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 Developing a checklist to assess fidelity of training and treatment delivery of 11 for Health, a football-based health education intervention for youth

Reference: Br J Health Psychol. 2025 Nov;30(4):e70032. doi: 10.1111/bjhp.70032.
Authors: Kristina Pfeffer, Malte Nejst Larsen, Mathilde Grøn Laursen, Trine Grønbek Hamborg, Josef Heidler, Knud Ryom, Peter Krustrup, Nikos Ntoumanis
Summary: Assessing fidelity is essential to understanding the effectiveness of behavioural interventions, yet reporting often lacks detail and consistency. This study developed and applied a fidelity checklist to evaluate both training and treatment delivery in a school-based health education intervention. This is one of the first applications of The Behaviour Change Technique Ontology to inform the development of a fidelity checklist. The checklist was created for the 11 for Health (11fH) intervention-an intervention shown to be effective in improving health for youth. Two fidelity checklists were developed, one for health education sessions and one for football sessions. The checklists comprised 24 behaviour change techniques (BCTs) identified in the intervention manual and intervention components identified by intervention creators. Training fidelity and treatment delivery were coded by three independent raters through 8 h of video observations of the training and 10 video observations of 45 min each of the delivery of the 11fH sessions using the checklists. Kappa coefficients indicated moderate to substantial observer agreement. The fidelity of training was 98.9% and the fidelity of delivery was 77.5%. Fidelity was high for items such as ‚Instruct how to perform a behaviour‘ and ‚Student inclusion‘, whereas the BCTs ‚Inform about emotional and social consequences‘ and ‚Substitute one behaviour with another‘ were delivered with lower fidelity. We provide a template of how to develop and evaluate aspects of fidelity that can be used in similar health education interventions, thereby enhancing both their evaluation and implementation.

2 Walking Football as a Multidimensional Intervention for Healthy Aging: A Scoping Review of Physical and Functional Outcomes in Older Adults

Reference: Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2025 Oct 7;22(10):1533. doi: 10.3390/ijerph22101533.
Authors: Paulo Sérgio Machado Rodrigues, Antônio Ribeiro Neto, Leandro Alonso do Espírito Santo, Sheilla Tribess, Jair Sindra Virtuoso Junior
Download link: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12563823/pdf/ijerph-22-01533.pdf
Summary: Population aging presents pressing public health challenges, calling for accessible and effective interventions to preserve functional capacity and prevent frailty. Walking football, an adapted sport for older adults, has emerged as a promising approach by combining aerobic activity, neuromuscular stimulation, and social engagement. This scoping review aimed to synthesize experimental evidence on its effect on physical and functional outcomes in older adults. Following PRISMC-ScR and Joanna Briggs Institute guidelines, a systematic search across seven databases identified 10 studies with 332 participants (mean age 68.7 years, 85.2% male). Interventions lasted 6-16 weeks, with two to three weekly sessions. The outcomes assessed included strength, agility, cardiorespiratory fitness, body composition, and clinical parameters. Six studies reported improvements in at least one component of physical fitness, particularly handgrip strength, abdominal fat reduction, and aerobic capacity. Among the included studies, three were randomized controlled trials, four quasi-experimental designs, and three intervention studies without control groups, highlighting the methodological heterogeneity of the field. Some studies also reported benefits in blood pressure, glucose, cholesterol, and quality of life. Despite promising results, the literature lacks large-scale randomized trials, female representation, and long-term assessments. Walking football appears to be a safe, multicomponent, and low-cost strategy to support healthy aging and warrants integrations into public health policies.

3 Associations Between Sociocultural Attitudes Toward Appearance, Perfectionism, and Symptoms of Orthorexia Nervosa in Adolescent Football Athletes

Reference: Healthcare (Basel). 2025 Oct 18;13(20):2625. doi: 10.3390/healthcare13202625.
Authors: Wiktoria Staśkiewicz-Bartecka, Daniel Kandziora, Maksymilian Kafka, Paweł Marchewka, Agnieszka Białek-Dratwa, Agata Kiciak, Sylwia Jaruga-Sękowska, Daria Dobkowska-Szefer, Paweł Lewandowski, Samet Aktaş, Mateusz Grajek
Download link: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12562361/pdf/healthcare-13-02625.pdf
Summary: Orthorexia nervosa and appearance-related pressures are increasingly discussed in youth sport, where performance demands may amplify perfectionistic tendencies and the internalization of cultural body ideals. This study examined how sociocultural attitudes toward appearance and perfectionism relate to orthorexic tendencies among adolescent football athletes. The study included players from a soccer school, with a final sample of 83 participants. All were Polish citizens aged 16-19. A cross-sectional design was used with standardized instruments: the Polish adaptation of the Düsseldorf Orthorexia Scale (DOS) to index symptoms of ON risk, the Sport Perfectionism Questionnaire (positive/negative perfectionism), and the SATAQ-3 subscales to assess sociocultural internalization/pressures and information exposure. Across the entire sample (n = 73), most athletes were classified as having no risk of ON-60 people (82.2%), a smaller proportion showed an increased risk-10 people (13.7%), and symptoms of ON were found in 3 people (4.1%). In bivariate analyses, orthorexic tendencies co-occurred with perfectionism. In multivariate models, the addition of the perfectionism block provided a significant increase in explained variance over age, BMI, and sociocultural attitudes, while the SATAQ-3 block contributed only a small amount of additional variance in the presence of other predictors. Orthorexic risk is present but not widespread in adolescent football athletes. Perfectionistic tendencies emerge as salient psychosocial correlates of orthorexic symptoms, while sociocultural pressures appear relevant but partly overlapping and not uniquely predictive when modeled together.

