Abstract Aim: This study investigated the adaptations of football teams as hierarchically organised open systems. In this type of system, the collective and individual behaviours are characterised by consistency and variability, respectively. Methods: Five professional men's football matches in the under-20 category were analysed. The team's centroid as a measure of the system's macrostructure and the distance from each player to the team's centroid (a measure of the system's microstructure) were obtained from the players' x and y coordinates of displacement on the soccer field. Cluster analyses were run using Ward's minimum variance method with Euclidean distance. Results: (i) teams showed consistency and variability in their macro- and microstructures, respectively; (ii) there was a correlation between attack and defence patterns in most game sequences; (iii) goals were scored when teams modified their macro and/or microstructure. Conclusion: Football teams showed correspondence in attack-defense patterns with macro-consistency and micro-variability throughout the match. Despite this, there was no relationship between the foregoing patterns and game outcomes. Goals were scored after changes in the team's structure.

O presente estudo investigou a tomada de decisão da trajetória da bola e da superfície de contato do pé com a bola no remate do futebol. Foram filmados 12 jogos de futebol de um campeonato amador na Colômbia. Participaram no estudo 150 jogadores do sexo masculino, com idade entre 17 e 38 anos, e experiência de prática neste esporte de, no mínimo, 7 anos. As imagens capturadas foram analisadas através do software TACTO, e as variáveis espácio-temporais consideradas para análise foram as seguintes: I) ângulo de remate; II) distância entre o atacante e o defensor (interpessoal), III) distância entre o defensor e a baliza (extrapessoal); IV) velocidade e variabilidade de cada uma dessas medidas. Essas variáveis foram analisadas em relação a situações de remates com trajetórias retilíneas e parabólicas da bola, assim como, com a parte interna e peito do pé. Os resultados revelaram que a escolha da trajetória da bola foi influenciada pelas variáveis ângulo de remate e distância interpessoal. Além disso, a escolha da superfície de contato foi influenciada pela variabilidade da distância extrapessoal. Concluiu-se que as escolhas da trajetória da bola e da superfície de contato do remate são influenciadas pela interação espacial entre os jogadores.

This study investigated the soccer players’ decision-making of kicking using different ball trajectories and different foot-ball contact surfaces. Soccer kick events from 12 games of an amateur Colombian championship were selected and analysed using TACTO software. Participants included 150 male players aged between 17-38 years possessing at least 7 years of experience. The spatiotemporal variables considered were: the angle of the kick, the distance between the attacker and the defender (interpersonal) and between the defender and the goal (extra personal), and also the velocity and variability of each variable. The analysis included rectilinear and parabolic ball trajectories shots, and inside of the foot and instep kicks. The results revealed that the choice of kicking using a rectilinear or parabolic trajectory was influenced by the angle of the kick and the interpersonal distance. Inside of the foot or instep kicks were chosen depending on the variability of the extra personal distance. The findings highlight that the choice of kicking using different ball trajectories and different parts of the foot is influenced by spatial interactions between players.