To investigate the effects of situational factors (match location, strength of team and opponent) and environmental factors (relative air humidity, temperature and air quality index) on the technical and physical match performance of Chinese Soccer Super League teams (CSL). The generalized mixed modelling was employed to determine the effects by using the data of all 240 matches in the season 2015 collected by Amisco Pro®. Increase in the rank difference would increase the number of goal-scoring related, passing and organizing related actions to a small-to-moderate extent (Effect size [ES]: 0.37–0.99). Match location had small positive effects on goal-scoring related, passing and organizing related variables (ES: 0.27–0.51), while a small negative effect on yellow card (ES = −0.35). Increment in relative air humidity and air quality index would only bring trivial or small effects on all the technical performance (ES: −0.06–0.23). Increase in humidity would decrease the physical performance at a small magnitude (ES: −0.55–−0.38). Teams achieved the highest number in the physical performance-related parameters at the temperature between 11.6 and 15.1 °C. In the CSL, situational variables had major effects on the technical performance but trivial effects on the physical performance, on the contrary, environmental factors affected mainly the physical performance but had only trivial or small impact on the technical performance.

The aim of the present study was to identify the game-related statistics which discriminate between winning, drawing and losing teams in Chinese Soccer Association Super League. The sample included 1056 balance games from the 2012-2017 Chinese Soccer Association Super League. Physical and technical game-related statistics were gathered. A one-way analysis of variance and discriminant analysis of data was done. The results showed that winning teams were significantly higher for the following game statistics: shots, shots on target, 50-50 challenge won, offsides, sprinting distance, sprinting effort, sprinting distance in ball possession and high-speed-running distance in ball possession. Losing teams had significantly higher averages in the variable crosses, passes, forward passes, sprinting distance out of ball possession and high-speed-running distance out of ball possession. Discriminant analysis concluded the following: the variables that discriminate between winning, drawing and losing teams were the shots on target, sprinting distance in ball possession, quality of opposition, passes and forward passes. Coaches and players should be aware of these different profiles in order to design and evaluate practices and competitions for their teams.

The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on home advantage (HA) comparing games with the presence of spectators (pre-pandemic) and during ghost games in absence of spectators (post-pandemic). A secondary twofold objective was to analyse the influence of team ability on HA by (i) comparing HA for pre- and post- pandemic and (ii) comparing different team ability levels. Wilcoxon and Mann-Whitney U tests were used to identify HA and home wins percentage (HW%) differences between pre-pandemic and post-pandemic games. Additionally, the Kruskal-Wallis test was run to identify HA and HW% differences between team ability levels (High to Low). Teams had higher HA and HW% during pre-pandemic than post-pandemic. In turn, low level teams present higher HA compared to the other team ability levels. Thus, low level teams are more benefited from playing at their home-court, resulting in a higher chance of winning comparing with playing away. However, for HW% low level teams showed lower HW% than medium and high team ability levels, showing that when a team is considerably weaker than the opponent, then this difference in ability will outweigh HA and the stronger team is likely to win both at home and away.

A simple method was designed to evaluate visual abilities such as disance visual acuity, binocular horizontal visual field, simple and choice visual reaction times, and stereoscopic vision in skilled 11- to 13-yr.-old basketball players participating in a 15-day summer training camp. On a test battery, visual abilities were monitored in 473 players of the Spanish Basketball Federation over a 5-yr. period. The players showed outstanding scores on distance visual acuity and stereoscopic vision, and good visual reaction times and horizontal visual fields. When scores were compared by sex and age, significant differences on certain visual measures were observed. Many layers showed crossed eye-hand dominance. Visual screening programs may help promote visual health among junior basketball players and could be used for performance training.

The purpose of this study was to determine whether the role of every performance indicator in determining match outcome has varied from a long-term analysis (seasons 2012 to 2017) of the Chinese Soccer Super League (CSL). The sample included 1,429 CSL matches where 17 technical performance-related indicators, 11 physical performance-related indicators and two situational variables (match location and quality of opposition) were analysed. Binary logistic regression models were used to measure the level of association between these factors and match outcome over the six seasons studied. Results revealed that shots on target, possession, total distance in ball possession, total distance out of ball possession, and match location exerted a decreased influence on winning the matches from 2012 to 2014 seasons. However, these indicators play a more important role in winning matches from 2014 to 2017 seasons.Additionally, the quality of opposition has a continuously increased negative effect on the match outcome. The key performance indicators and their role in winning the matches changed over the six seasons studied reflecting the performance development of Chinese soccer. These results provide valuable information about key performance indicators and situational variables on winning the matches from a long-term approach.

