Search Results (62)

Racket sports are very popular not only in professional sports but also among recreational players. As a result, their impact on the field of education has grown significantly in recent years. Table tennis (TT) offers significant advantages in terms of skill acquisition and health improvement. Nevertheless, its application within physical education (PE) curricula remains undetermined. The aim of this systematic review was to analyze the use of TT as educational content in the subject of PE in primary school. The PRISMA 2020 methodology was used to conduct the systematic review. Six databases (ERIC, Pubmed, ScienceDirect, Scopus, Sport Discus, and Web of Science) were used during the search process. The search cutoff date was December 31, 2024. After applying the eligibility criteria, 3595 articles were found. Only seven studies were selected for the final analysis and the data included 1526 students from primary school. The results indicate that TT is rarely used in primary education during PE classes. Research indicates interest among teachers and students in playing it during PE. Furthermore, due to the benefits, motivation, and interest this sport generates, educational experiences have been developed, such as roundtable discussions, table top tennis, balloon TT, and TT triathlon. A lack of materials, facilities, and teacher training for teaching this sport is notable. The teaching experiences analyzed in this review confirm that TT is a highly versatile and interesting sport as a subject matter in school PE. The use of TT allows for innovative, comprehensive, and inclusive PE, thanks to the sport’s multiple possibilities. Given its adaptability and low entry barrier, TT could serve as an effective tool for increasing children’s physical activity levels, improving motor skills, and fostering social–emotional development. However further research is needed to quantify its impact on health outcomes such as cardiovascular fitness or obesity prevention. Full article

Background: A comprehensive understanding of variations in physical attributes both between and within young players is crucial for accurately identifying talent based on physical performance. This study aimed to compare maximum strength, jump, and sprint test results among young soccer players from different age categories and playing positions. Secondarily, this study aimed to analyze the association between maximum strength, jump, and sprint performances. Methods: A total of 103 players were categorized as U23, U19, U17, and U16. The players were placed into these age categories based on their football abilities. All participants completed standardized warm-ups, and testing procedures followed protocols established in previous studies. Results: Significant differences were found between age categories regarding the Isometric Mid-Thigh Pull (p < 0.001; η²_p = 0.33), Countermovement Jump (CMJ) (p < 0.001; η²_p = 0.50), Squat Jump (SJ) (p < 0.001; η²_p = 0.29), and sprint (p < 0.001; η²_p = 0.30) tests. No significant differences were detected in Broad Jump results between age categories. Moreover, no significant differences were observed in any physical capacities between playing positions. Furthermore, significant moderate-to-strong correlations (r = 0.30–0.86) were observed between all physical tests. Conclusions: Age categories can distinguish soccer players’ performance in different physical tests while no differences were observed between playing positions. Similar magnitude correlations were observed across all tests with only the CMJ and SJ being strongly correlated. Coaches and strength and conditioning professionals should apply a variety of tests to assess different physical qualities since they have different patterns between age categories. Full article

Background: With the increasing prevalence of sedentary lifestyles and childhood obesity, physical activity and exercise have emerged as essential pillars of health promotion in childhood. In this context, schools play a fundamental role as key players in the implementation of interventions that promote healthy habits and a more physically active life. Objectives: The purpose of the present study was to conduct a systematic review of the benefits of strength training in primary school students. Methods: The review was carried out using the Web of Science and Scopus databases, following the guidelines of the PRISMA statement and a PICO strategy. The studies were selected according to different inclusion and exclusion criteria, resulting in 11 scientific articles published in English during the last 5 years (2020–2024). The methodological quality of the studies was assessed using the STROBE checklist. Results: The results suggest that strength training with elementary school students improves physical and motor performance variables, as well as cognitive, psychosocial and health variables. Likewise, it can be observed that plyometric strength-training methods and unilateral and combined programs with aerobic and motor skills training are highly effective and favor adherence to physical exercise. This also demonstrates the importance and necessity of developing motor coordination skills from an early age, since they represent a determining factor in strength training as the exercises become more specific and complex. Conclusions: In conclusion, implementing strength training programs in primary education confers several benefits at an integral level for the students and is crucial to improving the lifestyle and quality of life of students. Full article

