The effects of mood status and competitive anxiety in elite basketball players

Interest has developed in studying the relationship between pre-competitive mood and anxiety with athletic performance (eg. Beedie, Terry & Lane, 2000; Morgan, Ellickson, O'Connor & Bradley, 1992). The most commonly used instrument for measuring mood states in sport psychology is the Profile of Mood States (POMS). A weak to moderate relationship exists between pre-competitive mood and the performance of similarly skilled athletes (Cox, 2002). The current study examined the relationship between pre-game mood status (POMS), competitive-anxiety (SCAT), task-ego orientation (TEOSQ) and game statistics during the season of an elite basketball competition

Physical performance differences between starter and non-starter players during professional soccer friendly matches

The aim of this study was to investigate the physical performance differences between players that started (i.e. starters, ≥65 minutes played) and those that were substituted into (i.e. non-starter) soccer friendly matches. Fourteen professional players (age: 23.2 ± 2.7 years, body height: 178 ± 6 cm, body mass: 73.2 ± 6.9 kg) took part in this study. Twenty, physical performance-related match variables (e.g. distance covered at different intensities, accelerations and decelerations, player load, maximal running speed, exertion index, work-to-rest ratio and rating of perceived exertion) were collected during two matches. Results were analysed using effect sizes (ES) and magnitude based inferences. Compared to starters, non-starters covered greater match distance within the following intensity categories: >3.3≤4.2m/s (very likely), >4.2≤5 m/s (likely) and >5≤6.9 m/s (likely). In contrast, similar match average acceleration and deceleration values were identified for starters and non-starters (trivial). Indicators of workloads including player loads (very likely), the exertion index (very likely), and the work-to-rest ratio (very likely) were greater, while self-reported ratings of perceived exertion were lower (likely) for non-starters compared to starters. The current study demonstrates that substantial physical performance differences during friendly soccer matches exist between starters and non-starters. Identification of these differences enables coaches and analysts to potentially prescribe optimal training loads and microcycles based upon player's match starting status

Team performance indicators explain outcome during women's basketball matches at the Olympic games

The Olympic Games is the pinnacle international sporting competition with team sport coaches interested in key performance indicators to assist the development of match strategies for success. This study examined the relationship between team performance indicators and match outcome during the women's basketball tournament at the Olympic Games. Team performance indicators were collated from all women's basketball matches during the 2004-2016 Olympic Games (n = 156) and analyzed via linear (binary logistic regression) and non-linear (conditional interference (CI) classification tree) statistical techniques. The most parsimonious linear model retained "defensive rebounds", "field-goal percentage", "offensive rebounds", "fouls", "steals", and "turnovers" with a classification accuracy of 85.6%. The CI classification tree retained four performance indicators with a classification accuracy of 86.2%. The combination of "field-goal percentage", "defensive rebounds", "steals", and "turnovers" provided the greatest probability of winning (91.1%), while a combination of "field-goal percentage", "steals", and "turnovers" provided the greatest probability of losing (96.7%). Shooting proficiency and defensive actions were identified as key team performance indicators for Olympic female basketball success. The development of key defensive strategies and/or the selection of athletes highly proficient in defensive actions may strengthen Olympic match success. Incorporation of non-linear analyses may provide teams with superior/practical approaches for elite sporting success

Editorial: performance analysis in sport

Performance analysis is a sub-discipline of Sport Science research (Borms, 2008) that has attained great interest for many stakeholders (i.e., coaches, technical staff, performance analysts, managers, media, fans, and players) at different levels of performance (i.e., youth, semiprofessional, or professional players). The development and implementation of new technologies to measure individual or team’s performances (e.g., tracking systems such as local positioning systems, LPS; video tracking, or observational video analysis systems) with multiple practical applications have intensified the focus of performance analysis in sport (Hughes and Franks, 2007). Traditional approaches have included static analysis focused on retrospective performances; however, dynamic and complex analyses (i.e., non-linear Multi-Dimensional Scaling, classification and regression tree, logistic regression, etc.) have become increasingly utilized by researchers for a deeper understanding of sport performance during training and competition (O’Donoghue, 2009). In particular, a holistic and multidisciplinary perspective such as the Grand Unified Theory analyses (GUT, see Glazier, 2017) has been suggested to be fundamental for sports performance. This approach, provides a framework to examine the inter- and intra-athlete’s behavior dimensions under the environmental and task-related (ecological) factors that affect the performance. Specifically, isolated approaches have been suggested to be avoided with the integration of the biomechanical, physiological, psychological, technical, tactical, positional, motor development and/or strength and conditioning perspectives recommended when evaluating match-related contexts and training tasks (Glazier, 2017). Additionally, Woods et al. (2020) highlighted the importance of ecological dynamics to guide the control, preparation and assessment of athletes and teams. Subsequently, the use of interdisciplinary research designs would provide clear and well-described rationales, powerful data collection and analyses, resulting in robust findings. Innovative sports performance analyses that incorporate new technologies to understand individual’s behaviors within real-based and ecological contexts would provide a greater understanding of how players and teams act and react for greater performance development and application (Bertollo et al., 2020). In fact, as Robertson (2020) argued, the development of professionalism and data gathering in sport had lead to a new scenario for coaching staff, athletes, and performance analysts where adaptative tools are essentially required to understand the needs of sports performance (e.g., human-machine interaction, perspective, innovation, versatility, visualization, evaluation, feedback, generalization, and future planning

