What Is “Zone 2 Training”?: Experts’ Viewpoint on Definition, Training Methods, and Expected Adaptations
Endurance athletes and coaches have long debated the most effective training intensities for maximizing performance. Recently, Zone 2 training has gained attention as a foundational component of endurance programs, yet definitions and implementation strategies vary. While many propose that Zone…
Dry Needling in Sports and Sport Recovery: A Systematic Review with an Evidence Gap Map
As athletes continuously push their physical limits, effective recovery strategies are essential for maintaining performance and reducing injury risk. Among various recovery techniques, dry needling has gained popularity for its potential to relieve muscle pain and stiffness. Despite its widespread…
Diet, risk of disordered eating and running-related injury in adult distance runners: A systematic review and meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies
Distance running is a popular and accessible form of exercise, offering significant physical and mental health benefits. However, the risk of running-related injuries (RRIs) remains a persistent concern for both competitive and recreational runners. While factors such as training load,…
Athlete Mental Health and Well-being During the Transition into Elite Sport: Strategies to Prepare the System
The transition into elite-level sport can expose young athletes to risk factors for mental ill-health, including increased performance expectations, stressors associated with becoming increasingly public figures, and changes in lifestyle demands, such as diet, training loads and sleep. Successful integration into elite-level sport requires athletes to quickly adapt to these newfound challenges and the norms […]
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Enhancing Youth Leadership Through Sport and Physical Education
This article explores the role of sport leaders in promoting youth leadership and emphasizes the importance of mental health awareness and support in the development of young athletes.
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Mental fortitude training: An evidence-based approach to developing psychological resilience for sustained success.
Drawing on the body of knowledge in this area, this article presents an evidence-based approach to developing psychological resilience for sustained success. To this end, the narrative is divided into three main sections. The first section describes the construct of psychological resilience and explains what it is. The second section outlines and discusses a mental […]
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Research methods in sport and exercise psychology: quantitative and qualitative issues
Contemporary aspects of research methods in sport and exercise psychology are discussed in this wide-ranging review. After an introduction centred on trends in sport and exercise psychology methods, the review is organized around the major themes of quantitative and qualitative research. Our aim is to highlight areas that may be problematic or controversial (e.g. stepwise […]
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Health psychology: mapping biobehavioral contributions to health and illness
Our evolving understanding of how psychosocial and behavioral factors affect health and disease processes has been marked by investigation of specific relationships and mechanisms underlying them. Stress and other emotional responses are components of complex interactions of genetic, physiological, behavioral, and environmental factors that affect the body’s ability to remain or become healthy or to […]
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Exploring the Perceived Barriers of Effective Communication Within the Coach–Athlete Relationship: A Sample of Scandinavian Coaches and Athletes
Coaching is a process that guides development and is shaped by sound relationships between athletes and coaches. Interpersonal communication represents a mechanism for developing functional relationships. However, not all interactions between coaches and athletes are optimal, and limited research has attempted to understand the factors that impede the ability to engage in effective communication. This […]
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Consideration of Mental Health and Well-Being in High-Level Sport: When Will a Coach-Centered Approach Be Introduced?
In recent years, the conversation surrounding mental health in sports has primarily focused on athletes, with much less attention paid to the well-being of coaches. However, a growing body of research is beginning to highlight the significant stressors faced by coaches, particularly those in high-performance environments, and the detrimental effects these stressors can have on […]
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How Can We Make Research More Relevant for Sport Practice?
Contrasting Approaches in Research: Sport scientists often design studies that compare different training methods or models (e.g., interval vs. continuous exercise, polarized vs. pyramidal intensity distribution). These studies tend to conclude that one method is superior, but leading practitioners view these methods as complementary tools rather than mutually exclusive.Complexity of Athlete Development: No single type […]
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Gender Equity in Sport-Science Academia: We Still Have a Long Way to Go!