Background: Extensive data exists on external load during training and competition, but a significant gap remains in understanding internal physiological load, particularly in protocols conducted in ecological settings. Given the scarcity of studies on the on-field cardiorespiratory profiles of national-level athletes, especially in Argentine soccer, this study aimed to identify the on-field cardiorespiratory fitness profile of ten highly trained youth field soccer players (13.6 ± 1.3 years old) from both the first league of the Argentine Football Association and members of the national team in their age group category in the current year. Methods: Each athlete performed an on-field cardiorespiratory exercise test (20-m Shuttle Run Test, 20-m SRT) with the COSMED K5 wearable metabolic system (COSMED, Rome, Italy) in dynamic micro-mixing chamber mode. The 20-m Shuttle Run Test involves running back and forth between two lines set 20 m apart, following the pace set by an audio signal. The test starts at a running velocity of 8.5 km·h⁻¹ and increases by 0.5 km·h⁻¹ each min. Results: Mean velocity at maximal oxygen uptake (v$\dot{\mathrm{V}}$O_2max) was 12.3 ± 0.7 km·h⁻¹. The maximal oxygen uptake ($\dot{\mathrm{V}}$O_2max) on-field was 67.1 ± 5.3 mL·kg⁻¹·min⁻¹. The $\dot{\mathrm{V}}$O₂ at the first and second ventilatory thresholds (VT1 and VT2) were identified at 67.0 ± 3.0% $\dot{\mathrm{V}}$O_2max (44.9 ± 3.3 mL·kg⁻¹·min⁻¹) and 84.7 ± 3.7% $\dot{\mathrm{V}}$O_2max (56.8 ± 3.8 mL·kg⁻¹·min⁻¹), respectively. Conclusions: This is a scarce on-field gas exchange assessment, conducted in an ecological context using a portable analyzer with highly trained national-level youth soccer players from the Argentine youth national team, which underlines their cardiorespiratory fitness, showcases their high-performance potential, offers valuable insights into a selective group of players, and provides a reference for larger-scale research on elite youth soccer and the long-term development of aerobic power and capacity. Full article

The Minesweeper game is modeled as a sequential decision-making task, for which a neural network architecture, state encoding, and reward function were herein designed. Both a Deep Q-Network (DQN) and supervised learning methods were successfully applied to optimize the training of the game. The experiments were conducted on the AutoDL platform using an NVIDIA RTX 3090 GPU for efficient computation. The results showed that in a 6 × 6 grid with four mines, the DQN model achieved an average win rate of 93.3% (standard deviation: 0.77%), while the supervised learning method achieved 91.2% (standard deviation: 0.9%), both outperforming human players and baseline algorithms and demonstrating high intelligence. The mechanisms of the two methods in the Minesweeper task were analyzed, with the reasons for the faster training speed and more stable performance of supervised learning explained from the perspectives of means–ends analysis and feedback control. Although there is room for improvement in sample efficiency and training stability in the DQN model, its greater generalization ability makes it highly promising for application in more complex decision-making tasks. Full article

Background: This study aimed to evaluate the impact of different set volumes and durations of isometric conditioning activity (ICA) (a single 9 s set vs. three 9 s sets, totaling 27 s) on countermovement jump (CMJ) performance in highly trained male volleyball players. Understanding these effects is essential for optimizing warm-up protocols, particularly before competitions or high-intensity training sessions, to maximize performance outcomes. Methods: The 14 participants completed three conditions: one set of ICA (9 s) and three sets of ICA (27 s), each involving maximal isometric contractions in the half-back squat position, as well as a control condition without ICA. Approximately 3 min pre-ICA and at 3, 6, and 9 min post-ICA, the CMJ performance was assessed. Results: The results showed a significant interaction between CMJ height (p = 0.002) and relative peak power (p = 0.004) with the three-set condition. Post hoc comparisons indicated a significant increase in CMJ height at 3 min (p = 0.018; effect size [ES]: 0.868) and 6 min (p = 0.044; ES: 0.808), and a relative peak power output at 3 min (p = 0.005; ES: 0.874) and 6 min (p = 0.034; ES: 0.745) post-ICA compared to pre-ICA. No significant interactions or main effects were found for the modified reactive strength index or CMJ contraction time. Conclusions: The findings suggest that a three-set ICA with a total duration of 27 s may acutely improve CMJ height and relative peak power output in highly trained volleyball players. Full article

