Athletic Goals Research Articles

Acute Effect of Fixed vs. Self-Selected Rest Interval Between Sets on Physiological and Performance-Related Responses.

Background: Although the comparison between self-managed rest and fixed rest periods in subjects experienced in lower-limb strength training has been investigated, the results remain unclear due to controversies among some studies. Therefore, the present study aimed to analyze the role of self-managed rest versus fixed rest in athletic performance, mean propulsive velocity, velocity loss, muscle oxygen saturation, and rest time in trained subjects; Methods: Thirteen subjects with a minimum of one year of training experience (age (years): 26.31 ± 3.84; height (cm): 175.46 ± 5.61; weight (kg): 79.24 ± 6.83) were randomly assigned to two groups (self-selected rest group [SR] = 7 and fixed rest group [FR] = 6). The subjects underwent a session for evaluation (one maximum repetition (1RM) estimation, familiarization, and data collection) and another day for a traditional strength training session for the back squat, consisting of five sets of four repetitions at 80% of 1RM. One group took a fixed 2 min break, while the other group managed their breaks autonomously (resuming when they felt ready to perform the next set at maximum velocity). Mean propulsive velocity (MPV) was monitored using a linear position transducer, and muscle oxygen saturation (SmO2) was measured with a near-infrared spectroscopy device; Results: Significant differences between the groups were found for the rest time between the first and second sets (SR 97.29 ± 23.70 seg vs. FR 120 ± 0.00 seg). However, no differences were found for MPV, velocity loss, or SmO2; Conclusions: Given the similarities in performance and physiological outcomes between fixed and self-selected rest conditions, both can be used equally depending on the preferences and training goals of coaches and athletes.

Ketogenic diet - A gateway to optimize aerobic and anaerobic athletic performance

This narrative review aims to highlight the effect of the Ketogenic diet on aerobic and anaerobic athletic performance. This paper adopts a narrative approach exposing the results of approximately 40 earlier studies to define the scope of applying the ketogenic diet as a nutritional therapy, aiming to aid recovery from fatigue or muscle damage caused by exercise and to increase aerobic and anaerobic performance. A ketogenic diet appears better suited for lower-intensity physical activities conducted in a balanced or moderate state of energy demand. However, there is a lack of consensus on its compatibility with strength exercises that require maximal bursts of energy. These investigations should explore its effects on performance, health, and body composition compared to other dietary approaches. Ultimately, a better understanding of the ketogenic diet's benefits and limitations will help athletes and individuals make informed decisions about its adoption for optimizing their health and athletic goals. Keywords: Injuries, ketogenic, ketosis, aerobic exercises, anaerobic exercises, muscle damage

Athlete-Specific Considerations of Cartilage Injuries.

Cartilage injuries can present in a diverse setting of anatomic locations, with varying severity, and can impact athletes of all ages and competition levels. Moreover, the timing of when an injury presents introduces an additional dimension to treatment decision-making. Frequently, the level of competition, in conjunction with career trajectory and short-term and long-term athlete goals, will dictate whether a temporary or definitive treatment strategy is ideal. Although indicating the correct therapeutic regimen may prove challenging, understanding the athlete-specific considerations can be essential to meeting the goals of the athlete and other stakeholders involved in the athlete's career. The purpose of this review is to comprehensively present the deliberations a treating physician must consider in managing cartilage injuries within a spectrum of athletic levels ranging from youth to professional levels, with a secondary focus on the presentation of temporizing treatment strategies and associated outcomes.

Conservative vs Surgical Treatment of Anterior Cruciate Ligament Rupture: A Systematic Review.

Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury is very common, especially in young athletic individuals who injure themselves during sports involving pivoting actions. Management options include conservative management, which involves progressive physical therapy, educating the patient on how to prevent instability, and the use of a hinged knee brace. Surgical management involves reconstruction of the torn ligament using an autograft or an allograft and ACL repair where the torn ligament is affixed back to the tibia or femur.The choice of management depends on the severity of the injury, other injuries in associated structures, the level of fitness, and the athletic goals of the patient. Many studies exist on the management choice of ACL injury, but no clear consensus prevails. This study will examine the effectiveness of conservative versus surgical management. A literature review will be performed to identify appropriate papers which compare and evaluate the two approaches. A literature search for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and cohort studies comparing the conservative to surgical management of ACL injury was conducted on PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science. Patient eligibility criteria included individuals older than 15 with an isolated, recent ACL injury diagnosis via an appropriate clinical test, MRI, or arthroscopy. Studies were eligible if they were using appropriate surgical or conservative methods, as mentioned previously, and measuring results via appropriate scores, tools, and methods that will be presented below. The follow-up timeline would be from presentation time until at least two years. Five papers were found to be eligible. Overall, these papers included 462 patients. Two studies measuring overall knee symptoms, function, and sports activities using the International Knee Documentation Committee Subjective Knee Form (IKDC) score found that the operated group had a significantly higher score. The other two studies measured overall knee function and health using the Tegner & Lysholm and Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) scores. In both papers, no significant difference was found between the two groups. Regarding Tegner's activity score, only one paper had significant findings. A significantly longer period to return to sports activities was observed in the operative group. Stability was significantly higher in all papers in the operated group. Osteoarthritis was measured using different tools in each paper. Only one paper found a significantly higher risk in the operated group. Only one paper indicated significantly more complications in the operated group regarding side effects. Overall, very few differences were observed between the two treatment groups. The most significant differences observed were the higher stability and the longer recovery period in patients undergoing surgery. Large RCTs following patients for enough time are needed to prove if surgical treatment offers significant benefits over conservative treatment.

ПРОГРАМНЕ ЗАБЕЗПЕЧЕННЯ РОЗУМНОГО ГОДИННИКА ДЛЯ САМОСТІЙНИХ ЗАНЯТЬ СПОРТОМ ТА ФІТНЕСОМ

According to available statistics, the most popular smart watch among users is the Apple Watch. Today, there are more than 100 million unique users of this device, 75% of whom use it for sports. With a wide array of different sensors to track a user's physical parameters, neither Apple nor third-party developers have yet developed software to systematize all the collected data to improve an athlete's physical pa-rameters and achieve personal athletic goals. The purpose of the research is to find the possibility of improving the physical parameters of a novice athlete by means of a comprehensive analysis of his activity data collected by a smart watch and creating more personalized recommendations during training based on this data. There are many fitness apps available for the Apple Watch, each with its own unique features and features. Unfortunately, none of the analyzed applications pro-vide sufficient information regarding the correct execution of training and the collec-tion of indicators, which is a disadvantage for users who want to do sports without risks to their health. One of the main challenges of software development for smartwatches is the lack of extensive monetization opportunities. This led to the lack of interest of large companies and teams in this type of software. Small screen size and limited process-ing power compared to desktop or mobile devices are also issues. This means that developers must optimize both the user interface and the algorithms of their software product to increase the speed of the application. Another challenge is the diversity of the smartwatch market, where different devices run on different operating systems and have different hardware specifications. You have to consider the specifics and limitations of each device and platform and make sure that your apps are optimized for each of them, or focus on building your software products for only a limited num-ber of devices. Due to the lack of tools for developing applications for several platforms at once, the path of developing an application for only one platform - for WatchOS - was chosen. Also, one of the goals is to create an application that is completely autono-mous from a smartphone. For this, a simple and minimalistic interface and a simple algorithm for analyzing training data have been developed. The proposed application is focused on running. Statistics will be collected dur-ing the first few training sessions. After starting the activity, the application will start displaying all the standard information, such as pace, heart rate, activity time, dis-tance traveled. This data comes from the sensors and modules of the smart watch. When basic training statistics are collected, the app will begin to display tips on how to continue training.

The various facets of orthorexic eating behavior: five case reports of individuals with supposed orthorexia nervosa

BackgroundOrthorexia nervosa, defined as a fixation on eating healthy according to subjective criteria, is recently being discussed as another variant of disordered eating behavior. Further characteristics are rigid adherence to nutritional rules, anxieties and avoidance behavior in the context of eating as well as a focus on health, not on body shape or weight loss, which is supposed to differentiate orthorexic from other disordered eating behavior. Although diagnostic criteria have been suggested, they have rarely been used in case reports published to date. Hence, the aim of this study was to present five individuals with supposed orthorexia nervosa, using preliminary diagnostic criteria to assess their eating behavior.Case presentationThe five cases (three females, two males) reveal the great variety of disordered eating behavior. Fear of unhealthy overweight (case A), supposed orthorexic eating behavior as a coping strategy for anorexia nervosa (case B), the exclusive consumption of animal products with a total exclusion of fruits and vegetables (case C), the fixation on exercise and athletic goals (case D) as well as a focus on a vegan diet and unprocessed foods (case E) are facets of orthorexia nervosa with varying degrees of impairment.ConclusionsIt is concluded that orthorexia nervosa manifests itself in very different ways and that more research is needed in order to determine whether it could be a useful additional category of disordered eating behavior.