Despite the strides made toward gender equity in sport-science academia, significant challenges persist, particularly in leadership representation and career advancement for women. Although women constitute a substantial portion of postgraduate and PhD students in this field, their presence in senior academic roles remains disproportionately low. This disparity extends to research publication leadership, where female authorship […]
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Some Threads Worth Caring About in a Corresponsive Sport Science
The article discusses the concept of a “corresponsive sport science,” which challenges traditional approaches to sport science and coaching by emphasizing curiosity, care, and hope in both scientific inquiry and practical coaching. In essence, the article advocates for a shift in how sport science and coaching are approached, urging a move away from rigid, knowledge-based […]
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Judgement and Decision Making in Clinical and Return-to-Sports Decision Making: A Narrative Review
When deciding if an athlete is ready to return to sports after an injury, clinicians face a complex challenge. This process involves not only assessing the physical healing of the athlete but also considering their mental readiness and social factors. Understanding how decisions are made in these situations is crucial because the health and performance […]
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Aligning categories of mental health conditions with intervention types in high-performance sports: A narrative cornerstone review and classification framework
In recent years, the mental health of high-performance athletes has garnered increased attention, challenging long-held beliefs about their psychological resilience. However, the lack of consensus on how to define and classify mental health conditions in this context has led to significant challenges in accurately assessing and treating these issues. This has been further complicated by […]
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Implementing menstrual cycle tracking: A pilot concept mapping study investigating considerations of coaches, support staff, and female athletes
Implementing menstrual cycle (MC) tracking in sports offers the potential to enhance athlete performance and well-being, but it requires careful consideration of various factors to ensure its effectiveness and ethical application. Takeaways from this recently published study highlight the most important considerations for coaches, support staff, and athletes when incorporating MC tracking into training and […]
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The industry-academic nexus: a case study of collaboration
Rationale/Purpose:Little research has been completed in a New Zealand sport context exploring the industry-academic nexus. The purpose of this study is to examine the efficacy of a collaboration between a sport organisation and researchers to provide insights learned from the key partners’ perceptions.Design/Methodology/Approach:Within a case study design, a qualitative thematic analysis of data gathered from […]
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Promoting a culture change in junior and youth sport in New Zealand
This paper provides insight into the evolution of a project designed to address longstanding adult attitudes and behavioural issues in junior and youth sport in New Zealand. The project was funded by Sport New Zealand (Sport NZ) and implemented by Aktive, a charitable trust that works with national and regional partners to fund and deliver […]
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Preventing Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) Injuries in High School Sports Participants: An Executive Summary of the Inaugural Meeting of the National ACL Injury Coalition
To address the increasing rates of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury among young sports participants, the Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) and the Aspen Institute convened a meeting of a new national coalition to make ACL injury prevention a fundamental aspect of youth sports. This executive summary outlines the National ACL Injury Coalition’s goals as […]
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The Elimination of Varsity Sports at a Division I Institution
The elimination and subsequent reinstatement of five varsity sports at the University of California, Berkeley during the 2010-11 academic year may provide a modern success story in college sports, but the events which transpired at Berkeley also exposed many of the fundamental tensions inherent to NCAA Division I athletics today. This success story might be […]
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Longitudinal Associations Between Enjoyment of Physical Education, Cardiorespiratory Fitness, and Muscular Fitness Among Finnish Adolescents
Adolescents’ experiences in physical education (PE) have profound implications for their future physical activity behaviors and health outcomes. A longitudinal study conducted among Finnish students investigated the relationship between PE enjoyment and fitness components—cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) and muscular fitness (MF). Here are the key takeaways from this study:Background:Regular physical activity (PA) is crucial for health, […]
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An evaluation of the behavioural inhibition system and behavioural activation system (BIS-BAS) model of pain in athletes
This article explores how athletes respond to pain through the lens of the Behavioral Inhibition System (BIS) – Behavioral Activation System (BAS) framework. Here are the key points and takeaways:Framework Overview: This study applies the BIS-BAS model to understand how athletes cope with pain. The BIS is activated when pain is perceived as a threat, […]
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Development and evaluation of the psychometric properties of a new measure of athlete insomnia: Insomnia in Response to Sports‐related Stress Test questionnaire
This article discusses the development and validation of the Insomnia in Response to Sports-related Stress Test (IRSST) questionnaire, aimed at measuring sleep disturbance in elite athletes due to sport-specific stressful situations. Here are the key points and takeaways:Background and Need: Elite athletes often experience high levels of stress from training, competition, and personal expectations, leading […]
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A Biopsychosocial Framework for Sport Science: “A Jack of All Trades Is Oftentimes Better Than a Master of One.”
In his seminal work nearly half a century ago, psychiatrist George L. Engel advocated for a paradigm shift in medical thinking, proposing the biopsychosocial (BPS) model to integrate biomedical, psychological, and social factors in understanding health. While widely embraced in general medicine and psychology, the application of this holistic framework remains surprisingly underutilized in sport […]
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Regular Running Is Related to the Knee Joint Cartilage Structure in Healthy Adults
Recent research has delved into the relationship between regular running, biomechanics, and the structural integrity of knee cartilage in healthy adults. This cross-sectional study, involving 1164 participants aged 18-65, utilized advanced MRI technology and motion capture to assess knee cartilage quality. The findings shed light on how running distance, age, gender, and biomechanical factors interplay […]
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Advancing athlete development: How Percentile Comparison Methods (PCMs) can identify youth developmental profiles
This study aimed to address the challenge of accurately evaluating youth athletic performance, considering inter-individual developmental differences. Using Percentile Comparison Methods (PCMs), the research analyzed data from 866 female 100m Front-Crawl swimmers aged 9-15 years at Australian regional-national events.Let’s dive into some key points:Objective: Address challenges in accurately evaluating youth athletic performance due to developmental […]
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Mental fortitude training: An evidence-based approach to developing psychological resilience for sustained success
Drawing on the body of knowledge in this area, this article presents an evidence-based approach to developing psychological resilience for sustained success. To this end, the narrative is divided into three main sections. The first section describes the construct of psychological resilience and explains what it is. The second section outlines and discusses a mental […]
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Maltreatment in Youth Sport: A Systemic Issue
The recent, highly publicized cases of maltreatment of athletes have garnered critical attention by the public at large and stakeholders in sport, alike. For many, these cases threaten popular views that sport contributes in important ways to positive youth development. The growing evidence showing that maltreatment occurs to youth sport participants highlights the need for […]
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Safeguarding athletes from emotional abuse
In book: Safeguarding, child protection and abuse in sport: International perspectives in research, policy and practice.
