PurposeIn female football, a growing concern has emerged regarding assessing and monitoring strategies, particularly on locomotor activities. This study evaluated locomotor activities during training sessions and official matches of female football players according to their field position.MethodsTwenty-four semi-professional female football players aged 20.1 ± 3.4 years were included in the analysis: five central defenders, four wide defenders, seven central midfielders, four wingers, and four forwards. Data collection included 105 training sessions and 26 official matches. The Global Positioning System examined distance variables, accelerations, and decelerations actions.ResultsSignificant differences were observed in training sessions for total distance (p < 0.01). Wingers (5.60 ± 1.44 km) and wide defenders (5.42 ± 1.35 km) covered significantly greater total distances compared to the other field positions. During official matches, differences in players’ locomotor activities were more evident among field positions, particularly in sprinting (p < 0.01), and in the number of accelerations and decelerations (p < 0.01). Central defenders showed more distance covered in sprinting (77.8 ± 64.9 m), while wide defenders presented greater acceleration (44.3 ± 23.0) and deceleration actions (57.2 ± 26.5).ConclusionsData on players’ locomotor activities based on field position might help understand players’ profiles. This information is useful to guide clubs and coaching staff in the player recruitment process, and to support a better organisation of the training plan.

PurposeTo investigate the effect of the Cawthorne Cooksey exercise protocol on trunk kinetic and kinematic parameters in MS patients.MethodsUsing a randomised controlled study design, 30 ambulatory patients with MS (aged 35–55 years) with relapsing/ remitting disease, hemiparesis, and minimal disability were recruited. Patients were split into two equal groups to undergo four weeks of vestibular rehabilitation. Group I received conventional vestibular rehabilitation along with the Cawthorne Cooksey exercise protocol, and group II (control group) received only conventional vestibular rehabilitation. Patients were assessed using an isokinetic dynamometer (average power, acceleration, and deceleration time) before and after the treatment.ResultsThe current study found that there was a significant improvement in the trunk flexors’ average power and a decrease (enhancement) in the acceleration and deceleration times after the treatment (p < 0.05). The effect was more pronounced in group I than in group II.ConclusionsCawthorne Cooksey exercise protocol may be an effective way to help people with MS improve their dynamic trunk stability by facilitating trunk movements and muscle power.

Purpose.The relationship between strength, power, and sports performance may have long-term effects on the development pathways of youth athletes. This study systematically reviewed the current evidence of strength and conditioning interventions among youngsters in competitive sports.Methods.The research was conducted following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) 2020 guidelines.Results.A total of 415 articles were identified, and 20 remained for analysis. All studies reported resistance training (RT) and/or plyometric training (PT) interventions as beneficial to improving youngsters’ overall physical fitness. The lower-body explosive strength, speed, and agility improvements were more evident in training plans that combined heavy RT and PT programs. The training frequency of twice a week was sufficient to induce strength gains. The results indicate that strength and conditioning programs positively influence sport-specific skills performance.Conclusions.PT and RT should not be implemented as single exercise interventions but as complementary programs to optimise physical and game performance. This study contributes to creating awareness among sports agents and coaches for integrating planned strength and conditioning programs with qualified instruction at least two times per week to improve young athletes’ physical development.

Purpose.This study investigated the influence of contextual variables on individual and collective team spatial organisation in professional Brazilian players.Methods.Seventeen matches were analysed during the 1st division Brazilian National football League of 2019. Global Positioning System devices were used to track players’ in-game movements. The data were analysed using Matlab to calculate linear tactical variables. The selected tactical variables were ‘Distance from the last defender to the goal’; ‘Width and length’; ‘LpWratio’; ‘Spread’; ‘Space exploration index’ and ‘Stretch index’. Five contextual variables were considered: (i) playing time, (ii) match location, (ii) ranking of the opposition, (iii) match outcome, and (iv) match status.Results.Results demonstrated that the LpWratio values were significantly greater during the second half of matches when compared with the first half (<i>p</i> = 0.03; <i>d</i> = 0.62). Significantly greater length and spread values were identified when the team was playing against a bottom six team when compared with the medium eight teams (<i>p</i> = 0.05; <i>d</i> = 1.58–1.60). Significantly higher stretch index values were reported when playing a top six opposition team when compared with the medium eight opposition teams. During losses, the stretch index was significantly higher when compared with wins and draws, respectively (<i>p</i> = 0.01; <i>d</i> = 1.47–1.89). Finally, the LpWratio values were significantly higher during periods when the team was losing, when compared with periods of drawing and winning (<i>p</i> = 0.01; <i>d</i> = 1.07–1.12).Conclusions.In conclusion, the spatiotemporal organisations of professional-level Brazilian club players are significantly influenced by contextual variables. The current findings support the use of GPS devices in soccer as a time-efficient and logistically viable method to characterise tactical behaviour and examine spatiotemporal movement patterns.

