Competitive Sport Performance Research Articles

Anxiety and athlete performance: a systematic narrative review of the mutual influence of these concepts

Abstract Purpose This systematic review was designed to assess the existence of a potential bidirectional relationship between competitive anxiety and sport performance among professional athletes. Psychotherapists believe that the relationship between these 2 parameters can be directly proportional and, moreover, can go both ways, as they have systematically observed in the general population. Methods For this purpose, a number of 45 descriptive studies were selected from the cybernetic literature to estimate the level of anxiety in competitive athletes, the variables that may influence this parameter and the level of performance achieved as a result. Without therapeutic intervention, anxiety parameters and its covariates were assessed to detect the influence on sport performance and predict the outcome of a competition based on these concepts. Results The systematic review of these studies revealed that competitive anxiety has a major and statistically significant influence on the competitive situation a an athlete, having an important action on their career in the short and long term. Conclusions This analysis has succeeded in demonstrating that a certain degree of anxiety, within the limits imposed by the game experience and through fine psychological mechanisms, can become an asset in terms of achieving the chosen goal in the athlete’s career.

Theory evolution of the relationship between competitive pressure, attentional control and sports performance

Theory evolution of the relationship between competitive pressure, attentional control and sports performance

The Physical Activity and Sport Participation Framework-A Policy Model Toward Being Physically Active Across the Lifespan.

The changing social and policy context in which sport is produced, delivered, and consumed is considered as a foundation for proposing a new integrated framework that incorporates participation in sport with participation in leisure-time physical activity (PA) more broadly. In order to position sport in the broader context of leisure-time PA, the concept of physical literacy is reviewed and integrated into the theoretical foundations of a new lifespan framework. It is argued that historically, sport policy largely focused on competitive club-based sport and elite performance and that in line with this, talent development pathway models were developed and implemented. However, with increasing physical inactivity globally, these models do not apply to the general population. This is why we propose a population-based “whole of sport ecosystem” lifespan model—the Physical Activity and Sport Participation (PASP) framework. We conclude that this framework may serve as a holistic policy and implementation guide for all in the sport ecosystem. This includes governmental PA and sport policy makers, sport governing bodies and clubs, and the ever-increasing range of private PA and sport providers and also health agencies. In recognition of the changing patterns of participation in PA and sport across the lifespan, the PASP framework can contribute to coordinated and integrated PA and sport policy development, which, in turn, can lead to strategies that tackle the global physical inactivity crisis.

Relationship between biological age, body dimensions and cardiorespiratory performance in young soccer players

Background: During adolescence, performance in competitive sport is influenced not only by the levels of physical activity, but also by the biological state and body dimensions. Objective: The purpose of our study was to compare cardiorespiratory performance between groups with different biological age in male adolescent soccer players. Methods: Eighty-eight young soccer players (age = 15.9 ± 0.5 years, body height = 176.1 ± 5.6 cm, body weight = 65.4 ± 7.2 kg) performed a vita-maxima protocol on a treadmill. Starting speed was 6 km/h and inclination 1.4%, which were increased linearly every minute, to 11 km/h and to 3.5% respectively (first 5 minutes). Then we increased inclination by 2% every minute until exhaustion. The effect of the biological age on functional indices was examined based on two grouping methods. First, the participants were classified into sub-groups by their morphological (or developmental) age, which is an expression of biological age and evaluates the developmental state of specific body dimensions (body height, body weight, shoulder width, lower arm girth, and hand circumference). Then, from anthropometric and body composition measures three clusters were created, according to the participants' developmental state. For both grouping methods, the groups were: late-maturing, average-maturing, early-maturing. Results: Based on the morphological age grouping method, biologically more advanced athletes achieved greater cardiorespiratory performance (late-maturing: 337 ± 33 W, average maturing: 363 ± 48 W, early maturing: 386 ± 43 W) with higher oxygen uptake (late-maturing: 3529 ± 336 ml/min, average-maturing: 3798 ± 436 ml/min, early-maturing: 3983 ± 541 ml/min) and oxygen pulse (late-maturing: 18.1 ± 1.8 ml/beat, average-maturing: 19.6 ± 2.5 ml/beat, early-maturing: 20.8 ± 2.8 ml/beat). There were no differences in time spent on the treadmill, maximal lactic acid levels, relative power, maximal heart rate, respiratory rate, tidal volume, relative maximal oxygen uptake, maximal ventilation. There were significant differences in weight, plastic index and muscle mass between all the three groups. Differences in cardiorespiratory indices between groups of different maturity status were larger when we grouped the athletes based on cluster analysis compared to the morphological age-based grouping method. Conclusions: During growth and maturation Body dimensions and body (and muscle) mass significantly affect maximal oxygen uptake in young athletes. The inclusion of body composition components in addition to body dimensions increases the explanatory power of biological age on cardiorespiratory performance.

