Lower body explosive power (LBEP) forms a critical component in any individual and team sport performance and it is therefore essential to develop a means of predicting LBEP in adolescents for early identification of future talent in various sporting codes. LBEP is frequently used by athletes during matches or competitions where explosive movements such as jumping, agility running and sprinting are required for successful performance. These movements are usually found in individual sports such as long jump and high jump as well as in team sports such as basketball, volleyball and soccer. To date not much literature is available on LBEP, especially with regard to LBEP prediction models. Furthermore, studies on adolescents are scarce and a LBEP prediction model has not yet been developed for a South African adolescent population. It is against this background that the objectives of this study were firstly, to develop a LBEP prediction model from various physical and motor performance components among a cohort of adolescents living in the Tlokwe local municipality of Dr Kenneth Kaunda district in the North-West Province, South Africa; and secondly, to develop a LBEP prediction model from several anthropometric measurements among a cohort of male and female adolescents living in the Tlokwe local municipality of Dr Kenneth Kaunda district in the North-West Province, South Africa. Two hundred and fourteen (15.8±0.68 years) 15-year-old adolescents (126 females, 88 males) from 6 surrounding schools within the Tlokwe local municipality of Dr Kenneth Kaunda district in the North-West Province of South Africa were purposefully selected from pre-acquired class lists took part in the study. Data was collected by means of various questionnaires as well as anthropometrical, physical and motor performance tests. For representation of LBEP a principal component factor analysis was done and the results indicated that the vertical jump test (VJT) was the best indicator of LBEP in the cohort of adolescents. With regard to the anthropometrical related LBEP prediction model, the forward stepwise regression analysis yielded a correlation coefficient of R2 = 0.69. The following variables contributed significantly (p≤0.001) to the anthropometrical LBEP prediction model: stature (57%), muscle mass percentage (10%) and maturity age (3%). The LBEP prediction model that was developed equated to LBEP (vertical jump) = -136.30 + 0.84(stature) + 0.7(muscle mass percentage) + 4.6(maturity age). Variables other than the variables that formed part of the study could explain the further 31% variance in the LBEP of the adolescents. The physical and motor performance LBEP prediction model indicated that gender (39%) and 10 m speed (7%) contributed significantly (p ≤ 0.001) to the overall prediction of the LBEP of the adolescents. The LBEP prediction model delivered a stepwise forward regression analysis coefficient of R2=0.458 and a prediction formula LBEP = 68.21 + 9.82 (gender) – 18.33(10 m speed). The remaining 56% of the variance in the results could be explained by other factors than the variables considered in the study. In conclusion, to the best of the researchers’ knowledge, this is the first study which has made an attempt at developing LBEP prediction models from the anthropometrical, physical and motor performance components of a cohort of adolescents of South Africa. The prediction models developed in the study will assist teachers sport scientists and sporting coaches who have limited resources available, to measure and calculate LBEP in adolescents, with the means to do so in South Africa. Further high quality studies are necessary to further improve and develop such prediction models for various age groups of adolescents in the greater South Africa. / MSc (Sport Science), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014

Title: Sports training assessment of the Czech record holder in the sprint events in the youth categories Objectives: The main objective of the thesis is monitoring and assessment of selected general training indicators, special training indicators and control tests during the four-year sports training period of a young sprinter in the category of 15 years and the category of 17 years. Results of the selected training indicators and the control tests were compared. Methods: In the present thesis the method of observation and the content analysis of training documents are used. The training documents are obtained from the coach of the observed individual. The general training indicators, the special training indicators and the control tests are selected from the training documents, which are evaluated by the basic statistical procedures and subsequently they are composed to the tables, charts and comments. Results: Due to the set plan of the thesis, we recorded during the four-year period an annual increase in the volume of the general training indicators of M.B. The volume of load is increasing in all the selected special training indicators. The interesting fact is that in 2010/2011 the observed individual has had a lower number of run kilometres in the special training indicators, lower maximal...

Title: Canoeing in the Czech Republic 2004 - 2013. Objectives: The aim of the thesis has been to draw up the history of the Czech canoeing between 2004 and 2013. Methods: Standard methods have been used in the thesis, especially the chronological method. The actual gaining of materials has been achieved through a combination of the direct, indirect and progressive methods. Results: The content of this work deals with the organizational and competition activities of canoeists in the Czech Republic in the given period. Keywords: Kayak, canoe, canoe sprint,canoe slalom, wildwatercanoeing, Czech Canoe Union, International Canoe Federation, European Canoe Association, history.

