(1) Whereas the objectives of the Community, as laid down in the Treaty, as amended by the Treaty on European Union, include creating an ever closer union among the peoples of Europe, fostering closer relations between the States belonging to the Community, ensuring economic and social progress by common action to eliminate the barriers which divide Europe, encouraging the constant improvement of the living conditions of its peoples, preserving and strengthening peace and liberty and promoting democracy on the basis of the fundamental rights recognized in the constitution and laws of the Member States and in the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms;

Some Preliminary Comments on the DIRECTIVE 95/46/EC OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 24 October 1995 on the protection of individuals with regard to the processing of personal data and on the free movement of such data.

The aims of this study were to (1) determine the activity profiles of a large sample of English FA Premier League soccer players and (2) examine high-intensity running during elite-standard soccer matches for players in various playing positions. Twenty-eight English FA Premier League games were analysed during the 2005–2006 competitive season (n = 370), using a multi-camera computerised tracking system. During a typical match, wide midfielders (3138 m, s = 565) covered a greater distance in high-intensity running than central midfielders (2825 m, s = 473, P = 0.04), full-backs (2605 m, s = 387, P < 0.01), attackers (2341 m, s = 575, P < 0.01), and central defenders (1834 m, s = 256, P < 0.01). In the last 15 min of a game, high-intensity running distance was ∼20% less than in the first 15-min period for wide midfielders (467 m, s = 104 vs. 589 m, s = 134, P < 0.01), central midfielders (429 m, s = 106 vs. 534 m, s = 99, P < 0.01), full-backs (389 m, s = 95 vs. 481 m, s = 114, P < 0.01), attacker...

High-intensity running in English FA Premier League soccer matches

High-intensity interval training (HIT), in a variety of forms, is today one of the most effective means of improving cardiorespiratory and metabolic function and, in turn, the physical performance of athletes. HIT involves repeated short-to-long bouts of rather high-intensity exercise interspersed with recovery periods. For team and racquet sport players, the inclusion of sprints and all-out efforts into HIT programmes has also been shown to be an effective practice. It is believed that an optimal stimulus to elicit both maximal cardiovascular and peripheral adaptations is one where athletes spend at least several minutes per session in their 'red zone,' which generally means reaching at least 90% of their maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max). While use of HIT is not the only approach to improve physiological parameters and performance, there has been a growth in interest by the sport science community for characterizing training protocols that allow athletes to maintain long periods of time above 90% of VO2max (T@VO2max). In addition to T@VO2max, other physiological variables should also be considered to fully characterize the training stimulus when programming HIT, including cardiovascular work, anaerobic glycolytic energy contribution and acute neuromuscular load and musculoskeletal strain. Prescription for HIT consists of the manipulation of up to nine variables, which include the work interval intensity and duration, relief interval intensity and duration, exercise modality, number of repetitions, number of series, as well as the between-series recovery duration and intensity. The manipulation of any of these variables can affect the acute physiological responses to HIT. This article is Part I of a subsequent II-part review and will discuss the different aspects of HIT programming, from work/relief interval manipulation to the selection of exercise mode, using different examples of training cycles from different sports, with continued reference to T@VO2max and cardiovascular responses. Additional programming and periodization considerations will also be discussed with respect to other variables such as anaerobic glycolytic system contribution (as inferred from blood lactate accumulation), neuromuscular load and musculoskeletal strain (Part II).

High-intensity interval training, solutions to the programming puzzle: Part I: cardiopulmonary emphasis.

This study examined the influence of the opposing team, seasonal variations and the influence of first half activity on match performance in top-level soccer players. Physical performance measures were collected using the ProZone match analysis system from 20 professional soccer players from the same team and their opponents (n = 188) during a season. Match activities (standing, walking, jogging, running, high-speed running and sprinting), distances (total distance [TD], high-intensity running [HIR] and very high-intensity running [VHIR]) and other measures including involvement with the ball and peak running speed were collected. The influence of opponent team, the level of opposition, first half physical activities on second half activities, and playing position were analysed. The main finding was that TD (r = 0.62, p < 0.05), HIR (r = 0.51, p < 0.05), and VHIR (r = 0.65, p < 0.05) of the reference team was influenced by the activity profile of the opponent teams. The TD and HIR was higher against Best opponent teams compared to Worst opponent teams (p < 0.05), and the TD, HIR and VHIR travelled in the first half significantly influenced the distances covered in the second half. TD, HIR and VHIR were greater at the end of the season. These results may be used to interpret meaningful changes in match performance in top level soccer.

