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 A Mixed-Methods Evaluation of a Post-COVID-Condition Rehabilitation and Recovery Intervention Delivered in a Football Club Community Trust

Reference: Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2025 Nov 4;22(11):1672. doi: 10.3390/ijerph22111672.
Authors: Steven Rimmer, Adam J Herbert, Adam L Kelly, Irfan Khawaja, Sam Lee, Lewis A Gough
Download link: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12652583/pdf/ijerph-22-01672.pdf
Summary: Post-COVID condition (PCC) is largely considered the biggest public health emergency in recent times. The role of exercise therapy in PCC is currently unknown, and evaluative studies are currently lacking in this area. This study therefore aimed to evaluate the effects of a football club community trust exercise rehabilitation programme on physical function and quality of life in individuals with PCC. A mixed-methods retrospective design was employed, utilising a framework to assess the programme’s reach, effectiveness, adoption, implementation, and maintenance (RE-AIM). Quantitative data (questionnaires and physiological assessments) were collected at baseline, 6 weeks, and 12 weeks during the programme, and at 6 months post-intervention (n = 7). Qualitative data were gathered through semi-structured focus groups at week 12 (n = 7) and 12 months (n = 5) post-intervention. Quantitative data and qualitative data were analysed using repeated measures ANOVAs and thematic analysis, respectively. The programme led to significant improvements in physical function, including increased six-minute walking distance (6MWT, p < 0.001), one-minute sit-to-stand repetitions (1MSST, p < 0.035), and lung function (spirometry; MIP: p = 0.048, MEP: p = 0.024). Participants also reported enhanced QoL (HRQoL-14, p = 0.004), reduced anxiety (GAD-7, p = 0.008) and depression (PHQ-9, p = 0.008), and increased confidence and self-efficacy. The programme was well-received, with participants valuing the supportive environment and personalised approach. Football community trust exercise rehabilitation programmes can effectively improve physical function and quality of life in individuals with PCC, offering a promising model for community-based rehabilitation. Further studies are needed with larger sample sizes to assess the scalability of similar programmes.

2 Gender and expertise affect visual search and performance in football penalty kicks

Reference: Exp Brain Res. 2025 Nov 26;244(1):3. doi: 10.1007/s00221-025-07201-w.
Authors: Cassio M Meira Jr, Bruno V F Silva, Cintia O Cortes, Dalton L Oliveira, Marcelo Massa
DOI: 10.1007/s00221-025-07201-w
Download link: https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s00221-025-07201-w.pdf

3 Protective Equipment in Football: A Review of History, Evolution, Materials, and Contemporary Use

Reference: Sports (Basel). 2025 Nov 5;13(11):392. doi: 10.3390/sports13110392.
Authors: Marco Vecchiato, Luca Russo, Alberto Livio, Emanuele Zanardo, Mara Mezzalira, Emanuele Farina, Andrea Demeco, Stefano Palermi
Download link: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12656666/pdf/sports-13-00392.pdf
Summary: Football (soccer) is the world’s most widely played sport, but it carries a high incidence of traumatic injuries, particularly to the head, face, and lower limbs. Once regarded as a low-equipment discipline, the role of protective devices has expanded substantially in recent decades, both in injury prevention and in return-to-play strategies. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the historical evolution, typology, and materials of football protective equipment, with additional focus on regulatory frameworks, cultural acceptance, and illustrative cases from elite athletes. Shin guards remain the only mandatory device, yet the use of facial masks, headgear, braces, and orthoses is increasing, particularly following high-profile injuries. Advances in carbon fiber composites, thermoplastics, viscoelastic foams, and additive manufacturing have enabled lightweight, customized devices that balance protection with comfort and adherence. Beyond biomechanics, psychological reassurance, esthetics, durability, and hygiene strongly influence player compliance and perception. Despite this progress, critical challenges remain. Football lacks standardized testing protocols, clear certification pathways, and longitudinal studies on long-term outcomes. Evidence is particularly limited for youth athletes and newer categories of equipment. Looking ahead, the integration of wearable technologies, systematic hygiene and durability testing, and sustainable materials could transform protective gear into multifunctional tools for safety, monitoring, and performance optimization. Protective equipment in football has thus evolved into a multidisciplinary field at the intersection of medicine, engineering, psychology, and regulation. Future advances will depend on stronger collaboration between clinicians, researchers, governing bodies, and manufacturers to ensure safe, effective, and widely accepted protective solutions at all levels of the game.

4 Testing ACL-Reconstructed Football Players on the Field: An Algorithm to Assess Cutting Biomechanics Injury Risk Through Wearable Sensors