4 Global Research Trends in Sports Nutrition and Football over the Last 20 Years (2004-2024)

Reference: Sports (Basel). 2025 Oct 16;13(10):365. doi: 10.3390/sports13100365.
Authors: David Michel de Oliveira, Ana Karolina Assis Carvalho Silva, Anderson Geremias Macedo, Mayara Bocchi Fernandes, Eduardo Vignoto Fernandes
Download link: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12567775/pdf/sports-13-00365.pdf
Summary: We aimed to map the scientific production on sports nutrition applied to soccer. A scientometric analysis was performed using articles published between 2004 and 2024, retrieved from Web of Science, PubMed, and Scopus. The search yielded 2636 documents, and 526 original articles were included after removing reviews, meta-analyses, duplicates, and studies outside the scope. Data were analyzed using Bibliometrix version 5.0.1; Massimo Aria & Corrado Cuccurullo; Naples; Italy. and VOSviewer version 1.6.20; Centre for Science and Technology Studies (CWTS), Leiden University; Leiden; The Netherlands software. There was a 1.450% increase in publications over the period, with a peak in 2024. Nutrients was the leading publication source, while Morton J. and Maughan R. were the most productive authors. Liverpool John Moores University stood out as a collaboration hub. The United Kingdom 371 took the lead in both publication volume and citations. Early research trends focused on hydration and dietary optimization, whereas recent studies emphasized low energy availability, polyphenols, anthropometry, and recovery strategies. The conceptual structure focused on terms such as sports, nutrition, energy intake, food intake, performance, soccer, and training load. Peripheral terms included fluid balance and sweat rate. The co-occurrence analysis revealed underexplored topics such as oxidative stress, lipid peroxidation, beta-alanine supplementation, and antioxidant markers. Advancing these research areas is essential to consolidating nutritional strategies with direct effects on performance and health in soccer players.

5 Associations Between Psychological Coping Skills and Player Behaviors During Transition Moments in Male Youth Football

Reference: Sports (Basel). 2025 Oct 13;13(10):363. doi: 10.3390/sports13100363.
Authors: Francisco Pires, Maria Inês Vigário, Sandra S Ferreira, António Vicente
Download link: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12568233/pdf/sports-13-00363.pdf
Summary: Sport performance results from the interaction of tactical, technical, physiological and psychological factors, but psychological aspects are often minimized or analyzed in a decontextualized manner. This exploratory pilot study aimed to contribute to the development of a diagnostic framework that links individual behaviors during football attack-defense transition moments (ADT) with psychological attributes. Twenty male U14 players were assessed across five official matches regarding their ADT performance indicators. The Athletic Coping Skills Inventory (ACSI-28) and the Resilience Scale (RS) were applied during the competition. Statistical analyses included correlation tests and Bayesian analysis. Players showed a significant tendency to sustain ball recovery behaviors after possession loss (p = 0.004). Psychological resilience and athletic coping skills varied substantially between individuals without positional differences, as well as RS scores were significantly below the high-resilience threshold (147; p = 0.013). A moderate positive correlation emerged between RS Factor 1 and the ACSI-28 subscale „Coping with Adversity“ (r = 0.574, p = 0.008). Posterior distributions provide exploratory signals suggesting possible positive associations for two psychological constructs considering ADT individual behaviors: „Concentration“ in relation to the maintenance of recovery actions (Mode = 0.439; 95% CI [0.030, 0.721]) and „Goal Setting“ in relation to the rapid initiation of recovery actions (Mode = 0.465; 95% CI [0.059, 0.734]). Nevertheless, Bayes Factors favored the null model overall, indicating that these signals are weak and require replication. By contrast, most psychological constructs, including resilience, showed no reliable evidence of correlation with recovery-related actions. The findings highlight the need to further research the integration of psychological assessment into football performance diagnostics, while also indicating that psychological factors alone are insufficient to fully explain youth players‘ individual ADT behaviors.

6 Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis in Professional and Semi-Professional Football: A Scoping Review

Reference: Sports (Basel). 2025 Oct 3;13(10):348. doi: 10.3390/sports13100348.
Authors: Íñigo M Pérez-Castillo, Alberto Valiño-Marques, José López-Chicharro, Felipe Segura-Ortiz, Ricardo Rueda, Hakim Bouzamondo
Download link: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12568126/pdf/sports-13-00348.pdf
Summary: Bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) is a widely used field technique for assessing body composition in football. However, its reliance on population-specific regression equations limits its accuracy. This scoping review aimed to map the scientific literature on BIA applications in professional and semi-professional football, highlighting uses, limitations, and research opportunities. A comprehensive search was conducted in the scientific databases PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, and SPORTDiscus. Identified studies involved the use of BIA in professional and semi-professional football players (≥16 years) in the context of routine training and competition. From 14,624 records, 39 studies met the inclusion criteria and were included. Three main applications were identified: (1) quantitative body composition assessment, (2) qualitative/semi-quantitative analysis (e.g., bioelectrical impedance vector analysis (BIVA)), and (3) muscle health and injury monitoring. Seven specific research areas emerged, including hydration monitoring, cross-method validation of body composition analyses, development of predictive models, sport phenotype identification, tracking training adaptations, performance/load assessment via phase angle, and localized BIA for injury diagnosis and recovery. While quantitative BIA estimates may lack individual-level precision, raw parameter analyses may offer valuable insights into hydration, cellular integrity, and muscle injury status, yet further research is needed to fully realize these applications.

