Athletic Teams Research Articles

Changes in friluftsliv (outdoor recreation) activities among Norwegian adolescents during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic.

Friluftsliv (outdoor recreation) activities can provide both physical activity and experiences in nature, and improve quality of life. Regular physical activity is critical for young people's physical, social, and mental health. During the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic in 2020-2022, schools, gyms, and swimming pools were closed, and athletic teams and other physical activity services were prohibited from holding events. Despite these restrictions, access to nature and most friluftsliv persisted throughout the pandemic. The purpose of this study is to elucidate how the degree of activity in various friluftsliv activities changed during the pandemic, as well as identify the significance that friluftsliv had for the experience of community prior to and during the pandemic. To achieve this goal, 287 young people aged 16-19 answered a questionnaire. The results showed that self-reported total friluftsliv decreased significantly by 12.1% during the pandemic compared to self-reported total friluftsliv activity in the year before the pandemic occurred. Modern friluftsliv experienced an overall activity decline in participation of 24.8%. Two of these activities had a significant decrease in activity level, while three of the activities had an unchanged level of activity. Traditional friluftsliv also experienced a significant decrease of 7.8%, with six of the seven friluftsliv activities exhibiting a significant decrease in activity level during the pandemic. Regarding the importance of friluftsliv for the experience of community, a substantial number of participants felt that friluftsliv activities had been more important during the pandemic than prior to the pandemic. In addition, many respondents indicated that the desire to be with friends, family, and girlfriends/boyfriends had become more important during the pandemic than before it. The findings related to the importance of friluftsliv activities to experiencing community were not unexpected. However, it was somewhat unanticipated that the two-year pandemic did not lead to more friluftsliv among young people, given the unavailability of other avenues of physical activity-which is concerning from a public health perspective, in terms of social, psychological, and physical health.

Analysis of sudden cardiac death in competitive athletes, possibilities for reducing cases

Sudden cardiac death in athletes is rare (0.5 to 1 per 100000 athlete years), but sudden cardiac death in known athletes causes general shock. Our research aim was to collect and study as many sudden cardiac death cases as possible, judge the role of stress and look for ways to reduce fatal tragedies. From registers and newspaper articles found on the Internet, we collected 360 (including 14 women) athletes' sudden cardiac death cases where the sport, age and place of death (during training/competition/after) could be determined. From these, a single database has been prepared in order of the year of death. The cases were grouped and analyzed by sports. Based on our results and literature data, we made recommendations to reduce fatalities. There were more sudden cardiac deaths in competitions than in trainings (239 vs. 99), but tragedies also happened during warm-ups and chess without physical exertion, furthermore, there was no sudden cardiac death in the stakeless training of marathon/half marathon/triathlon athletes; all these prove the role of stress, so we recommend a psychological conversation before a high-stakes race. There were also a lot of sudden cardiac deaths (79/360) during team sports trainings, so we recommend reanimation readiness there as well. After training/competition, sudden cardiac death happened mainly in sports requiring high static effort, where post-competition monitoring is also recommended. Those who died in training were younger than those who died during the race (p<0.01), so young people should be monitored more closely for medical and (under)fitness. Marathon runners and triathletes were older than team athletes (p<0.005) and only died in competition, so for them a basic examination and an ECG within 1 month before competition are recommended. Conclusions drawn from literature data: sports medicine examination should be standardized and documented in an accessible way; since resuscitation started earlier and professionally is more effective, all competitors should receive reanimation training. Orv Hetil. 2023; 164(29): 1155-1163.

Maltreatment experiences and mental health indicators among elite athletes

This study explored the relationships between athletes’ experiences of maltreatment and mental health indicators. Canadian National Team athletes completed an online, anonymous survey that assessed reported experiences of maltreatment (psychological, physical, sexual harm and neglect), and mental health indicators of well-being, eating disorders and self-harming behaviours. All forms of maltreatment had a significant, positive correlation with eating disorder and self-harming behaviours, and a negative correlation with well-being. The relationships between maltreatment and mental health indicators differed based on identity characteristics of the athletes. Further work is needed on the prevention and intervention of maltreatment in sport to reduce the behaviours associated with negative health outcomes.

