Junior Athletes Research Articles

Match injuries in amateur Rugby Union: a prospective cohort study - FICS Biennial Symposium Second Prize Research Award.

BackgroundThe majority of Rugby Union (rugby) players participate at the amateur level. Knowledge of player characteristics and injury risks is predominantly ascertained from studies on professional or junior athletes in rugby. The objectives of the current study are to: (1) describe the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and physical characteristics of a cohort of amateur rugby players; (2) describe the incidence, severity and mechanism of match injuries in amateur rugby, and; (3) explore factors associated with rates of match injury in this population.MethodsParticipants (n = 125) from one amateur men’s rugby club were followed in a one-season (2012) prospective cohort study. Match injury and match time exposure data were collected. A participant match exposure log was maintained. Baseline variables collected include: participant’s age, playing experience, position of play, the SF-36v2 health survey, height and weight. Injury incidence rates (IIRs) per 1000 match-hours exposure were calculated. Injury sub-groups were compared by calculating rate ratios of two IIRs. Poisson mixed-effects generalised linear modelling was used to explore relationships between IIRs and baseline predictors.ResultsA total of 129 injuries occurred during a combined period of 2465 match-hours of exposure. The overall IIR was 52.3 (43.7–62.2) /1000 match-hours exposure. Moderate-severe injuries (>1 week time-loss from play) comprised 36 % of all injuries. Tackling was the most common mechanism of injury, the head/face was the most common body region of injury and sprain/ligament injuries were the most common injury type. Fewer years of rugby participation, lower BMI and lower SF-36v2 mental component summary score were associated with higher IIR in amateur rugby. Age, player position i.e., backs versus forwards and SF-36v2 physical component summary score were not associated with injury incidence.ConclusionAmateur rugby players report similar HRQoL as the general population. We found amateur players had a higher rate of injury and lower injury severity than previous amateur studies, but location, type, and mechanism were similar. In this study pre-season HRQoL and BMI were weakly associated with higher injury rate when controlling for other factors; a finding that should be interpreted with caution and clarified with future research.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12998-016-0098-7) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Perfectionism and changes in athlete burnout over three months: Interactive effects of personal standards and evaluative concerns perfectionism

ObjectivesA recent longitudinal study with junior athletes (Madigan, Stoeber, & Passfield, 2015) found perfectionism to predict changes in athlete burnout: evaluative concerns perfectionism predicted increases in burnout over a 3-month period, whereas personal standards perfectionism predicted decreases. The present study sought to expand on these findings by using the framework of the 2 × 2 model of perfectionism (Gaudreau & Thompson, 2010) to examine whether evaluative concerns perfectionism and personal standards perfectionism show interactions in predicting changes in athlete burnout. DesignTwo-wave longitudinal design. MethodThe present study examined self-reported evaluative concerns perfectionism, personal standards perfectionism, and athlete burnout in 111 athletes (mean age 24.8 years) over 3 months of active training. Results and conclusionWhen moderated regression analyses were employed, interactive effects of evaluative concerns perfectionism × personal standards perfectionism were found indicating that personal standards perfectionism buffered the effects of evaluative concerns perfectionism on total burnout and physical/emotional exhaustion. To interpret these effects, the 2 × 2 model of perfectionism provides a useful theoretical framework.

Imagery intervention to increase flow state: A single-case study with middle-distance runners in the state of Qatar

The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of an imagery intervention on flow state in elite junior middle-distance runners based at a high-performance academy in Doha, Qatar. The study consisted of a non-concurrent, single-case, multiple-baseline A-B design. Theory-guided interviews on proximal conditions of flow state, including challenge–skills balance, clear goals, and unambiguous feedback, were conducted with athletes and coaches forming the basis of the intervention. The baseline phase was completed once each participant had met the stability criterion for flow state. Three participants worked with individualised, tailored imagery scripts during a four-week intervention phase. The results of the post-intervention phase showed a mean increase in flow state for all participants. The results have cross-cultural relevance and outline the challenges and potential barriers associated with working with elite junior athletes in “emerging countries” in the Middle East, in comparison to working with Western athletes in “emerged countries”. Positive effects and some of the pitfalls associated with forming work collaborations between sport psychologists, working in research and applied areas, are considered in the discussion.