7 Concussions in Portuguese Professional Football: A Preliminary Epidemiological Study

Reference: Diseases. 2025 Oct 8;13(10):332. doi: 10.3390/diseases13100332.
Authors: André Moreira, Filipe Froes, Gonçalo Vaz, Alexandre Fernandes, Basil Ribeiro, Frank Mederos, Gabriel Nogueira, Hugo Almeida, Pedro Caetano, Pedro Prata, Ana Teixeira, Reinaldo Teixeira
Download link: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12563299/pdf/diseases-13-00332.pdf
Summary: Concussions are a growing concern in professional football due to their potential short- and long-term neurological consequences. Despite increasing global awareness, data on the epidemiology and clinical management of concussions in Portuguese football remain scarce. This preliminary exploratory study aimed to characterize the incidence, mechanisms, symptomatology, and medical response to concussions in Portugal’s Professional Football Leagues during the 2023/2024 season, based on reported cases. A retrospective observational analysis was conducted on head injuries reported by club medical teams during official matches in Liga Portugal First and Second Leagues. Collected variables included player position, time of injury, mechanism, symptoms, medical interventions and hospital referral. Only six concussions were reported during official matches, with an overall incidence of 0.60 per 1000 player-hours. Most occurred in defenders, primarily due to head-to-head collisions, followed by ball impact, falls, and maxillofacial trauma. Injuries were more frequent during the final third of matches. Common symptoms included loss of consciousness, headache, and amnesia. Half of the players were referred to hospital care and underwent cranial CT scans. Among all variables analyzed, a statistically significant association was found between mechanism of injury and occurrence of amnesia (p = 0.014), with non-head-to-head impacts more frequently associated with amnesia. However, given the extremely limited sample size, this finding should be interpreted with extreme caution and requires replication in larger cohorts. This preliminary study suggests that defenders face a higher risk of head injuries, particularly from head-to-head impacts occurring late in matches. The prevalence of severe symptoms and the potential association between non-head-to-head impacts and amnesia highlight the need for more robust injury surveillance systems and underscore the importance of improved sideline assessment and return-to-play protocols. The findings emphasize the urgent need for comprehensive, standardized reporting mechanisms for concussions. Further research should explore long-term neurological effects and the effectiveness of preventive measures such as rule modifications, protective measures, and enhanced concussion management protocols, supported by more extensive and systematically collected data.

8 One competitive season of injuries in professional football: a retrospective study from a Portuguese first league team

Reference: Phys Sportsmed. 2025 Oct 28:1-6. doi: 10.1080/00913847.2025.2581560. Online ahead of print.
Authors: Frederico Moeda, João Saraiva Alexandre, Telmo Marçal, João Celeirós, João Amaro, Ricardo Barbosa, Gustavo Barão, Bernardo Lopes, João Alves, Madjer Hatia
Summary: The aim was to describe the injury profile of a Portuguese professional football team over one competitive season, focusing on the type, severity, mechanism, timing, and management of time-loss injuries. This is a retrospective, observational study based on a single professional team from the Portuguese first football league. The study was conducted over one full competitive season (2024/2025). All time-loss injuries resulting in missed official matches were included. Collected data included player demographics, injury type, anatomical location, mechanism (traumatic or overuse), recurrence, time-loss duration, and the use of image-guided interventional procedures. Injuries were diagnosed using clinical evaluation and confirmed by imaging (ultrasound, X-ray or Magnetic Resonance Imaging). Descriptive statistics were used. A total of 26 injuries were recorded, corresponding to an overall incidence of 48.7 injuries per 1000 h of exposure (training: 33.3/1000 h; match: 148.1/1000 h; incidence rate ratio = 4.45). Muscle injuries of the hip and thigh were most common (n = 14, 53.8%), particularly hamstring (n = 6) and adductor strains (n = 4). Traumatic mechanisms accounted for 92.3% (n = 24) of cases, while 2 were overuse injuries. Sixteen injuries (61.5%) occurred during training and 8 (30.8%) during matches. The mean time-loss was 20.8 days, corresponding to 4.2 matches missed per injury. Injury peaks were observed in February and April. Defenders were the most affected (n = 15, 57.7%). Four players underwent ultrasound-guided procedures, including three platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections and one corticosteroid plus hyaluronic acid injection, all with favorable outcomes and return to play. This study reinforces the importance of context-specific surveillance to guide injury prevention and treatment. The predominance of traumatic training injuries and successful application of image-guided interventions highlight key considerations for elite football medical teams.

9 Continuous football player tracking from discrete broadcast data

Reference: R Soc Open Sci. 2025 Oct 22;12(10):251175. doi: 10.1098/rsos.251175. eCollection 2025 Oct.
Authors: Matthew J Penn, Christl A Donnelly, Samir Bhatt
Download link: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12551677/pdf/rsos.251175.pdf
Summary: Player tracking data remain out of reach for many professional football teams, as their video feeds are not sufficiently high quality for computer vision technologies to be used. To help bridge this gap, we present a method that can estimate continuous full-pitch tracking data from discrete data made from broadcast footage. Such data could be collected by clubs or players at a similar cost to event data, which are widely available down to the semi-professional level. We test our method using open-source tracking data and include a version that can be applied to a large set of over 200 games with such discrete data.

10 Evidence of Decreased Physical Performance During Playoff Matches: A 4-Season Study of a Liga MX Football Club

Reference: Int J Sports Physiol Perform. 2025 Oct 25:1-9. doi: 10.1123/ijspp.2025-0286. Online ahead of print.
Authors: Gonçalo Rendeiro-Pinho, Aldo A Vasquez-Bonilla, Paul D Balsom, Oscar Tojo, Luis Alberto Flores Olivares, Paul Jacobo Ramirez Mendez, Luis Enrique Carranza-García
Reference: Int J Sports Physiol Perform. 2025 Oct 30:1. doi: 10.1123/ijspp.2025-0563. Online ahead of print.PMID: 41167185 No abstract available.
Summary: The aim was to explore and compare physical performance across different match scheduling types, including noncongested, congested, and playoffs and considering contextual factors such as match outcomes, location, and player position of a Liga MX football club over a 4-season follow-up. Thirty-seven players participated. Physical-performance metrics included total and relative distance, maximal velocity, maximal acceleration and deceleration, high-intensity break distance, explosive distance, high-speed running (HSR), number and distance of HSR actions, and number and distance of sprints. Linear mixed-model analysis was applied to compare interactions between variables using fixed factors and random factors. Players showed a physical decrement during the playoffs compared with noncongested fixtures in total distance (Δ = -497 m, P = .007), relative distance (Δ = 9.10 m/min, P < .001), peak velocity (Δ = 0.54 km/h, P = .003), high-intensity break distance (Δ = 14 m, P < .001), explosive distance (Δ = 58 m, P < .001), HSR distance (Δ = 43 m, P < .001), number of HSR actions (Δ = 1.86, P < .001), sprint distance (Δ = 29 m, P < .001), and number of sprints (Δ = 1.17, P < .001). Furthermore, physical performance tended to decline during playoff matches that resulted in a loss, and this was more pronounced in winger player positions than in players with other roles such as center backs and forwards (P ≤ .001). These findings highlight a physical-performance decrease during the playoffs, which can be a key determinant of match outcomes.

