Athletic Goals Research Articles

청소년 운동선수의 생애목표와 목표중심 자기조절의 관계

Purpose: Based on the goal content theory, the purpose of this study was to provide useful information for coaching and counseling youth athletes by confirming the content of life goals that youth athletes want to pursue throughout their lives and verifying the effect of life goals on self-regulation. Methods: For this, data were collected from 347 male and female athletes in 18 individual and group sports currently attending middle and high schools through internet surveys and field surveys, and the results were analyzed using factor analysis, multivariate analysis of variance, and multiple regression analysis methods. Results: First, the life goals of youth athletes were converged into three types of intrinsic goals (growth & health, relationship, and contribution) and three types of extrinsic goals (material, honor & popularity, and image). Second, youth athletes perceived intrinsic goals as relatively more important, and there were significant differences in intrinsic and extrinsic goals according to gender, school level (middle and high school), sport type (individual and group), and perceived athletic competence. Third, the life goal content significantly predicted goal-focused self-regulation, which is a motivational characteristic. In particular, the influence of intrinsic life goals was great. Conclusion: These results are expected to help psychological counseling and sports coaching for exercise or academic adaptation by providing basic information on the contents of student athletes' life goals and the motivational characteristics of their life goals.

An adaptive integral terminal sliding mode controller to track the human upper limb during front crawl swimming

ABSTRACT Injuries are inevitable during swimming. The main goal of athletes especially competitive ones and coaches is to do the most mechanically effective movement patterns. In this case, biomechanical assessments could be beneficial in the management and prevention of injuries and pain in swimmers’ vulnerable joints. As the upper limb in swimming causes the highest propulsive force, the arm is exposed to more injuries. A skeletal model with 5 degrees of freedom is developed to simulate the swimmer’s arm during front crawl swimming. This model includes shoulder and elbow joints with all of their degrees of freedom. An adaptive integral sliding mode (AITSM) controller is employed to track the desired joint trajectories during swimming. This controller can converge the tracking errors to zero in finite time. For tuning the controller gains regardless of the upper bounds of the system uncertainties, an adaptive controller is applied. The results demonstrate the performance of the AITSM strategy in tracking the desired trajectory of an underwater arm model during swimming. During the down sweep to catch phase, arm movements cause more stress in the shoulder than the elbow. The applied moment at the shoulder is almost triple of the elbow’s moment. Therefore, the most vulnerable joint is the shoulder. By considering shoulder strength, the injury risk is predicted about 10% for the considered swimmer. Highlights The human upper limb during front crawl swimming is simulated. A 5-DOF skeletal model is considered to simulate the arm. An adaptive integral sliding mode (AITSM) controller is employed to track the desired trajectory. The results show that the controller has the proper performance to track the desired motion. The most vulnerable joint is the shoulder and higher moments are induced at this joint.

Effects of a Cognitive-Motor Training on Anticipatory Brain Functions and Sport Performance in Semi-Elite Basketball Players.

The aim of this research was to test the possible effects of cognitive–motor training (CMT) on athletes’ sport performance and cognitive functions. Namely, specific athletic tests, brain processes associated with anticipatory event-related potential (ERP) components and behavioral performance during a cognitive discrimination response task were evaluated pre- and post-training. Twenty-four young semi-professional basketball players were recruited for the study and randomly divided into an experimental (Exp) group executing the CMT training and a control (Con) group performing standard motor training. The CMT training protocol included exercises in which participants performed cognitive tasks during dribbling exercises using interactive devices which emitted visual and auditory stimuli, in which athletes’ responses were recorded. Results showed that following training, only the Exp group improved in all sport-specific tests (17%) and more than the Con group (88% vs. 60%) in response accuracy during the cognitive test. At brain level, post-training anticipatory cognitive processes associated with proactive inhibition and top-down attention in the prefrontal cortex were earlier and heightened in the Exp group. Our findings confirm previous studies on clear improved efficacy of CMT training protocols on sport performance and cognition compared to training based on motor exercises only, but extend the literature in showing that these effects might be explained by enhanced anticipatory brain processing in the prefrontal cortex. The present study also suggests that in order to achieve specific athletic goals, the brain adapts cognitive functions by means of neuroplasticity processes.

