Development and validation of a measurement tool for assessing municipal sports services in Buenos Aires Province, Argentina

Drawing upon a literature review concerning the diagnosis, description, and evaluation of local sports, we formulated and validated a precise measurement instrument intended for characterizing the municipal sports services in the province of Buenos Aires (PBA), Argentina. The objective of the present study was to design and validate a measurement instrument for the characterisation of the municipal sports services of the PBA. We conducted a content validation process in two phases. In the first phase, the initial preliminary version of the instrument was reviewed and assessed by a panel of five experts, with a follow-up and adaptation by the research team. Afterwards, the final measurement instrument was evaluated by an expanded panel of 12 experts, showing high validity indexes (Aiken's V = 0.93) with figures greater than 0.9 in the lower extreme confidence intervals. In the second phase, to assess the reliability of the measurement instrument, a pilot study was carried out with 10 municipal sports offices from the PBA. Correlation coefficients of the test and retest responses greater than 0.9 were obtained, reflecting a high level of stability in the answers of the officials. The validated tool is a useful and reliable resource for managers of municipal sports services to operate with updated technical knowledge in decision-making. The instrument could be useful for the provincial authorities of the area, as it would allow to have a georeferenced characterisation of the sports supply and guide the local governments in the decision about sports interventions and the monitoring of the public sports service

Influence of nutrient intake on antioxidant capacity, muscle damage and white blood cell count in female soccer players

11 p.Background: Soccer is a form of exercise that induces inflammatory response, as well as an increase in free radicals potentially leading to muscle injury. Balanced nutritional intake provides important antioxidant vitamins, including vitamins A, C and E, which may assist in preventing exercise-related muscle damage. The purpose of the present study was to determine the effect of macro/micronutrient intake on markers of oxidative stress, muscle damage, inflammatory and immune response in female soccer players.-- Methods: Twenty-eight female players belonging to two soccer teams of the same professional soccer club participated in this study after being informed about the aims and procedures and after delivering written consent. Each team completed an 8-day dietary record and played one competition match the same week. Participants were divided into two groups: the REC group (who complied with recommended intakes) and the NO-REC group (who were not compliant). Laboratory blood tests were carried out to determine hematological, electrolytic and hormonal variables, as well as to monitor markers of cell damage and oxidative stress. Blood samples were obtained 24 h before, immediately after and 18 h after official soccer matches. Student t-test or Mann–Whitney U-test was used to compare both groups throughout the match.-- Results: At rest, we observed that the REC group had higher levels of total antioxidant status (TAS), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and lower levels of creatine kinase (CK) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) in comparison to the NO-REC group. Immediately after the match, levels of TAS, GPx, superoxide dismutase (SOD), LDH and % lymphocytes were higher and the % of neutrophils were lower in the REC group compared to the NO-REC group. These differences were also maintained 18 h post-match, only for TAS and GPx.-- Conclusions: Our data reveal an association between nutritional intake and muscle damage, oxidative stress, immunity and inflammation markers. The benefit of the intake of specific nutrients may contribute to preventing the undesirable physiological effects provoked by soccer matches.This study was partially supported by the University of The Basque Country (UPV/EHU), research project EHU09/44

Sprint, agility, strength and endurance capacity in wheelchair basketball players

The aims of the present study were, firstly, to determine the reliability and reproducibility of an agility T-test and Yo-Yo 10 m recovery test; and secondly, to analyse the physical characteristics measured by sprint, agility, strength and endurance field tests in wheelchair basketball (WB) players. 16 WB players (33.06 ± 7.36 years, 71.89 ± 21.71 kg and sitting body height 86.07 ± 6.82 cm) belonging to the national WB league participated in this study. Wheelchair sprint (5 and 20 m without ball, and 5 and 20 m with ball) agility (T-test and pick-up test) strength (handgrip and maximal pass) and endurance (Yo-Yo 10 m recovery test) were performed. T-test and Yo-Yo 10 m recovery test showed good reproducibility values (intraclass correlation coefficient, ICC = 0.74-0.94). The WB players’ results in 5 and 20 m sprints without a ball were 1.87 ± 0.21 s and 5.70 ± 0.43 s and with a ball 2.10 ± 0.30 s and 6.59 ± 0.61 s, being better than those reported in the literature. Regarding the pick-up test results (16.05 ± 0.52 s) and maximal pass (8.39 ± 1.77 m), players showed worse values than those obtained in elite players. The main contribution of the present study is the characterization of the physical performance profile of WB players using a field test battery. Furthermore, we demonstrated that the agility T-test and the aerobic Yo-Yo 10 m recovery test are reliable; consequently they may be appropriate instruments for measuring physical fitness in WB

