Self-talk influences vertical jump performance and kinematics in male rugby union players

Abstract

We examined the effects of instructional and motivational self-talk on centre of mass displacement and hip kinematics during the vertical jump. Twenty-four male rugby union players (age 21.1 years, s = 3.5; body mass 81.0 kg, s = 8.9; height 1.80 m, s = 0.06) performed three vertical jump tests, with a 2 min rest between jumps. Before each jump, participants engaged in one of three counterbalanced interventions (motivational self-talk, instructional self-talk or no-intervention). Motivational self-talk led to greater centre of mass displacement (0.602 m, s = 0.076; P = 0.012) than the no-intervention control (0.583 m, s = 0.085). Centre of mass displacement did not differ between instructional self-talk and the control condition or between motivational and instructional self-talk. Motivational (100.75°, s = 16.05; P = 0.001) and instructional self-talk (106.14°, s = 17.04; P = 0.001) led to greater hip displacement than the no-intervention control (94.11°, s = 17.14). There was also a significant difference in hip displacement between motivational and instructional self-talk (P = 0.014), although there was no difference between instructional self-talk and the control condition. Motivational (451.69 °/s, s = 74.34; P = 0.008) and instructional self-talk (462.01 °/s, s = 74.37; P = 0.001) led to greater hip rotation velocity than the no-intervention control (434.37 °/s, s = 75.37), although there was no difference between the two self-talk interventions. These results indicate that self-talk may influence performance and technique during the vertical jump in male rugby players.     

The dual nature of perfectionism in sports: relationships with emotion,motivation, and performance

Perfectionism is a prevalent characteristic in athletes. Yet some researchers have argued that perfectionism in sports is maladaptive because it undermines athletes’ performance and stifles athletic development. This argument, however, neglects that perfectionism is a multidimensional characteristic and that only some dimensions of perfectionism are clearly maladaptive, whereas others are not. This review argues that perfectionism is comprised of two main dimensions – perfectionistic strivings and perfectionistic concerns (Stoeber & Otto, 2006) – that show different and unique patterns of relationships with athletes’ emotions, motivation, and performance. In support of this argument the review will present findings indicating that only perfectionistic concerns show unique positive relationships with competitive anxiety, fear of failure, and avoidance goal orientations. In contrast, perfectionistic strivings show unique positive relationships with self-confidence, hope of success, approach goal orientations, and performance in training and competitions. The findings suggest that only perfectionistic concerns are clearly maladaptive, whereas perfectionistic strivings may form part of a healthy striving for excellence. Implications for applied sport psychology are discussed as are open questions for future research.     

Effects of dietary antioxidants on training and performance in female runners

Abstract

Exercise-induced oxidative stress is implicated in muscle damage and fatigue which has led athletes to embark on antioxidant supplementation regimes to negate these effects. This study investigated the intake of vitamin C (VC) (1 g), blackcurrant (BC) juice (15 mg VC, 300 mg anthocyanins) and placebo in isocaloric drink form on training progression, incremental running test and 5-km time-trial performance. Twenty-three trained female runners (age, 31±8 y; mean±SD) completed three blocks of high-intensity training for 3 wks and 3 days, separated by a washout (~3.7 wks). Changes in training and performance with each treatment were analysed with a mixed linear model, adjusting for performance at the beginning of each training block. Markers of oxidative status included protein carbonyl, malondialdehyde (in plasma and in vitro erythrocytes), ascorbic acid, uric acid and erythrocyte enzyme activity of superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase were analysed. There was a likely harmful effect on mean running speed during training when taking VC (1.3%; 90% confidence limits ±1.3%). Effects of the two treatments relative to placebo on mean performance in the incremental test and time trial were unclear, but runners faster by 1 SD of peak speed demonstrated a possible improvement on peak running speed with BC juice (1.9%; ±2.5%). Following VC, certain oxidative markers were elevated: catalase at rest (23%; ±21%), protein carbonyls at rest (27%; ±38%) and superoxide dismutase post-exercise (8.3%; ±9.3%). In conclusion, athletes should be cautioned about taking VC chronically, however, BC may improve performance in the elite.     

