Top-level Team Research Articles

Load monitoring system in top-level basketball team

The study aimed to describe and compare the external training load, monitored using microtechnology, with the internal training load, expressed as the session rating of perceived exertion (sRPE), in elite male basketball training sessions. Thirteen professional basketball players participated in this study (age=25.7±3.3 years; body height=199.2±10.7 cm; body mass=96.6±9.4 kg). All players belonged to the same team, competing in two leagues, ACB and the Euroleague, in the 2016/2017 season. The variables assessed within the external motion analysis included: Player Load (PL), acceleration and deceleration (ACC/DEC), jumps (JUMP), and changes of direction (CoD). The internal demands were registered using the sRPE method. Pearson product-moment correlations were used to determine relationships between the variables. A significant correlation was observed between the external load variables and sRPE (range r=0.71–0.93). Additionally, the sRPE variable showed a high correlation with the total PL, ACC, DEC, and CoD. The contrary was observed with respect to the relationship between sRPE and JUMP variables: the correlation was higher for the high band and lower for the total number of jumps. With respect to the external load variables, a stronger correlation was found between PL and the total number of ACC, DEC and COD than the same variables within the high band. The only contrary finding was the correlation between PL and JUMP variables, which showed a stronger correlation for hJUMP. Tri-axial accelerometry technology and the sRPE method serve as valuable tools for monitoring the training load in basketball. Even though the two methods exhibit a strong correlation, some variation exists, likely due to frequent static movements (i.e., isometric muscle contractions) that accelerometers are not able to detect. Finally, it is suggested that both methods are to be used complementary, when possible, in order to design and control the training process as effectively as possible.

Simply the best, better than all the rest? Validity issues in selections in elite sport

Selecting the ‘right’ athletes to competitions and games is crucial in eventually deciding winners and champions. Thus, the purpose of this study was to discuss selections to top-level sport teams using validity concepts as theoretical points of departure. Drawing on data from 14 semi-structured interviews with elite coaches (selectors) in football (n = 8) and alpine skiing (n = 6), this article adds to the knowledge on rationales behind selection decisions in elite sport, how selections are performed and with what consequences. Results point to several key validity concerns in selection processes such as the (non) use of explicit selection criteria, lack of structure in selection processes and coaches’ giving way to gut feelings and their ‘eyes for the sport‘ instead of utilizing various selection aids at hand.

Off-Season Effects on Functional Performance, Body Composition, and Blood Parameters in Top-Level Professional Soccer Players.

Requena, B, García, I, Suárez-Arrones, L, Sáez de Villarreal, E, Naranjo Orellana, J, and Santalla, A. Off-season effects on functional performance, body composition, and blood parameters in top-level professional soccer players. J Strength Cond Res 31(4): 939-946, 2017-To examine the effects of a standard off-season period (OSP) on aerobic, sprint, and jumping performances, and body and blood composition in a top-level soccer team. Nineteen soccer players were measured. The OSP included to 2 weeks of no training (resting phase) and a 4-week period of moderate-training load (phase in which each player performed the vacation exercise plan). Player's functional performance (15- and 30-m sprint times [seconds], vertical jump [meter], and incremental field test Vam-Eval [kilometer per hour]), percentage of body fat (%) and blood composition (hematological and biochemical data) were measured at mid-season, end-season, and after the OSP. The percentage of body fat was nonaltered during the competitive season (10.8 ± 3.6 and 10.5 ± 3.5%) and increased significantly after the OSP (11.6 ± 3.6%, p ≤ 0.05). Similarly, the maximal aerobic speed (VVam-Eval) velocity (kilometer per hour) decreased (p ≤ 0.05) from 17.4 ± 1 and 17.3 ± 1.2 during the competitive season to 16.6 ± 0.9 after the OSP. The hematocrit and blood hemoglobin concentration increased (p ≤ 0.05) during the OSP, showing a blood hemoconcentration adaptation. However, sprint time (seconds) and jump height (meters) showed no significant changes after the OSP. Soccer players maintained their functional performance during high-intensity activities such as jumping or sprinting after the OSP proposed. By contrast, there was a decrease in aerobic performance (VVam-Eval) accompanied by a blood hemoconcentration, and an increase of body fat mass associated with a reduction of fat-free mass of the lower limbs. Our data suggest that an end-season evaluation is needed to design holiday training programs focused on regaining aerobic capacity and body composition.

