The main aim of this research was to develop a greater understanding of the effects of prior moderate and intense exercise on sports-related performance. The research developed through five related studies that examined the effects of exercise on key aspects of sports performance. Each study was conducted in appropriate field-based settings, using protocols that have relevance to the chosen sports and performance tasks that display ecological validity. Three intensities were examined across each of the five studies; rest, moderate and intense exercise. The preliminary study explored the effects of moderate and intense exercise on soccer passing performance in collegiate level players (n = 20). Repeated measures ANOVA revealed a significant (p = 0.010) effect of prior exercise on passing performance. Following on from this investigation, the effects of prior exercise on basketball passing performance in expert (n = 10) and non-expert players (n = 10) was examined. A 3 x 2 mixed ANOVA revealed a highly significant exercise intensity effect (p  0.001) as well as a highly significant exercise intensity by level of expertise interaction (p = 0.010). No between-group differences were observed however. This study nevertheless revealed that the expert players maintain a better level of performance compared to non-expert players following moderate and high-intensity exercise conditions. The third study explored the effects of moderate and intense exercise on coincidence-anticipation timing in expert (n = 11) and non-expert (n = 9) Gaelic games players. The 3 x 2 mixed ANOVA revealed no overall exercise intensity effect (p > 0.05) but there was a significant exercise intensity by level of expertise interaction (p = 0.031). Highly significant between-group differences (p < 0.001) were found, with the expert players maintaining a higher level of anticipation following moderate and intense exercise conditions. Study four comprised a small-scale study (n = 12) examining the effects of moderate and intense exercise on attention using the Stroop Colour-Word Test. Repeated measures ANOVA revealed a significant (p = 0.030) effect of prior exercise on attention. This study identified that attention following moderate-intensity exercise is equivalent to that at rest. However, following intense exercise attention deteriorates to a level below that at rest. The final study examined the effects of exercise intensity on groundstroke accuracy in expert (n = 13) and non-expert (n = 17) tennis players and comprised the most ecologically valid design. A range of 3 x 2 mixed ANOVAs were conducted revealing highly significant (p < .001) main effects for exercise intensity as well as highly significant (p = 0.003) between-group effects. No exercise intensity by level of expertise interaction was found however. In general, the findings suggest that performance following moderate-intensity exercise is equivalent to that at rest. However, significant decrements in key aspects of sports-related performance were observed following intense exercise. The findings of this research indicate that the theories of arousal cannot by themselves account for the outcomes of this work and the relationship between exercise and arousal needs to be explored further. Future research is imperative employing ecologically valid protocols and sport-specific performance tasks. The ensuing results in this case will have much more application and relevance to trainers, coaches and players.

Thesis (M Sport Sc)-- Stellenbosch University, 1998. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT:The purpose of this study was to develop a practical, reliable psychological skills inventory to assess the psychological skills of athletes. This primarily involved identifying the relevant psychological skills that affect sport performance. A variety of developmental procedures were applied in the construction of this inventory, including the consultation of sport psychology literature, identification of articles which characterise successful athletes, analysis of research articles pertaining to the psychological Skills, and review of available psychological tests. The initial inventory consisted of 82 items which evaluated six psychological skills: achievement motivation, goal setting, anxiety control, maintaining confidence, concentration and mental rehearsal. The inventory was completed by 304 students from the Department of Human Movement Science at the University of Stellenbosch. The respondents' data were divided into two groups depending on their achievement in sport. The results indicated that the inventory was able to differentiate between successful and less successful athletes on the psychological skills measured. Other aspects were statistically analysed, namely language, age, and gender differences, correlation between individual item and achievement level, and the contri,bution of each item to its psychological skill. The final inventory consists of 60 items, with ten items from each of the six psychological skills. Information obtained from the inventory can identify the strengths, weaknesses and deficiencies in the psychological skills of athletes, so that a psychological skills training programme can be developed. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING:Die doel van hierdie studie was om 'n praktiese, betroubare sielkundige inventaris te ontwerp om die sielkundige vaardighede van sportlui vas te stel. Dit het hoofsaaklik bestaan uit die identifisering van relevante sielkundige vaardighede wat sportprestasie beinvloed. 'n Verskeidenheid van prosedures was toegepas in die konstruksie van die inventaris, insluitend konsultasie van sportsielkundeliteratuur, identifesering van artikels wat suksesvolle sportlui beskryf, ontleding van narvorsingsartikels met betrekking tot sielkundige vaardighede en 'n oorsigstudie van relevante sielkundige toetse. Die aanvanklike inventaris het bestaan uit 82 items, wat ses sielkundige vaardighede getoets het, naamlik prestasiemotivering, doelwitstelling, aktiveringsbeheer, handhawing van selfvertroue, konsentrasie en verstandelike oefening. Die inventaris is deur 304 studente van die Departement Menslike Bewegingskunde aan die Universiteit van Stellenbosch voltooi. Die respondente se data is in twee groepe, afhangende van hul prestasie in sport, verdeel. Die resultate het aangedui dat die inventaris tussen suksesvolle en minder suksesvolle atlete onderskei met betrekking tot die sielkundige vaardighede wat gemeet is. Ander aspekte is statisties ontleed, naamlik taal, ouderdom, geslag, korrelasie tussen afsonderlike items en prestasievlak, asook die bydrae van elke item tot sy sielkundige vaardigheid. Die finale inventaris behels 60 items, met tien items van elk van die sielkundige vaardighede. Inligting wat van die inventaris verkry word, kan die sterkpunte en tekortominge van atlete bepaal, wat as basis vir die ontwikkeling van 'n sielkundige program kan dien.