Background/Objectives: The Athletic Shoulder Test (ASH) has been described as one of the most promising upper-extremity tests to assess performance in overhead athletes. Its high reliability rates, short testing period, and applicability in any environment with portable and cheap equipment have been highlighted as some of the advantages of the test. However, it has yet to be evaluated in a non-adult athletic population. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the ASH test’s psychometric properties in a sample of young tennis players. Methods: A total of 33 adolescent tennis players were evaluated among two sessions with a week interval. Intra-rater, inter-rater, and test-retest reliability were investigated. Additionally, possible correlations with measures of rotational shoulder strength and upper-extremity performance were examined. Two novice physiotherapists performed all the measurements following appropriate training. Results: The relative reliability scores, as calculated by intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) indices, were found to be excellent (ICC = 0.924–0.988). Standard error of measurement and minimal detectable change scores have been estimated per position (SEM = 2.74–7.06 N, MDC = 7.55–19.42N). Test-retest reliability provided slightly higher SEM and MDC scores on average (SEM = 3.33–6.47, MDC = 9.32–18.04) than intra-rater and inter-rater reliability. Associations between ASH and the two tests were found to be moderate to strong (r = 0.584–0.856), with the dominant arm providing higher correlation scores (r = 0.605–0.856) than the non-dominant one (r = 0.584–0.823). Absolute values were collected and are provided for all three upper-limb tests; normalized values were calculated for ASH and rotational strength and peak torque only for the ASH measurements. Conclusions: The excellent reliability rates establish the ASH test as a highly recommended testing protocol for adolescent tennis players. Full article

Assessment of a badminton player’s footwork is critical. However, the automated footwork assessment method is lacking. The purpose of the study is to investigate how seismographs can be used to collect vibration signals to locate the footsteps of a player on the badminton court. Four seismographs are positioned at the four corners of the badminton court to acquire the vibration signals of two players’ footsteps. After signal preprocessing, multiple features are extracted from the preprocessed vibration signals, including the maximum amplitude ${AMP}_{\mathrm{m}\mathrm{a}\mathrm{x}}$, the index of the maximum amplitude ${IND}_{\mathrm{m}\mathrm{a}\mathrm{x}}$, and area under the waveform of the signal $AUW$. The latter two features are selected to predict the localization of the footstep after correlation analysis of the features. A multilayer perceptron (MLP) and a support vector machine (SVM) are trained to combine all the features to predict the locations of the footsteps into one of the eighteen zones of the badminton court. Six-fold and leave-one-out (LOO) cross-validations are used to estimate the accuracy of the localization method. All three extracted features are correlated with the footstep location, and ${AMP}_{\mathrm{m}\mathrm{a}\mathrm{x}}$ and $AUW$ are highly correlated. Both the six-fold and LOO cross-validations indicate that the overall accuracy is 98–99%, using either the MLP or the SVM. These promising results indicate that the proposed approach has a potential to trace badminton player’s footwork accurately and future studies are warranted to investigate the utilities of the vibration signals in badminton player’s footwork assessment. Full article

Background: This study aimed to analyze the effect of caffeine ingestion on basketball performance in semi-professional female players. Methods: A double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized experimental design was conducted, in two different periods separated by a week. Twelve female basketball players ingested 3 mg of caffeine/kg of body mass or a placebo. After 60 min, participants completed two repetitions of the specified sequence: Abalakov jump, countermovement jump (CMJ), 5-0-5 (505) test, and 20 m sprint. Later, external loads and game statistics were recorded during a 30-min simulated basketball game. Results: Significant improvements were observed in CMJ height and 505 test with caffeine ingestion compared to the placebo. Significant moderate differences were evident between conditions in external load variables, specifically, an increased number of high-intensity changes of direction during simulated games with caffeine ingestion. Two-point shot efficiency significantly improved after pre-caffeine ingestion compared with placebo. Conclusions: Three mg of caffeine per kg of body mass may serve as an effective ergogenic aid to increase physical performance and some variables of performance index in highly trained basketball players. Full article

The aim of this study was to investigate associations and differences between dynamic strength index (DSI) and multi-directional jumping, linear and curvilinear sprinting, and change of direction (CoD). Highly trained basketball players (n = 44) performed a 20 m linear sprint, 20 m 3-point line (curvilinear) sprint, countermovement jump (CMJ), drop jump (DJ), bilateral horizontal jump, unilateral horizontal jump, lateral jump, basketball-specific lateral jump and isometric mid-thigh pull (IMTP). The results showed weak to moderate associations between IMTP performance and horizontal jump, lateral jump and curvilinear sprint (r = −0.33–0.41; p < 0.05). No correlations were found between CMJ peak force and performance variables, while weak correlations were observed between DSI and unilateral horizontal jump (r = −0.36; p < 0.05), lateral jumps, linear sprint and CoD deficit (r = −0.37, −0.38; p < 0.05), showing that lower magnitude of DSI is associated with better performance in those tests. Additional analysis revealed that the low DSI subgroup had the highest IMTP peak force, while the high DSI subgroup had the highest CMJ peak force. The low DSI group showed better performance in vertical, horizontal and lateral jumps, while no significant differences were observed in DJ and curvilinear sprint performance compared to other groups. The findings indicate that athletes with lower DSI values exhibit superior physical performance, suggesting that a strength-oriented training approach may be beneficial for basketball players. Due to the ballistic nature of basketball, more maximal strength training is required to optimize the DSI ratio in basketball players. Additional studies are needed to determine the precise benchmarks for navigating training based on DSI values. Full article