Do weight categories prevent athletes from the relative age effect? a meta-analysis of combat sports

The relative age effect (RAE) has been thoroughly examined and shown in many sporting contexts, and the grouping of athletes into weight categories may provide a partial solution to this problem. Thus, the aim of this meta-analysis was to verify if weight categories used in combat sports prevent athletes from the RAE, including an analysis separating the athletes by sex. After initially identifying 141 studies, 135 were excluded. The birth dates of combat sports participants in six studies were used to perform a meta-analysis. Odds ratios and 95 % confidence intervals were calculated. The main result of this investigation was the presence of RAE male and female groups and the male-only group of senior (professional/Olympic) athletes, but not the female-only group of senior and cadet or junior athletes. Thus, the RAE in combat sports is more prominent at the senior level and in male compared to female combat sports athletes.

Perfectionism and training distress in junior athletes: a longitudinal investigation

ABSTRACTPerfectionistic athletes may train harder and for longer than non-perfectionistic athletes, leaving them susceptible to elevated levels of training distress. So far, however, no study has investigated the relationships between perfectionism and training distress, a key indicator of overtraining syndrome. Furthermore, no study has determined psychological predictors of overtraining syndrome. Using a two-wave design, the present study examined perfectionistic strivings, perfectionistic concerns and training distress in 141 junior athletes (mean age = 17.3 years, range = 16–19 years) over 3 months of active training. Multiple regression analyses were employed to test cross-sectional and longitudinal relationships between perfectionism and training distress. In all analyses, perfectionism emerged as a significant predictor, but strivings and concerns showed differential relationships. When the cross-sectional relationships were regarded, perfectionistic concerns positively predicted training distress (P < .001), whereas perfectionistic strivings negatively predicted training distress (P < .01). When the longitudinal relationships were regarded, only perfectionistic concerns predicted increases in training distress (P < .05), whereas perfectionistic strivings did not (P > .05). The findings suggest that sports scientists who wish to identify athletes at risk of overtraining syndrome may monitor athletes’ perfectionistic concerns as a possible risk factor.

Mindfulness and Burnout in Elite Junior Athletes: The Mediating Role of Experiential Avoidance

Previous research suggests that mindfulness and experiential avoidance are negatively and positively related to athlete burnout, respectively. It is unknown, however, whether experiential avoidance functions as a mediator between mindfulness and athlete burnout. To address this gap, 387 elite Chinese junior athletes (M = 15.44 years, SD = 1.42) completed self-report measures of mindfulness, experiential avoidance, and athlete burnout. Findings provided cross-sectional evidence that experiential avoidance mediated the inverse association from mindfulness to each of the three burnout dimensions. No gender difference of these indirect effects was revealed. This study is the first to test the theoretical sequence in which mindfulness is associated with athlete burnout via experiential avoidance and provide additional support the adaptive nature of mindfulness.

Development and initial validation of the Role Strain Questionnaire for Junior Athletes (RSQ-JA)

In a series of related studies, the relevance of a role strain framework to interpret the difficulties junior elite athletes experience in their multiple life domains was assessed. Here, the Role Strain Questionnaire for Junior Athletes (RSQ-JA) was developed to measure the role strain experienced by junior athletes. In Study 1, role strain was explored via interviews with 20 elite junior athletes. Based on themes emerging from these interviews, an initial 65-item pool for the RSQ-JA was created and subjected to an exploratory factor analysis in Study 2. The factors derived in Study 2 were tested for factorial validity using confirmatory factor analysis in Study 3. Results supported a 22-item five factor structure for the RSQ-JA. These factors reflected the salient sources of role strain, namely; (i) overload in school, (ii) overload in sport and between roles, (iii) between-role conflict, (iv) underload, and (v) ambiguity. The RSQ-JA therefore provides the initial validation of the first measure of role strain experienced by junior elite athletes.

