Inter-limb coordination dynamics: effects of visual constraints and age

This study aimed to verify the effect of visual afference (eyes open – EO vs. eyes closed – EC) on inphase (IP) and anti-phase (AP) homolateral inter-limb coordination performance in relation to age. Forty individuals (12 youths, age=12±1 years; 16 young adults, age=24±3 years; 12 older adults, age=59±11 years) performed IP and AP synchronized (80, 120, and 180 bpm) hand and foot flexions and extensions. Variability of IP and AP movements was obtained by calculating the within-subject standard deviation of each condition. Significant interactions between coordination mode × age and coordination mode × age × visual afference showed joint effects on IP and AP variability, while no main effects emerged. In the IP-EO condition, posthoc analysis showed higher (p=.0003) variability in older adults (24.8±6.6 s) with respect to young adults (10.5±10.9 s), whereas in the IP-EC condition, older adults showed higher (p=.03) variability (23.4±10.7 s) with respect to both youths (13.7±8.6 s) and young adults (24.1±12.2 s). In both AP conditions, older adults showed lower (p<.002) variability values (EO=9.5±12.1 s; EC=4.6±7.5 s) with respect to the other age groups, with only the youth group showing differences between EO (16.6±12.1 s) and EC (23.6±8.4 s) conditions. Findings show that the age-related worsening of inter-limb coordination is independent of the use of visual afferences. In contrast, at developmental age, visual perception seems to play a differential role depending on the coordinative task complexity (IP/AP). It becomes crucial only in the AP condition, with a lower variability in the EO than in the EC condition indicating youths’ tendency to rely more on visual information for stabilizing complex inter-limb coordination performance

Determinants of the effectiveness of fast break actions in elite and sub-elite Italian men\u27s basketball games

The aim of this study was to examine the determinants of successful and unsuccessful fast-break (FB) actions in elite and sub-elite basketball games. Fifteen 1st-division (elite) and fifteen 3rd-division (sub-elite) Italian men’s championship games were analysed across two seasons (2012/2013 and 2013/2014). A binary logistic regression analysis was performed, and the fast-break outcome (successful vs. unsuccessful) was adopted as the dependent variable separately in both elite and sub-elite games. FB execution (initiation, advance and completion phases), typology (primary and secondary break) and the number of players involved (equal number or superiority) were used as independent variables. The results showed that the rate of success of FB actions was 63.5% and 59.7% in elite and sub-elite games, respectively. Moreover, successful FBs were more likely to be completed in the lane in relation to unsuccessful ones in both elite and sub-elite games (p\u3c0.05). Finally, descriptive statistics showed that both elite and sub-elite teams executed FBs similarly. This study highlighted that completion zone was the only predictor of a successful fast break in basketball, while the typology and number of players involved did not predict fast break effectiveness. Moreover, elite and sub-elite teams executed fast break actions similarly. These findings might be useful for basketball coaches to optimize the training of FB actions

Effect of Number of Players and Maturity on Ball-Drills Training Load in Youth Basketball

This study aimed to assess the basketball ball-drills workload analyzing: (1) the effect of varying the number of players involved on physiological and technical demands; (2) the temporal changes in players’ responses across bouts; and (3) the relationship of players’ workload with their maturation status and training age. Twelve young male basketball players (mean ± SD; age 13.9 ± 0.7 years; height 1.76 ± 0.06 m; body mass 65.7 ± 12.5 kg; HRmax 202 ± 8 beat·min−1) completed three bouts of 4 min interspersed by 2 min of passive recovery of two vs. two and four vs. four ball-drills. The mean percentage of HRmax (%HRmax) and ratings of perceived exertion (RPE) were collected. Technical actions (TAs) (dribbles, passes, shots, interceptions, steals, rebounds, and turnovers) were calculated through notational analysis. Players’ genitalia development (GD) and pubic hair (PH) growth were assessed using Tanner scale. Results showed a higher %HRmax (p = 0.018), RPE (p = 0.042), dribbles (p = 0.007), shots (p = 0.003), and rebounds (p = 0.006) in two vs. two compared to four vs. four condition. Furthermore, a statistical difference was found for %HRmax (p = 0.005) and number of passes (p = 0.020) between bouts. In addition, no correlation between GD, PH, and training age with %HRmax, RPE, and TAs was found. These findings suggest that variations of the number of players involved affect ball-drills workload and that ball-drills training intensity varies across bouts. Finally, ball-drills elicit an adequate training stimulus, regardless of players’ maturation status and training age

Energy expenditure and perceived exertion during active video games in relation to player mode and gender