What is the effect of a shoulder-strengthening program to prevent shoulder pain among junior female team handball players?

BackgroundExcessively high stresses are applied to the shoulder joint of handball players, mainly caused by overhead throwing. Shoulder pain is a significant problem among junior female team handball players and both male and female top-level team handball players in Norway.MethodA randomized selection was performed among the best female junior teams (J 16) in the Trøndelag region of Norway in the 2014–2015 season. Three teams were randomized to the intervention group and three teams to the control group. Players in the intervention group (n=53) participated in a seven-month, three-times-a-week shoulder-muscle strength-training program, while those in the control group (n=53) participated in a comparable handball training, but did not conduct any specific strength training during the season.ResultsA strength-training program had no effect on the prevention of shoulder pain. Overall, the players reported shoulder pain, but graded the pain low on visual analog scale (VAS). Both the intervention group and the control group reported pain under 1 on VAS at baseline and posttest, and there was no significant difference within or between the groups when it came to the intensity of pain reported on VAS. A significant difference (p<0.048) was found between the groups on the sport-specific part of the quick-Disability of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) form, but it did not fulfill the minimal demand to change and the players scored it low, something that indicates little functional problems when it comes to team handball. The intervention group was significantly stronger (p<0.008) on the push-ups test compared to the control group on the posttest. The intervention group increased the number of push-ups from 3.1 to 6.4, while the control group went from 2.3 to 3.6. Aside from this, there were no significant differences in between the groups.ConclusionA shoulder-strengthening program had no effect on the prevention of shoulder pain among junior female team handball players.

College Sports Competitive Balance “Beliefs” and the Rule of Reason

In college sports antitrust cases where the rule of reason is applied, courts weigh the anticompetitive effects of, say, the amateur requirement against a presumed welfare offset, say, enhanced competitive balance. This article examines these “belief” underpinnings. Theoretically, whether fans prefer more balance is a hypothesis about preferences. As such, it needs to be examined empirically in every case. The limited empirical work on attendance and TV viewing supports the hypothesis for the top-level teams in FBS football, but not for any other college football, and there is no work on basketball. Applied theory also suggests that neither the amateur requirement nor mobility restrictions enhance balance as claimed. The empirical work is even more limited on this question and supports the theory for football, but not for basketball. However, the only evidence on basketball is that the amateur requirement makes balance worse. Finally, applied theory suggests that revenue sharing can improve balance, but only under specific circumstances. There is no additional empirical work on this question, but indirectly past work finds no impacts of revenue sharing on competitive balance. Ultimately, then, the answer to the rule of reason question may only be settled empirically, and there is only limited help in the extant literature on college sports. Understanding these issues leads to a clear prescription for courts to follow.

Analysis of game variables to predict scoring and performance levels in elite men’s volleyball

Sport games are characterized by their play structure. To date, the play structure of volleyball remains poorly understood. The aim of this study was to identify play structure variables that are appropriate for differentiating between top-level teams and second-level teams in elite international men’s volleyball.236 sets played by 14 teams during top international events were video recorded and analysed for variables related to action sequences (attack, counter-attack), attack tempo (fast, medium, slow), attack positions (1-6) and attack combinations (e.g., high passes on position 4 or 5). A discriminant analysis was conducted for the following dependent variables: (1) results (win vs. lose) and (2) team level (top-level teams vs. second-level teams).The best predictors for results and team levels are variables (effectivity of counter-attack, effectivity of medium and slow attack-tempo) related to complex 2 (action sequences of defending, setting and counter-attacking). In contrast, the impact of complex 1 variables (action sequences of reception, setting and attacking) are marginal.It is concluded that second-level teams must adjust their training schemes, i.e., spending more time for counter-attacks with medium and slow attack tempos to increase team performance in elite men’s volleyball.

