Effects of a kindergarten-based,family-involved intervention on motor performance ability in 3- to 6-year-old children: the ToyBox-study

This study targeted to examine the effect of the ToyBox-intervention, a kindergarten-based, family-involved intervention, aiming to improve preschooler’s energy-related behaviours (e.g., physical activity) on motor performance ability. Physical activity sessions, classroom activities, environmental changes and tools for parents were the components of the 1-year intervention. The intervention and control were cluster-randomised, and children’s anthropometry and two motor test items (jumping from side to side, JSS and standing long jump, SLJ) were assessed. A total of 1293 (4.6 ± 0.69 years; 52% boys) from 45 kindergartens in Germany were included (intervention, n = 863; control, n = 430). The effect was assessed using generalised estimating equation. The intervention group showed a better improvement in JSS (Estimate 2.19 jumps, P = 0.01) and tended to improve better in SLJ (Estimate 2.73 cm, P = 0.08). The intervention was more effective in boys with respect to SLJ (P of interaction effect = 0.01). Children aged <4.5 years did not show a significant benefit while older children improved (JSS, Estimate 3.38 jumps, P = 0.004; SLJ, Estimate 4.18 cm, P = 0.04). Children with low socio-economic status improved in JSS (Estimate 5.98 jumps, P = 0.0001). The ToyBox-intervention offers an effective strategy to improve specific components of motor performance ability in early childhood. Future programmes should consider additional strategies specifically targeting girls and younger aged children.

Abbreviations: BMI: body mass index; SES: socio-economic status; JSS: jumping from side to side; SLJ: standing long jump; SD: standard deviation; GEE: generalised estimating equation     

Effects of false-start disqualification rules on response-times of elite-standard sprinters

The 100 ms ruling for false start disqualification at athletic competitions governed by the International Association of Athletics Federations has been in force since the early 1990s. Throughout this period, there have been marked changes to the rules that govern the disqualification of athletes from sprint events incorporating starts from blocks. This study analysed all available World and European Championship response-time (RT) data from 1999 to 2014 to examine effects of rule changes on competition RT at major championships. The exponentially modified Gaussian distribution was used to model RT and make comparisons relative to athletes’ sex, ruling periods and competition rounds. Revised RT thresholds of 115 ms and 119 ms were identified for men and women, respectively, indicating that the current 100 ms rule could result in some false starts not being detected in competitive athletics. The study proposes that when using existing International Association of Athletics Federations approved systems, the false start detection threshold should be increased and that men and women athletes should have different thresholds because of substantial evidence of a sex-based difference in RT in elite-standard athletes.     

Identification of temporal factors related to shot performance for indoor recurve archery

The purpose of this study was to investigate the temporal phases of the archery shot cycle that distinguish the arrows distance from centre, in an attempt to understand critical factors that affect performance. Fifteen archers of varying ability each performed 30 shots at 18 m. Fourteen potential predictor variables were measured for statistical modelling by stepwise multiple linear regression. The results show that pre-shot time (pre-performance routine), follow-through time (post-performance routine), aiming time, speed of the arrow and the %variation in clicker-release time, account for 7.7% of the variation in predicting shot performance. The results have implications for practice demonstrating factors that coaches should focus on to develop their athletes. Further work on pre-, but more importantly, post-performance routines are needed generally within sport research as they are lacking and have been shown to be important contributing factors in a number of sports.     

A knock to the system: A new sociotechnical systems approach to sport-related concussion

Broader contextual factors that influence concussion management have tended to be overlooked. To address this, the present study used a sociotechnical systems approach to identify perceived responsibilities and applied strategies for three domains of concussion management (i.e., prevention, identification and treatment). Participants were 118 members of the community rugby union system in Australia (69.2% male). Participants from throughout the rugby system (e.g., players, parents, coaches, club management) were asked open-ended questions about their perceived responsibilities and the strategies they use for concussion management. It was found that (a) proper training, technique correction and education were recurrent prevention themes; (b) the majority of key stakeholders felt that they could consistently identify concussion; however, medical aids (medics) were the only system actors who stated a responsibility to use standardised concussion assessment measures and (c) less than one third of the respondents indicated their involvement in treating concussion. This study identifies specific junctures in the system that prevents effective concussion management strategies. A sociotechnical systems approach improves the understanding of concussion prevention, and management beliefs and behaviours.     