Effects of Static Apnea Training on Pulmonary Function, Blood Lactate Response and Exercise Performance of Elite Swimmers

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of training on improvement in pulmonary function and swimming performance by implementing static apnea training for 4 weeks in elite male swimmers.METHODS: Twenty elite swimmers were divided into two groups, the apnea training group (Apnea, n=11) and the control group (control, n=9). Each swimmer received identical swimming and ground training for 4 weeks. The apnea group performed 10 sets of breathholding a day additionally. In all participants, the pulmonary function tests [forced vital capacity (FVC) and forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1)] were evaluated. The blood lactate level was also measured after each swimmer completed swimming 5 laps.RESULTS: After 4 weeks of static apnea training, the FVC of the apnea group significantly increased (p=.008), whereas the FEV1/FVC ratio did not change. Breath-holding time increased significantly after apnea training (p=.001). There were no significant differences between the groups in the 50-m time trial records. However, the apnea group show a significant difference at the 4th (p=.013) and 5th trial (p=.023). The blood lactate levels after the 50-m trial was not significantly different between the groups, but the levels in the apnea group showed a significant increase in the results of the 2nd trial compared to those before apnea training (p=.008).CONCLUSIONS: The results of our study reveal that static apnea training improves pulmonary function, in contrast to a few time trials that show varying differences in swimming records and blood lactate levels. These results warrant a review of the training protocol to evaluate the effect on performance. In conclusion, static apnea training is a potential exercise that can improve performance in competitive sports.

The Association Between Personality Traits and eSports Performance.

This study focuses on the relationship between personality traits, derived from the Big Five model, and performance in the competitive electronic sports (eSports) video game League of Legends (LoL). Data were gathered from 206 LoL players of various in-game success levels, as measured by their position within the competitive hierarchy (division) of the video game. The NEO-Five Factor Inventory (NEO-FFI) questionnaire was used to measure personality traits within the gathered sample, which was divided into two groups of higher and lower ranked players. The results indicate that players who reach higher divisions in LoL tend to be less extraverted, less agreeable, but more open to experience. This is one of the few reported links between eSports performance and personality traits, in what is still a nascent yet rapidly developing research topic. The results are discussed within the context of available knowledge on personality and traditional competitive sports performance.

Clubes de futebol: relações entre investimento, desempenho e adesão ao PROFUT

Nos clubes de futebol são esperadas relações favoráveis entre a formação de equipes competitivas, desempenho esportivo e desempenho financeiro. No Brasil, após a Lei 13.155/2015, a gestão dos clubes sofre uma série de exigências e aqueles que aderiram ao PROFUT adicionam exposição de suas finanças. Neste cenário, o estudo analisa as relações entre o investimento nas equipes, os desempenhos financeiro e esportivo de clubes brasileiros de futebol, pré e pós adesão ao PROFUT. Para isso, utiliza dados dos clubes que participaram da Série A do Campeonato Brasileiro em 2016, ano seguinte ao limite para adesão ao PROFUT, submetidos à análise de regressão com dados em painel. Os resultados revelam relações favoráveis do investimento na formação e contratação de atletas sobre o desempenho esportivo e financeiro, com efeitos inclusive após adesão ao PROFUT. Entretanto, as relações esperadas entre desempenho esportivo e financeiro não foram identificadas e alertas são feitos ao longo da pesquisa. O trabalho contribui para discussões sobre futebol e finanças, discute efeitos moderadores da adesão ao PROFUT, propõe variáveis e faz recomendações aos clubes.