Examining the joint effects of strategic priorities, use of management control systems, and personal background on hospital performance

This study aims to respond to recent calls for a better understanding of the factors that support the effectiveness of formal control practices in hospitals. Based on survey data from 117 top-level managers in Belgian hospitals, the study investigates the performance effects of the alignment between the use of performance measurement systems (PMS), strategic priorities, and the particular role top-level managers’ personal background plays in this context. The quantitative results suggest that it is the top-level managers’ personal background that brings to life the benefits of the alignment between the use of PMS and strategic priorities in hospitals. Specifically, this paper shows that when the emphasis on partnership or governance strategic priority is high, the effect of the interactive use of PMS on hospital performance is more positive for top-level managers with a clinical background than for those with an administrative background. This study offers value for practitioners in that it supports the argument that hospitals can benefit from involving physicians in the top-level management team.

How does match status affects the passing sequences of top-level European soccer teams?

The purpose of this study was to identify the effect of match status (winning, losing or drawing) on the length of passing sequences of top-level soccer teams. A total of 20 matches of the knockout phase of the 2008-2009 UEFA Champions League were analysed. The sample consisted of 222 passing sequences leading to shooting opportunities performed by the four semi-finalists teams (FC Barcelona, Manchester United FC, Chelsea FC and Arsenal FC). These passing sequences were selected to reflect how each team tended to break the balance with the opposing teams to reach the goal (symmetry-breaking process). The passing sequences were measured by the number of passes performed until the shot and their respective durations, according to the match status. Results revealed that teams used preferentially long passing sequences when they were losing or drawing, and short passing sequences when they were winning. Besides, these top-level European teams tended to differently adapt the length of their passing sequences according to the evolving score-line, which suggests the existence of a team’s signature of play.

A study of static, kinetic, and dynamic visual acuity in 102 Japanese professional baseball players

BackgroundIt seemed that visual functions might have some effects on the performance of baseball players. We measured static, kinetic, and dynamic visual acuity (SVA, KVA, and DVA, respectively) of Japanese professional baseball players to ascertain whether there would be any difference in SVA, KVA, and DVA among player groups stratified according to their performance level.MethodsThe subjects were 102 male professional baseball players with a mean age of 26 years who were members of a Japanese professional baseball club from 2000 to 2009. They were stratified into three groups according to their performance level: A (players who were on the roster of the top-level team all the time throughout the study period), B (players who were on the roster of the top-level team sometimes but not all the time), and C (players who were never on the roster of the top-level team). They were interviewed for the use of corrective visual aids, and examined for SVA, KVA, and DVA. The measurements of these parameters were compared among groups A, B, and C. We also investigated and analyzed the association of KVA or DVA with player position (pitchers or fielders) and with hand dominance for batting. KVA was compared between the pitchers and the fielders because they each require different playing skills. DVA was compared between the right-handed and the left-handed batters.ResultsThere was no statistically significant difference among groups A, B, and C. There was a statistically significant difference in KVA between the pitchers and the fielders (t-test; P < 0.05) There was no statistically significant difference in DVA between the right-handed and the left-handed batters.ConclusionsThere was no significant difference in the examined visual functions among player groups with different performance levels.

The paradox of power sharing: Participative charismatic leaders have subordinates with more instead of less need for leadership

Although charismatic and participative leaders have been noted for their positive effects on criteria such as performance, job satisfaction, and commitment, few studies have looked at the relations with subordinates' leadership needs. In this study, the relations between charismatic and participative leadership, team outcomes, and a team's need for leadership were investigated. The sample consisted of South Pacific CEOs and their top-level management teams from Fiji, Tonga, Samoa, Vanuatu, and the Solomon Islands. Results showed that charismatic leadership was related to both group-level need for leadership and positive team outcomes. However, team outcomes did not mediate the relations between leadership and a team's need for leadership. Additionally, a moderator effect was found between participative leadership and charismatic leadership in explaining a team's need for leadership, implying that teams of subordinates with participative charismatic leaders need more instead of less leadership from their CEOs.

