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1

Golf Putting: Equivalent Performance with Ball Focused and Target Focused Aiming

100%

Moffat D., Carson H. J., Collins D.

Central European Journal of Sport Sciences and Medicine

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2018

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vol. 23

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issue 3

5-16

EN

This study addressed several inconsistencies and omissions in golf putting research by testing the performance impact of target focused aiming. Participants were 22 high-level and experienced golfers, currently using ball focused aiming. Participants were allocated in a quasi-random fashion to ball or target focused aiming conditions and each performed 32 putts under competitive conditions on a natural putting green from a distance of 8 ft. Data were recorded as putts holed or missed and further categorised into putts missed long, short, left, right, short left, short right, long left and long right. There was no significant difference between conditions (p > 0.05) for any of the categories tested, despite participants’ prior extreme familiarity and expressed preference for the ball focused technique. These results notwithstanding, we discuss possible explanations for target focused benefits, including the role of vision during putting, the impact of intention during execution and possible expectancy effects. While these findings hold potential implications for golf coaching, more research is clearly required to further understand causative mechanisms and to clarify the existence and nature of advantage for one technique over the other. Based on this study, we recommend that high-level and experienced golfers might try target focused aiming as a ‘cost-free’ experiment.

2

Assessing the Importance Given by Basketball Coaches to Training Contents

100%

Leite N., Coelho E., Sampaio J.

Journal of Human Kinetics

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2011

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vol. 30

123-133

EN

The purpose of this study was to compare the importance given by novice, intermediate and experienced basketball coaches to training contents. To achieve this purpose, a sample composed of Portuguese basketball coaches (n = 212) described how they rate the importance of technical, tactical, physical and drill contents. According to the results, there is a wide-ranging differential from novice to experienced coaches. First, while experienced coaches tend to focus on tactical development, novice and intermediate coaches seem to privilege the improvement of technical skills. Second, whereas significant differences between novice and intermediate coaches were found, evidence confirmed that they were higher (both in number and weight) when comparing experienced coaches against novice and intermediate. The study provided strong support to justify the necessity to adjust coaches' knowledge to players' biological developmental, and could form the basis of focused interventions in coaching development.

3

The Use of Thermal Imaging in the Evaluation of the Symmetry of Muscle Activity in Various Types of Exercises (Symmetrical and Asymmetrical)

100%

Chudecka M., Lubkowska A., Leźnicka K., Krupecki K.

Journal of Human Kinetics

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2015

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vol. 49

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issue 1

141-147

EN

In order to achieve higher efficiency of training and thus better athletic performance, new research and diagnostic methods are constantly being developed, particularly those that are non-invasive. One such a method is thermography, suitable for quantitative and therefore objective evaluation of variables, such as changes in the temperature of the skin covering working muscles. The aim of this study was to use a thermal imaging infrared camera to evaluate temperature changes of symmetric body surfaces over symmetrically working muscles of male scullers after exercising on a two-oared rowing ergometer and compare these to asymmetrically working muscles of handball players after an endurance training session containing elements of an actual game. In the scullers, the mean temperature of body surfaces was always lower post than pre exercise, with no significant differences in an average temperature drop between the opposite sides, indicating that the work of the muscles involved in the physical exertion on the rowing ergometer was symmetrical. In contrast, in the handball players, skin temperatures in symmetric areas over the asymmetrically working muscles showed statistically significant differences between sides, which was associated with the functional asymmetry of training. This study indicates that thermal imaging may be useful for coaches in the evaluation of technical preparations in sports in which equal involvement of symmetric muscles is a condition of success, e.g. in scullers.

4

Key Kinematic Components for Optimal Basketball Free Throw Shooting Performance

100%

Cabarkapa D., Fry A. C., Carlson K. M., Poggio J. P., Deane M. A.

