Success In Sport Research Articles

Comparative Analysis of Body Composition Profiles among Latin American Elite Football Players Competing in Europe

It has yet to be determined whether or not differences in body composition are present between international and non-international players playing in the same elite professional club competition. Similarly, it is not yet clear whether or not differences in body composition exist according to ethnic origin where relative homogeneity is to be expected among soccer players. There is no single anthropometric profile that guarantees sporting success, as success differs according to characteristics. The aim of this study was to assess the description, comparison, and correlation of the body composition profile of Latin American professional football players playing in European leagues. The sample was composed of 238 Latin American male football players from European professional football leagues of Spain, Italy and England during the competition period. Differences were found in all measures. The present study shows that Latin American professional football players playing in Europe have significant differences in various body composition variables such as weight, height, WC, skinfold and fat values. This means that training, revalidation after injury and the classifications of sporting performance carried out in European football clubs should take into account the anthropometric difference between Latin American and European players.

A Comparative Study of Motivation in Sports Training among Senior and Junior Professional Football Players in Bosnia and Herzegovina during the COVID-19 Pandemic

The Covid-19 pandemic has brought significant changes to the lives of athletes, particularly regarding the uncertainty surrounding the continuation of sports training and the postponement of sporting events. Given these disruptions to athletes’ routines, the role of motivation in sports participation is considered even more crucial. Therefore, this study aimed to examine the differences in motivation for sports participation during the Covid-19 pandemic between senior and junior professional football players. The sample consisted of 358 elite football players from the Premier League of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The players were divided into two groups: senior (n=193, 24.87±3.78 years) and junior (n=165, 18.08±1.00 years) football players. The Participation Motivation Questionnaire (PMQ) was utilized, comprising 19 items classified into six motivational dimensions: “Sports success”, “Social status”, “Friendship”, “Physical health”, “Sports activity”, and “Support”. A five-point Likert scale was used in the questionnaire, which was administered electronically via Google Forms. Results revealed that junior football players achieved significantly higher values in only three out of the 19 items: “Want to be popular” (.005), “Want to get status” (.001), and “Wished for friendly games” (.000). However, there were no differences between the senior and junior football player groups in the remaining 16 items. Also, both groups displayed exceptionally high motivation levels in the dimensions of “Sports success”, “Physical health”, and “’Friendship”, while the weakest results were observed in the dimension of ‘Support’ for both groups. Despite the specific challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic, the motivation to play football remains very high among both senior and junior football players. This study is essential as it provides insights into football players’ motivation and identifies differences in motivation levels between junior and senior players. The findings can be valuable for practical purposes, aiming to enhance motivation among football players, especially during circumstances where training conditions are disrupted, such as the Covid-19 pandemic.

Developing an Instrument to Measure the Social Capital in Young Tennis Players

Social capital consists of connections between individuals from which mutual trust and social networks arise. It is a term that encompasses resources that can be defined as social relations and social inclusion. It is an integral social factor that affects the social norms of an individual’s behavior. Social components are an important factor for achieving better success in sport. The level of social capital can be assessed with different questionnaires. As there were no existing validated instruments for assessing social capital in young tennis players so far, a new questionnaire in relation to competitive tennis players was made. The goal of this research was to construct and validate a questionnaire for assessing the level of social capital in young tennis players. The social capital questionnaire was filled out by 90 participants (age=16.53±1.18; girls N=31, boys N=59), who were, at the time, participating in an ITF level (International tennis federation) tennis tournament. The reliability of the questionnaire was measured with the Cronbach Alpha coefficient. When analyzing the reliability of the selected 12 questions, the reliability was determined Cr. Alpha=0.714 and the questionnaire validity was determined using the Pearson correlation coefficient. It is understood that many factors impact young athletes during their growth and development, and that social components and social ties play an important role in young athletes’ sporting careers. Through the creation of this questionnaire, future researchers will be able to further analyze and investigate social capital in tennis using it as a valid research tool.

