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 Return of match running performance following muscle strain injuries of varying severity in professional football
Reference: Biol Sport. 2026 Feb 20:43:887-897. doi: 10.5114/biolsport.2026.159530. eCollection 2026 Jan.
Authors: Victor Moreno-Pérez, Aaron Miralles-Iborra, Juan Del Coso, Fidel Agulló, Aitor Soler, Javier Courel-Ibáñez
Download link: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC13217141/pdf/JBS-43-57592.pdf
Summary: To examine match running performance recovery trajectories following muscle strain injuries of varying severity in professional male football players upon RTP. Forty-nine outfield players from a professional football team were prospectively monitored over four consecutive seasons (n=168 non-contact lower-limb muscle strain injuries). Injuries were classified by severity (time loss) as mild (1-7 days), moderate (8-28 days), or severe (> 28 days). GPS-derived match metrics were analysed across the four matches preceding injury and across 14 matches following RTP (i.e., POST 1-to-14) to characterise the recovery trajectory. Generalised additive mixed models were fitted to describe nonlinear recovery patterns. Recovery trajectories differed significantly between severity groups (R2 95%IC = 0.360 to 0.425, p < 0.001). Mild injuries caused short impairments with reductions of -19 to -27% in match running metrics at POST1 (ES: 0.25 to 1.05) that persisted up to POST2; per-minute intensities remained largely preserved. Moderate injuries caused large impairments, in sprinting, high-speed running, and accelerating/braking actions (-62% to -92% at POST1), and remained below baseline at POST3 (ES: 0.24 to 3.12); per-minute metrics revealed some residual neuromechanical deficits beyond minutes restriction. Severe injuries caused similar pronounced acute impairments (-60 to -100% at POST1) but the longest persistent deficits up to POST4 in absolute metrics and up to POST7 for high-speed running (ES: 0.28 to 2.31). Match running performance in the RTP after muscle strain injury follows a clear severity-dependent recovery: mild injuries recovered within two matches, moderate in three, severe injuries after four or more, particularly in high-speed and accelerating/braking actions.
2 Influence of competitive level and playing position on the physical and technical demands of professional men’s football
Reference: Biol Sport. 2026 Jan 2:43:711-720. doi: 10.5114/biolsport.2026.156233. eCollection 2026 Jan.
Authors: Miguel Lampre-Ezquerra, José Luis Arjol-Serrano, Roberto López-Del Campo, Ricardo Resta, Elena Mainer-Pardos, Demetrio Lozano
Download link: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC13217389/pdf/JBS-43-57121.pdf
Summary: This study investigated the differences in physical and technical performance between players in Spain’s First and Second Division professional men’s football leagues, with a specific focus on playing positions and phases of play (in and out of possession). Drawing on data from 1,608 official matches across the 2021/22 and 2022/23 seasons, involving 44 teams, the research employed advanced tracking technologies (TRACAB and Mediacoach) and technical event analysis (OPTA) to provide a comprehensive assessment of physical demands and technical actions. In possession phases, First Division central midfielders (CM) and forwards (FW) covered significantly more distance at high speeds (p = 0.010 and 0.027; ES = -0.49) and during sprints (p = 0.041 and 0.025; ES = -0.45 and -0.59), whereas wide defenders (WD) demonstrated greater high-intensity efforts in both possession and defensive phases (p = 0.002-0.009; ES = -0.50 to -0.59). Conversely, central defenders (CD) and wide midfielders (WM) did not show significant differences in physical demands between divisions. Technically, FW in the First Division recorded higher values in total passes, forward passes, attacking zone passes, successful dribbles, and crosses, while WM showed significantly greater totals in passes, forward passes, and attacking zone passes compared to their counterparts in the Second Division. In contrast, Second Division players, particularly CD and WD, executed longer passes (p = 0.025 and 0.001; ES = 0.29 and 0.20), suggesting a more direct style of play. In conclusion, the study demonstrated that competitive level and playing position significantly influence the physical and technical demands of professional football. The findings suggest that technical proficiency, particularly in offensive play, complements position-specific physical demands in highintensity actions as a key differentiator between divisions.
3 Training characteristics of professional development activities in elite football players: a systematic review
Reference: Front Psychol. 2026 May 15:17:1826135. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2026.1826135. eCollection 2026.
Authors: Miao Shen, Sihang Wang, Guanjie Wang, Jiejin Zhou, Pei Li
Download link: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC13218879/pdf/fpsyg-17-1826135.pdf
Summary: The aim was to systematically review the literature to investigate the developmental training characteristics associated with progression in professional football. Comprehensive search of three electronic databases: Web of Science, PubMed, and Scopus up to August 2025. Studies were included if they reported empirical data on milestone events, accumulated training hours, training structure, subjective perceptions, and multi-sport participation among players of varying competitive skill levels. Forty-two studies met inclusion criteria. Findings indicated that higher-level players typically initiated football involvement and reached professional academies at significantly younger ages than lower-level counterparts. In terms of training structure, successful career trajectories commonly followed a specific pattern where informal play predominated during childhood, progressively giving way to intensive coach-led practice throughout adolescence. Elite female players distinctively utilized mixed-gender activities to compensate for limited structured opportunities. Regarding perceptual factors, elite players reported markedly higher perceptions of effort and challenge during training activities. Furthermore, they demonstrated superior decision-making accuracy and pattern-recognition skills compared with non-elite athletes. Finally, data showed that most elite players engaged broadly in multiple sports during childhood, particularly invasion team games, before specializing. This review provides evidence that football-specific activities, particularly accumulated hours and subjective perceptions, play a critical role in shaping professional pathways. However, inconsistent effects regarding milestones and limited female-specific evidence caution against overgeneralization. Future research is required to prioritize longitudinal designs, gender-comparative analyses, and cross-cultural perspectives to refine recommendations for the optimization of athlete development systems.