11 The effect of gluteal Kinesio-Taping on ankle function, dynamic balance, and electromyographic activity of gluteal muscles in male soccer players with chronic ankle instability: a randomized clinical trial

Reference: BMC Sports Sci Med Rehabil. 2025 Nov 7;17(1):322. doi: 10.1186/s13102-025-01333-w.
Authors: Hanieh Zarei, Habiballah Lari, Amin Kordi Yoosefinejad, Alireza Motealleh
Download link: https://bmcsportsscimedrehabil.biomedcentral.com/counter/pdf/10.1186/s13102-025-01333-w.pdf
Summary: Chronic ankle instability (CAI) is associated with balance disorders and functional deficits in soccer players. Impaired gluteal muscle function contributes significantly to these issues, as these muscles play a crucial role in maintaining lower limb stability and balance. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of Kinesio-taping (KT) on the electromyographic (EMG) activity of gluteal muscles, ankle function, and dynamic balance in male soccer players with CAI. In this randomized clinical trial, 30 male soccer players with CAI were randomly assigned to either the gluteal KT group (case) or the sham control group. Gluteal EMG activity, onset time, ankle function (Single-Leg Hop Test), and dynamic balance (modified Star Excursion Balance Test, mSEBT) were assessed pre-taping, immediately post-taping, and 48 h later. The case group demonstrated significant increases in gluteus medius EMG activity (P < 0.05) and reductions in gluteus maximus onset time (P < 0.05) at both immediate and 48-hour follow-ups. Statistically significant improvements were also observed in single-leg hop distance (P = 0.001) and dynamic balance (P < 0.05) in the KT group compared to the control group. However, changes did not consistently meet minimal clinically important difference (MCID) thresholds for the mSEBT (4-5 cm per direction) or single-leg hop test (8-10 cm). KT enhances gluteus medius activation, reduces gluteus maximus onset time, and improves ankle function and dynamic balance in soccer players with CAI. While statistically significant, the observed improvements may require integration with other rehabilitation strategies to achieve clinically meaningful outcomes. Future studies should explore long-term effects, diverse populations, and combined interventions to optimize functional gains.

12 The interplay between pitch control and top speed in soccer considering the stamina factor

Reference: Sci Rep. 2025 Nov 5;15(1):38799. doi: 10.1038/s41598-025-22778-6.
Authors: Marco F da Silva, Álvaro Novillo, Alberto Aleta, Roberto López Del Campo, Ricardo Resta, Yamir Moreno, Javier M Buldú
Download link: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12589445/pdf/41598_2025_Article_22778.pdf
Summary: In this study, we investigate the interplay between player speed and ball control in soccer. We present a novel pitch control algorithm that quantifies the probability of a player gaining possession at any location on the field. Our model accounts for the heterogeneity of player speeds by measuring performance during matches and assigning each player a specific top speed. We then compare the pitch control percentages derived from our approach with those from classical models, which assume uniform top speeds for all players, and analyze the results across different player roles (defenders, midfielders, and forwards). Our findings reveal a positive correlation between a player’s top speed and their accumulated pitch control, with certain players benefiting more from this relationship. However, this positive correlation is constrained by the role of the player in the team, with defenders achieving the highest accumulated pitch control despite not being the fastest. Furthermore, our methodology supports team-level analysis, identifying which teams gain the greatest advantage from their players‘ top speeds, and extends to comparisons between the first and second halves of matches. Our model also enables exploration of how changes in top speed may affect pitch control at both the individual and team levels. To facilitate this, we introduce the stamina factor, a parameter that adjusts a player’s top speed. We find that the impact of the stamina factor on pitch control follows a logarithmic function, with the scaling factor quantifying the potential benefits of increased speed. Interestingly, the influence of the stamina factor varies significantly by player position. Overall, our approach provides valuable insights into which teams or players could benefit most from improvements in physical performance.

13 Return-to-Play Criteria Following a Hamstring Injury in Professional Soccer: Time for a Tailor-Made Approach

Reference: Int J Sports Physiol Perform. 2025 Nov 5:1-5. doi: 10.1123/ijspp.2025-0216. Online ahead of print.
Authors: Paolo Perna, Fearghal Kerin, Ben MacDonald, Aleksi Jokela, Lasse Lempainen, Marco Beato
Download link: https://journals.humankinetics.com/view/journals/ijspp/aop/article-10.1123-ijspp.2025-0216/article-10.1123-ijspp.2025-0216.xml
Summary: A hamstring injury rehabilitation and return-to-play (RTP) individualized approach based on the anatomical structure involved, the location of the injury, and the mechanism of injury is still missing in most studies. RTP criteria should be chosen following the same principles and the complexity of the injury and should receive more attention from the scientific community given that reinjury risk is one of the main challenges associated with hamstring rehabilitation. The available literature is mainly based on articles in which hamstring injuries are treated as a whole without making distinctions for their specific characteristics. There is a need to improve how we look at RTP criteria for hamstring injuries to improve decision making and help practitioners design the most suitable RTP protocols. We should consider the anatomical structure and the complexity of the injury to determine the importance of lay-off time and healing, understand the implication of the location of injury and the muscle involved on strength-test selection, and knowledge of the mechanism of injury and workload before the injury to assess the ability to activate the muscles in a sport- and mechanism-specific position and prepare the athlete with an appropriate exposure to high-speed running and technical skills.