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Mental Health In Elite Athletes: Increased Awareness Requires An Early Intervention Framework to Respond to Athlete Needs
The current ‘state of play’ in supporting elite athlete mental health and wellbeing has centred mostly on building mental health literacy or awareness of the signs of mental ill-health amongst athletes. Such awareness is necessary, but not sufficient to address the varied mental health needs of elite athletes. We call for a new model of […]
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Occurrence of mental health symptoms and disorders in current and former elite athletes: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Objectives To present an overview of the existing epidemiological evidence regarding the occurrence of mental health symptoms and disorders among current and former elite athletes. Design Systematic review and meta-analysis. Data sources Five electronic databases were searched from inception to November 2018: PubMed (MEDLINE), SportDiscus via EBSCO, PSycINFO via ProQuest, Scopus and Cochrane. Eligibility criteria […]
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Consensus statement on improving the mental health of high performance athletes
This consensus statement is the product of an international Think Tank on the initiative of the International Society of Sport Psychology. The purpose of the Think Tank was to unify major sport psychology organizations in a discussion of the current status and future challenges of applied and research aspects of athlete mental health. The contributors […]
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Mental health in elite athletes: International Olympic Committee consensus statement
Mental health symptoms and disorders are common among elite athletes, may have sport related manifestations within this population and impair performance. Mental health cannot be separated from physical health, as evidenced by mental health symptoms and disorders increasing the risk of physical injury and delaying subsequent recovery. There are no evidence or consensus based guidelines […]
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A systematic review of interventions to increase awareness of mental health and well-being in athletes, coaches and officials
Background: The aim of the current study was to conduct a systematic review determining the effect of sport-specific mental health awareness programs to improve mental health knowledge and help-seeking among sports coaches, athletes and officials. The second aim was to review the study quality and to report on the validity of measures that were used […]
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Barriers and facilitators to mental health help-seeking for young elite athletes: a qualitative study
AbstractBackground: Adolescents and young adults experience a high level of mental disorders, yet tend not to seek help. Research indicates that there are many barriers and facilitators to help-seeking for young people in the general community. However there are limited data available for young elite athletes. This study aims to determine what young elite athletes perceive […]
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A Systems-Approach Model of Mental Toughness: Understanding Inputs, Processes and Outputs
Despite its rising prominence in the academic literature, the underlying inputs, processes and outputs of mental toughness remain relatively unexplored (Hardy, Bell, & Beattie, 2014). As such, the purpose of the study is to present a systems-approach model of mental toughness that classifies attributes of mental toughness within the aggregated system of inputs, processes and […]
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A Deconstruction of Coaching Philosophy
In a recent study examining coaching philosophy within English football academies, researchers uncovered intriguing insights into how coaches perceive and utilize this concept. The findings shed light on the complex interplay between symbolic identity, practical coaching approaches, and institutional norms. Let’s delve into the key takeaways from this research, offering practical insights for coaches looking […]
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Athletes’ Coping With the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Role of Self-Compassion and Cognitive Appraisal
Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, athletes faced unprecedented challenges, prompting researchers to investigate the role of self-compassion in their coping strategies. This mixed-methods study explored how self-compassion influenced athletes’ coping through cognitive appraisal during the pandemic, offering valuable insights into mental well-being strategies for athletes.Key Takeaways and Practical Applications:Self-Compassion and Coping Mechanisms:Athletes with higher levels of […]
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Some pressures are more equal than others: Effects of isolated pressure on performance
In a recent study examining the effects of pressure on performance in golf putting tasks, researchers uncovered surprising insights that challenge conventional wisdom. Contrary to the belief that pressure uniformly impairs performance, the study reveals that different types of pressure can have varied effects. Understanding these nuances is crucial for coaches and athletes seeking to […]
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Effects of a school-based karate intervention on academic achievement, psychosocial functioning, and physical fitness: A multi-country cluster randomized controlled trial
This study investigated the impact of a school-based karate intervention on academic achievement, psychosocial functioning, and physical fitness in 7-8-year-old children across five European countries. Twenty schools participated in a cluster randomized controlled trial, with children assigned to either traditional physical education (control group) or a one-year karate intervention (intervention group). Results show that the […]
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The Interruption of Rehabilitation Following Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction due to COVID-19 Restrictions: Association With Return-to-Sport Testing
Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, rehabilitation access was disrupted. This study compares late-stage ACLR rehabilitation outcomes before and during pandemic-related restrictions. It analyzes return-to-sport test data from two periods: pre-pandemic (Dec 2018 – Mar 2020) and during the pandemic (Jun – Oct 2020). Outcome measures include various physical tests. The findings highlight declines in post-ACLR performance […]
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Evaluating the effect of sports compression tights on balance, sprinting, jumping and change of direction tasks
This study delves into the efficacy of compression garments (CGs) during athletic endeavors, particularly exploring their influence on balance, sprinting, jumping, and change of direction performance. Employing a sample of 24 recreationally active participants, the research compares the effects of wearing compression tights (COMP) versus regular exercise tights (CON) across various tasks. Results highlight noteworthy […]
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What makes an athlete? A scoping review: Assessing the use of the word athlete with anterior cruciate ligament rehabilitation review studies. Is there a standard?
