Community sport coaching and youth work: relatability and effective practice in the context of austerity

The recent UK policy of austerity has resulted in significant funding reductions for a wide range of leisure services. Indeed, specific preventative services that operate within the context of participants’ leisure activities, such as community sport coaching and youth work that focus on positively intervening and preventing anti-social behaviour, have continued to decline, thus resulting in a range of negative consequences for disadvantaged young people. Given that both fields share a history and objectives by using leisure and recreational activities to support behavioural change, this paper explores the potential for shared good practices, methods, and possible guidelines/recommendations for practitioners through examining parallels in applied practice between community sport coaching and youth work. Using a qualitative method, data was collected via semi-structured interviews with 10 community sport coaches and youth workers. The findings suggest that both fields share significant similarities in approach and practice, and that meaningful approaches to facilitating engagement with service users can be made through actively promoting empathy and “relatability”, including sharing experiences, jointly constructing interactions, and regularly monitoring and supporting young service users

Individual responses to encapsulated caffeine and caffeine chewing gum on strength and power in strength-trained males

Background: Liquid-dissolved and encapsulated powder are two popular ways to consume caffeine for performance-enhancing effects. Caffeine in other delivery methods, such as chewing gums, orally dissolvable strips, gels, mouthwashes, energy drinks, and nasal sprays, is believed to be absorbed more quickly into the bloodstream. Inter-individual responses to caffeine's enhancing effects are recognized. The present study examined the inter-individual responses to the acute effects of encapsulated caffeine and caffeinated chewing gum on the lower-body isokinetic and isometric strength and power in strength-trained males. Method: A randomized, cross-over, placebo-controlled study was conducted with fifteen strength-trained males (age: 25±4 years, height: 176±7 cm, weight: 75±11 kg, habitual caffeine intake: 66±15 mg·day⁻¹). Participants were randomly assigned to three conditions: i) caffeinated chewing gum (CG), ii) caffeine capsule (CC), and iii) starch capsule as a placebo (PLA). Participants consumed approximately 3 to 4.5 mg·kg⁻¹ of caffeine 60 minutes before testing. The washout period between conditions was one week. Participants performed the Sargent jump test, followed by a 5-minute active recovery (walking). Subsequently, isokinetic strength and power (60°/s and 180°/s) and isometric strength (45° and 60°) parameters were measured for knee extensor and flexor muscles. Data were analyzed using one-way repeated measures ANOVA and Bonferroni post hoc tests, with significance set at P ≤ 0.05. Responders to the caffeine conditions were identified using the smallest worthwhile change (SWC) analysis. Results: In knee extensors, 1) average peak torque and power at 60°/s were higher in CC (P=0.045; +11.22% and P=0.038; +14.15%) and CG (P=0.044; +7.32% and P=0.015; +11.42%) compared to PLA with a co-response rate of 60% and 66%, 2) maximum voluntary isometric contraction at 45° (MVIC-45°) was higher in CC compared to PLA (P=0.031; +10.15% ), and 3) MVIC-60° was higher in CG compared to PLA (P=0.037; +10.15%) with a co-response rate of 60%. In knee flexors, 1) time to peak torque at 60°/s was higher in CG compared to PLA (P=0.011; +18.28%) with a co-response rate of 46%, 2) average rate of force development at 60°/s was higher in CC (P=0.007; +24.14%) and CG (P=0.050; +20.69%) compared to PLA with a co-response rate of 53%, and 3) average power at 180°/s was higher in CC compared to PLA (P=0.033; +18.08%) with a co-response rate of 46%. However, there were no differences between other strength indicators in the knee extensors and flexors between the different conditions. Vertical jump height (VJH) was higher in CC (P=0.001; +5.58%) and CG (P=0.001; +6.09%) compared to PLA, with a co-response rate of 53%. Conclusion: Caffeine supplementation in CC and CG forms significantly enhanced lower-body strength, power, and vertical jump height in strength-trained males, with over ~ 50% of participants exceeding the SWC thresholds across key performance metrics. CC showed slightly higher responder rates for strength parameters, while CG excelled in time-dependent measures, supporting their use as effective and flexible ergogenic aids

Effects of root extract of Ashwagandha ( Withania somnifera ) on perception of recovery and muscle strength in female athletes

