Sports Research Articles

STUDY OF ORGANOLEPTIC TESTING ON SPORT SHOE

Currently sports shoes successfully attract a lot of consumers. Sports shoes were originally designed to support sports activities and reduce the risk of injury when doing sports. Nowadays, sports shoes are starting to be designed by adding an aesthetic value that increases fashion value. However, even though sports shoes have started to appear aesthetics side, the quality of the shoes is also an important factor when the shoes are used. To maintain the quality of shoes, it is necessary to test the quality of shoes. One of the important tests is organoleptic testing. The organoleptic testing can be carried out by following the requirements in accordance with SNI 12- 7072-2005 concerning fitness sports shoes with synthetic soles with a glue system, SNI 12-7075- 2005 about sports shoes with printed soles with a glue system, SNI 12-7195- 2006 about glue system jogging sports shoes, and SNI 12-7196-2006 concerning cross-country sports shoes. Several things that need to be considered are design aesthetics and workmanship inspection. This research focuses on conducting organoleptic test on eleven samples of sports shoes. Based on the results of tests that have been carried out based on SNI for sports shoes, there are several defects in five pairs of shoes.

The role of physical education in shaping champion athletes’ character at PON: A literature study

Purpose: This research aims to analyze the role of physical education in character building of high-performing athletes through a literature study. As an essential component of the school curriculum, physical education has multidimensional contributions in developing values such as discipline, sportsmanship, cooperation, leadership, and fighting spirit, which are vital for athletic success. Methods: This study employs a descriptive-analytical method with content analysis techniques on relevant literature, particularly related to the National Sports Week (PON). Results: The findings indicate that physical education not only functions to enhance physical capabilities but also serves as an effective medium for athletes' character development. Conclusion: The study concludes that physical education plays a significant role in character formation of high-performing athletes, specifically in the context of PON, and emphasizes the importance of strengthening character-oriented physical education curriculum. This is expected to support the development of high-performing athletes while simultaneously shaping the nation's moral identity through sports. The practical implications of this research include collaboration among teachers, coaches, and policymakers to maximize the role of physical education in producing a generation of athletes with high integrity. This study also recommends further research to explore the implementation of character values across various educational levels and sports disciplines.

Exploring Self-Declared Prohibited Substance Use in Combat Sports – The Serbian Perspective

<p>The exploratory study is grounded in field research, utilizing semi-structured interviews with active, former, and recreational athletes in combat sports. The first section outlines key theoretical frameworks that address everyday life, lifestyles, and the issue of doping. The second section presents the main findings from the field research. Interviewees detailed the positive effects of doping on athletic performance while also acknowledging significant side effects, including physical and psychological consequences. Participants highlighted that the availability of information on doping has increased with the advent of the Internet and specialized retail outlets. The testimonies indicate that the culture of doping is driven not only by the pursuit of enhanced sports performance but also by aesthetic considerations and social pressures, underscoring the complexity of doping use in both professional and recreational sports. The study concludes that doping is a pervasive issue in combat sports, necessitating comprehensive social action and collaboration among policymakers, social stakeholders, and researchers across multiple disciplines, with a prominent role for physical education and sports sciences.</p>

Assessing sport commitment: the development and preliminary validation of recreational sport commitment questionnaire

BackgroundPresently, where inactivity is an overarching problem globally, participation in recreational sports activities has become an important outlet for promoting healthy lifestyles. However, there is a lack of instruments to evaluate the commitment of recreational and leisure sports users. This study aimed to adapt, develop and provide preliminary validation of the Recreational Sport Commitment Questionnaire (RESQ).MethodsThe development and validation process in this study consisted of four stages: Stage One involved item pool generation, Stage Two focused on content and face validation, Stage Three encompassed data collection, and Stage Four included the assessment of the psychometric properties of the RESQ. This final stage was conducted through Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA; n = 275) and Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA; n = 313) to evaluate convergent validity, discriminant validity, and composite reliability.ResultsThe initial item pool generated 60 items, whereby 42 items were retained after the content validity evaluation process by the panel of experts. Next, EFA analysis suggested 31 items distributed across seven factors. Lastly, psychometric properties of RESQ with 26 items were established through CFA (GFI = 0.91, CFI = 0.97, RMSEA = 0.04, TLI = 0.96, X²/df = 1.52) and other psychometrics evidence.ConclusionBased on the collected psychometrics evidence, RESQ is a valid questionnaire to evaluate the commitment of recreational sports users. The newly developed questionnaire allows sports organizations to assess the factors influencing sport commitment among recreational sports users. Based on the results of RESQ, sport programmes can be tailored made to optimize sports engagement and promote continued commitment.