(Beyond) the field of play: contrasting deterministic and probabilistic approaches to talent identification and development systems

ABSTRACT Talent identification and development systems (TIDS) adopt a deterministic perspective (i.e. athletes’ future state/performances can be predicted by observations of their initial state/performance), which encourages early identification and specialisation in sport. In this framework, the main aim of sport systems is to enhance predictability and reduce uncertainty, by investigating the causal relationship between entering a talent pathway and becoming an expert performer. Generally, athletes who display ideal body proportions and attain certain performance standards in early developmental stages are labelled as talented (i.e. they display the potential to succeed) and are selected by TIDS, which afford them a superior developmental opportunity (i.e. better training facilities, certified coaching staff, and higher competition levels), to realise their potential. A deterministic approach, thus, (a) sees talent as a fixed capacity, whereby future successful athletes can be identified early (i.e. early identification); and (b) considers entering at an earlier age in a talent pathway a pre-requisite for sporting success (i.e. early specialisation). Contrary to deterministic expectations, recent research has highlighted how being considered talented from the early stages does not guarantee a better likelihood of successfully achieve senior sporting success. In this paper, taking ideas from ecological anthropology, a new probabilistic approach is proposed which considers TIDS as a process (i.e. being talented is about remaining responsive to what you could become), dialogical (i.e. athlete selection and development are not done in isolation, but both influenced by sociocultural constraints), and open-ended (i.e. unpredictability related to future outcomes). If sport systems embrace the uncertainty of developmental pathways opportunities arise to participate in conversations across and within TIDS to support systemic change. We conclude by proposing four key foundations of any probabilistic TIDS: give sport back to kids, ethos of amateurism, delaying selection processes, and early diversification.

The Psychology of Success in Sports – Book Review

The Psychology of Success in Sports – Book Review

METHODS OF PSYCHOLOGICAL PREPARATION OF AN ATHLETE

The article considers the psychological preparation of an athlete as an effective and conscious management of his own personal psychological state in competition conditions and self-education of the will. The result of successful sports achievements is largely determined by psychological preparation. This, in turn, is one of the most important factors ensuring achievements in sports training.

STRATEGIES OF SOCIALLY RESPONSIBLE MARKETING OF COMPANIES IN THE SPHERE OF SPORTS

The main goal of the research is to study and evaluate modern socially responsible marketing strategies of global sports brands for the development of proposals for the domestic sports business. The article examines the role and significance of the social responsibility of business in modern marketing strategies of companies. The essence of socially responsible marketing and types of marketing strategies have been studied. The key marketing strategies that are relevant under modern market conditions are distinguished. It was determined that charity, sponsorship, and active participation in environmental protection programs are the most popular forms of social responsibility of sports companies. The largest and most popular sports companies were chosen on the basis of the rating evaluation results of the world's sports brands. According to the official websites of the world's leading sports companies, the content of strategic marketing initiatives that take place in their management practice was analyzed. It was found that all global sports brands have a high level of activity in the field of social responsibility of business. Among the most popular marketing strategies, these companies use the production of goods from ecological raw materials, the strategy of transformational cyclicality and energy efficiency, the promotion of a healthy lifestyle among potential and contact audiences, the involvement of consumers in programs for the preservation and restoration of natural resources, the observance of human rights, the strategy of inclusiveness and equality for all categories of consumers. Studies of the Ukrainian market of sports brands have shown that many new companies have appeared in the country in recent years, however, their level of social business responsibility remains low compared to global sports brands. In order to create favourable conditions for the success of Ukrainian sports companies on the basis of the best global practice, strategic areas of socially responsible marketing were proposed. The main elements of marketing strategies were identified as key elements of the implementation of these strategic initiatives, including reputational capital and branding, active promotion technologies based on digital potential, socially significant long-term values, unity of business interests and the interests of society.

Elite lean athletes at sports high schools face multiple risks for mental health concerns and are in need of psychosocial support.