Variation in top level soccer match performance.

The present study aimed to analyse the influence of speed and power abilities in goal situations in professional football. During the second half of the season 2007/08, videos of 360 goals in the first German national league were analysed by visual inspection. For the assisting and the scoring player the situations immediately preceding the goal were evaluated. The observed actions were categorised as: no powerful action, rotation (around the body's centre-line), straight sprint, change-in-direction sprint, jump, or a combination of those categories. Two hundred and ninety-eight (83%) goals were preceded by at least one powerful action of the scoring or the assisting player. Most actions for the scoring player were straight sprints (n = 161, 45% of all analysed goals, P < 0.001) followed by jumps (n = 57, 16%), rotations and change-in-direction sprints (n = 22, 6% each). Most sprints were conducted without an opponent (n = 109, P < 0.001) and without the ball (n = 121, P < 0.001). Similarly, for ...

Straight sprinting is the most frequent action in goal situations in professional football

The paper provides a large-scale study into the motion characteristics of top class soccer players, during match play, according to playing position. Three hundred top-class outfield soccer players were monitored during 20 Spanish Premier League and 10 Champions League games using a computerized match analysis system (Amisco Pro ® , Nice, France). Total distance covered in five selected categories of intensity, and the mean percentage of playing time spent in each activity were analyzed according to playing position. Midfield players covered a significantly greater total distance (p < 0.0001) than the groups of defenders and forwards did. Analyzing the different work rates showed significant differences (p < 0.5 – 0.0001) between the different playing positions. There were no significant differences between halves in the total distance covered, or in distances covered at submaximal and maximal intensities. However, significantly more distance was covered in the first half compared to the second in medium intensities (11.1 – 19 km/h). The current findings provide a detailed description of the demands placed on elite soccer players, according to their positional role at different work intensities, which may be helpful in the development of individualized training programs.

Performance Characteristics According to Playing Position in Elite Soccer

Isokinetic measurements and functional tests are often used to assess function following knee ligament reconstruction using the opposite limb as a control. However, the question of whether the uninvolved leg may serve as a reference on functional tests has not been adequately answered. In particular, the one-legged rebound vertical jump has not been used to assess functional levels following surgery of the cruciate ligament. The purposes of this study were: 1) to determine whether the uninvolved leg is within normal range of an age- and weight-matched group, 2) to determine differences between the involved and uninvolved leg in patients after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction, 3) to examine the relationship between knee extensor strength and four functional performance tests, and 4) to determine if the one-legged rebound vertical jump yields more information in the assessment of knee function than the other functional tests with respect to two time-frames. Fifty healthy subjects (group A, mean age...

https://www.jospt.org/doi/pdf/10.2519/jospt.1998.28.1.23

The relationship between isokinetic quadriceps strength test and hop tests for distance and one-legged vertical jump test following anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction.

It has been suggested that assessment of high-intensity activities during a match is a valid measure of physical performance in elite soccer. Recently, sprinting activities have been analysed in more depth. The aim of this study was to develop a detailed analysis of the sprinting activities of different playing positions during European Champions League and UEFA Cup competitions. Altogether, 717 elite outfield soccer players were evaluated throughout 2002-2006 using ProZone® (Leeds, UK). Sprinting (explosive and leading) was analysed for each playing position. To compare positional differences, a Kruskal-Wallis analysis was performed. Differences were found among positions for total number of sprints and total sprint distance covered: wide midfielders > (attackers = wide defenders) > central midfielders > central defenders (P central defenders, wide midfielders > central midfielders > central defenders and attackers = wide defenders = central midfielders (P (attackers = wide defenders) > central midfielders > central defenders (P < 0.001). For each group, there were no differences in ratio of explosive to leading sprints. Wide midfielders performed a higher number of sprints in all five distance categories than all other positions. This study showed that sprinting characteristics are influenced by position. Wide midfielders have to complete additional high-intensity activities during training sessions compared with the other positions to achieve the performance level required during the match.

