Forthcoming events

The aim of this study was to examine mental imagery within the context of the deliberate practice framework. Altogether, 159 athletes from one of three different competitive standards (recreational, provincial and national) completed the Deliberate Imagery Practice Questionnaire, which was designed for the present study to assess the athletes' perceptions of the importance of imagery along the three deliberate practice dimensions of relevancy, concentration and enjoyment. The results indicated that national athletes perceived imagery to be more relevant to performing than recreational athletes. In addition, athletes of a higher standard (i.e. provincial and national) reported using more imagery in a recent typical week and they had accumulated significantly more hours of imagery practice across their athletic career than recreational athletes. Finally, the relationships among the dimensions of deliberate practice did not lend conclusive support to either the original conception of deliberate practice or a sports-specific framework of deliberate practice.     

A comparison of the physiological response to simulated altitude exposure and r-HuEpo administration

Concerns have been raised about the morality of using simulated altitude facilities in an attempt to improve athletic performance. One assumption that has been influential in this debate is the belief that altitude houses simply mimic the physiological effects of illegal recombinant human erythropoietin (r-HuEpo) doping. To test the validity of this assumption, the haematological and physiological responses of 23 well-trained athletes exposed to a simulated altitude of 2650-3000 m for 11-23 nights were contrasted with those of healthy volunteers receiving a low dose (150 IU·kg^-1 per week) of r-HuEpo for 25 days. Serial blood samples were analysed for serum erythropoietin and percent reticulocytes; maximal oxygen uptake ([Vdot]O_2max) was assessed before and after r-HuEpo administration or simulated altitude exposure. The group mean increase in serum erythropoietin (422% for r-HuEpo vs 59% for simulated altitude), percent reticulocytes (89% vs 30%) and [Vdot]O_2max (6.6% vs -2.0%) indicated that simulated altitude did not induce the changes obtained with r-HuEpo administration. Based on the disparity of these responses, we conclude that simulated altitude facilities should not be considered unethical based solely on the tenet that they provide an alternative means of obtaining the benefits sought by illegal r-HuEpo doping.     

Performers' responses to stressors encountered in sport organisations

Abstract

We investigated athletes' responses to organisational stressors. Ten sport performers (five males and five females) were interviewed with regard to the organisational-related demands they had encountered and their responses to these stressors. The main emotional responses that were revealed were anger, anxiety, disappointment, distress, happiness, hope, relief, reproach and resentment. The main attitudinal responses were beliefs, motivation and satisfaction. The main behavioural responses were categorised as verbal and physical. The data indicate that performers generally respond to organisational stressors with a wide range of emotions, attitudes and behaviours. The findings are discussed in relation to the extant literature and in terms of their implications for applied practice and future research. Consultants should employ reactive strategies alongside proactive approaches to ensure that performers are psychologically prepared to manage and cope with any demands that are not eliminated. Future research should focus on performers' cognitive appraisals of the organisational stressors they encounter.     

Acute and residual effects of vibratory stimulation on explosive strength in elite and amateur athletes

Fourteen elite and 14 amateur athletes were subjected to vibratory stimulation during bilateral biceps curl exercises of explosive strength exertion. The athletes performed two separate series of three sets of exercises in random order. The second set of one series was administered with superimposed vibration of 44 Hz and an acceleration of about 30 m .s-2 transmitted through the two-arms handle to the arm muscles. The mechanical power of each repetition was measured by the ‘Power Teach’ instrument. The maximal and mean power values for each set were automatically recorded and shown on the screen. The acute effect was evaluated as the difference between the mean and peak power output in the second (with vibratory stimulation) and first (without vibratory stimulation) sets. Similarly, the residual effect was taken to be the difference between the power values of the third (after vibratory stimulation) and the first (before vibratory stimulation) sets. The results were subjected to a repeated-measures analysis of variance with group as a between-participants factor. The results showed that exercise mode (with vs without vibratory stimulation) resulted in a significant immediate effect for mean power and for maximal power. The factor group (elite vs amateurs) resulted in a significant effect for maximal power only. The increase in explosive strength exertion attributed to vibratory stimulation was 30.1 and 29.8 W (10.4% and 10.2%) for maximal and mean power respectively in the elite group, and 20.0 and 25.9 W (7.9% and 10.7%) respectively in the amateur athletes. Vibratory stimulation resulted in an insignificant residual effect.     

上海市业余训练运动员队伍建设及培养方式转变研究*

在"三上一提高"的指导思想下,近年来上海市业余训练运动员队伍建设和培养方式都取得了可喜成绩,运动员队伍规模在逐年壮大,项目分布广泛,运动员管理趋于制度化、规范化,运动员梯队建设呈现出宝塔形结构。培养方式和培养渠道日渐多元化。但是在运动员队伍建设中也存在一些问题,如运动员招生困难、学训矛盾、日常管理困难、德育工作薄弱等,在分析问题原因的基础上提出了改进措施。关于培养方式转变的基本思路是落实"全面发展"的指导思想,由"体教结合"逐渐向"体教融合"过渡。     

论当今世界级优秀田径运动员的年龄特征

本文运用文献法和数理统计法,探讨了当今世界级优秀田径运动员在亚类项群、亚类分组项目、专项和竞技能力归属阶段的年龄结构特征,旨在为田径项目的多年训练过程的合理规划提供理论依据。     

优秀竞走运动员高原训练期间训练监控的研究

竞走是一项长距离的耐力性项目,和其他周期性体能类运动项目一样,高原训练已经成为竞走项目综合训练法的重要组成部分。通过对江苏省优秀女子竞走运动员为期4周高原训练的跟踪监控,分析与研究其训练特点和相关生理生化指标的变化规律,从科研角度做出总结,以期为今后的高原训练提供参考,积累经验,使竞走项目的高原训练更加专业化、科学化。     

论运动员的生态主义选材

就生态主义的角度来看选材,则不应以遗传因素和运动成绩作为选拔运动员的唯一标准,而应同时考虑到它是否利于社会、生态环境的发展。运动员选材取决于个人的天赋、兴趣和环境。我们可以培育良好的成长环境,提供丰富的机遇,使更多的运动员通过个人意志达到成功。