Diseño y aplicación de una batería multidimensional de indicadores de rendimiento para evaluar la prestación competitiva en el fútbol de alto nivel. (Design and application of a multidimensional battery of performance indicators for evaluating competitive performance in top-level football).

El objetivo del presente estudio fue el de diseñar y aplicar una batería multidimensional compuesta por cinco indicadores de rendimiento: Índice de Iniciativa de Juego (IIJ), Índice de Carga Física (ICF), Índice de Volumen de Juego Ofensivo (IVJO), Índice de Precisión en el Juego Ofensivo (IPCJO) e Índice de Progresión en el Juego Ofensivo (IPGJO), orientada a la evaluación de la prestación competitiva de equipos de fútbol de alto nivel y a la diferenciación del perfil de rendimiento obtenido por los equipos ganadores y perdedores durante los partidos. Se analizaron 67 encuentros pertenecientes a la Fase de Grupos de la Uefa Champions League en la temporada 2009-10. Análisis estadísticos de comparaciones de medias y de regresión logística entre ganadores y perdedores permitieron concluir que los equipos ganadores presentan valores estadísticamente más altos en cuatro de los cinco índices de rendimiento utilizados (IIJ, IVJO, IPCJO e IPGJO), siendo IIJ (p&lt;.001), IPCJO (p&lt;.001) e IVJO (p&lt;.001) los índices con mayor poder discriminativo. No se obtuvieron, sin embargo, diferencias estadísticamente significativas entre ambos grupos en el índice ICF (p&gt;.05). La batería multidimensional de indicadores de rendimiento propuesta puede ser una herramienta muy útil para la evaluación y predicción del rendimiento en fútbol de alto nivel. Palabras clave : indicadores de rendimiento; equipos ganadores; equipos perdedores; deportes de equipo; fútbol. Abstract The aim of the present study was the design and application of a multidimensional battery comprising five performance indicators: Play Initiative Index (PII), Physical Load Index (PLI), Offensive Play Volume Index (OPVI), Offensive Play Precision Index (OPPCI) and Offensive Play Progression Index (OPPGI), aimed at evaluating the competitive performance of top-level football teams and differentiating the performance profile obtained by winning teams and losing teams during matches. 67 belonging to the group phase of the Uefa Champions League matches were analysed in the 2009-10 season. Statistical analyses of mean comparisons and logistic regression between winners and losers, made it possible to conclude that winning teams show statistically higher values in four of the five performance indices used (PII, OPVI, OPPCI and OPPGI), with PII (p&lt;.001), OPPCI (p&lt;.001) and OPVI (p&lt;.001) being the indices with greatest descriptive power. Nonetheless, no statistically significant differences were obtained between both groups in the PLI index (p&gt;.05). The multidimensional battery of performance indicators proposed herein may prove to be highly useful tool for evaluating and predicting performance in top-level football. Key words : performance indicators; winning teams; losing teams; team sports; football. doi:10.5232/ricyde2011.02303 --------------------------------------------------------------------- Referencias/references Gregson, W., Drust, B., Atkinson, G. y Di Salvo, W., (2010). Match-to-Match variability of high-speed activities in Premier League soccer. International Journal of Sports Medicine,31 (4), 237-242. doi:10.1055/s-0030-1247546 PMid:20157871 Hughes, M.A., y Bartlett, R.M. (2002). The use of performance indicators in performance analsysis. Journal of Sports Sciences, 20, 739-754. doi:10.1080/026404102320675602 Page, L., y Page, K. (2007). The second leg home adventage: Evidence from European football cup competitions. Journal of Sports Sciences, 25 (14), 1547-1556. PMid:17852662 Pollard, R., y Pollard, G. (2005). Long-term trends in home adventage in professional team sports in North America an England 1976-2003. Journal of Sports Sciences, 23 (4), 337-350. doi:10.1080/02640410400021559 Poulter, D. (2009). Home adventage and player nationality in international club football. Journal of Sports Sciences, 27 (8), 797-805. doi:10.1080/02640410902893364 PMid:19437186 Taylor, J.; Mellalieu, S.; Nick, J., y Shearer, D. (2008). The influence of match location, quality of opposition, and match status on techinical performance in professional association football. Journal of Sports Sciences, 26 (9), 885-895. doi:10.1080/02640410701836887 PMid:18569554 ---------------------------------------------------------------------