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The increased participation in elite wheelchair sport has provided the need to investigate the physiological requirements of wheelchair sporting competition and daily wheelchair propulsion. However, from a nutritional perspective, guidelines that have been established from the able-bodied population tend to be used by the practitioners working in disability sport and it is not known whether this information is directly transferable to the wheelchair athlete. Wheelchair sport is complex and athletes differ with respect to their sports classification based on factors relating to disability and functional capacity. Therefore, if nutritional guidance is required to optimise performance then information regarding energy expenditure (EE) in the wheelchair sports population becomes important for specific feedback. The aim of this thesis was to investigate EE in wheelchair athletes. The results from Chapter 3 found resting energy expenditure (REE) in tetraplegic athletes to be lower than that calculated using predictive equations derived from an ablebodied cohort. However, paraplegic athletes showed comparable values to those which were predicted, suggesting these equations may be of use in paraplegic athletes. Chapter 4 extended this work and found similarities in the REE of the two aforementioned cohorts. This could have been due to the similarities that were found in their total-body fat free mass (FFM). The results from Chapter 5 showed EE reduced after both a short 36 minute exposure of wheelchair propulsion and after 3 weeks of wheelchair propulsion practice in novice wheelchair users. Temporal parameters improved after the practice period, suggesting there is an association between EE and propulsion technique. Chapter 6 extended these findings with results confirming that experienced wheelchair users expended significantly less energy during wheelchair propulsion than novice individuals who had up to 3 weeks practice. It is clear that EE of daily wheelchair ambulation should not be a generic value and different levels of experience must be considered so that the nutritional needs can be tailored accordingly. Chapters 7 and 8 examined the physiological demands of elite competitive wheelchair basketball players in relation to the International Wheelchair Basketball Federation (IWBF) classification categories and identified differences in the physiological demands and physiological fitness of wheelchair basketball and tennis players. These results found that IWBF Class 3 - 4.5 (high point) players expended more energy per hour during competition than those with a lower classification (IWBF Class 1 - 2.5). However, when actual playing time was considered the low classification group showed a similar EE to the higher classification group. Furthermore, wheelchair basketball players had a higher EE per hour than wheelchair tennis players during elite competition. However, the wheelchair tennis players spent a significantly longer duration on court resulting in similar EE during a typical competition within each sport. This suggests nutritional advice should be tailored both to the duration of competitive play (where EE may be similar between sports (basketball vs. tennis)); and to training (where athletes with a higher functional capacity may have higher EE). This thesis revealed several important physiological considerations to appreciate when investigating the EE of wheelchair sportsmen and women. Findings would suggest that type of disability, wheelchair propulsion experience and sport classification are all important considerations for the accurate assessment of EE in this cohort of athletes.

Title: Analysis of physical indicators among dancers of acrobatic rock and roll in category Background: It could be expected that several years of training process could influence the vast majority of physiological functions in rock and roll dancers who have undergone for many years of hard training. Aims: The measuring of selected indicators of physiological functions in the group of acrobatic rock and roll dancers and the comparing their level of physical capacity with reference values and with level of physical capacity of the best acrobatic rock and roll dancers of the world were the main purposes of this study.. Methods and design: The study was designed as a qualitative research. 6 pairs (12 subjects) of acrobatic rock and roll dancer category A were included in a study group by using a non-randomized selection. The UNIFITTEST (Jump far from the place, sit-up, chin-up, measuring subcutaneous fat), and other measure (handshake, vertical jump, heart rate) were done. Further quantitative data were collected by using questionnaires. Several statistical methods were used to process the data obtained. All results were compared with reference values. Results: According to our expectation the dancers of acrobatic rock and roll were better than average population in the most tests. Key words: acrobatic...