Efecto relativo de la edad en futbol: estudio en un club Vasco profesional

The presence of RAE has been widely reported and studied in soccer revealing skewed birth-date distributions favoring individuals born early in the selection year. Indeed, it has been documented that RAE is more relevant in high level teams. With this in mind, the present study examined the prevalence of the Relative Age Effect (RAE) in different age groups of a professional soccer club and in the selection processes of the same club. Considering the entire club, distribution differs significantly from the theoretical distribution expected (p<.05). Regarding different categories, there were significant differences between the observed and expected births in both alevin categories (male, x2 = 8.14, p<.05; female, x2 = 11.5, p<.01). Moreover, in womens alevin age group none of the players was born between September and December of the selection year. Nevertheless, they were not significant differences between the expected and observed results in higher categories but a comparatively biased distribution was observed. Overall, we found an over-representation of players born at the beginning of the year confirming the presence of the RAE in the club. When analyzing the effect of RAE in the talent identification process we observed that it begins before the players enter the club. Comparing the distributions of the not-selected players against the selected players significant differences were found in each of the selection phases (x2 = 18.10-7.80, p<.05). Thus, results revealed that the relative age effect acts in the early identification process of the playersEl efecto relativo de la edad (RAE) ha sido ampliamente estudiado en futbol revelando una distribución de nacimientos sesgada que favorece a los jugadores nacidos en los primeros meses del año. También, se ha observado que el efecto es más relevante en los equipos de alto nivel. Con esto en mente, este estudio analiza el predominio del efecto relativo de la edad en diferentes equipos de un club de futbol profesional así como en los procesos de selección de este. Considerando todo el equipo, la distribución difiere significantemente de la distribución teórica esperada (p<.05). Se encontraron diferencias significativas entre los nacimientos observados y los esperados en las categorías alevines (masculino, x2 = 8.14, p<.05; femenino, x2 = 11.5, p<.01). Además, en la categoría femenina no hubo ninguna jugadora nacida entre septiembre y diciembre del año de selección. Sin embargo, no se encontraron diferencias significativas entre los resultados esperados y observados en categorías superiores a pesar de observarse una distribución sesgada. En conjunto, hubo una sobrerrepresentación de jugadores nacidos en los primeros meses del año en todo el equipo confirmando la presencia del RAE en el club. Por otra parte, al analizar el efecto en los procesos de selección confirmamos que este comenzaba antes de que los jugadores ingresasen en el club. Se observaron diferencias significativas en todas las fases de selección entre los jugadores seleccionados y no seleccionados (x2 = 18.10-7.80, p<.05). En consecuencia, podemos decir que el RAE comienza en la identificación temprana de los jugadore

Applicability of an agility test in young players in the soccer field

INTRODUCTION: in soccer, agility is a relevant parameter that is defined as the ability to change the direction of the body rapidly and is a result of a combination of strength, speed, balance and coordination. OBJECTIVE: to demonstrated the reliability and validity of the modified Barrow test in soccer players aged 10 to 14 years, analyze its relationship with age, maturation, experience and body size and test the effectiveness of the protocol for distinguishing performance changes during a 10-month competitive season. METHODS: fifty-one adolescent Basque soccer players were enrolled. Age, maturation, experience, body size, vertical jump and 15-m sprint were measured. The reliability of the test was analyzed using replicate tests in a subgroup n = 34. Another subgroup of 33 players n =18, under-11, 10.4 ± 0.3 years; n = 15 under-13, 12.0 ± 0.8 years was evaluated at the beginning and the end of the season. RESULTS: the reliability of the test was good change in mean = -0.5%, 95% CI -1.2 to 0.2, SD=0.14; coefficient of variation = 0.9%, 95% CI - 0.7 to 1.5, SD=0.25. Chronological age and adiposity were significant predictors of agility performance P<0.01. An improvement in performance was observed over a 10-month soccer season, with a significant group effect P<0.01. CONCLUSION: the agility test demonstrated logic and validity, and proved to be a reliable and objective instrument for assessing adolescent soccer players