The current study examined how two high-level coaches in fencing and football perceived the challenges that emerged during a three-month coach education programme aimed at them delivering psychological skills training to athletes. We used action research as the study design and collected data using observations, six semi-structured interviews, and one focus group. We analysed the data using a thematic

Coach education has been positioned as an important catalyst in enabling coaches to maximise the positive influence of high school sport on student-athlete development. The purpose of the study was to conduct a subsequent season follow-up evaluation, examining longer-term changes in coach-athlete relationship, coach interpersonal behaviours, and life skills teaching in coaches who completed the Coaching

Golf putting requires accuracy and precision. However, environmental factors can influence the accuracy and stability of the putt. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the adjustment and stabilization strategies of elite college golfers putting under different wind conditions. A 3 D motion analysis system and two force plates were used to record the kinematic and ground reaction

Sport participation is an important means for adolescents to achieve moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), yet most high school students including athletes do not achieve the 60-minute daily MVPA guideline. As psychosocial factors influence athlete engagement and physical activity during sport, the perceived environment created by coaches could play a role in this influence. Guided by self-determination

The aim of this study was to evaluate New Zealand high school rugby union players’ and community coaches’ concussion knowledge (CK), concussion attitude (CA) and concussion reporting intentions (CRI) and to explore the impact gender, age, ethnicity, socio-economic status, experience, and concussion history had on these outcome measures. This cross-sectional study utilised the Rosenbaum Concussion Knowledge

The purpose of this research was to determine the on-field playing positions of a group of football players based on their technical-tactical behaviour using machine learning algorithms. Each player was characterized according to a set of 52 non-spatiotemporal descriptors including offensive, defensive and build-up variables that were computed from OPTA’s on-ball event records of the matches for 18

Grounded in self-determination theory and the motivational model of the coach-athlete relationship, the purpose of this study was to explore the antecedents of youth sport coaches’ autonomy-supportive and controlling behaviours using a multimethod approach. Recreational level youth swimming and football coaches (N = 12) participated in semi-structured interviews and were observed leading a coaching

Talent selection in rowing is often solely based on anthropometric and performance variables, even though psychological characteristics are considered to be important contributors to successful talent development. Because multidimensional talent models and holistic theories represent the state-of-the-art in talent research, we aimed to find patterns connecting psychological and performance variables

Transition moments play a major role in match outcome and constitute an important part of the soccer coaching process. Nevertheless, the body of literature on match analysis reveals a lack of knowledge regarding transition moments, particularly the defensive ones. This study aimed to analyse how several situational and performance variables were associated with different defensive transition outcomes

Drawing on social cognitive theory, we examined a cross-level interaction between coach transformational leadership and the within-individual change in evaluations of perceived coaching competency over a season. We applied linear growth modeling to analyze 246 collegiate competitive basketball players (147 males and 99 females from 24 teams). Our results revealed that coaches with high transformational

The aims of this research were to (a) demonstrate how a principled approach using anthropometric measures of the hand can be used to identify the most appropriate basketball size for junior basketball players and (b) examine participants’ preferences in relation to the use of different sized basketballs after gameplay. The hand spans and hand lengths of junior and senior male basketball players were

Rhythmic movement, also referred to as “dance”, involves the execution of different motor skills as well as the integration and sequencing of actions between limbs, timing and spatial precision. The aim of this study was therefore to investigate and compare the effect of a 16-week rhythmic movement intervention on flexibility, dynamic balance, agility, power and local muscular endurance of academy

In contrast to the many studies in the business setting, few sport scientists have studied the predictors of athletes’ perception of justice. The present research aimed to determine the role of the interpersonal style of coaches (autonomy support) in enhancing perceived justice and its impact on satisfaction and performance. More precisely, two independent studies examined whether perceived justice

This study compared the in-water bilateral leg kick speed difference between a Paralympic and an Olympic athlete. The Paralympic (former S10) was not eligible after his reclassification in 2019, whereas the Olympic was a semi-finalist in 50 m freestyle in Rio 2016. Kick performance was assessed by a speedometer in one push-off ∼15 m maximal kick sprint. Ten complete cycles were analyzed, and the average

The vertical drop jump (VDJ) test evaluates frontal-plane knee control in a controlled environment. Age- and sex-related changes in landing and bouncing mechanisms in youth soccer players are still under investigated. This study characterizes knee biomechanics in a large cohort of élite academy players, stratified by sex and age group. A sample of 189 young soccer players (132 male U10-U12 and U14-U17