我国体育竞赛表演市场的现状及开发研究

我国体育竞赛表演市场由于受各方面因素的影响,目前还存在着市场规模小,主体不规范,职业俱乐部和职业联赛产权不清,国外中介机构涉足国内商业赛事,国内中介机构滞后,专业化的体育竞技公司数量少,经营管理水平低等问题。采用文献资料法与专家访问法对存在的问题进行分析,提出开发我国体育竞赛表演市场的若干途径:集资与销售、吸引赞助、转让媒体转播权。     

对我国高校试办高水平运动队运动项目设置的思考

对2006年我国高校试办高水平运动队运动项目设置的现状进行统计,分析了影响项目设置的因素,提出在宏观上对高校高水平运动项目布局要合理调控,同时又强调各地区、各高校要依据运动项目设置的原则和普及的难易程度,结合本地区与本校的竞技体育现状来合理设置特色运动项目,在合理布局项目的基础上寻找突破口。     

普通高校高水平运动队建设的影响因素与发展对策

分析了我国高校高水平运动队建设中教育与体育体制的分离，训练经费不足，教练员既从事体育教学又从事业余训练而致负担过重，运动员的先天不足、就业困难与体育科研力量薄弱等影响因素，并指出只有发挥高等学校、竞技体育系统和社会力量的作用，使竞技体育院校化，解决引进和培养优秀教练员等问题，才能加速推进我国高校高水平运动队建设水平，并走上健康的可持续发展道路，培养出更多更优秀的竞技体育人才。     

Technical and tactical skills related to performance levels in tennis: A systematic review

The aim of this systematic review is to provide an overview of outcome measures and instruments identified in the literature for examining technical and tactical skills in tennis related to performance levels. Such instruments can be used to identify talent or the specific skill development training needs of particular players. Searches for this review were conducted using the PubMed, Web of Science, and PsycInfo databases. Out of 733 publications identified through these searches, 40 articles were considered relevant and included in this study. They were divided into three categories: (1) technical skills, (2) tactical skills and (3) integrated technical and tactical skills. There was strong evidence that technical skills (ball velocity and to a lesser extent ball accuracy) and tactical skills (decision making, anticipation, tactical knowledge and visual search strategies) differed among players according to their performance levels. However, integrated measurement of these skills is required, because winning a point largely hinges on a tactical decision to perform a particular stroke (i.e., technical execution). Therefore, future research should focus on examining the relationship between these skills and tennis performance and on the development of integrated methods for measuring these skills.     

An improvement index to quantify the evolution of performance in running

Abstract

Improvements in track and field sports have been attributed to factors such as population increase, drugs and new technologies, but previous research has found it difficult to distinguish the contributions from specific influences. Here it is shown how this is possible by means of a performance improvement index based on useful work done combined with modelling of the annual top 25 performances. The index was set to 100 in 1948 and showed that, by 2012, it had increased in running events to between 110.5 and 146.7 (men’s 100 m and marathon). Underlying global effects accounted for the majority of all improvements (16.2 to 46.7) with smaller influences attributable to an influx of African runners (3.6 to 9.3), and a 4 -year oscillation that arose from staging of the Olympic Games (±0.2 to ±0.6). Performance decreased with the introduction of compulsory random drug testing (?0.9 to ?3.9) the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA; ?0.5 to ?2.5) and fully automated timing (?0.6 to ?2.5). Changes in elite sporting performance since the 1890s are attributable to societal changes caused by the industrial revolution and globalisation superimposed on millennia of human evolution.     

Generic anthropometric and performance characteristics among elite adolescent boys in nine different sports

