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The Winter 1965 issue of Reading Research Quarterly published by the International Reading Association? It is devoted to a summary of investigations relating to reading compiled by Helen M. Robinson, Samuel Weintraub, and Helen K. Smith of the University of Chicago. In this review, the research is classified under six major topics: 1) Summaries of Specific Aspects of Reading Research; 2) Teacher Preparation and Practice; 3) The Sociology of Reading; 4) The Physiology and Psychology of Reading; 5) The Teaching of Reading; and 6) The Reading of Atypical Learners

Playing non-professional football in COVID-19 time: a narrative review of recommendations, considerations, and best practices

The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic in 2020 resulted in widespread interruption of team sports training and competitions. Our aim was to review the recommendations and best practices in return to play in non-professional football after activity lockdown. The authors searched two electronic databases (PubMed, Web of Science) to extract studies published before September 15 2020. Twenty studies explained recommendations, considerations, or best practices in return to play in football, and all of them were clustered into three groups: (1) training load management (n = 10), (2) medical recommendations (n = 9), and (3) recovery related issues (n = 5). The way to establish a progression in training process should be based on training load management and managing the number of stimuli per time. Following the studies, this training process should be divided into three phases: phase 1-physical distancing should be maintained; phases 2 and 3-group training should start. Medical considerations were clustered into different groups: general, pre- and post- training, during training, education, planning to return to competition, and suggestions for post confinement weeks. In particular, social issues, strict hygiene questions, and continuous PCR testing should be considered in return to play over football season. Finally, since a correlation has been found between high-intensive training loads and immunoglobulin A, nutritional and lifestyle recovery strategies should be performed. Moreover, since immunosuppression has been related to congested schedules (<72 h between matches), football federations should avoid this situation

Anthropometric and functional profile of selected vs. non-selected 13-to-17-year-old soccer players

The purpose of this study was to compare anthropometric and functional profiles of 13-to-17-year-old soccer players according to their competitive level. Height, body mass, percentage of body fat, countermovement jump height, change of direction ability, 5- and 15-m sprint times, repeated sprint ability (RSA), intermittent recovery performance, and dribbling skills were collected in 115 young Italian soccer players. Players were divided into selected (i.e., competing at national level, n = 17 U15 and 47 U17) and non-selected (i.e., competing at regional level, n = 43 U15 and 8 U17) groups. U17 selected players were taller, quicker over 5 and 15 m, more agile, and had better RSA, prolonged intermittent recovery ability, and dribbling skills than their non-selected counterparts (d = 0.28-0.55, p < 0.05). In particular, selected players showed lower times on the first three and the last shuttle of the RSA test (d = 0.28-0.34, p < 0.05). No significant differences were observed in U15 players (p > 0.05). Discriminant analysis revealed that dribbling skills, 15-m sprint time, and height best discriminate U17 players by competitive level (p < 0.001). Anthropometric characteristics and functional abilities can discriminate across competitive standards between male U17 but not U15 soccer players. In particular, these findings suggest the importance of dribbling skills, 15-m sprint, and height in U17 players

Effects of adding small combat games to regular Taekwondo training on physiological and performance outcomes in male young athletes