Performing under pressure: Exploring the psychological state underlying clutch performance in sport

Clutch performance is improved performance under pressure. However, little research has examined the psychological state experienced by athletes in these situations. Therefore, this study qualitatively examined the subjective experience underlying clutch performance across a range of sports (e.g., team, individual) and standards (Olympic to recreational athletes). Sixteen athletes (M_age = 27.08 years; SD = 6.48) took part in in-depth, semi-structured interviews primarily after an exceptional performance (M = 4.38 days later; SD = 3.14). Data were analysed inductively and thematically. Clutch states involved 12 characteristics, including heightened and deliberate concentration, intense effort, and heightened awareness, which distinguished the experience of clutch from other optimal psychological states such as flow. Other characteristics, such as perceptions of control, were also reported and supported previous experimental research on clutch. These findings present in-depth qualitative insights into the psychological state underlying clutch performance, and are discussed in relation to the existing literature on optimal psychological states in sport.     

1995-2014年羌族中小学生体质健康发展态势研究*

依据全国学生体质与健康调研报告并结合实地调查,采用文献资料法、逻辑分析法、数据统计法和对比研究法,分别对1995~2014年间羌族7-17岁中小学生的身高、体重、胸围、肺活量、50m跑、坐位体前屈六项共性指标进行数据统计分析.结果表明:羌族中小学生身体形态发育水平总体趋势不断提升,身体素质和身体机能下降幅度有所减缓,羌族中小学生整体体质健康状况不容乐观.建议严格实施体质健康监测年度报告制度;构建"社会、学校、家庭"三位一体互动式学生体质健康促进模式;多元协同治理促进学生养成健康的生活方式、良好的体育锻炼习惯;改革供给方式加大对羌、汉族经济落后地区的体育经济投入,完善体育设施、设备等.     

体育锻炼与文化成绩的相关联分析研究 ——以一分钟仰卧起坐为例

体育活动对青少年智育发展有积极的作用,但对学生的文化成绩影响还有待深入研究.研究分层抽样调查了广东省2499名小学生,通过测试体育运动项目一分钟仰卧起坐和文化成绩(语文、数学和英语),应用线性回归模型以校正性别,年龄,身高,体重,体重指数等因素的影响,在不同学校,多个年级的多个水平上,衡量体育运动能力对文化成绩的效应,并用meta分析和pooled分析综合评估其效应值的大小,最后采用偏相关系数进一步描述了一分钟仰卧起坐成绩与小学生文化成绩之间的关联.二者相关关系是客观存在的,这也暗示了鼓励和促进小学生积极参加体育锻练对于提高学习成绩的意义.     

体育产业新政背景下健美健身产业的发展及路径选择

摘要：健美健身产业是体育产业的重要组成部分。在2014年国务院发布《关于加快发展体育产业促进体育消费的若干意见》和2015年国家统计局发布《国家体育产业统计分类》引领指导下,运用文献资料法和调查访谈法等方法,以健美健身组织、健美健身俱乐部、健美健身俱乐部从业者、以及健美健身相关行业为研究对象,对体育产业中的健美健身产业发展进行研究分析和梳理,如健美健身管理活动,健美健身竞赛表演活动,健美健身休闲活动,健美健身场地设施建设,健美健身场馆服务,迅速发展的健美健身会展业,互联网+健美健身,健美健身产业中的就业与创业,等。为健美健身产业的发展指明方向提出要求,以期更好地提升体育产业和促进健美健身产业的发展。     

Performing Bandung: China’s dance diplomacy with India,Indonesia, and Burma, 1953–1962

While dance was a common element of international diplomacy activities around the world during the 1950s and early 1960s, scholars have only recently begun to focus attention on this topic, especially as it concerns relationships forged beyond those of the Cold War superpowers. Using previously unexamined historical materials such as rare photographs and performance programs, dancer biographies, autobiographies and personal interviews, unpublished institutional histories, and contemporary periodicals, this article demonstrates not only that dance was an integral part of China’s inter-Asian cultural exchange between 1953 and 1962, but also that the PRC developed a distinct approach to dance diplomacy. Through a series of exchanges with India, Indonesia and Burma, China’s foreign ministers and dancers developed and refined a method of dance diplomacy in which the primary goal was to learn from, rather than export to, these neighboring countries. This approach harnessed the affective power of embodied aesthetic culture to literally “perform” Bandung ideals, namely, cooperation and mutual respect among Asian nations and an anti-imperialist cultural stance. Through the establishment in 1962 of the Oriental Song and Dance Ensemble, the PRC institutionalized this model of dance diplomacy, expanding it to include the entire Third World. Bandung-era dance diplomacy initiatives of the 1950s and early 1960s not only supported important new international alliances and political movements, but also asserted China’s self-identity as part of the East in the way that challenged Eurocentric ideals previously entrenched in China’s domestic dance field.