Title of project: Temperament Of Czech And German Flat Water Canoeist. Aims: The aim of this thesis is to identify character traits (temperament) in Czech and German kayakers. Methods of work: To determine the results of quantitative research was used, in the form of a standardized questionnaire Eyseneckova temperament characteristics, which we translate German probands separately. The evaluation was performed by adding three (score N, E, L) of the five dimensions and the results brought into the graph, where the quadrants are marked with the temperament traits. Results: The most common type of German temperament is sanguine competitors, extrovert with low neuroticism score, so emotionally stable. The Czech competitors no single prevailing temperament type. Keywords: Flat water canoeing, sports performance, charakter skills, temperament

Title: The load intensity of floorball players. Objectives: The aim of the work is to compare the load intensity of floorball players in training unit and in competitive match. Methods: To measure the intensity of loading was selected set of floorbal players from extraleague team. Then was performed their measuring heart rate by sport testers in the training unit and in the competitive match. Results: The results of measurement showed a higher average and maximum heart rate of players during a competitive match. Keywords: Sports training, sports performance, condition ability, load intensity, heart rate

Aim The overall aim was to investigate Swedish elite athlete’s perceptions about the effects of the menstrual cycle on sports performance. The research questions applied was: 1. How do elite athletes perceive the effects of the menstrual cycle on performance, and do they adjust training or competition accordingly? 2. How do elite athletes perceive the knowledge and beliefs within the area, among their coaches? Method A cross-sectional study design was applied using an online questionnaire for data collection. The study group of interest were female Swedish elite athletes, from both team and individual sports. Teams and athletes defined as ‘elite athletes’ were contacted and offered participation. All data collected from the questionnaire was processed in IBM SPSS® where both descriptive and analytic statistics was performed. The Shapiro-Wilk test was used to test the assumptions of normality for the data, Chi2-tests and Fisher’s exact test were used to examine relationships between variables in the sample and the statistical significance level for analysis was set at p ≤ 0.05. Results Both menstrual- and premenstrual symptoms (PMS) effected the athletes in the sample. The psychological PMS affected close to 70% of the sample in at least one aspect and the symptoms menstrual bleeding affected majority of the sample (82%). The phases were athletes perceived themselves perform the best and the worst were different, with majority of the sample perceiving their worst performance being close to bleeding. This may be an effect of the negative symptoms associated with the bleeding phase. Both coaches’ and athletes’ perceived knowledge were considerably low, as well as athletes’ possibilities to discuss menstrual problems with their coach. Conclusions Elite athletes perceive negative effects of the menstrual cycle and somewhat experience variations in performance throughout the cycle. The knowledge within the area, especially for people involved in female sports, needs to improve. / Syfte och frågeställningar Det övergripande syftet var att undersöka svenska elitidrottares uppfattningar om effekterna av menstruationscykeln på deras prestationsförmåga. Frågeställningarna var: 1. Hur uppfattar elitidrottare effekterna av menstruationscykeln på deras prestation och anpassar de träning eller tävling i enlighet med detta? 2. Hur uppfattar elitidrottare kunskapen och åsikterna inom det specifika området, bland sina tränare? Metod En tvärsnittsstudie genomfördes med hjälp av webb-enkät för datainsamling. Studiegruppen av intresse var kvinnliga svenska elitidrottare, från både lag och individuella idrotter. Lag och idrottare som kunde definieras som "elitidrottare" kontaktades och erbjöds deltagande. All insamlade data från enkä̈ten behandlades i IBM SPSS där både beskrivande och analytisk statistik genomfördes. Shapiro-Wilk’s test användes för att testa antaganden om normalfördelning för data, Chi2-test och Fisher’s exakta test användes för att undersöka samband mellan variabler i urvalet och den statistiska signifikansnivån för analys var ≤ 0.05. Resultat Både menstruella- och premenstruella symptom (PMS) påverkade idrottarna i studiegruppen. De psykologiska PMS påverkade nära 70% av deltagarna i åtminstone ett avseende och symptom vid menstruationsblödning drabbade majoriteten av gruppen (82%). De faser i menstruationscykeln där idrottarna upplevde sin bästa- respektive sämsta prestation var olika, med en majoritet av gruppen som upplevde sin sämsta prestation i samband med blödning. Detta kan vara en effekt av de negativa symtom som är förknippade med blödningsfasen. Både tränares och idrottarnas upplevda kunskap var förhållandevis låg, liksom idrottarnas möjligheter till att diskutera menstruationsproblem med sin tränare. Slutsatser Elitidrottare upplever negativa effekter av menstruationscykeln och upplever vissa variationer i prestation under cykeln. Kunskapen inom området, speciellt för de involverade i kvinnlig idrott, behöver förbättras.

