Stay informed with the latest public health research, insights, and evidence-based analysis from our team of experts.
Picture this: it’s a Saturday morning youth match, and your star midfielder takes a hard bump to the head. They shake it off, say they’re fine, and keep playing. No one reports it—until symptoms show up hours later. For too many soccer players, that’s the norm. But new science says it doesn’t have to be. […]
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Soccer is often called “the beautiful game” for its elegance, fluidity, and moments of sheer brilliance. But what if the secret to unlocking these magical moments lies not in flashy footwork but in small-sided games? New research shows how these scaled-down games—commonly used in youth soccer—can foster creativity that disrupts defenses and opens opportunities for […]
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Imagine standing on the sidelines of a soccer game. The energy is electric as players sprint, pass, and shoot with precision. But what separates a promising young player from a future star? Behind the scenes, soccer clubs use science-driven testing to shape careers and enhance performance. From youth academies to elite leagues, these assessments reveal […]
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How many headers did you see last weekend? That iconic move—players leaping to meet a flying soccer ball with their heads—has shaped the game for generations. But behind the drama lies a growing concern: what is the true cost of heading? Recent research shines a light on how we understand this fundamental skill and its […]
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Bridging the Training Gap Between Starters and Non-Starters Imagine you’re the coach of a professional soccer team. Every week, your starters give their all, running up and down the field for 90 minutes, pushing their bodies to the limit. Meanwhile, your non-starters—those players who spend most of the game on the bench—are eager for their […]
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As soccer continues to captivate hearts across the globe, the growth of women’s soccer, especially in leagues like the Women’s Australian Football League (AFLW), marks a significant shift in the sports landscape. The article Kick like a girl: a qualitative exploration into community perspectives surrounding the Women’s Australian Football League provides valuable insights into this […]
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The world of soccer is constantly evolving, with new training methods emerging to enhance players’ skills. A recent study published in the International Journal of Physical Education Sports and Health, titled “Effect of Small Side Game Training Combined with Plyometric on Muscle Power, Agility, and Soccer Skills”, offers valuable insights for soccer coaches and players […]
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In the world of youth soccer, identifying and nurturing talent is a complex and multifaceted process. The insightful article “Soccer Player Characteristics in English Lower-League Development Programmes: The Relationships between Relative Age, Maturation, Anthropometry and Physical Fitness” (Lovell et al., 2015) offers a compelling look into the factors influencing talent identification and development in youth […]
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The journey from a local playground to the lush greens of professional soccer s arduous and only a few make it to the top. The role of academies in shaping these young talents cannot be overstated. A recent article titled “The measurement, tracking and development practices of English professional football academies,” published in the Journal […]
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“Relative age effect in Spanish association football” by Jiménez and Pain presents a compelling exploration of the relative age effect (RAE) in Spanish youth soccer and its impact on player development and selection processes. This concept is crucial for soccer coaches, scouts, and sports scientists who are involved in nurturing young talent and has significant […]
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