Reference: Sports (Basel). 2025 Nov 5;13(11):391. doi: 10.3390/sports13110391.
Authors: Stefano Di Paolo, Marianna Viotto, Margherita Mendicino, Chiara Valastro, Alberto Grassi, Stefano Zaffagnini
Affiliations Expand
Download link: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12655897/pdf/sports-13-00391.pdf
Summary: Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries in football mostly occur during defensive (pressing) cut maneuvers. Football-specific cutting movements are key to identifying dangerous biomechanics but hard to evaluate clinically. This study aimed to develop a practical field-based tool-Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injury Risk Profile Detection (ACL-IRD)-to assess ACL injury risk during return to sport (RTS). It was hypothesized that the ACL-IRD could detect ACL injury risk profiles after ACLR players had RTS clearance. Sixty-one footballers (21 ACLR, 40 healthy; 16.2 ± 2.2 years old, >14 months post-surgery) were tested on a regular football pitch. Players performed pre-planned (AGTT) and unplanned football-specific cut maneuvers simulating defensive pressing (FS deceiving action). Kinematic data were collected via eight wearable inertial sensors (MTw Awinda, Movella) on trunk and lower limbs. The ACL-IRD analyzed biomechanics in three risk categories, knee valgus collapse, sagittal knee loading, and trunk-pelvis imbalance, using thresholds from healthy players. A clinician-friendly, automatic report was generated. At-risk biomechanics were identified in 36-37/104 AGTT trials and 25-41/97 FS deceiving actions (at initial contact and peak knee flexion). Over 60% of risky trials involved the ACLR limb. Major risk factors were altered knee/hip flexion ratio, knee valgus, and hip abduction. The ACL-IRD is a novel, clinical-friendly tool designed to identify potential ACL injury risk profiles and is intended to support safer RTS decisions.

5 The Moderating Effect of Match External Load on Neuromuscular Performance in U-18 English Premier League Academy Football Players: A Principal Component Regression Approach

Reference: J Strength Cond Res. 2025 Nov 26. doi: 10.1519/JSC.0000000000005277. Online ahead of print.
Authors: Matthew Springham, Nav Singh, Perry Stewart, Jordan Matthews, Ian Jones, Charlie Norton-Sherwood, Dominic May, Jamie Salter, Anthony J Strudwick, Joseph W Shaw
Summary: We examined the moderating effect of match external load measures on neuromuscular performance in U-18 English Premier League (EPL) football players. Seventeen male outfield players completed countermovement jump (CMJ) and isometric hip adductor (IADS) and posterior chain strength tests 1 day before (MD-1) and 2 days after (MD+2) 8 competitive games. Total, high-speed running, high metabolic load, explosive and Zone6 distances, and the total number of accelerations and decelerations were recorded using global positioning system and microelectrical mechanical sensor devices. Standardized changes to neuromuscular performance measures (CMJ jump height and IADS and isometric posterior chain strength peak force) were summated to create a total score of neuromuscular performance. Principal component (PC) analysis and a linear mixed-effects regression model examined the relationships between external load and neuromuscular performance changes with significance set to p < 0.050. Two PCs explained 93% of the variance in external load variables. PC1 had an equal contribution from all external load metrics and was therefore considered representative of total match volume. PC2 was primarily composed from Zone6 and high-speed running distance and was therefore considered representative of high-speed running and sprint volume. Standardized neuromuscular performance reduced by 0.85 from MD-1 to MD+2. PC1 (mean: 0.0 ± 2.4, range: -5.9 to 4.8) had a significant negative relationship with neuromuscular performance (β = -0.23, p = 0.044) and IADS peak force (β = -0.15, p = 0.007), but no other components exerted significant effects (p ≥ 0.121). Match volume exerts a negative linear effect on neuromuscular performance and IADS peak force in U-18 EPL academy football players.

6 Field Position-Related Variations in Body Mass, Postural Control, and Isokinetic Strength in Portuguese Professional Football

Reference: J Funct Morphol Kinesiol. 2025 Nov 19;10(4):447. doi: 10.3390/jfmk10040447.
Authors: João Rocha, Hélder Cruz, José Eduardo Teixeira, Carolina Vila-Chã, Raúl Filipe Bartolomeu, João Nuno Ribeiro, Faber Martins, Pedro Tiago Esteves
Download link: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12642015/pdf/jfmk-10-00447.pdf
Summary: Combining body composition, dynamic postural control, and isokinetic strength allows for a comprehensive physical and functional assessment of football players across specific playing positions. The aim of this study was to analyze the field position-related variations in the physical and functional profiles of male football players. A convenience sample of 23 professional male football players from a Portuguese second league team, aged 18 to 32 years (23.83 ± 3.77 years), participated in the present study. Players from five field positions (central backs, central midfielders, wide midfielders, and forwards) were assessed for body composition, dynamic postural control, and isokinetic lower limb strength. Body composition was assessed by bioelectrical impedance; composite scores for postural control in the right and left limbs were obtained through the Y-Balance test lower quarter (YBT-LQ). Peak torque (PT) during lower limb flexion and extension was measured using an isokinetic dynamometer chair. Significant differences were found only in peak torque of the right extensors [H (4) = 9.84, p = 0.043, η2 = 0.37)], whereas no significant differences emerged in body mass, dynamic balance scores, left-side extension and flexion, or hamstring-to-quadriceps (H:Q) strength ratios. Post hoc analysis using Mann-Whitney U tests with Holm correction did not confirm pairwise differences between positions. The correlation analysis revealed mainly moderate-to-strong associations between symmetrical measures (composite YBT-LQ right and left, PT extension right and left), as well as between anthropometric and strength variables, but without consistent position-specific patterns. Overall, the study provides valuable insights into the physical attributes of professional football players, highlighting the general similarity of profiles across positions and suggesting that individualized training approaches may still be beneficial to optimizing performance and reduce injury risk. Future studies should extend the analysis to larger cohorts across different professional Portuguese football teams and competitions.