O fenômeno da compensação pode ser identificado em atletas que atuam no mesmo nível de desempenho esportivo, mas, que tenham características morfológicas e funcionais diferentes. Algumas características podem apresentar escores baixos (em relação a seus pares), e são compensadas por outras com escores altos. O objetivo da presente pesquisa foi verificar a existência do fenômeno da compensação em atletas de voleibol infanto-juvenis e adultas por meio de características antropométricas, de aptidão física e psicossociais. As discussões foram realizadas em quatro etapas. Na primeira etapa, foram descritas as características antropométricas, somatotípicas, de aptidão física e psicossociais. Na segunda etapa, foram verificados a idade de início da prática esportiva no vôlei e quantos anos de treinamento cada atleta tinha acumulado em sua carreira. Na terceira etapa, foram averiguadas as semelhanças e as diferenças na combinação dos perfis antropométrico, de aptidão física e psicossocial das atletas, por meio de escores padronizados. Na quarta e última etapa, foi constatada a efetividade da seleção de talentos considerando-se duas variáveis determinantes para o voleibol: a estatura e a impulsão vertical. Os resultados encontrados indicaram que é possível identificar o fenômeno da compensação em atletas de voleibol do mesmo nível de desempenho esportivo. / The compensation phenomenon may be identified in athletes that compete at the same performance level, but achieve this performance level through distinct morphological and functional characteristics. An athlete may present lower scores in some characteristics, but he can compensate them having higher scores in others. The aim of this study was to identify the compensation phenomenon in junior and in senior female volleyball players through anthropometric, motor abilities and psychosocial characteristics. The analysis of the compensation phenomenon was performed in a four-step approach. In the first step, anthropometric, somatotype, motor abilities and psychosocial characteristics were described. In the second step, age of practice start and years each athlete had accumulated in the training career were described. In the third step, similarities and differences of the athletes were analyzed through the combination of anthropometric, motor abilities and psychosocial profile scores padronization. Finally, in the fourth, the efficiency of talent selection was verified considering two determinant characteristics of volleyball players: height and vertical jump. The results showed that is possible to identify the compensation phenomenon in athletes that compete in the same level of sport performance.

O objetivo do presente estudo foi verificar os efeitos do treinamento intervalado de alta intensidade (TIAI), específico e não específico, sobre respostas fisiológicas e desempenho em testes aeróbios e anaeróbios, bem como sobre ações técnicas e táticas durante a luta de judô. 35 atletas de judô realizaram uma série de testes antes e após quatro semanas de treinamento, sendo aleatoriamente divididos em quatro grupos: TIAI para membros inferiores, TIAI para membros superiores, TIAI específico [por meio de entrada de golpes (uchi-komi)] e grupo controle. Os grupos experimentais treinaram o exercício intervalado de alta intensidade (EIAI) adicionalmente ao treino de judô e o grupo controle realizou apenas judô. Foi utilizado o mesmo tipo de estímulo em regiões corporais distintas: realização de duas sessões semanais de EIAI constituídas por dois blocos de 10 estímulos de 20s por 10s de intervalo entre os estímulos e 5 min entre os blocos, i.e., grupo de membros superiores e inferiores utilizaram cicloergômetros específicos para cada região corporal, enquanto o grupo específico desempenhou uchi-komi em intensidade all-out com atleta de massa corporal similar. Os grupos e momentos foram comparados via análise de variância (ANOVA) a dois fatores (grupo e momento do treinamento) ou a três fatores (grupo, momento do treinamento e momento da medida), seguida pelo teste de Bonferroni. Quando encontrada diferença entre os grupos durante as semanas de treinamento, foi efetuada uma ANOVA a um fator com medidas repetidas, bem como o teste-t pareado para os valores pré e pós-treinamento. Os principais resultados apontam que: para o grupo de membros inferiores houve aumento da potência equivalente ao onset blood lactate accumulation (OBLA) no teste progressivo para membros superiores, aumento da potência média no teste de Wingate adaptado para membros inferiores, redução da frequência cardíaca após o Special Judo Fitness Test (SJFT), redução do número de sequências em pé durante a simulação de luta e aumento da razão testosterona/cortisol (T/C) pós-simulação de luta no momento