Do perceived justice and need support of the coach predict team identification and cohesion? Testing their relative importance among top volleyball and handball players in Belgium and Norway

Objectives Based on findings in organizational psychology, the aim of the present study was to test the relevance of perceived justice and need support of the coach in team sports. Specifically, two studies examined their relation with athletes’ team identification and team cohesion. Design Two cross-sectional, questionnaire studies conducted after a midseason game day. Methods In study 1, Belgian top level female volleyball players ( N = 56; M = 22.33) and male handball players ( N = 35; M = 23.59) completed web-based questionnaires assessing athletes’ perceived justice and need support of the coach and their team identification and cohesion. In study 2, Norwegian top level female handball players ( N = 110; M = 22.8) filled in mail surveys assessing athletes’ perceived distributive and procedural justice of the coach and their team identification and cohesion. Results Both studies used Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) to analyze the data. In line with our expectations both overall perceived justice and need support by the coach, positively predicted athletes’ team identification ( p < .05). Study 2 demonstrated that procedural justice and not distributive justice predicts team identification ( p < .05). In addition, team identification positively predicted athletes’ task and social cohesion ( p < .001) and mediated the relation between procedural justice and both forms of cohesion. Conclusions These findings clearly indicate the importance of both perceived justice and need support for top level team athletes from different cultural settings. Coach-related procedural justice in particular seems to be crucial for elite athletes’ team identification and cohesion.

Effect of 2 Soccer Matches in a Week on Physical Performance and Injury Rate

Background: Recovery duration may be too short during the congested fixtures of professional soccer players with regard to maintaining physical performance and a low injury rate. Purpose: To analyze the effects of 2 matches per week on physical performance and injury rate in male elite soccer players. Study Design: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3. Methods: Match results, match-related physical performance, and injuries were monitored during 2 seasons (2007–2008 and 2008–2009) for 32 professional soccer players in a top-level team participating in the UEFA (Union of European Football Associations) Champions League. Total distance, high-intensity distance, sprint distance, and number of sprints were collected for 52 home matches. Injuries and player participation in matches and training were recorded throughout the full season. Results: Physical performance, as characterized by total distance covered, high-intensity distance, sprint distance, and number of sprints, was not significantly affected by the number of matches per week (1 versus 2), whereas the injury rate was significantly higher when players played 2 matches per week versus 1 match per week (25.6 versus 4.1 injuries per 1000 hours of exposure; P < .001). Conclusion: The recovery time between 2 matches, 72 to 96 hours, appears sufficient to maintain the level of physical performance tested but is not long enough to maintain a low injury rate. The present data highlight the need for player rotation and for improved recovery strategies to maintain a low injury rate among athletes during periods with congested match fixtures.

‘Teamwork’ or ‘Working as a Team’? The Theory and Practice of Top Team Working in UK Higher Education

AbstractThis article focuses on the theory and practice of teamwork in ‘top management teams’ in UK higher education institutions. It is informed by some of the key findings from a recent two‐year research project sponsored by the Leadership Foundation for Higher Education that investigated the different ways in which UK higher education institutions organise their ‘top management’ and ‘senior management’ structures (Kennie and Woodfield, 2008). The authors discuss literature from the corporate and higher education sectors on the meaning of ‘teamwork’ in top teams (e.g. Bensimon and Neumann, 1993; Katzenbach, 1998; Wageman et al., 2008) and relate the findings to the challenges of top level team working in higher education settings. Particular issues discussed include: the terminology related to higher education top teams, areas of decision‐making and time‐management, team orientation and agenda setting, team behaviours and team roles, team performance and evaluation, location, logistical support and resources, and team development. The authors conclude that the challenges of top team working in higher education settings are similar to those found in the corporate sector, albeit nuanced by different organisational cultures, and suggest some key principles to help top teams in higher education institutions improve their ability to work effectively together.

