Performance characteristics of top-level youth judokas in light- and heavy-weight categories

Professionals involved in training programs for judokas should have access to evidence-based data on various characteristics of these athletes. In the current study, anthropometric (e.g., body height, body mass), physiological (e.g., power based on vertical jump height, maximal handgrip strength), and psychological (e.g., athletic coping skills) characteristics of judokas were examined. The judokas, aged 16-21, were classified into two groups: 30 light weight (males = 19, females = 11) and 27 heavy weight (males = 13, females = 14). Four MANCOVAs separated by sex were performed on the anthropometric, physiological, and psychological data. A discriminant analysis was also carried out. Results showed that heavy-weight males outscored their lighter peers on body height (d = 1.88), arm span (d = 1.88), and maximal handgrip strength. In the females, light-weight judokas outscored their heavier peers on jumping ability (d = 1.02) and peak power bench press (d = 1.20). Female heavy-weight judokas had greater body height (d = 1.46), a longer arm span (d = 1.35), and higher scores on maximal handgrip strength than light-weight judokas. The discriminant analysis revealed that 87.5% and 84.0% of the original grouped male and female judokas, respectively, were correctly classified. No differences in coping skills or self-regulation of learning between categories were observed. It is recommended that professionals involved in training programs may consider these differences in data when developing training programs for young judokas

Riding to the top - A systematic review on multidimensional performance indicators in surfing

Identifying high-performing and promising athletes is an important task of national surf associations. However, the scientific foundation of performance indicators in surfing has only developed in recent years. This review aimed to (1) find out which performance characteristics discriminate between surfers of different skill levels, and (2) point out gaps in the existing literature and direct future studies by applying the Groningen Sport Talent Model (GSTM) to categorize findings. A systematic review of PubMed, Web of Science, MEDLINE and PsycInfo databases was performed according to the PRISMA guidelines. A total of thirty-one studies were included. Studies were found on anthropometric, physiological, technical, and tactical, but not on psychological characteristics of surfing performance. In total only six studies included female surfers. Findings suggest that a few performance indicators exist in relation to associations between physical capacities and surfing skill. For one, relative arm span seems to be beneficial to surfing performance and discriminates between differently skilled surfers. Additionally, 15 m and 400 m in-water paddle performance, as well as relative upper and lower-body strength also tend to be better in superior surfers. Technical skills, such as the ability to perform aerials and tube rides with a high completion rate, translate directly into an enhanced scoring potential and therefore success in surfing competitions. While a variety of characteristics for high-performance surfing are already indicated, future research needs to focus on developing reliable methods with higher ecological validity to assess these skills. Apart from the in-water paddle tests, most indicators lack a broadly accepted testing method. Especially, the field of psychological skills in surfing should be addressed more in the future

Pacing behaviour development and acquisition: A systematic review

The goal-directed decision-making process of effort distribution (i.e. pacing) allows individuals to efficiently use energy resources as well as to manage the impact of fatigue on performance during exercise. Given the shared characteristics between pacing behaviour and other skilled behaviour, it was hypothesized that pacing behaviour would adhere to the same processes associated with skill acquisition and development. PubMed, Web of Science and PsycINFO databases between January 1995 and January 2022 were searched for articles relating to the pacing behaviour of individuals (1) younger than 18 years of age, or (2) repeatedly performing the same exercise task, or (3) with different levels of experience. The search resulted in 64 articles reporting on the effect of age (n = 33), repeated task exposure (n = 29) or differing levels of experience (n = 13) on pacing behaviour. Empirical evidence identifies the development of pacing behaviour starts during childhood (~ 10 years old) and continues throughout adolescence. This development is characterized by an increasingly better fit to the task demands, encompassing the task characteristics (e.g. duration) and environment factors (e.g. opponents). Gaining task experience leads to an increased capability to attain a predetermined pace and results in pacing behaviour that better fits task demands. Similar to skilled behaviour, physical maturation and cognitive development likely drive the development of pacing behaviour. Pacing behaviour follows established processes of skill acquisition, as repeated task execution improves the match between stimuli (e.g. task demands and afferent signals) and actions (i.e. continuing, increasing or decreasing the exerted effort) with the resulting exercise task performance. Furthermore, with increased task experience attentional capacity is freed for secondary tasks (e.g. incorporating opponents) and the goal selection is changed from achieving task completion to optimizing task performance. As the development and acquisition of pacing resemble that of other skills, established concepts in the literature (e.g. intervention-induced variability and augmented feedback) could enrich pacing research and be the basis for practical applications in physical education, healthcare, and sports. [Abstract copyright: © 2022. The Author(s).