This study investigated the effect of area sizes (4 * 4, 6 * 6, and 8 * 8 m) and effort-pause ratios (free combat vs. 1:2) variation on the physiological and perceptive responses during taekwondo combats (Study 1). In a second study, the effects on physical performance of 8 weeks of small combat-based training added to regular taekwondo training were investigated (Study 2). In random order, 32 male taekwondo athletes performed six (i.e., two effort-to-pause ratios * three area sizes conditions) different 2-min taekwondo combats (Study 1). Thereafter (Study 2), they were randomly assigned to three experimental groups (4 * 4, 6 * 6, and 8 * 8 m) and an active control group (CG). Regarding Study 1, blood lactate concentration [La] before and after each combat, mean heart rate (HRmean) during each combat, and rating of perceived exertion (CR-10) immediately after each combat were assessed. Regarding Study 2, progressive specific taekwondo (PSTT) to estimate maximum oxygen consumption (VO2max), taekwondo-specific agility, and countermovement jump (CMJ) tests were administered before and after 8 weeks of training. Study 1 results showed that 4 * 4 m elicited lower HRmean values compared with 6 * 6 m (d = -0.42 [small], p = 0.030) and free combat induced higher values compared with the 1:2 ratio (d = 1.71 [large], p < 0.001). For [La]post, 4 * 4 m area size induced higher values than 6 * 6 m (d = 0.99 [moderate], p < 0.001) and 8 * 8 m (d = 0.89 [moderate], p < 0.001) and free combat induced higher values than 1:2 ratio (d = 0.69 [moderate], p < 0.001). Higher CR-10 scores were registered after free combat compared with 1:2 ratio (d = 0.44 [small], p = 0.007). For Study 2, VO2max increased after training [F (1, 56) =30.532, p < 0.001; post-hoc: d = 1.27 [large], p < 0.001] with higher values for 4 * 4 m compared with CG (d = 1.15 [moderate], p = 0.009). Agility performance improved after training [F (1, 56) = 4.419, p = 0.04; post-hoc: d = -0.46 [small], p = 0.04] and 4 * 4 m induced lower values in comparison with 6 * 6 m (d = -1.56 [large], p = 0.001) and CG (d = -0.77 [moderate], p = 0.049). No training type influenced CMJ performance. Smaller area size elicited contrasting results in terms of metabolic demand compared with larger sizes (i.e., lower HRmean but higher [La] and CR-10), whereas free combat induced variables' consistently higher values compared with imposed 1:2 ratio (Study 1). Taekwondo training is effective to improve VO2max and agility (Study 2), but small combat training modality should be investigated further

Technical-tactical analysis of small combat games in male kickboxers: effects of varied number of opponents and area size

Background: To handle the competition demands, sparring drills are used for specific technical-tactical training as well as physical-physiological conditioning in combat sports. While the effects of different area sizes and number of within-round sparring partners on physiological and perceptive responses in combats sports were examined in previous studies, technical and tactical aspects were not investigated. This study investigated the effect of different within-round sparring partners number (i.e., at a time; 1 vs. 1, 1 vs. 2, and 1 vs. 4) and area sizes (2 m\u2009 7\u20092 m, 4 m\u2009 7\u20094 m, and 6 m\u2009 7\u20096 m) variation on the technical-tactical aspects of small combat games in kickboxing. Method: Twenty male kickboxers (mean\u2009\ub1\u2009standard deviation, age: 20.3\u2009\ub1\u20090.9 years), regularly competing in regional and national events randomly performed nine different kickboxing combats, lasting 2 min each. All combats were video recorded and analyzed using the software Dartfish. Results: Results showed that the total number of punches was significantly higher in 1 versus 4 compared with 1 versus 1 (p\u2009=\u20090.011, d\u2009=\u20090.83). Further, the total number of kicks was significantly higher in 1 versus 4 compared with 1 versus 1 and 1 versus 2 (p\u2009<\u20090.001; d\u2009=\u20090.99 and d\u2009=\u20090.83, respectively). Moreover, the total number of kick combinations was significantly higher in 1 versus 4 compared with 1 versus 1 and 1 versus 2 (p\u2009<\u20090.001; d\u2009=\u20091.05 and d\u2009=\u20090.95, respectively). The same outcome was significantly lower in 2 m\u2009 7\u20092 m compared with 4 m\u2009 7\u20094 m and 6 m\u2009 7\u20096 m areas (p\u2009=\u20090.010 and d\u2009=\u2009-\u20090.45; p\u2009<\u20090.001 and d\u2009=\u2009-\u20090.6, respectively). The number of block-and-parry was significantly higher in 1 versus 4 compared with 1 versus 1 (p\u2009<\u20090.001, d\u2009=\u20091.45) and 1 versus 2 (p\u2009=\u20090.046, d\u2009=\u20090.61) and in 2 m\u2009 7\u20092 m compared with 4 m\u2009 7\u20094 m and 6\u2009 7\u20096 m areas (p\u2009<\u20090.001; d\u2009=\u20090.47 and d\u2009=\u20090.66, respectively). Backwards lean actions occurred more often in 2 m\u2009 7\u20092 m compared with 4 m\u2009 7\u20094 m (p\u2009=\u20090.009, d\u2009=\u20090.53) and 6 m\u2009 7\u20096 m (p\u2009=\u20090.003, d\u2009=\u20090.60). However, the number of foot defenses was significantly lower in 2 m\u2009 7\u20092 m compared with 6 m\u2009 7\u20096 m (p\u2009<\u20090.001, d\u2009=\u20091.04) and 4 m\u2009 7\u20094 m (p\u2009=\u20090.004, d\u2009=\u20090.63). Additionally, the number of clinches was significantly higher in 1 versus 1 compared with 1 versus 2 (p\u2009=\u20090.002, d\u2009=\u20090.7) and 1 versus 4 (p\u2009=\u20090.034, d\u2009=\u20090.45). Conclusions: This study provides practical insights into how to manipulate within-round sparring partners' number and/or area size to train specific kickboxing technical-tactical fundamentals. Trial registration: This study does not report results related to health care interventions using human participants and therefore it was not prospectively registered