Effects of training against elastic resistance on jab punch performance in elite junior athletes

Ability to perform rapid open-kinetic chain movements (e.g. kicking, throwing, hitting, or punching) is an important prerequisite for success in various sports. The aims of the present study were (1) to investigate the effect of elastic resistance training (ERT) on the performance of jab punch, (2) to explore the associated changes in movement kinematic and kinetic patterns, and (3) to assess possible differences among competitors of different specializations. The national level junior competitors in kick boxing, savate, and boxing practiced jab punch against elastic resistance for 15 minutes per day, 3 times a week for 6 weeks, while the control group participated only in their regular training (N=10+10+10+10; age 17.2±1.0 years; M±SD). The results revealed a marked increase in the maximum jab punch velocity in all experimental groups (6-11%; all p&amp;lt;.01), but not in the control group (p&amp;gt;.05). This finding was associated with an increase in both the maximum velocity and displacement of the ipsilateral elbow, shoulder, and, particularly, hip joint, while no change in the movement time was observed. The ERT-associated increase was also revealed in the agonist (7-11%, all p&amp;lt;.01), but not antagonist muscle strength. Therefore, we conclude that addition of a relatively small amount of ERT could be recommended for the purpose of improving punching performance and, possibly, other rapid limb movement even in top-level junior athletes. The observed performance improvement could be partly based on increased motion amplitudes particularly regarding the pelvis movement, as well as on increased strength of agonist muscles

Comparison of supplement use in junior and senior athletes

Comparison of supplement use in junior and senior athletes

No Pain No Gain: Feelings and Performance in Sport

This study aimed to explore how the emotion of joy could play a central role during different sport activities among young elite athletes. The participants in this study were 211 junior athletes in sports who were undergoing their High School education at different schools specializing in elite sports. Our results showed that eudaimonic emotions were associated with episodes that are considered to be demanding for an athlete, such as core activities, whereas hedonic emotions were associated with easier situations such as routine activities. Moreover, eudaimonic emotions were for the most part associated with the ability to realize athletes' potential. Finally, playful activities reported the highest score on both hedonic and eudaimonic emotions.

Разработка критериев оценки функционального состояния спортсменов-юниоров для создания электронных медицинских карт

Разработка критериев оценки функционального состояния спортсменов-юниоров для создания электронных медицинских карт

Diversity of attacking actions in Malaysian junior and senior taekwondo players

Extensive research has been attempted in sports recently by implementing video/notational analysis, given that its benefits in improving performance have been shown to exist. The present study was conducted to determine whether the taekwondo junior and senior athletes differ in: (1) their attacking techniques of choice and (2) opting for various value groups of scoring kicks during taekwondo match. A total of 38 matches of 11 seniors and 10 juniors during a national level taekwondo competition were recorded for the research on the frequency and variety of the techniques attempted in a match through notational analysis. The results revealed significant differences (p<0.05) between the groups on the preferred attacking techniques used during their matches but no significant differences were found between them on the technique groups used (i.e. 1, 2-, and 3-point scoring techniques). Seniors were superior in performing 1- and 2-point techniques whereas juniors were superior in performing 3-point techniques. Seniors had significantly higher overall techniques efficiency (p<0.05) than juniors. In order to achieve technical efficiency similar to that of seniors, juniors need to improve on their 1- and 2-points techniques while continuing to progress in deploying the 3-point techniques.

The Effects from Mindfulness Training on Norwegian Junior elite Athletes in Sport

This study investigates the effects from a 12-weeks mindfulness intervention on perceived stress, perceived performance in school and sports, and athlete burnout among junior elite athletes in sports. In the present investigation 50 Norwegian junior athletes from two different schools for elite sports participated in an experiment with a pre-test, post-test control group design. Twenty three of them were in the experiment group whereas 27 were in the control group. The athletes were from different sports such as cross country skiing, biathlon, shooting and track and field. As hypothesized, we found significant effects from the mindfulness intervention on athlete burnout. There were no significant effects found on perceived stress, perceived performance in school and sports. These findings are discussed in regard of applied implications and possible future research.