Sprinting analysis of elite soccer players during European Champions League and UEFA Cup matches

SMEKAL, G., S. P. VON DUVILLARD, C. RIHACEK, R. POKAN, P. HOFMANN, R. BARON, H. TSCHAN, and N. BACHL. A physiological profile of tennis match play. Med. Sci. Sports Exerc., Vol. 33, No. 6, 2001, pp. 999–1005. 
The aim of this investigation was to examine physiological demands of single match play in tennis. 
20 players performed 10 matches of 50 min. Respiratory gas exchange measures (RGEM) and heart rates (HR) were measured using two portable systems. Lactate concentration was determined after each game. The average oxygen uptake (VO2) of 270 games was 29.1 ± 5.6 mL·kg-1·min-1 (51.1 ± 10.9% of VO2max). Average VO2 for a game ranged from 10.4 to 47.8 mL·kg-1·min-1 (20.4 and 86.8% of VO2max). Average lactate concentration (LA) was 2.07 ± 0.9 mmol·L-1 (ranging from 0.7 to 5.2 mmol·L-1). Furthermore, we monitored the duration of rallies (DR), the effective playing time (EPT), and the stroke frequency (SF). The average values of 270 games were DR: 6.4 ± 4.1 s, EPT: 29.3 ± 12.1%, SF: 42.6 ± 9.6 shots·min-1. 
Multiple regression revealed that the DR was the most promising variable for the determination of VO2 in match play (r = 0.54). The body surface area (BSA) and EPT were also entered into the calculation model. In games of two defensive players, VO2 was significantly higher than in games with at least one offensive player. 
Our results suggest that energy demands of tennis matches are significantly influenced by DR. The highest average VO2 of a game of 47.8 mL·kg-1·min-1 may be regarded as a guide to assess endurance capacity required to sustain high-intensity periods of tennis matches compared with average VO2 of 29.1 mL·kg-1·min-1 for the 270 games. Our results suggest that proper conditioning is advisable especially for players who prefer to play from the baseline.

A physiological profile of tennis match play.

Treadmill testing (TT) commonly used in endurance testing is often not sport-specific. Therefore a field test (FT) for tennis players was developed. The purpose was 1) to compare metabolic and cardiorespiratory response between TT and FT and 2) to assess tennis stroke ratings during FT. In both tests ventilatory variables (VO2, VE, VT, Bf, VE x VO2(-1)), heart rate (HR), and lactate (LA) were measured. For both tests an "individual anaerobic threshold" (IAT) was calculated. The comparison of TT and FT yielded significant differences in cardiorespiratory and metabolic response. LA and VE were significantly higher in TT compared to FT at VO2 of 35, 40, and 45 ml x kg(-1) x min(-1). There were statistical differences between IAT resulting from both tests (TT vs. FT): HR (165+/-16, 175+/-11, p<0.001), VO2 (44.4+/-4.3, 47.8+/-4.8, p<0.05), LA (3.1+/-0.5, 2.5+/-0.4, p < 0.001), VE (97.0+/-15.6, 89.1+/-14.9, p < 0.05), VT (2.66+/-0.34, 2.34+/-0.47, p<0.05), VE/VO2 (27.9+/-3.9, 23.9+/-2.9, p<0.01). High correlation was found between stroke ratings and the national ranking of the players. We concluded that 1) metabolic, ventilatory, and cardiorespiratory demands of TT vs. FT were (semi)sport-specific and significantly different and 2) that the stroke rating in our study was a good predictor for tournament performance (r = 0.94). This type of stroke rating can be implemented in a FT.

Ramon Baron

Papers

Performance Characteristics According to Playing Position in Elite Soccer

The relationship between isokinetic quadriceps strength test and hop tests for distance and one-legged vertical jump test following anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction.

Sprinting analysis of elite soccer players during European Champions League and UEFA Cup matches

A physiological profile of tennis match play.

Comparison of laboratory and "on-court" endurance testing in tennis.