Relationship between Perceived Training Load, Well-Being Indices, Recovery State and Physical Enjoyment during Judo-Specific Training

This study investigated the relationship between well-being indices and the session rating of perceived exertion (session-RPE), recovery (TQR), and physical enjoyment (PE) during intensified, tapering phases of judo training. Sixty-one judo athletes (37 males, ranges 14-17 years, 159-172 cm, 51-67 kg) were randomly assigned to three experimental (i.e., randori, uchi-komi, running) and control groups (regular training). Experimental groups trained four times per week for 4 weeks of intensified training followed by 12 days of tapering. Session-RPE, well-being indices (i.e., sleep, stress, fatigue, delayed onset of muscle soreness (DOMS), Hooper index (HI)), and TQR were measured every session, whereas PE was recorded after intensified, tapering periods. Recovery (TQR) was negatively correlated with sleep, stress, fatigue, DOMS, HI, session-RPE in intensified period and was negatively correlated with sleep, stress, fatigue, DOMS, HI in tapering. Session-RPE was positively correlated with sleep, fatigue, DOMS, HI in intensified period and positively correlated with fatigue, DOMS in tapering. PE was negatively correlated with stress in intensified training. Enjoyment could be partially predicted by sleep only in intensified periods. Session-RPE could be partially predicted by TQR, fatigue during intensified periods and by sleep, and HI during tapering. Sleep, recovery state, pre-fatigue states, and HI are signals contributing to the enjoyment and internal intensity variability during training. Coaches can use these simple tools to monitor judo training

Weekly Variations in the Workload of Turkish National Youth Wrestlers: A Season of Complete Preparation

The authors would like to thank the participants for the time they devoted to this study. Rui Silva: This study made part of one curricular unit of Master in Sports Training at Escola Superior de Desporto e Lazer, Instituto Politécnico de Viana do Castelo, Portugal.The aim of this study was twofold: (1) to describe the weekly acute workload (wAW), chronic workload (wCW), acute/chronic workload ratio (wACWR), training monotony (wTM), and strain (wTS) across the preparation season (PS), and (2) to analyze the variations of wAW, wCW, wACWR, wTM, and training strain (wTS) between periods of PS (early-, mid-, and end). Ten elite young wrestlers were monitored daily during the 32 weeks of the season. Internal loads were monitored using session rating of perceived exertion, and weekly workload measures of wACWR, wTM, and wTS were also calculated. Results revealed that the greatest differences were found between early- and mid-PS for wAW (p = 0.004, g = 0.34), wCW (p = 0.002, g = 0.90), wTM (p = 0.005, g = 0.39), and wTS (p = 0.009, g = -1.1), respectively. The wACWR showed significant differences between early- and end-PS (p <= 0.001, g = -0.30). We concluded that wAW, wCW, and wTM are slightly lower during the first weeks of the PS. The wTM remained relatively high during the entire season, while wAW and wCW remained balanced throughout the PS. The greatest workload changes seem to happen from the early to mid-PS season

Development and factorial validity of the Psychological Skills Inventory for Sports, Youth Version - Short Form: Assessment of the psychometric properties

Researchers in sport often try to investigate relations between athletes' psychological skills and their sports results to predict top athletic achievements or unexpectedly poor performances. The Psychology Skills Inventory for Sports (Youth version), PSIS-Y, was developed to measure psychological characteristics of young athletes-differentiating well more talented and less talented young athletes. Nevertheless, previous studies revealed its inadequate, factorial validity. Thus, the aim of this study was to develop and investigate the psychometric proprieties of a brief version of the PSIS-Y (PSIS-Y-SF) in a sample of young Croatian athletes. Participants (n = 304; 188 females and 116 male) were recruited in clubs/teams all over Croatia and all of them competed in the Croatian Championship in youth (n = 157) and junior category (n = 147). The PSIS-Y-SF was derived by ten expert psychologists with five of them who had past experiences of agonistic sport practice. Psychometric analysis included Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA), internal consistency analysis (Raykov's Maximal Reliability), and correlation between subscales. Moreover, Multivariate Analyses of Variance (MANOVA) was run to test statistical differences between the players' categories (male youth vs. male junior vs. female youth vs. female junior) in all of the subscales. Results of the CFA suggested the adequateness of the supposed six first-order factor solution for the PSIS-Y-SF. The Maximal Reliability statistics suggest a good internal consistency for all of the subscales and the MANOVA suggested differences between the player's categories. The PSIS-Y-SF resulted to be a valid and reliable tool for the assessment of sports psychological skills. Findings from the psychometric evaluation of PSIS-Y-SF suggest that this is a useful tool, which may further assist in the measurement and conceptualization of sport psychological skills