Relative age effects (RAEs) appear consistently prevalent throughout the youth basketball literature. However, the selection into and successful transition out of a national talent pathway in basketball is yet to be explored. Thus, the primary aim of this study was to explore the influence of relative age, gender, and playing time based on the selection into the Regional Talent Hubs and Basketball England youth teams (U16, U18, and U20) and the successful transition into the England National Senior Teams. Participants who were selected into the male (n = 450) and female (n = 314) Basketball England Talent Pathway were allocated into one of three cohorts: (a) Regional Talent Hubs (U12 to U15; n = 183), (b) England National Youth Teams (U16, U18, and U20; n = 537), and (c) England National Senior Teams (n = 44). A chi-square test was used to compare the birth quarter (BQ) distributions of each cohort against the expected distributions, with a Cramer’s V (Vc) used to interpret effect sizes. Odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals were also calculated to compare the likelihood of each BQ being represented. Males revealed significant RAEs across both the Regional Talent Hubs (p < 0.001, Vc > 0.29, OR = 10) and England National Youth Teams (p < 0.001, Vc > 0.17, OR = 3.1). In comparison, females only had significant RAEs in the Regional Talent Hubs (p < 0.001, Vc > 0.29, OR = 2.3). Despite RAEs being prevalent throughout youth levels, there were no significant differences in the BQ distribution based on playing time and those who made the successful transition to the England National Senior Teams. These findings demonstrate the potential mechanisms of RAEs in basketball, as well as the impetus to explore more equitable competition structures within the England Basketball Talent Pathway.

Abstract:The aim of present study was to analyse how decision and planning styles of a coach are influenced by intrinsic variables: age, gender and experience of the coach, and by extrinsic variables: gender, age and competitive level of the teams trained. The investigation carried out focuses on the analysis of the characteristics of the coach and a number of actions linked to coaching, specifically decision making and planning in coaching. The study was developed through the use of a questionnaire applied to a sample of 334 Spanish Handball coaches. The results allowed identifying relations between decision and planning styles, given that the coach must take multiple decisions during the coaching session. The attitude of the coach towards taking decisions can have an influence on planning style. Gender, age and level of experience of coaches and competitive level of the teams affect the decision and planning styles adopted by coaches.Keywords: Decision style, planning style, handball, coaches. DECISION AND PLANNING STYLE OF SPANISH HANDBALL COACHESThere are various studies based on the subject of sport coaches and have focused on various aspects: i) the analysis of coaching behaviour, ii) analysis of thoughts and reflexions of the coach, iii) analysis of the coach's characteristics and, iv) the analysis of his/her professional development [1].The coaching of players and the success of coaching are conditioned by good planning. Planning is one of the most important functions for the coach to develop an effective project. Coach variation in planning could arise due to a situation brought about by the players, by a situation that arises due to the nature of the exercise, or by a situation brought about by the coach [2]. It could even be caused by contextual aspects that affect coaching sessions or competitions. Faced with these variations, the coach can adopt diverse attitudes in planning: a rigid attitude with little flexibility to carry out changes; another, more flexible, to carry out changes according to how the coaching session develops; and lastly, an attitude of continual improvisation in coaching sessions [3]. Previous studies in this field indicate that a flexible planning style is the most appropriate so that the coach is able to adapt himself/herself to changes that are produced in coaching sessions and in competitions [4, 5].The multitude of factors that affect the coaching process and competition require correct leadership from the coach in decision-making. For Abraham, Collins and Martindale [6] one of the functions that stands out in experienced coaches is the development of leadership in a work team and in a group of players. Arising from the attitude of the coach we can establish three coaching styles according to a coach's leadership: authoritarian, democratic and permissive [7]. The authoritarian coach is one who imposes his criteria in an excessively direct way. The democratic coach is the one who, without giving up his role as leader of the group, encourages and allows opinions from helpers, ...

Background The aims of the study were (1) to identify the physical fitness and basic anthropometric characteristics of Polish female basketball players aged 13–15 years, (2) to show the effect of maturity timing on the performance in motor tests and basic body composition parameters, (3) to identify the index that contributes most to the prediction of performance in the tests of speed, jumping ability, agility, and endurance. Methods The sample included 904 female Polish players (U13–15). In part 1, maturity timing category distribution were examined within across age-groups. Maturity timing was followed by grouping with respect to years before or after the observed peak high velocity (PHV): PHV0 (− 0.50 to 0.49), PHV1 (0.50 to 1.49), PHV2 (1.50 to 2.49) and PHV3 (2.50 to 3.49). In part 2, the relationship between the anthropometric variables, physical fitness performance was assessed based on maturity timing categories (ANCOVA analysis). In part 3, backward stepwise multiple regression analyse quantified the relationship between maturity timing (group of PHV) and physical performance. Results ANCOVA results (age, body height, and body mass as covariates) showed in the U13 female basketball players significantly higher sprinting (20 m), jumping ability and endurance tests results of the PHV1 group. Better results was observed in U14 female players in PHV1 compared to PHV2 and PHV3 in 20 m and jumping tests but opposite trend was observed for 5 m sprint and endurance test (distance covered and VO2max). U15 basketball players from the PHV3 group were characterized by better results of jumping abilities, endurance, 10 m and 20 m sprint and agility (total, S4) tests. Maturity timing (10 m), chronological age (5 m, 20 m, agility, SVJ, VJ, and VO2max tests), body height (10 m), body mass (10 m, 20 m, VJ, VO2max), and the interaction between body mass and height (SVJ) were significant (adjusted R2 = 0.02–0.10; p < 0.001) predictors of motor skills. Conclusion Trainng content of female basketball players aged 13–15 years old should be adjusted to biological requirements especially in jumping, endurance and 20 m sprint test. The time from peak height velocity (PHV) was a significant predictor only in the 10 m sprint test.