The paper elaborates the history of "LOKOMOTIVA Nymburk" canoe sprint squad and is sectioned into:  between wars period  the war years 1938 - 1945  1945 - 1970  1970 - 2000  2000 - present The paper also elaborates a general origin of canoeing in Bohemia, brief 80-year history of the nearest competitor (and friend) - "Canoe Sprint Squad Poděbrady" and the history of dragon boats in Nymburk city. The history, the development and the present state of particular categories at "Lokomotiva Nymburk" and "Canoe Sprint Squad Poděbrady" is also elaborated. The categories are "scholar", "youth" and "junior". Keywords Canoe Sprint History Canoe Kayak Shipyard Races Championship Grand Prix Medal Ranking Season Training Camp DragonBoats

Bakgrund: Syftet med denna studie var att undersöka effekten av sju dagars tillskott av betain (2,5 gram/dag) på prestationsförmågan i idrottsspecifika tester för manliga vältränade cykelatleter. Metod: Sex (n=6) manliga testpersoner (genomsnitt ± standardavvikelse ålder, 31,7 ± 10,2 år; längd, 188,2 ± 3,6 cm; kroppsvikt; 82,5 ± 7,6 kg; fettfri massa, 71,6 ± 7,3 kg) genomförde förtester bestående av fem counter movement jumps, fyra stycken 12 s wingate-sprinter med 2,5 minuters aktiv vila följt av fem ytterligare counter movement jumps. De blev sedan indelade slumpmässigt i betain- eller placebogrupper. Första testet etablerade basvärden och eftertest ”1” samt ”2” föregicks med antingen sju dagars tillskott med placebo (2,5 g maltodextrin plus 12,5 mg riboflavin) eller betain (2,5 g trimetylglycin plus 12,5 mg riboflavin). Riboflavin användes för att undanröja den fiskliknande doften som kan uppstå vid tillskott av betain. Doseringen bestod av fyra kapslar per dag till måltid, varav två kapslar intogs på morgonen eller förmiddagen (före träning) och två kapslar intogs på eftermiddagen eller kvällen (efter träning). Vi använde oss av en dubbelblindad, kontrollerad randomisering cross-over design; med en veckas washout mellan placebo och betain. Maximum Peak Power, Average Peak Power, Maximum Average Power, Mean Average Power, Mean Relative Power Drop, Maximum Relative Power Drop, CMJ-Medel och CMJ-Max före och efter sprinterna analyserades med two-tailed t-test 2 och 3 för att jämföra skillnader före och efter intag av tillskott samt skillnaderna mellan grupperna.Resultat: Inga signifikanta skillnader kunde noteras. Konklusion: En veckas tillskott av betain gav inte någon signifikant förbättring jämfört med placebo i hopp- och sprintförmåga samt förmåga att ta ut sig själv maximalt hos aktiva cyklister. Fler studier med framförallt större testgrupper efterlyses för att utvärdera betainets ergogena effekt bland aktiva atleter. / The effect of betaine supplementation on counter movement jumps and sprint performance among male bicycle athletes Background: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of a seven days supplementation regimen with betaine (2,5 grams per day) on counter movement jumps and sprint performance in trained male bicyclists. Method: Six (n=6) male subjects (mean ± standard deviation age, 31,7 ± 10,2 years; height, 188,2 ± 3,6 cm; bodyweight, 82,5 ± 7,6 kg; lean body mass, 71,6 ± 7,6 kg) completed a 21 day study involving five counter movement jumps (no arm swing) followed by 4 consecutive modified 12 second Wingate sprints on a bicycle ergometer with active rest (2,5 minutes) followed by another set of five counter movement jumps. A double blind, controlled randomized cross over design was used and there was a 1 week washout between the supplementation startup for each group. Following pre-testing (baseline) the participants were randomly divided into groups by choosing one of the following supplements: “12” Placebo –2,5 grams of maltodextrine plus 12,5 mg riboflavin or “11” – Active 2,5 grams of trimethylglycine plus 12,5 mg riboflavin. Riboflavin was used so mask the “fishy odor syndrome” effect of high intakes of trimethylglycine that may cause trimethyluria. Daily consumption of capsules was divided into two doses of two capsules each with meals. One dose (two capsules) was consumed in the morning and one dose in the evening. The following variables were analyzed: Maximum Peak Power, Average Peak Power, Maximum Mean Power, Average Mean Power, Maximum Relative Power Drop, Average Relative Power Drop, Mean CMJ-Pre + Post sprints and Maximal CMJ-Pre + Post sprints. Results: None of the parameters showed statistical significance. Conclusion: Our study indicates that seven days of betaine ingestion does not seem significantly improve counter movement jump or sprint capacity in male trained bicyclists. Larger studies are needed to investigate the performance enhancing effects of betaine, especially among high performance athletes.

