António Rebelo

• PhD
• Researcher at University of Porto

The aim of this study was to compare the exercise demands between two intermittent small-sided games (SSGs) and their temporal changes throughout SSGs repetitions, while controlling for total exercise duration. Exercise demands were recorded using wearable 10-Hz global positioning system technology with a 100-Hz accelerometer embedded and heart rat...

Objective The aim of this study was to investigate the changes in 24-hour heart rate variability ¹ and aerobic fitness, and their associations, in female soccer players during the preseason period. Methods Sixteen players were assessed (24-hour HRV and Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery Test, level 1 [YYIR1]) before and after 4 weeks of preseason. The re...

INTRODUÇÃO: O exercício físico, quando realizado antes de deitar, pode alterar os ritmos circadianos, os padrões do sono e a atividade do sistema nervoso autônomo. Este assunto torna-se relevante em jogadoras de futebol que poderão iniciar os treinos muito tarde, perto da hora de dormir, devido aos seus compromissos pessoais diários (ex. trabalho e...

Purpose We compared short-term physical performance adaptations to traditional strength training (TST) or complex strength training (CST) in a youth football (soccer) team during the preparatory period. Methods A professional U19 male football team (n = 26; age = 17.3 ± 1.5 yrs) were divided in a TST (4 sets × 4 reps at 60–85% of one-repetition ma...

Purpose To describe individual sleep habits and nocturnal heart rate variability (HRV) responses, and to explore intra-individual associations of workload with sleep and nocturnal HRV indices in high-level female soccer players throughout a 2-week competitive period. Materials and methods The study followed a descriptive, observational design. Thi...

The present thesis aims to investigate the impact of training sessions and official matches performed at different times of the day and in different locations on autonomic cardiac function and sleep patterns of female soccer players from different competitive levels (elite and semi-professional), during competitive in-season and during an internati...

INTRODUCTION: Analysis of heart rate variability (HRV) from 24-h ambulatory recordings is a widely used noninvasive tool in the assessment of autonomic regulation in various physiological and clinical settings.1,2 HRV is expected to positively change in response to improved cardiorespiratory fitness in athletes. The purpose of this study was to in...

The objectives of this dissertation were to analyze the relationship between the external and internal load variables of training and to investigate the relationship between the external and internal loads of training and competition, depending on the period of the sports season (Preparatory and Competitive), the type of session (Preparatory or Com...

Introduction/Objectives: Individual sleep and heart rate variability (HRV) responses may underpin how athletes tolerate training and match load. Moreover, fatigued athletes may get overlooked when evaluating team-averaged data reports. Therefore, the aim of this study was to describe individual sleeping patterns and nocturnal cardiac autonomic acti...

Effects of traditional strength vs. complex training on maximal strength and functional capacity in U19 professional soccer players Effects of traditional strength vs. complex training on maximal strength and functional capacity in U19 professional soccer players

Objetivo: determinar os efeitos das cargas diárias, bem como as alterações bruscas na carga (isto é, cargas acumuladas) de treino e de jogo nos índices do sono, em jogadoras de futebol da Seleção Nacional portuguesa, durante um torneio internacional. Métodos: Dezanove atletas da Seleção Nacional portuguesa do futebol feminino (idade: 24.8 ± 2.8 ano...

This study examined the physical and technical demands of the 2010, 2014 and 2018 men’s FIFA World Cup editions with special reference on extra time. 3,238 individual player’ observations were collected from 69 FIFA’s open-access match reports and scaled by individual playing exposure. Time-motion variables showing uniformity among FIFA World Cups...

Quantification of training and match load is an important method to personalize the training stimulus’ prescription to players according to their match demands. The present study used time-motion analysis and triaxial-accelerometer to quantify and compare: a) The most demanding passages of play in training sessions and matches (5-min peaks); b) and...

Contemporary elite soccer induces high levels of physiological and psychological stress. Therefore, elite clubs should have as a required organizational practice the implementation of a fatigue monitoring system. This chapter discusses the state of research on fatigue monitoring in soccer. The first part of the chapter provides an overview of the m...

The aim of this article was to systematically review the methods adopted to collect and interpret external training load (ETL) using microtechnology incorporating global positioning system (GPS). The main deficiencies identified concerned the non-collection of match ETL, and the non-consideration of potential confounders (e.g. playing position, fit...