Tap water consumption choices in out-of-home settings: insights from a survey of German adults

ABSTRACT European water policies aim to promote tap water consumption among citizens. Our survey of 5815 German respondents investigates factors influencing tap water consumption in key out-of-home settings: workplace, recreational sports, hospitality and travel. Results show tap water is consumed most frequently in sports settings and least in hospitality, highlighting the importance of situational factors over price. Strong correlations between at-home and out-of-home drinking water choices suggest stable preferences and habit effects. Policy interventions should focus on encouraging tap water consumption at home, offering carbonation options out-of-home, and shifting norms and industry discourse in hospitality settings.

Recreational sports in prison: inmates' perspectives on coaching effectiveness.

This study examines inmates' perspectives on the effectiveness of sports coaches in prison. According to the integrative definition of effective coaching, coaches require professional, interpersonal, and intrapersonal knowledge to enhance athletes' outcomes within a specific context. Five male inmates of a German prison were interviewed after they participated in sports programs. The data were analyzed using directed content analysis. The inmates recognized professional knowledge in coaches who demonstrated clear training structures and spoke in an educated manner. Interpersonal knowledge was highly valued, with inmates expressing a preference for coaches who showed closeness, truthfulness, and responsiveness, while intrapersonal knowledge was attributed through coaches' adaptability. Inmates identified all four possible outcomes and emphasized that sensitivity, authenticity, energetic demeanor, physical appearance, and athletic skills are crucial qualities for an effective coach in a prison. The balance between an authentic and energetic demeanor, including a certain degree of strictness, emerges as a key factor in effective coaching within the prison context.

Excessive health behaviors in sports: links of orthorexia nervosa and exercise addiction with well-being, exercise activity in sports categories, and gender effects.

Orthorexia nervosa (OrNe), the obsessive fixation on healthy eating, and exercise addiction (ExAdd) have been discussed as correlated excessive health behaviors with potential mental health implications. The role of gender-and sports-specific differences remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the links of ExAdd, OrNe, and the non-pathological interest in healthy eating (healthy orthorexia; HeOr) with well-being and exercise activity in various sports, considering gender effects. Data from two cross-sectional online surveys were combined (N = 1,064, 73.5% women, age = 28.23 ± 11.09), measuring ExAdd (Exercise Addiction Inventory Revised), OrNe and HeOr (Teruel Orthorexia Scale), well-being (WHO-5 Well-Being Index), exercise activity and sports (Physical Activity, Exercise, and Sport Questionnaire). Well-being correlated with OrNe among women (r = -0.291) and not meaningfully with ExAdd and HeOr among men. Gender differences were not significant, except for the higher correlation of ExAdd with exercise activity in resistance and fitness sports among men. Regression analyses revealed that exercise activity, especially in health, resistance and fitness sports, was linked to HeOr, but not to OrNe. ExAdd was associated with exercise activity in endurance, resistance and fitness, ball and team, antigravitation, technical, aesthetic sports, and martial arts. Men's well-being may slightly benefit from ExAdd and an interest in healthy eating, while obsessive healthy eating may reduce women's well-being. Although exercise activity is associated with ExAdd in a wide variety of sports, it does not explain the link between ExAdd and OrNe. Preventive measures should consider gender-specific risks in excessive health behaviors.