14 The Influence of Competition Time on Soccer Players‘ Performance Factors: A Scoping Review with Evidence Gap Map

Reference: Sports Med. 2025 Nov 5. doi: 10.1007/s40279-025-02321-3. Online ahead of print.
Authors: André Milheiro, Ivan Baptista, Fábio Y Nakamura, Hugo Sarmento, Filipe Manuel Clemente, João Renato Silva, José Afonso
Summary: Performance in team sports is influenced by physical, technical, tactical, and psychological factors. Understanding the disparities in playing time between starters and nonstarters is crucial for optimizing training strategies and performance management. This systematic scoping review with an evidence gap map (EGM) aimed to (i) synthesize findings from studies comparing the performance factors of starters and nonstarters, (ii) identify compensatory strategies for players with reduced playing times and barriers to the implementation of these strategies, and (iii) provide an EGM to guide future research toward addressing the most relevant gaps in the literature. This review followed the PRISMA 2020 guidelines and the respective extension for scoping reviews (PRISMA-ScR). Electronic databases such as the Cochrane Library, PubMed, Scopus, SPORTDiscus, and Web of Science (Core Collection) were searched on 31/08/2023. The RoBANS tool was used to assess the risk of bias. Among 32,613 articles, 57 trials from 70 publications were included. Female soccer players were represented in only 15.8% of the trials. The physical performance factor (k = 56, 98.2%) has been extensively studied in relation to the differences between starters and nonstarters. Few studies have analyzed technical and psychological performance factors, while tactical factors have not been addressed. Starters presented higher values of external absolute intensity (EAI, measured by the total distance and sprint distance), higher internal absolute intensity (IAI, assessed through heart rate-based measures as above 70% maximal heart rate), along with greater improvements in exercise performance measurements (countermovement jump and 20-m sprint), than nonstarters did. The most adopted categorization was based on match participation (k = 33, 57.9%), with starters defined as players who played for ≥ 66.7% of a match time (14.0%). The day commonly used for compensatory training was 24 h after a match (k = 16; 37.5%). Several strategies attempting to reproduce competitive loads were used, such as small-sided games (k = 9; 56.3%), running-based drills (k = 8, 50.0%), small-positional games (k = 3, 18.8%), tactical-technical drills (k = 2, 12.5%), strength training (k = 2, 12.5%), and friendly matches (k = 1, 6.5%). This scoping review highlights the necessity of placing increased emphasis on technical, tactical, and psychological performance factors and compensatory training strategies (including the day and types of exercise). These measures aim to replicate the competitive match demands for nonstarters, maintaining or enhancing the physical adaptations, psychological factors, and tactical-technical skills required for performance improvement throughout the season. This review proposes three main future research areas for the topic: (i) investigating the effects of compensatory training on nonstarters‘ weekly loads when distributed across multiple days; (ii) investigating additional cutoffs or more refined time classifications for nonstarters; and (iii) directing more studies toward female soccer players. The protocol was registered in the Open Science Framework (project: https://osf.io/36pum/ ; registration: https://osf.io/9rmz6 ) and made public on December 30, 2021, prior to being performed.

15 Age-related variation in the anthropometric profiles, body composition and functional capacities of female soccer players

Reference: PeerJ. 2025 Oct 30:13:e20096. doi: 10.7717/peerj.20096. eCollection 2025.
Authors: Stefania Toselli, Federica Moro, Martina Perugini, Mario Mauro
Download link: https://peerj.com/articles/20096.pdf
Summary: This study aimed to identify and compare the basic anthropometric characteristics, physical performance, and game-related skills of female soccer players across different age groups, including under-15 (U15), U17, U19, and first teams. Also, it aimed to account for performance tests variability through anthropometric features. A total of 56 athletes participated in a comprehensive test battery assessing anthropometric and bioelectrical parameters, air displacement plethysmography (ADP), and physical performance (Countermovement Jump Test (CMJ) and 30-15IFT). The older groups outperformed the younger players in physical and physiological characteristics. Significant differences were observed in body dimensions and composition, with the first team showing higher fat-free mass (FFM) than U15 and U17 players. Skinfold thickness was consistent across groups. The first team also exhibited the highest levels of power and speed, while U15 athletes showed the lowest CMJ. General linear models by stepwise procedures identified training hours as the main predictor for CMJ and speed, with each additional hour of training improving CMJ by 1 cm and speed by 1 km/h. Additionally, a decrease in skinfold thickness predicted improved power. A multidimensional approach, including anthropometric, bioelectrical, and physical performance data, provides essential insights for supporting athletic development in young female soccer players and can inform tailored training strategies to enhance their physical performance.

