ECSS Paris 2023: OP-AP17
INTRODUCTION: Small-sided soccer training, due to its efficiency, has become a hotspot in the field of soccer training research. However, current research predominantly focuses on data collection and analysis, with limited studies from a bibliometric and visualization perspective. This paper analyzes 824 related articles published between 2005 and 2025, retrieved from the Scopus database, using scientometric knowledge mapping and other methods, focusing on publication trends, journal distribution, citation characteristics, and core authors. By visualizing keywords and their evolving trends using VOSviewer 1.6.20 software, the study reveals high-frequency keywords such as “Human,” “Male,” “Athletic Performance,” “Physiology,” and “Heart Rate.” It also indicates that research topics are shifting from basic physiology and athletic performance towards more applied research. METHODS: Scientometric knowledge mapping is a commonly used literature review method that can intuitively display the development process and structural relationships of a research field[3]. Based on VOSviewer 1.6.20 software, the visualization processing of relevant literature on small-sided soccer training can generate a variety of maps based on bibliometric relationships, enabling a more intuitive and detailed analysis and summarization of relevant research content, thereby realizing the visualization analysis of research hotspots and trends in small-sided soccer training from 2005 to 2025. RESULTS: Through the Scopus database, this study found that 824 literature materials were published from 2005 to February 17, 2025.Prior to 2010, the number of publications was relatively low; after 2010, the number of publications increased rapidly, showing an overall fluctuating growth trend. This study focuses on the publication and citation of literature on small-sided soccer training in different countries and regions. The top 5 countries in terms of total number of publications are Portugal (208), Spain (195), the United Kingdom (145), Brazil (143), and Australia (74).Using VOSviewer to analyze the collaboration between authors, selecting authors with no more than 25 authors per literature item. CONCLUSION: Tt can be concluded that the evolution of research hotspots in the field of small-sided soccer training is mainly divided into three stages: the initial research stage (before 2018), where the key research topic was the characteristics of changes in physiological and biochemical indicators of subjects after small-sided training; the development and evolution stage (2018-2021), where the research focused on the analysis of the athletic performance of different populations participating in small-sided soccer training; and the hot spot and frontier stage (2021 to present), where the research on small-sided soccer training shifted the focus from the individual “person” to the “person” in the group, focusing on individual performance in the team, and the research content became more professional and practical.
Read CV LU dongxiaoECSS Paris 2023: OP-AP17
INTRODUCTION: Sprint distance is a key indicator of high external load in football [1], closely linked to injury risk and decisive match events [2]. However, commonly used fixed absolute thresholds misrepresent individual sprint exposure [3]. Normalizing sprint detection to maximal sprinting speed (MSS) improves individualization but may underestimate sprint exposure by excluding its acceleration phase [4]. Incorporating individual acceleration–speed profiles (ASP) may address this limitation by additionally accounting for accelerated sprinting [5]. However, it remains unclear whether these methods yield significantly different sprint exposure metrics during match play. Therefore, this study compared absolute, MSS-normalized, ASP-based, and combined thresholds (ASP+MSS) for quantifying sprint distance and sprint events during elite football matches. METHODS: Eighteen elite male football players from a club competing in the Slovenian First Division and UEFA Conference League were monitored across 158 match observations (3–16 matches per player; >80 min played) during the 2025/2026 season. Speed, acceleration, and distance were collected using a GNSS device. MSS and ASP were defined using rolling match maximum values. Sprint distance and sprint events were calculated using: (a) absolute threshold >25 km·h-1 (ABS); (b) speed >90% MSS (N-MSS); (c) acceleration >90% ASP at lower speeds (N-ASP); and (d) a combined MSS+ASP approach (COM). Values were averaged across