Physical tasks such as scrummaging, rucking and mauling are highly specific to rugby and also place unique physiological demands on the different playing positions within the forwards. Traditionally, the recruitment and development of talented rugby union players has focused on the assessment of motor skills and game intelligence aspects of performance, with less emphasis placed on the specific physiological requirements of playing positions in rugby. The purpose of this investigation was to measure the position-specific strength, speed and power characteristics of Premier rugby forwards in order (1) to determine whether any differences existed in the physiological characteristics of the different forward playing positions (prop, lock and loose forwards) and (2) to investigate the relationship between these physiological characteristics and coaches evaluations of football playing ability. Twenty-two male Premier level competition rugby forwards, consisting of eight prop forwards, five lock forwards and nine loose-forwards participated in the study. The Grunt 3000, a rugby specific force testing device was utilised to measure the static and dynamic horizontal strength during simulated scrummaging and rucking/mauling movements. Sprint times relating to acceleration ability (0 -10m, 0-20m) and maximum running speed (20 - 40m) were measured during a 40m sprint running test. In addition, force, power and displacement characteristics of a countermovement vertical jump were calculated from trials performed on a force plate. Also, player performance skill and physical capacity scores were determined independently by experienced coaches who assessed them based on their performances during the season. One-way analysis of variance and effect size statistics evaluated differences in the measured variables between forward playing positions and linear regression analysis evaluated the relationship between the coaches' scores of player performance skill and physical capacity and game specific measures of strength speed and power. Since there were no statistical significant differences between forward groups for horizontal force and countermovement jump variables and these analyses lacked statistical power, an effect size statistic was used to establish trends for differences in force and CMJ variables between the groups. There were moderate effect size differences between groups for horizontal impact force with prop and lock forwards producing 17.7% and 12.8% more force than the loose forwards respectively. No clear differences were apparent between forward positional groups for mean dynamic horizontal force and countermovement jump displacement of the centre of gravity. A significant difference (p =0.049) was shown between forward positional groups over the 0-40m sprint distance. Also, moderate effect size differences between pairs of groups were evident in 0-10m, 0-20m, 20-40m sprint times with both loose forwards and lock forwards on average, 6% faster than the prop forwards. A backward linear regression analysis revealed that the single best predictor of coaches' physical capacity and performance skill scores was the 20 - 40m sprint performance, accounting for 28% of the variance in player's physical capacity scores and 29% of the variance in player's performance skill scores. Whole-body horizontal static strength and impact strength in prop forwards and dynamic horizontal strength (relative to body mass) and sprint acceleration ability in loose forwards represent key factors for consideration when selecting forward players to these positions in the Premier rugby competition. The vertical jumping ability of all forward positional groups needs to be confirmed in a future study utilising a line-out specific countermovement jump test (free use of arm swing and line-out lifters in the jump) on a force plate. Monitoring of performance in rugby forwards should include an acceleration sprint test (0-10m) as this is specific to the sprinting patterns of forward players during a game, and maximum sprinting speed test (20-40m) as this test has the ability to discriminate between skilled and less-skilled rugby union forwards.

Syfte och frågeställning Syftet med studien är att studera hur svenska elitlöpares totaltider förhåller sig till de olika variablerna markkontakt, flygtid, hastighet, stegfrekvens och steglängd, med största fokus på hur markkontakterna påverkar hastigheten. Studiens två frågeställningar var: (1) Hur ser sambandet ut mellan de fyra variablerna markkontakt, flygtid, steglängd samt stegfrekvens vid den maximala hastigheten vid upprätt löpning hos elitlöpare verksamma inom sprintdistansen 100 meter? (2) Hur korrelerar markkontakt och hastighet hos elitlöpare verksamma inom sprintdistansen 100 meter? Metod En kvantitativ studie genomfördes där 33 manliga och 20 kvinnliga försökslopp på flygande 30 kartlades med mätutrustningen Optojump. Dessa mätvärden analyserades i SPSS för att jämföra korrelation mellan varje mätvärde, ett sambandsdiagram mellan markkontakt och hastighet gjordes samt den översiktliga statistiken analyserades. Resultat Resultaten visar att kortare markkontakter kan ge en högre hastighet, att flygtiden mellan män och kvinnor är lika, att genomsnittet av löparna i studien hade än lägre stegfrekvens och steglängd än litteraturen som presenteras i studien. Slutsatser Resultatet i studien visar att, i likhet med forskningsstudier, att en kortare markkontakt kan ge en höge horisontell löphastighet än en lång. Studien åskådliggör dock att betydligt fler variabler, än endast markkontakt, har stor inverkan på hastighet och totaltid. Jämfört visar detta att mer forskning inom området behövs för att kunna optimera träningsupplägg för löpare. / Purpose and question The purpose of the study is to show how Swedish elit runners total times relate to the different variables ground contact, flight time, speed, step rate and step length, with the main focus on how the ground contacts time affect speed. The study's two main questions were: (1) What is the relationship between the four variables: ground contact, flight time, step length and the velocity at the maximum speed at upright running (2) How do the variable ground contact and velocity correlate between elite runners competing within the track and field event 100 meters? Method A quantitative study was conducted in which 33 male and 20 female runs attempts were mapped with the measuring equipment Optojump. These measured values were analyzed in SPSS to compare correlation between each measurement value, a scatterplot between ground contact and speed, and the summary statistics were taken out. Results The results show that shorter ground contacts times can provide a faster running velocity, that the flight time between men and women is equal, the average of the runners in the study have lower step rate and step length then the literature presented in the study. Conclusions The result of the study shows that, like research studies, a shorter ground contact time can provide a higher horizontal running speed than a longer ground contact. However, the study illustrates that significantly more variables, than only ground contact, have a major impact on velocity and total time. In comparison, this shows that more research in the field is needed to optimize training for runners.

