The purpose of this study was to identify the effect of match status (winning, losing or drawing) on the length of passing sequences of toplevel soccer teams. A total of 20 matches of the knockout phase of the 2008-2009 UEFA Champions League were analysed. The sample consisted of 222 passing sequences leading to shooting opportunities performed by the four semi-finalists teams (FC Barcelona, Manchester United FC, Chelsea FC and Arsenal FC). These passing sequences were selected to reflect how each team tended to break the balance with the opposing teams to reach the goal (symmetry-breaking process). The passing sequences were measured by the number of passes performeduntil the shot and their respective durations, according to the match status. Results revealed that teams used preferentially long passing sequences when they were losing or drawing, and short passing sequences when they were winning. Besides, these top-level European teams tended to differently adapt the length of their passing sequences according to the evolving score-line, which suggests the existence of a team's signature of play.

La figura del entrenador es clave en el entrenamiento deportivo con jóvenes. Este estudio tuvo como objetivos establecer el perfil del entrenador de fútbol en las etapas de formación de los jóvenes jugadores de la región de Beja (Portugal), identificar la concepción sobre la enseñanza del fútbol que tienen, y conocer la forma de planificar y programar de los mismos. Con este fin se encuestaron a 124 entrenadores de fútbol base de la mencionada región portuguesa. Los datos mostraron que el perfil del entrenador de fútbol base de Beja se correspondió al siguiente: hombre de entre 31 y 40 años, con el duodécimo año de escolaridad completo, trabajando por cuenta ajena, sin curso de entrenador o con apenas el Grado I o nivel básico de la titulación de entrenador de fútbol. También destacó el hecho de que la mayoría de los entrenadores consideraran el fútbol un medio para educar a los jugadores, siendo los entrenadores más jóvenes los que más creían en el fútbol como medio transmisor de valores. Cabe destacar que los entrenadores manifestaron tener bastante claro los contenidos a trabajar en estas edades y que solían utilizar tanto métodos de enseñanza directivos como basados en el descubrimiento. Los entrenadores afirmaron que solían dar más prioridad a los aspectos técnico-tácticos con respecto al trabajo físico. Por último, gran parte de los entrenadores mostraron intención de entrenar en un futuro en categorías superiores. Abstract: The figure of the coach is key in sports training with young people. The aims of this study were to establish the profile of the football coach in the training stages of young players in the region of Beja (Portugal), to identify their conception of football teaching, and to know how to plan and programme them. To this end, 124 grassroots football coaches in the aforementioned Portuguese region were surveyed. The data showed that the profile of the base football coach in Beja corresponded to the following: a man between 31 and 40 years old, with the twelfth year of schooling complete, working as an employee, without a course of coaching or with only Grade I or basic level of the qualification of football coach. It was also highlighted the fact that most coaches considered football as a means of educating players, with younger coaches believing most in football as a means of transmitting values. It should be noted that the coaches said they were quite clear about the content to be worked on in these ages and that they used both managerial and discovery-based teaching methods. Coaches said they tended to give more priority to technical and tactical aspects over physical work. Finally, a large number of coaches showed their intention to train at higher levels in the future.

Con el objetivo de analizar la formación de los entrenadores de fútbol base en los clubes de la Asociación de Fútbol de Beja (Portugal) se diseñó un cuestionario de 117 items agrupados en ocho dimensiones (Características Sociodemográficas, Experiencia Deportiva, Aspectos Personales, Formación como Entrenador, Formación Continua, Concepción de Enseñanza, Planificación y Programación y Necesidades de Formación). Se llevó a cabo un análisis cualitativo y cuantitativo mediante la valoración de 12 expertos. Se analizó la validez de contenido a través del coeficiente V de Aiken, estableciendo un intervalo de confianza del 99 %, y el coeficiente de variación. Para establecer la fiabilidad se analizó la consistencia interna por el método del Alfa de Cronbach (0.915) y la fiabilidad test-retest utilizando el coeficiente de correlación intraclase, 0.890 (p<0.01). Los resultados demuestran que el cuestionario reúne suficientes propiedades psicométricas como para ser considerado una herramienta válida y fiable para estudiar y analizar las necesidades formativas de los entrenadores de fútbol de formación. Abstract. IA questionnaire of 117 items grouped into eight dimensions (Socio-Demographic Characteristics, Sports Experience, Personal Aspects, Formation as Coach, Continuous Formation, Concepción Teaching, Planning and Programming and Needs of Formation) was designed in order to analyze the training of football coaches forming young players in clubs of the Football Association of Beja (Portugal). A qualitative and quantitative analysis was supported by 12 experts’ evaluation. Content validity was analyzed through the V Aiken coefficient with a 99% confidence interval, as well as through the coefficient of variation. Internal consistency was analyzed with the Cronbach's Alpha method (0.915) to establish the tool reliability; test-retest reliability was assessed through the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC = 0.890; p<0.01). The results showed that the questionnaire gathers enough psychometric properties to be considered a valid and reliable tool to study and analyze football initiation coaches’ training needs.