This study aimed to examine the interchangeability of two external training load (ETL) monitoring methods: arbitrary vs. individualized speed zones. Thirteen male outfield players from a professional soccer team were monitored during training sessions using 10-Hz GPS units over an 8-week competitive period (n = 302 observations). Low-speed activiti...

Introduction: The rate of perceived exertion (RPE) is widely adopted to quantify internal training load (ITL) in professional football. The aim of this study was to systematically review the use RPE-based methods in professional football. Evidence acquisition: Observational studies conducted during training routines of professional football play...

Introduction While the session-rating of perceived exertion (s-RPE) method may be simple and valid1, the addition of heart rate (HR) monitoring may aid in the interpretation of the internal load of soccer players2,3. This study aimed to investigate within-participant correlation between s-RPE and TRIMP, using training sessions with similar content...

The aims of this study were: (1) to analyze associations between session rating of perceived exertion (sRPE) and training impulse (TRIMP); (2) to verify whether significantly different ranges of percentage of heart rate peak (%HR peak ) would be reached in each discrete rating of perceived exertion (RPE) category; and (3) to investigate the amount...

Purpose To describe individual sleeping patterns and nocturnal cardiac autonomic activity of National team female soccer players during an international tournament. Materials and methods Twenty elite female soccer players (aged 25.2±3.1 years) wore wrist actigraph units and heart rate (HR) monitors during night-sleep throughout 9 consecutive days...

Rago, V, Rebelo, A, Krustrup, P, and Mohr, M. Contextual variables and training load throughout a competitive period in a top-level male soccer team. J Strength Cond Res XX(X): 000-000, 2019-The aim of the present study was to investigate and quantify the weekly training load (TL) according to different match-related contextual factors in a profess...

INTRODUCTION: Research examining sleep and nocturnal heart rate variability (HRV) in athletes has typically averaged data across several nights, providing a mean estimate of usual sleep and HRV(1,2). While such approach is useful to provide basic insight into the recovery process, it lacks details of how individual sleep and HRV may vary across mul...

Purpose This study provides insights into the individual sleep patterns and nocturnal cardiac autonomic activity responses of elite female soccer players during an international tournament. Materials and methods Twenty elite female soccer players (aged 25.2±3.1 years) wore wrist actigraph units and heart rate (HR) monitors during night-sleep throu...

The aim of this study was to investigate training load and cardiorespiratory fitness in a top-level Spanish (LaLiga) football team (n = 17). The submaximal Yo-Yo intermittent recovery test level 1 (Yo-Yo IR1 SUB) was performed in four moments of the competitive period from early February (E1) to early May (E4). Training load was quantified using a...

The team tactical system and distribution of the football players on the pitch is considered fundamental in team performance. The present study used time-motion analysis and triaxial-accelerometers to obtain new insights about the impact of different tactical systems (1-4-5-1 and 1-3-5-2) on physical performance, across different playing positions,...

We examined the within-player correlation between external training load (ETL) and perceptual responses to training in a professional male football team (n = 13 outfield players) over an eight-week competitive period. ETL was collected using 10-Hz GPS, whereas perceptual responses were accessed through rating of perceived exertion (RPE) questionnai...

This study analyzed heart rate (HR) kinetics during the Yo-Yo Intermittent Endurance Test—level 1 (Yo-Yo IE1) in children. At the middle of the school year, 107 boys (7–10 years old) performed the Yo-Yo IE1. Individual HR curves during the Yo-Yo IE1 were analyzed to detect an inflection point between an initial phase of fast rise in HR, and a secon...

INTRODUCTION Individual sleep and heart rate variability (HRV) responses may underpin how athletes tolerate training and match loads (Buchheit, 2014; Nedelec, Dawson, & Dupont, 2018). Moreover, fatigued athletes may get overlooked when evaluating team-averaged data reports (Halson, 2014). Therefore, this study aimed to describe the sleeping quantit...

Four independent studies were conducted to examine the utility of the Arrowhead agility test (AAT) to measure change of direction (COD) capacity in soccer players, specifically: (i) inter-session reliability and minimum detectable change (n=24); (ii) power-dependent abilities associated to AAT performance (n=56); (iii) fatigue sensitivity (n=20); d...

The aim of the current study was to analyse the influence of the timing of training and matches, and match location, on sleep pattern and nocturnal cardiac autonomic activity in female soccer players. Seventeen female soccer players (age: 21.6±2.3 years; mean ± SD) wore wrist actigraph units and heart rate (HR) monitors during night-sleep throughou...

