ORIGINAL PAPER
Do contextual variables influence the spatial organisations of elite-level Brazilian professional soccer players?
 
More details
Hide details
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.

 
REFERENCES (33)
1.
Giménez JV, Jiménez-Linares L, Leicht AS, Gómez MA. Predictive modelling of the physical demands during training and competition in professional soccer players. J Sci Med Sport. 2020;23(6):603–608; doi: 10.1016/j. jsams.2019.12.008.
 
2.
Santos FJ, Figueiredo T, Ferreira C, Espada M. Physiological and physical effects associated with task constraints, pitch size, and floater player participation in U-12 1 × 1 soccer small-sided games. Hum Mov. 2022; 23(4):54–62; doi: 10.5114/hm.2022.108316.
 
3.
Zhou C, Gómez M-Á, Lorenzo A. The evolution of physical and technical performance parameters in the Chinese Soccer Super League. Biol Sport. 2020;37(2):139– 145; doi: 10.5114/biolsport.2020.93039.
 
4.
Memmert D, Lemmink KAPM, Sampaio J. Current Approaches to tactical performance analyses in soccer using position data, Sports Med. 2017;47(1):1–10. doi: 10.1007/s40279-016-0562-5.
 
5.
Memmert D, Rein R, Match analysis, big data and tactics: current trends in elite soccer. Dtsch Z Sportmed. 2018;69(3):65–72; doi: 10.5960/dzsm.2018.322.
 
6.
Low B, Coutinho D, Gonçalves B, Rein R, Memmert D, Sampaio J, A systematic review of collective tactical behaviours in football using positional data. Sports Med. 2020;50(2):343–385; doi: 10.1007/s40279-019- 01194-7.
 
7.
Sheehan WB, Tribolet R, Watsford ML, Novak AR, Rennie M, Fransen J, Tactical analysis of individual and team behaviour in professional Australian Football. Sci Med Football. 2022;6(2):172–180; doi: 10.1080/2473 3938.2021.1923792.
 
8.
Castellano J, Álvarez D, Figueira B, Coutinho D, Sampaio J. Identifying the effects from the quality of opposition in a Football team positioning strategy. Int J Perform Anal Sport. 2013;13(3):822–832; doi: 10.1080/24748 668.2013.11868691.
 
9.
Folgado H, Gonçalves B, Sampaio J. Positional synchronization affects physical and physiological responses to preseason in professional football (soccer). Res Sports Med. 2018;26(1):51–63; doi: 10.1080/15438627.2017. 1393754.
 
10.
Moura FA, van Emmerik REA, Santana JE, Martins LEB, de Barros RML, Cunha SA. Coordination analysis of players’ distribution in football using cross-correlation and vector coding techniques. J Sports Sci. 2016;34(24):2224–2232; doi: 10.1080/02640414.2016. 1173222.
 
11.
Clemente FM, Afonso J, Castillo D, Arcos AL, Silva AF, Sarmento H. The effects of small-sided soccer games on tactical behavior and collective dynamics: a systematic review. Chaos Solitons Fractals. 2020;134:109710; doi: 10.1016/j.chaos.2020.109710.
 
12.
Rico-González M, Pino-Ortega J, Nakamura FY, Moura FA, Los Arcos A. Identification, computational examination, critical assessment and future considerations of distance variables to assess collective tactical behaviour in team invasion sports by positional data: a systematic review. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2020;17(6):1952; doi: 10.3390/ijerph17061952.
 
13.
Coito N, Davids K, Folgado H, Bento T, Travassos B. Capturing and quantifying tactical behaviors in smallsided and conditioned games in soccer: a systematic review, research quarterly for exercise and sport. 2022; 93(1):189–203; doi: 10.1080/02701367.2020.1823307.
 
14.
Praça GM, Moreira PED, Dieguez GTO, Barbosa TO, Brandão LHA, Custódio IJO, The impact of match venue on performance indicators and tactical behaviour in youth soccer players. Int J Perform Anal Sport. 2021; 21(6):889–899; doi: 10.1080/24748668.2021.1952831.
 
15.
Praça GM, de Andrade AGP, Bredt SGT, Moreira PED, Costa GDCT, Castro HO, et al. Effects of match period and playing position on the individual and collective dynamics in professional soccer: a case study. Rev Bras Cineantropom Desempenho Hum. 2020;22; doi: 10.1590/1980-0037.2020v22e74688.
 
16.
Folgado H, Duarte R, Fernandes O, Sampaio J. Competing with lower level opponents decreases intra-team movement synchronization and time-motion demands during pre-season soccer matches. PLoS One. 2014; 9(5):e97145; doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0097145.
 