Background: Drop height has previously been used as an effective programming parameter in plyometric jump training. Less is known about the usage of maximal rebound jump height from a distinct drop height as a parameter for individualized plyometric jump training. Hence, the aim of this study was to contrast the effects of two different drop jump (DJ) training modalities using either the individualized maximal rebound height (MRHT) or a standard (SDHT) drop height on selected measures of physical fitness in young volleyball players. Methods: Thirty male young volleyball players aged 14 to 16 years were randomly assigned to an MRHT (n = 15) or an SDHT (n = 15) group. The MRHT group performed DJ exercises using a drop height according to the individual’s maximal rebound jump height from 30 cm, 40 cm, and 50 cm drop heights. The SDHT group performed DJs following a standardized drop height (30 cm) across the 8-week intervention period. The overall training volume was similar between MRHT and SDHT with one to three sets of 8 to 10 repetitions of DJ exercises per session. Before and after training, jump height and the reactive strength index (RSI) were taken as dependent variables from 30, 40, and 50 cm drop heights. In addition, dynamic balance (Y-balance test) as well as linear sprint and change-of-direction (CoD) speed were assessed. Results: Significant group × time interactions were found for jump height, balance, RSI, and linear sprint (p < 0.001; d = 0.12–3.42) but not CoD speed. Post hoc tests showed significant jump height improvements in favor of the MRHT group for drop heights from 30 cm (Δ20.4%, p < 0.001, d = 3.69), 40 cm (Δ20.3%, p < 0.001, d = 2.90), and 50 cm (Δ18.3%, p < 0.001, d = 3.37) and RSI50 (Δ30.14%, p < 0.001, d = 2.29). MRHT but not SDHT resulted in significant 5 m (Δ9.2%, p < 0.001, d = 1.32) and 20 m (Δ7.4%, p < 0.01, d = 2.30) linear sprint speed improvements. Conclusions: The findings demonstrate that MRHT but not SDHT improved DJ height, RSI, and linear sprint speed. Due to the importance of vertical jumps and short accelerations for overall competitive performance in volleyball, our results suggest that young male players should perform MRHT as part of plyometric jump training if the goal is to improve acceleration, reactive strength, and vertical jump performance. Full article

This randomized controlled trial investigated the effects of neuro-athletic training (NAT) on flexibility, spike speed, and upper extremity stability in elite volleyball players. Thirty professional male athletes aged 18–23 years old (mean age of 19.5 ± 1.77 years old in the NAT group and 19.8 ± 1.87 years old in the control group) participated, with 26 completing this study. The participants were randomly assigned into an NAT intervention group or a control group continuing traditional training. Both groups trained three days per week for eight weeks, with the NAT program targeting neuromuscular adaptations while maintaining equal total training durations. Flexibility was assessed using the Sit and Reach Test, spike speed was evaluated using the Pocket Radar Ball Coach, and upper extremity stability was measured using the Closed Kinetic Chain Upper Extremity Stability Test (CKCUEST). The NAT group demonstrated significant improvements across all performance metrics. Flexibility increased significantly (p = 0.040; Cohen’s d = 0.845), indicating improved range of motion and musculoskeletal adaptability. Spike speed showed a highly significant improvement (p < 0.001; Cohen’s d = 1.503), reflecting enhanced neuromuscular coordination and power. Similarly, upper extremity stability exhibited substantial gains (p = 0.002; Cohen’s d = 1.152), highlighting improved shoulder stability and motor control. In contrast, the control group did not show statistically significant changes in their flexibility (p = 0.236; Cohen’s d = 0.045), spike speed (p = 0.197; Cohen’s d = 0.682), or upper extremity stability (p = 0.193; Cohen’s d = 0.184). Between-group comparisons confirmed the superiority of the NAT intervention, with significant differences across all metrics (p-values ranging from 0.040 to <0.001) and effect sizes spanning from moderate to large (Cohen’s d = 0.845–1.503). These findings demonstrate the effectiveness of NAT in enhancing volleyball-specific performance metrics, emphasizing its potential to target neuromuscular adaptations for improved flexibility, power, and stability. Future studies should explore the long-term effects of NAT and its applicability across various sports disciplines. Full article