The perception of time is slowed in response to exercise, an effect not further compounded by competitors: behavioral implications for exercise and health.

The theory of relativity postulates that time is relative to context and exercise seems such a situation. The purpose of this study was to examine whether situational factors such as perceived exertion and the introduction of an opponent influence competitors' perception of time. Thirty-three recreationally active adults (F = 16; M = 17) performed three standardized 4-km cycling trials in a randomized order. Velotron 3D software was used to create a visual, virtual environment representing (1) a solo time trial (FAM and SO), (2) a time trial with a passive opponent avatar (PO), and (3) a time trial with an opponent avatar and participant instruction to actively finish the trial before the opponent (AO). Participants were asked to estimate a 30-s time period using a standardized protocol for reproducibility before exercise at 500 m, 1500 m, 2500 m, and post exercise. Rate of perceived exertion (RPE) was measured throughout the trials. Exercise trials revealed that time was perceived to run "slow" compared to chronological time during exercise compared to resting and post-exercise measurements (p < 0.001). There was no difference between exercise conditions (SO, PO, and AO) or time points (500 m, 1500 m, and 2500 m). RPE increased throughout the trials. The results of this study demonstrate for the first time that exercise both with and without the influence of opponents influences time perception. This finding has important implications for healthy exercise choices and also for optimal performance. Independent of RPE, time was perceived to move slower during exercise, underpinning inaccurate pacing and decision-making across physical activities. [Abstract copyright: © 2024 The Authors. Brain and Behavior published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.

OPTIMAL MOVEMENT FOR LOWER EXTREMITY INJURY PREVENTION; HOW TO CREATE AN OPTIMAL LEARNING ENVIRONMENT FOR YOUTH SOCCER GIRLS

For lower extremity injury prevention, it is crucial to decrease external loads to the joints in sport-specific situations. The purpose of this study was to examine how landing kinetics and psychological factors (i.e., motivation) change during a four-week laboratory training program. Ten talented soccer girls practiced three sport-specific tasks and received expert video instruction. Increased fun and competence in week 3 compared to week 1 was observed. No significant changes of effort and joint load (a discrete number to describe combined external frontal and transverse plane knee and ankle moments) were found. Results are promising and innovative as this is the first study testing the entire OPTIMAL model including retention and linking biomechanics with perceived motivation. More research is planned on additional instructions and feedback that may enhance the motor learning curve

A risk-reward assessment of passing decisions:comparison between positional roles using tracking data from professional men's soccer

Introduction: Performance assessment in professional soccer often focusses on notational assessment like assists or pass accuracy. However, rather than statistics, performance is more about making the best possible tactical decision, in the context of aplayer's positional role and the available options at the time. With the current paper, we aim to construct an improved model for the assessment of pass risk and reward across different positional roles, and validate that model by studying differences in decision-making between players with different positional roles. Methods: To achieve our aim, we collected position tracking data from an entire season of Dutch Eredivisie matches, containing 286.151 passes of 336 players. From that data, we derived several features on risk and reward, both for the pass that has been played, as well as for the pass options that were available at the time of passing. Results: Our findings indicate that we could adequately model risk and reward, outperforming previously published models, and that there were large differences in decision-making between players with different positional roles. Discussion: Our model can be used to assess player performance based on what could have happened, rather than solely based on what did happen in amatch

Mechanisms explaining the birthplace effect for male elite football players

Earlier research shows that wide regional variations exist in the success of athletes' talent development but is divided with respect to the role of urbanity: both low and high urbanity have been identified as settings that contribute to the presence of talent hotspots. In this article, we intend to provide more insight into the role of urbanity in talent development in Dutch football. We used public data on the regional background of male elite players (N = 825) and combined this with public data on municipal characteristics from Statistics Netherlands and other sources: urbanity, football participation, instructional resources and population composition effects (migration background and income of inhabitants). Linear regression analysis showed that football participation, the proportion of non-western migrants and median income predict "talent yield", i.e., the proportion of young people that reach an elite level in a municipality. Urbanity does not have an independent influence when the proportion of non-western migrants in the municipality is taken into account. The presence of instructional resources does not have an independent influence. The results suggest that characteristics of the built environment, such as indoor and outdoor play opportunities, may be less influential in talent development than previously assumed.</p