Perceptions of parenting practices and psychological variables of elite and sub-elite youth athletes

Drawing from the model of parental involvement in sport, the overall purpose was to examine the associations of perceptions of parenting practices (encouragement, reinforcement, instruction, and role modeling) and athletes’ psychological variables (self-efficacy, social self-efficacy, self-regulation, and intrinsic motivation) of elite and sub-elite youth athletes. Participants were elite (n = 210) and sub-elite (n = 635) athletes aged between 14 and 18 years (Mage = 16.58, SD = 1.33). Structural equation modeling analysis revealed that young elite athletes’ perceptions of sport-related parenting practices are associated with their psychological skills and performance level in sport. Specifically, in comparison with their sub-elite peers, perceptions of parental encouragement had a significantly different strong effect on intrinsic motivation. Moreover, perceptions of parental modeling revealed different effects on performance level, as well as on intrinsic motivation, and self-regulation. These perceptions of parenting practices may promote a positive learning environment, resulting in an increased likelihood of achieving a high level of sport performance in comparison with their sub-elite peers

The heat is on:Investigating the effect of psychological pressure on competitive performance in elite surfing

Competitive sport often creates a high-stake and thus a high-pressure environment for its athletes. In the past, research has pointed to the negative effect that competitive pressure might have on skills and movement executions that have been perfected through prior practice. The Attentional Control Theory: Sport (ACTS) suggests that specifically high situational pressure and prior performance failures may negatively affect an athlete’s subsequent performance. This study aimed to investigate the influence of situational pressure and previous performance errors on performance (i.e., wave score) in elite surfing while considering various contextual factors. A total of 6497 actions, performed by 80 elite surfers (female n = 28; male n = 52), were annotated based on video recordings of the 2019 World Championship Tour (WCT). A multi-level model was used to analyse the effect of pressure, previous errors and other contextual factors on the wave scores of individual surfers (i.e., events were nested within athletes). Partially confirming previous research, prior errors caused a significant decrease in surfing performance on the following ride. However, neither a significant effect of situational pressure on performance nor inter-individual differences in how prior-errors and situational pressure affected performance were found.</p

Neck-cooling improves repeated sprint performance in the heat

The present study evaluated the effect of neck-cooling during exercise on repeated sprint ability in a hot environment. Seven team-sport playing males completed two experimental trials involving repeated sprint exercise (5 × 6 s) before and after two 45 min bouts of a football specific intermittent treadmill protocol in the heat (33.0 ± 0.2°C; 53 ± 2% relative humidity). Participants wore a neck-cooling collar in one of the trials (CC). Mean power output and peak power output declined over time in both trials but were higher in CC (540 ± 99 v 507 ± 122 W, d = 0.32; 719 ± 158 v 680 ± 182 W, d = 0.24 respectively). The improved power output was particularly pronounced (d = 0.51–0.88) after the 2nd 45 min bout but the CC had no effect on % fatigue. The collar lowered neck temperature and the thermal sensation of the neck (P 0.05). There were no trial differences but interaction effects were demonstrated for prolactin concentration and rating of perceived exertion (RPE). Prolactin concentration was initially higher in the collar cold trial and then was lower from 45 min onwards (interaction trial × time P = 0.04). RPE was lower during the football intermittent treadmill protocol in the collar cold trial (interaction trial × time P = 0.01). Neck-cooling during exercise improves repeated sprint performance in a hot environment without altering physiological or neuroendocrinological responses. RPE is reduced and may partially explain the performance improvement

Competition, Gender Equality, and Doping in Sports in the Red Queen Effect Perspective

The nature of sports is characterized by a strong competitive component that generates inequalities among athletes at different levels, specifically in relation to gender, technology, and doping. These inequalities can be represented according to the Red Queen effect perspective, which has been previously hypothesized in other competitive environments (evolutionary biology and economics, for instance). The Red Queen effect considers each competitive environment to require a constant effort to maintain a position of competitive advantage in order reach the best result possible. Therefore, the aim of the current paper is to provide an innovative perspective for the understanding of competition in sports, identifying factors (i.e., physical appearance for gender equality, socioeconomic status of a sport team for technology, and antidoping rules for doping) influencing athletes’ possibilities to win a competition. Concerning gender differences, the disparity between genders reflects a lower coverage in sports news, and media are more likely to focus on female athletes’ physical appearance than their performance in sports. Therefore, women struggle more with increasing their visibility and in affirming their status as an athlete. On the other hand, the introduction of science and technological innovations in sports has generated economic interests in sport competitions, which reached superior performance levels compared to the past. Teams that cannot afford financial burdens of technological innovation risk being left out from sport competitions. Finally, doping creates a Red Queen environment since antidoping rules catch a small portion of athletes using performance enhancement drugs

