Plyometrics is primarily used by coaches and sport scientists to improve explosive power among athletes who participate in dynamic, high intensity type of sports. One of the plyometric-related training methods that has received attention in recent years, is loaded or resistance (resistive) jump training. Limited research does, however, exist with regard to the benefits and use of this training method as well as in conjunction with other training methods, especially among team sport participants. It is against this background that the research objectives of this study were firstly, to examine the effects of a 4-week combined rugby-conditioning and resisted jump training program compared to a combined rugby-conditioning and normal jump training program, on selected physical, motor ability and anthropometric components of university-level rugby players. The second objective was to examine the acute effects of a resisted compared to a normal jump training session on selected physical and motor ability components of university-level rugby players. Thirty rugby players (age: 19.60 ± 0.79 years) from the first and second u/19 and u/21 rugby teams of a university in South Africa were randomly selected to participate in the first part of study. For the second part of the study thirty senior rugby players (1st and 2nd senior teams) (age: 21.78 ± 1.86 years) of the Rugby Institute at a university in South Africa were randomly selected to participate in the study. For both studies the thirty players were in turn randomly divided into two groups of fifteen players each. One group formed the experimental and the other group the control group. The first objective was tested by subjecting the players to a 4-week combined sport-specific and resisted plyometric training program (experimental group) or a combined sport-specific and normal plyometric training program to investigate the adaptations of body composition, lower body flexibility, explosive leg power, speed, agility and leg strength. After a 10-week period (“wash-out period”) during which subjects continued with their normal rugby-conditioning program, the same testing procedures as before, were executed by following a crossover design. In order to test the second objective of the study players’ body weight and height were firstly measured after which they were subjected to a thorough warm-up, followed by the execution of the flexibility;Vertical Jump Test (VJT); 5-, 10- and 20 m speed tests; the Illinois Agility Run Test (IART) and the 6RM (repetition maximum) Smith Machine Squat Test (6RM-SMST). The experimental group was subject to the resisted jump training session on the Vertimax whereas the control group executed the same exercises on the floor. Directly after the training session each of the players again completed the test battery. After the first week, a crossover design was implemented. Although the overall study (independent t-test and main effect ANOVA) results of the first study suggested that the experimental group experienced more positive changes, especially with regard to the body fat, skeletal mass and somatotype-related anthropometric and flexibility-related measurements, only relaxed upper-arm girth, ectomorphy, left Active-straight-leg-raise-test and the left Modified Thomas Quadriceps Test values showed significant differences (p < 0.05) when the two groups of players were compared. Although the experimental group demonstrated significantly better average scores in the majority of the last-mentioned components, this group experienced a significantly higher reduction in relaxed upper-arm girth due to the conditioning program than the control group. The main effect ANOVA results of the acute study showed that no significant differences were obtained for any of the measured components between an acute resisted and normal jump training session. To conclude, the study revealed that a 4-week combined rugby-conditioning and resisted jump training program (experimental group) did not benefit university-level rugby players significantly more with regard to selected physical, motor ability and anthropometric components than a combined rugby-conditioning and normal jump training program (control group). Furthermore, despite the fact that the acute resisted and normal jump training exercises met all the requirements to produce post-activation potentiation, the study results showed that these exercise sessions did not lead to any significant acute changes in the physical and motor ability components of university-level rugby players. / MA (Sport Science), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014

