Preseason changes in markers of lower body fatigue and performance in young professional rugby union players

This study investigated the changes in measures of neuromuscular fatigue and physical performance in young professional rugby union players during a preseason training period. Fourteen young (age: 19.1?±?1.2 years) professional rugby union players participated in the study. Changes in measures of lower body neuromuscular fatigue (countermovement jump (CMJ) mean power, mean force, flight-time) and physical performance (lower body strength, 40?m sprint velocity) were assessed during an 11-week preseason period using magnitude-based inferences. CMJ mean power was likely to very likely decreased during week 2 (?8.1?±?5.5% to ?12.5?±?6.8%), and likely to almost certainly decreased from weeks 5 to 11 (?10?±?4.3% to ?14.7?±?6.9%), while CMJ flight-time demonstrated likely to very likely decreases during weeks 2, and weeks 4–6 (?2.41?±?1% to ?3.3?±?1.3%), and weeks 9–10 (?1.9?±?0.9% to ?2.2?±?1.5%). Despite this, possible improvements in lower body strength (5.8?±?2.7%) and very likely improvements in 40?m velocity (5.5?±?3.6%) were made. Relationships between changes in CMJ metrics and lower body strength or 40?m sprint velocity were trivial or small (<0.22). Increases in lower body strength and 40?m velocity occurred over the course of an 11-week preseason despite the presence of neuromuscular fatigue (as measured by CMJ). The findings of this study question the usefulness of CMJ for monitoring fatigue in the context of strength and sprint velocity development. Future research is needed to ascertain the consequences of negative changes in CMJ in the context of rugby-specific activities to determine the usefulness of this test as a measure of fatigue in this population.     

Social Participation of Children with Disabilities in Inclusive Preschool Programs: Program Typology and Ecological Features

The purpose of this study was to examine the social participation of young children with disabilities in inclusive preschool programs. One hundred forty-three preschool-aged children with disabilities were observed in classrooms representing four organizational contexts: community-based, Head Start, public school, and blended. Children's and adults' social behavior was positive across settings, and children in blended programs engaged in significantly more positive social behavior with adults. Peer social engagement did not differ across organizational contexts. Activity initiator was an ecological variable that affected children's social engagement in that children engaged in significantly more interaction with peers in child-initiated activities and significantly more interaction with adults in adult-initiated activities.).     

EDITORIAL

No abstract available for this article.     

Time to embrace the complexity when analysing GPS data? A systematic review of contextual factors on match running in rugby league

ABSTRACT

This systematic review aimed to identify and summarise associations between currently identified contextual factors and match running in senior male professional rugby league. Eligible articles included at least one contextual factor and used GPS to measure at least one displacement variable within competitive senior, male, professional rugby league matches. Of the 15 included studies, the identified contextual factors were grouped into factors related to individual characteristics (n = 3), match result (n = 4), team strength (n = 2), opposition strength (n = 3), match conditions (n = 6), technical and tactical demands (n = 6), spatial and temporal characteristics (n = 7), and nutrition (n = 1). Speed was the most commonly reported measure of match running (100%), followed by distance (47%), and acceleration (20%). Inconsistencies were found between studies for most contextual factors on match running. Higher speeds were generally associated with higher fitness, encountered earlier in the match and whilst defending. All 15 studies utilised a univariate approach to quantify associations of a contextual factor. The inconsistencies found in the associations of given contextual factors highlight the complex and multi-faceted nature of match running. Therefore, practitioners should consider contextual factors when analysing and interpreting GPS data.     

Antecedents of Adolescents' Motives for Television Use

According to the uses and gratifications approach, individuals try to satisfy needs by means of media use. The empirical application of this approach is often problematic because of the concept of “needs.” It is argued that the focus should shift to social and psychological factors as direct explanations of behavior. This article hypothesizes that adolescents' television use for mood management is predicted by factors related to the school and family contexts. Results support the hypothesis that tensions generated within the social contexts of home and school life are directly and indirectly related to the use of television for mood management.     

So What Does Dance Have to Do with It? Using Dance to Teach Students about Leadership*

Dance is a common metaphor in both the change and leadership literature. However, can dance, a movement art, actually be used to learn about leadership? The answer is yes and this exercise shows you how. Dance as an instructional strategy allows the instructor to tap the cognitive, affective, and conative components of the brain.     

Teaching Literacy through Braille in Mainstream Settings whilst Promoting Inclusion: Reflections on Our Practice

We would describe teaching literacy through braille as one of the most rewarding and challenging aspects of the role of a Qualified Teacher for the Visually Impaired (QTVI). This article focuses on teaching literacy through braille in mainstream settings whilst promoting inclusion and meeting the social–emotional needs of children who use braille. It aims to share good practice and is based on reflections from our own practice and research carried out by some of the authors. The article considers the impact of vision impairment on opportunities for literacy development, the main challenges QTVIs working in a peripatetic (itinerary) way face, as well as what works well and how we can overcome these challenges. The article describes what characterises good practice in teaching braille, describes effective collaborative work between teachers, other professionals and parents, and analyses how to promote inclusion whilst ensuring pupils access the specialist curriculum and individualised instruction.     

Tissue mass ratios and the reporting of distal lower extremity injuries in varsity athletes at a Canadian University

Abstract

The purpose of this preliminary investigation was to determine the relative role of the distal lower extremity tissue masses of varsity athletes in predicting distal lower extremity injury sustained during a competitive season. One hundred male and female varsity athletes (basketball, volleyball, soccer, cross country) completed a questionnaire on general health, physiological, and psychosocial variables, during each sport's respective training camp. A series of anthropometric measurements were used as inputs to distal lower extremity tissue mass prediction equations to calculate lean mass, fat mass, bone mineral content and wobbling mass (lean mass + fat mass) and tissue mass ratios. Athletes were monitored throughout their respective seasons and were instructed to report any distal lower extremity injuries to a certified athletic therapist who was responsible for assessing and confirming the reports. Logistic regression analyses were performed to determine which variables significantly predicted distal lower extremity injury. Mean leg fat mass:bone mass (OR = 1.6, CI = 1.0 – 2.5), and competition surface (rubber OR = 8.5, CI = 1.5 – 47.7; artificial turf OR = 4.0, CI = 0.77 – 22.9) were identified as significant predictors of injury. Overall, tibia bone injuries were significantly associated with the ratio of fat mass:bone mineral content and the surface on which the athletes compete.