The combined demands on an adolescence in an elite sports high school can negatively affect mental health (eg, stress, burnout, depression, anxiety). Late adolescence is also when elite-striving athletes typically transition from junior-to-senior level programs. In addition, adolescent elite lean sports athletes have an increased risk of suffering from abnormal eating pathology. The purpose of this study was to investigate the perceived psychosocial needs that young, elite-striving lean sports athletes in sports high schools find essential for their sports careers and transition from junior-to-senior level sports. Eight Swedish elite-striving lean sports athletes (2 men and 6 women; median age 17.0 years, range: 16-18 years) participated in this study and sports represented were athletics (n = 1), gymnastics (n = 3), and wrestling (n = 4). Semi-structured interviews were performed, and data was analyzed by thematic analysis. Results showed integration, both in the present situation and for the future, as an overarching theme perceived as essential for a successful elite sports career over time. Three additional themes were also identified: (a) Psychosocial stress (combined performance demands, diminished social life, sports-related body weight demands, taboo talking about eating disorders, injuries), (b) Protective psychosocial factors (social support and psychological safety, communication and coordination school and sports, self-care/health behaviors), and (c) support needs junior-to-senior transition (career advice and mentorship, individualized support). As a result, elite-striving, lean sports athletes attending sports high schools need additional support to excel in their academic and athletic endeavors. Sports developmental programs continue to provide inadequate support before and during the junior-to-senior level transition. Similarly, despite the continued calls for reducing the stigma of mental health, athletes in sports schools still encounter barriers from coaches and peers, making the subject taboo, particularly surrounding eating pathologies.

Factors promoting and hindering sporting success among South African former Olympians from historically disadvantaged areas.

There are various contributing factors to sporting success among elite athletes, including Olympians. The purpose of this paper was to investigate the enablers and/or barriers to sporting success among South African former Olympians from historically disadvantaged areas (HDAs) using the SPLISS framework. This would enable an understanding of the factors that lead to sporting success among athletes from HDAs. A qualitative research design was employed for this study, whereby semi-structured interviews were conducted among 15 former Olympians who represented South Africa between the 1992 and 2016 Olympic Games. The ATLAS.ti (version 22) software tool was used to analyse the data. The study found that athletes from HDAs attributed their sporting success to the functional competition structure, sports access at community level, access to scholarships and bursaries to elite schools/universities, good coaching support and mentorship, access to local and international competitions, as well as community and peer athlete support. The highest barriers reported by athletes were inadequate financial support, a dysfunctional school sport system, lack of sports facilities, equipment and transport system, poor post-career and scientific support. Elite athletes from HDAs need consistent financial support, school/foundation level sport access, quality sports facilities, equipment, and reliable transport to training and competitions, post-career, as well as scientific support to achieve their full potential and attain international sporting success.

Exploring the Importance of Consumer Engagement for Successful Sports Club Projects

A sport management project refers to a venture or an initiative undertaken by a sports organization, team, or club to improve the overall performance and success of their operations. These projects can include a different range of activities, such as developing and implementing new strategies, launching new programs, creating a new fan engagement program to increase support and loyalty, and more. This study examines the influence of sport’s fan engagement on trust, satisfaction, and loyalty in sports club social networks. Our findings suggest that both fan identification with the sports club's brand and motivation play significant roles in determining the level of engagement. Specifically, we have found that consumers who have a strong identification with the club and are extrinsically motivated to engage with the club's social network exhibit higher levels of trust, satisfaction, and loyalty. These results underscore the importance of fostering a strong sense of identification and motivation among fans in order to promote positive consumer attitudes towards sports club social networks. The paper provides recommendations for sports club marketing managers on how to use social networks to improve project’s success.

