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Wrestling events included in the Olympic Games have different weigth classes. Most wrestlers reduce thir body weigth a few days before competition so they can enter the right weight category. Often they use irrational nutritional strategies to make the weight, sometimes even drastically reducing their water intake. The purpose of this study was the knowledge about influence of pre-competition level of hydration on mucle propperties in elite wrestlers.

JOURNAL OF STRENGTH AND CONDITIONING RESEARCH , núm. 27 issue 11, pág. 2946-2951, 2013, Suarez-Arrones, L, Portillo, LJ, García, JM, Calvo-Lluch, A, Roberts, SP, and Mendez-Villanueva, A. Running demands and heart rate response in rugby union referees. J Strength Cond Res 27(11): 2946?2951, 2013?The aim of this study was to examine the match physical demands and exercise intensity associated with men rugby union refereeing using global positioning system technology. Ten male rugby union referees (age, 37.1 ± 5.9 years; body mass, 83.7 ± 4.8 kg; height, 175.5 ± 6.2 cm) were analyzed 2?4 times during a total of 30 national level matches. The average total distance covered by the referees throughout the game was 6,322.2 ± 564.9 m. As a percentage of total distance, 37.3% (2,356.9 ± 291.3 m) was spent walking, 24.1% (1,524.4 ± 229.4 m) jogging, 10.4% (656.2 ± 130.7 m) running at low intensity, 17.6% (1,110.3 ± 212.2 m) at medium intensity, 5.5% (347.1 ± 27.1 m) at high intensity, and 5.2% (328.1 ± 230.3 m) at sprint. A significant decrease (p < 0.05) in running performance was observed between the first and the second halves in the last 3 speed zones. When the total distance traveled during consecutive 10-minute periods was compared, there was a significantly greater distance covered in the first 10 minutes of the game (876.3 ± 163 m) compared with 50?60 minutes (679.8 ± 117.6 m), 60?70 minutes (713.03 ± 122.3 m), and 70?80 minutes (694.2 ± 125.7 m; all p < 0.05). The average heart rate responses were similar (p > 0.05) in the first (157 ± 7 b·min−1; 85% HRmax) and second half (155 ± 7 b·min−1; 84% HRmax). This study provides evidence of reduced high-intensity running toward the end of the game. These findings offer important information to design better training strategies adapted to the requirements and demands of rugby union refereeing.

The aim of this study was to examine the acute effects of two resistance exercises on 25m freestyle swimming performance. Twenty-eight regional and national male swimmers volunteered and were randomly assigned to one of three groups: Resistance Swimming Group (RS): (n=9; 16.2 ± 3.8 yr), Elastic Band Group (EB): (n=9; 15.9 ± 4.0 yr.), and Control Group (C) (n=10; 15.7 ± 2.2 yr). Swimmers completed a 25m swim trial at baseline. Subsequently, RS performed resisted crawl swimming with 30% of maximum load (1RM) in a power rack for 12m and 30 seconds later a 25m maximal swim trial. EB performed 10 seconds of arm freestyle strokes with elastic bands and 30 seconds later a 25m maximal swim trial. C performed only the second 25m maximal swim trial. Each group repeated this protocol four times, with two minutes of rest between repetitions. A two-way ANOVA revealed no significant differences in 25m swimming times between groups for any of the repetitions performed, and there were no significant differences in 25m swimming times between the repetitions within each group. The results showed that the resistance exercises performed in this study before the 25m swim trials did not affect swimming times.