Buoni stili di vita a scuola. Progetti territoriali da Pi\uf9 Sport @ Scuola a DEDIPAC

Questo volume illustra l\u2019esperienza del progetto della Regione Veneto \u201cPi\uf9 Sport @ Scuola\u201d (PS@S), raccontandone gli scopi, il background culturale, la struttura organizzativa, le azioni intraprese ed alcuni dei risultati ottenuti attraverso l\u2019osservatorio del programma europeo DEDIPAC. Il progetto PS@S, promosso a partire dall\u2019anno scolastico 2004/2005 e durato fino al 2014/2015, ha cercato di costruire un ponte tra scuola e territorio, per offrire ai giovani significative opportunit\ue0 di attivit\ue0 motoria e sportiva che contrastassero l\u2019epidemia di sedentariet\ue0 e di disaffezione allo sport della nostra societ\ue0

Physique and performance in male sitting volleyball players: implications for classification and training

This study assessed whether anthropometry, physical fitness and sport-specific sprint performance vary across the three groups of sitting volleyball (SV) athletes (athletes with a disability (VS1), athletes with a minimal disability (VS2) and able-bodied SV athletes (AB)) in order to explore the validity of the current system of classification. This study also investigated how the anthropometric and physical fitness characteristics of athletes relate to their sprint performance

Enhancing fitness, enjoyment, and physical self-efficacy in primary school children: a DEDIPAC naturalistic study

Background Physical activity (PA) (e.g., sport, physical education) promotes the psychophysical development of children, enhances health and wellbeing, offers opportunities for enjoyable experiences, and increases self-efficacy. Methods In the DEDIPAC framework, we conducted a naturalistic, cross-sectional study to evaluate the effects of a school-based, long-term intervention on fitness (i.e., cardiovascular endurance, muscular strength, flexibility, speed, and finger dexterity), body mass index (BMI), PA levels, sedentary levels, enjoyment, and physical self-efficacy in primary school children. A group of Italian children (41 boys and 39 girls, aged 10–11 years) involved in the project—named “Più Sport @ Scuola” (PS@S)—was compared with a group of children (41 boys and 39 girls) of the same age not involved in the project. Results After a four-year long attendance to the PS@S project, participants reported higher scores of cardiovascular endurance, muscular strength, enjoyment, and physical self-efficacy compared to children not involved in the project. Correlation analysis results showed that muscular strength scores correlated positively with BMI, PA levels, and enjoyment. Flexibility of the upper body was positively related to physical self-efficacy, and negatively related to speed and BMI. Conclusions Findings suggest that the PS@S project enhanced fitness level, enjoyment, and physical self-efficacy of children

Sympatho-adrenergic activation by endurance exercise. Effect on metanephrines spillover and its role in predicting athlete\u2019s performance

Background: The sympatho-adrenergic activation during exercise is implicated in many cardiovascular respiratory and metabolic adaptations which have been thought to partially explain the different levels of performance observed between trained and untrained subjects. To date, no evidence exists about the association between competition performance and markers of \u201cacute stress response\u201d. We designed this study to investigate; (i) the acute sympatho-adrenergic activation during endurance exercise in recreational runners by measuring plasma levels of free metanephrine (MN) and normethanephrine (NMN) before and after a half-marathon run; (ii) the association between the metanephrines levels and the running time. Methods: 26 amateur runners (15 males, 11 females) aged 30 to 63 years were enrolled. The quantification of MN and NMN was performed by LC-MS/MS. Anthropometric ergonomic and routine laboratory data were recorded. Statistical analyses included paired T-test, univariate and multivariate regressions. Results: The post-run values of MN and NMN displayed a nearly 3.5 and 7 fold increase respectively compared to the baseline values (p < 0.0001 for both). NMN pre-run values and pre/post run delta values showed a significant direct and inverse association (p = 0.021 and p = 0.033, respectively) with running performance. No correlations were found for MN values. Conclusion: NMN is a reliable marker of sympatho-adrenergic activation by exercise and can predict endurance performance in the individual athlete. Adaptation phenomenon occurring not only in the adrenal medulla might represent the biological mechanism underlying this association. Further studies on sympatho-adrenergic activation, competition performance and training status should contemplate the measurement of these metabolites instead of their unstable precursors

High volume training with small-sided games affects technical demands in football: a descriptive study