Intra- and Inter-week Variations of Well-Being Across a Season: A Cohort Study in Elite Youth Male Soccer Players

This study describes the weekly variations of well-being ratings relative to fatigue (wFatigue), stress (wStress), delayed-onset muscle soreness (wDOMS), sleep quality (wSleep), and Hooper questionnaire (wHQ) throughout the season. In addition, the well-being variables for the playing position in different moments of the season were discussed. Twenty-one elite young soccer players U17 took part in this study. From the beginning of the pre-season, well-being status was monitored daily by the HQ method throughout 36 weeks, including four periods: (1) pre-season, (2) early-season, (3) mid-season, and (4) end-season. Players trained at least 3 times per week throughout the season. The main outcome was that, in weeks 33 and 28, the highest [wFatigue: 15.85 +/- 3.38 arbitrary units (AU); wHQ: 48.86 +/- 9.23 AU] and the lowest (wFatigue: 5.38 +/- 1.88 AU; wHQ: 20.43 +/- 5.49 AU) wFatigue and wHQ occurred, respectively, although the lowest level of wDOMS happened in week 28 (4.86 +/- 2.15 AU), while the highest wDOMS was observed in week 5 (14.65 +/- 4.16 AU). The highest wSleep (13.00 +/- 2.12 AU) and wStress (11.65 +/- 2.92 AU) were observed in weeks 8 and 34, respectively, while the lowest wSleep (5.81 +/- 2.29 AU) and wStress (3.76 +/- 0.94 AU) were marked in week 29 coincidentally. In the HQ between every weekday, except recovery day, and the day of the match (MD), considerable highest HQ was only revealed in 2 days after MD in contrast to overall team comparison. In the present study, we observed that the well-being changes between different phases of the season as well as between weeks and days of the week with the MD are significant. These results provide a great point of view for coaches and practitioners about well-being variations over a season in elite youth soccer level. As a result, coaches will be more aware about non-functional overreaching and taking measures to prevent it

Somatotype, accumulated workload, and fitness parameters in elite youth players: associations with playing position

The purpose of this study was three-fold: (1) to describe anthropometric, maturation, and somatotype differences of players based on playing positions; (2) to analyze variations of accumulated load training (AcL) and fitness parameters between playing positions; and finally (3) to explain the variation of maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) and peak power (PP) through the AcL, body fat (BF), maturity, somatotype and fitness levels. Twenty-seven male youth soccer players under-16 were divided by the following positions participated in this study: six central midfielders, four wingers (WG), five forwards, eight defenders, and four goalkeepers (GK). They were evaluated on two occasions: pre-season and after-season. Height, sitting height, body mass, BF, girths, percentage of BF (BF%), lean body mass, maturity, somatotype, sprint test, change of direction test, Yo-Yo intermittent recovery test level 1, Wingate, PP, VO2max and fatigue index were assessed. Then, AcL was monitored during training sessions. The main results revealed significant differences between player positions for maturity offset (p = 0.001), for BF (p = 0.006), BF% (p = 0.015), and lean body mass kg (p = 0.003). Also, there were significant differences for AcL and fatigue index in pre-season between player positions (p &lt; 0.05). In addition, there were some significant differences in pre- and after-season for VO2max and PP between player positions (p &lt; 0.05). In conclusion, GK showed higher values in anthropometric, body composition variables and maturity offset compared to the other positions, while WG presented lower levels of BF. In pre-season, there were more differences by player positions for the different variables analyzed than after-season that reinforces the tactical role of the positions, and the emphasis in increased load in the beginning of the season. This study could be used by coaches, staff, and researchers as a reference for athletes of the same sex, age, and competitive level