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Background. It is known that at present in the volleyball game there is no perfect balance between the moments of attack and defense, the latter having a significant role in victory. The more frequent the sequence of the two, the more the game becomes attractive and spectacular. Attacking moments must be completed by a winning point; their failure can cause disruption in the team's mechanism, with further significant consequences, especially when they occur repeatedly. Aims. We believe that by using specially designed methods, based on attention training, we could improve the percentage of successful attacking shots; by alternating forceful attacking moves with placed ones, a state of uncertainty will be created in the defending team's game and the possession of the ball will be altered. Methods. The research study was conducted with two women's volleyball teams, similar in value, playing in the North series of the A2 Republican championship: the experimental group 1 (n=12), which followed an attention training program aimed at improving the efficiency of a placed attacking shot (CSU LPS Oradea), and the control group 2 (n=12), which followed a traditional training program (CNE CSS Baia Mare). To improve attention training we used a number of ten exercises that are part of a complex technical and tactical training. To quantify the results we used SPSS 17.0, mixed ANOVA, Student test for independent and paired samples, and, for assessing placed attacking shots, the so-called composite index. Results. The data regarding the evolution of the placed attacking shot that was subject to this analysis show the improvement of the value of this method of attack as a trend for the experimental group (Lap 1=.069) and (Lap 2=.067), which means that our intervention favors improvements in placed attacking shots, as compared with the control group whose evolution was in the normal range for this game action, and followed the traditional training method. Conclusions. If the index of significance of the difference of averages between the two evaluation moments for Lap 1 and Lap 2 are in the trending level just for the experimental group, a continuation of this study through a longer term approach of this attention method or through a restructuring of the exercise included in the intervention program should be considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. The authors present the relationship between specific means and parameters of effort in performance weightlifters' training. Ensuring an optimum relationship of technical, physical training means and effort parameters during training sessions have proved to lead to better performances achieved in competition. This approach entailed the organization of a study within the Weightlifting Olympic Team. Goals. The scientific argument is the presentation of the specific means used in performance weightlifters' training in the competitive period which, by providing an optimum relationship of technical and physical training and effort parameters during workouts, contribute to the increase of athletic performances in competition. Methods. The study was conducted throughout a mezzo-cycle of competitive training (2.03.09-12.04.09) formed of 6 micro-cycles, applied to a group of 6 senior athletes, 20 to 24 years old. We monitored athletes' evolution in the competitive period, during workouts and contest. Statistical processing was performed with Word and "KyPlot" programs. Results. The study emphasizes the relation of specific means and effort parameters in the pre-competitive mezzo-cycle of performance weightlifting. The review of training specific means shared in a competitive mezzo-cycle revealed a gradual decrease of reps number in each training micro-cycle. In terms of training means shareed within the competitive mezzo-cycle, an average of 43.4% at technical training and 56.6%, at physical training was evidenced. The review of performances achieved in competition by the subjects of the study in the European Championships for Se-niors - Bucharest highlighted the participation of 6 senior athletes, whose best performances were the 2nd place at snatch lift, 4th place at clean and jerk and 5th place total lifts, won by the athlete MN, 69 kg class. Conclusions. Effort intensity throughout a competitive training micro-cycle emphasizes the variability of parameters in terms of loads volume during workouts and the intensity of training means application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. It is necessary to maintain the physical condition through exercise, which develop mechanisms of adaptation to current and future stress, mechanisms that are favourable for the mental condition, as well as specific mechanisms for increasing the physical condition. Aims. Biochemical causes of oxidative stress were studied pre- and post training on urinary and salivary indicators in athletes. Methods. Research was conducted on one batch of players with a mean average age of 19.44 ± 0.38 years and weight 67.70 ± 4.64 kg, during the competition. Biochemical oxidative stress was studied on balance indicators of the oxidant/antioxidant in salivate and urine, pre- and post training. Results. In 21 pre-training (T1 initial) versus pre-training values from day 1 (T0 initial), significant decreases in MDA and a significant decreases in HD were found in urine; significant increases in MDA and a significant decreases in HD were found in saliva. On day 21 post-training (T1 final) versus post-training values from day 1 (T0 final), significant decreases in MDA and a significant decreases of HD were found in urine; significant increases of MDA and significant decreases in HD were found in saliva. A weak correlation between indicators of oxidants/antioxidants balance within the times T0 and T1 was generally evidenced. Conclusions. Pre-training day 21 shows a significant decrease in urinary MDA and a significant increase in saliva, while a significant decrease in urinary and salivary HD were compared to pre-training values from day 1. Physical training is a physical neuromuscular and oxidative urinary eustress factor and salivary oxidative biochemical distress factor. Changes in oxidative stress, studied non-invasively in the urine and saliva in athletes, recommends these fluids for exploring the biochemistry of stress in training and monitoring effort. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. The battery of control tests should cover, from the information point of view, the events' main factors (not only the motor ones) and it should be interpreted in a compensative way. To be relevant, the tests have to be correlated with the sports event. Aims. We aimed at verifying to what extent the control tests and norms that evaluate the discus, hammer, javelin and shot put throwers' strength, as stated by the Romanian Athletic Federation, correspond to the throwing events and if these events are relevant or useless for an efficient management of the training and competition levels. Methods. We extracted from the coaches' and the athletes' notebooks, as well as from the centralized data of the Romanian Athletic Federation, the top competition results and the control tests measuring the strength over a 3-year period (2004-2007), for the best Romanian male and female discus, hammer, javelin and shot put throwers, in different stages of the centralized training. We took into account the control tests made three weeks before the major competition. The results were graphically and analytically processed, by using statistical functions (the measurands' correlation, regression labeling). Results. Javelin throw: the snatch weightlifting test is significant for the predictive model; the up-and-down weightlifting test is not conclusive for the predictive model. Shot put: the up-and-down weightlifting test is conclusive. The closer the result to one's own record or even better, the greater the chance to get a good result in the competition to come; the prone pushing event shows that this control test is significantly correlated to the competition result and that it could be considered in the predictive calculation of the result in the following competition. Hammer throw: the correlation between the snatch weightlifting control test and the result in the proximal contest is significant at a 95% reliability threshold. A result demonstrating the significant increase in the snatch event provides a relatively great probability of getting a good result in the competition. Discus throw: the snatch weightlifting control test is adequate to the prediction, any significant increase providing better chances to get a good result in the proximal competition; the up-and-down event is not possible to be taken into consideration for a predictive model, but only for a model to diagnose the general physical training level. Conclusions. The significant tests are: snatch - for the javelin throw; ups-and-downs and prone pushing - for the shot put; snatch - for the discus throw; rowed pulls and snatch - for the hammer throw. The events with a very reduced power of prognosticating the competition results immediately after their application are: pushed at the neck - for the shot put; put on the chest, back kips, pushed ups-and-downs - for the hammer throw; ups-and-downs, prone pushing - for the discus throw. A series of events are correlated among them: snatch to put on the chest and back kips and backward shot put; ups-and-downs to shot put. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. We added to the training of 12-14 year old football players some athletic methods with the intention of raising the level of general and special physical preparation of juniors and in turn leading to a better assimilation of the technique and structure of running, which are so necessary for football players and, especially for the development of the speed, expressed both in objective indexes specific to athletics (time, distance), and in the game of football. Aims. To establish the specific physical preparation of young football players as well as to measure the efficiency of using athletic methodology during football players' trainings. Methods. This study was initiated two years ago and its subjects are the 22 players of the FC Bihor C junior team. The research methods used were observation, tests and experiments. The tests comprised development in the speed of racing 30 and 50 cm distances and also in the speed distance of 4 x 10m which is specific to football. Results. With regard to the speed in the 30 and 50 m distances, a considerable improvement of the time (p < 0.05 or p < 0.01) between the initial and the final testing was obtained. We observed the same progress with the speed that is specific to football (4 x 10 m). Conclusions. The team that used during their training some athletic methods adapted for use in football made considerable progress in all three distances. The correct assimilation of the running technique can contribute to the increasing of the quality of the training process, determining the improvement of physical preparation and providing the foundation for perfecting technical and tactic skills. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]