Purpose Interval training with small-sided games (SSGs) is effective for improving physical conditioning and technical skills in football. This descriptive study investigated the effect of a high volume of SSGs on physiological and perceptual response [heart rate (HR) and rating of perceived exertion (RPE)] and technical actions in amateur adult football players. Methods Twelve male football players (age 22.5 ± 1.8 years, weight 72.6 ± 6.3 kg, height 1.76 ± 0.06 m) completed two indoor SSG formats (3 vs. 3 and 4 vs. 4) (twice each) composed of six sets of 4 min each, with 2 min of passive recovery. RPE and HR were measured to calculate exercise intensity. Each game was filmed to evaluate the technical actions; the recordings were analyzed using a hand notation system. Results Mean HR for the two SSG formats did not differ significantly; RPE scores were higher for the 3 vs. 3 as compared to the 4 vs. 4 games (42.5 ± 3.0 vs. 35.0 ± 10.3, respectively; p\0.05); and the number of technical actions (passes, target passes, and dribbling) decreased as the games progressed, with statistically significant differences between games 5 and 6 compared to game 1 (p\0.05), but not in the frequency of other technical actions (shots, interceptions, and tackles). Conclusions The decrease in the number of technical actions in both formats as the games progress beyond four sets of 4 min could annul the advantage of SSGs for technical skills training. These findings may help football coaches maximize the benefit of training with SSGs

Influence of highly motivational games on the executive function in adolescence

Introduction: Today moving seems to have become a serious problem and yet we are predisposed to motion and activity, we interact with our environment through movement. The motivation to persevere is not related to external rewards, but rather to intrinsically generated emotions, furthermore, chronic aerobic exercise induces changes in brain regions that are functional to Executive Function (EF) and is important as a mediator of exercise-induced neurogenesis. In light of this, the purpose of this study is to determine whether a high-motivation protocol game based on EF development is capable of influencing a sample of adolescents aged 13-14 years-old in a secondary school. Material and Methods A sample of 75 students (39 girls; 36 boys) aged 12 – 13 years-old where involved in the study. Subjects were divided into control (football) and experimental (EF games) groups. Both groups were assessed with the Free Recall test. Results The results suggested that a physical activity based on intensity, enjoyment, and cognitive engagement is useful and transferable to school practice, in this case particularly in memory. Discussion This study suggested that the amount of qualitative physical activity should be evaluated when assessing the effect of physical activity on cognitive function. Physical activity should include an adequate amount of high intensity and cognitive involvement useful and transferable to school practice. Conclusion Educational value of physical education, in the school context this movement should not be confined to just two hours of physical education or sporadic projects but, on the contrary, it could become a fundamental choice of the whole system, through forms of motor involvement during the intervals, in the home-school paths and the high contexts of teaching. © 2020, Editura Universitatii din Pitesti. All rights reserved

Familiar context and motivations in sports among adulescents

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Fast or slow start? The role of running strategies in triathlon

Objectives: To investigate the impact of fast-start, steady or slow-start strategies of the running fraction in sprint triathlon on oxygen consumption, perception of fatigue and blood lactate. Design: Thirteen male triathletes (age; 36.4 \ub1 10.8 yy, height 174.8 \ub1 7.9 cm, body mass 70.6 \ub1 11.1 kg; V'O2max 62.4 \ub1 8.9 ml min-1 kg-1; mean \ub1 SD) attended the laboratory five times in order to complete two incremental tests and three subsequent cycle-run sessions. Methods: Three experimental randomized sessions with different effort distribution were compared. The intensities of the 1st running kilometer were set at 95%, 100% and 105% of the second ventilatory threshold for slow, continuous and fast start protocol respectively. Measurement of ventilatory variables, blood lactate and ratings of perceived exertion were collected throughout all sessions. Results: A meaningful difference was found between the slow versus fast start protocol in V'O2 (SE = 0.58, P = 0.0005), BLa- (SE = 0.21, P = 0.0097), HR (SE = 1.23, P = 0.0011) and RPE (SE = 2.83, P = 0.0047) values. No differences in-between protocols were found at the end of the running bout whatever the condition. Conclusions: Differences in physiological parameters were found between protocols during the first kilometer, not at the end of exercise. The fast start appears to be more correct and useful for performance in racing setting and may be used as a strategy without impacting the remaining running bout in ecological setting

\u201cPi\uf9 Sport @ Scuola\u201d: a good practice for Veneto primary schools?

This paper examines aims, cultural background, and significant results of the PS@S project funded by the Veneto Region from 2004 to 2014 to develop a new model for physical activity and sport promotion among primary school children, collaborating with local administrations and sport clubs. The PS@S project was based on Project Coordinators (PCs), physical education teachers or graduates in exercise and sport sciences, that collaborated with primary school teachers. PCs gave organizational assistance and support to the teachers and/or were directly involved in planning and realizing sport-related activities, including recreational and cultural events. PCs also promoted school sports and the connection with local sport clubs/associations. The scientific background leans on the over- whelming evidences of the risks related with sedentary behavior among children and youth and on the health benefits (physical, psychological, and social) of regular physical activity. The ecological approach, centered on the personal skills, social determinants and environmental conditions, was an important guideline of the project. Data collected on more than 500 schools involving about 370,000 students suggests that PS@S project can be considered as a good practice for physical activity promotion intervention that could be utilize for appropriate youth sport dissemination also in other countries