Review of Selected Studies on Aesthetic Sports and Creative Arts

There are different classifications of sports and disciplines. The division into individual and collective is considered fundamental. From the aspect of all divisions, they are mainly bipolar (like Men/Women Artistic Gymnastics) instead of the psychological typology of sports activities, where certain individual sports belong to the group of aesthetic-coordination ones. Rhythmic gymnastics (RG) is the most typical representative in this group, where complex movements predominate most acyclic type. Activities in RG occur in several disciplines with different apparatus (rope, hoop, ball, clubs, and ribbon), and only younger age categories have exercises without apparatus. In each domain, many elements are performed, which differ according to their structural groups, although exercises of a dynamic character prevail over static ones. Previously, the structure of sports achievement was determined based on the so-called Equation of success specification, which assessed the contribution of specific segments of the anthropological status of athletes in the prediction of sports results. However, when the result depends on the subjective assessment of the judge, the structure is proposed through the Code of Points (CoP). The decisive factors that prevail in line on the Rules of Assessment, which accurately considers the difficulty of the elements for free routines, musical accompaniment, and the appearance throe the artistic impression of the gymnast. In general, it is a sports activity in which a perfect symbiosis of music and movement is achieved, with a solid aesthetic impression when performing free routines. These characteristics are also present in other sports within this group, with similarities in the methodology of training, the elements of technical difficulties, and the way of assessing the athletes’ achievements. Where looking at specific segments of the anthropological status of rhythmic gymnasts, the determinants of sports achievement are pointed out, viewed, first of all, from the aspect of assessment rules (CoP), which has undergone significant changes in recent years to encourage the rapid development of RG and its inclusion in the Olympic sports family

Estimation of Body Composition and Health Status in Women, PE Students, on-site of Outdoor Activities on Gazivode Lake – A Case Study Report

This paper is based on the results of the cross-sectional experiment that was implemented in the school year 2021/2022 among women students in the first year of bachelor studies at the Faculty of Sport and Physical Education (FSPE) in Leposavić, University of Priština (temporarily allocated in Kosovska Mitrovica). The study design model was implemented during the obligatory course Outdoor activities (2nd semester, weekly classes 1 + 4, and 15 + 60 classes per semester) for the first time. Body composition assessment was realized along with the pedagogical practice of summer outdoor activities camp on Gazivode Lake in Kosovo (as a practical exam study curriculum requirement). The sample includes seven women FSPE students. Based on the body composition and health status assessment, students’ results are presented in figures (for the evaluation of measured variables) and diagrams for estimating the individual student’s results. Comparative analysis of results within the group was used, considering the differences among examined students regarding calculated mean values, recorded min and max results, and confidence interval. The student profile model scores were selected according to the best results achieved in general placement in most variables and evaluated regarding the case study report. The results were evaluated based on the digital system for the assessment of body composition (Omron BF511) and the interpretation of results for the following variables: Body Fat (BF%), Visceral Fat (VF), Skeletal Muscles Percentage (SM%), Body Mass Index (BMI), and Resting Metabolic Rate (RMR). Health status assessments were performed by an electronic digital blood pressure monitor (Prizma YE660E) for the measurement of Systolic (SYS), Diastolic Blood Pressure (DIA), and Resting Heart Rate (RHR). The results show the expected intra-group differences in body composition parameters, which are not inherited conditionally, for all selected body parameters (except for BMI). However, most of the values are in the recommended range, especially those with small percentages of high BF% and BMI, as well as SM% values, indicating the heterogeneity of the participants, their sports orientation, health status, and level of physical activity

The contribution of pubertal development to performance scores in high-level rhythmic gymnasts

Background: Puberty is a central process in the complex set of changes that constitutes the transition from childhood to adolescence. This period of maturation is characterized by a growth spurt which affects virtually the whole skeleton and muscles and thus affecting children's motor performance. Objective: The present study investigated the role of pubertal status in predicting success in rhythmic gymnasts' (RGs) performance. Methods: One hundred and twenty-six national- and international-level RGs (age: 11.95 ± 3.09 years, body height: 147.76 ± 14.61 cm, body mass: 37.75 ± 11.72 kg, BMI: 16.79 ± 2.26 kg/m2, menarcheal age: 13.57 ± 1.18 years, training experience: 5.88 ± 2.79 years), divided into five age group categories, volunteered to participate in the study. A self-assessment was used for the estimation of the stages of sexual maturity of their breasts and axillary hair development (i.e. Tanner method), whereas the data on RGs menarche were collected by the means of interviewing. Results: Regression analysis showed that axillary hair development was the only independent parameter that had a positive influence on RGs' performance scores (b = 1.693, p = .03, advanced RGs), but overall RGs' pubertal development had a statistically significant influence on their performance [R = .37, R2 = .14, F(3, 122) = 6.475, p < .001], with the explanation of participants' competitive/performance score (Success) in Rhythmic Gymnastics (RG) by 14% of variance. Conclusion: This research indicates that RGs' athletic performance can be predicted by parameters of pubertal development, but not that well (it explains the Success by 14% of variance), and RGs' axillary hair development is a significant predictor of RG performance. In the group of pubertal RGs the established negative relations between the three examined pubertal development parameters and the performance scores could indicate that late maturation is desirable in RG