7 Associations Between Neurofeedback, Anthropometrics, Technical, Physical, and Tactical Performance in Young Women’s Football Players

Reference: J Funct Morphol Kinesiol. 2025 Oct 30;10(4):423. doi: 10.3390/jfmk10040423.
Authors: Sílvio A Carvalho, Pedro Bezerra, José E Teixeira, Pedro Forte, Rui M Silva, José M Cancela-Carral
Download link: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12641750/pdf/jfmk-10-00423.pdf
Summary: Neurofeedback training has emerged as a promising tool for enhancing performance by targeting specific brain activity patterns linked to motor skills, decision-making, and concentration. This study aimed to explore the associations between neurofeedback outcomes and football-specific performance metrics, including anthropometric, physical, technical, and tactical dimensions. A quasi-experimental design was used to examine the effects of a six-week neurofeedback training program on motor skills, tactical decision-making, and physical performance in young women’s football players (n = 8, aged 14-18). Participants underwent 30-min sessions three times a week targeting sensorimotor rhythms (SMRs) in the 12-15 Hz range within virtual football scenarios. Pre- and post-intervention assessments included anthropometric measures, neurophysiological evaluations, Loughborough Soccer Shooting Test (LSST), and Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery Test Level 1 (YYIR1). Tactical decision-making was evaluated with a FUT-SAT-based instrument, and biological maturity was estimated using the Mirwald equations. Statistical analyses using Pearson’s correlations revealed significant associations between neurofeedback outcomes, motor efficiency indices (MEIs), decision-making (DM), and football performance metrics. Correlation coefficients ranged from 0.504 to 0.998, with p-values from 0.010 to <0.001, indicating significant associations across physical, technical, and tactical dimensions. This study highlights the beneficial impact of neurofeedback on football performance in young female athletes.

8 Muscle Oxygenation Response During Duplicate Sprints in Professional Football Players: An Original Investigation

Reference: Muscles. 2025 Nov 11;4(4):54. doi: 10.3390/muscles4040054.
Authors: Andrew Usher, John Babraj, Adam Younger
Download link: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12641757/pdf/muscles-04-00054.pdf
Summary: Football requires repeated sprint ability for game-changing moments; however, the demand on the skeletal muscles is unknown. The aim of the current study was to determine the muscle oxygen response during duplicate sprints in professional footballers. Eight male professional footballers (age: 29 ± 5 y; height: 181 ± 8 cm; weight: 78 ± 8 kg) were recruited. Participants wore their normal GPS unit and completed their normal match warm-up before near-infrared monitors were attached to the rectus femoris and bicep femoris muscles. Participants then completed two 30 m sprints with 10 s of recovery, while GPS data and muscle oxygenation were recorded. Max speed was unaltered across the two sprints (s1: 8.4 ± 0.3 m.s-1; s2: 8.4 ± 0.4 m.s-1), but max acceleration (s1: 5.0 ± 1.5 m.s-2; s2: 3.7 ± 1.2 m.s-2) and time to max acceleration (s1: 1.0 ± 0.3 s; s2: 1.8 ± 0.8 s) were significantly different in sprint 2 compared with sprint 1. Change in muscle oxygenation was greater in the bicep femoris muscle than in the rectus femoris muscle in sprint 1 (right BF: 37.0 ± 14.7%; right RF: 23.4 ± 14.8%). Time to fast delay was longer in sprint 2 than in sprint 1 in the bicep femoris muscle (right BFs1: 1.6 ± 1.2 s; right BFs2: 5.2 ± 2.3 s), reflecting different recovery kinetics in the two muscles. During duplicate sprints there is a difference in oxygen response between the two muscles, and the overall recovery of the bicep femoris is much slower. This suggests poorer conditioning of the bicep femoris muscle, which may impact injury risk in professional football players.

9 Incidence of Hamstring Injury and Analysis of Risk Factors for Reinjury in Japanese Professional Football Players

Reference: Orthop J Sports Med. 2025 Nov 21;13(11):23259671251391776. doi: 10.1177/23259671251391776. eCollection 2025 Nov.
Authors: Takefumi Ogawa, Hiroki Funasaki, Kota Tanaka, Daisuke Kubota, Mitsuru Saito
Download link: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12639208/pdf/10.1177_23259671251391776.pdf
Summary: Hamstring injuries have a high incidence of reinjury. However, the risk factors for reinjury remain unknown. The aim was to investigate the incidence of hamstring injuries in male Japanese professional football (soccer) players and identify the risk factors for reinjury. A total of 209 Japanese professional football players were included in this study. The authors investigated the overall number, incidence, affected muscles, and locations of both hamstring injuries and reinjuries. In addition, age, history of injury, affected muscle, type of injury, time of occurrence in the season, and intramuscular tendon injury were compared between players with and without reinjury (t test, Fisher exact test, and Bonferroni analysis). Overall, there were 43 hamstring muscle injuries (HMIs) in 27 players. The mean incidence of injury was 0.60 (/1000 player-hours), including 2.30 (/1000 player-hours) in games and 0.35 (/1000 player-hours) during training. Among 40 legs that were treated nonoperatively, 12 developed reinjury. The reinjured muscles included the biceps femoris (BF; 9/27), semitendinosus (2/6), and semimembranosus (1/7). The locations of reinjury included the proximal third (3/13), middle third (4/17), and distal third (5/10). There was no significant difference between the reinjury and no-reinjury groups in terms of the evaluated items. However, in BF injuries, the type of injury was significantly associated with the incidence of reinjury. The rate of BF injury recurrence according to injury type was 0% (0/9) for type 1-M injuries, 67% (6/9) for type 1-T injuries, and 33% (3/9) for type 2 injuries (P = .0127). This study demonstrated that the overall incidence of HMI in male Japanese professional football players was 0.60 (/1000 player-hours), including 2.30 (/1000 player-hours) in games and 0.35 (/1000 player-hours) during training. The rate of recurrence was 30%. In the BF, the injury type classified on magnetic resource imaging was the only factor associated with recurrence. Bleeding around the intramuscular tendon without structural tendon injury was an important factor for predicting the recurrence of BF injuries. Type 1-T injuries should be managed differently from type 1-M injuries.