Comparing team and individual athletes: A study for athletic achievement motivation

Comparing team and individual athletes: A study for athletic achievement motivation

Profil Kondisi Fisik Dominan Atlet Putra Tim Pon XX Rugby 7’s Papua

This research aims to determine the profile of the dominant physical condition of male athletes from the PON XX Rugby 7 Papua team. The method used is the survey method. The research sample used total sampling, namely 12 athletes. The analysis technique used is quantitative descriptive analysis technique with percentages. The research variables are 5 components of rugby's dominant physical condition which are the test items: Strength, Speed, Power, Agility, Endurance. The results of the study showed that of the 12 athletes, only a few categories met and the remaining 0% or 0 people, including: Strength (squat) athletes were in the category ''very good'' 83.33% or 10 people and the category "poor ” 16.67% or 2 people. Strength (Bench Press) of athletes in the "poor" category is 8.33% or 1 person, "medium" is 25% or 3 people, "good" is 8.33% or 1 person, "very good" is 58.34 % or 7 people. The speed of athletes in the "very poor" category was 16.67% or 2 people, "medium" was 25% or 3 people, "good" was 16.67% or 2 people, "very good" was 14.66% or 5 person. Power (Vertical jump) of athletes in the category "very poor" 16.67% or 2 people, "poor" 16.67% or 2 people, "medium" 50% or 6 people, "good" 16.67% or 2 people. Athletes' agility in the "poor" category was 8.33% or 1 person, "medium" was 41.67% or 5 people, "good" was 25% or 3 people, "very good" was 25% or 3 people. The endurance of athletes in the "very good" category was 8.33% or 1 person. Category "good" 8.33% or 1 person. Category "medium" 33.33% or 4 people. The “less” category is 50% or 6 people. Conclusion The physical condition of the men of the XX PON team of Papuan Rugby Athletes as a whole is classified into 3 categories, namely 12 athletes, there are 3 people or 25% whose physical condition is in the ''poor'' category, 6 people or 50% have the physical condition in the ''good'' category and 3 people (25%) have the ''Very Good” category.

Sources of Nutrition Information Used by Tennis Trainee Athletes at the University of Limpopo in Limpopo Province, South Africa: A Descriptive Study

BackgroundThe dietary intake of tennis athletes training at the University of Limpopo (UL) were reported to be suboptimal. However, the nutrition information sources guiding these athletes remain unknown.MethodsA descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out to purposively obtain 30 registered UL-affiliated tennis team athletes. Data were collected at the UL tennis courts. Demographic data and information sources used for sport nutrition were collected using self-designed questionnaires in English.ResultsThe mean age of the athletes was 20.3±1.1 years. All were registered students at UL. All male athletes (100%) and 92.2% of females were single. More than half of the males (n=9; 56.2%) and many females (n=5; 35.7%) had participated in tennis for 1 – 2 years at UL. Most participated in tennis 3 – 6 times a week, for 1 – 2 hours per day. Most males (n=8; 50%) and females (n=7; 50%) obtained nutrition information from social media followed in both cases by a coach (43%). Of those who used social media, most males (n=3; 37%) and females (n=7; 43%) used Instagram, followed by Facebook (males, n=3; 37% versus females, n=2; 28%). Tik-Tok and YouTube were hardly ever used. However, none of the athletes had ever consulted a nutrition professional such as a dietitian for nutrition information.ConclusionSocial media, particularly Instagram, was the most used source of information by our sample of tennis athletes at the University of Limpopo.

Inclusive sports in Philippine higher education: Determining attitudes towards transgender students’ participation

With the increasing global awareness and recognition of transgender rights and inclusion in various fields, including sports, it is crucial to examine what sports stakeholders think about the participation of transgender people in sports competitions, especially in the Philippines where there is a lack of studies on the topic. This motivated the researcher to conduct this study. Guided by a descriptive research design and using a quantitative-qualitative research approach, this study aims to determine the attitudes towards the participation of transgender athletes in sports, starting with randomly selected athletes from Philippine Higher Education Institutions (HEIs). Data were collected through a survey and structured interviews, with questions validated by experts. Findings indicate that the future of sports in Philippine colleges is likely to be inclusive, with student-athletes having positive attitudes towards the idea of allowing trans women and trans men to compete in women’s and men’s sports categories, respectively, and towards the creation of separate sports categories for trans individuals only. This study can help higher education institutions develop more inclusive and respectful athletic practices that promote diversity and equal opportunity for all students who wish to participate on athletic teams and represent their colleges or universities, regardless of gender.