Testosterone and psychophysiological aspects of personality in sports

Recent studies have shown that testosterone, in addition to its well-known anabolic effect, has a relationship with a number of psychological and psychophysiological characteristics. The purpose of the study is to generalize information about the relationship between psychophysiological aspects of personality and the level of testosterone in athletes. Methodology: analysis and generalization of data of modern scientific and methodological literature from scientometric bases and resources of Google Scholar, PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus. Research results and their discussion. Research by scientists has shown that high concentrations of basal testosterone are associated with a number of character traits and behavior. Competition, rivalry, competitions affect changes in testosterone levels and cause behavior modification. Scientists express the opinion that the basal level of testosterone before competitions can be an individual biopsychophysiological marker that interacts in the regulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary hormonal axis (HPA) under stress conditions and reflects the degree of dominance, the level of power motivation and obtaining a winning status. In separate studies, the positive effect of testosterone on cognitive functions and visual-spatial abilities was established, the relationship of this hormone with the propensity to take risks, reducing the feeling of fear, increasing attention in the face of threat, which can contribute to the combat readiness of the athlete and the desire to win, was established. Scientists have observed a connection between testosterone and such personality traits as fearless dominance, impulsiveness. Conclusions. According to literary sources, the level of testosterone is associated with a number of psychophysiological and psychological characteristics of an athlete, namely, it increases aggression, the motivation to dominate, which contributes to the motivation to achieve success in sports. High endogenous concentrations of testosterone can provide both a physiological and a psychological advantage in sports. The study of hormonal and psychophysiological parameters can provide an opportunity for a more complete assessment of human stress reactions in the conditions of sports competition.

Talented athletes as high achievers—only in sports? Analysis of academic performance and the impact of dual career assistance programmes in upper secondary school

The simultaneous pursuit of success in elite sport and the highest school qualification is considered to be one of the challenges for adolescents who are sporting talents. Dual career assistance programmes (DCAPs) for student-athletes are designed to help master this challenge in the best possible way. This study focusses on the upper secondary school performance of 200 student-athletes from an elite sports school. First, the school performance of student-athletes enrolled in two different DCAPs was compared. In addition to the educational services in DCAP‑1, DCAP‑2 includes a 1-year extension of the school period and the option of spreading the final exam phase out over several school years. Second, the school performance of student-athletes was compared with the performance of the entire student population. The analyses yielded the following findings: 1) student-athletes’ school performance is well above the average of the entire student population. 2) Although, DCAP‑2 users are much more involved in elite sport, their school performance and performance development do not differ from DCAP‑1 users. These results do not provide any indication of a systematic neglect of student-athletes’ academic career in favour of their athletic career. DCAPs appear to ensure the success of student-athletes’ academic careers effectively.

PHYSICAL ACTIVITY FORMATION BY MEANS OF DANCE SPORT

The article reveals the problems of special physical training of athletes-dancers. To master competitive programs, dancers need special physical training, which includes various parameters of locomotor skills and non-standard skills for performing complexly coordinated dance elements. Dance is not only a physical exercise, but also one of the forms of psychological relief. Unlike other physical exercises, dancing has no age restrictions. By examining the structure of dance movements, it can be stated that they have the dynamics of movement abilities, an emotional component, and the rhythmic content of music, which in general create a deep and interesting artistic image. High-speed dance movements performed with maximum amplitude require increased physical effort, strength, endurance, flexibility, and coordination of movements. Athletes- dancers of different age groups and skill levels need not only to improve, but also to maintain their physical form, which allows them to successfully perform at competitions. Therefore, when building the training process, it is worth paying attention to both the complex of general physical exercises and the complex of special exercises.
 Nowadays, it is impossible to achieve success in dance sport without a high level of development of these qualities since a decrease in their level in athletes-dancers leads to a deterioration in sports results.

THE IMPACT OF AEROBICS ON THE PHYSICAL CONDITION OF STUDENTS

The article reveals the influence of aerobics on the physical condition of students. The physical condition of student youth who regularly attend aerobics classes was analyzed. In the process of numerous studies in the field of physical education and sports, morphological and functional indicators were found that characterize the improvement of the physical condition of students who specialize in aerobics. Use of visual and verbal cues in conjunction with demonstration exercises are most often recommended during initial training. Importantly, for the teacher to control the quality of the students' performance of the exercises and to use various methods of information regarding the results of their actions. It there may be corrective information about the biomechanical characteristics of movements (speed, amplitude, direction, etc.), evaluation information (about efficiency, responsibility to aesthetic standards and other characteristics). The assessment should have a positive, energizing color. Peculiarities of the human constitution attract the close attention of researchers when studying the factors of success in high-achieving sports. Among the large number of constitutional indicators, the most interesting are the morpho-functional features of the athlete's body. They affect the manifestation of strength, flexibility, speed, endurance, work capacity and adaptation of the body to various conditions of the external environment, the speed of recovery after physical and mental stress. Therefore, the analysis of literary sources and numerous studies broadens the understanding of the importance of a comprehensive approach to the selection of the most promising athletes who practice aerobics. Indicators will increase the development of sports skills testify to more perfect mechanisms and regularities of the process of adaptation of athletes to physical exertion, thereby confirming the need to take into account the individual and morphofunctional characteristics of the body.

