Previous research indicates high concussion knowledge is not associated with better concussion reporting, with research examining the relationship between reporting and global concussion knowledge. Concussion knowledge has not yet been investigated in United States Major League Rugby (MLR) players. This study evaluated domain-specific concussion knowledge, concussion history, and reporting behaviors among active MLR players. In a cross-sectional design, 207 MLR athletes (age 26.6±3.4years) completed a survey assessing concussion history, knowledge, and nondisclosure reasons. While in the MLR, 24% reported an undisclosed concussion, with nondisclosure reasons related to a lack of concussion knowledge, a desire to continue playing, or not wanting to let the coach and/or team down. Significant positive correlations between concussion knowledge statements indicated three concussion knowledge domains: Immediate Management, Potential Post-Concussion Consequences, and Concussion Recognition. MLR players demonstrated the least knowledge in the Concussion Recognition domain and the greatest knowledge in the Potential Post-Concussion Consequences domain. Athletes with more reported concussions (across measures) or ding/bell rung instances were more likely to correctly disagree with false statements about concussions (rs range -0.153 to rs=-0.371), particularly in the concussion recognition domain. Understanding gaps in specific concussion knowledge domains and how those gaps influence concussion reporting could inform more targeted concussion education and potentially improve concussion reporting where nondisclosure is due to concussion knowledge misconceptions. Future research should explore domain-specific concussion knowledge in diverse athletic populations.

This study explores how cultural logics, as articulated by system-level actors in the Northern Mediterranean region, may shape the acceptance, tolerance, and normalisation of interpersonal violence in sport, and constrain efforts to develop and implement safe sport initiatives. Using a cultural praxis heuristic, we conducted 60 semi-structured interviews with individuals responsible for coach education and recruitment in Cyprus, Greece, Italy, Malta, Spain, and Portugal. Analysis identified three themes: patriarchal structures reinforcing hierarchical power dynamics and gender norms; a win-focused culture prioritising competitive success over athlete well-being; and cultures of blindness and silence through which harmful practices are overlooked, minimised, or contained. Across contexts, safeguarding was described as less salient than adjacent institutional priorities (e.g.,doping and match-fixing), and participants highlighted a tension between expectations for top-down reform and mistrust toward institutional authorities, helping to explain why safeguarding remains weakly operationalised in everyday governance. Addressing IV therefore requires explicit attention to the cultural logics through which authority is exercised, success is evaluated, and concerns are handled within routine organisational practice. Implications include strengthening coach education and governance processes, supporting culture-change efforts that rebalance performance and welfare priorities, and engaging local actors to increase accountability and voice.

This study analyzed oculomotor behavior (fixations and saccades) in 19 competitive inline speed skaters (5 males, 14 females; aged 10-26years) from the Aragonese Skating Federation (Spain), comparing high-performance (N1) and intermediate (N2) groups. Participants completed optometric assessments and eye-tracking during 200 m time trials on a banked oval track using a Pupil Labs Neon device, with recordings taken before (PRE) and after (POST) intensive training. Results showed visual behavior remained stable overall, but curved segments (C1, C2) required significantly more fixations and saccades than straights. Skaters consistently focused on the inner track line during curves, suggesting an optimized visual strategy. High-performance skaters (N1) demonstrated greater efficiency with fewer fixations and saccades in key segments. After training, N1 skaters showed increased fixations in C1 (p=0.012) but reduced saccadic velocity (SS: PRE 8.00 deg/s vs. POST 6.82 deg/s; p=0.030) and length (S1: PRE 3077.41mm vs. POST 2564.71mm; p=0.035) on straights, consistent with fatigue. N1 exhibited different patterns of ocular abilities versus N2 pre- and port-training. Strong binocular coordination was observed (right-left eye correlations ≥ 0.85; p<0.001). Conclusions indicate that experience enhances visual efficiency, with elite skaters showing more focused gaze patterns. Training-induced fatigue may primarily affect straight segments, reducing saccade speed and length. The finish line served as a consistent visual reference point. These findings highlight the importance of sport-specific visual training and fatigue management in inline speed skating. Future research should address study limitations including small sample size and gender imbalance.

