Within-Session Reliability and Validity of Overhand Ball Throw Test to Evaluate Power Ability in Junior Tennis Players

"ABSTRACT. Introduction: Coaches should be able to estimate successfully different physical attributes of junior tennis player’s performance such as power, in order to monitor players’ progress and to design the most appropriate training program. However, this process requires reliable and valid field tests. Objective: Aim of this study was to examine absolute and relative reliability of overhand ball throw (OBT) test within testing session and to investigate its validity. Methods: 257 Hungarian junior boy and girl tennis players (aged 11- 17) separated into four groups, performed OBT and serve speed (SS) tests of standardised protocol. Results: Dependent sample t-test revealed no significant (p= 0.31-57>0.05) difference between test and retest sample means within testing session and magnitude of effect size (dz=0.1-0.5) were trivial for all groups. Furthermore, all groups had low typical percentage error (CV= 3-4 %), and standard error of measurement values was consistently low (SEM= 0.12- 0.18). Within test-retest consistency illustrated strong relative reliability (ICC= 0.98-0.99). Moreover, significantly large to very large positive correlations were found between OBT and SS (r= 0.57-0.81; p˂0.01) tests. The coefficient of determination indicated that OBT explained 32-65% of the SS for groups. Conclusions: These findings suggest that absolute and relative reliability of OBT test is high within testing session and validity of OBT test is acceptable for measuring power ability of flat serve execution in junior tennis players."

Topographical Prominence of the Peaks from Făgăraș Mountains (Romania) with Relevance to the Mountain Activities. Methodological and Practical Aspects

ABSTRACT. The peaks of the mountains have aroused the interest of people since ancient times. The route to get there, the difficulty of climbing, the view that was visible to the eyes there were challenges for everyone. And these turmoils, generated, over time, a special activity that targeted the mountain tops, mountaineering. From the moment Mont Blanc was conquered (Balmat, Paccard, 1786), then Everest (Hillary, Tenzing, 1953), mountain lovers are constantly looking to reach the peaks, to get drunk with ephemeral success, and become conquerors of useless (Terray, 1961). But the peaks, in addition to being bastions that need to be attacked, are also distinguished by geomorphometric approaches, and one of these approaches is the prominence, a parameter that represents the level difference by which a peak jumps over its base from the surrounding regions. Therefore, the higher this jump, the more important the tip is for mountaineers, and the more it should be included in the list. In this context, this paper aims to analyze and establish the prominence of the peaks of the most coveted mountain massif in the Romanian Carpathians, namely Făgăraș Mountains, highlighting a practical side of the problem, materialized by the methodological approach included in the research.

Correlation of Body Mass Index, Skeletal Muscle, Subcutaneous and Visceral Adipose Tissue in Healthy Adults: A Cross Sectional Study

ABSTRACT. Introduction. Obesity is one of the 21st century major health challenges. Adipose tissue is distributed in different proportions in the human body depending on where it is located in the body. The purpose of the research. This study aims to determine the relationship between body mass index, skeletal muscle, subcutaneous and visceral adipose tissue in case of first year students of Partium Christian University from Oradea. Subjects and methods. The research included a sample group of 112 students. The analysis of the body composition was performed using the method of bioelectrical impedance. Results. The registered data reveal that 23% of the subjects were overweight or obese and 15% had a low percentage of skeletal muscle. Conclusions. In case of both genders there is a significant negative correlation between the percentage of skeletal muscle and subcutaneous adipose tissue and a significant negative correlation between the percentage of skeletal muscle and visceral adipose tissue.