Impact of exercise in high-humidity on heart rate variability and salivary oxidative stress in obese and lightweight asthmatic children

BACKGROUND: Asthma and obesity are becoming increasingly common among children. Such conditions are known to negatively affect both cardiac autonomic function and oxidative stress. We therefore investigated the heart rate variability (HRV) and oxidative (malondialdehyde, MDA) response to exercise within a high humidity environment (similar to 65%) in obese and lightweight asthmatic children. METHODS: Forty-two children participated in this study and were categorized into four groups: obese asthmatic (OA, N.=10), obese non-asthmatic (ONA, N.=15), lightweight asthmatic (LA, N.=10), and lightweight non-asthmatic (LNA, N.=7). Time-domain and nonlinear indices of HRV were assessed at rest, during, and immediately after exercise. Further, saliva samples were collected immediately before and after exercise and analyzed for the determination of MDA. RESULTS: HRV significantly decreased during and after exercise compared to baseline (P<0.05) with short-term fractal scaling exponent (alpha 1) for the LNA group significantly smaller than the OA group after exercise (P<0.05). In contrast, the long-term fractal scaling exponent (alpha 2) was greater after exercise compared to baseline and during exercise for all groups (P<0.05). MDA significantly decreased after exercise compared to baseline (P<0.05). We also found significant correlations after exercise between salivary levels of MDA with HRV components (i.e., RMSSD, SD1, and alpha 2) in asthmatic groups (all P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings showed that exercise in high humidity environment does not significantly differentiate the autonomic response among children with various conditions (i.e., obese, asthmatic and healthy). However, a significant relationship was found between HRV and MDA in asthmatic children after exercise, highlighting the inter-relationship between oxidative stress markers and autonomic function in asthmatic children

Long rallies and next rally performances in elite men's and women's badminton

The aim of the present study was twofold: (i) to identify contextual variables associated with the occurrence of long rallies while investigating time-related and technical parameters; and (ii) to identify performance differences between long rallies and the subsequent rally when accounting for match-context and the players' sex. The sample included 60 men's (n = 4,475 rallies) and 60 women's (n = 4,490 rallies) matches randomly selected from the 2015 World Badminton Super Series and World Championship (the final sample included long rallies that had an immediate next point played: n = 1,734 and n = 1,644 rallies for male and female players, respectively). The long rallies represented 19.4% (n = 867) and 16.5% (n = 822) of total rallies for male and female players, respectively. Long rallies were established using a two-step cluster model based on rally time and number of strokes for male (13-79s, 14-72 strokes) and female players (11-56s, 11-52 strokes). The variables collected were point outcome (when serving and receiving, winner, forced-error and unforced-error), number of strokes per rally, rally time, rest time, density, and time between strokes. The rallies were classified into different contexts (clusters) according to influencing factors with eight clusters for male players and three clusters for female players identified. Comparisons among clusters were conducted using Kruskal Wallis and one-way ANOVAs. Comparisons between long and immediate next points were conducted using the Wilcoxon tests for most variables and Crosstabs Command for point outcome and rallies (long and immediate next). Statistically significant differences were identified for both sexes among clusters only for time-related variables (i.e., rally time, rest time, density and time between strokes). In addition, a greater number of strokes, longer rally, rest time, and higher density were identified during long rallies compared with the immediate next rally for both men's and women's matches (p<0.05). The time between strokes during long rallies was significantly greater for male players during clusters 3, 5, 6, and 7 (p<0.05) and significantly lower for female players during all clusters (p<0.05). Significant relationships were identified between winning point outcome, and more unforced errors when serving during the immediate next rally (men's cluster 5 and women's cluster 2), and more winners when serving during the immediate next rally (men's cluster 6). The current study identified and characterised long rallies in elite men's and women's badminton matches highlighting the importance of sex and contextual factors on time-related and technical demands. Information obtained from these unique sequences of play (i.e., long and immediate next rallies) will assist coaches when modelling and simulating players' performances (i.e., physiologically and cognitively) during athlete preparation/competition