The aim of the present study was to firstly, quantify the external training load (TL) of semi-professional soccer players during an annual season and secondly, to examine the influence of one (1MW) and two (2MW) match weekly microcycles. Data were collected from 24 semi-professional outfield soccer players during the 2018-2019 annual season using micro-electromechanical system (MEMS) devices for the

Limited evidence exists demonstrating reliability of using direct measures to quantify punching velocity. The aim of this study was to establish the intra- and inter-day reliability of a linear positional transducer (GymAware) and accelerometer (PUSH Band 2.0) for the quantification of peak punching velocity in trained junior boxing athletes. Eighteen males aged 16.7 years (±1.2) with at least two

Objectives The purpose of the study was to assess the effect of a coaching intervention on soccer athletes’ perceptions of the coaches’ competencies, enjoyment, satisfaction, and intention to persist in the sport. Equipment and methods: The sample consisted of 117 young male soccer players and eight of their coaches who were divided into two groups: group receiving the coaching effectiveness intervention

Injury prevention (IP) programs can reduce injury in youth, however, little is known about their impact on athletic performance, especially in females. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of a school curriculum IP program on movement skill and athletic performance in youth females. Ninety-two female students (age 14.0 ± 0.6 y, height 162.5 ± 5.8 cm, mass 57.1 ± 9.3 kg, intervention

The world of competitive sport can present a challenging environment for Christian athletes and coaches. The culture of competitive sport, and particularly the attitude to winning, can cause athletes and coaches to question how their Christian faith should shape participation and/or whether they should participate at all. Few empirical studies have explored how Christian coaches frame their practice

The purpose of this study was to investigate the hypothesized link between athletes’ perception of coach behavior and their self-regulation of sport learning. Self-report questionnaires were administered to 140 Division-I National Collegiate Athletic Association athletes to assess aspects of coach control, autonomy support, and athlete self-regulated learning. From a person-centered approach, a cluster

Coach observation studies commonly examine training and competition environments, with little attention paid to the ways in which coaches provide video feedback in a performance analysis setting. In addition, few studies have considered the reception of feedback by an athlete, or the characteristics of the athlete that may support or hinder feedback reception. The purposes of this study were threefold

The aim of this study was to document the athletic profiles of adolescent and young adult high performance cycling athletes and to investigate to what extent different cycling disciplines can be discriminated from each other based on a generic test battery. A total of 243 adolescent (12.0- 15.99 y) and 63 young adult (>=16 y) male cyclists from road cycling, track cycling, cyclo-cross, and mountain

Professionals involved in training programs for judokas should have access to evidence-based data on various characteristics of these athletes. In the current study, anthropometric (e.g., body height, body mass), physiological (e.g., power based on vertical jump height, maximal handgrip strength), and psychological (e.g., athletic coping skills) characteristics of judokas were examined. The judokas

Visual gaze behaviour, and in particular Quiet Eye (QE), have been found to be important in aiming tasks in multiple sports. The aim of this study is to provide insight into the characteristics of gaze behaviour in a moving condition, that is of football players during the run-up and kick of free kicks. Fourteen skilled youth players performed a set of free-kick trials while their eyes were being tracked

The current study aims to investigate the acute effects of light aerobic activity, static stretching (SS), strengthening and explosive exercises on lower-body muscular performance and range of motion (ROM). Dose-response effect of SS on performance and ROM was also studied. Nineteen young male soccer players (age: 13.9 ± 0.46 years) participated in a cross-over randomized trial. Participants performed

Place kicks present valuable opportunities to score points in Rugby Union, which are typically performed under varying constraints in competitive performance environments. Previous quantitative studies suggest these interacting constraints can influence fluctuations in place kick success. To further the understanding of how fluctuations in place kicking success emerge, our aim was twofold: i) to explore

Background The current approaches used to develop coaches within many sport organisations extend beyond merely the professional knowledge related to sport-specific aspects. Effective coaching notably entails intrapersonal skills related to learning through experience and developing one’s own approach, and these skills are often targeted in coach development. Recognising that researchers have delivered

Sprinting and speed is a fundamental skill and physical attribute crucial in seam bowlers and batters within cricket. The aim of this study was to assess differences in mechanical properties during sprinting between youth and senior international cricketers and between seam bowlers and batters. Retrospective 40 m sprint times and anthropometric measures of 56 international cricketers (19 senior seam

Women’s international football is growing in terms of popularity, but to date there is limited published research in women’s football and even less that describes effective attacking strategies and the creation of goal scoring opportunities (GSO). The purpose of this research was to investigate and assess the factors related to the creation of GSO that led to a Top 4 position Canada Women’s World Cup

