Linear advancing actions followed by deceleration and turn are the most common movements preceding goals in male professional soccer

Martinez, D; Quinn, ME; Jones, PA

Abstract

Data were collected through time-motion analysis from soccer players participating in the English Premier League using a modified version of the Bloomfield Movement Classification with differences analysed through chi-square.

The most common individual movement preceding a goal was a linear advancing motion (32.4 ± 1%), followed by deceleration (20.2 ± 0.9%) and turn (19.8 ± 0.9%). Actions also involved were change in angle run (cut and arc run), ball blocking, lateral advancing motion (crossover and shuffle) and jumps. Although players followed similar trends there were dissimilarities based on the role, with attackers (assistant and scorer) performing more linear actions, subtle turns and cuts and defenders (defender of assistant and defender of scorer) more ball blockings, lateral movements and arc runs. In 82.9 ± 1.5% of player involvements there was at least 1 high intensity (HI) movement with assistant showing the lowest percentage and defender of scorer the highest.

This study shows the multidirectional nature and context specificity of soccer during goal scoring situations, with linear actions such as sprints being the most common movements, followed by decelerations and turns. Moreover, it highlights the recurrent application of these at HI, and so, training strategies should prioritize the development of player’s explosiveness.

Citation

Martinez, D., Quinn, M., & Jones, P. (2022). Linear advancing actions followed by deceleration and turn are the most common movements preceding goals in male professional soccer. Science and Medicine in Football, https://doi.org/10.1080/24733938.2022.2030064

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jan 11, 2022
• Online Publication Date: Jan 21, 2022
• Publication Date: Jan 21, 2022
• Deposit Date: Jan 24, 2022
• Publicly Available Date: Jan 24, 2022
• Journal: Science and Medicine in Football
• Print ISSN: 2473-3938
• Electronic ISSN: 2473-4446
• Publisher: Taylor and Francis Group
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/24733938.2022.2030064
• Publisher URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/24733938.2022.2030064
• Related Public URLs: http://www.tandfonline.com/loi/rsmf20