Validation and personality conditionings of the 3 × 2 achievement goal model in sport

Achievement goal models have been successfully applied in sport. In recent years, a framework that has emerged in this area is the 3 × 2 approach, being a natural evolution of years of research into the issue of achievement goals. Nevertheless, it is essential to further validate the abovementioned approach and explore its psychosocial context. Hence, the purpose of this study was to validate the latest 3 × 2 achievement goal model among high-performance and recreational athletes using the Polish version of the 3 × 2 Achievement Goal Questionnaire for Sport (3 × 2 AGQ-S), and to determine the relationship between personality traits and achievement goals of athletes. The study included 413 athletes, with M = 20.62 and SD = 2.72. The 3 × 2 AGQ-S was used to assess achievement goals, the Big Five personality traits were assessed using the IPIP-BFM-20 questionnaire. The model of the Polish version of the 3 × 2 AGQ-S achieved a satisfactory fit to the data (CFI = 0.940, TLI = 0.923, RMSEA = 0.086, SRMR = 0.061). Cronbach’s alphas for the subscales were: 0.77–0.96. High-performance athletes obtained higher achievement goals in task and self subscales than recreational athletes. Personality traits explained no more than 3% of variance of achievement goals in sport. Research involving the Polish version of the 3 × 2 AGQ-S supports the validity of the 3 × 2 model in sport among high-performance and recreational athletes. Nevertheless, the small relationships between the personality traits and achievement goals prompt searching for other psychosocial determinants of goals in sport.

Essential biomechanical aspects in athletics

"The aim of this paper is to present theoretical aspects of the study of biomechanics in athletics, which is essential for performance optimization, injury prevention, and improvement of athletes’ capabilities. This study contains various research directions in athlete biomechanics as well as biodynamic modeling and simulation in athletics. Finally, aspects of athlete training design and optimization are presented, which are essential for tailoring training programs to the individual needs and goals of athletes. Keywords: biomechanical model, optimization, performance, evaluation, objectives"

An Evaluation of Athletes’ Opinions on Communication Barriers Caused by Coaches in the Interpersonal Communication Process

Abstract Communication between athletes and coaches is essential in areas ranging from sporting performance to team cohesion, and a lack of proper communication between coach and athlete can cause many problems. This study aimed to assess the communication barriers caused by coaches as perceived by young adult athletes. Q methodology was used in the research design. The study group was recruited using the snowball sampling method, and a total of 27 athletes who met the criteria participated in the study. Principal component analysis was applied to analyze the data. It was concluded that the participants could be grouped under two factors, and a significance value of 0.50 was reached. In addition, communication barriers with athletes caused by coaches were analyzed in order of importance by giving Z-scores. As a result, the communication barriers arising from coaches were identified as discrimination, self-centeredness, bringing problems in their private life to work, having goals that conflict with the goals of athletes, inadequacies in knowledge transfer, and excessive expectations. This study reveals the adverse effects of communication barriers with coaches, especially early career athletes. It is also expected that the communication barriers identified will contribute to improved communication between coaches and athletes.

A quantitative assessment of the predictive utility of grit in sport

In high-performance sport, an athlete’s ability to overcome setbacks and sustain their pursuit of long-term goals is essential for success. Grit (i.e., passion and perseverance over long-terms) has been linked to success in a variety of domains but is often critiqued for its limited predictive utility when compared to other psychological variables including self-control, conscientiousness, and mental toughness. The purpose of this study was to examine whether grit predicted important athlete outcomes (i.e., various measures of sport performance and athlete well-being) beyond other determinants of success. Data from 214 collegiate student-athletes (111 women, 103 men; Mage = 21.02, SD = 2.26) from Western Canadian universities were analysed. When predicting performance, the addition of the grit subscales (i.e., consistency of interests, perseverance of effort, adaptability to situations) explained an additional 11% of variance (R2 = 0.37, F[7, 203] = 7.16, p < .001) beyond self-control, conscientiousness, and mental toughness in subjective sport performance perceptions; however, grit did not add unique variance when entered into models predicting athlete goal achievement perceptions or highest level of competition. When predicting well-being, addition of the grit subscales added 18% of unique variance (R2 = 0.43, F[7, 203] = 21.43, p < .001) beyond other determinants of success in eudaimonic well-being, and 5% (R2 = 0.17, F[7, 203] = 6.95, p < .001) in satisfaction with sport, but did not add any unique variance to the model predicting mood. The partial support of the predictive utility of grit illustrates the complexity of forecasting success in sport and offers evidence that grit should continue to be studied as a motivational disposition in the domain of sport.

