Athletic Achievement Research Articles

GRASPING INCLUSION: PERSPECTIVES FROM AFTERNOON SPORTS ACTIVITIES

Sports activities play a key role in promoting the social inclusion of diverse abilites athletes. The study investigates the perception of social inclusion in sports among the participants of three workshops within the framework of an international project covering Croatia, Serbia, and Slovenia. The survey was answered by 94 workshop participants representing a diverse demographic with an average of more than 15 years of experience in Judo. Most of the respondents had the role of coaches or athletes (judokas) in their organizations. High-quality education for coaches and a varied selection of sports activities have proven to be key factors in promoting an inclusive environment. Additionally, respondents emphasized the importance of recognizing athletes beyond their athletic achievements and promoting a "sports for all" ethos. The findings highlight the importance of involving different stakeholders in promoting inclusion in sport.

Exploring the relationship between caffeine metabolism-related CYP1A2 rs762551 polymorphism and team sport athlete status and training adaptations

BackgroundThis study aimed to achieve a dual objective: to compare the frequencies of CYP1A2 rs762551 genotypes between team sport athletes and a control group, and to determine the association between the rs762551 polymorphism and changes in physical performance after a six-week training program among elite basketball players.MethodsThe study encompassed an analysis of 504 individuals, comprising 320 athletes and 184 controls. For the Turkish cohort, DNA was isolated using the buccal swab method, and genotyping was conducted using the KASP technique. Performance assessments included the Yo-Yo IR2 and 30 m sprint tests. For Russian participants, DNA samples were extracted from peripheral blood, a commercial kit was used for DNA extraction, and genotyping of the rs762551 polymorphism was conducted using DNA microarray.ResultNotably, a statistically significant linear decline in the prevalence of the CC genotype was observed with ascending levels of athletic achievement within team sports (sub-elite: 18.0%, elite: 8.2%, highly elite: 0%; p = 0.001). Additionally, the CA genotype was the most prevalent genotype in the highly elite group compared to controls (80.0% vs. 45.1%, p = 0.048). Furthermore, statistically significant improvements in Yo-Yo IR2 performance were noted exclusively among basketball players harboring the CA genotype (p = 0.048).ConclusionsThe study’s findings indicate that the rs762551 CC genotype is a disadvantage in elite team sports, whereas the CA genotype provides an advantage in basketball performance.

“Women shouldn’t play rugby” – the gendered and embodied experiences of women players in rugby union

ABSTRACT Drawing on interview data, we use gender and embodiment literature to understand the experiences, attitudes, and behaviours of women rugby players in relation to tackle performance and safety. Sampling, data collection, and data analysis were guided by principles and techniques of the grounded theory method. Participants’ experiences illustrate the processes through which women struggle to claim space in rugby. Constraining gender norms, the inferiorisation of women’s athletic achievements, and inequitable playing conditions are at the centre of this struggle. Organisational support and cultural acceptance are predicated on conformity to masculinist models of performance and behaviour whilst preserving the ideals of femininity. However, women’s embodied persistence and agency can challenge the gendered status quo in rugby and reshape the field of play. Revising rugby structures to include more nuanced models for performance development, including commensurate support for the women’s game both in financial sense and in terms of identity could enhance safety and performance in women’s rugby.

Training the Leadership Style of Swimming Coaches in Improving Athlete Achievement

Training the Leadership Style of Swimming Coaches in Improving Athlete Achievement

Modernizing sports an intelligent strategy for entertainment through internet of things in sports

A significant transformation towards a more engaging and entertaining viewer experience is provided by the incorporation of Internet of Things (IoT) innovation into the ever-changing world of current sports. With an emphasis on real-time tracking and assessment of athletic achievement, this study presents an extensive IoT-based strategy designed for the modern sports industry. Athlete tales, halftime displays and the general spectacle of big athletic events contribute to the entertainment value of the game. To provide a thorough assessment of athlete achievement in a timely manner, this research proposes a unique decision-making approach built on Adaptive Coral Reefs Optimized Xgboost (ACRO-XB). In particular, sport-specific characteristics are obtained through the use of electronic devices and an energy-effective procedure. To provide monitoring experts and competitors with efficient decision-making solutions, the ACRO-XB framework was developed. To validate the ACRO-XB approach, the simulation was run on a difficult dataset of 22,500 instances which is cricketers. Many modern analytical methods were used to undertake a comparison study. The simulation outcomes demonstrated that the ACRO-XB approach performed superior in conditions of recall, accuracy, f1-score and specificity by leveraging IoT data effectively for precise and timely athlete performance assessments, surpassing traditional methods in sports analytics. Furthermore, the suggested ACRO-XB approach was found to result in increased cell efficiency and stability.