Facilitating sporting and non-sporting career goals of elite athletes through mentoring programmes

ABSTRACT Research question Many elite athletes pursue higher education or professional employment alongside their sport career. Formal mentoring relationships help athletes to balance the demands of a dual career. Thus, the purpose of this study is to investigate the interrelationship between mentoring, values conveyed in mentoring, and the satisfaction with sporting and non-sporting career goals from a mentee and mentor perspective. This research contributes to the existing literature by examining how mentoring can help athletes attain their dual career goals from a holistic perspective. Research method Elite athletes (i.e. competing in international competitions; n = 105) and business professionals who function as mentors (n = 101) are surveyed regarding their satisfaction with the mentoring relationship and career goals. Logistic regression analyses assessed the proposed interrelationships. Results and Findings The career development function and conveying performance are positively associated with mentees’ multiple sporting and non-sporting career goals. Greater investment into mentees’ career development and the conveyance of performance and trust is positively associated with mentors’ satisfaction (i.e. supporting the mentee and achieving personal career benefits). Implications Conveying performance as value is crucial for increased positive outcomes for mentees, such as easy integration into the workplace and society. A mentor investing more time and consideration into the mentoring relationship increases the mentor and mentee’s satisfaction. A mentoring relationship founded on trust is precious for the mentor.

Management of the competition horse – know the client, know the sport, know the rules

Background: Managing the demands of actively competing sport horses can be challenging for veterinarians. Finding the right balance between short‐term athletic goals and long‐term health and wellbeing of the horse can at times be difficult. Understanding your client's goals, aspirations and the athletic expectations of their equine partner is essential for successful management of the sport horse. This, coupled with knowledge of the chosen equestrian sport and familiarity with the rules and regulations, will greatly improve any veterinarian's ability to manage actively competing sport horses.Aim of the article: This article aims to assist veterinarians treating sport horses by highlighting some of the important equestrian rules and regulations. It also discusses some approaches to creating a successful veterinary‐client relationship.

Association between dietary practice, body composition, training volume and sport performance in 100-Km elite ultramarathon runners

Sport performance during competitions is a central goal for athletes, and several factors have been identified that appear to have an association with better performance in different sport disciplines. However, the data are still not conclusive in ultramarathon runners. Accordingly, this study aimed to assess the potential associations between anthropometric, body composition, dietary and training factors and athletic performance in 100-Km elite ultramarathon runners. Body mass index (BMI), body composition, training volume, Mediterranean dietary adequacy score (MDAS) and "100-Km race competition record" were assessed in 10 elite ultramarathon runners from the Italian Ultramarathon and Trail Association (IUTA) of the Italian national team. The study sample had a mean age of 41.1±7.59 years and BMI of 21.66±1.11kg/m2. Female athletes had a lower appendicular skeletal muscle index (ASMI) and 100-Km race competition record, and a higher trunk fat percentage and MDAS compared to males. Correlation analysis revealed a significant association between the 100-Km race competition record and age, gender, ASMI, training volume, total body and trunk fat percentages. However, after correcting for confounders, partial correlation analysis confirmed only the association between training volume and 100-Km race competition record (ρ=-0.891, p=0.009). Our findings provide evidence that a higher training volume expressed as Kilometers per week is an independent variable associated with better performance in 100-Km race competitions in elite ultramarathon runners. Future studies are needed to assess the usefulness of programs based on the increase of training volume as a strategy to improve athletic performance in 100-Km races in this specific population.

Applying Kolmogorov’s Proofs to the Evaluation of Instruction: Generalized and Particular (PART ONE)

Successful sharing of information—positive (actual) knowledge about facts, skills that are imparted, abilities developed and expressed—is the implicit goal of instruction in all its varied forms. It is the goal of training athletes, dancers, and professionals in every walk of life from early childhood to the most advanced level of education. PART ONE introduces mathematical proofs showing that the interactional successes engineered by instructors, other things being equal, must trend toward 100% shared information—mastery of the course of study. Failed efforts trend toward a complete absence of shared information. All this holds independently for the subject-matter, methods of instruction, and the attributes conducive to instructional success. In Part One, the underlying proofs are united by a very simple proof from the theory of true narratives showing that every iota of knowledge that might be shared in any instructional context depends on the kind of representations found in true reports of actual experience. Empirical studies in Part One confirm the predicted agreement in diverse contexts on the elements of good teaching. In Part Two, Kolmogorov’s proofs from 1933 are generalized, amplified, and tested empirically showing successful instruction converging toward 100% agreement on 1) subject-matter, 2) which methods of presentation and assessment work, and even on 3) the abstract criteria for successful instruction. At the same time, as the proofs also show, the cumulative effects of failed communicative efforts must and do trend toward zero shared information.