This paper examines the use of the term “athlete” in scientific literature, particularly in studies related to Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) rehabilitation. It highlights a significant lack of standardization in the definition and usage of this term across various research papers. Despite its frequent appearance in review titles, the actual utilization of the term among […]
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Growing up and reaching for the top: A longitudinal study on swim performance and its underlying characteristics in talented swimmers
This article delves into the nuanced development of swimmers during puberty, aiming to distinguish between those on track to elite levels and those who are not. Over three swimming seasons, data was collected from 90 talented sprint and middle-distance swimmers, focusing on their performance and underlying characteristics. Here’s what the study found:Participants and Data Collection:Longitudinal […]
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Throwing cold water on muscle growth: A systematic review with meta-analysis of the effects of post-exercise cold water immersion on resistance training- induced hypertrophy
This paper systematically examined the impact of post-exercise cold water immersion (CWI) in conjunction with resistance training (RT) on muscle growth. Through a comprehensive meta-analysis of available data, the study aimed to shed light on whether CWI, when used as a recovery strategy after RT sessions, influences the hypertrophic response of skeletal muscles. The analysis […]
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Monitoring Readiness to Train and Perform in Female Football: Current Evidence and Recommendations for Practitioners
The latest research on women’s football delves into readiness monitoring and the menstrual cycle’s impact on performance. It emphasizes the need for a balanced approach, combining objective metrics like heart rate with subjective measures such as athlete-reported outcome measures (AROM). Reliability checks are essential before implementing these measures. In settings with limited technology, AROM instruments […]
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Mental Fatigue Impairs Repeated Sprint and Jump Performance in Team Sport Athletes
This paper aimed to investigate the effects of mental fatigue (MF), induced by a cognitively demanding task, on repeated sprint ability (RSA), repeated jump ability (RJA), and psychomotor vigilance. The study conducted utilized a randomized within-participant design and measured various performance metrics, including peak and mean running time, jump height, percent decrement score (Sdec), blood […]
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The Emerging Field of Emotion Regulation: An Integrative Review
The emerging field of emotion regulation studies how individuals influence which emotions they have, when they have them, and how they experience and express them. This review takes an evolutionary perspective and characterizes emotion in terms of response tendencies. Emotion regulation is defined and distinguished from coping, mood regulation, defense, and affect regulation. In the increasingly specialized discipline of psychology, the field of emotion regulation cuts across traditional boundaries and provides common ground. According to a process model of emotion regulation, emotion may be regulated at five points in the emotion generative process: (a) selection of the situation, (b) modification of the situation, (c) deployment of attention, (d) change of cognitions, and (e) modulation of responses. The field of emotion regulation promises new insights into age-old questions about how people manage their emotions.
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Emotion Regulation: Conceptual Foundations.
This chapter provides a conceptual foundation for answering questions as they arise in developmental and adult literatures relevant to emotion regulation. Because a discussion of emotion regulation presupposes an understanding of what emotion is, we first consider emotion in the context of the larger family of affective processes to which it belongs. Next, we distinguish emotion regulation from other major forms of self-regulation. This prepares the way for our presentation of the framework we use to organize the many different types of emotion regulation. Using this framework, we review findings from child developmental and adult literatures. In the last section, we highlight some of the biggest challenges–and opportunities–for those interested in emotion and emotion regulation.
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Intraindividual variability in sleep among athletes: A systematic review of definitions, operationalizations, and key correlates.
Examining the landscape of sleep variability among athletes, a systematic review was conducted to delve into how researchers have conceptualized and investigated these fluctuations in sleep patterns. This comprehensive analysis, spanning 16 studies, highlights the varied approaches and limitations in defining and measuring sleep variability among athletes. The review uncovers critical gaps and potential pathways […]
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A machine learning approach for the classification of sports based on a coaches’ perspective of environmental, individual and task requirements: A sports profile analysis.
Exploring the nuances of various sports is essential for talent programs seeking to identify, develop, and transfer athletes effectively. A recent study analyzed 1247 coaches across 34 sports, employing sophisticated techniques to distinguish unique characteristics per sport. Their findings not only uncovered sport-specific profiles but also provided practical insights crucial for talent programs, coaches, and athletes seeking optimal pathways in talent identification, development, and transfer.
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Pay attention! The influence of coach-, content-, and player-related factors on focus of attention statements during tennis training.
This study on youth tennis players delved into the pivotal role of coach communication in shaping the attentional focus of athletes during training sessions across diverse sports. A detailed analysis encompassing 10 coaches engaged with youth athletes was conducted to understand the prevalence and influencers of attentional focus induced by coach communication. While prior research advocates for an external focus (EF) in enhancing performance, this study aimed to explore how coach-, content-, and player-related factors influence the attentional focus induced during sports training sessions. The findings shed light on the prevalent induction of EF in coaching across various sports, emphasizing the need for adaptable communication strategies aligned with athletes’ skill levels for optimized training outcomes.