Analysis of key factors affecting the achievement of badminton athletes at the international level: A systematic review

Analysis of key factors affecting the achievement of badminton athletes at the international level: A systematic review

The Influence of Football Coach Competition on Athlete Achievement Results

Football is a very popular sport and in demand by people worldwide, including Indonesia. However, the current achievements of Indonesian football are not yet impressive. One factor thought to influence soccer athletes' performance is competition and the quality of coaches. This research aims to determine the effect of soccer coach competition on athlete achievement results. The research method used is a literature study by analyzing related literature. The research results show that soccer coach competitions have a significant influence on athlete performance results. The higher the level of competition the coaches participate in, the better the athlete's performance results will be. This is because coaches who have experience participating in high competition will have better knowledge, skills, and coaching abilities. The implication of this research is the need for efforts to increase the competence of football coaches through increasing the level of competition they participate in, as well as adequate support and coaching from related parties that Indonesian football achievements can improve.

Time Management Practices: Its Impact on Student Athletes' Performance

This study determined the time management practices and the performance of student-athletes. Focusing on key aspects such as student-athlete profiles, the level of time management practices, the impact of these practices, factors influencing student-athletes, and the significant relationship between profiles and time management levels, this research utilized a quantitative descriptive design. Employing a purposive random sampling method, the study encompassed 200 student-athlete respondents from the six prestigious GensanPRISAA colleges in General Santos City. Results showed that respondents were predominantly male, aged 21-23, engaged in basketball and team sports, and enrolled as first-year Criminology students with notable academic performance and local competition achievements. Results revealed a high level of time management skills demonstrated by student-athletes in managing both training sessions and academic schedules. These skills significantly influenced academic performance, athletic achievements, social relationships, and personal well-being. Additionally, the study identified various factors affecting time management, including school and teacher demands, athletic commitments, personal priorities, and social relationships. Surprisingly, there was no significant relationship between demographic profiles and time management practices, indicating other influential factors. To address these findings, the study suggested Enhancing the Student-Athlete Development Program to comprehensively support student-athletes in improving time management skills across different domains. In conclusion, the study emphasized the importance of time management skills among student-athletes and advocated for tailored support programs to foster their holistic development, regardless of demographic characteristics.

Managing the Orientation Towards Competition in Handball of Students of the Department of Physical Education and Sports Sciences

The research aims to identify the management of the orientation towards competition in handball for students of the Department of Physical Education and Sports Sciences and the differences in the management of the orientation towards competition in handball for the students of the Department of Physical Education and Sports Sciences according to the gender variable (males - females). The researcher used the descriptive method because it is suitable for the research procedures. The research community consisted of students from the Department of Physical Education and Sports Sciences, third stage, morning study at Al-Mustansiriya University / College of Basic Education for the academic year (2023 - 2024). The sample consisted of (90) male and female students distributed into three sections, with (65) males and (30) females. The researcher randomly selected a sample of (50) of them, with (25) males and (25). The research tool was the management of orientation toward competition, designed by (Mohamed Hassan Allawi) to measure the management of orientation toward competition for students of physical education and sports sciences because it represents one of the important dimensions of athletic achievement goal orientations. The researcher used the statistical package (SPSS), version (25), to obtain the results. The researcher concluded from the results that there is a case of managing the orientation towards competition among the students of the Department of Physical Education and Sports Sciences, as well as the absence of significant differences in the case of managing the orientation towards competition among the students of the Department of Education and Sports Sciences according to the gender variable (males - females).