China’s artistic gymnastics team had its worst showing at Rio since returning to the Games in 1984. This article explains the reasons for China’s underperformance at Rio by drawing on multiple sources of data. We analyze the scores that international gymnasts received at the World Championships and the Olympics. We also draw on interview data of Chinese gymnasts, coaches, and officials. Our study shows

Purpose The interaction between external training load (ETL) and players internal response in beach volleyball is currently poor investigated. Using single parameters (e.g. jump volume) described in indoor settings is questionable due to specific load characteristics like sandy ground and reduced number of players. The aim of this work is to analyze ETL and the effects on training response in different

The forces on the human body associated with motorcycle racing are currently unpublished, and this study aimed at quantifying the negative and positive accelerations that circuit racers experience during real competitions via direct measurements in different classes of racing. Kinematical measurements of braking actions and corner exits during competitive laps were identified via GPS signal in 23 riders

The purpose of this study was to examine if a positive youth development (PYD) coach education course would (i) result in more positive developmental experiences perceived by athletes of participant coaches and (ii) increase the frequency of PYD-oriented behaviors exhibited by participant coaches. A total of 14 coaches and 270 athletes participated in the study. Eight coaches (Mage = 38.0 years) overseeing

A coach has a great influence on athletes’ performance and development. Communication and coaching styles that work with male athletes may not be effective in female athletes. The alignment of coaching to the preferences of female athletes is important for effective coaching and their holistic development. Therefore, it is essential to understand how female athletes perceive an ideal coach. The purpose

Highlight videos accompanied by inspiring music can help in enhancing an athlete’s motivational state and self-efficacy (SE). The addition of verbal priming techniques could provide a further boost, but this combination of audiovisual stimuli has yet to be examined in a sport context. A repeated-measures, crossover design was used. The study entailed a pretraining intervention administered to American

With the development and advancement of technology, various types of high-tech auxiliary equipment have been gradually introduced into football matches to assist referees to officiate the game. The Chinese football Super League (CSL) introduced the video assistant referee (VAR) in the 2018 season. The purpose of this study is to explore the impact of the introduction of VAR on football matches and

This study aimed to examine whether sprinting performance would be associated with knee flexion strength-power capabilities measured using a recently developed inertial measurement unit (IMU) based system. Sixteen male sprinters performed 60-m sprints and the IMU based knee flexion strength-power test which consisted of five serial knee flexion-extension motions in three conditions (unweighted, 0.75

The purpose of this study was to investigate a baseball catcher’s throwing time to second base using three throwing motion types. The subjects were professional (n = 4) and college (n = 12) baseball catchers. Two high-speed cameras were set to capture the throwing motion, while one was set to capture the net on second base. The throwing time of quick throw (throwing motion to release the ball immediately

Performance analysis is a well-established discipline in sports science, supported by decades of research. Comparatively, performance analysis in electronic sports (esports) is limited. Therefore, there is an opportunity to accelerate performance outcomes in esports by applying methods grounded in sports science. This study adopted a coach-centred approach to model performance at the 2018 League of

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of humanistic coach training on athletes’ developmental outcomes. A sample of 148 high school student-athletes between 12 and 17 years old from low socio-economic communities completed questionnaires during their season. The student-athletes were divided into an experimental group composed of student-athletes of 11 head coaches who participated in

Nonverbal movement behavior and emotions are closely linked processes; however, it exists insufficient information about the spontaneous nonverbal expressions in response to experiencing positive and negative emotion, i.e., when winning or losing during sport competitions. Previous research showed that experienced tennis athletes detected losing behavior in athletes more accurately than winning behavior

This is the first study to document the training and tapering practices of elite CrossFit athletes. Seventy-two CrossFit athletes (39 females, 33 males) (mean ±SD; 26.5 ± 3.6 y, 167.1 ± 9.5 cm, 74.5 ± 12.7 kg, 12.8 ± 6.5 y general training, 5.4 ± 1.7 y CrossFit training) who competed at the “Regionals” level or higher in the 2018 CrossFit Games season completed a self-reported 5-page online survey

The aim of this research was to explore at what age professional tennis players at different ranking levels (top 10, 11-20, 21–50, 51–100, 101–200, 201–300) started playing tennis and had achieved their career ranking milestones, and to explore the viability of using age and ranking to predict a player’s future success. 373 top 300 ranked professional tennis players from 2010 to 2018, including 193

The objective of this study was to examine the direct and indirect relationships between abusive coaching behaviors and athletes’ satisfaction and affective organizational commitment through interactional justice and to explore the differences in the relationships between Hong Kong and Korea. A total of 521 student-athletes (Hong Kong: 232; Korea: 289) in intercollegiate athletics participated in the