An examination of the perception of future time among university students from the perspective of demographic variables

This study aimed to examine the future time perspective of students in the faculty of sports sciences and the factors influencing this perception in relation to various variables. The population of the study consists of university students, while the sample includes a total of 266 students (128 males, 48.1%, and 138 females, 51.9%) studying at the Faculty of Sports Sciences at Kütahya Dumlupınar University. The data collection instruments include a personal information form developed by the researcher, as well as the Future Time Perspective Scale (FTPS), developed by Husman and Shell (1996) and adapted to Turkish culture with validity and reliability studies conducted by Avcı and Erden (2009). In this study, a non-experimental causal-comparative model, one of the quantitative research methods, was employed to identify the current situation. The data were analyzed using the SPSS program. Descriptive statistics such as means, standard deviations, and percentages were included in the analysis. Skewness and kurtosis values were examined, revealing a normal distribution, and Independent Samples T-Test and MANOVA were used to compare the differences. According to the findings, no statistically significant differences were found regarding students' gender, participation in recreational sports, and academic success (p>0.05). However, significant differences were found in favor of students in upper classes based on the class variable (p<0.05). These findings indicate that students become more focused on career goals as they approach graduation, which creates differences in their future time perspectives.

Youth Perceptions of Participation in Organized Sports and Mental Health.

Organized sports are among one of the most widespread activities in youth. The purpose of this study was to assess the associations between youth perceptions of their participation in organized sports and mental health from the perspective of youth and their parents. Participants were 208 children ages 5 to 12 years. Children who endorsed elevated depressive symptoms scored significantly higher on the YES-S Negative Experiences Scale (mean = 19.00) compared to children who did not endorse elevated depressive symptoms (mean = 14.94; P < 0.01; d = 0.63). After controlling for the number of mental health diagnoses, there was a significant positive association between the YES-S Negative Experiences Scale and child self-reported depressive symptoms (standardized beta coefficient = 0.40; P < 0.001). Our findings underscore the importance of creating positive environments for organized youth sports and highlight the value of assessing both child and parent perspectives of child depressive symptoms in the context of organized sports participation.

베이스볼5(Baseball5)의 특성과 발전가능성을 위한 탐색적 연구

The purpose of this study was to provide foundation data on the characteristics and development potential of Baseball5, a rapidly growing around the world. For this purpose, 7 participants - including national Baseball5 players, coaches, and association officials were selected. Data were collected through in-depth interviews, participant observation, and non-participant observation. Using the Colaizzi phenomenological method was applied to extract the attributes of meanings commonly perceived by all researchers. Analysis of the research data, 73 organized meanings, 34 themes, 8 topic collections, and 3 categories were derived. The essential themes are as follows. First, Baseball5, which was created for the globalization of baseball, has established itself as an innovative and modern sport by simplifying the rules of the game. Second, Baseball5 can be developed into the realm of school sports, recreational sports, and elite sports. Third, the role of the two organizations(KBSA and KBO) are important and requires continued efforts and strategic planning through collaboration for development. This study can be used as a reference for the future development of baseball and softball as well as Baseball5.

Rewiring for Victory: Neuro-Athletic Training Enhances Flexibility, Serve Speed, and Upper Limb Performance in Elite Volleyball Players—A Randomized Controlled Trial

This randomized controlled trial investigated the effects of neuro-athletic training (NAT) on flexibility, spike speed, and upper extremity stability in elite volleyball players. Thirty professional male athletes aged 18–23 years old (mean age of 19.5 ± 1.77 years old in the NAT group and 19.8 ± 1.87 years old in the control group) participated, with 26 completing this study. The participants were randomly assigned into an NAT intervention group or a control group continuing traditional training. Both groups trained three days per week for eight weeks, with the NAT program targeting neuromuscular adaptations while maintaining equal total training durations. Flexibility was assessed using the Sit and Reach Test, spike speed was evaluated using the Pocket Radar Ball Coach, and upper extremity stability was measured using the Closed Kinetic Chain Upper Extremity Stability Test (CKCUEST). The NAT group demonstrated significant improvements across all performance metrics. Flexibility increased significantly (p = 0.040; Cohen’s d = 0.845), indicating improved range of motion and musculoskeletal adaptability. Spike speed showed a highly significant improvement (p &lt; 0.001; Cohen’s d = 1.503), reflecting enhanced neuromuscular coordination and power. Similarly, upper extremity stability exhibited substantial gains (p = 0.002; Cohen’s d = 1.152), highlighting improved shoulder stability and motor control. In contrast, the control group did not show statistically significant changes in their flexibility (p = 0.236; Cohen’s d = 0.045), spike speed (p = 0.197; Cohen’s d = 0.682), or upper extremity stability (p = 0.193; Cohen’s d = 0.184). Between-group comparisons confirmed the superiority of the NAT intervention, with significant differences across all metrics (p-values ranging from 0.040 to &lt;0.001) and effect sizes spanning from moderate to large (Cohen’s d = 0.845–1.503). These findings demonstrate the effectiveness of NAT in enhancing volleyball-specific performance metrics, emphasizing its potential to target neuromuscular adaptations for improved flexibility, power, and stability. Future studies should explore the long-term effects of NAT and its applicability across various sports disciplines.

