This study examined how temporal, spatial, and defensive factors shaped goal outcomes during the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup. All 164 tournament goals were coded from multiple angles using notational analysis. Recorded variables were (i) match minute, (ii) finishing zone, (iii) location of the final pass, (iv) number of defenders applying pressure, and (v) match-winning status. Group differences were tested with chi-square procedures and post hoc residual checks; effect sizes were reported as Cramér’s V. Goal counts were non-uniform across the standard 15-min periods (χ²(7, N = 162) = 18.44, p =.010, Cramér’s V = 0.13), with peaks in 16–30 and 61–75min and fewer goals in added time. Match-winning goals were also unevenly distributed, showing an early-match bias (χ²(7, N = 47) = 20.91, p =.004, V = 0.25). Defensive pressure on the scorer did not vary by interval (F(7, 153) = 0.87, p =.531). Final-pass locations were highly uneven, and 28% of goals were scored without an assist, underscoring the growing role of turnovers, pressing, and individual creativity. Despite these contextual shifts, finishing zones remained broadly consistent across intervals. These findings emphasise counts-based timing analyses, with NGF used descriptively for context, and highlight the value of integrating temporal and spatial perspectives to understand goal creation in elite women’s football.

Punching is a crucial element of mixed martial arts (MMA), often leading to knockouts (KO) or technical knockouts (TKOs). This study explored the relative foot positions of athletes, their stances, punch type executed, and the reliability of these variables to provide insights into effective punch application in MMA. We retrospectively examined MMA contests from the Ultimate Fighting Championship that ended via KO/TKO (2020 to 2022). Data were sourced from publicly available videos on the internet. Three analysts, each with at least three years of experience in striking combat sports and competitive MMA, conducted observations independently. Only critical strikes where all analysts agreed on the time and type of punch were included. Inter-rater reliability was assessed using the Cohen's kappa coefficient statistic (K). The k-means cluster analyses were used to identify the most frequently occurring front foot positions (FFP) and punch types (PT). All variables, except for the back foot position, demonstrated substantial or greater reliability (K = 0.64-0.92). Out of 271 contests, the most common fight-ending punches were the rear straight (n = 77, 29.2%), front hook (n = 71, 26.9%), and rear hook (n = 63, 23.9%). According to the cluster analysis, overall, the most common PT for athletes of the same stance was an outside FFP with a rear straight punch (n = 35, 14.4%). For competitors in opposite stances, the most common FFP was outside, with a rear hook punch (n = 16, 22.8%). Identifying common PTs, FFPs, and stances offers valuable insights for technical coaching and talent identification, aiding in refining training methods and improving MMA performance.

This investigation examined intervention accuracy and perception of fatigue associated with umpiring state-level Australian Rules football (AF). 39 field umpires (Age: 25.2 +/- 6.8 y, Body Mass: 74.6 +/- 7.9 kg, Height: 178.9 +/- 7.4 cm) employed by the Western Australian Football Commission, were recruited. Intervention accuracy (whether given free kicks were correct) was analysed post-event by the lead investigator using footage of the matches, with two umpire coaches being used for reliability. Perception of fatigue was assessed pre- and post-match using a questionnaire. Data was collected in 22 Western Australian Football League matches in the 2023 season. 384 free kicks were recorded, with 343 correct and 41 incorrect decisions. Each umpire awarded 9.8 +/- 3.8 free-kicks, with a distribution of correct-to-incorrect being 8.8 +/- 3.2 to 1.1 +/- 1.1 free-kicks per match. Intervention accuracy was 89.3 +/- 10.4% correct. Significant decline in intervention accuracy between first and second half (W = .931, p = .021) was found. No significant declines in intervention accuracy between quarters were observed. Perception of fatigue was unchanged across matches (p = .074). Our results demonstrate that umpires are generally accurate when adjudicating free kicks but said accuracy declines across a match. The results of this study, provide important insight on free-kick accuracy and perception of fatigue in state-level AF umpires, and may help regulatory bodies designing strategies to improve umpiring outcomes.