The Impact of Training Using the Suek and Cross Strategy Patterns on Athlete Productivity in Scoring Goals in Handball Matches in Padang City

The problem that occurs in this study is the Productivity of Goals for Handball Athletes in Padang City when competing. This problem is caused by the Padang city handball athletes do not understand the correct playing pattern. There are two patterns or strategies (Suek and Cross) in playing handball. Both of these patterns or strategies can be tested and compared to see the effect on the productivity of the goals of handball athletes in matches. The purpose of this study was to reveal the effect of training with a pattern or strategy (Suek and Cross) on the goal productivity of Padang city handball athletes in matches. This type of research is quantitative research with this research design using experimental research. The population of this study were 14 people in the Padang City Handball Athletes from the third selection results. The sampling technique uses the Total Sampling technique. After the pre-test, all samples were divided into two groups, namely the Suek and Cross groups. Each group consists of 7 people. The research was conducted for 16 meetings. Pre-Test and Post-Test results recorded are from the results of official matches that are guided. Analysis of the research data yielded hypothesis one. There is a significant effect of training with the Suek Attack Pattern on the goal productivity of Padang City Handball athletes. Hypothesis two There is a significant effect of Training with Cross Attack Patterns on the goal productivity of Padang City Ball Handball athletes. Hypothesis three Both attack patterns (Cross and Suek) have a positive impact on Goal productivity in handball matches. The difference between the two attack patterns can be seen. Based on the results of the increase in goals obtained during the post-test, the Suek attack pattern produces more goals (6 goals) compared to the Cross-attack pattern which produces goals (2 goals). Keywords: Training, suek and cross strategy patterns, athlete productivity, scoring goals, handball

Between Leisure and Pressure—Veterinarians’ Attitudes towards the Care of Competition Horses in Germany, Austria and Switzerland

Equine veterinarians face a range of challenges when attending competition horses. Athletic goals may significantly impact veterinary decision making, and the veterinarian’s work can be complicated by reputational considerations and rival opinions during an assessment of whether a horse is “fit to compete”. Using an online questionnaire, we found that the majority of German, Austrian and Swiss equine veterinarians (N = 172) surveyed agreed that the owners of competition horses are more likely than owners of leisure horses to approach them with clear treatment ideas, and that the former have higher expectations of the medical services provided. The data also show that the veterinarian’s reputation plays a more important role in the competition sphere. Using a case vignette, we established that, on the grounds of equine welfare, the majority of respondents indicated that they would decide against starting a dressage horse with low-grade lameness in a competition. Those respondents who indicated that they would approve a start of the dressage horse indicated that a horse with a low-grade lameness was fit enough “to compete”. We conclude that clearer definitions of phrases, such as “fit to compete”, may be helpful in guiding veterinarians as they discharge their professional responsibilities during competitions and reduce the reputational stress they experience in this working context.

Loss of Vision in a Division I Basketball Player

We present a case report of a 20-year-old cis female division 1 collegiate basketball athlete who presented to her team physician with concerns for bilateral temporal, throbbing headache and sudden-onset, non-traumatic, right eye irritation and blurred vision. She was found to have optic neuritis and ultimately diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS). Although MS is the most common progressive neurologic disease of young adults there is limited research on athletes with MS. While the pathogenesis of MS remains unknown, current science identifies MS as a multifactorial condition influenced by both environmental and genetic factors. MS has a female predominance and presents most often between the ages of 20 to 45 years old. Since musculoskeletal and/or neurological symptoms are often the first sign of MS it is necessary for healthcare professionals caring for athletes to be familiar with the diagnosis, management and prognosis of MS. This case presents several key themes that aim to assist clinicians caring for athletes with MS. MS can present similar to sports-related injuries (e.g., concussions, overtraining, psychosocial stressors, musculoskeletal injuries) therefore diagnosis in the athletic population is easily missed. Without a healthcare team familiar with the immediate and future needs of the athlete, subpar preliminary and continuous treatment may result in devastating health changes and career ending consequences in athletes. Treatment goals must also align with the patient's athletic goals. Additionally, this case highlights unforeseen ethical and clinical obstacles including the repercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic that must be considered by clinicians involved in the medical care of athletes.