Background/Objectives: Neural processes involved in visual detection, decision-making, and motor plan execution are believed to play a key role in the avoidance of sport-related injuries, but very little evidence exists to guide the development of training activities for the optimization of brain function. Immersive virtual reality provides a means to precisely measure the amount of time that elapses from visual stimulus presentation to the initiation of a motor response (i.e., perceptual latency) or its completion (i.e., response time). Methods: The median value of a metric quantifying both the speed and accuracy (i.e., the rate correct per second of response time) of 50 high school female soccer players was used to assign those who exhibited suboptimal performance to a training program. Training sessions required less than 5 min and the number of sessions completed over a 7-week period ranged from 3 to 13 (median = 5). Results: Among 42 players available for follow-up assessment at 8 weeks after the first practice session (training n = 19; comparison n = 23), the results of regression-discontinuity analyses demonstrated statistically significant differences (p < 0.05) for metrics representing fast/accurate movement initiation (i.e., the rate correct score for perceptual latency, p = 0.016) and across-trial consistency (i.e., perceptual latency variability, p = 0.027). From the first practice session to the end of the soccer season, 12 injuries were sustained by 10 players (four concussions and eight musculoskeletal injuries). A time-to-event analysis demonstrated strong associations with perceptual latency variability ≥ 0.143 (Hazard Ratio = 15.43, p = 0.011) and a lifetime history of at least one concussion (Hazard Ratio = 8.84, p = 0.008). Conclusions: The strong association of movement initiation consistency with the avoidance of concussion or musculoskeletal injury suggests that the training program may have a highly beneficial far-transfer effect. Full article

Objective: We examined the effects of eight weeks of single-mode resistance, repeated sprint training, and the combination of the two programs on selected measures of physical fitness (muscle power, speed, and body composition), hematological parameters, and plasma volume variations in highly trained soccer players. Sixty male soccer players from the Tunisian national Ligue were randomly allocated to a resistance training group (RTG), a repeated sprint training group (RSTG), a combined resistance and repeated sprint training group (CTG), or an active control group (CG, soccer training only). The training volumes were similar between groups. Before and after training, we examined body composition, squat jump (SJ), countermovement jump (CMJ), sprint 30 m (S30), repeated-sprint sequences (RSSs), hematocrit, hemoglobin, mean hemoglobin concentration (MHC), and plasma volume. Significant group-by-time interactions were recorded for the RSS indices, SJ, and S30 (p < 0.039], 0.1< ηp² < 0.49]), as well as the hematological parameters (p = 0.0001–0.045, 0.11 < ηp² < 0.46). In terms of physical fitness, using post hoc tests, the CTG showed significantly greater gains compared to the RSTG, RTG, and the CG on the best time index of the RSSs (p = 0.008; d = 4.1), SJ (p = 0.004; d = 4.18) and 30 m linear sprint time (p = 0.008; d = 3.84). Body fat percentage also decreased significantly in the CTG compared to all other groups (p < 0.005, 0.21 < d< 0.35). Regarding hematological parameters (i.e., hemoglobin and hematocrit), the CTG, RSTG, and RTG showed significant decreases (p < 0.05) in their hemoglobin and hematocrit values compared to the CG (p < 0.05, 0.11 < d< 2.22]). Eight weeks of combined training compared to single-mode training was found to be more effective in improving fitness measures in highly trained soccer players. However, there appeared to be no consensus regarding the effect of single and combined repeated-sprint and resistance training on the hematological system. Full article

Load monitoring has been identified as a valuable tool for optimizing training planning and minimizing injury risk. This study’s aim was divided into two main objectives: (1) to describe the physical demands during official competition through IMU (inertial movement unit) metrics and (2) to investigate the relationship between basketball statistics and these physical demands. Twelve female highly trained basketballers (26.5 ± 5.3 years, 180 ± 7.1 cm, and 73.6 ± 10.3 kg) were monitored during four official games. Our results indicate that games with more frequent possession changes, particularly those driven by steals and turnovers, exhibit higher physical demands. Additionally, longer game durations were associated with longer recovery time while maintaining similar active time and physical load. Players who assume prominent shooting roles face greater conditional demands, such as increased jumps and impacts, even with equal playing time. These findings suggest that IMUs provide valuable insights into high-intensity actions and patterns, indicating a direct association between physical load and player performance in professional female basketball. This study also highlights the potential for professionals to better manage workload and understand player demands using these insights, even in the absence of in-game sensor data. Our research underscores the importance of contextual analysis in sports performance studies, encouraging future investigations into game phases and their specific physical demands. Full article