4 Leadership micro-behaviors and performance stability under competitive pressure: a stepped-wedge field study in professional football
Reference: Front Psychol. 2026 May 14:17:1833589. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2026.1833589. eCollection 2026.
Authors: René Paasch, Gunnar Mau
Download link: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC13215887/pdf/fpsyg-17-1833589.pdf
Summary: Leadership in elite sport is often assumed to directly enhance performance outcomes, yet empirical evidence remains inconsistent, particularly under conditions of high competitive variability. The present study examined whether a brief, behavior-focused PERMA-based leadership intervention was associated with changes in psychological team resources and performance stability in competitive football teams. Using a stepped-wedge field design, 10 teams were observed across up to 24 competitive weeks, combining longitudinal team-level panel data with intensive daily diary assessments (1,567 player-day observations). Fixed-effects and event-study models were used to estimate within-team changes following intervention onset. Perceived leadership micro-behaviors increased following intervention onset, alongside higher levels of psychological safety and collective efficacy. At the performance level, no consistent changes in match points were observed, whereas performance instability decreased, reflecting lower week-to-week fluctuation across matches. Additional robustness analyses were consistent with the interpretation that observed patterns were more closely aligned with reduced performance variability than with systematic changes in average performance levels. Moderation analyses suggested that these associations were attenuated under conditions of elevated competitive pressure. Daily diary results provided converging evidence for changes in leadership perception and psychological safety, but not for load-dependent experiential states such as flow or sleep. These findings suggest that leadership micro-behaviors may be associated with context-sensitive patterns of team functioning, particularly in relation to performance stability rather than immediate competitive success. By distinguishing between performance stability and outcome performance, the present study contributes to a more differentiated understanding of leadership in elite sport and highlights the potential relevance of behavior-focused interventions in applied competitive settings.
5 Beyond isolated metrics and the data deluge: an integrated interpretative framework for youth football development
Reference: Sci Med Footb. 2026 May 31:1-9. doi: 10.1080/24733938.2026.2683590. Online ahead of print.
Author: Nikolaos Androulakis 1
Summary: Youth football development is increasingly informed by objective metrics, including physical performance tests, anthropometric profiling, training load indices, and markers of biological maturation. Over the past decade, the rapid digitalization of academy environments has generated a growing data deluge; however, interpretative practices frequently remain reductionist, with individual variables evaluated in isolation rather than as interacting components of a developing biological and behavioral system. This limitation is particularly pronounced during adolescence, when growth, maturation, behavioral regulation, and training exposure interact dynamically and asynchronously, increasing the risk of misinterpretation and premature developmental judgments. This commentary proposes an integrated interpretative framework that conceptualizes youth football development as a complex, adaptive system, in which observed performance represents an emergent outcome of interacting domains. The novelty of this commentary lies not in proposing new metrics or models, but in reframing how routinely collected academy data are interpreted under conditions of developmental variability and data saturation. By repositioning common monitoring outputs within an integrated interpretative logic, the framework aims to improve signal-to-noise discrimination and reduce false-positive or false-negative selection decisions driven by transient developmental noise during adolescence. Central to this approach is the concept of contextual synchronization, whereby developmental meaning emerges through the temporal alignment of biological state, training exposure, and behavioral response. The framework is explicitly interpretative rather than predictive and is not intended as a talent identification tool or prescriptive pathway. Its methodological contribution lies in clarifying how existing metrics can be integrated to enhance developmental understanding within real-world academy environments.
6 Psychological readiness to return to sport in elite female football players in Kosovo: a PRIA-RS cross-sectional study
Reference: BMC Sports Sci Med Rehabil. 2026 May 30. doi: 10.1186/s13102-026-01770-1. Online ahead of print.
Authors: Feim Gashi, Tine Kovačič, Ismet Shalaj, Bekim Haxhiu, Milazim Gjocaj, Zheralldin Durguti
Download link: https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1186/s13102-026-01770-1_reference.pdf
Summary: Injury is an inevitable component of competitive football and has a significant influence on the psychological and physical well-being of the athletes. Psychological readiness to return to sport following injury is a multidimensional construct encompassing emotional, cognitive and contextual factors that influence an athlete’s transition back to training and competition. This study aims to evaluate the level and multidimensional structure of psychological readiness to return to sport in elite female football players using the Psychological Readiness of Injured Athletes to Return to Sport (PRIA-RS) questionnaire. A cross-sectional questionnaire-based study was conducted, which included 84 elite and semi-professional female football players who were undergoing the final stages of rehabilitation or preparing to return to full training post a sports-related injury. The psychological readiness of these athletes was assessed using the PRIA-RS instrument. Descriptive statistics and exploratory factor analysis (EFA) were performed to identify the underlying psychological dimensions associated with the return-to-sport readiness. Most athletes reported positive perceptions of rehabilitation progress, mood, functional recovery, and overall readiness to return to training. Approximately 64.3% of the respondents rated rehabilitation progression as „very good,“ while 70.2% reported having a very positive attitude at the end of rehabilitation. However, a substantial proportion reported anxiety (29.8%) and uncertainty risk towards a reinjury (23.8%) related to returning to sport. Exploratory factor analysis identified four components explaining 61.2% of total variance, representing emotional confidence, fear and anxiety, perceived functional safety, and external pressure. Elite female football players generally report a high level of psychological readiness to return to sport following an injury, although anxiety and fear of reinjury remain prevalent in a meaningful portion of the athletes. Inclusion of psychological tools such as PRIA-RS into return-to-sport decision-making alongside physical rehabilitation provides the necessary psychological support to the athletes before them to return to full training and competition. The findings support the importance of evaluating psychological readiness as a multidimensional construct alongside physical recovery when making return to sport decisions.