An Intervention into Imagery and Self-Efficacy: Enhancing Athletic Achievements of Alpine Skiers

Psychological preparation has taken on a crucial role in today’s sports practice. Effective resolutions to the challenges inherent in athletes’ psychological preparation require a comprehensive understanding of the key components that constitute the psychological preparation process. This quasi-experimental study aims to first, assess the interrelationships among imagery abilities, physical self-efficacy, and sport performance among a sample of alpine skiers. Secondly, this study sought to assess the effect of a psychological intervention on imagery and self-efficacy, and its impact on their task performance. The proposed hypothesis suggests that integrating imagery and self-efficacy interventions into the training process of alpine skiers will enhance athletes’ achievements on the slalom ski track. Seven leading Latvian youth alpine skiers with an average age of M = 17.14 (SD = 1.77) participated in a three-month psychological skill intervention targeting imagery and self-efficacy enhancement, alongside control training sessions on a slalom ski track to evaluate its effectiveness on sport performance. Pre- and post-intervention assessments were conducted using questionnaires, revealing significant improvements in imagery abilities and self-efficacy (p < 0.05). Notably, positive interrelationships between imagery abilities, self-efficacy, and sport performance were observed. These findings underscore the efficacy of integrating psychological interventions into the athlete training process and highlight the importance of psychological readiness in optimizing athletic achievements, particularly in dynamic sports like alpine skiing. The study results provide novel theoretical and practical psychological insights into the training process of athletes in sports.

Chinese athletes in ethnic minorities: Social support, ethnic identity, pride, and subjective well-being

We delved into the intricate relationships of social support, ethnic identity, pride, and subjective well-being among Chinese athletes who belong to an ethnic minority. The study's focus was on 877 athletes from diverse economic regions in China, who participated in the 11th Zhengzhou National Minority Traditional Sports Games in 2019. The results showed that social support was positively correlated with ethnic identity, pride, and subjective well-being among Chinese athletes from ethnic minorities. Social support directly influenced the athletes' subjective well-being, as well as indirectly impacting it by affecting their ethnic identity and/or pride. By addressing critical research gaps, this study has contributed to a more nuanced understanding of well-being within the context of cultural diversity and sports participation. The insights derived from this study can inform interventions aimed at enhancing the overall experiences and achievements of athletes in ethnic minorities.

Personality determinants of goal orientation in elite long-distance and mountain runners

Background and Study Aim. The achievement theory points to two motivational orientations that represent different views on an individual's perception of success. In sports, these aspects are closely associated with various individual characteristics and athletic achievements. The aim of the study is to determine the relationship between personality traits and aspects of goal orientation among long-distance and mountain runners of both genders. Material and Methods. The study involved 9 women aged 26 to 34 and 13 men aged 26 to 38 who were members of the national long-distance and mountain running teams (medallists at the Polish and European Championships in their disciplines). Among the participants there were graduate students. The Polish adaptation of Costa and McCrae’s NEO Five-Factor Inventory questionnaire was used to examine the level of personality traits. The level of goal orientation dimensions was determined using the Polish adaptation of the Task and Ego Orientation in Sport Questionnaire. Statistical analysis was performed using Statistica 13 software. Results. In the studied group of male athletic competitors, three significant relationships were observed: a negative correlation between ego orientation and both neuroticism and openness to experience; a negative correlation between the overall level of goal orientation and neuroticism. These results are explained by the relationship that occurs between emotional balance and resilience to criticism and the desire to compare oneself to others and the tendency to demonstrate superior skills in front of others. Conclusions. The findings underscore the importance of considering individual characteristics in athletic competition. Emphasis is placed on the necessity of assessing personality traits and goal orientation dimensions among student and competitive long-distance and mountain runners of both genders. Additionally, the significance of these factors in predicting sporting achievement is highlighted, suggesting avenues for further research and practical application.

How sport specialization age and training components influence the achievements of elite athletes

Early specialization in sports for young elite athletes was undertaken for a variety of positive reasons, but it also can lead to increased vulnerability to injury, burnout, limited skill development, and negative effects on mental well-being as a result of intense training from a young age. The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between age of sport specialization and training components to the achievements. This was a correlational survey and a cross-sectional approach to elite athletes in the city of Bandung. The sample for this study consisted of 84 high-level athletes who competed in 27 different sports and were eligible for athlete incentives from the government. Athletes were surveyed using a questionnaire to answer questions about their debut age, training frequency, duration, intensity, and highest championship achievement. The results of bivariate analysis showed that age, gender, age of specialization, duration of exercise, and intensity of exercise were not related to sports achievement. Based on the results of statistical analysis, it was known that the frequency of exercise was significantly correlated with sports achievement. Compared to athletes who train less than five times per week, athletes who train more than five times per week were found to have higher performance. Future possible research will assist in identifying the success factors of young athletes who begin sports specialisation at a young age.