ABSTRACT:Vial, S, Scanlan, M, Beranek, P, Kadlec, D, Barley, OR, and Cochrane Wilkie, J. How strong is strong enough? Assessing when physical performance tests cease to be predictive of sprint performance in trained football players. J Strength Cond Res 39(10): e1195-e1201, 2025-Quantifying underlying capacities of sprint performance are useful for monitoring training and guiding interventions. Traditional statistical techniques, such as correlation and regression analyses, have been widely used to model relationships between physical capacity and sprint performance. However, these methods often assume linearity, potentially oversimplifying complex, nonlinear interactions, and generalizing group-level data that may misrepresent individual trends. For instance, strength metrics such as maximal half-squat strength have been correlated with sprint performance, suggesting that speed should increase proportionally with strength. Yet evidence indicates that, in practice, this relationship plateaus, with further gains yielding diminishing returns. Although general guidelines exist, no established methods exist for quantifying the individual contribution of physical performance metrics to sprint performance. Using a novel approach, this study identified the "saturation point" at which physical performance tests cease to predict sprint performance. We used random forest regression and partial dependence plots to analyze data from 60 male football players who completed strength (isometric mid-thigh pull [IMTP] and Nordic eccentric hamstring strength) and jump tests (countermovement jump and standing broad jump [SBJ]). The random forest model demonstrated high predictive power ( R2 = 0.85-0.87) for 20 and 40 m sprint times, identifying IMTP and SBJ as key predictors. Partial dependence plots revealed a saturation effect for IMTP at 2.0 body mass and SBJ at 0.29 m·s -1 , where further increases yielded diminishing returns on sprint performance. These findings suggest that while strength and power improvements benefit sprint performance, further gains beyond specific thresholds may contribute little to additional improvements in sprint performance.

Background: In the ever-evolving field of football analytics, understanding the factors influencing expected goals is crucial for gaining deeper insights into team performance. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of match conditions on the expected goals (xG) from defensive and offensive points of view in international elite football matches of the Greek national team. Methods: Twenty-four (24) Greek national team matches during the period between 23 March 2019 and 14 November 2021 were analyzed for the study. In these selected matches the Greek national team took 369 shots and conceded 174 shots, out of which scored 26 goals, and conceded 23 goals to their opponents. Results: Our findings suggest that situational variables such as time may influence expected goals (xG). More specifically, the Greek national team obtained higher expected goals for (xGf) during the second half of their matches compared to the first half. Zonal analysis of shots and goals revealed that central areas recorded more shots on goal in the analysis of both Greece and their opponents, but Greece favoured shooting from inside the penalty box more often than their opponents. Conclusion: The findings emphasize the need for match analysts and coaches to consider the impact of situational variables during assessments of data analytics, especially in future xG research.

In mixed martial arts, punches commonly lead to a knockout (KO) or technical knockout (TKO), though factors influencing such punches are unclear. This study assessed how differences in height, reach, and combined difference (height + reach) influence fight-ending punches. We analysed 264 Ultimate Fighting Championship contests that concluded with a KO/TKO from hooks, straights, uppercuts, or overhand punches. Three multinomial logistic regression analyses assessed the influence of (a) reach, (b) height and (c) combined difference on likelihood of punch type, with overhand punches as the reference category. Pairwise comparisons for punch type were conducted, and probability differences were compared across the lower, middle, and highest point difference for reach (−20, 0, + 20 cm), height (−20, + 10, + 40 cm), and combined (−50, 0, + 50 cm). The punches with the highest frequency were hooks (51%) and straights (35%). For all models, the straight punch was more likely than the overhand (odds ratio: 1.06–1.10, p < 0.05). At 0 cm and 20 cm reach difference, the punch probability differences for straight and uppercut punches compared to uppercut and overhand was between 27–47% (p < 0.05). Similar findings were observed at +10 cm height difference, but at height +40 cm straights were 76% more likely than uppercuts and overhands (p < 0.05) for bouts that concluded with a KO/TKO. The combined model showed similar results to the reach model findings. These results can help inform coaches and fighters to prepare both offensive and defensive tactics by providing information on the most likely fight-ending punch depending on their specific matchups.