10 The interplay of emotional intelligence and mental toughness in amateur soccer: the role of goal commitment

Reference: Front Psychol. 2025 Nov 19:16:1670502. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1670502. eCollection 2025.
Authors: Kadir Şekerci, Murat Şahbudak, Mustafa Enes Işıkgöz
Download link: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12672874/pdf/fpsyg-16-1670502.pdf
Summary: Emotional intelligence and mental toughness are recognized as key psychological factors influencing athletic performance and well-being. However, the mechanisms underlying the relationship between these constructs, and the potential impact of demographic factors, remain underexplored, especially among amateur soccer players. The purpose of this study is to examine the mediating role of goal commitment in the relationship between emotional intelligence and mental toughness in amateur soccer players, and to determine whether this role is moderated by demographic factors. The study included 262 licensed amateur soccer players in Şırnak province, southeastern Türkiye, using a cross-sectional design and a correlational survey model. Data were collected with the Emotional Intelligence Scale, the Goal Commitment Scale, and the Mental Toughness Inventory in Sports. Analyses were conducted using Jamovi software (version 2.4.8) and the Bootstrap 5,000 resampling method. The results indicated moderate positive relationships among emotional intelligence, goal commitment, and mental toughness. Mediation analysis indicated that goal commitment partially mediated the association between emotional intelligence and mental toughness; approximately 24% of the total association was indirect via goal commitment. Moderator analysis indicated that the indirect association varied by gender, athlete’s license year, and educational status influenced this mediation, while marital status did not. These findings suggest that goal commitment is importantly associated with emotional intelligence and mental toughness among amateur soccer players. The results highlight the need to consider individual differences and demographic factors such as gender, athlete license year, and educational status for designing interventions aimed at supporting performance and mental toughness in this population.

11 Evaluation of various traditional machine learning techniques for predicting the acute effect of different hamstring muscle stretching methods among male soccer players

Reference: Sci Rep. 2025 Dec 4;15(1):43174. doi: 10.1038/s41598-025-27338-6.
Authors: Elham Hosseini, Mohammad Alimoradi, Mojtaba Iranmanesh, Sahar Zaidi, Arian Azizian, Andreas Konrad, Hadis Mohseni
Download link: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-025-27338-6.pdf
Summary: This study investigated the acute effects of static (SS), dynamic (DS), and ballistic (BS) hamstring stretching on performance in male soccer players and applied machine learning (ML) to predict protocol efficacy. A total of 249 players with and without hamstring shortening completed each protocol across three sessions with 72 h of rest. Hamstring shortening classified via passive knee extension test (> 32.2° knee angle). Flexibility, strength, sprint, power, and agility were measured pre- and post-stretching. Each protocol: 4 sets × 30 s (holds/swings/bounces at 50-60 bpm), 10 s rest. ML models (k-NN, SVM, random forest) were trained on pre-post difference scores, with feature selection applied to identify key predictors and Synthetic Minority Over-sampling Technique used to address class imbalance. Findings indicate SS optimally acutely improves flexibility, whereas DS offers broader immediate performance benefits for a subsequent activity. Combining feature selection and data balancing increased k-NN accuracy to 53% (only ~ 20% points above the chance level of 33.3% for this three-class problem), highlighting methodological challenges in predicting individual responses. Exploratory analysis using ML using synthetic minority over-sampling technique reached a peak accuracy of 53.06% (compared to a baseline of 33.3%), demonstrating the promise of the approach but also highlighting the challenges of applying ML to predict individual responses to stretching interventions, underscoring the need for larger datasets and more advanced models.

12 Identification and assessment of perceptual-cognitive skills in academy soccer

Reference: J Sports Sci. 2025 Dec 5:1-17. doi: 10.1080/02640414.2025.2590793. Online ahead of print.
Authors: Andrew O Triggs, Joe Causer, Allistair P McRobert, Matthew J Reeves, Matthew Andrew
Summary: Perceptual-cognitive skills (PCS) are fundamental for high performance in professional soccer, and thus youth academy players must develop these skills to enhance their chances of progressing to senior soccer and securing professional contracts. Consequently, it is important that stakeholders involved in talent identification and development processes (i.e. coaches/scouts) can identify and assess these skills to inform identification, (de)selection and development processes. However, little is known about the identification and assessment process of PCS by these stakeholders. The aim of this study was to critically examine how coaches working in professional soccer academies in the UK identify and assess PCS. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 20 academy coaches working in category one to three academies in the UK. Reflexive thematic analysis generated five higher-order themes: (1) education, knowledge and understanding; (2) experience; (3) challenges; (4) club-specific context; and (5) biases, along with various secondary and tertiary themes. Findings highlighted inconsistencies and a lack of standardised methodologies for identifying and assessing PCS in talent development environments. Participants‘ understanding of PCS was shaped by informal learning and limited education in this area. Future research should, therefore, consider developing assessment tools and frameworks that can support coaches with the identification and assessment of PCS.