Prevalence of and Contributors to Food Insecurity among College Athletes: A Scoping Review.

Given the financial demands of attending college, the transition to new living situations, abrupt changes in social support, and overall lifestyle adjustments, college students are at an increased risk of food insecurity (FI) compared to the general population. Collegiate athletes experience an even greater risk of FI as a result of greater time commitments and energy demands associated with their sports. This heightened vulnerability poses a tremendous threat to student-athletes' academic and athletic achievements. This study aims to address the prevalence and primary determinants of FI among collegiate athletes while providing potential solutions to navigate and alleviate the effects of diminished food security among this demographic. To address these aims, a total of 18 articles were selected from both peer-reviewed and gray literature. The U.S. Household Food Security Survey Module (US-HFSSM) survey tools were predominantly utilized across universities throughout the United States to gather data on FI. Student-athletes reported experiencing FI across various regions of the United States, including universities in the northeastern states (n = 5), the southwest region (n = 3), the southeast region (n = 3), the northwest (n = 1), and the Midwest (n = 1). Overall, FI prevalence rates ranged from 9.9% to 65%, and the most significant contributors included limited financial resources, time management, meal plans, and housing location/amenities. These findings highlight a need for screening, education, and interventions to address FI among collegiate athletes.

THE ROLE OF FUTSAL COACH LEADERSHIP STYLE AND ORGANIZATIONAL SUPPORT ON THE ACHIEVEMENT OF FEMALE FUTSAL ATHLETES AT THE UNIVERSITY CHRISTIAN OF INDONESIA

The achievement of an achievement in the field of sports organization is essentially an accumulative result of various aspects/elements that support the realization of achievement. A leadership style is essential for an organization to improve athletes' achievements, while organizational support is also important in an organization's efforts to improve achievements, as well as to improve its performance. This study has a purpose to find out the role of futsal coach leadership style and organizational support for the achievements of Indonesian Christian University Women's UKOM athletes. The data analysis method used in this study is qualitative descriptive. The study used primary data and secondary data that researchers collected through observation, interviews and documentation. After obtaining the required data, researchers use the validity of the data, which is source triangulation, proving that the research done is actually scientific research and to test the data that has been obtained. The result of the study is that the role of the leadership style of the coach that the leadership style has a very large role to the achievements of athletes and the support of the Indonesian Christian University Futsal Women's UKOM organization is very influential to the achievements of athletes. The leadership style applied to this organization is the authoritarian leadership style combined with democratic leadership style, in addition to the leadership style applied, there is organizational support given by UKOM Futsal Putri Christian University Indonesia more prominently in the field of justice. Keywords: Athlete’s achievement, Leadership Style, Organizational Support

The Role of Friction in Athletic Performance: A Descriptive Analysis

Friction is a fundamental force that has a substantial impact on athletic performance across all sports disciplines. This descriptive research investigates the varied impact of friction in building athletic skill. This study looks at how friction affects running, jumping, throwing, and other sports activities by examining static and kinetic frictional forces, as well as elements that influence frictional interactions. The research examines the interaction of athletes, footwear, surfaces, and equipment to explain how friction governs propulsion, stability, and efficiency in sports activity. The findings of this study have important significance for players, coaches, and sports scientists, as they provide avenues for optimizing training techniques, equipment design, and performance tactics for increased athletic achievement. Keywords Friction , Athletic Performance , Role , Descriptive Analysis , Surface Friction , Footwear Friction , Sports Science , Biomechanics , Performance Optimization , Surface Interaction , Traction , Stability , Movement Efficiency , Injury Prevention ,Training Strategies

Lack of cardiac remodelling in elite endurance athletes: an unexpected and not so rare finding.