7 Longitudinal Changes in Isometric Trunk and Pelvic Strength Balance, Functional Movement and Muscle Imbalance During a Physiotherapy-Based Strengthening Programme in Adolescent Male Soccer Players
Reference: Healthcare (Basel). 2026 Jun 1;14(11):1539. doi: 10.3390/healthcare14111539.
Authors: Laura Zaliene, Jurgita Boltutiene, Rita Gikariene
Download link: https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9032/14/11/1539
Summary: Trunk and pelvic strength balance and functional movement quality are relevant factors for musculoskeletal health and injury-prevention monitoring in youth soccer players. This study aimed to evaluate longitudinal changes in isometric trunk and pelvic strength balance, functional movement quality, and selected muscle imbalance indicators during a physiotherapy-based strengthening programme in adolescent male soccer players. A longitudinal single-group repeated-measures study was conducted in male soccer players aged 12-18 years. Isometric strength balance was assessed using the Dr. Wolff Back-Check system, and functional movement quality was evaluated using the Functional Movement Screen (FMS). Complete-case analyses were performed according to available repeated measurements. FMS total scores improved across repeated assessments, whereas the global Back-Check score showed no significant longitudinal change. Component-level and imbalance analyses indicated reductions in adductor-abductor imbalance, and better FMS performance was moderately associated with lower adductor-abductor imbalance. Functional movement quality and selected muscle imbalance indicators demonstrated favorable longitudinal changes during the physiotherapy-based strengthening programme. These findings suggest that physiotherapy-oriented strengthening and movement-control exercises may contribute to improvements in functional movement quality and selected muscle balance indicators in adolescent male soccer players. However, the small repeated-measures subsamples and observational study design limit causal interpretation and generalizability.
8 Optimising soccer passing mechanics: a two-dimensional simulation of flight time and playable arrival height
Reference: J Biomech. 2026 Jun 6:205:113389. doi: 10.1016/j.jbiomech.2026.113389. Online ahead of print.
Authors: Jeppe Bjerregaard Carstensen, Emil Morsbøl Marqversen, Thomas Bull Andersen
Download link: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0021929026002447?via%3Dihub
Summary: This study used a two-dimensional, mechanics-based simulation to examine how impact offset and foot-trajectory angle influence sagittal-plane passing performance in soccer over 30 and 45 m. Two objectives were evaluated independently: minimising flight time and optimising playable arrival height at the target distance. Flight-time optimisation consistently favoured near-centre impact (offset = -0.016 to -0.017 m) and shallow foot-trajectory angles, yielding launch speeds of 27.2-30.9 m·s⁻1 and minimum flight times of 1.27/1.18/1.11 s (U15/U17/U19) at 30 m and 2.13/1.94/1.81 s at 45 m. Optimisation for playable arrival height required larger impact offsets and steeper foot-trajectory angles, producing greater backspin (290-370 rpm versus 83-110 rpm) and flatter trajectories. At 30 m, all reference launch-speed conditions remained within the predefined reception-height window. At 45 m, performance within this window increased from 19% in the lowest launch-speed condition to 66% in the highest, exceeding the corresponding flight-time-optimised cases (22%-36%). These findings demonstrate a task-dependent trade-off between launch speed and spin and show that passing outcomes are sensitive to small variations in ball-foot interaction. Practically, coaching cues may be adjusted according to task priority: rapid ball circulation is supported by near-centre impact and shallow approach mechanics, whereas maintaining a playable arrival height at the receiver benefits from larger impact offsets and greater backspin. These implications should, however, be interpreted within the limits of the present two-dimensional model.
9 Substitutions in Professional Elite Soccer Increase Distance and High-Intensity Actions
Reference: J Strength Cond Res. 2026 Jun 10. doi: 10.1519/JSC.0000000000005499. Online ahead of print.