The Impact of Covid-19 On Sport Organizations in Caraș-Severin County

ABSTRACT. Background: The beginning of 2020, more precisely the month of March, when the Covid-19 pandemic was declared, represents the beginning of one of the darkest pages in the history of world sport. The reason is a well-known one, namely the fact that the implementation of measures to prevent the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus have led to the cessation of competitions and the training process, for certain periods of time, in almost all sports. The aim of this study was to see how these measures have influenced the sports activity in Romania, especially that of the sports organizations from Caraş-Severin County (C-S). Thus, a number of 43 sports organizations from CS County were targeted, of which 39.3% being clubs/associations that work only at the level of children and juniors, 12.5% are clubs/associations that have only senior team, and 48.2% are clubs/associations that have both senior team and children/junior teams. All participants agreed that information could be processed and used for scientific purpose, and the study has obtained Research Ethics Approval from The Scientific Council of the Babeș-Bolyai University of Cluj-Napoca. Methods: An online questionnaire survey was conducted, with 31 items, which aimed to outline an accurate picture of the existing situation among sports organizations, which was the situation of sports competitions in 2020, respectively the 2019-2020 season, which was the situation of the training process in the 10 pandemic months of 2020, but more importantly, what are the current situation of the training process and that of the competitive system. Results: Compared to the sports activity carried out at the level of CS county, a number of 8 team sports and a number of 12 individual sports were taken into account, the answers offered being in proportion of 73% from the coaches from team sports, and 27% from individual sports coaches. It was observed that in team sports 78% of the respondents showed that the 2020-2021 competitive season had not yet started until January 2021, while 14.6% it started and was interrupted. Only 7.3% of the teams are in full competition season, the 2020-2021 championship not being embodied due to the Covid-19 pandemic. It was also found that after the resumption of stopped training, as a result of the application of measures to prevent the spread of the pandemic, the number of children decreased both in individual sports and team games. Conclusion: Based on the results, we can see the negative impact of sports organizations that are in the lower leagues, as well as those that are at the level of children and juniors. The fact that training has not been resumed, the measures imposed by the pandemic, the fear induced by a possible infection with the SARS-CoV-2 virus can cause the disappearance of a significant number of sports organizations, which will have a negative effect not only on the performance sport, but also on the level of public health.

Study of Sports Motivation of Students from the Technical University of Cluj-Napoca

ABSTRACT. Introduction: The purpose of this article is to analyze the motivation to practice sports and physical activities among university students. Objectives: To identify the perceived reasons, as well as the existing differences between the students from the Technical University of Cluj-Napoca, regarding the motivation to practice sports and physical activities, depending on the gender and the area of residence. Methods: To find out what motivates university students to take part in various physical sports activities, we conducted a study in the academic year 2019-2020, with 257 participants. The method of quantitative research and the technique of administering questionnaires by sociological survey was used. The research tool was the Sports Motivation Scale-6 (SMS-6; Mallett et al., 2007), which is an evaluation of contextual motivation meant to ascertain the perceived reasons for practicing sports activities. Results: Regarding the behavior of practicing sports among students at the Technical University of Cluj-Napoca, male students are more motivated compared to female students and intrinsic motivation is predominant compared to other types of motivation. The area of residence does not seem to influence differently the motivation of students to practice sports, the scores obtained on each type of motivation being very close between the respondents from rural and urban areas. Conclusions: Physical education and sports are perceived by some students as a school obligation (external motivation), by others as a recreational, compensatory or recovery activity, while for most of them it means fun, a way to meet new people and to enjoy their company (intrinsic motivation).

The Influence of an 8-Week Training Program with Small-Sided Games on the Anaerobic Capacity of Junior Football Players

"ABSTRACT. Introduction. The level of development of anaerobic capacity at footballers requires the achievement of sporting performance. Objective. The study analyses whether the anaerobic capacity is developed as a result of the participation of the athletes in a training program with small-sided football games. Methods. A group of 40 athletes aged 16-18 years old were grouped in two equal teams, named: experimental group (EG) and control group (CG). During the period of the study, which was between 5.01.2021 – 27.02. 2021, the two groups were exposed to different training programs: the EG in a smallsided football games training program and the CG in a classic way. The following technology was used: Hosand GT.a – to measure HR – and the WittyGateMicrogate2 system for timing of the stress sample. Subjects took the YYIRTL1 sample. SPSS program, variant 23 was used for statistical analysis of the data. Results. The results taken in the initial test (IT) between the two groups had no statistical significance in YYIRTL1 field sample was concerned, but there could be noticed significant differences in the final test (FT) for the parameter indicating the hold time in the anaerobic zone>81%HRmax (U = 67.50, N1 = 20, N2 = 20, twotailed p = .000336, d = 1.46). Conclusions. The study shows that the anaerobic capacity of subjects has developed through the implementation of an 8-week period program where small-sided football games have been used."

Useful Tools to Predict Future Performance? Analysis of Former Individually Prized Young Selected Male Basketball Players

"Success in team sports foremostly depends on individual performance and the cooperation of the team members. We aimed to investigate the individual performance changes of youth awarded basketball players from youth to senior national team level. For this purpose we examined four game-related basketball statistics: Minutes Played (MP), Points Scored (PS), Rebounds (REB), and Assists (AST) both in youth and senior level with regression analysis. We collected all the individually prized players of former youth European Championships available on the most reliable websites (N=323). We used descriptive statistical methods and also investigated correlation between their prized performance and their senior peak performance on national level (p<0.01). Our analysis showed that a larger amount of the previously awarded players became member of their senior national team (58%, n=188). 90.71% of the awarded players (n=293) were the first or second best scoring leader of their own team in their youth prime. We found moderate significant correlation between youth rebounds and senior rebounds, also youth assists and senior assists, but only weak correlation between youth and senior Minutes Played and Points Scored. From this aspect getting awards on youth level can boost an athlete’s career, but it doesn’t mean to reach the same peak when they are selected to the senior squads as time and age are dominant background variables, an extended analysis is needed in the future."