Editorial: Rising stars in exercise physiology

[Extract] Physical exercise has been recognized as essential for human health and evolution for thousands of years, beginning with the ancient cultures. Hippocrates, Plato, Aristotle, and the Roman physician Galen were the earliest recorded and most well-known promoters of the beneficial effects of physical exercise. Since these times, several dedicated laboratories worldwide have been established, with many researchers conducting numerous investigations related to exercise physiology; nevertheless, a cornerstone of all laboratories is the development of new and novel researchers. These talented and emerging researchers have been necessary for our understanding of exercise physiology to have reached where we are today (and where we will be in the future). Given the evolution of exercise physiology, the field has incorporated a range of basic to applied scientific investigations and a range of end-users (e.g., researchers, athletes, coaches, physiologists, and clinical/public health professionals) who will benefit from these new advances in exercise physiology

Performance differences of temporal parameters and point outcome between elite men's and women's badminton players according to match-related contexts

Background: the aim of the present study was to identify the temporal and notational performance differences between elite men's and women's badminton players according to match type and set. Methods: the sample was composed of 60 men's and 60 women's matches classified by match type or duration: short (lower quartile), long (upper quartile) and regular matches (interquartile range). Temporal and notational variables were analysed for each match and compared between sexes accounting for match duration. Results: greater intensity for most variables (i.e., rally time, rest time, density, and strokes per match/rally) was exhibited in men's matches compared with women's matches (i.e., higher frequency between strokes). In addition, the greater intensity for men compared to women was more pertinent during long matches (13 significant variables) and less evident during short matches (six significant variables). Point outcome displayed similar trends for each sex during matches with more winners for men's players when serving and more unforced errors for women's players. Lastly, based on each match type, fewer sex differences were noted during sets 2 and 3, as the match progressed. Conclusion: Men's players performed at a greater intensity than women's players for different match and set contexts, with this sex difference enhanced when controlling for match type and set. The development of sex- and match-specific scenarios will assist coaches and trainers in the design of specific training drills to enhance the athletic performance of elite badminton players

Analysis of cricket ball type and innings on state level cricket batter's performance

Background: The aim of this investigation was to compare the type of cricket balls utilized and innings on cricket batting performance in the First-Class Australian competition. Methods: Batting performance measures of 43 state level cricket batters were collected from two seasons of the Sheffield shield tournament (N = 60 games) that incorporated both Kookaburra™ (n = 30 games) and Duke™ (n = 30 games) cricket balls. Results: First-innings batting performances were significantly greater for the average number of runs scored (37.5 ± 13.4 vs. 31.2 ± 11.3), balls faced (60.7 ± 26.2 vs. 49.9 ± 23.6), boundary 4s (3.8 ± 1.9 vs. 2.9 ± 1.4), and boundary 6s (0.2 ± 0.3 vs. 0.1 ± 0.3) scored per game (p < 0.05), as well as centuries scored (5.74 ± 8.56 vs. 1.49 ± 5.14%) compared to second innings performances (p < 0.05). There were no differences for any batting performance measures as a result of ball type (p > 0.05). However, significantly more wickets were taken by pace bowlers during Duke™ ball games (85.0 ± 12.8 vs. 76.4 ± 13.9%), while relatively more wickets were taken by spin bowlers during Kookaburra™ ball games (14.2 ± 12.5 vs. 22.0 ± 14.1%; p < 0.05). Conclusions: Cricket batting performance was comparable in games involving the Kookaburra™ or Duke™ ball. However, pace bowlers were more successful transferring their skill to the Duke™ ball, while spin bowlers were more successful with the KB™ ball. Subsequently, batters may be able to effectively adapt their movement technique, and transfer their skill to the Duke™ ball conditions. Future research is suggested to examine the influence of the cricket playing surface’s deterioration on cricket batter’s interceptive performance

Influence of rest on players’ performance and physiological responses during basketball play

Pre-match warm-ups are standard in many sports but the focus has excluded the substitute players. The aim of this research was to investigate the result of inactivity on physiological and performance responses in substitute basketball players during competition. Two basketball players from the second tier of the State League of Queensland, Australia volunteered for this study and were assessed for performance (countermovement jump—CMJ) and physiological (core temperature via ingestible pill; skin temperature at the arm, chest, calf and thigh; heart rate—HR) responses prior to and following a 20-min warm-up, and during the first half of a competitive basketball match (2 × 20-min real time quarters). Warm up resulted in increases in CMJ (~7%), HR (~100 bpm) and core (~0.8 °C) and skin (~1.0 °C) temperatures. Following the warm up and during inactivity, substitute players exhibited a decrease in all responses including CMJ (~13%), HR (~100 bpm), and core (~0.5 °C) and skin (~2.0 °C) temperatures. Rest resulted in reductions in key performance and physiological responses during a competitive match that poses a risk for match strategies. Coaches should consider implementing a warm up to enhance core/skin temperature for substitute players immediately before they engage with competition to optimise player performance