pós-treinamento; para o grupo de membros superiores, houve elevação da potência aeróbia máxima no teste progressivo máximo para membros superiores, aumento do número total de projeções no SJFT, redução das concentrações de CK e elevação da razão T/C pós-simulação de luta no pós-treinamento, bem como elevação das concentrações de LDH nas mensurações conduzidas em repouso; para o grupo uchi-komi, houve aumento da potência pico no teste de Wingate para membros superiores e inferiores, redução do índice no SJFT e aumento da razão T/C pós-simulação de luta no momento pós-treinamento. Não foram detectadas alterações no desempenho para o grupo controle pós-treinamento. Além disso, não foram detectadas quaisquer alterações para as respostas psicométricas, hormonais, assim como para o sistema nervoso autônomo após as quatro semanas de intervenção. Os resultados indicam que a adição do TIAI à rotina de treinamento usual de judô eleva a potência aeróbia máxima para membros superiores e desempenho intermitente de alta intensidade para membros superiores e inferiores em testes genéricos. Adicionalmente, o TIAI melhora aspectos relevantes para o desempenho em tarefas específicas do judô. Por fim, o TIAI de baixo volume não promoveu alterações nas respostas do sistema nervoso autônomo, questionários psicométricos e respostas hormonais ao longo das quatro semanas de treinamento / The aim of the present study was to verify the effects, specific and non-specific, of high intensity interval training (HIIT) on physiological and performance responses to aerobic and anaerobic tests, as well as on technical and tactical actions during judo combat. In order to achieve this purpose, 35 judo athletes were randomly selected into four groups: HIIT for lower-body, upper-body, specific group (by means of technique-entrance, uchi-komi) and a control group. These groups completed a series of tests, before and after a 4-week training period. The experimental groups did high intensity interval exercise (HIIE) in addition to judo training while the control group did judo training only. The same type of stimulus was used on distinct body regions: two weekly sessions of HIIE consisting of two blocks of 10 x 20s stimuli with a 10s interval between stimuli and a 5-min interval between blocks, i.e., the lower and upper-body group used cycle-ergometer for each body region, while the specific group carried out uchi-komi at all-out intensity with another athlete of similar body mass and stature. The groups and moments were compared via variance analysis (ANOVA) to two factors (group and training) or to three factors (group, training and time of measurement), followed by the Bonferroni test. When a difference was detected between groups during the training weeks, a one-way (ANOVA) was carried out with repeated measures, as well as the paired t-test, for pre and post-training values. The main results indicate that: The lower-body group showed increase in the equivalent power to onset blood lactate accumulation (OBLA), in aerobic fitness test for upper- limbs, increase in the mean power in the Wingate test (4 sets of 30s interspersed with 3-min recovery period) for lower limbs, heart rate reduction after the Special Judo Fitness Test (SJFT), reducing the number of standing sequences during the match simulation and increasing the testosterone/cortisol ratio (T/C) after the match simulation in the post-training period; For the upper-body group, showed an increase of the maximum aerobic power in aerobic fitness test for upper limbs, increase in the total number of projections in SJFT, reduced CK concentrations (post-training period), increase in T/C ratio post-match in the post-training period and increase in LDH concentrations in measurements conducted at rest. Uchi-komi group, showed an increased in the peak power in the Wingate test for upper and lower limbs, reduction of the SJFT index and increasing the T/C ratio after the match-simulations in the post-training period. As expected, were not found any performance changes after 4-weeks of intervention for the control group Furthermore, were not detected any changes to the psychometric, hormonal responses, as well as the autonomic nervous system after four weeks of intervention for all experimental groups. Therefore, these findings suggest that addition of the HIIT to usual judo training increases the maximum aerobic power for upper limbs and high-intensity intermittent performance for upper and lower limbs, in generic tests. Moreover, HIIT improves relevant aspects to performance in specific judo tasks. Finally, low volume HIIE did not bring about any alterations to the autonomous nervous system responses, psychometric responses or hormonal responses throughout the four weeks of training