ECSS Paris 2023: OP-AP18
INTRODUCTION: In elite football, teams can achieve success through different performance types based on player performance. A standout individual performance is where one player performs substantially better than the rest of the team while a balanced team performance is where all players perform equally. In domestic leagues, standout performances were strongly associated with goal difference (Ball, et al., 2025). International tournaments present a different environment as teams are constrained to fixed national squads and cannot recruit to address tactical weaknesses, which alter how performance types relate to success. This study examined associations between performance type (standout or balanced) and match outcomes in elite international tournaments. METHODS: Match and player rating data were collected from seven international tournaments (Men’s 2018, 2022, and Women’s 2023 World Cups, 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, 2024 Copa América and Men’s 2024 and Women’s 2025 European Championship), comprising 358 matches and 3,485 players. Each team's match performance was classified as standout if any player rating was ≥2 SD above their team’s within-match mean; otherwise, it was balanced. Descriptive analyses summarised performance type by outcome (win-draw-loss) and the positional distribution of standout performances. Probabilistic outcome models estimated win-draw-loss likelihood as a function of previous match outcome, player ratings, and performance type. RESULTS: Balanced and standout performances occurred at similar rates (49% vs 51% of team-match observations), but balanced performances produced more wins (40% vs 34%) and fewer draws (23% vs 29%), with similar losses (37%). Standout performances were most common among midfielders (34%) and attackers (25%). In the outcome models, higher overall mean ratings were strongly associated with winning (log-odds = 4.02, 95% CrI 3.34 to 4.76). In contrast, the presence of a standout individual showed no clear independent association with match outcomes once previous match outcome, player ratings, and performance types were accounted for (log-odds = −0.18, 95% CrI −0.81 to 0.46). CONCLUSION: Across international tournaments, match outcomes aligned more with overall team performance than reliance on a standout individual. Although standout performances were common and occurred across positions, they showed no clear independent association with match outcomes once team performance and match context were considered. In short tournament formats with limited scope for correction, sustaining consistent team performance may be a more reliable route to success than isolated standout performances. Ball, J., Huynh, M., & Varley, M. C. (2025). Associations between individual and balanced team performance and soccer match outcomes. International Journal of Performance Analysis in Sport, 1–18. https://doi.org/10.1080/24748668.2025.2567757
Read CV James BallECSS Paris 2023: OP-AP18
INTRODUCTION: Football requires athletes to cover extended running distances and execute multiple consecutive sprints.[1]Key physical fitness indicators of football players, such as maximal oxygen uptake (VO₂max), agility and repeated sprint ability, have long been research hotspots in this field.[2,3]This study aims to explore in depth the correlations among key physical fitness characteristics as well as their correlations with match running performance. METHODS: A total of 20 elite male football players from Nanjing Normal University (Age: 21.5±1.8 years; Height: 178.4±2.9 cm; Body Weight: 70.2±5.2 kg) were selected as the research subjects. The players were divided into three positions: forwards, midfielders and defenders. The K-sport system (K-AI, K-Sport Company, Italy) was adopted to collect the running performance data of the team in three matches during the season. The collected indicators included total running distance, high-speed running distance (>16.2 km/h), low-speed running distance, sprint times and sprint distance (>27 km/h). The physical fitness index tests covered maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max), agility tests include the T-test, Illinois Agility Test, 505 Agility Test and Arrow Run Test , 6×30 m repeated sprint test, body fat test and other multiple indicators. RESULTS: The average total running distance of elite male football players from Nanjing Normal University in matches was 6358.2±1310.2 m, with the high-speed running distance (HSR (m) (>16.2 km/h)) of 645.2±263.4 m, low-speed running distance