ORIGINAL PAPER
Do contextual variables influence the spatial organisations of elite-level Brazilian professional soccer players?
 
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1
Institute of Physical Education and Sports, State University of Rio de Janeiro, Post-graduate Program in Exercise and Sport Sciences, Laboratory of Soccer Studies (LABESFUT), Brazil
 
2
Department of Sports, Center of Physical Education and Sports (CEFD), Federal University of Espírito Santo, Vitória, Brazil
 
3
Department of Sport and Health Sciences, Technological University of the Shannon, Athlone, Ireland Department of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland
 
 
Submission date: 2022-12-12
 
 
Acceptance date: 2023-06-04
 
 
Publication date: 2023-12-28
 
 
Hum Mov. 2023;24(4):44-51
 
KEYWORDS
TOPICS
ABSTRACT
Purpose:
This study investigated the influence of contextual variables on individual and collective team spatial organisation in professional Brazilian players.

Methods:
Seventeen matches were analysed during the 1st division Brazilian National football League of 2019. Global Positioning System devices were used to track players’ in-game movements. The data were analysed using Matlab to calculate linear tactical variables. The selected tactical variables were ‘Distance from the last defender to the goal’; ‘Width and length’; ‘LpWratio’; ‘Spread’; ‘Space exploration index’ and ‘Stretch index’. Five contextual variables were considered: (i) playing time, (ii) match location, (ii) ranking of the opposition, (iii) match outcome, and (iv) match status.

Results:
Results demonstrated that the LpWratio values were significantly greater during the second half of matches when compared with the first half (p = 0.03; d = 0.62). Significantly greater length and spread values were identified when the team was playing against a bottom six team when compared with the medium eight teams (p = 0.05; d = 1.58–1.60). Significantly higher stretch index values were reported when playing a top six opposition team when compared with the medium eight opposition teams. During losses, the stretch index was significantly higher when compared with wins and draws, respectively (p = 0.01; d = 1.47–1.89). Finally, the LpWratio values were significantly higher during periods when the team was losing, when compared with periods of drawing and winning (p = 0.01; d = 1.07–1.12).

Conclusions:
In conclusion, the spatiotemporal organisations of professional-level Brazilian club players are significantly influenced by contextual variables. The current findings support the use of GPS devices in soccer as a time-efficient and logistically viable method to characterise tactical behaviour and examine spatiotemporal movement patterns.

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