Active video games (AVG) increase energy expenditure (EE) with respect to sedentary video games. Although several AVG consoles allow playing in single-player (SP) or multiplayer (MP) mode, few studies investigated differences in relation to game modality in men and women. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate gender-related psycho-physiological responses during Zumba Fitness Rush (ZFR) played in SP vs. MP mode. Twenty-four college students (women: 14, men: 10; age: 24.6±2.0 years; body weight: 60.2±12.5 kg; body height: 167.8±11.5 cm; BMI: 21.2±2.1 kg·m-2) participated in two experimental sessions: SP (a subject playing ZFR alone) and MP (two subjects playing ZFR simultaneously). Heart rate (HR), oxygen consumption (VO2) and EE (MET and kcal∙min-1) were continuously measured and averaged every 10 seconds, while Rating of Perceived Exertion (RPE) was recorded 30 minutes after the end of each session. A two (gender: women vs. men) by two (modality: SP vs. MP) ANOVA for repeated measures was applied. No differences emerged in relation to gender and game mode for %HRmax, VO2, MET, and RPE. Conversely, a main effect (p=.0007) for gender was found in EE, with significantly (p<.004) higher values in men in SP (women: 5.5±0.6 kcal·min-1; men: 8.3±1.4 kcal·min-1) and MP (women: 5.3±0.7 kcal·min-1; men: 7.6±1.9 kcal·min-1). Present findings suggest that ZFR could be classified as a moderate physical activity, proving to be an alternative form to traditional exercise. Although an effect of number of players could be expected, different player modes did not affect EE, probably because the rhythm of the music imposes a time constraint, independently of the presence of other players

High ecological method for quantifying training load in youth water polo players

The assessment of internal training load (ITL) using the session rate of perceived exertion (session-RPE) has been demonstrated to provide valuable information, also in team sports (Impellizzeri et al., 2004; Moreira et., 2012; Scott et al., 2013). Nevertheless, no studies investigated the use of this method during youth water polo trainings. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate youth water polo trainings, showing the correspondent level of reliability of the session-RPE method. Thirteen male youth water polo players (age, 15.6 ± 0.5 y; stature, 1.80 ± 0.06 m; body mass, 72.7 ± 7.8 kg) were monitored during 8 training sessions (80 individuals training sessions) within 10-days. The Edward summated heart rate zone method was used as a reference measure of internal training load; the session-RPE rating was obtained using CR-10 scale modified by Foster. The Pearson product-moment was applied to regress the Edwards’ heart rate zone method against CR-10 session-RPE for each training session and individual data. Analyses reported overall high (r=0.88; R2=0.78) and significant (P&lt;0.001) correlations between Edwards’s heart rate and session-RPE methods. Significant correlations were also showed for each training session (r range: 0.69-0.92; R2 range: 0.48-0.85, P&lt;0.05) and individual data (r range: 0.76-0.98; R2 range: 0.58-0.97, P&lt;0.05). The present results confirmed the session-RPE method as an easy and reliable tool to evaluate ITL in youth water polo, allowing coaches to efficiently monitor their training plans

Monitoring of the preseason soccer period in non-professional players

This study aimed to monitor the training load and to evaluate the fluctuations of straight and change of direction sprinting during a 5-week of the preseason period in 17 non-professional soccer players. Straight 10-m sprint and 15-m zigzag sprint tests were applied six times: at the beginning and on each Friday. Monitoring of the internal training load has been achieved by the Edwards’ TL and the session-RPE, while the external training load was measured by the GPS system. A general prevalence of low-intensity activities within training units and friendly matches were observed, with an increase in high-intensity activities during the last two weeks of the preseason. The performance of both sprint tests decreased during the first three weeks, becoming better at the end of the period, relative to a higher training load scheduled at the beginning of the preseason. Fluctuations in training load emerged along the five weeks with a continuous decrement from the first to the third week, while during the fourth and fifth week a moderate increase was achieved. Moreover, a very large correlation (r=0.71; p<.001) was evident between the Edwards’ TL and the session-RPE, highlighting the usefulness of an easy and valid method to monitor the internal training load. In conclusion, combining the monitoring of training load and the administration of field tests lead to a better distribution of workload, done by the coaching staff, thus avoiding excessive athletes’ overstressing

Dual career in European-funded projects: a critical analysis and review

ABSTRACT This study aimed to review the projects financed between 2014 and 2022 under the ERASMUS+ programme of the European Commission to examine the past and present implementation of the dual career (DC) of elite sportspersons and to highlight potential gaps to guide future project proposals. Findings showed a relevant focus of the financed projects on the micro and multi-dimensional aspects of DC of athletes as the main target group, implementing training courses/programmes in different settings, and partnerships mostly composed by educational institutions and NGOs. In the future, sports bodies should engage more in partnerships, whereas DC of employee-sportspersons as athletes and sports staff should be implemented, with a strong focus on the project’s long-term impact and sustainability