Ashwagandha is a supplement with the potential to improve exercise performance. However, research on its impact on female athletes remains limited. This study investigates the effects of ashwagandha on exercise recovery and muscle strength in professional female athletes, addressing a gap in understanding its role in this underrepresented population. Female footballers were randomly assigned to a 600 mg/day ashwagandha root extract group (ASH, n = 15; age: 26.0 ± 4.9 years, height: 1.66 ± 0.1 m, body mass: 61.5 ± 7.5 kg, and career: 15.2 ± 7.4 years) or a placebo group (PLA, n = 15; age: 23.5 ± 5.5 years, height: 1.66 ± 0.1 m, body mass: 61.5 ± 6.0 kg, and career: 13.1 ± 4.9 years). Recovery was assessed with total quality recovery (TQR), Hooper Index (HI) and rate of perceived exertion (RPE). Strength was assessed by hand grip, medicine ball throw (MBT), countermovement jump (CMJ) and peak power. Dietary intake was recorded prior to baseline measurements. Repeated measures ANOVA, Bonferroni test, independent t‐tests and ANCOVA were used in the analysis. A significant group × time interaction effect was found for TQR (p = 0.026), with the post‐hoc analysis revealing a significant difference between ASH and PLA at 28 days (p = 0.039). Perceived sleep quality from HI improved significantly in ASH compared to PLA (p = 0.038), with a significant change at 14 days. The ANCOVA analysis highlighted the significant influence of carbohydrate intake on hand grip strength (p = 0.005), MBT (p < 0.001) and body mass (p < 0.001). A dosage of 600 mg of ashwagandha root extract for 28 days may improve TQR and enhance perceived sleep quality in female footballers. Future research should investigate the optimal dosage and test across a broader range of athletic populations. Trials Registration: The trial is registered on ClinicalTrials.gov with the ID NCT0626498

Testing the validity of 360-video for analysing visual exploratory activity in soccer

Extended reality (XR) technologies present new opportunities to measure sports performance in 34 immersive, representative environments. This study aimed to i) assess the construct and face validity 35 of a 360-video simulation for capturing visual exploratory activity (VEA) in women’s soccer and ii) 36 understand players’ perceptions of acceptability and tolerability of the simulation. Eleven sub-elite 37 women’s soccer players and eleven novices viewed 40 soccer videos in a head-mounted display. 38 Footage was recorded using a stationary GoPro 360 Max camera at eye height in six pitch locations. 39 Participants verbalised and acted out an action response. VEA was measured by the number of ‘scans’ 40 away from the ball before it reached the 360-video camera. Participants answered open-ended 41 questions on acceptability, physical fidelity, and tolerability. Mann-Whitney U tests compared scan 42 frequency and actions per trial between the two groups. Results supported construct and face validity, 43 with good acceptability, tolerability, and physical fidelity. Soccer players (Mdn = 0.31 scans/s) had 44 significantly higher scan frequencies than novices (Mdn = 0.06 scans/s, p < 0.001) and generated 45 significantly more detailed responses per trial (p < 0.001). 360-video offers a valid, acceptable method 46 for capturing VEA. Future work should assess its efficacy for skill development

Invisible on campus: exploring predictors of perceived student ostracism

Ostracism is known to result in a range of negative psychological consequences for those who perceive they have been socially excluded. Given the importance of social inclusion and belonging to academic and psychosocial success and good mental health at university, the present study aimed to examine the strongest predictor of perceived university student ostracism from theoretically relevant variables (rejection sensitivity, attachment orientation, social anxiety, and self-esteem) across the literature on social exclusion. A cross-sectional correlation design was employed with university students (N =127). Contrary to expectations, in a multiple linear regression it was found that the only significant predictor of perceived student ostracism was attachment avoidance. The findings underscore the importance of further investigating the psychological precursors of perceived ostracism in students, particularly given that seemingly theoretically important individual difference variables such as rejection sensitivity and social anxiety did not predict perceived student ostracism in our sample. We suggest it is crucial that higher education institutions continue to foster socially inclusive academic environments, particularly for students with avoidant attachment styles

Investigating success in the transition to university: A systematic review of personal risk and protective factors influencing psychosocial success

Navigating the transition to university is a challenge for many students with numerous negative consequences if not successful. The current literature body is disparate and contains numerous methodological and analytical inconsistencies that makes it difficult to identify the most salient and effective factors that help predict transition success for students. The present study provides a systematic review of quantitative research linking personal level risk and protective factors to psychosocial success outcomes in the transition to university. Previous work has investigated factors influencing more traditional success metrics (e.g., academic achievement, completion, etc.) but the factors influencing, arguably more holistic, psychosocial success metrics (e.g., wellbeing) should also be understood. This is part of a larger review, following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) and Synthesis Without Meta-analysis (SWiM) guidelines, preregistered on the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO, CRD42022330515), searching PsycInfo, Web of Science, and ERIC databases. Records were included if they studied ‘traditional’ first year students transitioning to university and were longitudinal in design and excluded if they looked at specific subgroups of students (e.g., international students). The search yielded 32 articles that were eligible, highlighting 96 purportedly different salient factors which are consolidated to 16 salient elements grouped around five higher order domains. The findings are discussed with a consolidation mindset that to aims to move the research forward towards an evidence-based feasible and pragmatic intervention to enhance the probability of successful student transition to university