Epidemiology of football injuries

Aim The overall aim of this on-going injury study is to increase the safety in football. Study design Prospective cohort survey. Methods The study population consisted of two cohorts: the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) Champions League (UCL) cohort and the Swedish Superleague cohort. The UEFA Champions League cohort with 17 teams from nine countries was followed over five consecutive seasons (2001 to 2006). The Swedish Superleague with 14 teams was followed for two full consecutive seasons (2001 and 2002). Exposure for training and matches in the club and in national teams was registered in minutes for each player. The team doctor reported all injuries causing the player to miss at least one match or training session. The study follows the consensus on methods for studies on football injuries agreed upon by the Federation of International Football Associations (FIFA) and UEFA. Results Overall 6300 injuries have been registered during 800,000 h of exposure. The incidence of injury at top-level football is six to nine injuries per 1000 h of total exposure (three to five injuries per 1000 training hours and 24 to 30 injuries per 1000 match hours). As a mean, a team of 25 players can expect 40 to 50 injuries per season, half of them causing absence less than a week but six players of them causing absence more than a month. The risk of injury has not increased during the five-year period. Thigh muscle injury is the most common injury at top-level with an injury incidence of 1.6/1000 h of exposure, which means that a team can expect 10 such injuries each season. The risk of ankle sprain has been reduced by 50%, probably due to the thorough knowledge in top-level teams about optimal treatment and prevention. A correlation has been found between major injuries (causing absence > 4 weeks) and performance. There is a considerable variation in the number of matches played per season in European professional leagues. Top-level players are obliged to play many matches, especially during the final period of the season. A correlation was found between many matches at the end of a season and an increased injury risk and/or underperformance during subsequent world tournaments. Conclusion The injury risk has not increased in male professional football during recent years. At elite level, the risk of ankle sprain has been lowered and thigh muscle strain is the most common injury. A period with a congested match calendar can lead to fatigue increasing the risk of injury and poor performance during the following period.

Low back pain in young female gymnasts and the effect of specific segmental muscle control exercises of the lumbar spine: a prospective controlled intervention study

Prospective controlled intervention study. To evaluate a specific segmental muscle training program of the lumbar spine in order to prevent and reduce low back pain in young female teamgym gymnasts. Teamgym is a team sport comprising three events: trampette, tumbling and floor programme. In a recent study, it was found that teamgym gymnasts practice and compete despite suffering from back pain. Specific muscle control exercises of the lumbar spine have shown good results in reducing pain intensity and functional disability levels in patients with low back pain. To our knowledge, this type of training has not been studied in an adolescent athletic population before. Fifty-one gymnasts, with and without LBP, 11-16 years old, from three top-level gymnastics team participated in the study comprising 12 weeks. Every day the gymnasts answered a questionnaire regarding low back pain. After baseline (4 weeks) the intervention group performed a specific segmental muscle training program. Twenty-four gymnasts (47%) reported low back pain during baseline. Nine gymnasts failed to answer the questionnaire every day and the following results are based on 42 gymnasts (intervention group, n = 30, and control group, n=12). Gymnasts in the intervention group reported significantly less number of days with low back pain at completion compared to baseline (P=0.02). Gymnasts in the control group showed no difference in terms of days with low back pain or intensity of low back pain between baseline and completion. Eight gymnasts (out of 15) with LBP in the intervention group became pain free. Specific segmental muscle control exercises of the lumbar spine may be of value in preventing and reducing low back pain in young teamgym gymnasts.