Authors: Thomas Carpels, Sarah Kelly, Ole J Kemi
Summary: Physical performance in intense domains including distance covered and high-intensity actions are central for success in soccer. During a match, players need to appropriately distribute their capacity for intense match-play to last the full match. Substitutions may mitigate performance losses. Here, we investigated physical performance by global positioning system-tracked total distance, repeated high-intensity efforts and peak metabolic power, and result score impact, of substitutions in top division male professional elite soccer players (n = 48) in 95 competitive matches over 3 seasons, featuring 253 substitutions. We found that full match-players showed 4% higher maximal oxygen uptake (p < 0.05) versus substitution players. Relative distance covered in match was 50-74% higher (p < 0.01) in players who substituted into the match versus players who played the full match or were replaced during the match. Repeated high-intensity efforts in match was 61-93% higher (p < 0.01) in players who substituted into the match versus those who played the full match or were replaced during the match. These effects occurred in all player positions, and no home and away match differences occurred. Peak metabolic power did not differ between full-match or substitute players. Finally, we found that substitutions were 3-4 times more likely to improve match score than worsen it (p < 0.01), especially substitutions between 60 and 80 minutes of the match. In conclusion, substitutions permit a team to maintain or increase physical performance, including high-intensity actions, during the course of a match.
10 Combined FIFA 11+ Kids and Neuromuscular Training Effects in Youth Soccer Players
Reference: Int J Sports Med. 2026 Jun 9. doi: 10.1055/a-2881-1706. Online ahead of print.
Authors: Mohamed Tounsi, Fares Aiouaz, Amal Acheche, Ghazi Racil, Johnny Padulo, Yassine Trabelsi
Summary: Integrating proprioceptive and neuromuscular exercises into the FIFA 11+ Kids program may enhance motor performance and postural stability in youth athletes. This study aimed to determine the effects of a 12-week combined FIFA 11+ Kids and proprioceptive-neuromuscular training program (three sessions/wk) compared with regular standard soccer training on physical and postural performance in young male soccer players aged 12-13 years. Forty players (aged 12.19±0.59 years) were randomly assigned to an experimental group (n=20) or control group (n=20). Pre- and post-tests included anthropometry, linear sprints (5-10-20 m), vertical jumps (countermovement jump and squat jump), agility, Y-Balance, and stabilometric assessment (eyes open/closed). In the experimental group, body fat showed a non-significant downward trend (-2.93%; p=0.081), while leg muscle volume significantly increased (+5.53%; group×time: p=0.007; η p 2=0.183) alongside fat-free-mass (+2.41%; p=0.015). Sprint performance improved significantly at 5 m (5.16%; p=0.004; η p 2=0.206), 10 m (4.75%; p=0.008; η p 2=0.270), and 20 m (3.28%; p=0.019). Countermovement jump and squat jump also improved (7.63-14.97%; p=0.046 and p=0.002, respectively). Y-Balance scores and postural stability improved, particularly unipodal mediolateral sway (-35.19%; p=0.001; η p 2=0.224). Conversely, the control group showed no significant changes across anthropometric, performance, balance, or stabilometric parameters. The combined program effectively enhanced athletic performance, body composition, and postural control, strongly supporting its systematic implementation within youth soccer training programs.
11 Compression Garments and Adaptations to Plyometric Training in Soccer Players: A Randomized-Controlled Study
Reference: J Strength Cond Res. 2026 Jun 9. doi: 10.1519/JSC.0000000000005489. Online ahead of print.
Authors: Marius Gosset, Alexis Coquart, Benoit Delaval et al.
Summary: The aim of this study was to analyze the effects of the chronic use of compression garments (CG) during a 6-week plyometric microcycle training block on training adaptations in soccer players. It was hypothesized that CG would have a beneficial effect on training adaptations, compared with placebo (PLA). Eighteen male soccer players (19.54 ± 1.39 years; 180.45 ± 5.25 cm; 71.14 ± 6.73 kg) from a reserve team of an elite professional club were randomly assigned to receive either CG or PLA for 24 hours after each plyometric session. The players participated in a plyometric training program: 2 sessions per week for 6 weeks. In a fully rested state, the players were tested before and after the training program on the following parameters: countermovement jump performance, One-leg sprint power, knee extensor strength, pennation angle of the calf muscles, creatine kinase levels, and perceived muscle soreness. The results were analyzed using a 2-factor mixed linear model. Countermovement jump performance showed a moderate, significant improvement in the CG group (d = 0.762), and a small, nonsignificant improvement in the PLA group (d = 0.344). One-leg power performance showed a large, significant improvement in the CG group (d = 1.690) and in the PLA group (d = 0.867). The results of this study show that the chronic use of CG for recovery does not negatively affect training adaptations and may improve power following a plyometric training program.
12 Can heat stress affect the psychophysiological responses and locomotor demands of young soccer players during small-sided soccer games?
Reference: PLoS One. 2026 Jun 9;21(6):e0351116. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0351116. eCollection 2026.
Authors: Ersan Arslan, Yusuf Soylu, Ana Filipa Silva et al.