The Pediatrician’s Moral Obligation to Counsel Directively Against Youth Tackle Football

In this issue of The Journal of Clinical Ethics, Professor Ruth Tallman argues that pediatricians ought to support adolescent football players in their athletic goals. She does not deny that doing so means "helping children hurt themselves"; rather she argues that this would be consistent with a shared decision-making model in which both the physician and the patient seek to promote the patient's well-being in light of the patient's own goals. I argue that this ignores the role of the parents, meaning that Tallman is suggesting "helping parents allow their children to hurt themselves." As a general pediatrician, I would classify this as child neglect, if not downright child abuse. I argue that pediatricians should counsel directively against youth tackle football, employ a deliberative approach to shared decision making within the triadic doctor-patient-parent relationship, and support youth sport policies that seek to reduce traumatic brain injury by advocating for flag football, by prohibiting checking in boys' ice hockey, and by minimizing heading the ball in soccer below a certain age.

Athletic performance and mindfulness in track and field athletes

In the present study, the mindfulness levels of track and field (athletics) athletes were evaluated based on variables such as branch of sports (sprints, middle-distance, jumps and throws), gender, age, national athlete status, personel best record and athletic experience. 213 certified athletes (67 female-22.6% and 146 male-49.3%) competing at the national and international level in the branches of sprints, middle-distance, jumps and throws as part of different clubs affiliated to the Turkish Athletic Federation in the year 2020 and performing regular training at least 6 days a week voluntarily participated in the study. In the present cross-sectional study, the Mindfulness Inventory for Sport (MIS) developed by Thienot et al. (2014) and adapted to Turkish by Tingaz (2020c) was used. Data collection was carried out online through Google Forms. The independent t-test and the one-way analysis of variance were used in the evaluation of data. Based on the findings of the present study, it was determined that the athletes with high performance had higher mindfulness levels. Additionally, it was found that the national athletes and the athletes with high training experience had higher mindfulness levels in different sub-dimensions and in terms of the gender variable, the mindfulness levels of the female participants were higher. It is also notable that the athletes who perform mental training had higher mindfulness levels compared to those who do not. In the evaluation based on branches, it was observed that the sprinters were more competent in the refocusing sub-dimension compared to the athletes in all other branches. The findings obtained in the present study indicated that mindfulness can be affected by different variables. However, considering that the most important goal for athletes is to improve their performance, it is important for them to be aware of the positive effects of mindfulness. Based on this, it can be suggested for athletes to include mindfulness exercises in their training program and develop this approach as much as possible in order to support their athletic performance.

Psychological Trends in the Achievement Goals of College and University Athletes

Objectives: This study aimed to validate the application of the 3 × 2 achievement goal model in sports. Motivations: In order to offer new perspectives on achievement goals, this study explores 3 × 2 achievement goals used in competitive sports, and the prediction of passion and psychological well-being for sports. Methods: The study sample consists of 406 college and university athletes, including 230 males and 176 females. Average age of the subjects was 20.34 years. Average length of years of sports participation was 8.23 years. Data were collected with a questionnaire that incorporated a 3 × 2 achievement goal scale, a sports passion scale, and the Psychological Well-Being Scale. Statistical Methods: Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics for fuzzy data, fuzzy correlation coefficients, and fuzzy regression models. Finding: 1. There was a correlation between every two of task-approach, task-avoidance, self-approach, self-avoidance, other-approach, other-avoidance, harmonious passion, obsessive passion, and psychological well-being. 2. Among college and university athletes, task-approach and self-approach positively influence harmonious passion; task-approach, self-approach, other-approach, and other-avoidance positively influence obsessive passion; task-avoidance negatively influences obsessive passion; task-approach and self-approach positively influence psychological well-being, and task-avoidance negatively influences psychological well-being. Innovations: Use of the 3 × 2 achievement goal scale is applicable to college sportsmen in Taiwan, and the research method uses fuzzy statistical analysis, which breaks through the barriers of traditional psychological survey methods, and will improve the research quality of the sample survey. This study provides new techniques for research on psychological trends in sports. Value: In the future, coaches and athletes should focus on task-approach and self-approach goals in order to enhance the college or university athletes’ harmonious passion for a positive impact on their psychological well-being when they engage in sports through their own free will.

Polyphenols: Potential Beneficial Effects of These Phytochemicals in Athletes.