13 Video analysis of potential head injury situations in FIFA Beach Soccer World Cups

Reference: J Sci Med Sport. 2025 Nov 19:S1440-2440(25)00515-8. doi: 10.1016/j.jsams.2025.11.008. Online ahead of print.
Authors: Yavuz Lima, Ogün Köyağasıoğlu, Kerry Peek, Alice Hovenberg, Levend Karaçoban
Summary: The aim was to evaluate potential head injuries across three consecutive FIFA Beach Soccer World Cups held between 2019 and 2024. All match footage from the 2019, 2021, and 2024 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cups (men only tournaments) were evaluated focusing on occurrence of a potential head injury, player actions (including overhead kick), and visible signs of a possible concussion. A total of 309 potential head injuries were identified across 96 matches (3.2/match), with an incidence of 527.8 potential head injuries per 1000 match-hours. In total, 17.5 % (n = 54) of potential head injuries were associated with overhead kicks, 17.9 % (n = 55) demonstrated a visible sign of a possible concussion (involving 51 different players), and 25.3 % (n = 78) occurred during aerial duels. Ball-related head impacts accounted for 15.5 % of all potential head injuries, rising to 46.3 % in overhead kick-related potential head injuries and 34.6 % among potential head injuries with visible signs of a possible concussion. Eighty-nine potential head injuries (28.9 %) were evaluated by medical staff, 27 (49.1 %) of the 55 players with visible signs of a possible concussion were not medically evaluated. The findings demonstrated that the incidence of potential head injuries in beach soccer is 3.2 per-match, which is 7.6× higher than the data previously reported in men’s association football. Player-to-player impact, unintentional ball impacts and overhead kicks contributed significantly to this elevated incidence. The observation that 17.9 % of potential head injuries exhibited visible signs of possible concussion highlights the need for future studies that incorporate clinical evaluations to improve understanding of these potential head injuries.

14 The Protective Effect of Preseason Running Workload Against In-Season Hamstring Strain Injuries in Elite Soccer Players

Reference: Sports Health. 2025 Dec 1:19417381251388482. doi: 10.1177/19417381251388482. Online ahead of print.
Authors: Hiroki Saito, Toshiki Kutsuna, Naoki Akiyoshi, Yohei Kobayashi, Sakiko Ito, Soichiro Ikuno, Takashi Nakayama
Download link: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12672290/pdf/10.1177_19417381251388482.pdf
Summary: Preseason training plays a pivotal role in preparing athletes for the competitive season and reducing the risk of hamstring strain injuries (HSI). This study evaluated the protective effect of preseason running workload on the risk of in-season HSI in elite soccer players. Higher preseason sprint-related metric is associated with reduced risk of in-season HSI in elite soccer players. Global positioning system data and HSI records from 67 elite Japanese soccer players between 2021 and 2023 were analyzed. Variables included internal workload, total distance, high-speed distance, sprint distance, sprint count, and acceleration/deceleration count. Multivariable logistic regression analysis determined the association between workload metrics and HSI risk. A total of 17 HSI incidents were recorded during the study period. Increased preseason sprint distance was associated significantly with a reduced risk of in-season HSI (odds ratio [OR], 0.896; 95% CI, 0.822-0.976; P = 0.01), even after adjustment (model 1: OR, 0.892; 95% CI, 0.814-0.979; P = 0.02, model 2: OR, 0.899; 95% CI, 0.822-0.983; P = 0.02). Higher sprint count was associated with decreased HSI risk (OR, 0.761; 95% CI, 0.633-0.916; P = 0.004), with consistent findings after adjustments (model 1: OR, 0.755; 95% CI, 0.623-0.916; P = 0.004, model 2: OR, 0.763; 95% CI, 0.631-0.923; P = 0.005). The area under the curve values for sprint distance and sprint count were 0.721 and 0.739, respectively. Preseason training marked by higher sprint distances and counts demonstrates a protective effect against in-season HSI in elite soccer players, supporting comprehensive preseason running workload as an essential strategy for reducing injury risk and enhancing season readiness. Incorporating sprint-focused training during the preseason may reduce HSI incidence and minimize injury-related absences in elite soccer players.

15 Return to performance criteria in soccer after musculoskeletal injury: A scoping review

Reference: Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc. 2025 Dec 1. doi: 10.1002/ksa.70180. Online ahead of print.
Authors: Peter Eppinga, Wouter Welling, Rienk Dekker, Hans Zwerver
Download link: https://esskajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/ksa.70180
Summary: Return to performance (RTPe), the final stage of the return to sport (RTS) continuum remains poorly defined in current soccer-related musculoskeletal (MSK) research, with limited identification and application of physical and/or psychological performance-based indicators. This scoping review aimed to systematically identify and synthesise currently used RTPe criteria, with a specific focus on facilitating return to competitive soccer at the same or higher level than pre-injury and identify gaps in relation to sport-specific demands. A scoping review was conducted in accordance with the PRISMA-ScR guidelines, using comprehensive Boolean search strategies across PubMed, CINAHL, and Web of Science databases. A total of twenty-nine peer reviewed studies met the inclusion criteria. Reported RTPe criteria encompassed the following domains: clinical examination, strength assessment, functional testing, performance-based testing, time elapsed since injury, and patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs). Most studies concentrated on the second stage of the three-stage RTS continuum, that is, ‚Return to Sports‘, with limited integration of on-field, sport specific, or ecologically valid performance assessments. In addition, studies frequently neglect recommendations advocating a multidimensional and standardised test battery. Moreover, psychological readiness and performance-level demands-critical components of RTPe in elite soccer-were seldom addressed or often lacked standardised definitions. Female athletes were underrepresented despite higher injury incidence (6.77 vs. 5.70/1000 h in males). Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries were overrepresented, whereas more frequently occurring injuries like posterior thigh and groin injuries received less attention. More than half of the studies focused on elite athletes, limiting generalisability to recreational level. These findings underscore the urgent need for more robust, operationalized, and sport-specific RTPe criteria to support clinical decision-making and optimise outcomes following musculoskeletal injury in soccer. Existing criteria do not reliably capture readiness to pre-injury performance levels, addressing performance metrics, sport specific demands, and sex-specific considerations. Level of Evidence: N/A.