КОНСТИТУЦИОНАЛЬНО-ТИПОЛОГИЧЕСКИЕ МОДЕЛЬНЫЕ ХАРАКТЕРИСТИКИ ВЕДУЩИХ ЛЕГКОАТЛЕТОВ-ЮНИОРОВ

OBJECTIVE: to study model features of constitution types of the strongest junior athletes living in the South of Russia, which determine their specialization, qualifications and training condition. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 44 athletes from the Olympic School of Rostov-on-Don were examined. Their somatotypes were determined by methods of somatotyping of R.N. Dorokhov and V.G. Petruhina. Functional indicators such as physical working capacity, aerobic capacity, power indicators, and the parameters of the parasympathetic were eveluated. RESULTS: the somatotype of leading female athletes was mesomacrosomic, microcorpulent, micromuscular, microostic and mesomacromembranous. The somatotype of leading male athletes: macrosomic, micromesocorpulent, micromuscular, microostic and mesomacromembranous. In endurance athletes a low level of muscle mass (0,26±0,242) was found. 61% of athletes had mesomacromembranous type. Absolute physical performance among male athletes was 1648±221 kg∙m/min, among female atthles - 1177,5±242 kg∙m/min. CONCLUSIONS: for the selection of athletes, sports planning, and for training in athletics it is important to consider the ratio of morphological and functional indices characterizing the overall endurance. Keywords: somatotype; juniors; track and field; physical performance; fitness.

Profiles of perfectionism, parental climate, and burnout among competitive junior athletes.

Recent research suggests that groups of athletes which differ in terms of perfectionism and perceptions of achievement climate can be identified. Moreover, these groups also differ in terms of burnout symptoms. The purpose of the current study was to extend this research by examining whether discernible groups can be identified based on scores of perfectionism and perceptions of parent-initiated climate and, then, whether these groups differ in terms of burnout. Two-hundred and thirty-seven Swedish junior athletes (124 males and 113 females aged 16-19) from a variety of sports completed measures of athlete burnout, multidimensional perfectionism, and parent-initiated motivational climate. Latent profile analysis identified four groups: non-perfectionistic athletes in a task-involving climate, moderately perfectionistic athletes in a task-involving climate, highly perfectionistic athletes in a task-involving climate, and highly perfectionistic athletes in a mixed climate. The latter two groups reported higher levels of burnout in comparison to other groups. The findings suggest that junior athletes high in perfectionism may be at comparatively greater risk to burnout and that this may especially be the case when they perceive their parents to emphasize concerns about failure and winning without trying one's best.

Relative Age Effect in Young Swiss Alpine Skiers From 2004 to 2011.

To verify whether relative age effects (RAEs) occur among young male and female Swiss Alpine skiers of different age groups and performance levels. In addition, the efficacy of normalizing performance in physical tests to height and body mass to attenuate RAEs eventually present was tested. The Swiss Ski Power Test consists of anthropometric measures and physical tests for coordination and speed, endurance, and strength and has been used since 2004 to evaluate 11- to 19-y-old Swiss competitive Alpine skiers. The authors analyzed the distribution of 6996 tests performed by 1438 male and 1031 female Alpine skiers between 2004 and 2011 according to the athletes' respective relative age quartiles. Differences in anthropometric measures and performance in physical tests according to quartile were assessed, and the possibility of attenuating eventual RAEs on performance by normalization of results to height and body mass was tested. RAEs were found among all female and male age groups, with no differences between age groups. While performance level did not affect RAE for male skiers, it influenced RAE among female skiers. RAEs also influenced results in all physical tests except upper-limb strength. Normalization of results to body mass attenuated most RAEs identified. Small RAEs are present among young Swiss competitive Alpine skiers and should be taken into account in training and selection settings to prevent the waste of possible future talents. When ranking junior athletes according to their performance in physical tests, normalization of results to body mass decreases the bias caused by RAEs.

Frequency of injuries, in particular dental injuries, in ski jumping and Nordic combined.