Global trends in sports programs to improve family health and resilience: a systematic review as an effort to achieve well-being

Lack of physical activity in daily life can lead to serious health problems, such as obesity, heart disease, and mental health disorders that negatively impact family resilience. Therefore, exercise is important to improve the health of family members, reduce the risk of disease, and strengthen social relationships, all of which contribute to better family resilience and well-being. Given the importance of exercise for health, this study focuses on How exercise programs can holistically improve family health and well-being. This study explored the relationship between exercise programs and their impact on family health, resilience, and well-being. The method used is a systematic literature review (SLR), which includes the selection of literature from various academic databases, Scopus, PubMed, Semantic Scholar, and Google Scholar, by setting clear inclusion and exclusion criteria to ensure the relevance and quality of the research and obtaining data that is worthy of being analysed as many as 23 scientific articles. Data analysis using the help of biblioshiny and NVivo. The results of this review indicate that participation in exercise programs improves individuals' physical and mental health and strengthens emotional and social relationships within the family, resulting in stronger bonds between family members. These findings highlight the importance of policies supporting family participation in physical activity and developing inclusive and flexible sports programs to address the challenges families face. Recommendations for future research include exploring the accessibility of sports programs for all population segments and paying attention to the potential negative impacts of involvement in organized sports. This study provides valuable insights into the vital role of sport in creating healthy and resilient families in a changing era.

Relationship between injuries and motivation in recreational runners

Introduction: In recent years, running has become a popular form of recreational sports activity for adults. This study explores the relationships between motivation and injury among recreational runners, a growing population influenced by societal trends in health and wellness. Methods: The study involved 104 participants, consisting of 74 women and 75 men. Among them, 67 were part of a ‘running school’ program, while the remaining 73 were individual runners who trained independently without the guidance of a coach. The Behavioral Regulation in Exercise Questionnaire (BREQ-2) and the Oslo Sports Trauma Research Center (OSTRC) Questionnaire on Health Problems, which is based on the OSTRC Overuse Injury Questionnaire, were used for the research. Results: The study found that pelvic injury was more severe in male participants, while women tended to experience serious back injuries that required them to take a break from training. All participants demonstrated high levels of intrinsic motivation. Multiple regression analysis revealed a positive correlation between injuries and intrinsic motivation in women, whereas in men, there was a negative correlation with introjected regulation. Conclusion: The ‘running school’ participants showed a negative association between injury and external regulation compared to individual runners, where amotivation and injury were positively associated.

Postconcussive symptom severity, risk factors for prolonged recovery, and mental health history: Pathways of influence in a diverse pediatric sample

Postconcussive symptom severity, risk factors for prolonged recovery, and mental health history: Pathways of influence in a diverse pediatric sample

Examination of Sex Differences in Energy Availability, Disordered Eating, and Compulsive Exercise Among Male and Female Adolescent Athletes.

The primary aim of this study was to examine sex differences in energy availability (EA) and its relationships with disordered eating, compulsive exercise, and body mass index (BMI) among adolescent athletes. Cross-sectional study. University hospital pediatric sports medicine center. Sixty-four participants (61% female) of ages 13 to 18 years, actively participating in at least 1 organized sport. Participant sex. Average 7-day EA (kcal/kg FFM/d; calculated using participant-recorded dietary intake and exercise expenditure from a wrist-worn heart rate/activity monitor), Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire (EDE-Q) score (range 0-6), Compulsive Exercise Test (CET) score (range 0-25), and age- and sex-adjusted BMI percentile. There were no significant sex differences in EA (females: 40.37 ± 12.17 kcal/kg FFM/d; males: 35.99 ± 12.43 kcal/kg FFM/d; P = 0.29), EDE-Q (females: 0.68 ± 0.70; males: 0.68 ± 0.83; P = 0.99), or CET scores (females: 11.07 ± 0.44; males: 10.73 ± 0.63; P = 0.66). There were low and insignificant negative correlations between EA and EDE-Q and CET scores for female athletes (EDE-Q: r = -0.22, P = 0.18; CET: r = -0.21, P = 0.09) and male athletes (EDE-Q: r = -0.09, P = 0.66; CET: r = -0.35, P = 0.08). EA and BMI-for-age percentile were inversely correlated in both male (r = -0.451, P = 0.009) and female (r = -0.37, P = 0.02) participants. In our sample of adolescent athletes, lower EA occurred in the absence of notable disordered eating or compulsive exercise behaviors, suggesting unintentional underfueling (and/or underreporting of energy intake), without significant sex differences. Low BMI can be an imperfect surrogate marker for low EA. These findings inform risk factors and screening practices for low EA among adolescent athletes.