16 How to select and train professional male soccer goalkeepers: Expert opinion by semi-structured interview

Reference: J Sci Med Sport. 2025 Nov 13:S1440-2440(25)00513-4. doi: 10.1016/j.jsams.2025.11.006. Online ahead of print.
Authors: Markel Perez-Arroniz, Julio Calleja-González, Javier Fernández-Navarro, Asier Zubillaga-Zubiaga
Download link: https://www.jsams.org/action/showPdf?pii=S1440-2440%2825%2900513-4
Summary: The main aim of the present study is to provide insight into the recruitment tactics, and training methods and strategies that professional coaches apply in their day-to-day work to best prepare their athletes for the highest levels of competition. Expert opinion from semi-structured interview, qualitative. The opinion of 15 professional goalkeeper coaches was gathered using a semi-structured interview. Following transcription, a thematic content analysis was conducted to identify and analyse patterns within the data. Several key considerations emerge that any coach should take into account. 1) When integrating a new goalkeeper into a club, it is essential to assess whether their profile aligns with the club’s style of play and philosophy, 2) training should focus both on the goalkeeper’s individual development and on preparing them for the challenges posed by upcoming opponents, and 3) coaches must recognise that they are working with individuals rather than a homogeneous group, making it essential to understand and respond to the unique needs of each goalkeeper. The findings suggested that selecting and training professional goalkeepers is a multifactorial process that requires considering technical, tactical, psychological, physical, playing style and organisational factors.

17 First Time Doing Resisted Sprint Training? Effects of Different Loads on the Force-Velocity Profile and Sprint Performance in Professional Male and Female Football Players and Referees: A Pilot Study

Reference: Sports Health. 2025 Dec 6:19417381251394722. doi: 10.1177/19417381251394722. Online ahead of print.
Authors: Antonio Alonso-Callejo, Jorge Garcia-Unanue, Leonor Gallardo, Jose Luis Felipe
Summary: The force-velocity profile (FVP) is essential for understanding sprint performance, capturing parameters such as maximum theoretical force (F0), maximum theoretical velocity (V0), and power (Pmax). Effective horizontal force application, especially during acceleration, enhances sprinting outcomes. Resisted sprint training (RST) using varied loads (light, moderate, heavy) can improve neuromuscular adaptations, sprint mechanics, and sport-specific performance. This study explores the effects of RST with different load magnitudes. The hypothesis was that heavy loads (HL) in athletes with no previous experience in RST are expected to promote better results on sprint performance than light loads (LL) and no loads (CON). Professional male and female football players and referees without experience in sled sprint, allocated into HL (80% of body mass [BM]), LL (20% of BM), and CON (0% of BM) groups, performed RST twice weekly over 6weeks, with pre- and postintervention assessments of sprint performance. RST with HL significantly improves acceleration, maximum velocity, and horizontal force application. The HL group demonstrated reduced sprint times, enhanced force production during the acceleration phase, and improvements in maximum velocity metrics such as V0 and maximum velocity (Vmax). The LL group showed small benefits in V0 and decreased times in the 10 meter to 20 meter and 20 meter to 30 meter splits. Intergroup comparisons revealed that the HL group obtained better results compared with the LL and CON groups. Both LL and HL improved the right spectrum of the FVP. However, the HL group also improved the acceleration phase variables and force production at low velocity. These findings suggest that HL provides superior neuromuscular adaptations and mechanical outputs compared with lighter loads in athletes without previous experience in RST. The inclusion of professional female football players expands the applicability of these results.

18 Microbiota on football surfaces: providing fresh insights into football sports management

Reference: J Environ Sci Health A Tox Hazard Subst Environ Eng. 2025 Dec 5:1-10. doi: 10.1080/10934529.2025.2597719. Online ahead of print.
Authors: Qingsong Ran, Chunbo Dong, Xiaosong Long, Sisi Peng, Jun Luo, Hua Liang, Yanfeng Han
Summary: Football is one of the most popular, widely participated in, and age-spanning sports in the world. The role of scientific management in football is crucial for safeguarding the health of the athletes. However, There is limited understanding of the potential relationship between microbiota and athletes. This study employed 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing to characterize the microbiota on football surfaces used by different user groups (schools of different grade levels.). The results indicate that there were no significant differences in the α-diversity of football surface microbiota among different groups, however, there were significant differences in β-diversity and microbial co-occurrence network patterns. Enterobacteriaceae spp and Stenotrophomonas were the designated microbial markers within the primary school (PS). The designated microbial markers in middle school (MS) were Lactobacillus, Escherichia, Bacteroides, and Staphylococcus. In university (UN), Serratia serve as the indicative microorganisms. Nursery school (NS) was characterized by Pantoea and Exiguobacterium as its microbial markers, while Acinetobacter was the designated microbial marker in residential quarters (RQ). These microbial markers are even opportunistic pathogens. Storage temperature, storage relative humidity, and the frequency of utilization will accelerate the reproduction of opportunistic human pathogens. This study suggests disinfection management for footballs.