Introduction Performance in cross-country skiing is influenced by the skier’s ability to continuously produce propelling forces and force magnitude in relation to the net external forces. A surrogate indicator of the “power supply” in cross-country skiing would be a physiological variable that reflects an important performance-related capability, whereas the body mass itself is an indicator of the “power demand” experienced by the skier. To adequately evaluate an elite skier’s performance capability, it is essential to establish the optimal ratio between the physiological variable and body mass. The overall aim of this doctoral thesis was to investigate the importance of body-mass exponent optimization for the evaluation of performance capability in cross-country skiing. Methods In total, 83 elite cross-country skiers (56 men and 27 women) volunteered to participate in the four studies. The physiological variables of maximal oxygen uptake (V̇O2max) and oxygen uptake corresponding to a blood-lactate concentration of 4 mmol∙l-1 (V̇O2obla) were determined while treadmill roller skiing using the diagonal-stride technique; mean oxygen uptake (V̇O2dp) and upper-body power output (Ẇ) were determined during double-poling tests using a ski-ergometer. Competitive performance data for elite male skiers were collected from two 15-km classical-technique skiing competitions and a 1.25-km sprint prologue; additionally, a 2-km double-poling roller-skiing time trial using the double-poling technique was used as an indicator of upper-body performance capability among elite male and female junior skiers. Power-function modelling was used to explain the race and time-trial speeds based on the physiological variables and body mass. Results The optimal V̇O2max-to-mass ratios to explain 15-km race speed were V̇O2max divided by body mass raised to the 0.48 and 0.53 power, and these models explained 68% and 69% of the variance in mean skiing speed, respectively; moreover, the 95% confidence intervals (CI) for the body-mass exponents did not include either 0 or 1. For the modelling of race speed in the sprint prologue, body mass failed to contribute to the models based on V̇O2max, V̇O2obla, and V̇O2dp. The upper-body power output-to-body mass ratio that optimally explained time-trial speed was Ẇ ∙ m-0.57 and the model explained 63% of the variance in speed. Conclusions The results in this thesis suggest that V̇O2max divided by the square root of body mass should be used as an indicator of performance in 15-km classical-technique races among elite male skiers rather than the absolute or simple ratio-standard scaled expression. To optimally explain an elite male skier’s performance capability in sprint prologues, power-function models based on oxygen-uptake variables expressed absolutely are recommended. Moreover, to evaluate elite junior skiers’ performance capabilities in 2-km double-poling roller-skiing time trials, it is recommended that Ẇ divided by the square root of body mass should be used rather than absolute or simple ratio-standard scaled expression of power output. / <p>Incorrect ISBN in printed thesis: 973-91-7601-270-3</p>

This thesis is devoted to the search of the level of physical abilities of today's younger school-age children in comparison with the results of the 'Children's fitness badge' competition. Data comes from two smaller schools of the Central Bohemian region - Kounice Elementary School, year 1989 and from elementary school Sedlčany, year 2015. The thesis also discusses the differences between results in physically active and inactive pupils, between boys and girls, as well as the ability of today's students to meet the elementary level of the 'Children's fitness badge' points table. I studied these disciplines - the long jump, the 50 meters sprint and the cricket ball throw for my testing. Data were analyzed by using the statistical program SPSS. Key words Athletics, 'Children's fitness badge', younger school-age, long jump, 50 meters sprint, cricket ball throw.

This thesis is devoted to the topic of detection of the level in selected disciplines of today's younger school-age children in comparison with the results of the 'Children's fitness badge' competition. Data comes from two smaller schools of the Central Bohemian region - Kounice Elementary School, year 1989 and from elementary school Sedlčany, year 2015. The thesis also discusses the differences between results in physically active and inactive pupils, between boys and girls, as well as the ability of today's students to meet the elementary level of the 'Children's fitness badge' points table. I study these disciplines - the standing long jump, the 50 meters sprint and the cricket ball throw for my testing. The practical part is realized by the measuring performance in certain disciplines. The performance of boys and girls in each grade are measured separately. Their performances are compared and evaluated by using a test battery 'Children's fitness badge'.