Purpose: To analyze whether exercise training conducted at night disturbs sleep and affects nocturnal cardiac autonomic control in high-level female athletes. Methods: A total of 18 high-level female soccer players (mean [SD] age 20.4 [2.1] y) wore actigraphs and heart-rate (HR) monitors during night sleep throughout night training days (n = 8) and...

The aim of the current study was to analyse the influence of the timing of training and matches, and match location, on sleep pattern and nocturnal cardiac autonomic activity in female soccer players. Seventeen female soccer players (age: 21.6±2.3 years; mean ± SD) wore wrist actigraph units and heart rate (HR) monitors during night-sleep throughou...

The aim of this study was to analyze the concurrent validity, test-retest reliability, and capacity to detect changes of four different portable devices used to measure a wide range of neuromuscular parameters derived from countermovement jump (CMJ). An accelerometric device (Myotest), a jump mat (Ergojump), an optical device (Optojump), and a smar...

We examined the influence of competitive standard of the opponent on activity profile and fatigue during preseason friendly soccer matches. Time motion analysis was performed in a male professional soccer team (N = 14) during six friendly games played against professional, semi-professional and amateur-level opponents (PL, SPL and AL). The referenc...

Objetivo: analisar a influência do treino realizado à noite e da localização dos jogos no padrão de sono e na atividade autonómica cardíaca noturna em futebolistas femininas. Métodos: 17 atletas do sexo feminino (idade: 21,6 ± 2,3 anos; média ± DP) utilizaram acelerómetros de pulso e monitores de frequência cardíaca (FC) durante o sono, ao longo de...

BACKGROUND: In Southern European countries it is very frequent to perform medium-sized games (MSG) as last training drill. We analyzed the individual variability and changes in activity patterns during MSG throughout the preseason. METHODS: Activity profile during MSGs (10v10+goalkeepers, duration: 10-min, field length: 50 m, width: 90 m, area per...

Introduction: The “slow-wave sleep episode” (SWSE) offers a steady state free from body movements and environmental disturbance and a regular respiration frequency and heart rate (HR), being regarded to a pronounced vagal tone compared with other sleep episodes or awake recordings (Brandenberger et al., 2005). In contrast, (Myllymaki et al., 2011)...

Introduction: Soccer training and completion is conventionally practiced on natural grass (NG) or artificial turf (AT). Recently, AT pitches for training/competition, and of unstable surfaces for injury prevention training has increased. Therefore, soccer players are frequently exposed to variations in pitch surface during either training or compe...

Introduction: Athletes that train at night might not follow the common guidelines for sleep (i.e. 7–10h of sleep).1 We examined the effects of late-night training sessions by measuring actigraphic and cardiac autonomic activity. Methods: Eighteen female soccer players (age: 20.4±2.1 years) wore HR monitors and accelerometers during night-sleep thro...

Purpose: To assess the sensitivity of nocturnal heart rate variability (HRV) monitoring methods to the effects of late-night soccer training sessions in female athletes. Methods: Eleven female soccer players competing in the 1st division of the Portuguese soccer league wore HR monitors during night-sleep throughout a one-week competitive in-season...

Objectives: We analysed the inter-individual relationship between training status and activity pattern in small-sided games (SSG) and full-sized games (FG). Methods: Fourteen Italian elite male senior football players were monitored during four training sessions incorporating SSG, and six FG, during the pre-season. Baseline measurements included, c...

Introduction Sand training (ST) has shown efficacy in achieving fitness compared to firmer traditional surfaces (i.e. natural grass) in soccer players (Impellizzeri et al., 2008). However, the lack of surface-specificity when performing ST for field-based players should be considered. Therefore , we addressed the present research to elucidate the s...

Background: The use of sand has been suggested as fitness-enhancing surface in field-based team sports. However, concerns have arisen in regard whether physical responses associated to sand training are sport-specific. We compared physical and technical demands during small-sided football games (4v4 + goalkeeper; SSGs) played on artificial turf an...

The aims of this study were (i) to characterise the acceleration demands of two different formats of small-sided game (SSG), i.e., 4v4 + goalkeepers (4v4 + GK) and 8v8 + goalkeepers (8v8 + GK); (ii) to analyse the correlation between performance in power-based tests and acceleration-based physical loading during the two different SSG formats and (i...