of 5712.9±1110.4 m, sprint distance (m) (>27 km/h) of 175.8±71.5 m and sprint times of 19.2±8.2 times. In the physical fitness index tests, the average maximal oxygen uptake of the players was 58.7±4.1 ml/kg·min. In the agility tests, the average score of the Illinois Agility Test was 15.9±0.5 s, the T-test 10.1±0.6 s, the 505 Agility Test 2.3±0.2 s and the Arrow Run Test 8.2±0.4 s. The average time of the 6×30 m repeated sprint test was 4.3±0.2 s, the decline rate of the 6×30 m repeated sprint test was 4.1±2%, and the average body fat rate was 12.3%±4.4%. VO₂max final velocity was positively correlated with match running performance and negatively correlated with 6×30 m repeated sprint performance. High‑speed running distance was negatively correlated with Illinois Agility Test. The 6×30 m test performance was positively correlated with agility indicators. Significant differences in body morphology existed among positions. CONCLUSION: The final velocity of maximal oxygen uptake was found to have a significant correlation with match running performance, indicating that it is a key factor influencing athletes' match running performance.The final velocity of athletes' maximal oxygen uptake can be improved through 6×30 m training drills in daily training. The testing results highlights the importance of adopting repeated sprint training such as the 6×30 m drill in daily training practice. 1.Asimakidis (2025) 2. Bujnovsky et al. (2019) 3. Rampinini et al. (2007)
Read CV Hui TanECSS Paris 2023: OP-AP18
INTRODUCTION: Substantial inter-individual differences in growth and maturity have been observed between players of the same chronological age in male academy soccer. However, such evidence in female youth soccer players is limited. Thus, we aimed to describe the distribution of biological maturity across a sample of ten soccer clubs and playing positions, including both female professional academy and grassroots level players from Germany and Austria. METHODS: We estimated the skeletal age (SA) of 437 players (academy=337, grassroots level=100, chronological age (CA) range: 8.4–17.4 years) from the U12–U17 age groups of ten fe-male soccer clubs with a portable ultrasound device (BAUSportTM, SonicBone). The main outcome variable was relative maturity, an indication of biological maturity timing, calculated as SA–CA for each player. The playing position of each player was self-reported. The study was exploratory and SA-CA estimates of each age group or position were deemed equivalent based on the location the 95% confidence intervals in relation to the smallest effect size of interest (SESOI), which was defined as ± 0.5 years. RESULTS: For the academy sample, mean ( standard deviation; 95% confidence intervals) SA–CA was close to zero in the U12 (n=44: 0.130.75 years; -0.10, 0.36) and U17 age groups (n=117: 0.190.90 years; 0.03, 0.35), but positive in the U14 (n=95: 0.591.19 years; 0.35, 0.84) and U15 (n=81: 0.731.20 years; 0.46, 0.99) age groups. Notable inter-individual variability in SA–CA were observed within all age groups (ranges U12: -1.47–2.61, U14: -2.63–4.48, U15: -2.27–3.49, U17: -2.55–2.21). Similar findings were observed in the grassroots sample. Considerable differences in the mean values for SA-CA were observed between positions in both the academy and grassroots sample. For in-stance, across all age groups in the academy sample, central defenders presented the highest mean value for SA–CA (n=74, 0.77 0.99 years, 0.54, 1.00) followed by goal-keepers (n=41, 0.71±1.18 years; 0.34, 1.09), whilst the central defensive midfielders (n=35, -0.02±1.11 years; -0.40, 0.36) and offensive midfielders (n=41, 0.03±1.05 years; -0.31, 0.36) presented the lowest mean value. CONCLUSION: Our findings reflect current selection processes in female professional academy and grassroots soccer. Based on our SESOI of ± 0.5 years, relative maturity in the high-level sample was equivalent to zero in the U12 and U17 age group. A trend towards positive relative maturity was observed in the U14 and U15. Notable differences for relative maturity were observed across playing positions in both samples. In the high-level sample, relative maturity for central defenders was above the SESOI favouring early maturing players. In contrast, defensive midfielders were within the SESOI region indicating no substantial selection bias. How these maturation-related differences within age groups and between positions affect physical performance and development requires further investigation.
Read CV Kristoffer RoksvaagECSS Paris 2023: OP-AP18