ABSTRACTThis study aimed to determine whether fat metabolism differs between males and females when exposed to extreme exercise‐heat stress. Physically active males (n = 11, 23 ± 4 years, 81.7 ± 11.8 kg, body fat 16.4 ± 6.6%) and females (n = 13, 25 ± 4 years, 60.4 ± 7.1 kg, 24.4 ± 6.7%) completed a 2‐h exercise‐heat tolerance test (40°C, 40% relative humidity). Differences (pre‐, post‐, change, and mean difference (MD)) within and between groups were analyzed. The subcutaneous abdominal adipose tissue (SCAAT) interstitial glycerol concentration and adipose tissue blood flow (ethanol Output:Input (O:I)) pre‐exercise, every 30 min (min) of exercise, and during recovery was measured with microdialysis. Non‐esterified fatty acids, insulin, insulin‐like growth factor, epinephrine and norepinephrine, and cortisol were measured in blood. Resting energy expenditure (REE) was measured pre‐ and post‐exercise and exercising metabolic heat production (MHP) was collected during 30 and 90 min of the HTT. Despite no sex differences in systemic blood biomarkers, fat oxidation (g × min−1) was higher in males (M) (vs. Females (F)) at 30 min of HTT (3.92 ± 0.25 (M), 3.58 ± 0.38 (F), p = 0.021). SCAAT interstitial glycerol was similar across all time points between sexes (baseline glycerol ranges (mmol × L−1): 104.6–1260.0 (F), 165.0–775.6 (M)); however, females had a greater O:I ratio at 90 min of exercise (vs. M) (0.69 ± 0.33 (F); 0.44 ± 0.20 (M); p = 0.033). Pre‐ and post‐exercise REE were 23% (MD: 447.5 kcal × day−1, p < 0.001) and 25% (MD: 485 kcal × day−1, p < 0.001) lower in females compared to males. Post‐exercise RER (0.67 ± 0.06 (F); 0.72 ± 0.08 (M); p = 0.045) and mean MHP was higher in males (MD: 94W). Fat oxidation was higher in males compared to females at 30 min with no changes in SCAAT lipolysis or blood biomarkers before or after an acute bout of exercise‐heat stress.

Swimming propulsion can be improved using dry-land resistance training. Indeed, previous studies showed that the ability to produce maximal power and maximal force on dry-land is strongly related to sprint swimming performance. However, the relationship between dry-land force-velocity and in-water load-velocity profiles remain underexplored. The aim of this study was to investigate these relationships in sprint swimmers. Ten male and seven female swimmers (mean±SD, age: 18±2.2years; body mass: 67.5±6.3kg; height: 178.7±7.9cm) completed dry-land force-velocity profiles on three resistance exercises (lat pulldown, bench press, and bench pull). Then, a swimming load-velocity profile was carried out using a semi-tethered protocol. Multiple linear regressions and Spearman correlations were performed to establish relationships between parameters measured in the two conditions (significance level: p<0.05). The main finding was that dry-land maximal strength was more strongly correlated to in-water parameters compared to dry-land maximal speed. More specifically, strong relationships were found between maximal force measured on the lat pulldown exercise and swimming parameters. Another finding suggests that dry-land maximal force, velocity, and power parameters had a stronger association with maximal swimming velocity than with maximal swimming load. Sex-dependent effect was observed regarding load-velocity parameters and some dry-land parameters such as dry-land maximal power. This study emphasizes the importance of targeted training abilities (such as dry-land maximal force) and exercises (such as the lat pulldown) in improving swimming performance factors.

