Explosive force production during isometric squats correlates with athletic performance in rugby union players

Abstract

This study investigated the association between explosive force production during isometric squats and athletic performance (sprint time and countermovement jump height). Sprint time (5 and 20 m) and jump height were recorded in 18 male elite-standard varsity rugby union players. Participants also completed a series of maximal- and explosive-isometric squats to measure maximal force and explosive force at 50-ms intervals up to 250 ms from force onset. Sprint performance was related to early phase (≤100 ms) explosive force normalised to maximal force (5 m, r = ?0.63, P = 0.005; and 20 m, r = ?0.54, P = 0.020), but jump height was related to later phase (>100 ms) absolute explosive force (0.51 < r < 0.61; 0.006 < P < 0.035). When participants were separated for 5-m sprint time (< or ≥ 1s), the faster group had greater normalised explosive force in the first 150 ms of explosive-isometric squats (33–67%; 0.001 < P < 0.017). The results suggest that explosive force production during isometric squats was associated with athletic performance. Specifically, sprint performance was most strongly related to the proportion of maximal force achieved in the initial phase of explosive-isometric squats, whilst jump height was most strongly related to absolute force in the later phase of the explosive-isometric squats.     

Improving the TAMI for use with athletes

Abstract

Athletes have been shown to have greater movement imagery abilities than non-athletes. However, since these differences were observed using questionnaires where participants subjectively judged the vividness of performing imagined movements, it is possible that responses could be biased by other factors such as social desirability. One possible solution is to use an objective test, such as the Test of Ability in Movement Imagery (TAMI; Madan, C. R., & Singhal, A. (2013). Introducing TAMI: An objective test of ability in movement imagery. Journal of Motor Behavior, 45, 153–166.). Unfortunately, young adults perform relatively well on the TAMI, leaving little room for statistical sensitivity in observing higher scores. Here we propose an alternate scoring method for the TAMI that resolves this limitation by weighing items according to their difficulty. We apply this scoring method to existing data and show that this improves the TAMI’s selectivity to measuring ability in movement imagery, rather than related imagery processes. Thus, we have successfully improved the TAMI to be more suited for use with athletic populations.     

Voices of the dead: Transmission/translation/transgression

The history of spiritualist sound experiments – from nineteenth‐century ‘trumpet manifestations’ to contemporary ‘electronic voice phenomena’ – represents a sustained engagement with electrical noise and its psychic, linguistic, and media‐technological implications. While the study of noise generally focuses on music and cinema sound, in which its transgressive nature is often recuperated back into artistic production, spiritualist efforts to record so‐called transmissions from the dead illustrate the ways in which noise resists conscious mediation or artistic representation. A closer study of their methods and practices shows that the real, physical‐acoustic nature of voice phenomena even resists the spiritualists' own attempts to translate and interpret these noises as coherent ‘messages’. Through an examination of the history of spiritualist sound experimentation in the Nineteenth Century and its continued practice following the development of the radio and tape recorder in the Twentieth Century, this paper argues that the spiritualists' enduring fascination with noise exposes the connections between sound technologies, psychic phenomena and schizophrenic hallucinations which pose a threat to the autonomy and integrity of the listening and speaking subject.     

Preservice physical education teachers' attributes related to teaching a student labeled ADHD

This study assessed the association between preservice teacher-related variables [i.e., age, adapted physical education (APE) and special education (SPED) coursework, experience teaching students with disabilities and perceive competence] on measures of the Physical Educators' Intention toward Teaching Individuals with Disabilities II – Preservice Survey (PEITID-II-PS). The PEITID-II-PS used the Theory of Planned Behavior (TpB) ( Ajzen, 2002) on preserive physical education teachers (n = 213) purposely selected from universities in China, Korea, and the United States. Results indicated that both intention and perceived behavioral control were predicted by teaching experience and perceived teaching competency. Attitude toward the behavior variable was predicted by prior teaching experience, special education coursework, and age. Age and perceived teaching competency were associated with behavioral beliefs.     

Quality and Its Assurance in Further Education

Inspection is one of several approaches adopted in the further education (FE) sector for enhancing quality and raising standards. Inspections are carried out by full‐time inspectors augmented by a substantial body of part‐time appointments from the colleges, industry and commerce. All colleges have a quadrennial inspection which draws on evidence collected during the previous four years, supplemented and updated by the visit of an inspection team. Colleges are actively involved in the planning of their inspection and nominate a senior member of staff as a full member of the inspection team. Inspectors assess the strengths and weaknesses of each aspect of provision, using a five‐point grading scale. Inspection grades represent the collective judgements of all those involved and initial assessments of inspectors are moderated throughout the inspection process. A high degree of consistency has been observed between the gradings obtained by full‐ and part‐time inspectors. Inspections are regularly reviewed and evaluated so that changes can be made to the arrangements as necessary. Inspections to date have provided a valuable picture of the issues to be addressed by the FE sector and the main challenges facing the new FE inspectorate     

Writing Self-Efficacy in Young Children: Issues for the Early Grades Environment

The intent of this study was to examine young children’s perceptions of writing self-efficacy (Grades K–1). Most research studies find a significant relationship between self-efficacy and achievement in older students (Grades 4–16). Research has also shown that children are affected by personal perceived self-efficacy. Therefore, self-efficacy can affect young learners as well. There are few self-efficacy studies among young learners, especially kindergarten and first grade. This study was conducted to determine if young learners could describe their writing self-efficacy and, if so, how student perceptions compare to teachers’ and researchers’ perceptions.The data showed that participating students from kindergarten and first grade could describe their writing self-efficacy. Several characteristics of children with high and low writing self-efficacy are discussed. Comparisons between teachers’, researchers’, and children’s perceptions of writing self-efficacy showed consistency with 14 of the 18 student participants.     

Is Criminology Moving Toward a Paradigm Shift? Evidence from a Survey of the American Society of Criminology

Ideology impacts a number of values, beliefs, and norms across an array of domains. Relatively little research has been done in criminology exploring the relationship between ideology and theoretical orientation. This study represents not only a follow‐up of previous research exploring this relationship, but also introduces new variables exploring the extent to which biological correlates of crime are becoming more accepted in the academy. Results are gleaned from a survey given to members of the American Society of Criminology as of December 2007.