Difference in Interoception between Long-Distance Runners and Sprinters: An Event-related Potential Study.

Interoception is a sense of the physiological state of one's body. Interoception that is generated by processing physiological information in the insular cortex plays an important role in achieving optimal performance in competitive sports. This study aimed to reveal the difference in interoceptive ability between long-distance runners and sprinters and its neural correlates by recording the stimulus-preceding negativity (SPN) that is generated from the insular cortex. Based on previous findings, we predicted that long-distance runners would show better interoceptive ability and larger SPNs compared with sprinters. We used a questionnaire and a heartbeat counting task to evaluate the interoceptive sensitivity and accuracy, respectively, of both long-distance runners and sprinters. We recorded SPNs during the execution of a time estimation task where participants estimate 3 s by pressing a button. Results of the questionnaire revealed that sprinters exhibited a higher interoceptive ability associated with attention control of their own bodies than did long-distance runners. Sprinters also showed a larger SPN over the left centroparietal regions compared with long-distance runners. In contrast to our prediction, sprinters exhibited a superior interoceptive ability and a greater activity of the insular cortex relative to long-distance runners. These results suggest that sprinters might be more susceptible to their internal bodily signals compared with long-distance runners, exhibiting greater activation of the anterior insula.

Wychowankowie Związku Towarzystw Gimnastycznych „Sokół” w Polsce w igrzyskach olimpijskich 1924–1936

The aim of the article is to depict the participation of athletes, originated from the Union of Gymnastic Societies ‘Sokół’ (Falcon) in Poland, in the summer and winter Olympic Games in the interwar period. The Olympians represented gymnastics, athletics, boxing, wrestling and cross-country skiing – sports that were initiated on Polish soil yet during the partitions and were widely exercised in ‘Sokół’s’ societies in the interwar period. In this article, the political and social context accompanying the development of professional sport in “Sokół” can be found. Moreover, included biograms of the Olympians mention, in addition to sports successes, their membership in‘ Sokół’, and their social and professional activities after the end of a sports career. The aim of the article is to depict the participation of athletes, originated from the Union of Gymnastic Societies ‘Sokół’ (Falcon) in Poland, in the summer and winter Olympic Games in the interwar period. The Olympians represented gymnastics, athletics, boxing, wrestling and cross-country skiing – sports that were initiated on Polish soil yet during the partitions and were widely exercised in ‘Sokół’s’ societies in the interwar period. In this article, the political and social context accompanying the development of professional sport in “Sokół” can be found. Moreover, included biograms of the Olympians mention, in addition to sports successes, their membership in ‘Sokół’, and their social and professional activities after the end of a sports career. Futhermore, this study presents athletes whose biographies were contained in the published biographies and memoirs. This sources unambiguously confirm that their membership in the “Sokół” was not incidental, and their social identity was shaped in the process of education of the Society. This research area has begun to interest sport historians for some time, but publications are still incidental and rather focused on the achievements of the 'Sokół' in the dissemination of sport in selected regions of the country rather than the performance in competitive sport. The research methodology is based on the analysis of historical sources, such as sports press, diaries, and in-depth biographical studies.