Investigating the impact of different loading modalities on bone quality among athletes in various sports

The impact of different loading modalities on bone quality is a crucial area of study for understanding athletic performance and injury prevention. This research investigates how high-impact, low-impact, and resistance training activities influence Bone Mineral Density (BMD), cortical thickness, trabecular number, and stiffness index among athletes from various sports disciplines. A total of 152 athletes from different regions in China were assessed using advanced diagnostic techniques, including Dual-energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DXA), Quantitative Ultrasound (QUS), and Peripheral Quantitative Computed Tomography (pQCT). The study also examines the interaction between demographic factors, such as age and gender, and their effects on bone adaptation. Statistical analyses, including Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) and effect size calculations, were employed to quantify the impact of each loading modality. Results reveal that high-impact sports significantly enhance BMD and bone microarchitecture, showing the highest effect sizes among all groups. Resistance training also demonstrates positive, though less pronounced, outcomes, while low-impact activities contribute minimally to bone development. The findings emphasize the importance of loading intensity and modality for optimizing bone health, providing evidence-based recommendations for athletes, coaches, and healthcare professionals to design effective training programs that enhance skeletal strength and prevent injury.

Examination of the Sportification Process of Aerobic and Its Competitive History

Through methods such as literature review, historical analysis, and video observation, it has been found that ‘Aerobics’ cannot be identically compared to ‘Aerobic’ as a sports discipline. The former carries a complex historical connotation. American actress Jane Fonda has made a key contribution to the establishment of modern Aerobic. Furthermore, critical figures promoting the competitive trajectory of Aerobic include not only Howard Schwartz, whose contribution is well-recognized but also Koichi Konishi from Japan. Finally, with the collective efforts of SFI (ANAC), FIA (IAF), and FIG at different periods, the history of world Aerobic competition has shown periodical features of popularization, sportification, and gymnasticisation.

Profiles of Primary School Children's Sports Participation and Their Motor Competencies.

Children participate in various organized and informal physical activities (PAs) in their leisure time, presenting diverse objectives and environments for motor and social development. However, current research often focuses on specific, mostly organized activities, overlooking the complexity of participation across different settings. This study aimed to (1) identify groups of children with similar characteristics based on their participation in five organized and informal sports activities and (2) examine how the groups differ regarding gender, age, BMI, motor competencies (MCs), and attendance in institutionalized care at school. The study included n = 1717 1st and 2nd graders (M = 7.60 years, SD = 0.59, 50.7% girls) and n = 1319 3rd and 4th graders (M = 9.46 years, SD = 0.57, 49.4% girls) from the "EMOKK" study, funded by the Swiss National Science Foundation. Data were collected via parent questionnaires on leisure sports participation, and MCs were assessed using MOBAK-1-2 and 3-4 tests. Latent profile analyses (LPAs) and univariate ANOVAs were used to identify group differences. A three-profile LPA model best fits the data, revealing differences in participation across individual and team sports, optional school sports, free play on the school playground, and informal activities during leisure time. Children involved more in team sports (profiles: allrounder and very active sportsperson) participate more in informal play and present better MCs than children participating mainly in individual sports (profile: individual sportsperson). Girls were predominantly in the individual sports profile, while boys were more evenly spread across all groups. These findings highlight the importance of designing targeted interventions that promote participation in both organized and informal sports, particularly for children with lower levels of PA. Children show different patterns of engagement in different interrelated organized and informal leisure PA contexts. These specific patterns and the children's MCs should be taken into account for the targeted promotion of PAs during leisure time.