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The Fine-Tuning Approach for Training Monitoring
In the realm of sports training, effective monitoring plays a pivotal role in enhancing athlete performance. A recent article delves into the intricate world of exercise monitoring, emphasizing its indispensable role in fine-tuning training methodologies. Highlighting the fusion of external and internal load measurements, this piece navigates through the complexities of selecting, understanding, and applying various monitoring tools. By advocating for a balanced approach between simplicity and complexity, it illuminates the significance of data-informed decisions and the integration of subjective insights. Tailoring strategies to sport-specific nuances and embracing a comprehensive model that amalgamates varied metrics, the article presents practical takeaways for coaches and practitioners aiming to optimize athlete training and performance.
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Building Bridges Instead of Putting Up Walls: Connecting the “Teams” to Improve Soccer Players’ Support.
In today’s competitive sports landscape, the evolution of player support structures has become increasingly complex. A recent article highlights the shifting dynamics within elite sports, shedding light on the growing trend of athletes employing specialized personal staff. This practice reflects a desire for tailored support systems aimed at optimizing performance, health, and career longevity. The article delves into the motivations behind this shift, emphasizing the critical role of effective communication and collaboration between club-centered professionals and personal staff. Amidst these changes, practical takeaways emerge to navigate this evolving terrain, emphasizing the importance of unified approaches and informed decision-making for player well-being and peak performance.
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Effects of sociodemographic and player characteristics on baseline cognitive performance in 1000 rugby players: A retrospective 8-year follow-up study.
In a comprehensive study investigating cognitive performance in a substantial cohort of rugby players over eight years, several crucial findings emerged. This research delved into the intersection of sociodemographic factors, player characteristics, and cognitive scores, revealing practical insights crucial for player management. Among the key revelations were the impact of repeated assessments on cognitive scores, the influence of education levels and playing positions, and the prevalence of psychological symptoms. These findings offer actionable takeaways to refine assessment strategies, personalize evaluations, and prioritize holistic well-being in the realm of rugby and similar high-contact sports.
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Predictors and outcomes of sports coaches’ athlete-invested contingent self-worth
This study delves into the intricate relationship between coaches’ self-worth and their coaching styles, particularly concerning how some coaches attach their sense of worth to the successes or failures of their athletes. It explores the impact of this Athlete-Invested Contingent Self-Worth (AICS) on coaching approaches and athlete performance. Additionally, it sheds light on various predictors and outcomes of AICS, offering insights into how these factors influence coaches’ behaviors and the implications for interventions at both the coach and club levels.
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Understanding the Sociocognitive Determinants Underlying Intentions to Exercise for Postconcussion Symptom Relief: An Application of the Theory of Planned Behavior
This study delved into the psychological aspects influencing people’s willingness to engage in exercise as part of postconcussion recovery. It revealed that social expectations, particularly what individuals believe others expect of them, strongly influence participation intentions. Additionally, it highlighted the significance of personalized programs and supervised sessions. Integrating these findings, here are five key takeaways:
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Effectiveness of daily subjective wellness measurements via mobile applications in predicting perceived exertion and training load
This study delves into how pre-training wellness, measured via a mobile app, impacts the perceived exertion and overall training load in collegiate female soccer players across an entire competitive season. By analyzing the players’ self-reported wellness metrics and their exertion levels during sessions, the research highlights the crucial role of mood in predicting how hard players feel they’ve worked during training. This insight underscores the significance of tracking and managing athletes’ wellness to optimize their performance and maintain their well-being throughout the season.
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Long-Term Neurophysiological Adaptations to Strength Training: A Systematic Review With Cross-Sectional Studies
In a comprehensive review exploring neural adaptations to strength training, researchers analyzed 20 studies comparing trained and untrained individuals. This investigation delved into electromyography (EMG) signals during strength tasks, uncovering key insights into neuromuscular efficiency, rapid force production, EMG patterns, muscle coordination, and antagonist muscle activity. These findings offer practical guidance for optimizing training strategies and understanding the nuanced neurological responses that define strength gains
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Effects of out-of-school physical activity interventions based on self-determination theory in children and adolescents: A systematic review and meta-analysis
This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the impact of Self-Determination Theory (SDT) based interventions on children and adolescents’ physical activity levels and motivational processes, specifically when conducted outside the school environment. Analyzing nine identified studies, this research delved into the effectiveness of these out-of-school interventions, shedding light on their influence on factors like satisfaction of psychological needs, motivation toward physical activity, and actual levels of engagement.
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Supervision during resistance training positively influences muscular adaptations in resistance-trained individuals
This study delved into the impact of supervision during resistance training among young individuals already familiar with such workouts. Comparing supervised sessions against unsupervised ones over an 8-week period, the research aimed to uncover how guidance influences muscle development and strength gains. The findings shed light on the differences in muscle adaptations and strength improvements between supervised and unsupervised training, offering valuable insights into optimizing training approaches for better outcomes. Let’s explore the key takeaways from this study.
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What happens in the prefrontal cortex? Cognitive processing of novel and familiar stimuli in soccer: An exploratory fNIRS study
Exploring the brain’s response to cognitive tasks among semi-professional soccer players, this study dives into the differences in prefrontal cortex activity during general and sport-specific cognitive tests. By analyzing the cortical mechanisms underlying expertise in soccer, the research uncovers intriguing insights into how the brain processes familiar versus novel information in athletes. Understanding these cognitive nuances could significantly impact training approaches and shed light on the intricate relationship between brain function and sports expertise. Let’s explore the key takeaways from this illuminating study.