Purpose.Reactive strength index defines an athlete’s stretch-shortening cycle function and rebound capabilities. The purpose of the study was to examine the effect of two types of drop jumps (bounce drop jump: BDJ and countermovement drop jump: CDJ) on the jump parameters and reactive strength index under two different conditions (with and without additional load) from different drop box heights.Methods.Twelve female artistic gymnasts aged 10–12 years old volunteered to participate in this study. Drop jumps (DJ) were performed from 20-, 25-, 30, and 35-cm heights under two conditions: without additional load (FREE) and with additional load (VEST).Results.No interaction effect was found between the drop jump height, drop jump type and condition parameters, between the drop jump type and load parameters, or between the drop jump height and condition parameters. However, an interaction effect was observed between the drop jump type and load parameters for the reactive strength index. The drop box height (DBH) did not affect any of the dependent variables and the drop jump type with the VEST condition was more effective in improving the examined variables.Conclusions.The CDJ produces a lower reduction in the jump height under both the FREE and VEST conditions from different DBHs with an optimum DBH of 30 cm, while stiffness can be improved with both types of jumps from a DBH 25 cm. The characteristics of jumps, such as BDJ and CDJ and DBH, are determinants of the resulting jump height.

PurposeThe relative age effect (RAE) is a widely reported phenomenon in elite sports context. However, little is known about its occurrence in other levels of practice, such as school sports. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the presence of RAE on Mato Grosso state (Brazil) student-athletes participating in National School Games depending on sex, age category, and sport type.MethodsData from 440 student-athletes of Mato Grosso state (Brazil) who participated in 2 National School Games: 2019 Youth School Games (<i>n</i> = 250) and 2021 Brazilian School Games (<i>n</i> = 190) were organized depending on their quarters of birth. Chi-square tests were performed to compare their birthdates distribution in accordance with sex (male and female), age category (12–14 years old and 15–17 years old), and sport type (team and individual sports).ResultsAthletes born in the first months of the year were more frequent than athletes born in the last months of the year in the overall sample, in males, in the younger age category, and in team sports (<i>p</i> < 0.008). On the other hand, no differences were found for females, athletes from the older age category, or athletes practising individual sports (<i>p</i> > 0.05).ConclusionsRAE is pervasive in the student-athletes of Mato Grosso state (Brazil), specifically for male athletes in early categories of team sports. Educating coaches regarding this effect and implementing specific counter-RAE interventions are warranted to minimize selection bias in this sports context.

Purpose.The aim of the study was to compare the mood, motivation, and impulsivity of young athletes of different sexes and ages.Methods.The sample consisted of 147 young student-athletes of both sexes, aged 12–17 years, participating in the regional stage of the Brazilian Youth School Games 2018. The individuals were categorized into 4 groups for analysis considering sex (male vs. female) and age (≤ 14 years and ≥ 15 years).Results.(1) Female athletes aged ≤ 14 years demonstrated greater instability of mood compared with males of the same age (<i>p</i> = 0.009). (2) Female athletes aged ≥ 15 years presented less energy and disposition than female athletes aged ≤ 14 years (<i>p</i> = 0.007) and males aged ≥ 15 years (<i>p</i> = 0.001). (3) Both female groups (aged ≤ 14 years and ≥ 15 years) had a higher score than the male group aged ≤ 14 years for lack of perseverance (<i>p</i> = 0.003 and <i>p</i> = 0.034, respectively) and lack of premeditation (<i>p</i> = 0.012 and <i>p</i> = 0.013, respectively).Conclusions.The mood, motivation, and impulsivity of young athletes have varying characteristics in males and females and these variables are modulated by age.

