Effects of a notational analysis-based intervention on coaches' verbal behaviour according to physiological activation during competition.

The aim of this study was to examine the effects of a notational analysis-based intervention on coaches' verbal behaviour considering their physiological activation during competition and game actions. Verbal behaviour, physiological activation (heart rate), and game actions of 4 handball coaches were recorded for a total of 28 matches. Each coach was recorded in 7 matches, three pre-interventions, two post-intervention, and two retention. Verbal behaviour was assessed using the Coach Analysis and Intervention System (CAIS: Cushion et al., 2012), and game actions were coded as positive or negative depending on their outcome. In total, 15223 verbal behaviours and 3780 game actions were recorded. The intervention programme sought to help coaches to provide constructive information (corrective feedback and instructions) after negative events or actions, encourage players (especially when the team is losing or playing badly), reduce the protests to the referee, and reduce or eliminate punishment to players. Chi-square analysis suggested that the intervention stimulated the intended changes in coaches' behaviour, and that these changes were retained for subsequent games. Verbal behaviour changed depending on the physiological activation. This study suggests that a brief (two-session) notation-based intervention can elicit changes in coaches' verbal behaviour during competition.

Physical Activity and Exercise: Text Mining Analysis.

It is currently difficult to have a global state of the art vision of certain scientific topics. In the field of physical activity (PA) and exercise, this is due to information overload. The present study aims to provide a solution by analysing a large mass of scientific articles using text mining (TM). The purpose was to analyse what is being investigated in the PA health field on young people from primary, secondary and higher education. Titles and abstracts published in the Web of Science (WOS) database were analysed using TM on 24 November 2020, and after removing duplicates, 85,368 remained. The results show 9960 (unique) words and the most frequently used bi-grams and tri-grams. A co-occurrence network was also generated. 'Health' was the first term of importance and the most repeated bi-grams and tri-grams were 'body_mass' and 'body_mass_index'. The analyses of the 20 topics identified focused on health-related terms, the social sphere, sports performance and research processes. It also found that the terms health and exercise have become more important in recent years.

Effect of a HIIT protocol on the lower limb muscle power, ankle dorsiflexion and dynamic balance in a sedentary type 1 diabetes mellitus population: a pilot study.

BACKGROUND: Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) is commonly associated with premature loss of muscle function, ankle dorsiflexion and dynamic balance. Those impairments, usually, lead to physical functionality deterioration. High-intensity interval training is an efficient and safety methodology since it prevents hypoglycemia and not requires much time, which are the main barriers for this population to practice exercise and increase physical conditioning. We hypothesized that a 6-week HIIT program performed on a cycle ergometer would increase lower limb muscle power, ankle dorsiflexion range of motion and dynamic balance without hypoglycemic situations. METHODS: A total of 19 diagnosed T1DM subjects were randomly assigned to HIIT group (n = 11; 6-week HIIT protocol) or Control group (n = 8; no treatment). Lower limb strength was evaluated through velocity execution in squat with three different overloads. Weight bearing lunge test (WBLT) was performed to test ankle dorsiflexion range of motion and Y-Balance test (YBT) was the test conducted to analyze dynamic balance performance. RESULTS: Velocity in squat improved a 11.3%, 9.4% and 10.1% (p < 0.05) with the 50%, 60% and 70% of their own body mass overload respectively, WBLT performance increased a 10.43% in the right limb and 15.45% in the left limb. YBT showed improvements in all directions (right limb-left limb): Anterior (4.3-6.1%), Posteromedial (1.8-5.2%) and Posterolateral (3.4-4.5%) in HIIT group (p < 0.05), unlike control group that did not experience any significant change in any of the variables (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: A 6-week HIIT program is safe and effective to improve execution velocity in squat movement, a fundamental skill in daily living activities, as well as ankle dorsiflexion range of motion and dynamic balance to reduce foot ulcers, risk falls and functional impairments. HIIT seems an efficient and safety training methodology not only for overcome T1DM barriers for exercising but also for improving functional capacities in T1DM people.

Effects of Rule Changes on Game-Related Statistics in Men's Water Polo Matches.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of rule changes on game-related statistics in men's water polo matches. A total of 856 men's matches played in all Olympic Games and World Championship since 1936 was analysed. The game-related statistics considered were: total goals, winners' goals, losers' goals, goals per minute, goals difference, relationship difference goals and total goals, and relationship difference goals and winners' goals. The rule changes were grouped by structural (game and period) and functional changes (possession time, exclusion time, timing, minimum distance to take a direct shot). Differences between rule changes were determined using a one-way ANOVA. In general, the changes in water polo rules were shown to have an effect on the final result of the matches. There were differences in each rule change of duration (increased total goals and winners' goals), period (increased total goals and winners' goals), possession time (increased losers' goals), timing (increased total, winners', losers', and decreased % goals and total goals) and fouls (increased total goals and losers' goals). The analysis in game-related statistics through the rule changes could be used to evaluate their effects and/or justify future modifications.

Comparison of game-related statistics in men's international championships between winning and losing teams according to margin of victory.

The aims of this study were (i) to compare water polo game-related statistics by game outcome (winning and losing teams) and margins of victory (close games, unbalanced games, and very unbalanced games), and (ii) to identify characteristics that mark the differences in performances for each group of margin of victory. The game-related statistics of the 308 men's matches played in seven International Championships (Olympic Games, World and European Championships) were analysed. A cluster analysis established three groups (close games, unbalanced games, and very unbalanced games) according to the margin of victory. Differences between game outcomes (winning or losing teams) and margins of victory (close, unbalanced, and very unbalanced games) were determined using the chi-squared statistic, also calculating the effect sizes of the differences. A discriminant analysis was then performed applying the sample-splitting method according to game outcome (winning and losing teams) by margin of victory. It was found that the game-related statistics differentiate the winning from the losing teams in each final score group, with 7 (offensive and defensive) variables differentiating winners from losers in close games, 16 in unbalanced games, and 11 in very unbalanced games. In all three types of game, the game-related statistics were shown to discriminate performance (85% or more), with two variables being discriminatory by game outcome (winning or losing teams) in all three cases: shots and goalkeeper-blocked shots.

Concentric and impact forces of single-leg jumps in an aquatic environment versus on land.

PURPOSE: This study investigated the kinetic and the kinematic differences in female athletes in single-leg static jumps in an aquatic environment compared with those performed on dry land. METHODS: Twelve healthy, junior national team handball players participated. Subjects completed a familiarization and a testing session. The subjects performed a series of single-leg jumps, dry land and aquatic with and without devices, which were randomized to avoid fatigue effects. Peak concentric force, rate of force development, impact force, and time of the jumps were determined using a force plate. RESULTS: Peak concentric force and rate of force development were significantly (P < 0.05) higher in the aquatic jumps, whereas impact force was significantly (P < 0.05) lower. There was a shorter total jump time (P < 0.05) for the aquatic jump without devices, whereas the time required to reach peak force was not significantly different between the two environments, despite the greater resistance to movement in the aquatic medium. DISCUSSION: Aquatic jump exercises result in greater force production and rate of force development in the same amount of time with less impact and can thus offer a viable alternative to traditional dry-land jump exercises, which may also be beneficial for rehabilitating or aging populations. The benefits of this type of exercise include an exercise mode that can be performed without compromising speed while reducing the potential for joint injury.