PENGARUH KOMPETENSI, LINGKUNGAN KERJA, DAN KOMITMEN ORGANISASI TERHADAP KINERJA PEGAWAI DINAS PENDIDIKAN PEMUDA DAN OLAHRAGA KABUPATEN TOJO UNAUNA

The objectives of this research are to know the effects of cempetency, work environment, and organizational commitment, simultaneously and partially on personnel’s performance at Educational, Youth and Sport Office in Tojo Unauna regency. This is survey method research using descriptive and verificative approach. Analysis tool used in this research is multiple linear regression. Population of this research covers all civil servants at Education, Youth and sport office in Tojo Unauna Regency with the number of 63 personnel, however only 58 that have been analyzed. The result show that constribution effect of competency, work environment, and organizational commitment on personnel’s performance is 23.2% (indicated by adjusted R square 0.232). this means that the contribution of three independent variables on personnel’s performance is 23.2% and 76.8% is affected by other factors for instance motivation, work culture and leadership style. Competency, work  environment, and organizational commitment simultaneously perform significant effects on personnel’s performance at education, youth and sport office in Tojo Unauna regency at the significant level of 0.001. partially, independent variables also perform sinificant effects on personnel’s performance where in competency significant at the  level of 0.049, work environment significant at the level of 0.042, and organizational commitment significant at the level of 0.036 respectively

Low-frequency electrical stimulation combined with a cooling vest improves recovery of elite kayakers following a simulated 1000-m race in a hot environment

This study compared the effects of a low-frequency electrical stimulation (LFES; Veinoplus® Sport, Ad Rem Technology, Paris, France), a low-frequency electrical stimulation combined with a cooling vest (LFESCR) and an active recovery combined with a cooling vest (ACTCR) as recovery strategies on performance (racing time and pacing strategies), physiologic and perceptual responses between two sprint kayak simulated races, in a hot environment (∼32 wet-bulb-globe temperature). Eight elite male kayakers performed two successive 1000-m kayak time trials (TT1 and TT2), separated by a short-term recovery period, including a 30-min of the respective recovery intervention protocol, in a randomized crossover design. Racing time, power output, and stroke rate were recorded for each time trial. Blood lactate concentration, pH, core, skin and body temperatures were measured before and after both TT1 and TT2 and at mid- and post-recovery intervention. Perceptual ratings of thermal sensation were also collected. LFESCR was associated with a very likely effect in performance restoration compared with ACTCR (99/0/1%) and LFES conditions (98/0/2%). LFESCR induced a significant decrease in body temperature and thermal sensation at post-recovery intervention, which is not observed in ACTCR condition. In conclusion, the combination of LFES and wearing a cooling vest (LFESCR) improves performance restoration between two 1000-m kayak time trials achieved by elite athletes, in the heat

Sport-Specific Differences in Dynamic Visual Acuity and Gaze Stabilization in Division-I Collegiate Athletes