PurposeThere is no consensus in literature data about the influence of biological maturation (BM) on swim performance in young athletes. We analysed the relationship of BM, upper-limb power (ULP), and lower-limb power (LLP) with adolescent athletes’ performance in crawl swim.MethodsThis observational study determined the BM of 16 competitive swimmers (50% males and 50% females; 12.90 ± 0.88 years) by a mathematical model based on bone age and anthropometric measures. ULP and LLP were established by the horizontal launch test and the vertical and countermovement jump tests on a force platform, respectively. Swim performance was evaluated by the average speed in a 100-m crawl sprint.ResultsBM was related to ULP (males: <i>r</i> = 0.76, <i>p</i> = 0.001; females: <i>r</i> = 0.39, <i>p</i> = 0.02), LLP (males: vertical jump <i>r</i> = 0.80, <i>p</i> = 0.02, countermovement jump <i>r</i> = 0.48, <i>p</i> = 0.02; females: vertical jump <i>r</i> = 0.30, <i>p</i> = 0.04, countermovement jump <i>r</i> = 0.80, <i>p</i> = 0.01), and crawl swim performance (males: <i>r</i> = –0.91, <i>p</i> = 0.001; females: <i>r</i> = –0.72, <i>p</i> = 0.04). BM had a 87% contribution to crawl swim performance in males and a 66% contribution in females. ULP and LLP showed < 50% contribution to crawl swim performance in both females and males.ConclusionsBM was associated with crawl swim performance of adolescent athletes of both sexes. BM exhibited a stronger contribution to crawl swim performance than ULP and LLP in adolescent swimmers at the puberty window.

PurposeThe study aim was to analyse 1 × 1 small-sided games (SSGs) with and without floating players, in different pitch sizes.MethodsTen U-12 soccer players were divided into 2 groups. Group 1 (<i>n</i> = 4) performed 1 × 1 SSG and group 2 (<i>n </i>= 6) performed 1 × 1 + 1 SSG. Field sizes of 5 × 10 m (SSG1), 10 × 15 m (SSG2), and 15 × 20 m (SSG3) were used, all with small goals. The studied variables were heart rate (HR), total distance, explosive distance (> 12 km/h), accelerations, decelerations, maximum sprint, player load (PL) intensity and volume. The data were collected through WIMU PROTM and analysed with IBM SPSS Statistics. Descriptive analyses and comparisons between the effects of internal and external PL and SSG were performed with the Mann-Whitney <i>U</i> test.ResultsIncreasing the pitch size in 1 × 1 and 1 × 1 + 1 SSGs led to raised total distance, maximum sprint, and PL. In 1 × 1 and 1 × 1 + 1 SSGs, the time practice was predominantly associated with HR<sub>max</sub> intervals above 90%. Statistically significant differences were observed between 1 × 1 and 1 × 1 + 1 SSGs in explosive distance (SSG2: 46.40 ± 5.07 / 28.99 ± 4.93, <i>p</i> = 0.02, ES(r) = 0.82), PL intensity (SSG2: 2.03 ± 0.11 / 1.78 ± 0.12, p = 0.02, ES(r) = 0.82), HR<sub>max</sub> (SSG1: 189.50 ± 1.91 / 199.50 ± 2.38, <i>p</i> = 0.01, ES(r) = 0.82), and HR<sub>mean</sub> (SSG1: 174.50 ± 3.31 / 181.75 ± 2.21, <i>p</i> = 0.01, ES(r) = 0.82). Floating players’ physical and physiological demands were lower compared with the other athletes.ConclusionsThe pitch size influences the physiological and physical response of young soccer players in SSGs. The demand of 1 × 1 SSG is higher compared with 1 × 1 + 1. Floating player participation could result in a fruitful strategy to adjust the training intensity of specific soccer players.

PurposeIn daily living, hands are the basic organs for manipulative tasks of the human body, and they are specialized for various motor tasks with different physical object contact situations. Insufficient strength during aging constitutes a key component of sarcopenia and is associated with subsequent disability and mortality. The simplest and very valid test for assessing general strength is the handgrip test, and the need for international standards for grip strength seems very essential. The study aimed to set normative data for different handgrip strength dimensions in an international healthy adult community.MethodsThe maximal muscle force and maximal explosive muscle force for dominant and non-dominant hand were examined across 838 subjects from 11 countries. The result values were compared with the internationally published findings for external validation.ResultsThe mean value for both hands maximal strength in an adult male was 997 ± 176 N for the absolute and 11.78 ± 1.95 N/kg for the relative measure; in females, the respective values equalled 550 ± 110 N and 8.49 ± 1.79 N/kg. The mean value for maximal explosive strength in an adult male was 6473 ± 1420 N/s for the absolute and 76.47 ± 16.22 N/s/kg for the relative measure; in adult females, the respective values equalled 3506 ± 915 N/s and 54.13 ± 14.38 N/s/kg.ConclusionsThe normative reference values provided in this study may serve as an international guide for interpreting maximal and explosive handgrip strength measurements obtained from healthy adult individuals of both genders.