Attitudes towards vaccination against COVID-19 among athletes of Russian national teams in comparison with non-athletes aged 18 to 40

The purpose of this work was to study the attitude of the Russian population to vaccination against COVID-19. Vaccination attitudes in young adults were studied both in the general population and among those who are professionally involved in sports, since attitudes towards health and the initial level of physical resources are important for forming attitudes towards vaccination. A total of 2579 people aged 18 to 40 were examined. Of these, 2233 are from the general population, 346 are high performance athletes.Methods. This was a cohort cross-sectional study. A specially designed questionnaire was used, located on Internet resources 2 months after the start of mass vaccination in Russia.Results. In the group of elite athletes, there are significantly more people who consider vaccination unnecessary or treat it indifferently, and a smaller proportion of those who consider it useful or doubt its effectiveness as compared to the general population of the same age. Low adherence to vaccination may be associated with fear of potential complications. Among elite athletes, there are significantly more people who are seriously afraid of complications from vaccination — 143 (41.3 %), compared to the first group of respondents — 745 (33.4 %) (p &lt; 0.01, φ = 2.839). Probably, these concerns are related to the crucial importance of health and physical condition for professional athletes.Conclusions. It is advisable to develop recommendations for vaccination against COVID-19 for elite athletes, which will describe in detail the benefits of vaccination for athletes, possible side effects, their frequency and impact on the training process.

The Impact of Some Types of Physical Activity on the Level of Releasing Serotonin Hormone (A Comparative Study)

The current study aimed to identify the impact of practicing some types of physical activity (moderate intensity aerobic exercise, moderate intensity resistance exercise, and moderate intensity badminton) on the level of Serotonin hormone. The researchers adopted the descriptive method as it fits the nature of the study. The study sample consisted of (3) groups: group (A) consisted of Yarmouk University long-distance athletics team players and their number is (5) / males, Group (B) consisted of the Jordanian national weightlifting team players and their number is (5) males and group (C) consisted of Jordan national badminton team players and their number is (5) males. All of the groups are homogeneous concerning age with arithmetic (21.40_+ 3.6). The researchers used the Nag. Blood Test to measure the level of Serotonin among the players before doing any physical activity and after doing the specialized physical activity for an hour. After collecting and analyzing data the results showed an increase in the level of releasing Serotonin hormone between pre-tests and post-tests among players of (aerobic exercise and intensity resistance exercise), where the variances were in favor of the post-measurements. The results also showed that there was no statistically significant increase at the level of releasing Serotonin hormone between the pre-tests and post-tests among the badminton players, and that the rate of increase in the level of releasing Serotonin hormone between the pre-test and the post-test among players of players of aerobic exercises was higher than the one for resistance exercises and badminton, whereas the rate of increase in the level of releasing Serotonin for badminton players was higher than the one for resistance exercises. The researchers recommend the importance of educating community members about the importance of practicing periodic respiratory endurance exercises since they have a major role in improving the level of releasing Serotonin hormone, as well as to conduct studies dealing with high intensity sports to show their impact on releasing Serotonin hormone.&#x0D; &#x0D;

A-71 Olympic team rowers and team swimmers show altered functional brain activation during working memory and action inhibition

Abstract Purpose High-level expertise in team-sports has been found to be associated with superior performance on executive functions (EFs) such as working memory (WM) and action inhibition, and with altered activation of brain areas related to these EFs. In most such studies, athletes were sampled from the domain of dynamic (i.e., open-skill) team-sports (e.g., soccer players). Whether static (i.e., closed-skill) team-sports athletes (e.g., rowers and synchronized swimmers) show superior EFs performance and differential EF-related functional brain activation as well remains unknown. Methods We recruited 14 elite closed-skill athletes, all national champions, and internationally competitive in various rowing disciplines, as well as 14 controls matched on gender, age, and education, and had them perform working memory and action inhibition (stop-signal) tasks during functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scanning. Results Group differences in performance in either task failed to obtain statistical significance, although athletes showed a numerical trend toward higher WM capacity than controls. Importantly, task-related BOLD responses suggested that Olympic closed-skill team athletes show stronger recruitment of brain areas that emphasize relatively stable task demands and weaker engagement of brain areas that emphasize rapidly changing demands imposed by extraneous stimulation. Conclusions Functional brain imaging data suggest that elite closed-skill athletes may employ different cognitive strategies.