Endurance elite athletes are expected to present a cardiac remodelling, characterized by eccentric hypertrophy (EH), may be associated with higher sportive performances. However, not all can present a cardiac remodelling. The study aimed to identify endurance athletes without cardiac remodelling characterizing their physiologic and clinical features. We studied 309 endurance athletes (cycling, rowing, canoeing, triathlon, athletics, long-distance swimming, cross-country skiing, mid-long distance track, pentathlon, biathlon, long-distance skating and Nordic-combined) examined during period of training, by clinical evaluation, ECG, echocardiogram and exercise-stress test. Sport career achievements (Olympic\World championship medals or national\world records) were recorded. EH was found in most of athletes, (n = 126, 67% of males; n = 85, 68.5% of females). A significant proportion,, exhibited normal geometry (NG) ( n = 59, 31.3% in males; n = 39, 31.4% in females). At stress test, significant differences between EH and NG athletes were found in peak power (317.1 ± 71.2W in NG vs. 342.2 ± 60.6W in EH, p = 0.014 in males and 225.1 ± 38.7W in NG vs. 247.1 ± 37W in EH, p = 0.003 in females), rest heart rate (66.1 ± 13 in NG vs. 58.6 ± 11.6 in EH, p = 0.001 in males and 68 ± 13.2 in NG vs. 59.2 ± 11.2 in EH, p = 0.001 in females) with similar ventricular extrasystoles (p = 0.363 in males and p = 0.492 in females). However, no significant differences in athletic achievements were registered. Our study demonstrates a relatively high prevalence of NG in endurance athletes, in addition to the expected EH. Athletes with NG perform worse in exercise-stress test and exhibit some less advantageous functional heart characteristics. However, the type of heart geometry is not associated with negative clinical findings.

Player Winning Probability Model (PWPM): A Review

The Olympic Games are an international event and a source of pride for all countries. With over 200 countries participating in the Olympic Games, it is an international sporting event. The Olympic Games stand as a pinnacle of athletic achievement and global unity, showcasing the finest talents from diverse nations across numerous sporting disciplines. In this review we used machine Learning Algorithms to do prediction on Olympic medal and applying various tools and techniques for Data Analysis using historical data. The process involves Data Collection, Data Cleaning, Data Processing, Exploratory Data Analysis and Medal Prediction. The main objective of this work is to study the complete set of Olympic data to discover pattern and relationship between variables using analysis of data to assess how the Olympic Games changed over time and to do prediction on medals. In this work a PWP model has been proposed in which the Random Forest classifier algorithm has been selected for the classification of player winning probability with accuracy of 70.223325%.

Frequency and performance relevance of parent-coaches in competition-oriented sports

The occurrence of children being coached by their parents in the world of sport is a well-known phenomenon, but one that remains insufficiently researched. It is rather unclear how common this is and there are very different assessments of whether it is more of an advantage or a disadvantage to be trained by one’s own parents. In the first study, we assess the frequency of occurrence of parent-coaches as well as the duration of these collaborations and their developmental location in the lives of the offspring. Results from a cross-sport survey and a soccer-specific survey indicate that a notable proportion of performance-oriented male and female senior athletes (19 and 34%, respectively) have been coached by their own parents at some point (χ2 [1, N = 291] = 7.770, p = 0.005, V = 0.163). In the second study, we address the question of the relevance of parent-coaches to athletic achievement. In this regard, the hypothesis that the proportion of male soccer players who were coached by their parents is larger in higher-ranking amateur leagues (38%) than in lower-ranking leagues (28 and 14%) was empirically confirmed (χ2 [2, N = 331] = 11.950, p = 0.003, V = 0.190). Thus, it can be assumed that about one fifth of all performance-oriented senior athletes had been coached by their own parents for some time. Moreover, the fact of having been trained by one’s own parents can in principle be regarded as a conducive condition for the athletic development of adolescents.

Body appreciation as a multifactorial construct in adolescent athletes and their athletic achievements

Given the strong cultural and social messages that encourage men and women to feel dissatisfied with their bodies, the cases of affection are increasing, since the standards and stereotypes imposed by society are not always adequate when talking about health or are even so far from reality and encourage some people to attempt against their health and physical integrity for the mere fact of complying with them, and adolescent athletes are no strangers to this situation. This was a quantitative cross-sectional observational study with a participation of 354 adolescent athletes between 10 and 19 years of age, of whom 51.4% were male and 48.6% female. A sociodemographic survey and the Body Appreciation Scale were applied. The results showed a high level of body appreciation in the participants and significant relationships with the years of sports practice and the result of the last competition. To conclude, although this research found variables that can influence the level of body appreciation, it is important to investigate further and include other aspects such as relationships with peers, coaches, family members and social networks, since the feelings and thoughts of adolescent athletes about their bodies influence their mental health and consequently their sports performance.