17.
Dellal A., Chamari K., Wong D.P., Ahmaidi S., Keller D., Barros R., et al. Comparison of physical and technical performance in European soccer match-play: FA Premier League and La Liga. Eur J Sport Sci. 2011;11(1):51–59; doi: 10.1080/17461391.2010.481334.
 
18.
Nassis G, Brito J, Dvorak J, Chalabi H, Racinais S. The association of environmental heat stress with performance: analysis of the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil. Br J Sports Med. 2015;49(9):609–613; doi: 10.1136/bjsports- 2014-094449.
 
19.
Augusto D, Brito J, Aquino R, Figueiredo P, Eiras F, Tannure M, et al. Contextual variables affect running performance in professional soccer players: a brief report. Front Sports Active Living. 2021;3:778813; doi: 10.3389/fspor.2021.778813.
 
20.
Moura FA, Martins LEB, Anido RO, de Barros RML, Cunha SA. Quantitative analysis of Brazilian football players’ organisation on the pitch. Sports Biomech. 2012; 11(1):85–96; doi: 10.1080/14763141.2011.637123.
 
21.
Beato M, Devereux G, Stiff A. Validity and reliability of Global Positioning System Units (STATSports Viper): for measuring distance and peak speed in sports. J Strength Cond Res. 2018;32(10):2831–2837; doi: 10.1519/ JSC.0000000000002778.
 
22.
Sullivan G.M., Feinn R., Using effect size – or why the p value is not enough. J Grad Med Educ. 2012;4(3):279– 282; doi: 10.4300/JGME-D-12-00156.1.
 
23.
Coutinho D, Gonçalves B, Wong D.P, Travassos B, Coutts AJ, Sampaio J. Exploring the effects of mental and muscular fatigue in soccer players’ performance. Hum Mov Sci. 2018;58:287–296; doi: 10.1016/j.humov. 2018.03.004.
 
24.
Mohr M, Krustrup P, Bangsbo J. Match performance of high-standard soccer players with special reference to development of fatigue. J Sports Sci. 2003;21(7):519– 528; doi: 10.1080/0264041031000071182.
 
25.
da Silva JF, Guglielmo LGA, Bishop D. Relationship between different measures of aerobic fitness and repeated- sprint ability in elite soccer players. J Strength Cond Res. 2010;24(8):2115–2121; doi: 10.1519/JSC.0b013e 3181e34794.
 
26.
Aquino R, Carling C, Palucci Vieira LH, Martins G, Jabor G, Machado J, et al. Influence of situational variables, team formation, and playing position on match running performance and social network analysis in Brazilian professional soccer players. J Strength Cond Res. 2020;34(3):808–817; doi: 10.1519/JSC.0000000 000002725.
 
27.
Lago-Peñas C, Gómez-Ruano M, Megías-Navarro D, Pollard R. Home advantage in football: Examining the effect of scoring first on match outcome in the five major European leagues. Int J Perform Anal Sport. 2016; 16(2):411–421; doi: 10.1080/24748668.2016.11868897.
 
28.
Thompson CJ, Noon M, Towlson C, Perry J, Coutts AJ, Harper LD, et al. Understanding the presence of mental fatigue in English academy soccer players. J Sports Sci. 2020;38(13):1524–1530; doi: 10.1080/02640414.2020. 1746597.
 
29.
Fullagar HH, Duffield R, Skorski S, White D, Bloomfield J, Kölling S, et al., Sleep, travel, and recovery responses of national footballers during and after longhaul international air travel. Int J Sports Physiol Perform. 201611(1):86–95; doi: 10.1123/ijspp.2015-0012.
 
30.
Aquino R, Munhoz Martins GH, Palucci Vieira LH, Menezes RP. Influence of match location, quality of opponents, and match status on movement patterns in Brazilian professional football players. J Strength Cond Res. 2017;31(8):2155–2161; doi: 10.1519/JSC.00000 00000001674.
 
31.
Lago-Peñas C, Dellal A. Ball possession strategies in elite soccer according to the evolution of the matchscore: the inf luence of situational variables. J Hum Kinet. 2010;25:93–100; doi: 10.2478/v10078-010- 0036-z.
 
32.
Gonçalves LG, Clemente F, Palucci Vieira L, Puggina E, Bedo B, Moura F, et al. Effects of match location, quality of opposition, match outcome and playing position on load parameters and players’ prominence during official matches in professional soccer players. Hum Mov. 2021;22(3):35–44; doi: 10.5114/hm.2021.100322.
 
33.
Santos PM, Lago-Penas C. Defensive positioning on the pitch in relation with situational variables of a professional football team during regaining possession. Hum Mov. 2019;20(2):50–56; doi: 10.5114/hm.2019. 81019.
 
eISSN:1899-1955
Journals System - logo
Scroll to top