16 The Influence of Coronal Strike Stance Angle on Kicking Mechanics in Adolescent Female Soccer Players

Reference: Int J Sports Phys Ther. 2025 Nov 1;20(11):1564-1573. doi: 10.26603/001c.145881. eCollection 2025.
Authors: Ava Davis, Ashley Erdman, Philip Wilson, Henry Ellis, Sophia Ulman
Download link: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12579917/pdf/ijspt_2025_20_11_145881.pdf
Summary: Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears are one of the leading injuries in soccer players, especially among female athletes. Prior research has investigated risk factors associated with the swing limb during a soccer kick, but limited research has focused on biomechanical risk factors of the stance limb that may contribute to elevated injury risk when kicking. The purpose of this study was to quantify the relationship between strike stance angle (SSA) and lower extremity kinematics and kinetics during a soccer kick. SSA is the coronal angle created by the hip joint center to the ankle joint center of the stance limb from vertical. It was hypothesized that a greater SSA would be correlated to greater biomechanical risk factors and that correlated findings would differ by dominance. Nineteen healthy female soccer players (15.2±0.9 years) were tested performing a soccer kick on each limb in a motion capture laboratory. Kinematics and kinetics from the stance limb were captured at ball contact. Spearman correlations were performed to identify significant associations with SSA. During the stance limb-dominant kick, greater ankle dorsiflexion (r=0.72, p=0.018) was associated with greater SSA. Non-significant trends towards increased hip adduction and knee flexion were also observed. For the stance-limb-non-dominant kick, knee valgus moment (r=-0.81, p=0.002) and external knee rotation moment (r=-0.66, p=0.038) were also associated with greater SSA. A non-significant correlation was also observed between increased knee flexion and greater SSA. Altered hip mechanics and knee loading risk factors were associated with greater SSA, and associations differed by limb dominance. Additional research is needed to better define the relationship between SSA and lower extremity injury risk of healthy youth soccer players and to explore the potential impact on injury prevention.

17 ACL injuries in professional football (soccer): Women face higher risk, later surgical care and longer time loss compared to men

Reference: Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc. 2025 Nov 3. doi: 10.1002/ksa.70160. Online ahead of print.
Authors: Hendrik Bloch, Werner Krutsch, Christian Klein, Leonard Achenbach, Claus Reinsberger
Download link: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12591028/pdf/SMS-35-e70163.pdf
Summary: The study analysed unique data on anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries among German professional female and male team sports over seven consecutive seasons with the aim of identifying sex specific differences regarding ACL injury risk, burden and treatment strategies. This prospective observational open cohort study analysed unique insurance data on all complete ACL ruptures from female and male players with at least one competitive match appearance in the two highest divisions of German professional football. The long-term study covered seven consecutive seasons between 2014/15 and 2020/21 and included complete ACL ruptures registered by clubs or physicians with the German statutory accidental insurance for professional athletes (VBG) as part of occupational accident reporting. In total, 131 out of 2965 female players (4.4%) and 95 out of 2639 male players (3.6%) sustained an ACL injury. Mean ACL injury prevalence in female football was 3.0% (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.8-4.3) with an increasing trend over time. Mean ACL injury prevalence in men’s professional football was 1.6% (95% CI 0.8-2.3). The overall match incidence in female players was 0.91 ACL injuries per 1000 h of match exposure (95% CI 0.72-1.11). The overall match incidence in male football was 2.5-fold smaller (0.37 ACL injuries per 1000 h of match exposure (95% CI 0.28-0.47). Almost all ACL injuries (99.2%) were treated surgically. Patellar tendon grafts were used more often in male players compared to female players (p < 0.001). The mean period between the day of an ACL injury and the day of surgery was significant longer in female (median 19 days [interquartile range {IQR} 22]) than in male players (median 6 days (IQR 8, p < 0.001). Overall, female players had significant longer time loss after ACL injury and after ACLR compared to men (p < 0.001). The total secondary ACL injury rate after RTP was 31.7% for female players and 32.1% for male players. Female players were significantly younger at their retirement compared to males (26.7 ± 4.2 vs. 33.5 ± 3.3, p < 0.001). The ACL prevalence and match injury risk is higher in female players compared with males. Moreover, the present study shows an increasing trend for both parameters in German female professional football. One out of three players, irrespective of sex, sustained a second ACL injury over a median follow-up of six years. However, women end their careers earlier than men after an ACL injury, which could understate the actual extent of the second ACL injury rate in women. While sex-specific care would be advisable, access to medical treatment still seems to be limited in women’s football. Therefore, the therapeutic and medical framework conditions in women’s football should be aligned first.

18 Re-examining the reliability and validity of 30-15IFT for VO2max prediction in male collegiate soccer players: a pilot study

Reference: Front Physiol. 2025 Oct 17:16:1668250. doi: 10.3389/fphys.2025.1668250. eCollection 2025.
Authors: Ruiqi Cheng, Weian Lin, Lin Song, Jinchen Pan, Ning Wang, Xiaotian Li
Download link: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12575123/pdf/fphys-16-1668250.pdf
Summary: This pilot study aimed to determine the reliability and validity of the 30-15 Intermittent Fitness Test (30-15IFT) in male collegiate soccer players. A secondary aim was to develop a new, population-specific equation for predicting maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) and to compare its predictive validity against a widely used general equation. Twenty well-trained male collegiate soccer players (age 19.5 ± 1.3 years, height 177.8 ± 6.3 cm, body mass 68.0 ± 14.3 kg; training experience 10.8 ± 3.0 years) participated in this study, and goalkeepers and players with injuries were excluded. A repeated-measures design was utilized. The participants completed three testing sessions separated by 1-week intervals: one trial of a continuous treadmill running test (CT) with running speed increasing by 1 km/h every minute to assess the validity of the 30-15IFT and two trials of the 30-15IFT to evaluate reliability. The 30-15IFT involves 30-s runs across a 40-m course interspersed with 15 s of walking, with running speed increasing by 0.5 km/h every 45-s stage. Maximal intermittent running velocity (VIFT), maximum heart rate (HRmax), and maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max) were collected for both tests. Reliability was assessed using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and typical error (TE). Validity was evaluated via Pearson correlation and Bland-Altman analysis. A multiple linear regression model was developed and cross-validated, with its predictive accuracy and agreement directly compared to those of the equation. The 30-15IFT demonstrated high reliability for all key metrics (ICC = 0.81-0.92, CV = 1.43-1.69%). Despite large correlations with CT measures (r = 0.62-0.77), Bland-Altman analysis revealed significant systematic bias and wide limits of agreement. The newly developed population-specific equation (r = 0.72, SEE = 2.90 mL/kg/min) demonstrated substantially lower bias (SEE = 2.90 mL/kg/min) compared to the general equation when applied to this cohort (SEE = 4.91 mL/kg/min). This pilot study demonstrates that the 30-15IFT is a reliable tool for monitoring sport-specific performance, but should not be used interchangeably with laboratory-based tests due to significant disagreement. The application of general prediction equations can lead to considerable error. Future research should therefore focus on developing and validating these prediction models in larger, more diverse populations to improve their predictive accuracy and generalizability.

