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This study investigated the effects of 10 weeks of recreational football training on the leg-extensor force-velocity (F-V) profile in 55- to 70-year-old adults. Simultaneous effects on functional capacity, body composition and endurance exercise capacity were examined. Forty participants (age 63.5 ± 3.9 years; 36♂ 4♀) were randomized in a football training (FOOT, n = 20) and a control (CON, n = 20) group. FOOT performed 45-min to 1-h of football training sessions with small-sided games twice a week. Pre- and post-intervention assessments were performed. The results revealed a greater increase in maximal velocity (d = 0.62, p(int) = 0.043) in FOOT compared to CON. No interaction effects were found for maximal power and force (p(int) > 0.05). 10-m fast walk improved more (d = 1.39, p(int) < 0.001), 3-step stair ascent power (d = 0.73, p(int) = 0.053) and body fat percentage (d = 0.61, p(int) = 0.083) tended to improve more in FOOT than in CON. RPE and HR values at the highest speed level during a submaximal graded treadmill test decreased more in FOOT compared to CON (RPE: d = 0.96, p(int) = 0.005; HR: d = 1.07, p(int) = 0.004). Both the number of accelerations and decelerations as well as the distance spent in moderate- and high-speed zones increased markedly throughout the 10-week period (p < 0.05). Participants perceived the sessions as very enjoyable and feasible. In conclusion, recreational football training resulted in improved leg-extensor velocity production, which translated to a better performance on functional capacity tests that rely on a high execution velocity. Simultaneously, exercise tolerance was improved and body fat percentage tended to reduce. It appears that short-term recreational football training can induce broad-spectrum health benefits in 55- to 70-year-old adults with only 2 hours of training per week.

Additional file 3. Results of Risk of Bias assessment. This file contains the detailed results of the risk of bias assessment.

Additional file 9. Detailed results of the meta-analyses using partial correlation coefficients. This file contains the complete output of the random-effects meta-analysis (main and secondary analysis) using partial correlation coefficients.

Additional file 2. Definition of variables on income and area deprivation. This file contains details of how the variables on income and area deprivation were defined.

Additional file 6. Equity-specific baseline MVPA levels. This file contains information on equity-specific baseline MVPA levels (main and secondary analysis).

Additional file 7. General and equity-specific intervention effects. This file contains the results of the general, gender-, and education-specific intervention effect analysis at T1 derived from the minimally adjusted models as well as the results of the secondary and sensitivity analyses on general and equity-specific intervention effects.

Additional file 1. Characteristics of intervention studies included in the collaboration. This file contains a table in which characteristics of the included intervention studies are summarized.

Additional file 5. Equity-specific dropout. This file contains the results of the secondary analysis on equity-specific dropout.

Additional file 8. Detailed results of the meta-analyses using raw coefficients. This file contains the complete output of the random-effects meta-analysis (main and secondary analysis) using raw coefficients.

Additional file 4. Equity-specific intervention adherence. This file contains the detailed results of the equity-specific intervention adherence analyses (main and secondary analysis).

In contrast to the many studies in the business setting, few sport scientists have studied the predictors of athletes’ perception of justice. The present research aimed to determine the role of the interpersonal style of coaches (autonomy support) in enhancing perceived justice and its impact on satisfaction and performance. More precisely, two independent studies examined whether perceived justice mediated the relation between autonomy support on the one hand and athletes’ satisfaction and their self-rated progression on the other hand. In Study 1, female team dancers (N=145) completed questionnaires assessing autonomy support, justice, and satisfaction. In Study 2, male handball players (N=102) completed the same questionnaire extended with self-rated progression. Structural equation modeling revealed a positive link between athletes’ perceived autonomy support of the coach and perceived justice. Subsequently, procedural-interactional justice predicted higher levels of satisfaction and self-rated progression, while a significant indirect effect was found from autonomy support to satisfaction. Measurement and path invariance tests showed that the measurement scales and structural models were invariant across both samples. These findings signify the importance of autonomy support and perceived justice to optimize team athletes’ satisfaction and consequently their progression. ispartof: International Journal Of Sports Science & Coaching vol:16 issue:1 pages:27-43 status: Published online