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the Flemish Sports Compass (FSC), a non-sport-specific generic testing battery. It was hypothesised that a set of 22 tests would have sufficient discriminant power to allocate athletes to their own sport based on a unique combination of test scores. First, discriminant analyses were applied to the 22 tests of anthropometry, physical fitness and motor coordination in 141 boys under age 18 (16.1 ± 0.8 years) and post age at peak height velocity (maturity offset = 2.674 ± 0.926) from Flemish Top Sport Academies for badminton, basketball, gymnastics, handball, judo, soccer, table tennis, triathlon and volleyball. Second, nine sequential discriminant analyses were used to assess the ability of a set of relevant performance characteristics classifying participants and non-participants for the respective sports. Discriminant analyses resulted in a 96.4% correct classification of all participants for the nine different sports. When focusing on relevant performance characteristics, 80.1% to 97.2% of the total test sample was classified correctly within their respective disciplines. The discriminating characteristics were briefly the following: flexibility in gymnastics, explosive lower-limb strength in badminton and volleyball, speed and agility in badminton, judo, soccer and volleyball, upper-body strength in badminton, basketball and gymnastics, cardiorespiratory endurance in triathletes, dribbling skills in handball, basketball and soccer and overhead-throwing skills in badminton and volleyball. The generic talent characteristics of the FSC enable the distinction of adolescent boys according to their particular sport. Implications for talent programmes are discussed.     

普通高校高水平运动队的团队文化

针对当前普通高校高水平运动队管理存在的问题,提出了高校高水平运动队管理的新理念——运动队团队文化。高校高水平运动队团队文化的内容主要包括攀登技术高峰,为校为国争光;追求人的全面发展的共有价值观;齐心协力、团结协作的团队精神;实现提高技术水平和具有高度科学文化知识双赢的目标定位;具有“软”约束力的群体规范;以人为本的管理模式等,并提出了相应的建设途径。     

以项目本质特征为核心导向提升我国竞技体育训练科学化水平

项目本质特征是指运动项目在比赛规则的允许下,以获得最佳运动效益为目标,在生物力学、生物化学、运动生理学、运动心理学和运动智能学等方面表现出的主要特征。在我国的竞技训练过程中存在着“重形不重质”的问题。只有对项目本身内在的、微观的和动态变化的细节进行剖析,正确理解项目本质特征,才能不断提升我国竞技运动训练科学化水平,为提高竞技成绩提供理论依据。     

教育变革中中学体育教师体育与健康KAP的结构特征

以"体育与健康课程改革"为研究背景,采用体育与健康KAP问卷,调查我国部分省市中学体育教师和应届体育教育专业大学生的体育与健康知识、信念、行为的结构特征,分析体育教师KAP结构的主要问题,探讨体育教师知识能力结构缺失对体育与健康课程改革的影响.     

Tensiomyography parameters and jumping and sprinting performance in Brazilian elite soccer players

Tensiomyography has been suggested as an indirect marker of muscle stiffness, which is associated with strength/power performance. Therefore, it is reasonable to suggest that tensiomyography parameters could be associated with power-related motor tasks. The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between tensiomyography parameters (from rectus and biceps femoris) and jumping and sprinting abilities in elite soccer players. In addition, we used tensiomyography parameters to compare the lateral symmetry between dominant and non-dominant legs. Twenty elite soccer players (age: 23.3 ± 4.8 years; height: 183.5 ± 6.6 cm; weight: 77.8 ± 7.5 kg) volunteered to participate in the study. Significant moderate negative correlations between biceps femoris displacement and contact time (r = –0.5, p = 0.03), rectus femoris displacement and contact time (r = –0.51, p = 0.02), and a significant moderate correlation between biceps femoris displacement and reactive strength index (r = 0.5, p = 0.03) were found. There were no correlations between tensiomyography parameters and power-related motor tasks. In addition, no differences in tensiomyography parameters between dominant and non-dominant legs were found. Our data suggest that tensiomyography parameters are not associated with power-related motor tasks performance in elite soccer players.     

A preliminary evaluation of the associations among functional performance tasks and quality of life in obese and healthy weight youth

The associations among lower extremity functional performance and quality of life in obese youth are unknown. The aims of this study were to compare lower extremity strength, lower extremity functional performance, and health related quality of life between obese and healthy-weight youth and evaluate the relationships between lower extremity performance and health related quality of life in obese youth. Twenty obese and 20 age and sex matched healthy-weight youth were recruited. Peak torque of the major lower extremity muscles were measured. Functional performance was measured with single leg hop and single leg balance tests. The Paediatric Quality of Life questionnaire's physical and psychosocial health subscales were used. Paired t-tests and multiple regression analyses were performed. Obese youth demonstrated decreased peak torque in all muscles measured (P < 0.05), poorer functional performance (P < 0.05), and worse physical health related quality of life (P < 0.05) compared to healthy-weight youth. Lower extremity functional performance was associated with aspects of quality of life in the obese group (P = 0.002), but not in the healthy-weight group (P < 0.05). These results may assist in encouraging best practices in the promotion of exercise, physical activity, and quality of life in obese youth.     