Specific probiotics in elite athlete injuries: indication for usage

More severe effects of illness that require probiotic intervention and complete cessation of training activities might have a larger effect on competitive sport performance. In this review, we outline key principles of prevention for injury and illness in high level athletes using probiotic treatments, examine relevant scientific evidence on probiotics for reducing the risk of illness and injury, and summarize practical recommendations for high level athletes, coaches, and practitioners. Studies were obtained through manual and electronic journal searches, review articles, as well as personal correspondence, concerning the period 2000-2018. We used the following databases: PubMed, Web of Science, SCOPUS and Medline. Electronic databases were searched using keywords and/or MeSH terms such as [[[Athlete] or [Sport effects] or [Injuries] or [Disease] or [Allergy] or [Illness] or [Sickness] or [Desorder]] in combination with [[microbiota] or [microbiotas] or [Microbiome] or [microbiomes] or [Human Microbiome] or [Human microbiomes] or [microbiomes, Human] or [Microbiome, Human]] not [[disease]]], until February 18th, 2018. In this present review, we have outlined key points of injury and illness prevention for elite athletes using probiotic treatments, examining relevant scientific evidence on probiotics for reducing the risk of illness and injury, and summarized practical recommendations for high level athletes, coaches, and practitioners.

The sound of the underwater dolphin-kick: developing real-time audio feedback in swimming

One of the main factors for improving movement execution and motor performance in competitive sports is the availability of useful feedback. While coaches can communicate verbally with athletes in most sports, swimming is different. Because the swimmer is underwater most of the time, any type of real-time feedback is difficult. Since the presentation of acoustic information through sonification has proven beneficial to certain motor skills, this paper describes initial considerations for an application of interactive sonification as real-time audio feedback to provide useful information to improve motor execution in swimming. Special attention is given to the underwater dolphin-kick (UDK), which is performed by athletes after every start and every turn and is one of the critical factors for overall performance in world-class swimming. It was examined whether the characteristics of the UDK are represented in the sound in order to create congruency between sound, action and reaction.Two different sonification models were designed using data from 11 national athletes (six juniors, aged 17.0 ± 1.5 years and five seniors aged 23.6 ± 1.3 years). The sonified data were presented to sport scientists and coaches and tested in in a pilot study with three club-level swimmers (17.0 ± 0.8 years) in swimming training. The results indicate that the athletes became aware of relevant aspects of the movement with both sonification models, to which they had no access so far. In detail, the sonification provided information on forward propulsion, movement rhythm and kick frequency – all factors contributing to overall motor performance. Individual statements showed that the athletes noticed deceleration phases in the forward propulsion and the time duration in the movement execution and tried to adapt their movements accordingly. The approaches presented here could therefore serve as a useful training tool for swimmers to improve their UDK.

Taking Action or Thinking About It? State Orientation and Rumination Are Correlated in Athletes.

Athletic performance in competitive sports relies heavily on the ability to cope effectively with stressful situations. In contrast, some athletes report that their thoughts revolve around the future or past and not around the actual demands during competitions. In those specific stressful situations, the lack of focus like an unintended fixation on repetitive cognitions can have fatal consequences with regard to the performance. Especially when competitors are close in their athletic capabilities, differences in effectively coping with stress and mental stability may decide about winning and losing. One established factor of performing effectively under pressure is the individual tendency to either focus on taking action (i.e., action orientation) or on focusing on the own emotions (i.e., state orientation). It is widely acknowledged that state-oriented athletes have disadvantages in performing under stress. Moreover, the action control theory claims that state orientation is related to ruminative cognitions, which itself is assumed to impair performance in the long term. We tested this hypothesis in 157 competitive athletes from different sports (including individual and team sports). Regression analysis demonstrates a substantial correlation of failure-related action orientation (i.e., state orientation) with different measures of rumination (including general, clinically relevant, and competition-related rumination). In addition, general (i.e., content independent) rumination also correlated substantially with a rumination scale adapted specifically to sports-related competition. These results suggest (1) that a sports and competition-related ruminative mechanism exists and (2) that ruminative cognitions are related to the cognitive basis of state orientation. While our study does not allow for a causal interpretation, it provides an additional approach to investigate mental factors underlying inter-individual differences in athletic performance under stress and pressure.

Evaluating Weaknesses of "Perceptual-Cognitive Training" and "Brain Training" Methods in Sport: An Ecological Dynamics Critique.