Negative physical sensation (i.e., negative reactions to the physical sensations with exercise) refers to the perception and attitude toward one's own physical health and exercise capacity under a specific stressful situation. It is affected by potentially stressful situations, negative emotions, and avoidance coping strategies, and it has an important influence on individual behavior. In the stress situation, the avoidance strategy of cognition, emotion and behavior caused by emotional disorder is called experiential avoidance. Negative physical sensation and experiential avoidance, as negative cognitive and emotional regulation methods, play an important role in behavior orientation and emotional disorders. These factors may elucidate the underlying mechanisms contributing to the onset and perpetuation of sports anxiety. The present study investigates the role of negative physical sensation and experiential avoidance in anxiety during endurance exercise contexts, with a view to elucidating their underlying mechanisms. In order to this end, a study was conducted on 262 non-athlete college students from western China, who were subjected to endurance exercise anxiety scenarios. The survey encompassed acceptance and action, non-cognitive factors in adolescent competitive athletes, and sports behavior. Related statistics were analyzed and the mediating effect was tested by the nonparametric percentile bootstrap method of deviation correction. Taking exercise anxiety as dependent variables, the structural equation model (R=0.61, R2=0.38) was established, and the mediating effect was tested by the nonparametric percentile bootstrap method of deviation correction. A total of 262 college students participated in the survey. The average age of participants was 19.29years, with 170 females (64.9%) and 92 males (36.1%). The average BMI for female students was 21.59±4.33 (mean±standard deviation). The average BMI for male students was 22.22±4.21. The findings of the regression analysis suggest that endurance exercise behavior negatively predicts negative physical sensations (β=-0.48, p<0.001), negative physical sensation positively predicts experiential avoidance (β=0.34, p<0.001) and exercise anxiety (β=0.34, p<0.001), and experiential avoidance positively predicts exercise anxiety (β=0.25, p<0.001). Taking exercise anxiety as a dependent variable and endurance exercise behavior, negative physical sensations, and experiential avoidance as independent variables, a structural equation model (SEM) is established. And path analysis and structural equation modeling are used to examine mediating effects. The results indicate that the standard indirect effect value of Path 1 (endurance exercise→negative physical sensation→exercise anxiety) was β=-0.041, 95% CI=[-0.077, -0.018], accounting for 10.22% of the total indirect effect. Bootstrap 95% confidence interval did not contain 0, indicating that the mediating effect was significant. The standard indirect effect value of Path 2 (endurance exercise→negative physical sensation→experiential avoidance→exercise anxiety) was β=-0.178, 95% CI=[-0.259, -0.109], accounting for 44.39% of the total effect. Bootstrap 95% confidence interval did not contain 0, indicating that the mediating effect was significant. A substantial correlation was identified among endurance exercise, negative physical sensation, experiential avoidance, and exercise anxiety. Negative physical sensations and experiential avoidance significantly predict anxiety behaviors during endurance exercise. Furthermore, they have been shown to play mediating and chain-mediating roles between endurance exercise and exercise anxiety.

ABSTRACTVertical jump height estimates the ability to oppose gravity and lower body neuromuscular performance in athletes and various clinical populations. The use of force platforms for measuring jump height is increasingly popular due to technological advancements and the equipment's relative ease of use in various settings. However, when utilizing the force platform, ground reaction force (GRF) data must be processed to calculate jump height. While processing the GRF‐time data, several factors could alter the data, leading to inaccurate jump height estimates. These factors include sampling frequency, filtering, cut‐off frequencies of the filter, averaging periods of body weight, integration procedures, selection of take‐off/landing thresholds, and selection of the gravity constant. These data processing steps can alter jump height estimates, with effects ranging from minor (< 0.5%) to major (> 25%). Despite some guidelines on data processing, there is no consistency in the literature or in practice regarding how the GRF‐time data should be processed. Consequently, jump height without specifying the data processing steps may be of limited use to others. The aim of this review was to assist researchers and practitioners in navigating the complexities of data processing to better understand how it influences jump height.

ABSTRACTEarly sport specialization during adolescence has been linked to overuse injuries in several sports, yet its long‐term impact in American football remains underexplored. The purpose of this study is to examine whether early specialization in football during high school is associated with higher injury rates and shorter careers than multi‐sport participation. This is a retrospective cohort study with level of evidence 3. We analyzed all NFL players drafted from 2011 to 2023 (n = 2556) who played ≥ 16 career games. Athletes were classified as multisport or single‐sport based on high school varsity participation using public records. Injury data were obtained from validated online databases. The primary outcome was injury incidence, measured as injuries per 1000 snaps (defined as individual plays participated in). Secondary outcomes included career length, total games played, and weighted career approximate value (AV). Injury rates were compared with position‐stratified incidence rate ratios (IRRs). Multisport athletes (63.6%) sustained fewer total injuries (IRR, 0.80, 95% CI, 0.76–0.85, and p < 0.001) and major injuries (IRR, 0.77, 95% CI, 0.71–0.82, and p < 0.001) compared to single‐sport athletes. Multisport athletes also played 12.2 more NFL games (95% CI, 9.2–15.1, p < 0.001, and d = 0.32) and had 0.7 additional career years (95% CI, 0.5–0.9, p < 0.01 and d = 0.28). NFL players who participated in multiple sports during high school had significantly lower injury rates and greater career durability. These findings support the body of evidence discouraging early sport specialization.