STRUCTURE AND IMPROVEMENT OF SERVING MOVEMENTS IN TENNIS

Structure and improvement of serving movements in tennis. The article reveals the features of improving movements during serving in big tennis. The development and implementation of new technologies for increasing the efficiency of the training process is a necessary condition for achieving success in modern sports. In recent years, scientific and technical progress has had a growing influence on the development of big tennis. The level of physical fitness of tennis players has significantly increased, which significantly increases the tempo of the game and the speed of the ball's flight. All this significantly affects the change in the technical and tactical equipment of tennis players. Therefore, the task of studying the specifics of the structure and improving the movements when serving in big tennis is definitely relevant.
 So, in training, it is necessary to ensure that the athlete has the opportunity to play with a partner to whom the ball flies at a high speed. This task is easily solved in the training of girls by inviting a man as a sparring partner. In the training of young men, the game of one against two should be used more often - with greater suddenness of the appearance of the ball. We can recommend a game of one against two, a game with two balls that are introduced at the same time, as well as various mobile games and sports: volleyball, basketball, handball, football, hockey and their modifications; reducing the distance between players. To do this, you can bring the ball into play while standing on the back line, from the rebound make the next shot between the back line and the serving lines, then on the serving line, and so on, continuing to move towards the net. This exercise can be started by performing only kicks from summer. Start it by standing on the serving line, getting closer to the net with each shot.

Contexts shaping the development and success of elite sport systems: a scoping review

ABSTRACT The importance of contexts in analysing elite sport systems and policies, as reflected in substantial research over the past couple of decades, is considered to nurture or constrain the development and outcome of elite sport systems toward international sporting success. Theorising elite sport systems as institutions operating and embedded in an open system may provide insight into the “hows” (throughput processes) and the “whys” (conditions) of the effectiveness of sport systems and policies to determine what may work (or not work) for each country’s specific context. This scoping review aims to examine and map determinants of elite sport development in nations. Specifically, the review analysed how studies: (1) theorised the determinants, (2) used terms to denote contextual determinants for elite sport development and success and (3) described or conceptualised context. Further, the review identified context dimensions derived from the elite sport development determinants. The scoping review identified 19 studies that contain relevant contextual determinants. Findings present seven context dimensions derived from a neo-institutional organisation framework that pertain to different institutional contexts that may influence the development of elite sport policy systems. An improved conceptualisation of context may enhance our understanding of the relationship between processes (i.e., sport policy mechanisms) and contexts.

Policy transition: public sector sport for development in Northern Ireland

ABSTRACT Globally, governments are implementing public sector reform to address declining budgets and public trust to improve programme efficiency and effectiveness. Sport has become ever more relevant with regards local, national and international social policy as part of an enhanced role for the third sector in tackling a plethora of societal issues. This article attempts to explore, the success (or otherwise) of sport for development (SfD) programmes transitioning positive outcomes from a micro and meso level to the macro level in Northern Ireland. Three management models (Outcomes-based accountability, Organisational capacity and Resource dependency theory) are used to establish the level of efficiency and effectiveness of SfD programmes in Northern Ireland, based on semi-structured interviews with a range of policy and delivery stakeholders. This article identifies potential areas of conflict at the intersection between policy and practice which limit the translation of successful project outcomes. The ambiguity of purpose combined with the absence of a population level evaluation model and financial reliance perpetuates task-based projects at the expense of sectoral outcomes. In turn, individuals are faced with a ridged multi-agency offering without a multi-agency approach. This article recommends a government-wide indicator for sport and physical activity linked to an overarching sport-related strategy, which clearly defines language, purpose and responsibilities across the public sector. One which builds on existing structures to support transition (individual and organisational) across the three identified interlinking phases of sport.