Download link: https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0351116
Summary: The study compared the effects of three different heat stress conditions on the psycho-physiological responses and locomotor demands of young players in different small-sided soccer games (SSGs). Sixteen soccer players (age: 16.5 ± 0.5 years) performed 2-a-side and 4-a-side SSGs under three environmental heat stress conditions: low environmental heat (LEH) ≤ 23.9°C, moderate environmental heat (MEH) 24.0-27.9°C, and high environmental heat (HEH) 28.0-32.9°C. Players‘ heart rate (HR) responses and total distance covered (TDC) were continuously monitored for all SSGs; the rating of perceived exertion (RPE) and visual analog scale (VAS) were used after each bout. Tympanic temperature (TT) was recorded daily before and after the SSGs. The results demonstrated that for both 2-a-side and 4-a-side SSGs, significant main effects of temperature were observed for HR, %HRmax, RPE, and VAS responses (all p < 0.05), indicating progressively increased cardiovascular strain and perceptual load under higher heat stress conditions. In contrast, no significant main effects of temperature were found for TDC and TT responses in either game format. Interaction analyses revealed significant temperature × bout effects for most psychophysiological variables in both SSG formats, including HR, %HRmax, RPE, and VAS responses (all p < 0.05), suggesting that responses to heat stress varied across repeated bouts. However, no significant interaction effects were observed for TDC or TT in the 4-a-side SSGs, while only limited interaction effects emerged for TDC in the 2-a-side SSGs format. Overall, the findings indicate that heat stress substantially amplifies cardiovascular and perceptual responses during SSGs, with effects modulated by game format and bout structure. In contrast, TDC and TT appear less sensitive to these conditions. Coaches may use this evidence to manage players‘ internal and external load and optimize their team’s performance across various heat-stress conditions.
13 Potential head injury situations doubled over the past 10-year in beach soccer: a time-trend video-analysis study
Reference: Res Sports Med. 2026 Jun 9:1-11. doi: 10.1080/15438627.2026.2686647. Online ahead of print.
Authors: Yavuz Lima, Kerry Peek, Ogün Köyağasıoğlu, Levend Karaçoban
Summary: This study examined 10-year trends in potential head injury situations across five consecutive FIFA Beach Soccer World Cups (2015-2024). Footage from 160 matches (974 match-hours) was analysed to identify potential head injury situations and associated mechanisms, player actions, outcomes, and visible signs of possible concussion. A total of 463 potential head injury situations were identified, corresponding to an incidence rate (IR) of 475.3 potential head injury situations/1000 match-hours (2.9/match). The overall IR increased significantly by 6.6% biennially, resulting in a 1.95-fold increase over the 10-year period. Increases were most pronounced in incidents involving upper-extremity-to-head contact (9.0%), those occurring during other-duels (17.5%), and those where players were competing for the ball with their feet (14.4%). The IR of medically assessed incidents and those presenting visible signs of possible concussion did not significantly change over time (p>0.05). Findings suggest that increasing potential head injury situations are primarily driven by contested situations involving greater upper-extremity use, warranting targeted prevention strategies.
14 Effects of Repeated-Sprint Training Set Structure on Sprint Performance, Force-Velocity Profile, and Repeated-Sprint Ability in Youth Soccer Players
Reference: J Strength Cond Res. 2026 Jun 8. doi: 10.1519/JSC.0000000000005558. Online ahead of print.
Authors: Diego Fernández-Penedo, Alexis Padrón-Cabo, Pablo B Costa, Ezequiel Rey
Summary: This study compared the effects of 2 repeated-sprint training (RST) protocols of equal total volume, differing in the number of sprint repetitions per set-low (RST-LRS: 4-6 reps) vs. high (RST-HRS: 8-16 reps)-on sprint performance, horizontal force-velocity (F-V) profile, and repeated-sprint ability (RSA) in youth male soccer players. Nineteen under-16 players were randomly assigned to 1 of the protocols, with both groups completing 12 RST sessions over 6 weeks. Sprint times (5-30 m), F-V profile variables (F0, V0, Pmax, RFmax, and DRF), and RSA indices (average time, fastest time, total time, and % decrement) were assessed pre- and post-training. Significant improvements were observed in 20-m (-2.3%, p = 0.041) and 30-m (-2.1%, p = 0.026) sprint times, in Pmax (+7.2%, p = 0.037), and in RSA metrics (-3.8% to -4.7%, p < 0.01), with no significant group × time interactions for any variable. These findings indicate that both RST protocols are effective for enhancing sprint performance, maximal horizontal power, and RSA in young soccer players. From a practical perspective, coaches may select either protocol, depending on time constraints and training context, as both produced comparable adaptations when total sprint volume was equalized.
15 Mechanisms, injury patterns, and kinematic features of hamstring strain injuries in football (soccer): a systematic review and meta-analysis of video-analysis studies
Reference: Front Public Health. 2026 May 21:14:1846524. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2026.1846524. eCollection 2026.