An athlete's dietary requirements depend on several aspects, including the environment, the sport, and the athlete's goals. Although it is recognized that regular exercise improves muscle performance and energy metabolism, unaccustomed or excessive exercise may cause cell damage and impair muscle function by triggering tissue inflammation and oxidative stress. Supplement use among athletes is widespread and recently new attention has been applied to polyphenols. Polyphenols are a class of organic chemical compounds, mainly found in plants, characterized by the presence of multiples of phenol structural units, and over recent decades, special attention has been paid to the healthy role of fruit-derived polyphenols in the human diet. This article will summarize latest knowledge on polyphenolic compounds that have been demonstrated both to exert an effect in exercise-induced muscle damage and to play a biological/physiological role in improving physical performance.

Knowledge and Perceptions of Plant-Based Diets among Competitive and Recreational Athletes

Little is known about athletes' perceptions of emerging dietary guidance on plant-based diets (PBD). To explore knowledge and perceptions of PBD among competitive and recreational athletes, an online survey was developed, pilot tested, and sent via email to athletes recruited from 2 Canadian post-secondary institutions. Survey questions explored athletes' understanding and views of the proposed Canadian dietary guidelines emphasizing plant-based proteins. Data were analyzed using grounded theory approaches. Forty-eight athletes participated in the survey. Two major themes emerged: (i) athletes had mixed perceptions of plant-based eating (PBE) and (ii) athletes associated PBE with broader food system concerns. Athletes have the potential to be important advocates of healthy and sustainable eating among peer groups and the general public. For effective promotion of PBE, the unique nutrient requirements and performance goals of athletes should be considered. Messaging to encourage a flexible rather than strict view of PBD may be a more feasible and acceptable approach when working with athletes.

A Qualitative Examination of Sport Retirement in Former NCAA Division I Athletes

Statistics indicate that the overwhelming majority of NCAA Division I college athletes will not continue in their sport professionally (NCAA, 2019). Therefore, there is a need to develop a deeper understanding of the variables that influence college athletes’ psychological health and well-being as they transition to retirement. The present study gathered detailed information about 15 former NCAA Division I college athletes’ retirement experiences four to five months post retirement. The findings suggested that the former college athletes had varied retirement experiences ranging from negative to positive. All college athletes who reported having a successful retirement transition described having at least one identified support group, stated they accomplished their athletic goals, indicated they had started pursuing other interests, and identified some positive aspects about their lives since retirement. Alternatively, the college athletes who reported having an unsuccessful retirement transition revealed they did not accomplish most of their athletic goals and struggled to identify any positive aspects about their lives since retirement. The findings of this study highlight the diversity in college athletes’ retirement experiences that can occur. Although there is still much more to ascertain about athlete retirement, this exploration into college athletes’ retirement experiences offers practical implications for athletes, coaches, practitioners, and those who want to provide support for a retiring athlete.

Development of an Evidence-based Nutritional Intervention Protocol for Adolescent Athletes.

Effective nutritional intervention can help reduce the risk of nutritional problems and improve athletic performance in adolescents. The five A's (assess, advise, agree, assist, and arrange) model is widely used as the theoretical framework for advice on nutrition, smoking, drinking, and physical activity and it recommends that practitioners in primary health care promote behavior change to facilitate positive outcomes. This model has also been useful in understanding the underlying processes of behavior change. This study aimed to develop both a novel evidence-based nutritional intervention protocol, rooted in sound nutritional theory, and a customizable nutritional intervention program to support sustainable healthy eating, enhance nutrient intake, and improve athletic performance in adolescent athletes. In this study, we adapted the 5 A's behavioral change model and motivational interview to develop a theoretical framework to help adolescent athletes change their behavior and achieve their goals. During each step of the 5 A's protocol, a customized nutritional intervention protocol was developed by nutrition experts for each of adolescent athletes. Each plan was developed to improve the eating habits of adolescent athletes through group education and counseling. All nutritional counseling sessions were designed to enable participants to apply nutritional knowledge and practical action plans to their training and competition conditions to enable each of them to achieve individual athletic goals and facilitate self-management. A theoretical and evidence-based nutritional intervention protocol was developed to identify and address obstacles to healthy dietary habits in adolescent athletes. This could be used as the basis for further studies aimed at improving nutrient intake and athletic performance in adolescent athletes.

The role of mindfulness and occupational stress in the goal orientations of development and winning

Emphasis on winning in youth sport, fueled by media, parents, coaches, as well as communities, has become a key concern for positive youth development in sport. By integrating the topic of mindfulness into organizational behavior in sport management, the author investigated how sport leaders in youth sports focused or refocused on the two athletic goals of development and winning in their stressful working conditions. Data were collected through an online survey completed by 478 sport managers across the United States. The results indicated that mindfulness was negatively associated with perceived stress and positively associated with development goal orientation. Additionally, perceived stress was positively associated with winning goal orientation and fully mediated the relationship between mindfulness and winning goal orientation. The findings of this research highlight the importance of mindfulness and perceived stress in the sport managers’ pursuit of two different goals in youth sport.