19 Reasons why selected young female and male football players drop out on their path to the elite senior level

Reference: Front Sports Act Living. 2025 Nov 19:7:1703101. doi: 10.3389/fspor.2025.1703101. eCollection 2025.
Authors: Peter Brusvik, Tor Söderström
Download link: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12672480/pdf/fspor-07-1703101.pdf
Summary: This study examines the reasons why female and male players, selected to a nationwide youth football talent programme (regional youth teams), dropped out of football between 15-23 years of age. The study builds on the answers provided by 363 women and 170 men to an open-ended question on a questionnaire: „Can you describe in your own words why you stopped playing club football?“ The analysis showed that for both women and men, structural reasons were the most common motives for dropping out, followed by interpersonal and intrapersonal reasons. Although the analysis did not show any significant differences in dropout constraints between genders, the significance of different reasons for dropping out within these constraint dimensions varies between women and men. For women, there is a gradual shift from injuries causing the end of a football career in the age group 15-19 years to a perceived lack of time and an increased focus on education and working career. Among men, with an increase in age, injuries, studies, and work become the main reasons for dropping out of football, although not as clearly as among women. Moreover, the findings emphasize that the reasons for dropping out interact with each other, and some prevent while others support continued play. Understanding the reasons why selected talented players dropped out of football can provide guidance for sustainable talent development, thereby reducing elements that influence dropout behavior among talented youth football players.

20 Pure maximal glycolytic rate and metabolic contributions during a maximal sprint test across various positions in highly trained football players

Reference: Eur J Appl Physiol. 2025 Dec 4. doi: 10.1007/s00421-025-06066-9. Online ahead of print.
Authors: Young-Je Kwak, Hye Yeon Choi, Woo-Hwi Yang
Download link: https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s00421-025-06066-9.pdf
Summary: Football is a high-intensity intermittent sport in which glycolytic metabolism plays a critical role in the sprint performance of football players. Therefore, this study aimed to compare pure maximal glycolytic rate (PνLa.max), and metabolic contributions across different positions in highly trained football players. Thirty male highly trained football players were recruited and classified into three positional groups: forward (FW, n = 10), midfielder (MF, n = 10), and defender (DF, n = 10). All participants completed three exercise tests, each performed either on a 127-meter indoor track or within a laboratory setting. During the 10-second maximal sprint test (10-s MST), oxygen uptake and blood lactate concentrations (La⁻) were measured and used to determine PνLa.max and metabolic contributions (phosphagen; WPCr, glycolytic; WGly, and oxidative; Woxi). Additionally, maximal oxygen uptake ([Formula: see text]O₂max), lactate thresholds (LTs), and running speeds at specific La⁻ values were assessed using a ramp and step test on a motorized treadmill. PνLa.max values were significantly greater in FW and DF compared to MF (P = 0.0065, d = 1.60, d = 1.55, respectively). Peak La- (P = 0.0044, d = 1.74; P = 0.0046, d = 1.65), ΔLa- (P = 0.0067, d = 1.59; P = 0.0099, d = 1.57), and WGly (P = 0.0296, d = 1.49; P = 0.0105, d = 1.50) measured in kJ during the 10-s MST were also elevated for FW and DF relative to MF. No significant differences were observed in [Formula: see text]O₂max or LTs among the groups. Moreover, a moderate positive correlation was found between PνLa.max and sprint distance attained during the 10-s MST. The assessment of PνLa.max enables a more accurate characterization of positional demands and may aid in the formulation of position-specific training interventions.

21 On-pitch concussion management: a view of healthcare professionals in elite football

Reference: BMJ Open Sport Exerc Med. 2025 Nov 30;11(4):e002805. doi: 10.1136/bmjsem-2025-002805. eCollection 2025.
Authors: Ryan Baker, Jac Palmer, Gareth Irwin, Sean Connelly, Genevieve Williams
Download link: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12666214/pdf/bmjsem-11-4.pdf
Summary: Collecting an account of practitioners‘ lived experiences of on-pitch concussion management in football provides real-world insight into areas for improvement, and future research direction. Previous research suggests that healthcare professionals (HCPs) in football are confident with on-pitch concussion recognition; however, some players are still returned to the field to later be removed with a concussion. The aim of this study is to understand the on-pitch assessment procedure of HCPs and factors that may influence whether or not a player is removed following a suspected head injury in football based on semistructured interviews. 10 elite-level pitch-side HCPs participated in a semistructured interview. Recorded interview transcripts were analysed via reflexive thematic analysis. This process generated four key themes: time, formalised procedure for identifying concussion, interpretation of behaviour and stakeholder actions. This study provides evidence that HCPs in football feel that they do not have enough time to conduct a thorough concussion assessment. Assessments are currently subjective and rely on the sideline healthcare staff’s relationship with the player to determine if they are acting normally. The HCPs value seeing the mechanism of injury and advocate the use of video replays. Temporary concussion substitutes would allow more time for assessment and for the use of assessment tools such as the Sport Concussion Assessment Tool. Based on the current findings, research should focus on developing multimodal testing batteries to detect concussion on-pitch, while football should consider implementing video analysis at all levels and temporary concussion substitutes.