Background: Peak oxygen uptake (VO2peak) is routinely scaled as mL O2 per kilogram body mass despite theoretical and statistical limitations of using ratios. Aim: To examine the contribution of maturity status and body size descriptors to age-associated inter-individual variability in VO2peak and to present static allometric models to normalize...

Background: The role of the autonomic nervous system (ANS) in the cardiovascular regulation is of primal importance. Since it has been associated with adverse conditions such as cardiac arrhythmias, sudden death, sleep disorders, hypertension and obesity. Objectives: The present study aimed to investigate the impact of recreational football prac...

Data concerning the physical demands of soccer (e.g., activity pattern) suggest that a high level of performance requires well-developed neuromuscular function (NF). Proficient NF may be relevant to maintain and/or increase players’ short- (intense periods of soccer-specific activity; accelerations, decelerations, and sprinting) and long-term perfo...

Abstract The present study aimed to examine the performance and heart rate responses during the Yo-Yo Intermittent Endurance Test-Level 1 (Yo-Yo IE1) in children under the age of 10. One hundred and seven male children (7-9 years) performed the Yo-Yo IE1 at the beginning (M1), middle (M2) and end (M3) of the school year. Data from individual heart...

The effects of a 5-month intervention of football instruction and practice on the perceived psychological status and body composition of overweight boys were examined. Twelve boys (8-12 years; body mass index ≥ 85th percentile) participated in a structured 5-month football program, consisting of four weekly 60-90 min sessions with mean heart rate >...

"The aims of the study were to (1) analyse the activity profile of youth football players during competitive matches, and (2) examine the relationship between physical match performance and intermittent exercise performance as well as VO2max. Thirty youth male football players, aged 14-17 years, carried out a laboratory treadmill test for determina...

Authors submitted their contribution of the article to the editorial board. Accepted for printing This study aimed to analyse the short-term performance effects of three in-season low-volume strength-training programmes in college male soccer players. Fifty-seven male college soccer players (age: 20.331.6 years) were randomly assigned to a resistan...

This study aimed to analyze changes in performance, muscle function, and stress-related biochemical markers in professional soccer players (n = 14) at 4 timepoints (3 for performance and 4 for stress-related biochemical markers) during the soccer season preseason (E1), midseason (E2), end of the season (E3) and after the end of the recovery period...

The aim of this study was to analyze tactical performance of youth soccer players concerning different age groups, according to the tactical game principles and action's place and outcome. The sample comprised 106 youth players who performed 2915 defensive and 2662 offensive tactical actions. The normal distribution of the data was verified by the...

The aim of this study is to compare game principles performed by 18 youth soccer players taking into account the tactical principles of the game, the action’s place and respective outcome. The sample comprised 763 tactical actions performed by soccer players from one Portuguese club. The test "GK3-3GK" was used to provide the evaluation of tactical...

This study aimed at describing the physiological demands and fatigue development during elite male handball matches. Our hypothesis was that players perform multiple high-intensity activities during periods of the game and develop temporary and end-match neuromuscular fatigue. Time-motion analyses and heart rate (HR) recordings were performed in 40...

Póvoas, SCA, Ascensão, AAMR, Magalhães, J, Seabra, AF, Krustrup, P, Soares, JMC, and Rebelo, ANC. Physiological demands of elite team handball with special reference to playing position. J Strength Cond Res 28(2): 430-442, 2014-This study aimed to analyze the physiological demands of match play for different playing positions in elite male team han...

The aims of the study were to (1) analyse the activity profile of youth football players during competitive matches, and (2) examine the relationship between physical match performance and intermittent exercise performance as well as . Thirty youth male football players, aged 14–17 years, carried out a laboratory treadmill test for determination of...

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O futebol e uma modalidade que requer, do jogador, varias capacidades: apurada competencia tecnica, boa compreensao tactica do jogo, atitude mental centrada no rendimento e excelente condicao fisica. O treinador precisa conhecer com rigor nao so as caracteristicas tecnicas e taticas, mas tambem os aspectos fisiologicos da modalidade para planear o...

Background: Epidemiological studies in soccer are important for injury prevention. However, most of the available information is limited to elite players. Objective: To determine the epidemiology of injuries in amateur soccer players on artificial turf. Design: Prospective cohort study during one competitive season (2010-2011). Setting: Amat...

Abstract We examined effects of a 3-month football training programme in overweight children using comprehensive echocardiography and peripheral arterial tonometry. Twenty preadolescent overweight children (17 boys, 3 girls aged 8-12 yrs; body mass index [BMI] ≥ 85(th) percentile) participated in a structured 3-month football training programme, co...

