Sport Club Corinthians Paulista

This study examined the effects of match location, match outcome, opposition quality, competition phase, goal-related events, and goal difference on running performance in the Brazilian Women's Soccer League, as well as the combined influence and relative contribution of these contextual factors to performance variance. Sixty-seven elite female players from four teams (Team 1-4: n = 18; 15; 15; 19) were monitored across 68 matches in the 2024 Brazilian Women's First Division League, yielding 403 Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS)-derived observations. Sprinting distance was greater in losses than in wins or draws (p = 0.001-0.049), while draws elicited higher deceleration values than wins (p = 0.015). Intermediate- and low-difficulty matches produced higher total distances (p < 0.001-0.007) and high-speed running (p < 0.001-0.014) than high-difficulty matches, with low-difficulty matches showing higher values than intermediate ones (p = 0.002). Players covered more high-speed distance in the knockout phase than during the group phase (p = 0.002). After scoring, players performed more decelerations than after conceding (p = 0.011). One-goal wins involved greater high-speed running, sprinting, and acceleration than matches decided by larger margins (p = 0.002-0.013). Stepwise regression analyses indicated that opposition quality showed the largest incremental contribution to explained variance for total distance (adjusted R-2 = 0.169; 16.9%) and PlayerLoad (adjusted R-2 = 0.066; 6.6%). Overall, match running performance in elite Brazilian women's soccer is strongly modulated by contextual factors, with opposition quality and goal difference explaining most variance, while match location shows no meaningful impact. Thus, running performance must be interpreted in context.

The aims were to: 1) characterize players' physical output during the matches; 2) compare match running performance across four qualification phases according to playing position; 3) compare position-specific running demands; 4) assess match-to-match variability; and 5) compare physical performance between halves. Data were collected via GPS and accelerometry from four professional teams during the 2024 season of the Brazilian Women's First Division League. Sixty-seven elite female players who completed full matches were included (n = 345 individual observations), representing central and external defenders, central midfielders, and forwards. On average, players covered 9138 meters per match, with high-speed running and sprinting comprising ≈4% of total distance. Total distance, high-speed running, top speed, and deceleration efforts peaked during the pre-break phase (p < .001-0.041). Central midfielders and external defenders recorded the highest total distances, high-speed running, and PlayerLoad values (p < .001), while forwards achieved the highest top speeds, sprinting, and acceleration/deceleration efforts (p < .001-0.003). Match-to-match variability was greatest for high-speed running and sprinting (CV: 37.6-69.0%), particularly among defenders. Most physical outputs declined from the first to the second half (p < .001-0.047), except for sprinting. These findings support individualized training and context-specific periodization in elite women's soccer.

Data on ECG findings in female Brazilian football players (FBFP) from diverse ethnic backgrounds are limited. Furthermore, the lack of specific guidelines for interpreting ECGs in female athletes adds to the complexity of understanding these findings. To compare the prevalence of normal ECG findings among FBFP of white, mixed-race, and black ethnicities. This multicenter observational study was conducted across all five geographic regions of Brazil (11 states and 14 cities). It included 994 FBFP aged 15–35 years who underwent preparticipation cardiovascular screening between January 2010 and October 2024 at 28 elite professional clubs. To estimate the prevalence ratio and its respective 95% confidence interval (CI), Poisson regressions with robust variance adjusted for age were used. A total of 315 white, 330 mixed-race, and 349 black athletes were evaluated. Normal ECG patterns were observed in 965 (97.1%) participants. The overall prevalence of sinus bradycardia (<60 bpm) was 34.3%. Black athletes had a higher prevalence of early repolarization compared to white athletes (40.7% vs. 28.7%; prevalence ratio: 1.4; 95% CI, 1.1 to 1.9; P = 0.008). Conversely, white players had a higher prevalence of incomplete right bundle branch block compared to black players (13.0% vs. 5.4%; prevalence ratio: 2.4; 95% CI, 1.4 to 4.2; P = 0.001). The prevalence of left ventricular hypertrophy, based on the Sokolow-Lyon criteria, and first-degree atrioventricular block were 5.1% and 1.7%, respectively, with no differences between the ethnic groups. The "African/Afro-Caribbean" ECG pattern was found in 13 (3.7%) black athletes and 3 (0.9%) mixed-race athletes. A high prevalence of normal ECG patterns was observed among FBFP. Additionally, ECG findings typically associated with physical training appear to differ according to athletes’ ethnic backgrounds.

Gender and ethnicity are important determinants of abnormal ECG findings in athletes. However, data on the prevalence of these abnormalities and their association with imaging results in female Brazilian football players (FBFP) from different ethnic backgrounds remain limited. To evaluate the prevalence of abnormal ECG findings and their association with imaging results in FBFP. This multicenter observational study included FBFP who underwent pre-participation evaluations between January 2010 and October 2024. The sample comprised 994 FBFP aged 15–35 years (315 white, 330 mixed-race, and 349 black) from 28 elite professional clubs across Brazil’s five geographic regions (11 states and 14 cities). Athletes with abnormal ECG findings underwent further investigation, including transthoracic echocardiography (TTE). Cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) was performed based on TTE results or clinical suspicion. A total of 29 (2.9%) athletes had abnormal ECGs, and 28 (96%) of these showed normal TTE results. In the entire sample, the prevalence of T-wave inversion in leads II + aVF, V5, and V6 was 0.9%, 1.0%, and 0.6%, respectively, with no ethnic differences. Two FBFP (0.2%; one mixed-race and one black) exhibited Wolff-Parkinson-White pattern, and four others (0.4%; two white and two black) showed ST-segment depression. The black athlete with ST-segment depression also presented inferolateral T-wave inversion, and an abnormal TTE revealed reduced left ventricular global longitudinal strain in the inferior, lateral, and anterior apical segments. CMR imaging confirmed apical hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. In this large, ethnically diverse sample of FBFP, we found a low prevalence of abnormal ECG findings. Although rare, inferolateral T-wave inversion may be associated with structural cardiac disease.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of moderate altitude (2800 m) on neuromuscular performance, body-mass, rating of perceived exertion, total quality recovery, and global positioning system–motion variables (distance covered, sprint distance, number of accelerations, and top-speed) during soccer training and official matches. Seventeen professional female soccer players performed vertical jump tests and were weighed over seven days during the altitude acclimatization. Global positioning system–motion variables, rating of perceived exertion, and total quality recovery were assessed over two training sessions at 2800 m and compared to the metrics collected during two sessions at sea level. Global positioning system–motion variables were measured during six official matches played at 2800 m and compared to six matches at sea level. Vertical jump height and body-mass did not change during acclimatization ( p > 0.05). Rating of perceived exertion was higher and total quality recovery was lower after training sessions at altitude ( p < 0.05). Total distance covered ( p = 0.002), total sprint distance ( p = 0.016), and total distance covered per minute ( p = 0.02) decreased and rating of perceived exertion increased ( p = 0.012) in the matches at moderate altitude compared to sea level. No differences were observed for top-speed and acceleration ( p > 0.05). These findings suggest that moderate altitude can lead to substantial decreases in the physical performance (especially in total sprint distance), increased rating of perceived exertion, decreased total quality recovery in female players. These occurrences are critical to soccer performance.