Back School Program: Development of Back Care Knowledge and Spine Disease Prevention and Trunk State Among 6-7-Year-Old Children

ABSTRACT. Introduction: The prevalence of posture deformities and muscle weakness among primary school children is high (50-65%). Objective: To assess and improve the back care knowledge and spine disease prevention, the strength of the trunk muscles, the flexibility of the lower limb muscles, the posture, and the lumbar motor control ability of primary school children by a 1-school year back school program. Methods: 102 (mean age: 6.549±0.500 years) children were examined at the baseline, and 48 (23 boys, 25 girls) were chosen for the program. Back care knowledge was examined by validated questionnaire, trunk muscle strength, and muscle flexibility by Lehmann tests, posture by New York Posture Rating Chart, and lumbar motor control by Sitting Forward Lean Test. Results: The complete back care knowledge (2.423±3.911, 19.115±2.833 points; p<0.001), trunk flexor (3.615±7.910, 56.885±113.748 sec; p<0.001), trunk extensor (8.962±5.963, 77.000±139.801 sec; p<0.001) static muscle strength, lower limb flexibility (p<0.001), habitual posture (53.846±10.130, 81.154±9.829 points; p<0.001), posture deemed correct 40.962±16.311, 91.346±6.566 points; p<0.001) and lumbar motor control (8.269±5.474, 0.154±0.368 mm; p<0.001) significantly improved in the intervention group for the end of the program. Conclusions: The back school program improves the back care knowledge and the trunk state among 6-7 years old children.

THE IMPORTANCE OF USING CIRCUIT TRAINING IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF CONDITIONAL AND COORDINATIVE ABILITIES OF MALE U17 HANDBALL PLAYERS

Introduction. The necessity of a proper physical training of athletes and their harmonious development of also implies making them accustomed with the practice of circuit training within handball specific training sessions. This ensures the mastery of a complex set of exercises and its methods of execution. Aims: We started from the premise that the chaining of several handball specific exercises within a training circuit can be beneficial for the development of conditional and coordinative abilities of the male U17 handball players. Methods: The method used was mainly the experimental one, speed testing in different directions was performed, with emphasis on execution, acceleration and force speed, as well as agility and general coordination. Data interpretation was performed by applying the statistical-mathematical method, the method of graphical representations. Results: The results show a statistically significant difference between mean results obtained by the subjects of the two groups in the "Training circuit 1" test for testing speed in different directions, with emphasis on execution, acceleration and force speed, as well as agility and general coordination, the average being 31.98 sec. for the experiment group and 34.48 sec. for the control group. As a result, the average of the experiment group is lower by 2.51 sec. (7.27%). Conclusions: The higher the motor skill indicators, the more the technical-tactical abilities of male U17 handball players will make the difference in achieving maximum efficiency.

CORRECTION OF LEARNING DISORDERS BY OPTIMIZING THE DEVELOPMENT OF SPATIAL AND TEMPORAL ORIENTATION

Learning to read, write and calculate are proving to be some of the most significant cognitive processes in early education. The objective of this systematic review is to explore the associations between the psychomotor component and the academic achievement in writing, reading, and mathematics. An organized and methodical research of electronic databases was completed in order to determine significant studies. Twenty eligible articles were strictly evaluated, with extracted and summarized keywords. The two components of the psychomotor activity that influence reading were primarily the orientation ability and the fine motor skill, which is the one responsible for the correct spelling of “mirror-writing”. Differences in motor function were observed after intervention programmes. The results of all researchers have shown that there is a link between dysgraphia, dyslexia and the orientation ability or visual perception. Meanwhile, the role of cognitive and motor skills that underpinned mathematical performance was highlighted, and children who had a high capacity for spatial and visual orientation benefited from a better understanding and perception of geometric figures. However, the importance of students'''' spatial reasoning in relation to mathematics was identified, but only in terms of geometry. Poor quality of spatial notions has been found to be one of the causes of delay in the acquisition of reading, writing and mathematical calculation. The role of fine motor skills in the writing process was also noted, being of real importance in times when the child manipulates the writing tool and puts a word or a sentence on the page.