Features of planning multi- year sports training in sports swimming

The article presents various aspects of the planning of the educational and training process in sports swimming, reveals the peculiarities of planning at various stages of multi-year sports training, in particular, long-term, annual and operational, as well as the general structure of the training of athletes-swimmers and the peculiarities of building macro-, meso- and microcycles of various types.
 In addition, the historical aspects of the formation and development of the process of planning long-term sports training, as a pedagogical system are analyzed, which aims to ensure consistent performance of training tasks by swimmers, using various means, methods and organizational forms and is a particularly important factor for building a successful sports career.
 It has been established that the planning of the educational and training process in sports swimming is extremely important, which makes it possible, to a certain extent, to predict the conditions of training, to determine effective means and methods for solving certain tasks faced by swimmers in order to achieve expected sports results. A properly planned process of sports training will help the coach and the swimmer to determine specific tasks for mastering technical and tactical skills, special physical, moral and psychological qualities. Training then was quite chaotic, as the planning of training programs, physical and technical training of athletes developed mainly in an unsystematic manner.

The Application of Big Data and Artificial Intelligence in Sports Industry

In the age of technology, intelligent and innovative sports events present a brand new look, which has affected how many enterprises operate worldwide. Traditional sports events are upgraded to artificial intelligence. While broadcasting baseball, basketball, and other games, the automatic tracking system is used to perform real-time technical analysis, and the player's course can be analyzed on the spot. In the event broadcast part, the simulation technology, virtual and real integration are widely used, and the events could also be broadcasted live on the streaming audio-visual platform. Therefore, how to use big data analysis has become a key factor for the success of professional teams or sports marketing companies. This research explores the application classification and significance of big data analysis and artificial intelligence in the field of sports by analyzing relevant literature. Through this study, the significance and application of big data, the importance of big data analysis and artificial intelligence in sports industry, and the development trend of sports big data are preliminarily understood. It is also expected that the application and development trend of sports intelligence technology could help sports industry-related companies improve their competitiveness in terms of development strategies, thereby enhancing the visibility of Taiwan's sports industry in the world and making the research and development strength of Taiwan's sports enterprises visible to the world.

“We are their last chance”: A case study of a college basketball environment in an American underserved community

In this case study we used the holistic ecological approach (HEA) to examine an underserved athletic talent development environment (UATDE) in the United States to: (1) holistically describe a successful UATDE—in this case a community college basketball program known as Best Community College, and (2) explore factors contributing to the success of developing athletes that repeatedly earn athletic scholarships. Data were collected via in-situ observations, document analysis, and interviews (both formal and informal) with coaches, players, and other key stakeholders. The findings were summarized in two empirical models: (1) the UATDE empirical model of Best Community College, and (2) the underserved environment success factors (UESF) empirical model of Best Community College. The operation of the UATDE was significantly influenced by the underserved community in which it was embedded, translating to a lack of financial and human resources, while the team’s roster was occupied by athletically talented, but psychosocially vulnerable players. These challenges were overcome, in part, by a dedicated support team as well as the cultural paradigm established by the head coach as a cultural leader. Conclusively, this case study constitutes an important supplementation to the evolving body of literature utilizing the HEA, highlighting how an environmental context can shift the focus of athletic talent development when we consider the concept of a UATDE. Lay summary: This case study explored a successful community college basketball program located within an underserved American community. While the investigation concludes that socioeconomic challenges in the surrounding community created significant barriers to success, the head coach and support team were able to help players succeed in sport and life. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE Those working in community colleges must be made aware of issues stemming from where the environment is located and also related to the backgrounds of the prospective athletes. Community college sports programs are an important steppingstone to life and sport success for the athletes they serve but a lack of human and financial resources are a large barrier to success that can be counteracted by strong cultural leaders within the sport program. UATDEs must be considered a unique context and practitioners should let this context inform their practice, for example, by supporting the staff as much as the athletes, supporting the head coach in developing a functional cultural paradigm, and supporting the athletes’ broader psychosocial development and not only their performance.