BACKGROUND: The vestibular-ocular reflex (VOR) integrates the vestibular and ocular systems to maintain gaze during head motion. This reflex is often negatively affected following sport-related concussion. Objective measures of gaze stability, a function mediated by the VOR, such as the computerized dynamic visual acuity test (DVAT) and gaze stabilization test (GST), may have utility in concussion management. However, normative data specific to sport, sex, or concussion history have not been established in collegiate athletes. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to establish normative values for the DVAT and GST in collegiate athletes and explore the effect of sport, sex, and concussion history on VOR assessments. METHODS: The DVAT and GST were completed by 124 collegiate athletes (72 male, 52 female, mean±SD, age: 19.71±1.74 years, height: 173.99±13.97 cm, weight: 80.06±26.52 kg) recruited from Division-I athletic teams (football, soccer and cheerleading). The DVAT and GST were performed in the rightward and leftward directions during a single session in a standardized environment. Normative values for DVAT and GST measures were expressed as percentiles. Non-parametric statistics were used to compare differences between groups based on sex, sport, and concussion history. Alpha was set a-priori at 0.05. RESULTS: Overall, the median LogMAR unit for 124 athletes completing the DVAT was 0 (IQR = 0.17) for both leftward and rightward. The median velocities achieved on the GST were 145 °/sec and 150 °/sec (IQR = 45 and 40) for the leftward and rightward directions respectively. Significant differences were observed between sports (p = 0.001-0.17) for the GST with cheerleading demonstrating higher velocities than the other sports. However, no significant differences were identified based on sex (p≥0.09) or history of concussion (p≥0.15). CONCLUSIONS: Normative estimates for the DVAT and GST may assist in the clinical interpretation of outcomes when used in post-concussion evaluation for collegiate athletes. Although sex and previous concussion history had no effect on the DVAT or GST, performance on these measures may be influenced by type of sport. Sport-related differences in the GST may reflect VOR adaptations based on individual sport-specific demands

Application of Mental Skills Training in Surgery: A Review of Its Effectiveness and Proposed Next Steps

Introduction: Mental skills training, which refers to the teaching of performance enhancement and stress management psychological strategies, may benefit surgeons. Our objective was to review the application of mental skills training in surgery and contrast it to other domains, examine the effectiveness of this approach in enhancing surgical performance and reducing stress, and provide future directions for mental skills training in surgery. Materials and Methods: A systematic literature search of MEDLINE, PubMed, PsycINFO, and ClinicalKey was performed between 1996 and 2016. Keywords included were mental readiness, mental competency, mental skill, mental practice, imagery, mental imagery, mental rehearsal, stress management training, stress coping, mental training, performance enhancement, and surgery. Reviews of mental skills interventions in sport and well-regarded sport psychology textbooks were also reviewed. Primary outcome of interest was the effect of mental skills on surgical performance in the simulated or clinical environment. Results: Of 490 identified abstracts, 28 articles met inclusion criteria and were reviewed. The majority of the literature provides evidence that mental imagery and stress management training programs are effective at enhancing surgical performance and reducing stress. Studies from other disciplines suggest that comprehensive mental skills programs may be more effective than imagery and stress management techniques alone. Conclusions: Given the demonstrated efficacy of mental imagery and stress management training in surgery and the incremental value of comprehensive mental skills curricula used in other domains, a concerted effort should be made to apply comprehensive mental skills curricula during surgical training

Influence of Testing Environment on Balance Error Scoring System Performance

Context: The Balance Error Scoring System (BESS) is a commonly utilized and recommended sideline assessment tool to evaluate post-concussion postural stability. Baseline BESS scores are typically recorded during preseason physical examinations in the athletic training room or nearby laboratory. However, post-concussion assessment typically takes place on the sideline during a sporting event. Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of a sideline environment on BESS performance. Setting: 37 NCAA Division 1 healthy, female student athletes (SA) and 32 healthy, female non-athlete healthy young adult (HYA) controls were assessed on BESS performance in three different environments: a controlled laboratory or baseline (BL), a basketball arena (BKB) and a football field (FB). The SA group performed the experimental trials during a live competition while the HYA group was tested with minimal distractions. Interventions: The BESS was administered using an Airex Pad and videotaped from the frontal and sagittal planes. Main Outcome Measures: Two 2 x 3 ANOVAs with repeated measures, one 2 x 6 ANOVA with repeated measures, and a frequency distribution were used to analyze the results. Results: A significant main effect was found for the two groups (p = .001) with the SA group scoring higher than the HYA group. Significance within the SA group was found between BL and FB (p = .047) environments and FB and BKB (p = .005) environments. Significance within the HYA group was noted between BL and BKB trials (p = .025). Significance was found between groups for the single leg firm (p = .032), single leg foam (p \u3c .001), and tandem foam stances ( p \u3c .001) with the SA group scoring significantly higher. Conclusions: A previous study reported no differences in total BESS score between a controlled environment and a baseball dugout, however our results suggest that a more distracting environment may impair BESS performance in female intercollegiate athletes. While this study is limited by testing athletes outside of their sport environment, the results of this study suggest that clinicians should consider the ambient environment when performing BESS during a postconcussion assessment