Authors: Jingkang Xia, Junhao He, Jiayi Yao, Yongliang Zhu, Lihong Mao, Xueqiang Zhu
Download link: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC13233188/pdf/fpubh-14-1846524.pdf
Summary: Match video analysis enables retrospective examination of the movement tasks, match situations, and body postures immediately before and after hamstring strain injury (HSI) in football, thereby providing information on the injury process that is difficult to obtain directly from conventional clinical or imaging data. This study aimed to systematically evaluate video-based studies of football matches and to compare the relative reporting frequencies of several prespecified key epidemiological contrasts. In addition, single-arm proportion pooling was used to provide descriptive background information, and exploratory analyses were conducted on kinematic postures and sex differences. Seven databases were systematically searched from inception to February 12, 2026. Studies of 11-a-side football were included if they used video analysis to assess the inciting moment of real-match HSI and reported injury mechanisms, situational patterns, or kinematic characteristics. The primary analyses focused on five prespecified pairwise comparisons. Study-specific 2 × 2 contingency tables were constructed, and odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were pooled using random-effects models. The primary OR analyses were restricted to male samples. Single-arm proportions were pooled using a generalized linear mixed model. Analyses related to kinematics and sex were all treated as exploratory. A total of 7 studies involving 342 HSI cases were included. The main comparisons showed that non-contact was reported more frequently than indirect contact (OR = 2.51, 95% CI 1.31, 4.82), and sprint-type was reported more frequently than mixed-type (OR = 2.01, 95% CI 1.04, 3.87). In contrast, sprint vs. stretch, offensive vs. defensive, and first half vs. second half showed no clear differences. The descriptive pooled results suggested relatively high pooled proportions for sprint-type, running-related action, and non-contact. Exploratory analyses showed that samples associated with different mechanisms were generally similar in knee-joint posture, whereas differences may exist in hip-joint and trunk alignment; cross-study exploratory comparisons by sex did not identify any results that remained consistently significant after multiple-comparison correction. Existing video-analysis evidence from football matches shows that HSI occurs more commonly in situations without external contact, and that sprint-type HSI is more frequent than mixed-type HSI; however, the relative differences between offensive and defensive phases and between the first and second halves remain unclear. These findings may provide a basis for hypotheses in football HSI prevention research, suggesting that future studies may consider examining non-contact injury scenarios in the context of high-speed running, eccentric load tolerance, and neuromuscular control during the single-leg support phase; however, the existing video-analysis evidence itself cannot directly demonstrate the preventive effects of specific training strategies. The above conclusions are limited by factors such as the small number of included studies, inconsistent definitions of injury mechanisms, and insufficient standardization of video analysis, and future research should further accumulate cross-sex samples and harmonize reporting standards.
16 Associations Between Cumulative Head Trauma and Self-Reported Parkinsonism and Parkinson’s Disease in Former Soccer Players
Reference: Mov Disord. 2026 Jun 7. doi: 10.1002/mds.70380. Online ahead of print.
Authors: Annalise E Miner, Matthew J Kmiecik, Niharika Namburi et al.
Summary: Cumulative head trauma, encompassing repetitive head impacts (RHI) and traumatic brain injury (TBI), has been associated with later-life neurodegenerative disease. Studies on parkinsonism/Parkinson’s disease (PD) have evaluated RHI and TBI in isolation, yielding mixed results. Cumulative head trauma may better predict PD risk. The aim was to examine independent and cumulative effects of RHI through soccer participation and TBI history on PD diagnosis and age at diagnosis. We used a cross-sectional cohort design with data from the Fox Insight study. Participants completed self-report questionnaires on PD diagnosis, TBI (no TBI, TBI with loss of consciousness [LOC], TBI without LOC), and sport participation. Multivariable logistic regressions examined the effects of soccer, TBI group, and their interaction on PD diagnosis. Cox proportional hazards examined associations with time to PD diagnosis. Covariates included age, sex, race, education, income, body mass index, heart disease/diabetes, and family PD history. Among 1231 participants (mean[SD] age = 66.12[10.60]), 278 played soccer (953 non-contact and collision sport [CCS] athletes). Participants reported no TBI (390[33%]), TBI without LOC (495[43%]), or TBI with LOC (258[23%]). Overall, 768(62%) reported a PD diagnosis (mean[SD] age at diagnosis = 59.02[9.86]). A significant soccer × TBI interaction indicated that soccer players with TBI with LOC had 2.6× higher odds of PD compared to non-CCS athletes without TBI (OR [95% CI] = 2.600[1.085-6.305], P = 0.033). Former soccer players with TBI with LOC had a 15.6% higher hazard of early PD diagnosis (HR = 1.469, P = 0.027) compared to non-CCS athletes with no TBI. Cumulative head trauma (RHI + TBI) increased PD risk and lowered age at onset
17 The Swedish version of the Athletic Fear Avoidance Questionnaire: a psychometric study conducted among amateur male and female soccer players
Reference: BMC Sports Sci Med Rehabil. 2026 Jun 8;18(1):268. doi: 10.1186/s13102-026-01769-8.
Authors: Kristin Byström, John Ressman, Eva Rasmussen-Barr
Download link: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC13244847/pdf/13102_2026_Article_1769.pdf
Summary: Given the established merits and psychometric properties of the Athletic Fear Avoidance Questionnaire (AFAQ), the present study aimed to translate, cross-culturally adapt and validate the tool for use in a Swedish context. We included 95 amateur soccer players (male n = 31, female n = 64) from a convenience sample of eight soccer teams, who reported a sports injury within the past 12 months and were older than 15 years (mean 22, SD ± 6). They answered web-based surveys (SurveyMonkey©), including the AFAQ and the Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia (TSK). Construct validity of the AFAQ was evaluated relative to the TSK, using Spearman’s Rho. Reliability was assessed in a subset of participants (n = 53) with a test-retest evaluation of the individual items (KappaW) and the total score (Intra Class Correlation, ICC2.1). Internal consistency of the tool was assessed through Cronbach’s Alpha (α). The cross-cultural translation and adaptation of the AFAQ was considered sound. The AFAQ-Swe showed a strong correlation with the TSK (r = 0.82), in line with the predefined hypothesis. The test-retest results demonstrated good-to-substantial reliability for the individual items (KappaW 0.52-0.82) and excellent reliability for the total score (ICC2.1= 0.80). The internal consistency was considered satisfactory (α = 0.85). The AFAQ-Swe demonstrates good measurement properties, with strong reliability and validity. The AFAQ-Swe is a concise, user-friendly tool that can be effectively utilised in the Swedish context, particularly among soccer players. However, further research is necessary to evaluate AFAQ’s predictive validity for a safe return to sports.