Emotions, Perceived Qualities, and Performance of Rugby Players

This study was mainly designed to contrast the Individual Zones of Optimal Functioning (IZOF) emotion model and the performance profiling approach in predicting performance of rugby players based on normative, individualized, situational, and relatively stable characteristics. Pregame assessments were accomplished in 33 male Italian rugby players of a top-level team over a whole championship, and individual interviews were conducted at the end of the season. Performance differentiation and discrimination between athletes were reached on relatively stable qualities (i.e., constructs), according to predictions within the performance profile framework. Study findings also revealed that emotions modify widely during the game because of external events (e.g., behaviors of teammates or opponents) or individual behaviors (e.g., individual faults). In conclusion, findings add support to the contention that extending the IZOF model to other physical or performance related components would require situational rather than relatively stable qualities. On the other hand, the concept of zones extended to constructs seems beneficial for practical purposes.

Designing observational systems to support top-level teams in game sports

Any observational system can be considered as the result of a model building process. In order to validate this process one has to ask whether the model contains the essential attributes of the original (here: the game sport observed). Or does the model contain abundant features which do not correspond to properties of the original? Mathematically spoken, one has to examine the validity of the bi-directional relation between model and original.Only recently, game sports research has become aware, that another aspect of the model building process had perhaps not been paid enough attention to: the purpose of the model. In short this means that there is not the model of tennis or soccer, but for different purposes different models serve best. There is a wide variety of purposes for observational systems in game sports: Measuring individual performance, physical loads, tactical solutions for special situations, studies of the interactions between and within the teams, discover talents, decision making of coaches or theoretical interest in the structure of games.In order to support top-level teams two purposes are dominant: preparation against an opponent and gaining information to support onès own training process. An analysis of these tasks reveals that in order to become practically relevant a multi-step process has to be passed, which relies to a great extent on the quality of inferences drawn. This basically interpretative processing of observational data in order to achieve the goals in top-sports has led to the development of “Qualitative Game Analysis”, which applies the principles of qualitative research methodology to game observation.Deriving conclusions from behaviour in games documented on videos is seen much in the same way as deriving the central statements of an author from a large number of pages in several books. Today’s technology allows for the first time the processing of pictures almost in the same way as text sources.A hard- and software solution for “Qualitative Game Analysis” was developed. The preparation of top-level German beach-volleyball teams was accompanied for three years. A large amount of experience was gained in the way how to gain information for onès own training process and in preparation for matches to come. The bronze medal surprisingly won by a German male team at Sydney has seen an intensive support with “Qualitative Game Analysis” before and especially during the Olympics which of course does not allow any inferences on the scientific quality of the method!

The Iwakura Mission in America and Europe: A New Assessment

Driven by the need to identify, classify and assess western technology and culture together with a desire to advance a dialogue for reviewing the so-called 'unequal treaties' - the new Meiji government of 1868 despatched a top-level ministerial team to the west which, in 1872, arrived in the United States. In all, they spent 205 days in America, 122 days in Britain and two months in France, as well as visiting other countries including Belgium, Germany, Russia, Sweden and Italy. Drawing on the papers given at the triennial conference of the European Association of Japanese Studies, held in Budapest in August 1997 (the year also marking the 125th anniversary of Iwakura's arrival), this volume presents a valuable new overview of the mission as a whole, with the significance and impact of the visit to each country being separately assessed. A supplement to the book looks at several 'post-Iwakura' topics, including a review of the mission's chief chronicler, Kume Kunitake.

Registration of cruciate ligament injuries in Norwegian top level team handball. A prospective study covering two seasons.

All cruciate ligament injuries in the three upper divisions for men and women (3392 players) in Norwegian team handball in the 1989-90 and 1990-91 seasons were registered. A questionnaire was mailed to all injured players. Ninety-three cruciate ligament injuries were registered; 87 in the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), and six in the posterior cruciate ligament (PCL). Among women, 1.8% were injured compared with 1.0% of the men. In the first division, the risk of being injured was considerably higher: 4.5% of the players had a cruciate ligament injury. There were 0.97 cruciate ligament injuries per 100 playing hours in the three divisions taken together. Seventy-five per cent of the injuries occurred during games. Ninety-five per cent involved no contact between players. Activities in which the friction between shoe and floor was significant caused 55% of the injuries. Injuries caused by running into another player contributed to only 5% of the injuries. No significant differences were observed in injury incidence during matches between different types of floors (parquet, Pulastic and other synthetic surfaces.)