This study investigates the frequency of injuries, in particular dental injuries, among ski jumpers and Nordic combined athletes. It also examines the level of knowledge regarding tooth protection and tooth rescue boxes in this population. Of the 465 sportswomen and sportsmen who took part in the study, 230 (62.5%) of the 368 ski jumpers and 56 (56.5%) of the 97 Nordic combined athletes had sustained an injury. In both disciplines injury was most likely among professionals. The survey participants reported injuries to the limbs (n = 216), head and lips (n = 273 and n = 253, respectively), torso or spine (n = 249), teeth (n = 246), nose (n = 229) and jaw (n = 26). Dental injuries were more common among professionals than either amateur or junior ski jumpers, whereas, among the Nordic combined athletes, juniors were most likely to sustain a dental injury. Overall, the frequency of dental injury was significantly (p = 0.019) higher among adults 12.7% (n = 234) than junior athletes 6.1% (n = 212). The level of awareness of mouthguards and tooth rescue boxes varied between countries. The high injury rate recorded in this study demonstrates that ski jumping contains a considerable risk of injury, including tooth damage. Consequently, it seems reasonable to inform skiing organisations, trainers and athletes about the potential benefits of mouthguards and tooth rescue boxes in order to reduce the risk of dental injury.

Perfectionism and attitudes towards doping in junior athletes

Recent theory and research suggest that perfectionism is a personal factor contributing to athletes’ vulnerability to doping (using banned substances/drugs to enhance sporting performance). So far, however, no study has examined what aspects of perfectionism suggest a vulnerability in junior athletes. Employing a cross-sectional design, this study examined perfectionism and attitudes towards doping in 129 male junior athletes (mean age 17.3 years) differentiating four aspects of perfectionism: perfectionistic strivings, perfectionistic concerns, parental pressure to be perfect, and coach pressure to be perfect. In the bivariate correlations, only parental pressure showed a positive relationship with positive doping attitudes. In a multiple regression analysis controlling for the overlap between the four aspects, perfectionistic strivings additionally showed a negative relationship. Moreover, a structural equation model examining the relationships between all variables suggested that coach pressure had a negative indirect effect on attitudes towards doping via perfectionistic strivings. The findings indicate that perceived parental pressure to be perfect may be a factor contributing to junior athletes’ vulnerability to doping, whereas perfectionistic strivings may be a protective factor.

Initial validation of the coach-created Empowering and Disempowering Motivational Climate Questionnaire (EDMCQ-C)

This article employs Duda's (2013) hierarchical conceptualization of the coach-created motivational climate to inform the validation of a questionnaire (Empowering and Disempowering Motivational Climate Questionnaire-Coach; EDMCQ-C) that assesses junior athletes' perceptions of the social environmental dimensions proposed by achievement goal theory and self-determination theory. Confirmatory factor analyses (CFA) were initially employed to reduce the number of items required to measure the targeted climate dimensions. A series of competing models were then tested to determine the best representation of the questionnaire's factor structure. The findings revealed that exploratory structural equation modelling (ESEM) provided a better fit of the data to the hypothesised model than CFA solutions. Specifically, the bi-factor ESEM provided the best fit, although parameter estimates suggest that none of the ESEM solutions replicated the underlying theoretical model of the motivational climate proposed by Duda (2013). The evidence from this study suggests that the EDMCQ-C is a promising, parsimonious questionnaire to assess empowering and disempowering facets of the motivational climate albeit the development of the questionnaire remains a work in progress.

Perfectionism and Burnout in Junior Athletes: A Three-Month Longitudinal Study.

Perfectionism in sports has been shown to be associated with burnout in athletes. Whether perfectionism predicts longitudinal changes in athlete burnout, however, is still unclear. Using a two-wave cross-lagged panel design, the current study examined perfectionistic strivings, perfectionistic concerns, and athlete burnout in 101 junior athletes (mean age 17.7 years) over 3 months of active training. When structural equation modeling was employed to test a series of competing models, the best-fitting model showed opposite patterns for perfectionistic strivings and perfectionistic concerns. Whereas perfectionistic concerns predicted increases in athlete burnout over the 3 months, perfectionistic strivings predicted decreases. The present findings suggest that perfectionistic concerns are a risk factor for junior athletes contributing to the development of athlete burnout whereas perfectionistic strivings appear to be a protective factor.