18 Nutritional Strategies to Support Performance Maintenance and Recovery in Football Under Hot Environmental Conditions: A Narrative Review
Reference: Nutrients. 2026 May 26;18(11):1695. doi: 10.3390/nu18111695.
Authors: Xincheng Dai, Shuning Liu, Dixin Zou et al.
Download link: https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/18/11/1695
Summary: Rising ambient temperatures and the increasing frequency of training and competition in hot climates have made heat stress a major challenge in football. Under such conditions, players experience greater cardiovascular and thermoregulatory strain, faster glycogen use, higher perceived exertion, and progressive impairment in repeated high-intensity actions and decision-making. These responses have intensified interest in nutritional strategies that might complement heat acclimation, hydration/electrolyte planning, cooling practices, and recovery management. This narrative review critically synthesizes current evidence on nutritional interventions that may be relevant to football performed in the heat, with emphasis on hydration and electrolyte replacement, carbohydrate-protein strategies, taurine, branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs), creatine, menthol, antioxidant- and nitrate-related approaches, and selected multi-ingredient products. Across the available literature, hydration/electrolyte planning and carbohydrate-protein feeding remain the practical foundation, menthol appears most consistently useful for perceptual cooling, creatine seems safe and potentially helpful for repeated-sprint support, and taurine is promising but still supported by relatively few trials. By contrast, evidence for BCAAs, antioxidants, nitrates, and caffeine as stand-alone heat strategies, as well as for many compound supplements, remains inconsistent, context-specific, or too indirect for strong football-specific endorsement. Overall, the evidence base remains heterogeneous in study quality, protocol design, exercise mode, and sport specificity. A substantial proportion of the available data is derived from cycling, endurance, or laboratory heat-exercise models rather than football-specific trials. Accordingly, any practical recommendation should be interpreted cautiously and embedded within broader heat-management strategies. Future work should prioritize ecologically valid randomized controlled trials in football or football-like intermittent protocols, with transparent reporting of dose, timing, perceptual outcomes, and match-relevant performance measures.
19 Effects of Taurine-, Caffeine-, and Phosphatidylserine-Containing Supplementation Protocols on Physical and Cognitive Performance in Professional Male Football Players
Reference: Nutrients. 2026 May 25;18(11):1684. doi: 10.3390/nu18111684.
Authors: Krzysztof Mizera, Elżbieta Mizgała-Izworska, Justyna Mizera, Jan Mackiewicz
Download link: https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/18/11/1684
Summary: Nutritional supplementation is widely used to support physical and cognitive performance in football. However, evidence on multi-ingredient protocols combining taurine, caffeine, and phosphatidylserine (PS) remains limited in professional athletes. Eighty-one professional male football players (19-32 years) were randomly assigned to three groups (n = 27): placebo (P), taurine + caffeine (TC; 1500 mg taurine + 200 mg caffeine), and taurine + caffeine + PS (TCP; 1500 mg taurine + 150 mg caffeine + 300 mg PS) in a randomized, placebo-controlled, single-blind trial. Supplementation lasted 10 days, with a final dose administered 60 min before a standardized 105 min training session. Reaction time, sprint performance, GPS-derived variables, and technical/tactical indicators were assessed. Data were analyzed using ANOVA with post hoc tests, and pairwise comparisons were additionally adjusted using the Holm-Bonferroni correction due to the exploratory nature of the analysis. Compared with placebo, the TCP group was associated with more favorable physical, cognitive, and selected game-related outcomes (p < 0.05). TCP was associated with higher locomotor performance (η2 = 0.13-0.20) and smaller fatigue-related declines in sprint performance (-18% vs. -34%) and speed (-10% vs. -19%) (η2 = 0.18-0.22). Reaction time and technical indicators, including passing accuracy (84% vs. 75%) and dribbling success (73% vs. 62%), were also improved. Higher coach-rated tactical performance scores were observed in TCP (η2 = 0.19-0.25). A short-term multi-ingredient protocol including taurine, caffeine, and PS may be associated with improved physical, cognitive, and selected game-related outcomes in professional football players. However, due to differences in caffeine dosage between groups, the independent effect of PS cannot be determined. Further double-blind studies are warranted. Given the exploratory nature of the analysis, the multiple assessed outcomes, and the partly subjective coach-rated tactical evaluations, the cognitive and tactical findings should be interpreted cautiously and regarded as preliminary rather than confirmatory evidence.
20 Effects of a Single Session of Active Release Technique on Gastrocnemius Delayed-Onset Muscle Soreness in Male Amateur Football Athletes: A Randomized Split-Body Pilot Study
Reference: Healthcare (Basel). 2026 Jun 4;14(11):1581. doi: 10.3390/healthcare14111581.