Background: This study explores the creation and execution of goal-scoring opportunities (GSOs) in elite men’s and women’s international football, focusing on the performance of the top teams across multiple key metrics. Methods: A total of 379 GSOs (209 for men and 170 for women) were analysed to investigate patterns in tactical execution and effectiveness. Results and conclusion: The findings reveal that while set pieces accounted for 44.1% of all goals with comparable effectiveness between sexes, GSOs from open play contributed a smaller proportion (22.6%) of successful outcomes. Men’s teams demonstrated a stronger reliance on central zones for creating GSOs, while women’s teams utilised wide areas more frequently, reflecting tactical and strategic adaptations. Additionally, set-piece opportunities were created significantly faster than open-play scenarios, emphasising their structured and rehearsed nature. This research provides valuable insights for coaches and analysts to optimise training and match strategies, while highlighting the need for further studies examining contextual factors and evolving trends in international football.

During initial acceleration, the first steps of a maximal-effort (sprint) run often determine success or failure in the capture and evasion of an opponent, and is therefore a vital factor of success in many modern sports. However, accelerative events are commonly performed after having already run considerable distances, and the associated fatigue should impair muscle force production and thus reduce acceleration. Despite this, the effects of running-induced fatigue on our ability to accelerate as well as the running technique used to achieve it have received little attention. We recorded 3-D kinematics and ground reaction forces during the first three steps of the acceleration phase from a standing start before and after performing a high-speed, multi-directional, fatiguing run-walk protocol in well-trained running athletes who were habituated to accelerative sprinting. We found that the athletes were able to maintain their acceleration despite changing running technique, which was associated with use of a more upright posture, longer ground contact time, increased vertical ground reaction impulse, decreased hip flexion and extension velocities, and a shift in peak joint moments, power, and positive work from the hip to the knee joint; no changes were detected in ankle joint function. Thus, a compensatory increase in knee joint function alleviated the reduction in hip flexor-extensor capacity. These acute adaptations may indicate that the hip extensors (gluteal and hamstring muscle groups) were more susceptible to fatigue than the ankle and knee musculature, and may thus be a primary target for interventions promoting fatigue resistance.

Despite increasing popularity of cerebral palsy (CP) football (para football) worldwide, there are limited data available describing effective attacking strategies that lead to goals. The purpose of this research was to investigate the most frequent methods of ball repossession, distribution and movement patterns that successfully led to goals scored in open play of CP football. Video footage of all goals (n = 167) during the Australian National CP Football Championships in 2017 and 2018 were analysed using SportsCode software. Most goals (89.8%) were scored from open play, with the most effective mode of ball delivery identified as being direct play, of four or less passes, to create an opportunity to score. More goals were scored during the first half of games (54.9%), with a majority of goals (67.1%) scored from a region that encompasses the entire penalty area (Zone 1). The findings from the research conclude that tactically, coaches could capitalise on restarts by moving the ball quickly in four or less passes into the middle of the penalty area, to increase their chances of scoring goals in CP football.

Women’s international football is growing in terms of popularity, but to date there is limited published research in women’s football and even less that describes effective attacking strategies and the creation of goal scoring opportunities (GSO). The purpose of this research was to investigate and assess the factors related to the creation of GSO that led to a Top 4 position Canada Women’s World Cup 2015. Video footage of each match (n = 52) from the Women’s World Cup (Canada 2015) was analysed using SportsCode Software. The results revealed that the middle third of the pitch was the most effective area for gaining possession and creating GSO. The average time taken to create a GSO was under twelve seconds. The findings of the study can be used by coaches to design training sessions and interventions to successfully create GSO in women’s football. The data from the research may influence the tactical set up of women’s international football teams and help to evolve the game in the same way that research into the men’s game has.