Syncing to perform? A naturalistic uncontrolled prospective case study of emotional and physiological synchrony in a team of male volleyball athletes

ABSTRACT Group processes are important for promoting relational and performance-related outcomes in sport; however, research exploring emotional and physiological synchrony and performance outcomes is rare. The objective of this study was to examine perceived emotional synchrony, physiological synchrony, and performance among male volleyball players using a naturalistic uncontrolled prospective case study approach over nine practices. Athletes participated in a coach-led pre-practice group visualization routine, while their heart rate and heart rate variability were continuously monitored. Athletes completed post-practice measures of emotional synchrony, and athletes and coaches completed ratings of individual and team performance. Emotional and physiological synchrony were not significantly correlated, but they were differentially related to performance outcomes, and there were significant interaction effects between physiological synchrony and time. Athletes’ ratings of their own and their team’s performance were associated with their perceived emotional synchrony. Coach performance ratings were associated with pre-practice team physiological synchrony but were unrelated to athletes’ perceived emotional synchrony. Heart rate synchrony was associated with athlete and coach performance ratings and may be important for team dynamics and performance outcomes. The findings demonstrate evidence for emotional and physiological synchrony among athletes, providing a platform for future research examining processes and impacts of synchrony in sport.

Teeming With Grief: Sports Teams’ Need for Resources and Support During Bereavement

Although there is awareness of the impact of grief on survivors’ well-being, almost no research exists on the impact of death on sports team bereavement. The present study surveyed 40 members of athletic teams (coaches, staff, and athletes) from various levels to determine what happens in the aftermath of a team member’s death. Findings of the survey indicated that many of the respondents experienced acute grief responses affecting performance, which memorialization and community support was helpful whereas the news media was often not. In addition, a need for appropriate resources and a school bereavement policy specific to student athletes was seen. In line with the dual process model, the responses indicated use of both emotion focused and restoration focused coping. Implications of the findings suggested that addressing bereavement needs for athletes, and their coaches was tantamount to mitigating some of the complications associated with disenfranchised grief.

Gender Diversity in Sports Medicine: Current Trends

As the sports medicine field has grown, the need for a more diverse workforce has become more evident. Given the growing athlete diversity that exists at all recreational and competitive levels of organized sports, it is important to better understand the current state of athletic health care diversity. This review assesses the current state of diversity in sports medicine from the perspective of the medical and athletic training professions. Men and women currently display nearly equivalent participation levels; however, the distribution of female team physicians and athletic trainers could better match the teams that they serve. Although progress has been made, much more needs to be done to bring more female athletic trainers and team physicians into athletic health care leadership roles. Early mentoring programs have shown efficacy for increasing the number of female candidates who might become the foundation of future athletic health care and academic program leaders. Level of EvidenceV, expert opinion.

Adherence to Sports Nutrition Guidelines by Tennis Athletes Team Representing the University of Limpopo; Limpopo Province, South Africa

Adherence to Sports Nutrition Guidelines by Tennis Athletes Team Representing the University of Limpopo; Limpopo Province, South Africa

The intersectionality of the sports labour market and gender inequality in South Korea

This study explores how the dual-segmented sports labour market and gender inequality intersect. It also defines the complex patterns of discrimination experienced by non-regular female instructors using the concept of intersectionality. Nine non-regular female instructors of school athletic teams with more than three years’ experience were recruited, and data were collected through a literature review and in-depth interviews. The results can be summarized as follows. First, non-regular female instructors of school athletic teams were positioned as ‘care worker’ and ‘livelihood assistant’ because of women’s social identity. Second, they experienced employment, status/power, and opportunity inequalities. This suggests that non-regular women worker are marginalized in the sports labour market, and educational and policy measures are required to mitigate inequality.

“Put me in Coach!” Engaging Faculty to Form a Winning Assessment Team

This commentary uses the metaphor of an athletic team model to provide guidance when managing a successful assessment committee and assessment processes. To become a winning team, a joint effort must be exerted by players, coaches, and the athletic director. The topics of developing a team of productive members, creating, and implementing an assessment plan, forming a positive culture, and establishing leadership are discussed. Examples and advice are provided to assist with promoting an engaged faculty to form a well-rounded and productive assessment committee with clearly defined roles and responsibilities.