Central European Journal of Sport Sciences and Medicine

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2021

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vol. 36

5-15

EN

The purpose of this study was to determine the difference in five kinematic variables (internal knee and elbow angles, elbow height, forearm angle from vertical, and shoulder flexion angle at ball release) between proficient and non-proficient free throw shooters and which variables had the greatest contributions to a successful free throw shooting outcome. Seventeen male basketball players shoot three sets of 10 free throws with a two-minute break between each set. A three-dimensional motion tracking system composed of 17 sensors sampling at 60 Hz was used for data collection. Proficient free throw shooters had greater knee and elbow flexion, lower elbow height, and a smaller forearm angle compared to non-proficient shooters. These results explained 89.5% of the total variance. While maintaining the optimal range of these kinematic variables allows each subject to reach an appropriate level of free throw shooting performance, the key variable capable of distinguishing between made and missed shots within the proficient group of shooters was the forearm angle. Positioning the forearm parallel, or close to parallel, with an imaginary vertical line during the preparatory phase of the shooting motion accounted for 23.9% of the total variance and was associated with a greater number of made shots.

5

Defence Efficacy in Practice and Competition. A Case Study in Women’s Volleyball

88%

Palao J. M., Giménez-Ibarra M. I.

Central European Journal of Sport Sciences and Medicine

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2015

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vol. 12

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issue 4

25-34

EN

The aim of this study was to compare the player positions, situations, techniques, and efficacy in defence between practice and competition for a women’s professional volleyball team. The sample was a Spanish professional women’s volleyball team. The defence actions carried out in three sessions of the competitive season and two in-season matches were studied (794 rallies in practice and 166 rallies in competition). The variables studied were: actions done, defence zone, player role, type of attack, court defence technique, game phase, situations, level of execution of the defence team system, block efficacy, defence efficacy, and result of the rally for the analysed team. Descriptive and inferential analyses of the data were done (Mann-Whitney U, and Chi-Square Test and likelihood ratio). Differences in defence systems and efficacies were found between practice and competition. A higher collective efficacy was found in competition, and higher levels of individual block and defence efficacies were found in practice. The results show the need to reconsider the way match analysis is done. Consideration should not only be given to the actions done with the ball when analysing players’ performance.

6

EFFECT OF AN EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM ABOUT GAME STATISTICS AND A GOAL-SETTING INTERVENTION IN A COMMUNITY COLLEGE WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL TEAM

88%

Palao J. M.

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2016

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vol. 14

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issue 2

27-35

EN

The aim was to assess an educational program about game statistics and a goal setting intervention in a community college women’s volleyball team. The sample consisted of 12 players from a Midwestern community college women’s volleyball team. A quasiexperimental design with a pre-test, post-test, and re-test was done. The dependent variable was the players’ perception and use of the game statistics. The independent variable was the educational program about game statistics and goal setting. The coaches’ and players’ perception, level of satisfaction, and completion of the task during the sessions were recorded. Data were collected through questionnaires and interviews. A descriptive and inferential analysis of the results (t-test for evidence of relationship) was done. After the educational training, the players’ perceptions of their ability to understand, analyse, and use information about game statistics and do goal setting in practice and in competition increased significantly. The players used the information significantly more in their practice for all the game actions. Players believed that the abilities they learned helped to improve their performance and the way they practiced. The players believed that the intervention was useful, that it helped them to focus in practice, and that it helped them to focus on technique and the quality of the actions, as well as to better monitor their progress. The educational program was effective with regard to increasing players’ perception and understanding about statistics and in the use of statistics and goal setting in practice for monitoring the quality of their actions and their progress.

7

A Polish Adaptation of Leadership Scale for Sports – A Questionnaire Examining Coaching Behavior

88%

Wałach-Biśta Z.

Human Movement

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2013

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vol. 14

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issue 3

265-274

EN

Purpose. The main purpose of this study was the development of a Polish version of the scale developed by P. Chelladurai and S. Saleh for examining coaching behavior (the Leadership Scale for Sports; LSS). Methods. The Polish version was constructed in two stages. In the first stage, the psychometric equivalence of the Polish translation was estimated by providing a Polish/English version of the questionnaire to a bilingual sample. Following verification of the psychometric properties of the experimental version and the adding of additional items to the scale, a second stage of analysis was performed using additional samples to assess the reliability and validity of the new scale. In total, 560 university physical education students, 180 athletes, and 75 coaches were recruited to participate in the study. The final version was deemed a reliable and valid reproduction of the LSS, consisting of 40 items representing five dimensions measuring coaching behavior. Results. Measures of reliability (internal consistency using Cronbach’s alpha and test-retest reliability) as well as validity (exploratory factory analysis with principal component analysis) of the final version of the Polish adaptation of the Leadership Scale for Sports were found to be satisfactory. It was determined that the Polish adaptation of the LSS is characterized by good psychometric properties and can be widely used in the sports environment. Conclusions. The Polish adaptation of the LSS reflects the five-factor structure of the original scale, closely reproducing the dimensions of training and instruction, democratic behavior, autocratic behavior, social support, and positive feedback. It can be used both for the measurement athletes’ preferences for coaching behavior and for assessing coaching behavior as observed by athletes.

