The effects of work-integrated learning on undergraduate sports coaching students’ perceived self-efficacy

This study examined the effects of a work-integrated learning (WIL) placement on student\u27s self-efficacy and perceived workplace skill levels. Twenty-eight participants volunteered for this study, in which 15 completed WIL and 13 did not (non-WIL). The Work Self-Efficacy Inventory (WS-Ei) and Workplace Skills Questionnaire (WSQ) were used to collect student responses. Differences between groups were analyzed using a Mann-Whitney U test, mean differences were shown, and statistical significance was set at p \u3c 0.05. Results from the WS-Ei indicated the WIL group shown significantly higher total WS-Ei scores, higher mean scores for all dimensions measured, and significantly higher scores for individual dimensions; problem-solving, politics, pressure and role expectations. The WSQ indicated the WIL group had higher mean scores for all perceived workplace skills, except for information technology, and no significant differences was observed between groups. Areas showing little difference between groups can be highlighted for further support and development

Predicting student satisfaction of emergency remote learning in higher education during COVID-19 using machine learning techniques

Despite the wide adoption of emergency remote learning (ERL) in higher education during the COVID-19 pandemic, there is insufficient understanding of influencing factors predicting student satisfaction for this novel learning environment in crisis. The present study investigated important predictors in determining the satisfaction of undergraduate students (N = 425) from multiple departments in using ERL at a self-funded university in Hong Kong while Moodle and Microsoft Team are the key learning tools. By comparing the predictive accuracy between multiple regression and machine learning models before and after the use of random forest recursive feature elimination, all multiple regression, and machine learning models showed improved accuracy while the most accurate model was the elastic net regression with 65.2% explained variance. The results show only neutral (4.11 on a 7-point Likert scale) regarding the overall satisfaction score on ERL. Even majority of students are competent in technology and have no obvious issue in accessing learning devices or Wi-Fi, face-to-face learning is more preferable compared to ERL and this is found to be the most important predictor. Besides, the level of efforts made by instructors, the agreement on the appropriateness of the adjusted assessment methods, and the perception of online learning being well delivered are shown to be highly important in determining the satisfaction scores. The results suggest that the need of reviewing the quality and quantity of modified assessment accommodated for ERL and structured class delivery with the suitable amount of interactive learning according to the learning culture and program nature

Effects of using four baskets during simulated youth basketball games

© 2019 Mateus et al. This study aimed to identify how playing basketball with two additional baskets influences the players\u27 technical, physiological, physical and especially, positional performance. Fourteen youth players performed eight 5vs.5 simulated basketball games, four with the two official baskets and four with two-extra official baskets, each one placed in the court restricted area. The variables collected were technical (field-goals made and missed, offensive and defensive rebounds, steals, passes, dribble-drive, give-and-go and ball possessions), physiological (heart rate monotony and sample entropy), workload (total distance covered and distance covered at different velocities) and positioning-related (distance to the nearest opponent, distance to the nearest teammate, stretch-index and distance between centroids). The results showed that the four-baskets games favoured the emergence of individual behaviours, increasing the game\u27 physical demands and promoting a collective dispersion, which might impair team playing. Conversely, when playing with two-baskets, there was less distance between teammates. In conclusion, this study has clear implications for practice as it emphasizes that coaches can manipulate the number of baskets to modulate training workload and promote different individual and team behaviours

Physical fitness improvements of 8-week light vs. heavy tyreflip training in young adults

This study compared the effects of eight-week tyre flipping training intervention using light and heavy tyres on physical fitness performance. Twenty-nine young physically active males were divided into light (n = 15) and heavy (n = 14) tyre flipping groups evenly according to body weight and height. Body-to-tyre weight ratios were 0.61 ± 0.06 for the light tyre (LTTG) and 1.51 ± 0.16 for the heavy tyre training (HTTG) groups. Fitness parameters were measured before and after the intervention. One-way ANCOVA analysis indicated no significant between-group differences when pre-test values were controlled. Both groups demonstrated within-group improvements in 6RM bench press (ES: 0.98 in LTTG and 1.10 in HTTG), intermittent endurance (ES: 0.45 in LTTG and 0.66 in HTTG), five horizontal jumps (ES: 0.35 in LTTG and 0.26 in HTTG), and agility (ES: 0.34 in LTTG and 0.41 in HTTG). Both groups improved tyre flipping efficiency, through decreasing average set duration and work-rest ratios in the first six training sessions, and reached a plateau starting from the 7th training session. This study provides the first empirical evidence for coaches to justify usage of tyre flip training and the timing to progressive overload for a population with limited weight training and no tyre flip training experience

Practices of strength and conditioning coaches in professional sports:A systematic review