As early as 1994, and with transformation in mind, the African National Congress (ANC) identified the development of the previously disadvantaged communities in South Africa as a national priority. In so doing, sport, among others, was used in this strategy as a medium to improve and change the circumstances of people in disadvantaged communities. Sports development in disadvantaged communities is essential, if taken into consideration that without such further support of the sport talent of some of these children, the needs of these talented children cannot be met and their potential will remain undeveloped. Talent identification (TID), which is based on scientific principles and forms the first step in sports development, still is relatively new in South Africa. Historically, coaches used their own knowledge and experience of the characteristics, which should lead to success in sport as well as participation in competitions in order to do TID. To date, very little research has been done on talent identification and development in sprints and long-jump, especially pertaining to young boy and girl athletes, and in particular concerning athletes from disadvantaged communities. The first and second objectives of this study were to implement sport specific athletics development programmes aimed at improving sprinting and long-jump ability and to determine its effect on the abilities and skills of talented 10 to 15 year-old girls and boys with talent for sprints and long-jump. The third and fourth objectives of this study were to establish which kinanthropometric, physical and motor components will play such a role in 10 to 15 year-olds that it can predict performance ability in sprints and long-jump in girls and boys at this age. The "Australian Talent Search" protocol was used to identify general sport talent in the children (66 girls and 62 boys) who were identified for the study. The talented children (19 girls and 21 boys) from the initial group of were then subjected to a sport specific test battery for sprints and long-jump. The maturation level of the boys was determined by means of a maturity questionnaire, based on the 5 Tanner stages. By using the Statistica and SAS computer programmes, independent t-testing, covariance analyses, correlation coefficients, effect sizes, descriptive statistics as well as a stepwise multiple regression analysis were used to analyze the data with regard to the above-mentioned objectives. A p-value smaller than or equal to 0.05 was accepted as significant. From the results of the study it is evident that the development programmes contributed to the improvement of physical and motor abilities and skills important for performance in both sprints and long-jump in girls (n=19) and boys (n=21) respectively. Among the girls, flexibility, explosive power, muscle endurance, reaction time, speed, speed endurance, acceleration and long-jump showed statistically significant improvement, while abdominal muscle strength and stride length showed no improvement. Secondly, it was established that the development programme contributed statistically significantly to an improvement in flexibility, muscle endurance, 0-40 metres speed and long-jump ability in boys. However, some components did not show improvement, among them explosive power, reaction time, speed endurance, acceleration and stride length. A stepwise multiple regression analysis was used to analyze the third and fourth objectives. It indicated that, in respect to the 100 metres sprint, 7 variables, namely long-jump, push-ups to the point of exhaustion, 7-level abdominal strength, 0-5 metres speed, ankle dorsiflexion, body length and age contributed 84.0% to the total variance in girls. As for long-jump, 7 variables, namely 0-100 metres speed, body length, 7-level abdominal strength, push-ups, ankle dorsiflexion, standing long-jump and body mass proved to be the most important contributors to performance in these items with a total contribution of 79% to the total variance. The fourth objective indicated that average anaerobic power output, acceleration and body mass contributed statistically significantly to performance in the 100 metres sprint in boys with a contribution of 86.5% to the total variance. Horizontal jump, age and acceleration contributed statistically significantly to long-jump performance with a contribution of 81 5% to the total variance. It is evident from this study that sport specific development programmes can successfully be implemented on girls and boys at ages 10-15 in order to improve sprinting and long-jump ability, regardless of poverty-stricken circumstances and poor infrastructure. Furthermore, the study brought to light that specific kinanthropometric, physical and motor abilities exist which can be used to predict performance in sprints and long-jump in girls and boys separately at ages 10 to 15. / Thesis (Ph.D. (Human Movement Science))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2007