Authors: Theofanis Dimoulias, George Krekoukias, Maria Moutzouri, George Plakoutsis, Eleftherios Paraskevopoulos, Maria Papandreou
Download link: https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9032/14/11/1581
Summary: Delayed-Onset Muscle Soreness (DOMS) is a common consequence of eccentric exercise, characterized by pain, stiffness, and reduced function. This pilot study aimed to evaluate the effect of a single session of Active Release Technique (ART) on gastrocnemius DOMS in amateur football athletes. Twelve football athletes participated in a randomized split-body design study. All participants completed a bilateral eccentric heel-raise protocol to induce DOMS. One lower limb from each participant was randomly assigned to the ART group (single 8-10 min session), while the contralateral limb served as a control. Pain intensity was assessed using the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) and the pressure pain threshold (PPT) was measured at baseline and at 24, 48, and 72 h post-exercise. The ART group demonstrated significantly lower NRS scores at 24 h compared with the control group (p = 0.007, r = 0.77). At 48 and 72 h, NRS scores remained significantly lower (48 h: p = 0.001, d = 1.26; 72 h: p = 0.003, d = 1.11). PPT values were also significantly higher in the ART group at 24, 48 and 72 h (24 h: p = 0.026, d = 0.73; 48 h: p < 0.001, d = 1.42; 72 h: p = 0.006, d = 0.98). A single ART session may reduce pain and increase the pressure pain threshold following gastrocnemius DOMS in amateur football athletes. However, given the pilot design, small sample size, and absence of functional outcome measures, these findings should be interpreted with caution and confirmed in future studies.
21 Memory alterations over a football season are dependent on athlete position-type and prior concussion history
Reference: Brain Inj. 2026 Jun 10:1-10. doi: 10.1080/02699052.2026.2683513. Online ahead of print.
Authors: Owen Griffith, Alexa E Walter, Jon Kelly, Michael Gay, Wayne Sebastianelli, Linda Papa, S M Slobounov
Download link: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/epdf/10.1080/02699052.2026.2683513?needAccess=true
Summary: Lifetime accumulation of subconcussive head trauma has been linked to neurodegenerative processes, however it is only recently that measurable alterations in brain function after short bouts of repetitive head impacts have been acknowledged. The primary aim of this study was to compare changes in memory function between American Football athletes exposed to repetitive head impacts and non-contact athletes over the course of a single collegiate athletics season, including changes driven by specific athlete position-type and medical history of previous concussion. Collegiate Football and Track and Field athletes completed a functional memory battery, measuring spatial memory, immediate memory, concentration and delayed recall at 1-14 days prior to their athletic season, and again 1-14 days following the end of the season. Rate of change in all memory domains were calculated, and group comparisons were made between sports. Position-type (Speed and Non-Speed for Football) and concussion history were included in analyses as covariates. Track and Field athletes performed better than Football athletes in all memory measures at both time points, and significantly better in preseason concentration (z = 2.643, p = 0.008), preseason delayed recall (z = 3.253, p = 0.001), and postseason delayed recall (z = 2.396, p = 0.017). Track and Field athletes scored significantly higher in postseason spatial memory (z = 7.691, p = 0.007). Football athletes demonstrated a significantly better rate of change in concentration than Track and Field athletes (z = -2.138, p = 0.032), which was shown via pairwise comparisons to be driven by a significant difference between Track and Field athletes and Football speed position athletes (H(z)=7.678, p = 0.022). Football athletes of non-speed positions, compared to speed positions and track and field athletes, had significant decreases in rate of change scores in delayed recall with concussion history included as a covariate (H(z = -2.355, p = 0.023). Football athletes had lower scores overall in all memory domains compared to Track and Field athletes. Memory changes after acute exposure to repetitive head impacts may be dependent upon factors such athlete positional requirements and concussion history. These findings add to clinical understanding of how athletes may be differentially affected by repetitive head impacts.
22 Sprint Mechanical Adaptations to Small-Sided Games According to Football Players‘ Biological Age
Reference: Res Q Exerc Sport. 2026 Jun 10:1-8. doi: 10.1080/02701367.2026.2665726. Online ahead of print.
Authors: Gonzalo Fernández-Jávega, Rodrigo Ramirez-Campillo, Manuel Moya-Ramón, Iván Peña-González
Summary: To analyze the effects of 8-weeks of small-sided games (SSGs) training on the sprint force-velocity profile of youth football players, with special focus on potential baseline differences and training responses according to players‘ biological maturity status. Male football players (age: 13.9 ± 0.8years) were allocated to an experimental group (n = 49) or a control group (n = 30). The experimental group performed two SSGs sessions per week, integrated into regular team training, with progressive overload (e.g. intensity). Participants completed a maximal effort 30m linear sprint, from which sprint force-velocity variables were assessed, including theoretical maximal force (F0), maximal velocity (V0), maximal power (Pmax), maximal ratio of force application (RFmax), rate of decrease in force ratio (DRF), and maximal sprint velocity (Vmax). Players were stratified according to the predicted years from/to their peak height velocity (PHV): pre-PHV experimental (n=21), pre-PHV control (n = 15), post-PHV experimental (n = 28), and post-PHV control (n=15). A repeated measures ANOVA was performed to show group baseline differences as well as time and interaction effects. Post-PHV players displayed higher baseline values in all anthropometric (body mass, height) and sprint force-velocity variables compared with pre-PHV peers (p < .050). The F0, V0, Pmax, and Vmax improved after intervention compared to controls, independent from players PHV (no time×group interactions). Youth football players with advanced maturity status exhibited higher values in the sprint force-velocity variables compared to their peers with delayed maturity status before the intervention. However, the SSGs training program induced similar force-velocity profile gains for both maturity groups.