Notices

In this study, we examined whether a preparatory perceptual ‘anchoring’ technique would enhance the reproducibility (test–retest reliability) of adolescent children in their ability to self-regulate their exercise output on the basis of their effort perceptions. Forty-one adolescents aged 12.6±0.7 years (mean±s), randomly assigned to either an anchor or non-anchor group, undertook two identical production trials (three 3-min cycle ergometer bouts at levels 3, 6 and 8 of the Children's Effort Rating Table) over 8 days. Before each trial, the anchor group received an experiential (exercise) trial intended to provide a frame of reference for their perceived exertions. The test–retest reproducibility of the heart rates and power outputs produced during the production trials was assessed using intraclass correlation coefficients and 95% limits of agreement analysis. For the anchor group, the intraclass correlation coefficients ranged from 0.68 to 0.81 for heart rate and from 0.39 to 0.86 for power output. For the non-anchor group, they were generally higher: 0.86 to 0.93 and 0.81 to 0.95 for heart rate and power output, respectively. The 95% limits of agreement indicated no marked differences between the two groups in the amount of bias and within-subject error. The results suggest that among these adolescents, the implementation of an experiential anchoring protocol had no positive effect on the reproducibility of their exercise regulation during prescribed cycling.     

The effect of ball-carrying technique and experience on sprinting in rugby union

Abstract

There are several ways of carrying the ball in rugby union, which could influence the speed at which a player can run. We assessed 52 rugby players (34 males, 18 females) during a maximum sprint over 30 m without the ball, with the ball under one arm, and with the ball in both hands. Timing gates were used to measure time over the initial 10 m and the last 20 m. It has previously been reported (Grant et al., 2003 Grant, S. J., Oommen, G., McColl, G., Taylor, J., Watkins, L.Friel, N. 2003. The effects of ball carrying method on sprint speed in rugby union football players. Journal of Sports Sciences, 21: 1009–1015. [Taylor & Francis Online], [Web of Science ®] , [Google Scholar]) that running with the ball produces a slower sprinting speed than running without the ball. We hypothesized that the decrease in speed caused by carrying the ball would become less marked with the experience of the player. The male and female players were each divided into two groups: a “beginner” group that consisted of players in their first or second season and an “experienced” group that was composed of players who had played for more than two seasons. A 2 × 3 mixed-model analysis of variance was used to identify differences (P < 0.01) between the beginner and experienced groups in the three sprinting conditions. The times for the males for the first 10 m sprints without the ball, with the ball under one arm, and with the ball in both hands were 1.87 ± 0.08 s, 1.87 ± 0.08 s, and 1.91 ± 0.1 s for the beginners, and 1.87 ± 0.1, 1.88 ± 0.1 and 1.88 ± 0.12 for the more experienced players respectively. The times for the females for the first 10 m without the ball, with the ball under one arm, and with the ball in both hands were 2.13 ± 0.16 s, 2.19 ± 0.17 s, and 2.20 ± 0.16 s for the beginners, and 2.03 ± 0.12 s, 2.03 ± 0.09 s, and 2.04 ± 0.1 s for the more experienced players respectively. For the last 20 m of the 30-m sprint, there were differences between the different sprint conditions (P < 0.001) but no differences that were attributable to experience (P = 0.297). The times for the males over the last 20 m without the ball, with the ball under one arm, and with the ball in both hands were 2.58 ± 0.19 s, 2.61 ± 0.12 s, and 2.65 ± 0.12 s for the beginners, and 2.59 ± 0.12, 2.62 ± 0.23, and 2.65 ± 0.18 s for the more experienced players respectively. The times for the females over the last 20 m without the ball, with the ball under one arm, and with the ball in both hands were 3.25 ± 0.38 s, 3.35 ± 0.42 s, and 3.40 ± 0.46 s for the beginners, and 3.04 ± 0.32 s, 3.06 ± 0.22 s, and 3.13 ± 0.27 s for the more experienced players respectively. No gender-specific differences were detected. The results of this study suggest that practising sprints while carrying a ball benefits the early phase of sprinting while carrying the ball.     

More than ‘just play’: picking out three dimensions of a balanced early years pedagogy

ABSTRACT

This paper addresses the incompletely resolved tension between play-based and direct teaching approaches to early years pedagogy and practitioners’ resultant difficulties in understanding and delivering high-quality practice. Previously, we argued for the importance of infusing playfulness into all classroom interactions and activities in order to assist practitioners in forming a useful mental model of early years practice. Here, we extend the playful image to present a new, coherent framework for early years practice, based on three dimensions: the degree of playfulness in the activity taking place, the locus of control of the action during the activity and the nature of the learning taking place. We lay out the framework and describe its relation to free play as a prelude to discussing how it applies to classroom play and other types of early years classroom activity, illustrated by cameos. It is argued that the full range of each dimension should be well sampled through choosing a variety of activities and that such an approach will preserve high levels of child engagement. The framework provides a useful tool to prompt reflective practice and professional development.     