Game changers for meat and masculinity? Male athletes’ perspectives on mixed and plant-based diets

The dietary choices of male athletes are increasingly a topic of moral and nutritional debate. Though it has long been a consensus that athletes require animal products to advance their athletic goals, this understanding is now challenged in academic and popular sources based on nutritional evidence and concern about the environmental impacts of animal products. In order to better understand how (semi-)professional male athletes perceive plant-based diets and diets containing animal products, thirteen semi-structured interviews were conducted with male athletes competing nationally and internationally, including mixed and plant-based eaters. Interviews were analysed through reflexive thematic analysis, in line with a critical, qualitative research methodology. Justifications for meat, situated knowledge and masculinity were used as theoretical lenses. Our analysis shows how athletes reproduce nutritional claims about the necessity of protein for athletes, but disagree on the suitability of plant-based sources. This nutritional discourse derives from a broad range of sources, including professional nutritionists, friends, online influencers, and media. Second, when explaining their own food practices, food being ‘nice’ and ‘normal’ – common justifications for meat as evidenced in the 4N theory – often supersede necessity. Embedding these views in their everyday lives as athletes shows that food environments and shared eating practices fortify a mixed diet as normal, and plant-based diets as anomalous. It further shows how the view of meat being normal is subject to shifting masculinity norms. Interviewees reject meat eating as normal and masculine for men, while male athletes who show dedication, constraint, and knowledge in a plant-based diet are viewed positively. As role models for diet and masculinity, this has implications for a potential role of athletes in a societal transition towards lower consumption of animal products.

Pectoralis major rupture in body builders: a case series including anabolic steroid use

BackgroundRupture of the pectoralis major (PM) muscle is a rare injury, with increasing incidence over the last decades, mainly due to participation in weightlifting and contact sports. Surgical management of PM injuries has been related with superior functional outcome, faster return to activities, better cosmesis and higher level of patients’ satisfaction. The aim of the study is to present our experience in the management of this rare clinical entity and to correlate the use of anabolic steroids in the occurrence of the injury and the impact of type of injury, method of reconstruction and anabolic steroids on the post-operative outcome.CasesWe present a series of six male bodybuilding athletes who sustained PM rupture during weightlifting. We recorded the location & type of injury, the history and type of anabolic steroids use, the method of repair and the post-operative outcome.Treatment and outcomesThe mean follow-up period was 16 (12–24) months. All patients treated surgically had excellent results according to Bak criteria and returned to full activity within 5.4 (5–7) months following surgical reconstruction. No post-operative complications were recorded, despite the continued use of anabolic steroids, however one patient died from myocardial infarction within a year of surgical treatment.ConclusionsPM rupture is an injury with increasing incidence within bodybuilding athletes probably not related to the dominance of the limb. Fixation of the tendon with suture anchors results in excellent clinical outcome and patient’s satisfaction postoperatively regardless the chronicity of the repair. Our observations in these cases suggest that anabolic steroids use may contribute to the injury due to an excessive upward adjustment of the athlete's goals in lifting weights and moreover the continuation of administration even in the recovery period does not seem to have a negative effect either on the time or on the level of adequate functional recovery postoperatively.

Percutaneous Achilles Tendon Repair Using Ultrasound Guidance: An Intraoperative Ultrasound Technique

Rupture of the Achilles tendon is a common injury seen in patients of varying ages and activity levels. There are many considerations for treatment of these injuries, with both operative and nonoperative management providing satisfactory outcomes in the literature. The decision to proceed with surgical intervention should be individualized for each patient, including the patient’s age, future athletic goals, and comorbidities. Recently, a minimally invasive percutaneous approach to repair the Achilles tendon has been proposed as an equivalent alternative to the traditional open repair, while avoiding wound complications associated with larger incisions. However, many surgeons have been hesitant to adopt these approaches due to poor visualization, concern that suture capture in the tendon is not as robust, and the potential for iatrogenic sural nerve injury. The purpose of this Technical Note is to describe a technique using high-resolution ultrasound guidance intraoperatively during minimally invasive repair of the Achilles tendon. This technique minimizes the drawbacks of poor visualization associated with percutaneous repair, while providing the benefit of a minimally invasive approach.

