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

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

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

The importance of reflection and evaluation processes in daily training sessions for progression toward elite level swimming performance

Self-regulated learning (SRL) involves self-directed metacognitive subprocesses and motivational beliefs that facilitate more effective and efficient learning. We investigated whether youth swimmers who are on track to becoming elite swimmers apply SRL subprocesses more frequently in their daily training sessions compared with swimmers who are not on this track. Insights into swimmers' use of training-centered SRL could advance understanding about underlying individual characteristics that contribute to optimal engagement in daily training and, consequently, progression toward elite level swimming performance. We collected data on training-centered SRL subprocesses (evaluation, planning, reflection, speaking up, effort and self-efficacy) and performance data for 157 youth swimmers aged 12-21 years (73 males and 84 females). The results of a multivariate analysis of covariance revealed significantly higher scores for reflection processes during training for high-performing swimmers but lower scores for effort compared with lower-performing swimmers (p < 0.05). A closer examination of the high-performing group showed that those demonstrating greater improvement during a season scored significantly higher for evaluation processes after training compared with those evidencing less improvement during a season (p < 0.05). Significant between-group differences in SRL subprocesses remained after adjusting for differences in weekly training hours. Youth swimmers on track to becoming elite swimmers are characterized by more frequent use of reflection processes during training and evaluation processes after training, which suggests that these swimmers' learning and training processes are more effective and efficient. Ultimately, this could contribute to a higher quality of daily training, which may result in greater improvements during a season, higher performance levels, and a greater chance of reaching the level of elite swimming performance

Tracking performance and its underlying characteristics in talented swimmers:a longitudinal study during the junior-to-senior transition

The present study strived to gain a more profound understanding of the distinctions in development between swimmers who are considered to be on track to the senior elite level compared to those who are not. Longitudinal data of 29 talented sprint and middle-distance swimmers (12 males; 17 females) on season best performances (season best times) and underlying performance characteristics (anthropometrics, starts, turns, maximal swimming velocity, stroke index [SI, an indirect measure of swimming efficiency] and lower body power) were collected over four swimming seasons (median of n = 3 seasons per swimmer). Based on their season best performance at early senior age (males aged 18–19; females aged 17–18), some swimmers were considered to be on track to reach the elite level (referred to as high-performing seniors; 6 males and 10 females), whereas others were not (referred to as lower-performing seniors; 6 males and 7 females). Retrospectively studying these swimmers (males and females separately), we found that all high-performing seniors were already on track to the elite level at late junior age (males aged 17; females aged 16), evidenced with faster season best performances throughout their transition compared to their lower-performing peers (p &lt; 0.05). Independent sample t-tests revealed that high-performing seniors significantly outscored their lower-performing peers on maximal swimming velocity (males and females), starts and turns (males), SI (females) and lower body power (females) at late junior age (p &lt; 0.05). Additionally, multilevel models showed faster rates of development for high-performing seniors on turns and maximal swimming velocity (males), and SI (females) compared to lower-performing peers during the junior-to-senior transition (p &lt; 0.05). Particularly, the higher initial levels of swim performance and underlying characteristics at late junior age as well as the ability to keep progressing on season best performances (males and females), turns and maximal swimming velocity (males), and SI (females) during the junior-to-senior transition, may be crucial factors in the attainment of swimming expertise.</p