Goal orientations and sport motivation, differences between the athletes of competitive and non-competitive rhythmic gymnastics.

AIM: The present study examines the sport motivation and the goal orientations in the competitive and non-competitive structure of rhythmic gymnastics. Participation of individuals in one or the other structure of the sport differs in line with the goals they want to achieve and possibly also with respect to the factors that impulse them to take part in one or the other. The purpose of this study is to examine how individuals who participate in different structures of the sport of rhythmic gymnastics differentiate with regard to the type of motivation (intrinsic, extrinsic, amotivation) and goal orientations. METHODS: The study involved 98 young female rhythmic gymnastics athletes (aged 14 years and up), out of which 40 were athletes of competitive clubs or members of national teams, and 58 were athletes of non-competitive clubs. For the evaluation of motivation and goal orientations the following tools were used: the Sport Motivation Scale (SMS) and the Task and Ego Orientation in Sport Questionnaire (TEOSQ). Descriptive and inductive statistical data analysis was conducted. RESULTS: The results showed that the athletes of the non-competitive structure presented higher levels of introjected regulation (extrinsic motivation), amotivation and lower levels of ego orientation (P<0.05). Rhythmic gymnastics athletes' (regardless of the structure of the sport) presented high level in task orientation while the high levels of task orientation is positively associated with high levels of intrinsic motivation regardless of the levels of ego orientation. CONCLUSION: The intrinsic motivation of athletes participating in rhythmic gymnastics runs at high levels. The amotivation of rhythmic gymnastics athletes' is a phenomenon which is also presented in the the non-competitive sport structure. It is important that the two different structures of sports be determined with accurate criteria.

Cardiorespiratory and metabolic responses to a simulated synchronized swimming routine in senior (>18 years) and comen (13-15 years) national level athletes.

AIM: This study examined the ventilatory responses and blood lactate concentration after a simulated synchronized swimming routine of athletes of two different age categories. METHODS: Sixteen trained female synchronized swimmers, 8 competing at the comen category (age: 13.8+/-0.2 years) and 8 competing at the senior category (age: 22.6+/-0.9 years), performed a maximal 400 m swimming test and a simulated synchronized swimming routine. Oxygen uptake (VO(2)) of the tests was obtained by backward extrapolation of a monoexponential curve fitted to the postexercise oxygen uptake data. RESULTS: There were no differences in VO(2) at the end of the routine (37.4+/-2.7 vs 40.5+/-2 mL . kg(-1) . min(-1), or 81.8+/-3.1% and 85.8+/-2.7% of VO(2peak)) and blood lactate (5.7+/-0.9 vs 4.5+/-0.4 mmol.L(-1)) between senior and comen synchronized swimmers. There was no difference in the half-time of V.O(2) decay (T(1/2)) between the athletes of the two categories, but T(1/2) was significantly higher after the routine compared with the V.O(2peak) test for both categories (senior: 45.2+/-5.9 vs 33.1+/-2.1 s, P<0.05, comen: 38.2+/-6 vs 27.4+/-8.2 s, P<0.05). The mean end-tidal pressure of CO(2) during the second half of the recovery was higher after the routine than after the VO(2peak) test (37.2+/-1.4 vs 34.5+/-1.5 mmHg, P<0.05), possibly due to the prolonged periods of breath holding (55+/-4% of routine time). Breathing frequency was also high (30+/-2.2 breaths . min(-1)) at the later part of recovery after the routine. CONCLUSION: Cardiorespiratory and metabolic responses to a simulated synchronized swimming routine were similar in senior and comen athletes. The slower recovery of V.O(2)after the routine could be related to the elevated cost of ventilation, especially during the later stages of recovery, possibly as a result of the prolonged apnea.