Somersaulting techniques used in high-scoring and low-scoring Roche vaults performed by male Olympic gymnasts

The aim of this study was to compare the somersaulting techniques used in the 16 highest-scoring and 16 lowest-scoring Roche vaults. Our hypothesis was that the gymnasts performing the highest-scoring Roche vaults would demonstrate a better technique than those performing the lowest-scoring Roche vaults while on the horse (pushing off the horse more effectively), somersaulting (executing most of the required somersaults higher in flight), and landing (showing a greater control). A 16-mm motion picture camera, operating at 100 Hz, recorded the vaults during the official competition. The two-dimensional direct linear transformation was used for spatial reconstruction. The results of t-tests (P < 0.05) indicated that, compared with the low-scoring gymnasts, the high-scoring gymnasts had: (1) greater height of body centre of mass and a more fully extended body position at the horse take-off; (2) greater height of body centre of mass at the peak of post-flight, knee release, and touchdown on the mat; (3) greater horizontal and vertical displacements of body centre of mass, greater somersaulting rotation, and longer time from the knee release to mat touchdown; and (d) markedly smaller landing point deductions. In conclusion, a successful Roche vault is likely when the focus is on: (a) leaving the horse with a large vertical velocity in an extended body position to achieve a high trajectory of centre of mass by first extending the legs, then immediately pushing off the horse vigorously, using the muscles of the upper extremity; (b) grasping the knees immediately after the take-off from the horse, achieving the tightly tucked body position early during the ascent to the peak, and completing two-thirds of the required somersaults at a great height; (c) releasing the knees and extending the body above the top level of the horse; and (d) contacting the mat with a high body centre of mass position.     

Maximizing recovery time between knock-out races improves sprint cross-country skiing performance

Background:In a sprint cross-country(XC)ski competition,the difference in recovery times separating the first and the second semi-final(SF)heats from the final(F)may affect performance.The aim of the current study was to compare the effects of longer vs.shorter recovery periods prescribed between the 3 knock-out races of a simulated sprint XC ski competition involving a prologue(P),quarter-final(QF),SF,and F.Methods:Eleven well-trained XC ski athletes completed 2 simulated sprint XC ski competitions on a treadmill involving 4×883-m roller-ski bouts at a 4°incline using the gear 3 ski-skating sub-technique.The first 3 bouts were completed at a fixed speed(PFIX,QFFIX,and SFFIX)corresponding to~96%of each individual’s previously determined maximal effort.The final bout was performed as a self-paced sprint time trial(FSTT).Test conditions differed by the time durations prescribed between the QFFIX,SFFIX,and FSTT,which simulated real-world XC ski competition conditions using maximum(MAX-REC)or minimum(MIN-REC)recovery periods.Results:The FSTT was completed 5.4±5.5 s faster(p=0.009)during MAX-REC(179.2±18.1 s)compared to MIN-REC(184.6±20.0 s),and this was linked to a significantly higher power output(p=0.010)and total metabolic rate(p=0.009).The pre FSTT blood lactate(BLa)concentration was significantly lower during MAX-REC compared to MIN-REC(2.5±0.8 mmol/L vs.3.6±1.6 mmol/L,respectively;p=0.027),and the pre-to-post FSTT increase in BLa was greater(8.8±2.1 mmol/L vs.7.1±2.3 mmol/L,respectively;p=0.024).No other differences for MAX-REC vs.MIN-REC reached significance(p>0.05).Conclusion:Performance in a group of well-trained XC skiers is negatively affected when recovery times between sprint heats are minimized which,in competition conditions,would occur when selecting the last QF heat.This result is combined with a higher pre-race BLa concentration and a reduced rise in BLa concentration under shorter recovery conditions.These findings may help inform decision making when XC skiers are faced with selecting a QF heat within a sprint competition.     

Compelling overuse injury incidence in youth multisport athletes

The present investigation was carried out to examine the incidence and pattern of injuries in adolescent multisport athletes from youth sports academy. Injury data were prospectively collected from 166 athletes during the seasons from 2009 to 2014. A total of 643 injuries were identified, 559 (87.0%) were time-loss injuries. The overall injury incidence was 5.5 (95% confidence interval CI: 5.1–6.0), the incidence of time-loss injuries was 4.8 (95% CI: 4.4–5.2), the incidence of growth conditions was 1.2 (95% CI: 1.0–1.4) and incidence of serious injuries was 0.6 (95% CI: 0.5–0.8) per 1000?h of exposure. The prevalence of overuse injuries was 50.3%. Growth conditions represented 20.0%. Most of the injuries (67.0%) involved the lower extremities, and both foot and ankle were the most predominant injured body parts (22.0%). Knee injuries were mostly from overuse (50 vs. 23, p?=?.02), whereas foot and ankle injuries resulted from an acute mechanism (94 vs. 31, p?<?.0001). Minor and moderate injuries accounted for 87.0%. Muscle, tendon and osteochondrosis injuries accounted for 52.0% of all injuries. Comparing groups, squash sport was having the highest injury incidence (8.5 injuries per athlete). Higher exposure was associated with greater overuse relative risk (RR?=?1.03, 95% CI: 1.01–1.014, p?<?.001). In conclusion, the results of this study identified a high incidence of injuries in this youth sports population. Striking was the prevalence of overuse injuries of 50%, which suggests the need for injury prevention protocols for adolescent highly trained athletes.     