对健美操融入全运会开幕式大型文体表演的时代特征分析

以第8～11届全运会开幕式大型文体表演中健美操的表演为研究对象,对健美操融入大型文体表演的时代特征因素进行了分析。研究表明:时代发展的共性特征为健美操的融入奠定了基础;时代发展为健美操的融入提供了契机。     

Measuring the effectiveness of offensive match-play in professional soccer

Abstract

The broader measures of offensive effectiveness, such as scoring opportunities and shots at goal, are commonly used as an alternative to goals scored due to the naturally low probability of scoring (about 1%) in soccer match-play. These measures may enable soccer practitioners to objectively see behind single match results, which are often influenced by chance. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between broader measures (scoring opportunities and score box possessions) and the ultimate measure (goals scored) of offensive effectiveness. We analysed data from videotapes of 163 of 182 (90%) matches played in the Norwegian men's professional league during the 2004 season. Multiple logistic regression analyses showed very similar results when comparing the effectiveness of different offensive tactics, regardless of which outcome was used. For example, counterattacks were more effective than elaborate attacks in producing goals (odds ratio OR=2.07, 95% confidence interval: 1.40 to 3.05), scoring opportunities (OR=2.30, 95% confidence interval: 1.28 to 4.15), and score box possessions (OR=2.12, 95% confidence interval: 1.39 to 3.25). The receiver-operating characteristic function statistical procedure was used to examine the association between each of the three measures of offensive effectiveness: scoring opportunities, score box possessions, and goals scored. No significant difference was observed between the area under the curve (AUC) for the broader measures (scoring opportunities and score box possessions) and the ultimate measure (goals scored) of offensive effectiveness. The 95% confidence interval of the AUC for both scoring opportunities (0.74–0.84) and score box possessions (0.68–0.76) includes the AUC for goals scored (0.74). Thus, the results are very similar regardless of which outcome measure for offensive effectiveness is used. This indicates that scoring opportunities and score box possessions (shooting opportunities) can be used as a proxy for goals scored when comparing the effectiveness of different playing tactics in soccer. Compared with goals scored, using scoring opportunities or score box possessions requires smaller match samples for meaningful analyses, and may therefore be more feasible alternatives.     

陕西省普通高校高水平运动队建设现状调查

对陕西省14所普通高等学校高水平运动队建设状况进行了调查分析,结果表明:陕西省普通高等学校高水平运动队经过近20年的建设与发展,在运动员招生、学籍管理、运动训练、竞赛制度等方面积累了丰富经验,取得了较好成果,为进一步加快高水平运动队建设奠定了坚实基础。明确目标与定位,加强合作与交流,实质性地推进“体教结合”,项目合理布局,加大经费投入,率先发展优势项目是陕西省普通高校高水平运动队建设可持续发展的必由之路。     

我国普通高校高水平运动队发展的障碍与对策

分析了我国普通高校高水平运动队发展中的阻碍因素,如高水平运动队建设条件的保障不够、生源匮乏、竞赛制度不完善、缺乏高水平教练员、学习和训练矛盾解决不当等,并在此基础上从筹集保障经费途径、优化配置教练员队伍、扩大生源面、完善竞赛机制等方面提出了解决对策。     

普通高校高水平运动队学分制实施现状及对策

在调查分析多所普通高校高水平运动队的学分制实施的基础上,探讨了专业文化学习与运动训练独立的和专业文化学习与运动训练相结合的两种学分制实施的特点,找出影响我国普通高校高水平运动队学分制实施的因素,最终提出:完善学分制管理体制,形成良性运行机制;根据需要,适度放宽学分制标准;拓宽思路,宽进严出,保证招生质量等发展对策。