APRIMORAMENTO DA FUNÇÃO FÍSICA PELO FOCO NO TREINAMENTO COM ARCO ESPORTIVO

ABSTRACT Introduction: Physical training of high-level archers is a very critical point. It is now known that the ultimate goal of athletes’ training is to achieve a good competitive state in their physical training. This has revealed that the relationship between athletes’ attention stability and their performance in archery competitions also needs to be explored. Objective: Analyze the fitness training methods for Chinese archers. In addition, this paper also explores the relationship between attention and performance in competitions. Methods: By random sampling method, 24 archery athletes were investigated. They were divided into three groups: A, B, and C. Group A represented excellent scores (8), group B with good scores (8), and group C with average scores (8). Statistical methods were used to analyze and infer the data. Using the SPSS program, mathematical statistics were performed to objectify the data collected. Results: Athletes in group A had the greatest increase in attention after training, showing statistical significance (P&lt;0.01). The comparison between groups B and C also showed statistical significance (P&lt;0.01). Significant differences were found in the stability of attention between the experimental and control groups. Conclusion: The sport bow practice method can effectively improve athletes’ concentration. This training method showed a significant effect on improving archers’ attention and concentration. Level of evidence II; Therapeutic studies - investigation of treatment outcomes.

Counseling Goals of Athletes During Injury Rehabilitation: A Descriptive Analysis

Although goal setting is widely recommended for sport injury rehabilitation, little is known about the content of the goals set by athletes with injuries. Toward this end, a qualitative content analysis was performed on the goals and barriers to goal attainment identified by 163 intercollegiate student athletes (117 men and 46 women) participating in counseling interventions during sport injury rehabilitation. Most of the 956 goals set (84%) contained a physical element. A physical barrier was identified for 49% of the goals. Economic, cognitive, emotional, and social elements were noted as both goals and barriers. Goal content did not change significantly over the course of rehabilitation. Most goals were specific, process, short term, and positively phrased. The findings provide a detailed description of the types and qualities of counseling goals set by athletes during injury rehabilitation, offering professionals insight into the wide range of concerns expressed by athletes with injury during counseling.

Analysis the Level of Endurance, Agility, and Coordination of Badminton Athletes PB Pendowo Semarang in 2022

Sport is a physical activity carried out for the purpose of health, recreation and achievement.Achievement is an athlete's goal in sports that is supported by sport science. Badminton is one ofthe most popular sports in Indonesia. Badminton achievement is supported by factors of nutrition,coaching, rest time and physical condition. The main physical condition components in badmintonare agility, cardiorespiratory endurance and coordination. This research is a quantitativedescriptive study with a population of PB badminton players. Semarang City Hall. The sample is17, with 12 male samples and 5 female samples. The data analysis technique used is descriptivestatistical technique. To find out the results of the study, an agility test (illionis agility test), acardiorespiratory endurance test (bleep test), and an eye and hand coordination test (the throwingand catching tennis ball test) was carried out. The results showed the level of physical agility ofPB badminton athletes. Pendowo Semarang is included in the category of “Poor” for men and“Average” for women. the level of physical condition of cardiorespiratory endurance is includedin the "Medium" category for men and "Excellent" for women, the level of physical condition isincluded in the "moderate" category for both men and women.

Data Analysis of Sport Specific Variables for Performance Consistency Evaluation in Critical Moments of College Tennis Matches

Performance under pressure typically represents a significant factor in achieving desired athletic goals and competition outcomes. Dealing with performance under pressure can be an extremely challenging task for many athletes as competitions are not necessarily decided by talent or technique alone, but also by performance quality under pressure conditions. Even though coaches and fans can be quick to claim that recognition of suboptimal or superior performance under pressure is simple, clear definitions of individual performance patterns under pressure have not yet been established. This work introduces an approach for the identification of crucial moments in college tennis matches, presents a data collection methodology designed to capture measurements and observations of college tennis specific variables, and proposes data analysis procedures designed to evaluate performance quality in crucial moments of college tennis competitions. The crucial moments of college tennis matches were defined as a newly introduced variable, called the crucial point, and its identification was based on match scores. The study data were collected with 15 college tennis players in 60 tennis sessions using two wearable sensors. College tennis specific parameters evaluated in the study were swing speed and heartrate variables. The obtained results showed specific performance data pattern relationships between the study variables and the identified crucial points. The results provide evidence that the presented performance under pressure evaluation model, if developed further, could help college tennis coaches and players to develop individually tailored game plans and strategies to improve their chances for success in crucial moments of their college tennis competitions.