19 Effect of high vs. low volume of the nordic hamstring curl on hamstring muscle architecture and eccentric strength in soccer players: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Reference: Front Physiol. 2025 Oct 16:16:1631205. doi: 10.3389/fphys.2025.1631205. eCollection 2025.
Authors: Jozef Cholp, Erika Zemková
Download link: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12572617/pdf/fphys-16-1631205.pdf
Summary: Hamstring strain injuries (HSI) remain a significant problem in professional soccer, as this injury is the most prevalent. Nordic hamstring exercise (NHE) is the most researched exercise regarding its effect on modifiable factors of HSI. However, there is still debate about the minimal effective dosage for this exercise. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed (1) to analyse the effects of low- and high-volume NHE on eccentric strength and hamstring muscle architecture in soccer players, and (2) identify gaps in the literature to guide future research. Three electronic databases (PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus) were searched, and 11 studies met the inclusion criteria. Pooled effect sizes (Hedges‘ g) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated using a random-effects model. High-volume NHE interventions significantly improved eccentric hamstring strength (g = 0.77, 95% CI 0.49-1.06, p < 0.001, I2 = 51%), fascicle length (g = 0.43, 95% CI 0.20-0.65, p < 0.001, I2 = 0%), and muscle thickness (g = 0.48, 95% CI 0.28-0.68, p < 0.001, I2 = 0%). Effects on pennation angle were non-significant (g = – 0.16, 95% CI -0.38-0.06, p = 0.16). Low-volume protocols significantly increased eccentric strength (g = 0.46, 95% CI 0.06-0.87, p < 0.05, I2 = 0%) but did not result in meaningful changes in fascicle length, pennation angle, or muscle thickness. For eccentric torque, neither high or low volume interventions produced significant effects (both g ≈ 0.04, p = 0.74, I2 = 0%). Control groups across all outcomes showed only trivial or negative changes. Results indicate that high volume of NHE (∼2-3 sets of 8-12 repetitions/2-3 times per week) significantly increases peak eccentric strength, fascicle length of biceps femoris long head, and muscle thickness, while pennation angle shows only trivial increase. Low volume of NHE (∼1-2 sets of 3-5 repetitions/1-2 times per week) shows a similar effect on peak eccentric hamstring strength, but there are no improvements in hamstring muscle architecture. Additionally, the effect of both types of volume on hamstring eccentric peak torque seems to be inconsistent. The variability of different testing methods on isokinetic strength and small correlations between other methods introduce challenges in comparisons with eccentric strength outcomes. A high volume of NHE seems to influence hamstring architecture adaptations better than low volume despite no differences in eccentric peak strength. Factors such as the player’s different level (amateur, semi-professional or professional), previous experience with NHE, and compliance significantly influence the training outcomes. Future research is needed to better determine the effect of low volume of NHE on the hamstring architecture adaptations in soccer players regarding previous experience with NHE and playing level. Furthermore, standardization of assessment tools and outcome measures is critical for future comparisons with isokinetic dynamometry.

20 The International Match Calendar in Men’s Professional Football: An Expert Position Statement

Reference: Scand J Med Sci Sports. 2025 Nov;35(11):e70163. doi: 10.1111/sms.70163.
Authors: Steve Den Hollander, Darren Burgess, Gino Kerkhoffs, Vincent Gouttebarge
Summary: Given the challenges and concerns associated with the congested schedule dictated by the International Match Calendar (IMC), there is a need for a player-centric expert position statement with specific recommendations and guidance related to the key dimensions of the IMC in men’s professional football. Following a review of scientific and occupational health literature and surveys of players and staff in professional football, 19 statements across 6 key dimensions of the IMC were formulated. The statements were then reviewed and refined through a three-round Delphi study, engaging experts to a consensus-based position statement. Expert consensus was reached on 12 statements across 5 key dimensions of the IMC: in-season rest and recovery, off-season break, mid-season break, travel, and young player workload. Although consensus was not reached on statements related to match workload, 69% of experts agreed on the need for a maximum limit of matches per player per season. The expert position statement provides recommendations and guidance on structural safeguards within the IMC that prioritize the long-term health and performance of players.

21 Auditing the representation of elite female players in football performance and injury research

Reference: Sci Med Footb. 2025 Nov 6:1-16. doi: 10.1080/24733938.2025.2577442. Online ahead of print.
Authors: Emma Clausen, Tessa R Flood, Katrine Okholm Kryger, Gary Lewin, Alan McCall, Georgina K Stebbings, Kirsty J Elliott-Sale
Summary: This audit assessed the representation of elite female footballers in performance and injury research and evaluated the consideration of ovarian hormones within this research. A standardised audit of performance and injury research in elite football was conducted, systematically reviewing studies to quantify the inclusion of elite female players and the consideration of ovarian hormone profiles. A total of 722 studies were included. Female-only research has increased in recent years, with 47% (n = 44) of all female-only studies published since 2022. However, male-only studies dominate, comprising 83% (n = 600) of all studies. Female-only studies accounted for 13% of all research, with women representing 7% of all participants. Only one study investigated injury characteristics and recovery in exclusively female players. Of the 104 studies including female players, 96% did not provide sufficient information to define menstrual status. Only four studies offered enough detail to be evaluated using the tiering system by Smith etal. (2022b): 2.5 were ranked ungraded (menstrual status defined but with insufficient methodological control), 1.5 ranked bronze tier (some methodological control). No study was classified as gold tier, which indicates best practice. Our findings show elite female footballers remain significantly underrepresented, particularly in studies examining injury characteristics and recovery, with minimal consideration of ovarian hormones. To advance the field and improve methodological quality, future research must use robust objective measures (e.g. ovulation testing or progesterone monitoring) to determine ovarian hormone profiles and ensure sex-balanced representation across all research themes to accelerate the development of the women’s game.