8

“More Practice-based Courses and Not Just a Load of Papers to Read”: Youth Soccer Coaches Reflections on Coach Education Programs in Sweden

88%

Hertting K.

Physical Culture and Sport. Studies and Research

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2019

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vol. 83

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issue 1

39-49

9

The Importance of Sports Performance Factors and Training Contents From the Perspective of Futsal Coaches

88%

Serrano J., Shahidian S., Sampaio J., Leite N.

Journal of Human Kinetics

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2013

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vol. 38

151-160

EN

The aim of this study was to identify the importance assigned by futsal coaches with different education levels to the sports performance factors (technical, tactical, physical and psychological) and to the training contents. The sample was divided into three groups (novice: n=35, intermediate: n=42; and elite coaches: n=15) depending on the degree of specific education, coaching experience and the level of the teams trained. To achieve this goal, the coaches answered a questionnaire previously validated by specialists in sport sciences. The results showed significant differences between the novice and elite group in small-sided games, inferiority games, opposition and execution timing of the training and drill items. The analyses also showed significant differences between the novice and intermediate group in inferiority games and opposition of the training and drill items. Although, no differences were identified between groups for the remaining performance factors and training and drill items considered, the identified trends provide a baseline related to the knowledge that contributes to the development of expertise of futsal coaches.

10

Analysis of Experts’ Quantitative Assessment of Adolescent Basketball Players and the Role of Anthropometric and Physiological Attributes

75%

Štrumbelj E., Erčulj F.

Journal of Human Kinetics

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2014

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vol. 42

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issue 1

267-276

EN

In this paper, we investigated two questions: (1) can measurements of anthropometric and physiological attributes substitute for expert assessment of adolescent basketball players, and (2) how much does the quantitative assessment of a player vary among experts? The first question is relevant to the potential simplification of the player selection process. The second question pertains directly to the validity of expert quantitative assessment. Our research was based on data from 148 U14 female and male basketball players. For each player, an array of anthropometric and physiological attributes was recorded, including body height, body mass, BMI, and several motor skill tests. Furthermore, each player's current ability and potential ability were quantitatively evaluated by two different experts from a group of seven experts. Analysis of the recorded data showed that the anthropometric and physiological attributes explained between 15% and 40% of the variance in experts’ scores. The primary predictive attributes were speed and agility (for predicting current ability) and body height and growth potential (for predicting potential ability). We concluded that these attributes were not sufficiently informative to act as a substitute for expert assessment of the players’ current or potential ability. There is substantial variability in different experts' scores of the same player’s ability. However, the differences between experts are mostly in scale, and the relationships between experts’ scores are monotonic. That is, different experts rank players on ability very similarly, but their scores are not well calibrated.

Refine search results

Golf Putting: Equivalent Performance with Ball Focused and Target Focused Aiming

Assessing the Importance Given by Basketball Coaches to Training Contents

The Use of Thermal Imaging in the Evaluation of the Symmetry of Muscle Activity in Various Types of Exercises (Symmetrical and Asymmetrical)

Key Kinematic Components for Optimal Basketball Free Throw Shooting Performance

Defence Efficacy in Practice and Competition. A Case Study in Women’s Volleyball

EFFECT OF AN EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM ABOUT GAME STATISTICS AND A GOAL-SETTING INTERVENTION IN A COMMUNITY COLLEGE WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL TEAM

A Polish Adaptation of Leadership Scale for Sports – A Questionnaire Examining Coaching Behavior

“More Practice-based Courses and Not Just a Load of Papers to Read”: Youth Soccer Coaches Reflections on Coach Education Programs in Sweden

The Importance of Sports Performance Factors and Training Contents From the Perspective of Futsal Coaches

Analysis of Experts’ Quantitative Assessment of Adolescent Basketball Players and the Role of Anthropometric and Physiological Attributes