Development of the Recreational Sports Programme to Enhance the Emotional Intelligence of Students at Fuzhou Institute of Technology

Background and Aim: Under the influence of the novel coronavirus epidemic, has brought a serious negative impact on the emotional intelligence of college students. To improve the emotional intelligence of college students, a leisure sports program was developed and designed. The objectives of this study are:1) To understand the current situation of college students participating in recreational sports in Fuzhou University of Technology; 2) Develop recreational sports programs to improve the emotional intelligence of Fuzhou University of Technology students; 3) Evaluate the effectiveness of the program. Materials and Methods: A questionnaire was administered to 730 college students of Fuzhou Institute of Technology; interviews were conducted with 20 freshmen, 5 sports experts, 5 school physical education teachers, and 5 school leaders; 15 freshmen males, and 15 freshmen females were subjected to an 8-week experiment; the data obtained from the questionnaires and interviews were analyzed using descriptive statistics by using the SPSS software and a sample t-test was conducted on the data from the experiment. Results: 1) Students of Fuzhou Institute of Technology tended to exercise twice a week; The strength tends to be low strength and medium and low strength. Each time is less than 1 hour; The types are yoga, basketball, jogging, and Taichi Chuan. 2) The FITT-SFD recreational sports program was developed. 3) T-tests before and after the experiment showed that the average values of emotional intelligence before and after the experiment were 110.2 and 137.8, and EI was significantly improved. Conclusion: The experimental results show that this program has significant improvement in the dimensions of improving emotional perception, self-emotional management, others' emotional management, and emotional application. The experimental data verify the effectiveness of the research and development of recreational sports programs in improving students' emotional intelligence and provide empirical support for the promotion of research in related fields of emotional intelligence.

Lipid Accumulation Product and Cardiometabolic Index as Effective Tools for the Identification of Athletes at Risk for Metabolic Syndrome.

Metabolic syndrome (MS) is a growing global public health concern that is associated with increased risk for cardiovascular events, even in athletes. The lipid accumulation product (LAP) index and cardiometabolic index (CMI) have been shown to be efficient markers of MS in the general population; its applicability in athletes has not been discussed yet. We aimed to assess the role of LAP and CMI in predicting MS in athletes. We retrospectively enrolled 793 Olympic athletes practicing different sporting disciplines (power, skill, endurance, and mixed), classified arbitrarily into no risk (NR), low risk (LR), high risk (HR), or MS if they had 0, 1, 2, or 3 criteria for MS, respectively. Evaluations included a calculation of the LAP index, CMI, anthropometric measurements, and clinical and laboratorial variables. Among our population, only 0.8% reached the criteria for MS, 9.1% were at HR for MS, 37.8% were defined as LR, and 52.3% had NR. Significant differences in anthropometric parameters and the principal components of MS criteria (blood pressure, lipidic profile, glycemia) were reported predominantly in HR athletes and those with MS (p < 0.0001). LAP and CMI presented linearly increasing values from individuals with NR to those with MS (p < 0.0001). In addition, HR and MS athletes were classified as "likely MS" (9.8%) and LR and NR athletes as "unlikely MS" (90.2%). After adjusting for potential confounders, LAP ≥ 34.66 and CMI ≥ 0.776 emerged as independent predictors for MS in the overall cohort (Hazar Ratio (HR) 7.22 [3.75-13.89], p < 0.0001, and HR 5.37 [2.96-9.73], p < 0.0001, respectively). The ROC curve revealed that these cut-offs in the general population predict MS with an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.80 and 0.79, respectively, for LAP and CMI. However, gender-related cut-offs seem to be more precise in predicting MS (LAP ≥ 38.79 for male, LAP ≥ 14.16 for female, and CMI ≥ 0.881 for male and ≥0.965 for female). The ROC curve analyses of LAP and CMI showed good diagnostic accuracy in predicting MS among athletes, despite the low prevalence of MS in our sample. Thus, these indexes may be used to promote screening for primary prevention and early detection of athletes at risk for MS to establish an early prevention strategy. Larger prospective studies are necessary to validate their benefit in the general population.