Comparison of 1-Repetition-Maximum Performance Across 3 Weightlifting Overhead Pressing Exercises and Sport Groups.

OBJECTIVE: To (1) compare the 1-repetition-maximum (1RM) performance between the push press, push jerk, and split jerk and (2) explore these differences between weightlifters, CrossFit athletes, and a mixed group of athletes. METHODS: Forty-six resistance-trained males (age 28.8 [6.4] y; height 180.0 [6.0] cm; body mass 84.1 [10.2] kg; weightlifting training experience 3.64 [3.14] y) participated in this study. The 1RM performance of the push press, push jerk, and split jerk was assessed during the same session in a sequential order (ie, combined 1RM assessment method). Thirty-six participants were retested to determine between-sessions reliability of the 1RM values. RESULTS: Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) and associated 95% confidence intervals (CIs) showed a high between-sessions reliability for the push press (ICC = .98; 95% CI, .95-.99), push jerk (ICC = .99; 95% CI, .98-1.00), and split jerk (ICC = .99; 95% CI, .98-1.00). There was a significant main effect of exercise (η2 = .101) and exercise × group interaction (η2 = .012) on 1RM performance (P < .001), whereas the main effect of group did not reach statistical significance (P = .175). CONCLUSIONS: This study provides evidence that the weightlifting overhead press derivatives affect 1RM performance. In addition, the interaction of exercise and sport group was caused by the higher differences in 1RM performance between exercises for weightlifters compared with CrossFit and a mixed group of athletes. Therefore, strength and conditioning professionals should be aware that the differences in 1RM performance between weightlifting overhead-press derivatives may be affected by sport group.

Effect of Pitch Size on Technical-Tactical Actions of the Goalkeeper in Small-Sided Games.

The aim of this paper was to determine how the size of the pitch affected technical and tactical actions of the goalkeeper when playing small-sided games. The participants were 13 male youth players, including 3 goalkeepers. Three different pitch sizes were used (62 x 44 m; 50 x 35 m; 32 x 23 m). On each pitch, the players played three matches of 8 minutes, with 5-minute breaks between matches. Numerous variables were recorded and examined: defensive and offensive technical and tactical actions, opponent's shooting zone, length and zone of the offensive action, and goal zone where the shoot was directed. An ad hoc observational tool was used. A descriptive analysis was described. The Fisher's exact test was used when the expected distribution was below 5 or included values below 1%. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. The results showed that the technical-tactical actions of the goalkeeper differed among pitch sizes. In defensive actions, when the pitch was larger, the 1-on-1 situations took precedence, whereas when the pitch was smaller, the proportion of blocks increased. In offensive actions, the goalkeepers did not show a wide variety of actions when the pitch was larger, but when the pitch was smaller, passes with a hand or foot increased. These results show that the size should be taken into account when planning and designing tasks.

RELIABILITY OF TWO METHODS OF CLINICAL EXAMINATION OF THE FLEXIBILITY OF THE HIP ADDUCTOR MUSCLES.

BACKGROUND: An inadequate level of flexibility of the adductor muscles is one of the most critical risk factors for chronic groin pain and strains. However, measurement methods of adductor muscle flexibility are not well defined. PURPOSE: To determine the inter-session reliability of the biarticular and monoarticular adductor muscle flexibility measures obtained from passive hip abduction with the knee flexed over the edge of the plinth test (PHA) and the passive hip abduction test at 90° of hip flexion (PHA90°). STUDY DESIGN: Clinical Measurement Reliability study. METHODS: Fifty healthy recreational athletes participated in this study. All participants performed the PHA and PHA90° on four different occasions, with a two-week interval between testing sessions. Reliability was examined through the change in the mean between consecutive pairs of testing sessions (ChM), standard error of measurement expressed in absolute values (SEM) and as a percentage of the mean score (%SEM), minimal detectable change at 95% confidence interval (MDC95), and intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC2,k). RESULTS: The findings showed negligible or trivial ChM values for the two adductor flexibility measures analyzed (<2°). Furthermore, the SEM and MDC95 were 2.1° and 5.9° and 2.2° and 6.2° for the measures obtained from the PHA and PHA90°, respectively, with %SEM scores lower than 5% and ICC scores higher than 0.90. CONCLUSION: The findings from this study suggest that the adductor muscle flexibility measures analyzed have good to excellent inter-session reliability in recreational athletes. Thus, clinicians can be 95% confident that an observed change between two measures larger than 5.9° and 6.2° for the flexibility measures obtained from the PHA and PHA90°, respectively, would indicate a real change in muscle flexibility. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 2.