The effects of acute exercise on memory: considerations for exercise duration and participant body mass index

Acute moderate-intensity exercise has been demonstrated to improve memory performance. It is less clear, however, whether the duration of acute exercise and body mass index (BMI) may moderate this effect. Thus, the purpose of this experiment was to evaluate the effects of differing exercise durations (20- and 40-minutes) on immediate and long-term memory performance, while considering BMI as a moderating factor in this exercise duration and memory performance relationship. Twenty-three young healthy adults participated in a within-subjects experiment. Participants completed four different experimental visits including either exercising at a moderate intensity (or standing on a treadmill) for 20- or 40-minutes, followed by an immediate free-recall memory assessment and then a delayed 24-hr recall. Acute moderate-intensity exercise improved memory performance, regardless of the duration of exercise. Further, long-term memory performance was greater for individuals with a higher BMI when they engaged in shorter (20 min) exercise compared to longer (40 min) exercise

Soldier performance management: insights from boots on ground research and recommendations for practitioners

Theoretically, the serial measurement of biomarkers to monitor physiological responses to military training could be used to mitigate musculoskeletal injury risk and better understand the recovery status of personnel. To date, the cost and scalability of these initiatives have impeded their uptake by defence organisations. However, advances in technology are increasing the accessibility of a range of health and performance biomarkers. This paper presents a synthesises of findings from the literature and discussions with informed stakeholders to provide contextually relevant advice for future efforts to monitor military personnel, together with key considerations to ensure actionable outcomes from the data captured. The aim of this review is, therefore, twofold; first, to demonstrate how wearable devices and biomarkers have been used in defence research to assess the context-specific, occupational demands placed on personnel; and second, to discuss their potential to monitor military workloads, optimise training programming and understand soldier adaptation to multi-stressor environments

Anthocyanin-rich New Zealand blackcurrant extract reduces treadmill running-induced gastrointestinal symptoms in the heat: pilot observations

We examined the effect of anthocyanin-rich New Zealand black-currant (NZBC) extract on running-induced gastrointestinal symp-toms in the heat. Recreationally active men (n = 12, age: 28 ± 6 yr,BMI: 24.5 ± 1.8 kg·m−2, _VO2max: 56 ± 6 mL·kg−1·min−1) volunteered.Participants dosed with 7 days of NZBC extract (CurraNZ®) (210 mganthocyanins) or placebo. Exercise consisted of treadmill runningfor one hr at 65% _VO2max (34.1 ± 0.1°C, 40.8 ± 0.2% relative humidity)with the recording of gastrointestinal symptoms during and at60 min following recovery in normal conditions. With placebo, 11participants (92%) reported gastrointestinal symptoms (e.g. belch-ing, stitch), and this was reduced to four participants (25%) withNZBC extract. Using a modified visual analog scale, the accumu-lated score of gastrointestinal symptoms was lower with 7-dayintake of NZBC extract (placebo: 112, NZBC extract: 54, p = 0.04).The prevalence of upper, lower and other gastrointestinal symp-toms was reduced (upper, placebo: 75%, NZBC extract: 25%; lower:placebo: 25%, NZBC extract: 17%; other, placebo: 50%, NZBCextract: 25%). With placebo, only two participants reported severesymptoms (one participant for dizziness and nausea with thatparticipant still reporting those in the NZBC extract condition).Seven-day intake of New Zealand blackcurrant extract reducedthe incidence of gastrointestinal symptoms during 1-h of runningin hot environmental conditions. Future research should examinethe efficacy of NZBC extract on exercise-associated gastrointestinalsymptoms in conditions in which gastrointestinal symptoms can be expected to be severe

Intra-individual variability in sagittal plane kinematics during indoor cycling time trial

Intra-individual movement variability has historically been discounted as evidence of poor motor control. However, evidence now suggests that it may play a functional role in skill performance and so this study aimed to establish whether this is the case during a simulated indoor cycling time trial. Ten trained cyclists (Age = 31.90 ± 10.30 years, Height = 1.80 ± 0.10 years, Mass = 72.10 ± 9.40 kg) participated in a 10-mile (16 km) time trial while sagittal plane kinematics were captured using 3D motion capture technology. The results showed significant differences (p < 0.05) between knee–ankle and hip–knee coordination variability across pedal phases, with the knee–ankle coupling exhibiting more variability. Notably, faster cyclists demonstrated lower variability, particularly in the knee–ankle coupling, compared to slower cyclists. While no consistent relationship was found between movement variability and time trial performance across all participants, the results suggest that there may be a link between the level of intra-individual movement variability displayed by a cyclist and the time in which they were able to complete a 10-mile simulated time trial task in laboratory condition