Lesson Study with preservice teachers: Lessons from lessons

This article examines a 2-year process of integrating Lesson Study—a form of teacher-led professional development—into an introductory course on the principles of teaching for students majoring in early childhood education. The course is taught in conjunction with beginning practicum work in area schools. We describe obstacles, modifications, and outcomes as we adapted the Lesson-Study process to help preservice teachers pay closer attention to instructional strategies (such as questioning techniques, anticipating student responses, and how lesson flow affects student understanding), and become more comfortable with constructive criticism by focusing on the lesson plan rather than the teacher.     

Modification of Children's Gender-Stereotyped Behavior

2 studies of 8- and 11- year-old children explored factors related to willingness $$. Study I assessed baseline gender prefernces and gender-reiatd cognitive flexibility. While older children were found to have greater congnitive flexibility, and older boys had more stereotyped preferences, such questionnaire measures were not highly predictive of gender-atraditional behavior. Study 2 explored the parameters of vicarious social reinforcement in the symbolic modeling of gender-atraditional behavior. Peer reinforcers were more effective with younger children and on child-oriented tasks, whereas adult reinforcers were more effective with older children and on adult-oriented gender tasks. Both studies found that considerably more atraditional behavior was elicited with male examiners, suggesting more attention needs to be paid to this variable. Possible mechanisms underlying this effect are discussed.     

No effect of fluid intake on neutrophil responses to prolonged cycling

Ingesting carbohydrate beverages during prolonged exercise is associated with fewer numbers of circulating neutrophils and attenuated neutrophil functional responses, yet there is little information about the effect of fluid intake alone on immune responses to prolonged exercise. The aim of this study was to examine the influence of regular fluid ingestion compared with no fluid ingestion on plasma cortisol, circulating neutrophil and lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated neutrophil degranulation responses to prolonged cycling. In a randomized design, nine recreationally active males cycled for 2 h at 65% VO2max on two occasions with either fluid ingestion (lemon-flavoured water, fluid trial) before and during the exercise, or with no fluid intake at all (no fluid trial). Venous blood samples were obtained at rest, immediately after exercise and 1 h after exercise. Immediately after exercise, the plasma cortisol concentration was significantly higher in the no fluid trial than in the fluid trial (592 +/- 62 vs 670 +/- 63 nmol x l(-1), P < 0.05). Circulating numbers of neutrophils increased 4.5-fold (P < 0.01) and LPS-stimulated elastase release per neutrophil decreased 34 +/- 7% (P < 0.01) immediately after exercise; there were no differences between trials. These results suggest that in ambient environmental conditions, fluid ingestion alone has a negligible effect on circulating neutrophil and LPS-stimulated neutrophil degranulation responses to prolonged exercise.     

The effects of carbohydrate supplementation on immune responses to a soccer-specific exercise protocol

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of carbohydrate (CHO) versus placebo (PLA) beverage consumption on the immune and plasma cortisol responses to a soccer-specific exercise protocol in 8 university team soccer players. In a randomized, counterbalanced design, the players received carbohydrate or placebo beverages before, during and after two 90 min soccer-specific exercise bouts (3 days apart) designed to mimic the activities performed and the distance covered in a typical soccer match. Blood and saliva samples were collected before, during and after the exercise protocol. Plasma lactate concentration increased to approximately 4 mmol x l(-1) at 45 and 90 min of exercise in both treatments (P<0.01). Plasma glucose concentration was significantly lower after 90 min of exercise with ingestion of the placebo than the carbohydrate (PLA: 4.57+/-0.12 mmol x l(-1); CHO: 5.49+/-0.11 mmol x l(-1); P<0.01). The pattern of change in plasma cortisol, circulating lymphocyte count and saliva immunoglobulin A secretion did not differ between the carbohydrate and placebo trials. Blood neutrophil counts were 14% higher 1 h after the placebo trial than the carbohydrate trial (PLA: 4.8+/-0.5x10(9) cells x l(-1); CHO: 4.2+/-0.5x10(9) cells x l(-1); P = 0.06), but the treatment had no effect on the degranulation response of blood neutrophils stimulated by bacterial lipopolysaccharide. We conclude that, although previous studies have shown that carbohydrate feeding is effective in attenuating immune responses to prolonged continuous strenuous exercise, the same cannot be said for a soccer-specific intermittent exercise protocol. When overall exercise intensity is moderate, and changes in plasma glucose, cortisol and immune variables are relatively small, it would appear that carbohydrate ingestion has only a minimal influence on the immune response to exercise.