The practices of strength and conditioning (S&C) coaches have been reported in various professional sports. This study aims to comprehensively assess this available evidence to help establish whether theoretical, practical, and evidence-based guidelines align with the practices employed by these experienced S&C coaches. Three databases were searched (PubMed, SPORTDiscus, and Cochrane) until November 2020. Studies surveying the practices of S&C coaches in professional sports using a survey design with common questions, written in English, and published in peer-reviewed journals were reviewed. Eight studies (n = 318 S&C coaches) were finally included. All studies adapted a similar survey, providing a strong basis for comparison between sports. Periodization strategies were widely used (89%), with training volume consistently reduced during the in-season period. Olympic weightlifting was commonly used across sports, except in baseball (29%). Plyometric exercises were predominantly prescribed for speed development (74%) and lower body power (68%), which were mostly programed as complex training (45%) and conducted all year round (52%). Flexibility exercises were mostly performed before practice (83%) for 6–10 min (40%). Physical tests were mainly conducted during the pre-season period (66%), with body composition (86%) being the most used test. S&C coaches generally adhered to current guidelines and research in S&C concerning training prescription and physical testing. Whereas, Intersport differences were also noted and further discussed. Results of this study can be used by S&C coaches to plan, implement, and review their professional practices. Furthermore, may inform the development of general and sport-specific guidelines, and future research in S&C

An Analysis of Repeated High Intensity Efforts (RHIE) across Different Competition Levels in Elite Rugby Union

The current investigation aimed to understand the differing positional demands across two elite rugby union competitions, with special reference to high-intensity effort (HIE) and repeated high-intensity effort (RHIE) activity. Four hundred and forty-one (n = 441) individual game files from thirty-five competitive games from the European Rugby Champions Cup (tier 1; n = 8) and PRO12 League (tier 2; n = 24) were analysed. Players’ locomotor profiles were recorded using wearable global positioning system microtechnology (10 Hz Catapult S5, Catapult Innovations, Australia). Locomotor activities were classified as running (4.4 ms1), high-speed running (5.5 ms1), accelerations (2 ms2) and decelerations (2 ms2). Data was gathered on collisions (4 g1), high-intensity efforts (HIE), repeated high-intensity efforts (RHIE), average number of efforts within a RHIE bout (n) and maximal number of efforts within a RHIE bout (n). Overall locomotor differences between competitions were trivial to small in nature, with tier 1 competition associated with a larger number of RHIE bouts (6.5 1.4 vs. 5.7 1.5, effect size, ES = 0.55) and efforts per bout (3.0 1.1 vs. 2.4 1.2, ES = 0.52). Collisions comprised a greater proportion of total HIE for forwards within tier 1 competition compared to tier 2 competition. The hooker (mean difference: 4 [10 to 14]; ES = 0.30, small), lock (mean difference: 5 [12 to 23]; ES = 0.36, small) and backrow (mean difference: 8 [10 to 15]; ES = 0.54, small) positions engaged in more collisions during tier 1 competition compared to tier 2 competition. These findings can be used by athletic performance staff to design game-specific drills and recovery strategies during different competition weeks to ensure players are appropriately prepared for the differing demands of elite rugby competitio

Physical profiling of international cricket players: an investigation between bowlers and batters

Objective: This study aims to develop a physical profile of international cricketers, and investigate if positional differences exist between bowlers and batters. Methods: Nineteen, international male cricketers, eleven bowlers (age 24.1 ± 5.2 years; height 179.73 ± 5.27 cm; weight 73.64 ± 6.65 kg), and eight batters (age 22.9 ± 3.8 years; height 180.25 ± 5.57 cm; weight 77.01 ± 8.99 kg) participated in this study. The physical test battery included; power, speed, strength and aerobic fitness tests. Results: Batters demonstrated significantly higher scores for the countermovement jump (p < 0.03; ES = -1.55) and squat jump (p < 0.03; ES = -0.98). Batters showed non-significant but small ES for faster 0-5 m (ES = 0.40) and 0-10 m (ES = 0.35) sprint times, superior hand grip strength (ES = -0.20), and higher Yo-Yo intermittent recovery test scores (ES = -0.46). Bowlers showed non-significant but small ES for faster 5 km time trials (ES = -0.51), lower bodyweight (ES = -0.42) and body fat percentage (ES = -0.30). Intra-positional (i.e., seam and spin bowlers) and individual differences amongst players were observed. Conclusion: This study provides a physical profile of international cricketers. Batters demonstrated superior lower-body power compared to bowlers and other physical test results were similar across positions. However, individual scores for each physical test demonstrated that differences exist amongst players. This should be accounted for by strength and conditioning coaches when using physical profiling data to inform the design and evaluation of their programs

Off-training physical activity and training responses as determinants of sleep quality in young soccer players

This study aimed to quantify and assess the relationship of young soccer players' off-training physical activity (PA) and training responses on sleep quality. Eleven adolescent soccer players (13 ± 0.5 years old) were monitored during weekdays for four consecutive weeks throughout soccer practice days. Off-training PA and sleep quality were assessed using 100 Hz tri-axial accelerometers, and training responses analyzed using 20 Hz global positioning measurement units. A cluster analysis classified all cases into three different dimensions, (1) off-training PA, (2) training responses and (3) sleep quality. For each dimension, the most important variables for classifying the cases into clusters were sedentary PA and moderate-to-vigorous PA; total distance covered and impacts; and sleep onset latency and sleep fragmentation index, respectively. Afterwards, a correspondence analysis was used to identify whether off-training PA and training responses affected sleep quality. Results exposed that high to medium off-training PA combined with medium to high training responses may have decreased sleep quality. Conversely, no correspondence was observed between off-training PA and training responses, with higher sleep quality. This study emphasizes the importance of sports organizations adopting a holistic approach to youth soccer players’ development that appropriately considers the inter-relationship between lifestyle, performance and health-related information