The recent upsurge in “brain training and perceptual-cognitive training,” proposing to improve isolated processes, such as brain function, visual perception, and decision-making, has created significant interest in elite sports practitioners, seeking to create an “edge” for athletes. The claims of these related “performance-enhancing industries” can be considered together as part of a process training approach proposing enhanced cognitive and perceptual skills and brain capacity to support performance in everyday life activities, including sport. For example, the “process training industry” promotes the idea that playing games not only makes you a better player but also makes you smarter, more alert, and a faster learner. In this position paper, we critically evaluate the effectiveness of both types of process training programmes in generalizing transfer to sport performance. These issues are addressed in three stages. First, we evaluate empirical evidence in support of perceptual-cognitive process training and its application to enhancing sport performance. Second, we critically review putative modularized mechanisms underpinning this kind of training, addressing limitations and subsequent problems. Specifically, we consider merits of this highly specific form of training, which focuses on training of isolated processes such as cognitive processes (attention, memory, thinking) and visual perception processes, separately from performance behaviors and actions. We conclude that these approaches may, at best, provide some “general transfer” of underlying processes to specific sport environments, but lack “specificity of transfer” to contextualize actual performance behaviors. A major weakness of process training methods is their focus on enhancing the performance in body “modules” (e.g., eye, brain, memory, anticipatory sub-systems). What is lacking is evidence on how these isolated components are modified and subsequently interact with other process “modules,” which are considered to underlie sport performance. Finally, we propose how an ecological dynamics approach, aligned with an embodied framework of cognition undermines the rationale that modularized processes can enhance performance in competitive sport. An ecological dynamics perspective proposes that the body is a complex adaptive system, interacting with performance environments in a functionally integrated manner, emphasizing that the inter-relation between motor processes, cognitive and perceptual functions, and the constraints of a sport task is best understood at the performer-environment scale of analysis.

The Psychology and Ethics of Maximising Performance in Competitive Sports

The Psychology and Ethics of Maximising Performance in Competitive Sports

Overcoming failure in sport: A self-forgiveness framework

Within the winner or loser dichotomy that exemplifies competitive sport, athletic success hinges on the ability to overcome and respond constructively to failure. This article introduces self-forgiveness as an adaptive, purposeful approach to coping with competitive sport performance failure in a way that stimulates personal growth and combats loss of motivation. In contrast to defensive responses that shield self-integrity, genuine self-forgiveness is reached through a process in which athletes (a) accept personal responsibility for their role in the unsuccessful performance outcome and (b) restore self-regard by affirming the self. Although athletes expose themselves to uncomfortable emotional experiences associated with failure, self-forgiveness is proposed as a process that enables athletes to objectively evaluate unsuccessful performances, identify areas warranting improvement, and develop adaptive psychological recovery responses to failure.

The Influence of Emotional Intelligence on Performance in Competitive Sports: A Meta-Analytical Investigation.

Emotional intelligence (EI) is considered as a factor influencing sport performance. The research findings are inconsistent with respect to the size and even the direction of the relationship, however. In order to summarise the available evidence, we conducted a meta-analysis examining the relationship between emotional intelligence (EI) and sports performance in competitive sports. A systematic literature search was conducted in June 2018. We identified 21 studies targeting EI and sports performance in competitive sports. We calculated correlation (r) to estimate the effect of the relationship. A random effects model was used to interpret findings. The meta-analysis of 22 effect sizes on the response of 3.431 participants found a small but significant relationship between EI and sports performance (r = 0.16). Additionally, the conceptualisation of EI (ability concept, trait concept, or mixed-model concept), type of publication, citation counts, and publication date turned out not to be significant moderators. Overall, the result is encouraging regarding the value of EI as a possible predictor in sports performance.

