Set Pieces and Game Phase Transitions in Elite Football: Tactical Patterns and Contextual Determinants

Football is a complex dynamic system in which match outcomes emerge from the continuous interaction of technical, tactical, physical, psychological, and contextual factors. Set pieces and transitions between phases of play are particularly influential because they create moments of numerical, spatial, and temporal advantage that can determine performance in increasingly balanced elite competitions. Recent advances in player tracking, event data, positional analysis, network analysis, and artificial intelligence have improved the investigation of these moments. However, existing evidence remains fragmented, often examining offensive and defensive actions separately or focusing on individual competitions and isolated variables. Important questions remain regarding how tactical organization, player interactions, collective behaviours, physical demands, and situational context jointly shape performance during restarts and transitions. A more integrated and ecologically valid understanding is therefore needed to connect tactical patterns with match outcomes and applied decision-making.This Research Topic aims to advance a multidisciplinary understanding of set pieces, phases of play, and transitional moments in elite football. It seeks to identify the tactical, technical, physical, psychological, and contextual determinants of performance; examine how teams create, prevent, and exploit advantages during critical moments; and evaluate how these processes vary according to match status, opponent quality, competition, location, gender, and competitive level. It also aims to assess the contribution of observational methodologies, tracking data, machine learning, predictive modelling, network analysis, and other advanced approaches to explaining and forecasting performance. By integrating scientific and applied perspectives, the Research Topic will support evidence-based practice among coaches, performance analysts, sport scientists, and other professionals working in elite football.To gather further insights into set pieces, phases of play, and transitional moments in elite football, this Research Topic will focus on research conducted in professional, international, and other high-performance contexts, while recognising relevant comparisons across competitions, leagues, playing levels, and men’s and women’s football. Contributions may address, but are not limited to, the following themes:Offensive and defensive strategies during corner kicks, free kicks, throw-ins, penalty kicks, goal kicks, and other restart situationsTactical organisation and collective behaviours during set pieces and transitionsPressing, counter-pressing, build-up play, counterattacking, and recovery phasesPlayer interactions, spatial relations, numerical superiority, and positional structuresPhysical and perceptual demands associated with transitions and critical momentsThe influence of match status, opponent quality, match location, and competitive levelTemporal changes in performance within matches, seasons, and competitionsEffects of fixture congestion, fatigue, squad rotation, and rule modifications on set-piece and transition performanceApplications of tracking data, event data, observational methodology, and positional analysisMachine learning, artificial intelligence, network analysis, predictive modelling, and other advanced analytical techniquesComparative research across leagues, competitions, playing levels, and men’s and women’s footballLinks between tactical behaviours, set-piece and transition effectiveness, and match outcomesTranslation of research findings into coaching, performance analysis, and sport science practice Topic editors: Claudio Alberto Casal, Iyán Iván-Baragaño, Rubén Maneiro Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/84449/set-pieces-and-game-phase-transitions-in-elite-football-tactical-patterns-and-contextual-determinants