Connecting Research and Practice at the 58th asp Annual Conference

We were pleased to take part in the 58th Annual Conference of the Arbeitsgemeinschaft für Sportpsychologie e.V. (asp), held at the Institute of Sport and Sport Science (ISSW) of Heidelberg University in Heidelberg. Together with our colleagues and project partners, we presented current research and practical insights on several topics; the full list is available in our LinkedIn and Instagram posts. The conference gave us a valuable opportunity to exchange ideas with researchers and practitioners and to discuss how scientific findings can support athletes, coaches, and sporting environments in everyday practice. Given the close proximity to Zuzenhausen, we were also delighted to welcome conference participants to our facilities and offer a closer look at our work. We thank the organisers, ISSW Heidelberg, asp, and Prof. Dr. Henning Plessner for hosting the event.

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“Do fast players remain fast and slow players remain slow?” Long-term development of maximal sprinting speed in highly trained U12 to U19 soccer players over an 8-year period

We recently published a new study in the International Journal of Sports Science & Coaching examining the long-term development of maximal sprinting speed in highly trained male academy players from U12 to U19.12 Based on data from 475 players collected over an eight-year period, the study looked at how sprint performance develops during adolescence and whether players maintain their relative speed ranking over time. While absolute sprinting speed improved consistently across all age groups, especially between U14 and U16, the findings showed that relative performance was less stable than commonly assumed: many players changed performance groups over the years, and long-term stability was only moderate. These results challenge the simple idea that fast players always remain fast and slow players always remain slow. For practice, this means that current sprint performance should be interpreted with care and always viewed within the broader developmental context when making talent identification and selection decisions.

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New paper: Leading through performance crises in professional soccer

Performance crises are a recurring reality in professional soccer. Coaches operate in a highly volatile environment, facing intense pressure from fans, media, and club management to deliver results. Frequent coach dismissals and constant changes are common, with significant consequences not only for coaches themselves but also for players, who must continually adapt to new leadership and expectations. These periods of underperformance can trigger psychological distress and create a self-reinforcing cycle that further intensifies the crisis.

During such challenging times, coaches play a crucial role. Their strategies and behaviors can either help teams recover or exacerbate the situation. Managing a performance crisis requires balancing external pressures, team dynamics, and individual psychological processes, all while maintaining focus on team performance and well-being.

In our published study, we explore how professional soccer coaches navigate these high-pressure moments. This research was conducted in collaboration with the Karlsruher Institut für Technologie (KIT) and their research team: Darko Jekauc, Constantin Rausch, and Julian Fritsch.

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New paper: Expected ball gain and expected possession value in Bundesliga

In elite football, a single decisive moment can determine the outcome of a match, with significant economic implications for teams. As a result, substantial resources are invested in objectively assessing player performance to gain a competitive edge. While physical, technical, psychological, and tactical facets all contribute to match performance, tactical behavior—particularly during transitions—plays a crucial role in a team’s success.

Tactical actions always involve both risk and reward, especially during the chaotic transition phases following ball gains or losses. These moments can have a profound impact on match outcomes, as player decisions during transitions shape both offensive and defensive strategies. Our study, conducted by Leander Forcher, Leon Forcher, Stefan Altmann, and Alexander Woll in collaboration with KIT, analyzes the risks and rewards of transitions using official tracking and event data from 612 Bundesliga matches across the 2022/23 and 2023/24 seasons.

To objectively evaluate these situations, we developed two machine learning models based on over 30 expert-driven features: an expected possession value (EPV) model, which predicts the probability of the ball-gaining team scoring in the following seconds, and an expected ball gain (xBG) model, which estimates the likelihood of the ball-losing team regaining possession. By combining both models, we can quantify the risk and reward of match situations for both teams and provide a detailed analysis of tactical strategies and individual player decision-making.

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Partnership with ATHLETES IN MIND

A shared commitment to mental health in sports: We’re partnering to further develop the initiative ATHLETES IN MIND, an initiative that provides athletes with initial mental health guidance from professionals with elite sports experience, as well as educational resources and recommendations to further expert care.

Founded in 2021 by former elite athletes and mental-health professionals Dr. Petra Dallmann and Dr. Brit Wilsdorf ATHLETES IN MIND combines first-hand experience in high-performance sport with clinical expertise. Athletes can reach out anonymously for an initial consultation – and, if needed, be connected with specialized mental-health services.

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