The aim of this study was to investigate the perceptual, heart rate and technical-tactical characteristics of elite male and female 3 × 3 basketball games. Eleven male and twenty-two female elite basketball players were monitored using heart rate telemetry, Ratings of Perceived Exertion (RPE) and video analysis across three 3 × 3 basketball tournaments. Linear mixed models were performed to determine

This study aimed to assess the effects of jump training on the jumping performance of handball players compared with a control condition. The data sources utilised were PubMed, MEDLINE, Web of Science Core Collection and SCOPUS. Only peer-review randomised controlled trials were included. The inclusion criteria comprised: a jump training programme of at least 2 weeks; a control group; the assessment

The aim of the present study was to identify volleyball skills that best discriminate between winning and losing in a set with the minimum score difference of men’s and women’s volleyball. The data have been collected for men from 140 and for women from 98 teams’ performances in all sets finished with 2 points difference between the top four teams in the final ranking during the men’s and women’s Greek

The study’s objective was to map ethical positions with regard to the way in which 219 participants (45 non-athletes, 91 amateur athletes, 28 professional athletes, 17 amateur coaches, 8 professional coaches, and 30 physiotherapists) used various informational cues (an athlete’s indispensability for the team, the importance of the competition, the opinion given by sports medicine professionals, and

Pacing is arguably more crucial for optimal performance in swimming than in land-based sports, however little is known about the process of developing pacing skills in swimmers. The aim of this study was to examine the current practices of high-performance swimming coaches in relation to pacing entrainment and competition preparation. Twenty-one swimming coaches who were currently coaching or had coached

This study sought to longitudinally and retrospectively determine the relationship between professional career attainment and the development of anthropometric and physical qualities in junior Australian footballers. Eighty adolescent male Australian footballers from a single state academy previously selected onto an under 16 s talent development squad were classified by career attainment (professional

The construct of care within the coach–athlete relationship has only recently been examined. However, this research has yet to include athletes’ perceptions of caring coaching practice. Thus, the primary purpose of the current study was to examine self-described Christian student-athletes’ perceptions of coach caring practices. Therefore, the guiding research questions were: (a) in what ways do student-athletes

This study aimed to investigate rugby league coaches’ perceptions of physical qualities for current and future performance, while also establishing the training practices of under-16 and under-19 players. Twenty-four practitioners (rugby coach, strength and conditioning coach) working within nine Super League clubs completed a questionnaire. The questionnaire required practitioners to rank eleven physical

This study aimed to determine whether players selected for the under 11 team of a professional youth football academy outperform their deselected peers in physical, technical and gross motor coordination skills, or in psycho-social capacities. Of the young players active at different amateur clubs yearly 2% were scouted to participate at trainings and matches from an academy before the first objective

The present study examined the roles of coaching experience and coach training on coaches’ perceived life skills teaching. Canadian high school sport coaches (N = 1356) completed a demographic questionnaire and the Coaching life skills in sport questionnaire. Results suggested that coaches with more experience perceived themselves to discuss and practice life skills and transfer to a greater extent

The agile footwork is a basic but important skill, how to efficiently grasp and improve its performance has always interested coaches and athletes, beginners particularly. The purpose of this study was to investigate the differences in kinetics and kinematics of the cross step between professional athletes and novice athletes using the Oxford foot model. Twenty-two male participants (professional athletes

The aim of this study was to describe and identify the weight of some key career indicators (KCI) on the competitive level of retirement (professional vs. non-professional) of Portuguese football players. Three thousand five hundred retired Portuguese football players born between 1950 and 1989, and registered on Portuguese Football Federation were considered in this study. Descriptive analysis and

In sports like association football, professional teams are increasingly devoting resources to the role-based development of individual athletes and sub-groups. By employing ‘specialist coaches’ into athlete-support structures, clubs aim to facilitate individualised athlete training programs to enhance performance preparation as well as skill learning and talent development. Here, we discuss how contemporary

According to the constraint-led approach,1–3 motor skill learning can be conceptualized as emerging from a change in the interaction of performer, task and environmental constraints. Consequently, skill learning is not uniquely determined by changes within the performer, but encompasses an improvement in the relationship between performer and environment.1,4 Hence, interventions to promote learning

To determine if training age – rugby league training age, resistance training age and cardiovascular training age – was predictive of changes in physiological performance in developmental rugby league players. Developmental rugby league players from one elite club (n = 147, mean age = 15.8 ± 1.1 years) playing at Under 16 and Under 18 representative levels were tracked longitudinally over two consecutive