LANGUAGE, LITERATURE AND SOCIETY

Modern sports are becoming more and more competitive and the margin of error is decreasing from seconds to micro seconds, inches to millimeters, kilos to grams, so why this all is changing it is due to development in the sports science and with this there are lot of changes taking place and those are defiantly helping our youth to achieve greater heights day by day, for which researchers are doing studies, for studying the factors which directly or indirectly affect the performance of the athletes, for understanding one of this factor the research scholar had investigated weather environment does play any role in morphological, physical and motor fitness variable on individuals. Many research works have been conducted related to health and physical fitness and Motor Fitness, it is known that any competitive sports performance cannot be improved however the role of physical Education and sports the improvement especially for sportsman is not known. By understanding the Physical Education Fields requirement the researcher has selected “A Comparative Study of Selected Physical Fitness Components of Higher Secondary School Children Belonging to Non Slum and Slum Areas in Mumbai District”

A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF SELECTED PHYSICAL FITNESS COMPONENTS OF HIGHER SECONDARY SCHOOL CHILDREN BELONGING TO NON SLUM AND SLUM AREAS IN MUMBAI DISTRICT

Modern sports are becoming more and more competitive and the margin of error is decreasing from seconds to micro seconds, inches to millimeters, kilos to grams, so why this all is changing it is due to development in the sports science and with this there are lot of changes taking place and those are defiantly helping our youth to achieve greater heights day by day, for which researchers are doing studies, for studying the factors which directly or indirectly affect the performance of the athletes, for understanding one of this factor the research scholar had investigated weather environment does play any role in morphological, physical and motor fitness variable on individuals. Many research works have been conducted related to health and physical fitness and Motor Fitness, it is known that any competitive sports performance cannot be improved however the role of physical Education and sports the improvement especially for sportsman is not known. By understanding the Physical Education Fields requirement the researcher has selected “A Comparative Study of Selected Physical Fitness Components of Higher Secondary School Children Belonging to Non Slum and Slum Areas in Mumbai District”

A Comparison of Selected Motor Fitness Components of Girl students dwelling in Non Slum and Slum Areas in Thane District

Modern sports are becoming more and more competitive and the margin of error is decreasing from seconds to micro seconds, inches to millimeters, kilos to grams, so why this all is changing it is due to development in the sports science and with this there are lot of changes taking place and those are defiantly helping our youth to achieve greater heights day by day, for which researchers are doing studies, for studying the factors which directly or indirectly affect the performance of the athletes, for understanding one of this factor the research scholar had investigated weather environment does play any role in morphological, physical and motor fitness variable on individuals. Many research works have been conducted related to health and physical fitness and Motor Fitness, it is known that any competitive sports performance cannot be improved however the role of physical Education and sports the improvement especially for sportsman is not known. By understanding the Physical Education Fields requirement the researcher has selected “Comparison of Selected Motor Fitness Components of Girl students dwelling in Non Slum and Slum Areas in Thane District”.

The use of negative pressure wave treatment in athlete recovery

Background: Athletes need to recover fully to maximise performance in competitive sport. Athletes who replenish more quickly and more efficiently are able to train harder and more intensely. Elite athletes subjectively report positive results using lower body negative pressure (LBNP) treatment as an alternate method for rapid recovery, restoring and improving their impaired physical state. Objective data on the efficacy are lacking.Objectives: To investigate the effect of intermittent vacuum therapy on accelerating acute recovery following an athlete’s normal daily training schedule of strenuous exercise. Objective measurements of biological markers of muscular fatigue were used to assess recovery.Methods: Twenty-two male cricket players in a randomised cross-over study were divided into a treatment and control group respectively. Following a one-hour high-intensity gym session, the treatment group received three 30-minute LBNP exposure sessions over three consecutive days (0, 24 and 48 hours). Blood lactate and creatine kinase biomarkers were collected to measure the recovery process. After 14 days groups were crossed over and the trial repeated.Results: Heart rate and blood pressure decreased noticeably during treatment, reverting to baseline levels after treatment. Lactate concentrations decreased in both groups after exercise termination; significantly more in the treatment (0.57±0.23 mmol/l) than control group (0.78±0.22 mmol/l), p<0.001). Creatine kinase (CK) was similar in both groups. Athletes’ subjective assessments of recovery rated moderately high.Conclusion: LBNP therapy applied as treatment during routine schedule may have a systemic effect in lowering serum lactate levels, but not CK levels. Enhanced recovery of athletes is still unconfirmed.