The main aim was to analyse the impact of an official match on hormonal and redox status, muscle damage and inflammation and neuromuscular function. Seven high-level male soccer players from the same team performed an official match and data were collected 72 h before, 24, 48 and 72 h post-match. Plasma testosterone/cortisol ratio (T/C), creatine k...

Anthropometric characteristics, physical fitness and technical skills of under-19 (U19) soccer players were compared by competitive level (elite, n=95; non-elite, n=85) and playing position (goalkeeper, central defender, fullback, midfield, forward). Fitness tests included 5- and 30-m sprints, agility, squat jump (SJ) and countermovement jump (CMJ)...

Objective: To evaluate if Fédération Internationale de Football Association's "The 11+" injury prevention program improves physical fitness and technical performance in youth futsal players. Design: Randomized cohort study. Setting: Futsal club. Participants: Thirty-six futsal players (17.3 ± 0.7 years). Intervention: Players were randomiz...

To investigate the effects of an official soccer match on postural stability in youth elite soccer players. Single-group pre-post design. Competitive soccer match. Twenty elite U-19 male soccer players (mean age: 17.7 ± 1.0 years) of which 11 completed the full experimental set-up. Postural stability evaluated by unilateral stance tests for dominan...

This study aimed to analyze the influence of the playing surface on movement pattern, physical loading, perceived exertion, and fatigue development during small-sided recreational soccer games. Time-motion, heart rate, blood lactate, and perceived exertion were measured for 16 recreational players aged 22 (range: 19-35)yrs. During 5-a-side soccer g...

The present study investigated the movement pattern of Portuguese top-level futsal referees (n=16) during competitive games and the ecological validity of the new Yo-Yo Sideways-Forwards Intermittent Endurance level 2 test (Yo-Yo SFIE2). Total distance covered (TD), high-intensity running (HIR), sprinting (SPR), and sideways running (Sw) during mat...

Epidemiologic information on the incidence of youth soccer injuries in southern Europe is limited. To compare the incidence, type, location, and severity of injuries sustained by male subelite youth soccer players over the 2008-2009 season. Descriptive epidemiology study. Twenty-eight Portuguese male youth soccer teams. A total of 674 youth male su...

The purpose of this study was to examine match activity (MA) and fatigue development (FD) during official soccer games in different moments of a season and the influence of training status (TS) on MA and FD. MA of 13 professional players was examined by time-motion analysis at four time points of a competitive season. In addition, per time point wi...

An accurate evaluation of training load is paramount for the planning and periodization of training. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the relationship between a new method to monitor training load in soccer (Visual Analogic Scale training load; VAS-TL), and two established heart rate-based methods (TRIMP and Edwards' method). 51 soccer...

This study aimed to analyze elite team handball physical and physiological demands during match play. Time-motion (N = 30) and heart rate (HR; N = 60) analyses were performed throughout ten official matches. The defined locomotor categories were: standing still, walking, jogging, fast running, sprinting, backwards movement, sideways medium-intensit...

To analyse the relationship between isokinetic strength of the lower limb muscles and bone mineral density and content (BMD, BMC) of adolescent male soccer players and age-matched controls not involved in sport (12-15 years). A random sample of 151 young males was divided into soccer players (SG; n=117) and control subjects (CG; n=34). Peak torque...

The purpose of this study was to analyze the effects of an entire season on physical fitness parameters (PFPs) in male professional soccer players (N = 18). Performance in 5- and 30-m sprint (T5 and T30), countermovement jump (CMJ), agility (T-test), knee extensor (KE) and knee flexor (KF) isokinetic strength, hamstrings/quadriceps strength ratio (...

To evaluate injuries occurring during the preseason in youth soccer players. Prospective cohort study over 1 preseason. 2009-2010 preseason. Subjects were 912 youths aged 12 to 19 years. The club's medical staff prospectively recorded all injuries. A reportable injury was defined as by the consensus statement on soccer injuries. Estimated injury ra...

The purpose of this study was to determine the physiological demands and to establish the relationship between activity profile and endurance capacity of futsal referees. Eighteen elite futsal referees (33.0 ± 5.1 years, 173 ± 5 cm, and 73.2 ± 8.4 kg) were studied. Video filming (n = 18) and heart rate (HR) recordings were performed throughout game...