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Impact of a 6-Day Official Tournament on Physical Demands, Perceptual–Physiological Responses, Well-Being, and Game Performance of Under-18 Basketball Players
Examining the toll of a 6-day basketball tournament on under-18 elite players sheds light on the nuanced effects of consecutive games on athlete performance and well-being. This comprehensive study closely monitored physical demands, physiological responses, player well-being, and game statistics across the tournament’s duration. Understanding how the players’ bodies and well-being responded throughout this intense schedule provides valuable insights for coaches and trainers aiming to optimize player performance and health in high-stakes multi-day tournaments.
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Protein Requirements Are Increased in Endurance-Trained Athletes but Similar between Females and Males during Postexercise Recovery
Understanding the optimal protein intake for athletes, particularly endurance athletes, is crucial for maximizing recovery and performance. This recent study delved into this realm, exploring protein needs in both male and female endurance athletes in real-world settings. Their findings shed light on the ideal protein intake, irrespective of gender, offering insights that challenge conventional recommendations and emphasize a unified approach towards optimizing muscle recovery.
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Effects of Early Talent Promotion on Junior and Senior Performance: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
The focus of this meta-analysis was to investigate the impact of early involvement in talent promotion programs on both junior and senior athletic performance. While these programs aim to accelerate performance development by selecting talented youth at a young age, studies indicate a turnover rate of 25-55% within these programs due to factors like accelerated biological maturation and intensive childhood practice.
Some key findings to take away from this study are:
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Winning Matters, but Youth Coaches Shouldn’t Let It Consume Them. Here are Some Tips.
Mark Uyl has been watching, coaching or refereeing Michigan high school sports for three decades. The hundreds of games he has seen, especially when they are played indoors where the spectators are close and the sound is magnified, have revealed at least one “absolute truth,” he says.
“That coach who is ranting and raving up and down the sideline, gesturing and emotionally reacting to calls and non- calls,” Uyl, the executive director of the Michigan High School Athletic Association, tells USA TODAY Sports, “I can tell you 100 percent of the time, that tends to inflame that school’s fan base. “The way that coaches act,” he says, “has a direct correlation for how their spectators act.”
Uyl’s observation reflects two other truths as well:
One: We live in a sports world consumed with winning. It’s one in which college and professional teams feel the need to cheat to get an advantage and, even at kids games, parents are apt to rage over anything they feel could alter that outcome.
Two: Being a coach gives you more control of this world than you think.
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Addressing mental health needs of NCAA student-athletes of colour: foundational concepts from the NCAA Summit on Diverse Student-Athlete Mental Health and Well-Being
We sought to identify concepts that may facilitate National Collegiate Athletic Association efforts to assist member institutions in addressing the mental health needs of student-athletes of colour. A two-step process was followed to generate and refine concepts, guided by Delphi methodology. First, a scoping review was conducted, including original peer-reviewed research articles that quantified or […]
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Well-being and quality of life in people with disabilities practicing sports, athletes with disabilities, and para-athletes: Insights from a critical review of the literature
Global well-being (GWB) is a complex, multi-dimensional, and multi-faceted construct that can be explored from two different, but often overlapping, complementary perspectives: the subjective and the objective ones. The subjective perspective, in turn, is comprised of two dimensions: namely, the hedonic and the eudaimonic standpoints. Within the former dimension, researchers have developed the concept of […]
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Sources of Disordered Eating Patterns Between Ballet Dancers and Non-Dancers
The purposes of the present study were to compare selected psycho-behavioral characteristics between Australian adolescent-aged ballet dancers and non-dancers linked to disordered eating patterns, and to determine selected psychological characteristics that most likely predisposed ballet dancers at risk for developing these patterns. Three predisposing characteristics were identified, the type and frequency of weight control behaviors […]
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Systematic Review of the Health Benefits of Physical Activity and Fitness in School-Aged Children and Youth
Background: The purpose was to: 1) perform a systematic review of studies examining the relation between physical activity, fitness, and health in school-aged children and youth, and 2) make recommendations based on the findings.Methods: The systematic review was limited to 7 health indicators: high blood cholesterol, high blood pressure, the metabolic syndrome, obesity, low bone […]
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A Retrospective Analysis of Leadership Development Through Sport
The purpose of this study was to examine the development of six leader-athletes. In-depth qualitative interviews were used to explore the various activities that leader athletes engaged in from an early age as well as the roles and influences that peers, coaches, and parents played within these activities. Results indicated that leadership development in sport […]
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It’s Not How Much You Play, But How Much You Enjoy The Game: The Longitudinal Associations Between Adolescents’ Self-esteem and the Frequency Versus Enjoyment of Involvement in Sports
The frequency of involvement in sports often has been concurrently and longitudinally associated with higher self-esteem. The interpretation of this association consistently has been framed as involvement in sports leading to higher levels of self-esteem over time (i.e., socialization effect), although no studies have tested whether higher levels of self-esteem lead to increased involvement in […]
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Life Skills Development Through Sport: Current Status and Future Directions
This review is designed to summarize and critique current life skills through sport research. In particular, life skills are defined, the conditions needed to examine life skills development are explored, and the possible theoretical explanations of how, when, under what conditions and why life skills develop in sport participants are discussed. A heuristic model of […]