Reducing social inequalities in physical activity (PA) has become a priority for public health. However, evidence concerning the impact of interventions on inequalities in PA is scarce. This study aims to develop and test the application of a strategy for re-analyzing equity-specific effects of existing PA intervention studies in middle-aged and older adults, as part of an international interdisciplinary collaboration. This article aims to describe (1) the establishment and characteristics of the collaboration, and (2) the jointly developed equity-specific re-analysis strategy as a first result of the collaboration. To develop the strategy, a collaboration based on a convenience sample of eight published studies of individual-level PA interventions among the general population of adults aged &ge, 45 years was initiated (UK, n = 3, The Netherlands, n = 3, Belgium, n = 1, Germany, n = 1). Researchers from these studies participated in a workshop and subsequent e-mail correspondence. The developed strategy will be used to investigate social inequalities in intervention adherence, dropout, and efficacy. This will allow for a comprehensive assessment of social inequalities within intervention benefits. The application of the strategy within and beyond the collaboration will help to extend the limited evidence regarding the effects of interventions on social inequalities in PA among middle-aged and older adults.

In drie verschillende overheidsgebouwen in Brussel hebben we onze onderzoeksexpertise in het nudgen van trapgebruik aangewend om contextspecifieke interventies te ontwikkelen en te evalueren. De eerste twee interventies waren kleine pilootprojecten: een op het kabinet van de Vlaamse minister-president en een in het Boudewijngebouw. Daarna volgde een grootschalige derde interventiestudie in het nieuwe Herman Teirlinckgebouw. Deze drie interventiestudies hadden als doel na te gaan of een combinatie van situatiespecifieke nudges gericht op het creëren van een injunctieve norm om de trap te nemen het trapgebruik van werknemers van de Vlaamse overheid zou verhogen. In het algemeen kunnen we besluiten dat de effecten van onze nudginginterventies op trapgebruik in twee van de drie onderzochte contexten beperkt waren. Daarvoor zijn er een aantal technische redenen maar we leerden ook dat het implementeren van de juiste combinatie en dosis van nudges moeilijker is dan men vaak denkt. Bovendien lijkt het design van het gebouw de belangrijkste determinant van het trapgebruik te zijn. Het design van het gebouw vormt immers de sterkste nudge die men kan bedenken. ispartof: Vlaams Tijdschrift voor Overheidsmanagement vol:23 issue:04 pages:21-32 status: published

Questionnaire used during the measurement sessions (DOCX 50 kb)

Effective leadership is perceived as a key factor for optimal team functioning. The present study aimed to identify the characteristics of athlete leaders with respect to four different leadership roles (i.e., task leader, motivational leader, social leader, and external leader), while recognizing the surrounding team context. Furthermore, we aimed to identify the most decisive characteristics for a player’s perceived leadership quality on each of these leadership roles. An on-line survey was completed by 4451 players and coaches within nine different team sports in Flanders (Belgium). The present study assessed leaders’ characteristics in comparison with the other players in the team. The findings revealed two decisive characteristics for athlete leaders’ perceived leadership quality: (1) the impact on teammates’ team confidence, and (2) being socially well accepted by the other players. Furthermore, informal leaders outscored the team captain on all leadership characteristics, except team tenure. The study findings were similar for both players and coaches in male and female teams. ispartof: Athletic Insight: Online Journal of Sport Psychology vol:12 issue:1 pages:21-51 status: published

In order for a sports team to function optimally, it is essential to avoid motivational losses due to working in a group, also known as social loafing. Ideally, team members can even show an increase in individual effort because of working in a group, which is labeled social laboring. The present study investigated the impact of the leadership qualities of the team captain on social laboring in an elite cycling context. In addition, we examined the underlying process of this effect by focusing on team identification as mediator of the relationship between transformational leadership and social laboring. Participants were 55 male cyclists at the highest competitive level of professional cycling. Structural Equation Modeling demonstrated that the more the captain was perceived as leading by example, the more teammates reported social laboring. This positive relationship was fully mediated by team identification. This finding supports the Social Identity Approach of Leadership, which proposes that social identification is the explanatory process through which contemporary leaders deliver their outcomes. ispartof: International Journal of Sport Psychology vol:47 issue:4 pages:355-372 status: published