matches per player. Methods were compared using RM-ANOVA with Bonferroni post-hoc tests, and associations were assessed using Pearson’s r. RESULTS: ABS, N-MSS, N-ASP, and COM calculated 114.7±44.7, 24.7±8.1, 46.5±12.8, and 63.9±12.8 m of sprint distance, and detected 9.2±2.9, 2.4±0.7, 14.5±3.4, and 15.2±3.3 sprint events, respectively. A significant effect of method was found for sprint distance (F=56.8; p<0.001) and sprint events (F=118.4; p<0.001). ABS yielded greater sprint distance than N-MSS (MD=91.4 m), N-ASP (MD=50.4 m), and COM (MD=50.4 m). N-MSS showed lower sprint distance compared to N-ASP (MD=-21.8 m) and COM (MD=-39.1 m). Sprint events were fewer with N-MSS than ABS (MD=-6.9), N-ASP (MD=-12.1) and COM (MD=-12.8). Conversely, N-ASP and COM detected more sprint events than ABS (MD=5.3 and MD=5.9). Sprint distance correlated between ABS, N-MSS and COM (r=0.51–0.66), whereas N-ASP correlated only with COM (r=0.83). Sprint events correlated between ABS and N-MSS (r=0.61) and between N-ASP and COM (r=0.99). CONCLUSION: Absolute thresholds substantially overestimate sprint distance, whereas MSS-normalized thresholds may underestimate sprint exposure. Incorporating ASP (N-ASP or COM) identifies additional sprint distance and sprint events and may provide a more meaningful representation of sprint-related external load for individualized monitoring and injury-risk management. [1] Gualtieri 2023; [2] Vermeulen 2024; [3] Pimenta 2024; [4] Pimenta 2025; [5] Miguens 2024
Read CV Matic SašekECSS Paris 2023: OP-AP17
INTRODUCTION: In the 2026 FIFA World Cup Asian Qualifiers, the China national men's football team faced two matches against Japan, losing 0-7 and 1-3 respectively. Though China conceded 4 fewer goals in the second match, indicating "phased progress", a granular analysis of technical metrics reveals that the fundamental disparities in individual skills, tactical coordination, and competition cognition remain unchanged. The technical deficiencies in these matches reflect not just competitive shortcomings, but systemic flaws from prolonged development issues. Therefore, this study quantitatively analyzes the representation and underlying causes of Chinese football's technical dilemmas, proposing phased reform paths to provide references for the long-term development of Chinese football. METHODS: This study adopts literature review, case analysis, statistics, and logical deduction. With a primary focus on statistics, it compares technical data from the two China-Japan matches. Through typical cases analysis, it explores both the representation and underlying causes of the technical dilemmas confronting the Chinese team. RESULTS: (1)In terms of offensive efficiency in both matches, the Chinese team achieved limited progress: evolving from generating "totally non-threatening" in the first match to creating occasional goal-scoring opportunities in the second. (2)Regarding defensive performance, the Chinese team improved partially from near-collapse in the first encounter to passive defense in the second. (3)Comparative analysis identified significant systemic disparities between the Chinese and Japanese teams in two performance domains: 4 key confrontation metrics (penalty area one-on-one defense, wing breakthrough and defense, midfield duels, and technical success rate during high-speed movement) and 3 technical indicators under pressure scenarios (back-line passing, ball possession, and technical execution while trailing). CONCLUSION: (1)The core crux of Chinese football's technical dilemmas lies in systemic technical incapacity. It stems from the backward training system that breeds "greenhouse technology" disconnected from actual matches, and constraints from the competitive environment where low-intensity leagues lead to "capacity adaptation bias". (2)The systematic reform path for Chinese football's technical system encompasses a short-term focus (2-3 years) on targeted capability reinforcement and normalization of high-intensity training, mid-term planning (3-5 years) for the reconstruction of youth training standards and optimization of the competition environment, and long-term development (5-10 years) aimed at cultivating a technical culture and aligning with international standards. (3)Addressing Chinese football's technical dilemmas requires a systematic reconstruction of the entire technical framework, prioritizing long-term talent cultivation over short-term expediency and staying committed to the sustained technical development strategy.
Read CV Huisheng HouECSS Paris 2023: OP-AP17