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Deconstructing Caring in the Coach Athlete Relationship: A Gentler Form of Domination
Sport coaching scholars extol the hope that relations of care will bring to sport. Yet, the insidious nature of relations of power and domination have been under-theorised with respect to care theory in sport coaching. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to problematize sport coaches’ perceptions of caring relations and to consider how caring […]
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Exploring the Impact of Coaches’ Emotional Abuse on Intercollegiate Student-Athletes’ Experiences
Despite widespread anecdotal accounts of coaches’ emotional abuse in intercollegiate sports, empirical literature is lacking. To address this gap, the present exploratory study was designed to explore how former intercollegiate student-athletes interpreted experiences of emotionally abusive coaching. Former female NCAA and NJCAA student-athletes (N = 14; Mage = 25.3 years) took part in semi-structured, in-depth […]
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The Role of Quality Relationships and Communication Strategies for the Fulfillment of Secure and Insecure Athletes’ Basic Psychological Needs
The correlates of coach-athlete relationship quality have been the focus of research for over a decade; however, little is known about the mediating and moderating mechanisms underlying these associations. The present study conducted a moderated mediation analysis to examine (a) the mediating role of communication strategies (via COMPASS) on the association between the quality of […]
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Beyond Solitary Play in Computer Games: The Social Practices of eSports
This article adopts the theory of social practices as a critical lens for understanding computer game consumption as multiple ‘nexuses of doings and sayings’, which represent the elements of and are situated within the broader context of consumer culture. Specifically, we explore an emerging phenomenon of an organised and competitive approach to computer gaming, referred […]
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Beyond the Black/White Binary: A Multi-Institutional Study of Campus Climate and the Academic Success of College Athletes of Different Racial Backgrounds
This work contributes to an understanding of college athletes’ experiences with campus climate and its relationship to perceptions of their academic success. This work extends race work to include Latina/o and Asian and Pacific Islander college athlete populations across multiple divisions and sports as the literature is scarce on college athletes of color beyond the […]
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Beyond the Playing Field: Experiences of Sport Social Capital and Integration Among Somalis in Australia
This paper explores the role of recreational sport as a means and marker of social integration by analysing the lived experiences of Somali people from refugee backgrounds with sport. Drawing on a three-year multi-sided ethnography, the paper examines the extent to and ways in which participation in sport contributes to Somali Australians’ bonding, bridging, and […]
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Beyond the Sporting Boundary: The Racial Significance of Sport Through Midnight Basketball
Sport is among the most potent institutions in the production, maintenance and contestation of race in the modern world. The last decade has witnessed a significant increase of sport-based research on the cutting edge of theorizing race and racism in the post-civil rights, post-colonial era. Nonetheless, the study of sport has yet to be seriously […]
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Bhora Mugedhi Versus Bhora Musango: The Interface Between Football Discourse and Zimbabwean Politics
Football is the most popular sport in Zimbabwe and across the globe. It has been asserted elsewhere that the game is not limited to scoring goals on the pitch but that this also occurs in politics and power struggles. This study explores the interface between football discourse and politics during elections in Zimbabwe in July […]
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Big Data, Sport, and the Digital Divide: Theorizing How Athletes Might Respond to Big Data Monitoring
This article considers the relationship between Big Data and the athlete. Where Beer and Hutchins have focused on Big Data and sport, this article concentrates on the athlete’s potential response to Big Data monitoring. Drawing on the work of Andrejevic, and Kennedy and Moss, the project speaks to the Big Data–athlete relation through the theoretical […]
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Big Football: Corporate Social Responsibility and the Culture and Color of Injury in America’s Most Popular Sport
Although much has been said about football concussions in the media, academic inquiry into the National Football League’s (NFL) strategies for containing critique and shaping public discourse remains limited. I investigate the league’s multi-sided “corporate social responsibility” (CSR) campaign, which involves harm reduction reforms (e.g., improved helmets, tackling techniques) as well as public relations and […]
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Beautiful Losers: The Symbolic Exhibition and Legitimization of Outsider Masculinity
In this paper we examine how practices and logics associated with the cultural ‘outsider’ underpin one particular fusion of contemporary art, alternative sports, and marketing interests which are endemic to post-Fordist economies. We describe a skateboarding-infused art exhibit, Beautiful Losers, to investigate how power dynamics operate relative to post-industrial creative classes. In particular, we illustrate […]
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Because Women Will Always Be Women and Men Are Just Getting Older: Intersecting Discourses of Ageing and Gender
The aim of this article is to examine a meeting between discourses of gender and age at the macro-level, applying an intersectional research approach. The discussion of intersecting discourses is based on empirical material from Poland. It refers to the condition of social policy towards age and gender, in Poland, as well as the media […]
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Becoming a Heavily Tattooed Young Body: From a Bodily Experience to a Body Project
Why some young people start to tattoo their bodies? And why some of them keep going on with this practice, until having all body tattooed? What doing so means to them? These are some of the questions that underlie a qualitative research project carried out in Portugal on heavily tattooed young people. In this article, […]
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Becoming a Man While Playing a Female Sport: The Construction of Masculine Identity in Boys Doing Rhythmic Gymnastics