22 Changes in eccentric hamstring strength and muscle soreness in younger and older male football players following match play

Reference: BMC Sports Sci Med Rehabil. 2025 Nov 5;17(1):319. doi: 10.1186/s13102-025-01336-7.
Authors: Ersagun Kepir, Julian Andrew Owen, Gokhan Mehmet Karatay, Bekir Car, Esedullah Akaras, Necmiye Un Yildirim, Gokhan Yagiz
Download link: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12587507/pdf/13102_2025_Article_1336.pdf
Summary: Hamstring strains commonly occur late in football matches. Hamstring injury risk rises with age and fatigue. This study investigated eccentric hamstring strength and perceived hamstring soreness after a football match in younger and older players. Maximal eccentric hamstring strength and perceived soreness were assessed in younger (n = 11, 20.2 ± 1.1 years, total playing time: 34.5 ± 8.8 min) and older (n = 10, 27.4 ± 3.7 years, total playing time: 44 ± 10.5 min) professional male football players before and after a friendly match aimed at selecting the primary team for the upcoming season. A two-way mixed model ANOVA was employed for statistical analyses. Furthermore, Hedges‘ (adjusted) g effect sizes were calculated to evaluate the magnitude of effects. The older group experienced significant reductions in absolute (-20 N ± 38.5, g = 0.58, p = 0.027) and relative (-0.26 N/kg ± 0.5, g = 0.43, p = 0.038) maximal eccentric hamstring strength, while younger group showed no changes (absolute: 3 N ± 36.1, g = 0.07, p = 0.773; relative: -0.037 N/kg ± 0.54, g = 0.07, p = 0.783). There was no statistically significant difference between groups for the absolute (p = 0.195; g = 0.45) and relative (p = 0.226, g = 0.43) eccentric strength changes. On the other hand, both groups reported increases in perceived hamstring soreness after the match (older: 29% ± 14.1, p < 0.001; younger: 40% ± 14.9, p < 0.001), with the younger group reporting more significantly higher soreness changes than the older group (11% ± 17.2, p = 0.025). A significant negative association existed between age and eccentric strength changes (R = -0.447, R2 = 0.2, p = 0.007). The older group showed significant declines in eccentric hamstring strength after the match, with age as a predictor. Specialists should focus on enhancing eccentric strength in older players and monitor their recovery to minimise injury risk. Future psycho-physiological research should examine muscle soreness perceptions and force production in fatigued younger and older football players. The results must be interpreted with caution due to the shorter playing time, unaccounted match workload, and limited sample size. Moreover, future research is necessary, including workload and performance metrics over a longer play duration for each player, with a larger sample size to achieve more reliable conclusions.

23 Interlimb Asymmetries in Football Players With Coordination Impairments: Implications for Classification and Training

Reference: Int J Sports Physiol Perform. 2025 Nov 5:1-7. doi: 10.1123/ijspp.2025-0139. Online ahead of print.
Authors: Matías Henríquez, Kabir P Sadarangani, María Isabel Cornejo, Iván Peña-González, Javier Yanci, Raul Reina
Summary: Football requires complex motor tasks to be performed under intermittent conditions, often involving asymmetrical movement. In footballers with cerebral palsy (CP), asymmetries are influenced by neuromuscular impairments, yet their role in performance differentiation across sport classes remains unclear. The objective of this study was to quantify interlimb differences and asymmetries in unilateral vertical and horizontal jump and change-of-direction (COD) performance among footballers with CP and to examine variations across different sport classes. One hundred thirty-eight international male footballers with CP, classified into FT1, FT2, and FT3 sport classes, performed unilateral countermovement jumps (CMJs), standing broad jumps (SBJs), and the 505 COD test. Significant interlimb asymmetries were identified in unilateral tests (CMJ and SBJ) across all participants but not in COD performance. Significant interlimb differences were observed in CMJ and SBJ, with FT1 and FT2 showing greater asymmetry compared with FT3, who exhibited the lowest asymmetry percentage in CMJ (P < .05, d = 0.79-0.95). However, no significant differences were found between sport classes in COD performance or the asymmetry for SBJ and COD tests. Footballers with CP presented significant interlimb differences in unilateral jumping, with greater asymmetries observed in players from FT1 and FT2 compared with FT3. Interlimb differences can be valuable for optimizing motor performance and the categorization of individuals with CP by impairment impact. These results highlight the relevance of assessing interlimb contributions and asymmetry patterns in motor performance, emphasizing the use of quantitative measures for evaluating impairment impact in footballers with CP.

24 Spatial similarity index for scouting in football

Reference: J Appl Stat. 2025 Mar 10;52(14):2745-2758. doi: 10.1080/02664763.2025.2473542. eCollection 2025.
Authors: V Gómez-Rubio, J Lagos, F Palmí-Perales
Download link: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12581730/pdf/CJAS_52_2473542.pdf
Summary: Finding players with similar profiles is an important problem in sports such as football (also known as soccer in some countries). Scouting for new players requires a wealth of information about the available players so that similar profiles to that of a target player can be identified. However, information about the position of the players in the field is seldom employed. For this reason, a novel approach based on spatial data analysis is introduced to produce a spatial similarity index that can help to identify similar players. The use of this new spatial similarity index is illustrated with an example from the Spanish competition ‚La Liga‘, season 2019-2020, in which hundreds of players are clustered according to their position in the field.