventy percent of injuries were sudden-onset (3.7 per 1000 hours) and 30% gradual-onset injuries (1.6 per 1000 hours). The incidence rate of sudden-onset injuries per 1000 hours was 2.3 (1.9-2.7) in training and 15.3 (11.2-21.0) in match play. Sudden-onset injuries accounted for 54% of total time loss, gradual-onset injuries 17%, and illnesses 30%. Thigh (19%) and ankle (18%) injuries were most common. Knee injuries, particularly ACL injuries, were the most severe, with knee injuries causing 53% and ACL injuries 28% of all injury time loss. Sudden-onset injuries, occurring mainly in matches, posed the greatest health burden for female football players.

20 Delivering social and public health programmes through community arms of professional football clubs

Reference: Health Promot Int. 2025 Jul 1;40(4):daaf106. doi: 10.1093/heapro/daaf106.
Authors: Jordan Maclean, Alice MacLean, Cindy M Gray, Stephanie Chambers, Craig Donnachie, Russell Jago, Kate Hunt
Download link: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12235519/pdf/daaf106.pdf
Summary: Community arms of professional football clubs have become key third-sector players in mitigating health and social inequalities. This paper examines the factors affecting their capacity for delivering social and public health programmes in the community setting. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 24 community staff members from the community arms of 22 professional football clubs and one non-professional club. This provided the basis for an interpretive thematic analysis which led to the development of three themes: ‚from football club community departments to charitable arms‘, ‚the reach of community programmes‘, and ‚challenges and opportunities of delivering social and public health programmes via community football club arms‘. Charitable status has created more funding opportunities, enabling community arms to better prioritize community needs. The expanding reach of community programmes delivers social and health benefits to children, adults, and older adults (65 and over) from diverse cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds. However, numerous challenges and opportunities were reported as affecting community arms‘ capacity to deliver these programmes. Safeguarding is a challenge, but partnerships offer an opportunity to address it. Co-dependency with the football club presents both challenges and opportunities for community arms. Staffing and facilities, funding applications and reporting on programmes, were all identified as challenges. Our findings highlight eight key recommendations specific to areas of oversight in the community arms of football clubs, including professional development, partnership working, board members, resourcing, funding, programme reporting, and conflicts of interest.