The article shows how young men who take part in a ‘feminine’ sport — rhythmic gymnastics — construct their masculine identity. In order to be considered as men, boys performing rhythmic gymnastics have to work to construct their identity, a construction which depends both on their personal projects and on their relationships with family and […]
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Becoming Familiar with a World’: a Relational View of Socialization
Ethnographic data have frequently been used to examine socialization, but rarely to ground theories of socialization. This paper is an exception. Interest in indigenous representations emerging in situations involving socialization has led to the building of a relational model of socialization, which contrasts with mainstream developmental models of this phenomenon. Socialization is generally defined in […]
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Becoming Roller Derby Grrrls: Exploring the Gendered Play of Affect in Mediated Sport Cultures
This article explores how the global revival of roller derby as an alternative sport for women has been mobilised through online social networks, league promotion and fan sites that create imagined communities of ‘roller grrrls’. In the creation of sport culture we argue that the virtual performance of ‘derby’ identities is as significant as the […]
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Behind the Digital Curtain: Ethnography Football Fan Activism and Social Change
Football supporters worldwide organise protests, petitions, campaigns, workshops and congresses and are engaged in political lobbying. These expressions of supporters’ activism are nourished by both discontent with developments in football culture and an effort to change them. The aim of this methodologically driven article is to critically examine the role of digital ethnographies in exploring […]
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Behind the Scenes of Sport for Development: Perspectives of Executives of Multinational Sport Organizations
This article reports findings from a study designed to examine cricket’s role as an international development tool – with a particular focus on how decisions are made at the highest institutional levels to support cricket-related development initiatives. Data for the study are drawn from interviews with executives in the International Cricket Council and the Marylebone […]
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Being Different and Suffering the Consequences: The Influence of Head Coach–Player Racial Dissimilarity on Experienced Incivility
The purpose of the current study was to examine how head coach–player racial dissimilarity was associated with negative treatment from the head coach. Data were collected from 212 National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I women’s basketball players (124 Whites, 88 African Americans). Results indicate that racial dissimilarity was associated with greater incivility when the […]
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Being Well Enough in Old Age
This article offers a critique of the dominant ways in which well-being has been conceptualized and researched within social policy, focusing in particular on the significance of this for policy relating to older people. It conceptualizes well-being as relational and generative rather than an individual outcome. We critically explore normative notions of independence, autonomy and […]
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Being While Black: Resistance and the Management of the Self
‘Being while black’ is ultimately an ‘everyday revolution’, Despite the fact that people manage themselves by their own choosing, especially as their desires are being shaped (Foucault, 1977), their selves remains the basic revolutionary unit. Foucault’s oeuvre on power and concept of dressage is utilized to explain racial profiling of blacks of what I call […]
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Beliefs About the Causes of Success in Sports and Susceptibility for Doping Use in Adolescent Athletes
The present study set out to assess the impact of attributional beliefs about success on the susceptibility for doping use in adolescent athletes. The sample consisted of 309 adolescent athletes participating in both team and individual sports. Participants completed a battery of questionnaires including Beliefs about the Causes of Success in Sport Questionnaire (BACSSQ), current […]
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Bending, Flirting, Floating, Flying: A Critical Analysis of Female Figures in 1970s Gymnastics Photographs
During the 1970s, a new corporal and aesthetic standard emerged in women’s artistic gymnastics. No longer was grace and elegance the main feature, but acrobatic and somewhat robotic performances. These exercises were increasingly performed by highly trained and sexually immature girls. The Western audience was fascinated by the athletic and innocent-looking gymnasts. The emerging corporality […]
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Benefits and Barriers to Sports Participation for Athletes With Disabilities: The Case of Malaysia
The purpose of this paper was to explore the benefits and barriers influencing participation for athletes with disabilities from a developing country (Malaysia). Two independent studies were undertaken: Study 1 included a sample of 123 athletes (95 males, 28 females) who participated in the 2006 Far East and South Pacific Games for the Disabled (FESPIC […]
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Benefits and Challenges Associated With Sport Participation by Children and Parents From Low-Income Families
The first purpose of this study was to examine low-income parents’ and their children’s perceptions of the benefits associated with participation in youth sport. The second purpose was to examine parents’ perceptions of the challenges associated with providing their children sporting opportunities. Interpretive Description qualitative approach ( Thorne, 2008). Thirty-five individual interviews were conducted with […]
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Between Adoption and Resistance: Globalization and Glocalization in the Development of Israeli Basketball
Sports provide one of the most prominent fields in which one can study the interaction between globalization and glocalization processes. Drawing on recent theoretical developments in globalization theory and on both primary and secondary data, the present article examines the case of Israeli basketball. This case demonstrates the tension between global and glocal processes, also […]
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Between Two Volunteer Cultures: Social Composition and Motivation Among Volunteers at the 2010 Test Event for the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships
This paper argues that a reflexive, late modern volunteer culture coexists with a collectivist, traditional one at major sporting events. Those who regularly volunteer at such events and are affiliated with organized sport tend to be older and male, and have higher incomes. Those who are volunteering for the first time and are unaffiliated with […]
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