The Effect of Drop Jump Height on Post- Activation Potentiation as Measured by Vertical Jump Performance

Performance improvement is a primary goal of many athletes, whether they are actively competing or simply participating recreationally. Athletes and coaches make modifications in training, nutrition, and pre-competition routines in order to maximize the possibility of improving performance.

Evaluating gender bias in an eating disorder risk assessment questionnaire for athletes

ABSTRACT Due to stigma, eating disorders are under-researched, underdiagnosed and undertreated among men. This is particularly pertinent among athletes, as athletic goals are a major risk factor for disordered eating in men. This gender stereotype may be reinforced by eating disorder risk assessment tools that better reflect female symptoms. We examine an eating disorder risk assessment questionnaire in a population of athletes to assess both (1) gender bias in individual items and (2) gender differences on a cognitive and behavioral subscale, identified through a factor analysis. Controlling for eating disorder risk, we found that female gender significantly predicted high risk scores on four items; male gender significantly predicted high risk scores on four other items. We also found that women were more likely to score above the median on a cognitive subscale than men with the same level of eating disorder risk, while men were more likely to score above the median on a behavioral subscale. These results may be applied practically to allow eating disorder risk assessment tools to better capture eating disorder risk independent of gender. These methods may be applied to other questionnaires and other social identities, to expand the scope of eating disorder research and treatment.

Comparison of Knee Range of Motion and Spatio-Temporal Parameters of Gait in Elite Men Athletes after Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction Using Two Surgery Methods

Introduction: The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is one of the supporting structures of the knee joint. ACL injuries are very common, and rapid postoperative return to exercise is the most important goal for athletes. Considering the different available surgical approaches, the purpose of the present study was to compare the knee range of motion (ROM) and spatio-temporal parameters during gait after ACL reconstruction using two different surgical methods in elite men athletes. Materials and Methods: In this quasi-experimental study, 25 elite athletes participated, ten subjects in the healthy group, eight in the allograft group, and seven in the autograft group. They were asked to walk along a walkway at preferred speed. Qualisys motion analysis system (eight camera) at a sampling frequency of 100 Hz was used to measure gait kinematic. Spatio-temporal and ROM parameters were extracted in three groups. One-way analysis of variance was performed to compare these variables at a significance level of P 0.05 for all); however, the allograft group had lower mean values in all variables except for the cadence. In terms of knee ROM, with the exception of the minimum swing flexion that was significantly less in control group (P = 0.01), there was no significant difference between groups (P > 0.05). Conclusion: It seems that there is no functional difference between the two reconstruction types; therefore, it is not possible to make decision about knee reconstruction with regard tospatio-temporal parameters and kinematic pattern. We suggest that knee reconstruction be assessed from different viewpoints such as coordination pattern and muscle coordination.

How performance analysis of elite long jumping can inform representative training design through identification of key constraints on competitive behaviours

Analysing performance in competitive environments enables identification of key constraints which shape behaviours, supporting designs of more representative training and learning environments. In this study, competitive performance of 244 elite level jumpers (male and female) was analysed to identify the impact of candidate individual, environmental and task constraints on performance outcomes. Findings suggested that key constraints shaping behaviours in long jumping were related to: individuals (e.g. particularly intended performance goals of athletes and their impact on future jump performance); performance environments (e.g. strength and direction of wind) and tasks (e.g. requirement for front foot to be behind foul line at take-off board to avoid a foul jump). Results revealed the interconnectedness of competitive performance, highlighting that each jump should not be viewed as a behaviour in isolation, but rather as part of a complex system of connected performance events which contribute to achievement of competitive outcomes. These findings highlight the potential nature of the contribution of performance analysis in competitive performance contexts. They suggest how practitioners could design better training tasks, based on key ecological constraints of competition, to provide athletes with opportunities to explore and exploit functional intentions and movement solutions high in contextual specificity.

Goal setting as a method of self-regulation in curler athletes with different levels of pre-competition anxiety

Background. Among the most important factors of success in sports there are self-regulation skills of that are formed through goal-attainment. In the context of achieving high sports results, the concept of achieving the goal of J. Nicholls deserves special attention (Nicholls, 1984). According to the research, the goals of athletes can predict their emotional state and the likelihood of anxiety in the upcoming competition.