Techniques used in high-scoring and low-scoring 'Roche' vaults performed by elite male gymnasts

The 16 highest-scored Roche vaults (G1) performed during the 2000 Olympic Games were compared with those receiving the 16 lowest-scores (G2). A 16-mm motion picture camera operating at 100 Hz recorded the vaults during the competition. The results of t tests (p < .05) indicated G1, compared to G2, had (a) shorter time of board support, greater normalised average upward vertical force and backward horizontal force exerted by the board, greater change in the vertical velocity while on the board, and greater vertical velocity at board take-off, (b) comparable linear and angular motions in pre-flight, (c) smaller backward horizontal impulse exerted by the horse, smaller loss of the horizontal velocity while on the horse, and greater horizontal and vertical velocities at horse take-off, (d) greater height and larger horizontal distance of post-flight, (e) higher body mass centre at knee release, and (f) higher mass centre, greater normalised moment of inertia, and smaller vertical velocity at mat touchdown. Therefore, gymnasts and coaches should focus on sprinting the approach; blocking and pushing-off the take-off board rapidly and vigorously; departing the board with a large vertical velocity; exerting large downward vertical force and small forward horizontal force from the hand-stand position while on the horse; departing the horse with large horizontal and vertical velocities; and completing the majority of the double salto forward near the peak of trajectory and releasing the knees above the top of the horse to prepare for a controlled landing.     

GREEK PUBLIC ATTITUDES: CONTINUITY AND CHANGE

The dictatorship that ruled Greece between 1967–74 hadlasting consequences on the country's political culture. FromWorld War II and the Greek civil war until the dictatorship'scollapse, pro-Western, anti-communist, pro-business, sociallytraditional values had dominated public opinion. The dramaticfall of the dictatorship amidst a ‘national tragedy’made it a scapegoat and made what it stood for very unpopularespecially among the younger generation. So, when the lattercame of age, it contributed to the emergence of a new set ofvalues that were anti-rights, anti-Western, anti-business, anti-traditionalistand even historically revisionist, and were majoritrian in the1980s. These values have been so strongly entrenched that neitherthe Panhellenic Socialist Movement's (PASOK's) poor record inpower, nor the indictment of some of its leaders for seriousscandals in 1989, nor even the emergence, under PASOK rule,of a new more moderate generation, have helped the right toregain the absolute majority of the votes so to govern the country,although it has led to a partial moderation of the radical ‘juntageneration’.     

Genetic and Environmental Etiologies of the Longitudinal Relations Between Prereading Skills and Reading

The present study explored the environmental and genetic etiologies of the longitudinal relations between prereading skills and reading and spelling. Twin pairs (n = 489) were assessed before kindergarten (M = 4.9 years), post‐first grade (M = 7.4 years), and post‐fourth grade (M = 10.4 years). Genetic influences on five prereading skills (print knowledge, rapid naming, phonological awareness, vocabulary, and verbal memory) were primarily responsible for relations with word reading and spelling. However, relations with post‐fourth‐grade reading comprehension were due to both genetic and shared environmental influences. Genetic and shared environmental influences that were common among the prereading variables covaried with reading and spelling, as did genetic influences unique to verbal memory (only post‐fourth‐grade comprehension), print knowledge, and rapid naming.     

Organisational forms of science communication: the UK and Spanish European higher education systems as paradigms

As key elements in research and development systems, higher education institutions have been taking a leading role when it comes to communicating science and technology, but their performance has been inconsistent so far. In this critical and comparative study of the UK public engagement model and the Spanish scientific culture model, eighteen practitioners from higher education institutions across both regions were interviewed. A mixed qualitative data analysis has been performed identifying similarities and differences that unravelled the science communication management model in the two different higher education systems. This article provides evidence on how the institutionalisation of science communication is strongly influenced by key driving forces in the higher education context as well as the policies of administrations and other agents.