Investigation of the pre-competition anxiety levels of national team athletes participating in the kickboxing European championship according to their personality characteristics

This study is aimed to determine the relationship between the pre-competition anxiety levels and personality traits of the national team athletes competing in the Kickboxing European Championships. 82 national team athletes participated in the Kickboxing European Championships. The study consists of two scales: the 20-item STAI Form TX-1 and the 30-item Rapid Big Five Personality Test. Data analyses were based on the total score obtained from the scale for STAI Form TX-1 and the score obtained from the sub-dimensions for the Rapid Big Five Personality Test. In this study, the relational screening method was used. Since the data used in this study showed a normal distribution, parametric tests were used. Pearson correlation analysis was also applied between the continuous variables of the study. When the relationship between the pre-competition state anxiety levels and personality traits of the kickboxers included in the study was examined, it was seen that there was a negative low level of significant relationship between pre-competition state anxiety levels and compatibility personality trait scores, that there was a positive low level of significant relationship between pre-competition state anxiety levels and extroversion personality trait scores, that there was a significant relationship between pre-competition state anxiety levels and responsibility personality trait scores.

Athletic Advisors’ Experiences Supporting Athletes Through Head Coach Transitions

Head coaches play an important role in their influence on college athletes and their academic goals. Concerns have been raised about coaches’ prioritizing athletic team success over academics. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to explore the impact of head coach transition on National Collegiate Athletic Association teams’ academic culture through the perspectives of athletic advisors. Interviews were conducted with 16 athletic advisors on their perceptions of the previous and new coaches’ perspective on, and involvement with, academics in addition to the transition period. Findings show the importance of the relationship between coaches and athletic advisors, that advisors were quick to discern if the new coach was going to elevate or deteriorate the program’s academic culture compared with predecessors, the need for advisors’ involvement in the search process for a new coach, and the role academics had in coach searches.

Investigation of the Relationship Between Empathic Tendency and Prosocial and Antisocial Behaviours in Team and Individual Athletes

Bu araştırmanın amacı takım ve bireysel sporcuların empatik eğilim ile prososyal ve antisosyal davranışları arasındaki ilişkinin incelenmesidir. Araştırmanın örneklem grubunu, 2021-2022 ve 2022-2023 sezonlarında tesadüfi örneklem yöntemiyle seçilen, Takım (n=422), ve Bireysel (n=410) sporlar olmak üzere toplamda 832 müsabık sporcu oluşturmaktadır. Araştırmada veri toplama aracı olarak “Kişisel Bilgi Formu”, “Empatik Eğilim Ölçeği (EEÖ)” ve “Sporda Prososyal ve Antisosyal Davranış Ölçeği (SPADÖ)” kullanılmıştır. Ölçekten elde edilen puanlar için ikili karşılaştırmalarda; Bağımsız örneklem t-test, çoklu karşılaştırmalarda ise; Tek yönlü varyans analizi ve Tukey HSD testinden yararlanılmıştır. Araştırma grubunun “EEÖ” ve “SPADÖ” puan ortalamalarında cinsiyet, yaş, spor yaşı, spor türü, spor dalı, aylık gelir ve millilik durumu, değişkenlerinde istatistiksel olarak anlamlı farklılıklar bulunmuştur (p&amp;lt;0,05). Diğer taraftan sporcuların EEÖ” ile “SPADÖ” arasında anlamlı ilişkiler bulunmuştur (p&amp;lt;0,05). Bu bağlamda sporcuların empatik eğilim düzeyleri arttıkça prososyal davranış düzeyleri yükselmekte ve antisosyal davranış düzeyleri azalmaktadır.

전문 스포츠 지도자의 그릿과 선수의 마인드셋 및 운동만족의 관계

The objective of this study was to examine the relationships among elite sports coaches" grit, athletes" mindset, and exercise satisfaction. To achieve the objective, this study collected data from 485 high school, college, and business team athletes registered with the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee in 2022. The collected data were analyzed using frequency analysis, exploratory factor analysis, Cronbach"s α, correlation analysis, and multiple regression analysis SPSS 22.0. The following conclusions were drawn from the results. First, among elite sports coaches" grit, the persistence of efforts had a positive impact on the growth mindset and fixed mindset of athletes. Second, among elite sports coaches" grit, the persistence of efforts positively affected exercise satisfaction. Third, fixed mindset, a sub-factor of elite sports athletes, negatively influenced exercise satisfaction.