An Investigation Into Handedness and Choking Under Pressure in Sport

When athletes fail to perform at an expected level during an important moment, it is implied the athletes have experienced “choking“ (sudden decline in performance) under pressure.”. Researchers have reported that persistent left-hemispheric activation patterns occur when an athlete experiences considerable performance deteriorations under pressure. Researchers have also observed differences in brain activation patterns between left- and right-handed people on a variety of physical and cognitive tests, with the left-hemispheric activation more pronounced in right-handed participants. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate whether athletes’ handedness may be linked to choking susceptibility (i.e., likelihood to experience performance decline under pressure). Method: Twenty right-handed and 13 left-handed experienced Australian football players completed 15 shot attempts, in both a low-pressure and a high-pressure condition. Both groups displayed equal state anxiety increases due to the pressure manipulation, indicating similar increases in anxiety in both handedness groups. Results: Differences were indicated in performance between the left- and right-handed groups during the high-pressure condition, with the left-handed group maintaining, and the right-handed participants declining, performance. Conclusion: Future electroencephalogram (EEG) research investigating this link may clarify the effect between handedness and choking.     

Politicians’ perspective on the community-related impacts of major sports events – a case study for Innsbruck-Tyrol

While scholarly attention with respect to the social impacts of sports events has increased in recent years, there is still little research discussing the wide-ranging community-related impacts stemming particularly from major sports events. Local political leaders, as (elected) representatives of the community, are important stakeholders within this context and face the challenge of balancing diverse interests in the implementation of major sports events. The purpose of this study is to assess the importance politicians attribute to event impacts that create sustainable outcomes for residents living in a host city. Based on a content analysis, a list of general event impacts (outputs and legacies) produced by major sports events was created and subsequently discussed with scholars and experts in the field to classify the criteria as community relevant or not. A final number of 56 criteria (34 of which are considered community relevant) was then used in the assessment of the politicians’ (representing either the State of Tyrol or the City of Innsbruck) attitude towards these impacts. The findings of the study indicate that, though aware of community interests, politicians nevertheless prioritize economic and touristic benefits for the host city/region such as place marketing. Moreover, politicians seem to have a better understanding of tangible impacts (e.g. infrastructure), underestimating the important intangible impacts (e.g. voluntariness) closely related to community issues. Thus, the research in hand outlines the need to sensitize governments to community interests when planning and implementing major sports events.     

Effects of a structured midsole on spatio-temporal variables and running economy in overground running

Research to enhance running performance has led to the design of a leaf spring-structured midsole shoe (LEAF). In treadmill running, it has been shown that LEAF led to an increased running economy and increased stride length (SL) through a horizontal foot shift during stance compared to a standard foam shoe (FOAM). The purpose of this study was to analyse whether (a) these findings can also be observed in overground running and (b) relations exist between spatio-temporal variables and running economy. Ten male long-distance heel-strike runners ran at their individual 2?mmol/l blood lactate speed with LEAF and FOAM in randomized order. Kinematic data were recorded with an inertial measurement unit synchronized with 2D video. Oxygen consumption was measured using an automated metabolic gas analysis system. Blood lactate was collected after each run. The strike pattern was unaffected by LEAF. SL was increased by 0.9?±?1.1?cm (95% CI 0.2 to 1.5; p?=?.040; d_z?=?0.76), stride rate (SR) was reduced by ?0.4?±?0.3?strides/min (95% CI ?0.6 to ?0.1; p?=?.029; d_z?=?0.82) and oxygen consumption tended to be reduced by 1% (?0.4?±?0.6?ml/min/kg; 95% CI ?0.8 to 0.0; p?=?.082; d_z?=?0.62) when running with LEAF compared to FOAM. Changes in oxygen consumption in LEAF were correlated with SL (r?=?0.71; p?=?.022) and SR (r?=??0.68; p?=?.031). It can be concluded that LEAF has the potential to cause small changes in spatio-temporal variables during running. Runners increasing SL and decreasing SR in response to LEAF can achieve small improvements in running economy, which is beneficial in terms of performance.     

The effect of potential fall distance on hormonal response in rock climbing

The aim of this study was to examine the effect of alterations in potential lead fall distance on the hormonal responses of rock climbers. Nine advanced female climbers completed two routes while clipping all (PRO-all) or half (PRO-½) of the fixed points of protection. Venous blood samples were analysed for total catecholamines, noradrenaline (norepinephrine), adrenaline (epinephrine), dopamine, lactate, cortisol and serotonin. Differences between the two conditions pre, immediately post and 15 min post climbing were assessed using a 2 × 3 repeated measures ANOVA. All hormones and blood lactate concentrations increased significantly (P < 0.05) immediately post climb, except for cortisol. Peak cortisol concentrations did not occur until 15 min post ascent. Further, significant interactions between climbing and clipping conditions were found for total catecholamines (890% of basal concentration in PRO-½ vs. 568% in PRO-all), noradrenaline (794% vs. 532%) and dopamine (500% vs. 210%). There were no significant interactions for adrenaline (1920% vs. 1045%), serotonin (150% vs. 127%) or lactate (329% vs. 279%). The study showed a greater catecholamine response with an increase in potential lead fall distance. The most pronounced increases seen in catecholamine concentration were reported for dopamine and noradrenaline.     

Sportunterricht

Physical education is linked with hopes of health improvement. Especially for children and adolescents who are inactive in leisure, physical education (P.E.) is of great importance. The purpose of this paper is to answer the question whether the health status of inactive children and adolescents differs depending on the number of P.E. lessons attended. This question was analyzed with a sub-sample of the KiGGS (children and adolescents health survey) and MoMo (motoric module) studies of inactive subjects (n=310; age 7–17 years) who were classified into two groups depending on the number of P.E. lessons attended (up to 2 lessons/week; more than 2 lessons/week). Health status was assessed using questionnaires, motor performance tests and laboratory findings. Analyses of variance showed no significant differences between the two groups concerning health parameters.     

External Quality Auditing in Sweden: Are Departments Affected?

The article studies the effects of the first round of quality audits in five higher education institutions in Sweden. Using the formal objectives of the audits as a starting point of the investigation, the article examines in which areas change, as experienced at the departmental level, seems to be achieved and where problems can be found. The results are then discussed in a broader context where experiences from quality audit and assessment processes in the UK are included, and where strengths and weaknesses of the current audit procedures in Sweden are identified. Some implications of the study, especially focusing on possible future improvements in the design of quality audits, are examined in the conclusion.     

Entwicklungstendenzen in Schwedischen Sekundär- Und Hochschulen

Ohne Zusammenfassung

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Trends in the development in secondary and higher education in Sweden

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Developpement de l'enseignement secondaire et universitaire en suede