22 Physical performance profiling in Moroccan women’s football: a functional assessment from the Rabat-Salé-Kénitra regional league

Reference: BMC Sports Sci Med Rehabil. 2025 Dec 3. doi: 10.1186/s13102-025-01453-3. Online ahead of print.
Authors: Mohammed Benhida, Lotfi Zeghari, Khalid El Mouahid, Said El Morchidy, Youssef El Madhi, Nourddine Enneya, Fatima-Zahra Guerss
Download link: https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1186/s13102-025-01453-3_reference.pdf

23 Men’s health, physical activity, and ageing in a professional football club community organization programme

Reference: Health Promot Int. 2025 Oct 30;40(6):daaf204. doi: 10.1093/heapro/daaf204.
Authors: Tom Duffell, David Haycock, Andy Smith
Download link: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12670002/pdf/daaf204.pdf
Summary: Professional sport club community organizations (CCOs) are regarded as important neighbourhood settings for men’s health promotion. However, little is known about how age, and perceptions of ageing and masculinity, shape physically inactive men’s engagement in CCO-led health programmes. This study addresses this international knowledge gap by presenting novel insights on the lived experiences of 17 physically inactive men (aged 30-71) involved in the Active Blues programme based in north-west England. Men who engaged in the programme initially regarded it as an important opportunity to return to competitive sport. However, it was the facilitation of traditional masculine values of banter and camaraderie with new like-minded peers which was essential for men’s continued engagement, and which helped them manage age-related health conditions. Those who did not engage in Active Blues were more likely to have accepted socially constructed deficit-focused narratives of ageing which, for some, meant ’slowing down‘. Fulfilling family commitments and caring responsibilities also prevented some men’s engagement. The findings emphasize the need to develop more diverse and culturally nuanced understandings of engaging men in gender-responsive CCO-led health promotion programmes which are underpinned by conceptions of positive, strengths-based, healthy masculinities and which reinforce notions of peer support, camaraderie and openness.

24 Safety of long-term creatine supplementation in women’s football players: a real-world in-season study

Reference: J Int Soc Sports Nutr. 2025 Sep 30;22(sup1):2591782. doi: 10.1080/15502783.2025.2591782. Epub 2025 Dec 2.
Authors: Murilo Perez Garcia, Igor Longobardi, Tieme Saito, Matheus Santos Miranda, Hamilton Roschel, Bruno Gualano
Download link: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12673977/pdf/RSSN_22_2591782.pdf
Summary: Although creatine supplementation is well established for enhancing athletic performance, data on its long-term safety are still limited, particularly among female athletes. This study investigated the effects of in-season creatine supplementation on biochemical safety markers in young female football players. This real-world, longitudinal single-arm study assessed the safety of creatine supplementation during a competitive season in 71 female athletes from youth and professional football teams. Participants received 20 g/day of creatine monohydrate for 7 days, followed by 5 g/day for the remainder of the season. Dietary intake and a comprehensive panel of hematological, renal, and hepatic biomarkers were evaluated at baseline, mid- (week 16), and end-season (week 32). Linear mixed-model with repeated measures analysis revealed that 8 out of 18 biochemical markers showed statistically significant though clinically minor fluctuations throughout the season. All analytes, except creatine phosphokinase (CPK), remained within reference ranges. No adverse effects were observed on renal (e.g. glomerular filtration rate, creatinine, urea, albuminuria) or hepatic (ALT, AST) function. CPK levels variation likely reflected training load rather than supplementation effects. In this single-arm in-season cohort, long term creatine supplementation was not associated with clinically meaningful derangements in biochemical safety markers in female football players. These findings support the long-term safety profile of creatine in this population and encourage further research into its sex-specific effects in athletic settings.

25 Knowing isn’t enough: Menstrual symptoms drive perceived performance impacts in women’s football

Reference: J Sci Med Sport. 2025 Nov 13:S1440-2440(25)00514-6. doi: 10.1016/j.jsams.2025.11.007. Online ahead of print.
Authors: Chelsea Oester, Ric Lovell, Charles Pedlar, Georgie Bruinvels, Belinda Wilson, Dean Norris
Download link: https://www.jsams.org/action/showPdf?pii=S1440-2440%2825%2900514-6
Summary: The aim was to examine whether menstrual health literacy (MHL) is associated with Australian female footballers‘ negative perceptions of the menstrual cycle and contraceptive use on athletic performance and availability, and to assess the influence of symptom count on these perceptions. Australian football players (n = 147) completed a survey assessing menstrual cycle characteristics, contraceptive use, perceived impacts on training and competition, and MHL. Associations between MHL and perceived impacts of the menstrual cycle or contraceptive use were analysed. The relationship between symptom count and these perceptions was also examined. Whilst MHL scores were not significantly associated with perceived impacts of the menstrual cycle on training performance (β = 0.29, 95 % CI [-0.37, 0.97]), a higher number of symptoms were linked to more frequent reports of negative training impacts (β = 0.09, 95 % CI [0.05, 0.14]). Amongst non-contraceptive users, a substantial proportion reported that the menstrual cycle negatively affected their training (67 % ’sometimes‘; 21 % ‚often‘) and competition (62 % ’sometimes‘; 18 % ‚often‘) performance, as well as training availability (60 % ’sometimes‘; 14 % ‚often‘). No significant association was found between MHL and perceived menstrual cycle impacts in this cohort. However, symptom count emerged as a key factor, with athletes experiencing five or more symptoms more likely to report frequent negative effects on training performance. These findings suggest that addressing symptom recognition and management may be more critical than MHL alone in supporting athlete well-being and performance.