Bakgrund: Medvetenhet om kropp och rörelse nämns ofta som en viktig fakor i att öka prestationsförmåga, undvika skador, nå högre livskvalitet och förbätta sjukdomstillstånd. Det har länge funnits ambitioner att förbättra rörelse genom ökad medvetenhet. Feldenkraismetoden är en metod för att förbättra rörelse genom förhöjd rörelsemedvetenhet och är förenlig med nutida vetenskap men förhållandevis lite empirisk forskning stöder metodens effektivitet. De flesta tidigare studier har varit på någon form av dysfunktion och ofta subjektiv upplevelse snarare än objektiva värden. Det har varit svårt för Feldenkraispedagoger att finna rätt mätmetoder för att utvärdera metoden. Syfte: Studiens syfte är att utvärdera effekten av träning för ökad rörelsemedvetenhet enligt Feldenkraismetoden på rörelse hos friska personer genom kvantitativ mätning. Metod: Friska kvinnor i en experimentgrupp (n=4, 30±7 år) och en kontrollgrupp (n=4, 26±2 år) testades med fem kvantitativa rörelsetester; one-leg standing balance, one-leg standing long jump, standing triple jump, star excursion balance test och upper quarter Y-balance test, innan och efter en intervention ledd av en auktoriserad Feldenkraispedagog där experimentgruppen genomgick tio träningsfällen enligt Feldenkraismetoden under fem veckors tid. Resultat: Signifikant förbättring (P≤0,05) i förhållande till både förtest och kontrollgrupp sågs vid star excursion balance test för vänster ben. Slutsats: Träning för ökad rörelsemedvetenhet enligt Feldenkraismetoden verkar kunna leda till förbättring i kvantitativt mätt rörelse hos friska kvinnor. Vidare forskning med fler deltagare är nödvändig för att bättre besvara hypotesen att träning för ökad rörelsemedvetenhet genom en intervention med Feldenkraismetoden leder till förbättrade resultat i de utvalda testerna hos friska personer. / Background: Awareness of body and movement is often mentioned as an important factor in increasing performance ability, avoiding injury, reaching a higher quality of life and improving conditions of illness. There has long been an ambition to improve movement through increased awareness. The Feldenkrais method is a method for improving movement through increased movement-awareness and is compatible with modern science. but comparatively little empirical research supports the methods effectivity. Most earlier studies have been on subjects with some form of dysfunction and often on subjective experience rather than objective measurements. It has been challenging for Feldenkrais-practitioners to find suitable ways of measurement for evaluating the method. Purpose: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effect of training for increased movement-awareness according to the Feldenkrais method on movement in healthy subjects by quantitative measurements. Method: Healthy women in an experiment-group (n=4, 30±7 years) and a control-group (n=4, 26±2 years) were tested with five quantitative movement-tests; one-leg standing balance, one-leg standing long jump, standing triple jump, star excursion balance test and upper quarter Y-balance test, before and after an intervention where the experiment-group went through ten training sessions according to the Feldenkrais method during five weeks time. Results: Significant improvement (P≤0,05) in comparison to both pre-test and change in the control-group was seen for star excursion balance test of the left leg. Conclusion: Training for increased movement-awareness according to the Feldenkrais method seem to be able to improve quantitatively measured movement in healthy women. Further research with more participants is necessary to better answer the hypothesis that training for increased movement-awareness in accordance with the Feldenkrais method leads to improved results in the chosen tests in healthy persons.

Background: Jump height, utilization of the stretch-shortening cycle (SSC) and knee stability is key qualifications and important factors for athletic performance. This is usually practiced with the help of plyometric training. However, plyometric training is considered as an exercise with high-impact that adds stress on the body. Trampoline training is an activity with a growing number of adolescent’s performers, and with the ability to train the same qualities that plyometric training. However, few studies have investigated trampoline trainings effect on jump height, utilization of the SSC and the knee stability in comparison to ordinary plyometric exercises. Aim: The aim of the study was to investigate whether the jump height in a countermovement jump (CMJ) and a squat jump (SJ), the use of SSC and knee stability at landing is different in adolescents who are training using a trampoline and adolescents training using plyometric exercises. Methods: Thirty (n=30) participants, 19 handball players and 11 trampoline practitioners, aged 14-18 years, completed this cross-sectional study. This study involved three tests, a CMJ and a SJ for measuring the jump height and SSCand a double leg drop jump test for measuring the knee stability. Results: The result showed a significant difference in relative jump value between the groups, were the handball group showed a higher value in the CMJ and the SJ compared to the trampoline group. In the utilization of the SSC there were no significant difference between the groups. The result showed that there was a significant difference between the groups knee stability, were the handball group showed a greater knee degrees of varus compared to the trampoline group. Conclusion: Findings from this study suggests that adolescents might benefit from performing plyometric training to achieve a greater jump height and trampoline training to achieve a greater knee stability. Both activities had the same effect on the utilization of theSSC. More studies are needed, including a more homogenous group with larger sample sizes, to support the present results and investigate whether the results are reliable.

Although the vertical jump has long been an accepted and valuable test of explosive strength and physical ability, the major factors affecting performance have not been isolated. This study was designed to investigate vertical-jump performance in relation to certain foot measurements. Two ratios comprised of heel/foot length and arch length/foot length were correlated to vertical-jump performance.

El propósito de esta investigación fue estudiar la correlación entre el torque isocinético máximo de cuadriceps y la potencia de la cadena muscular involucrada en el squat jump. Treinta y un hombres sanos y no entrenados con una edad promedio de 21.8 +1.03 años fueron sometidos a una medición antropométrica, una prueba de squat jump sobre una plataforma de contacto y una evaluación isocinética de cuadriceps. La potencia se calculó en base a la altura máxima de salto y el peso corporal de cada sujeto. El torque isocinético máximo de cuadriceps se calculó a velocidad angular baja de 60º/s (T60), intermedia de 180º/s (T180) y alta de 2400/s (T240) en una máquina isocinética. Potencia (P) y torque (T60, T180, T240) se expresaron en valores absolutos, en función del peso corporal (Pp, T60p, T180p, T240p) del sujeto y en función de la masa magra del mismo (Pm, T60m, T180m, T240m). El test de Pearson indicó la existencia de una correlación positiva y estadísticamente significativa (p < 0,05) entre P y el torque isocinético máximo, en donde la mayor correlación se encontró entre P y T180 (r = 0.65). En función del peso corporal, las correlaciones fueron menores y la más alta coincidió con T180p (r=0.57). En relación a la masa magra, se encontraron los menores coeficientes de correlación, con una significancia baja para T180m y T240m (r = 0.35 y r = 0.37 respectivamente) o ausente para T60m(r = 0.19). El presente estudio demuestra la existencia de una correlación significativa entre el torque isocinético máximo de cuadriceps y la potencia de la cadena muscular involucrada en el squat jump, en la muestra utilizada en la investigación.

Possibilities of long jump training options at the lower primary level The degree work is concerned with possibilities of long jump teaching in young learners classes. The theoretical part of the work pays attention to child's personality, his progress and motor skills. Teaching athletics in Physical Education lessons in Primary Schools is described in the work.The attention is paid on history, profile , segmentation and long jump technique. In the degree work, in the purpose of an experiment, there was made a methodical progression and its effect was checked. Key words: athletics, long jump technique, Physical Education, methodology, young learners, physical exercise skills, safety.

Title: The Effect of Postural Therapy Using Posturomed on Jump in Basketball. Objectives: The aim of the thesis is to assess what effect the state of postural stabilization has on the jump height in basketball, to capture the level of postural stabilization before and after the 6-week proprioceptive postural therapy on Posturomed and to find out whether the jump height in probands changes after this therapy. Methods: The thesis included 30 probands - basketball players. 15 probands were assigned to the experimental group and 15 other probands were assigned to the control group. All probands underwent both the initial and the final jump height measurement. Each proband had 3 attempts, out of which the highest performance was recorded. The probands of the experimental group participated in a 6-week postural therapy. The therapy was carried out according to the concept of postural therapy on Posturomed by dr. Rašev. The data was evaluated in program Microsoft Office Excel. For the calculation of the unpaired t-test, statistical program SPSS was used. Results: Measurements confirmed the positive effect of the therapy on Posturomed on the jump height. The experimental group achieved a statistically significant difference in the jump height against the control group. Keywords: Vertical jump, basketball,...

Diploma Thesis Title: The Development of the Tonic Abilities of Senior-Pupils in Volleyball Goals of Thesis: This work is focusing on the raising of the tonic abilities level of senior-pupils in volleyball, by the support of the selected training program. I am trying to verify the effectiveness of the created training program for the development of these abilities. Method: To determine the effect of the created training program for the development of the tonic abilities, we used the method of testing. The testing was performed mainly by using the test-file for SCM and KCM, used to test the level of motor abilities of pupils, held once a year during the "Memorial of R. Myslik". Results: Results and conclusions of the work could be used in the training process for volleyball youth, especially to developing fitness assumptions, which are an integral part of the gaming achievement of the individual. Key words: Measurement, testing, motor level, training, fitness, jump

Title: Vertical jump comparison of women's volleyball players Objectives: The aim of this work was to coparison of vertical jump, postural stability and body composition of women's volleyball players before and after season 2012/2013. During the season there was a deliberate intervention to develop explosive power. By the comparing the input and output of results we conclude that the training developed or didn't develop explosive power of the lower limbs, and that had an effect on body composition and stability. Methods: The study included 10 women from 2. Volleyball League (n=10 , age = ± 20,6 years, height = ± 172,7 cm, BMI = ± 0,19 kg/cm2 ). For input and output testing, we used three different tests. First, we measured body composition, then postural stability (1) narrow standing with eyes open (the US-OO), (2) narrow standing with eyes closed (the US-ZO), (3) standing on the right lower limb "flamingo test "(the FLA-R), (4) stands on the left lower limb (the FLA-L). Finally, the players performed six types of vertical jump. Jump with the upper limbs (V1 - Countermovement jump free arms) jump without the help of the upper limbs (V2 - Countermovement jump), jump from squatting (V3 - Squat jump), when the whole movement only made up, without countermovement, block jump (V4 - Block), moving one...