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Purpose: To investigate differences in athletes’ knowledge, beliefs, and training practices during COVID-19 lockdowns with reference to sport classification and sex. This work extends an initial descriptive evaluation focusing on athlete classification. Methods: Athletes (12,526; 66% male; 142 countries) completed an online survey (May–July 2020) assessing knowledge, beliefs, and practices toward training. Sports were classified as team sports (45%), endurance (20%), power/technical (10%), combat (9%), aquatic (6%), recreational (4%), racquet (3%), precision (2%), parasports (1%), and others (1%). Further analysis by sex was performed. Results: During lockdown, athletes practiced body-weight-based exercises routinely (67% females and 64% males), ranging from 50% (precision) to 78% (parasports). More sport-specific technical skills were performed in combat, parasports, and precision (∼50%) than other sports (∼35%). Most athletes (range: 50% [parasports] to 75% [endurance]) performed cardiorespiratory training (trivial sex differences). Compared to prelockdown, perceived training intensity was reduced by 29% to 41%, depending on sport (largest decline: ∼38% in team sports, unaffected by sex). Some athletes (range: 7%–49%) maintained their training intensity for strength, endurance, speed, plyometric, change-of-direction, and technical training. Athletes who previously trained ≥5 sessions per week reduced their volume (range: 18%–28%) during lockdown. The proportion of athletes (81%) training ≥60 min/session reduced by 31% to 43% during lockdown. Males and females had comparable moderate levels of training knowledge (56% vs 58%) and beliefs/attitudes (54% vs 56%). Conclusions: Changes in athletes’ training practices were sport-specific, with few or no sex differences. Team-based sports were generally more susceptible to changes than individual sports. Policy makers should provide athletes with specific training arrangements and educational resources to facilitate remote and/or home-based training during lockdown-type events.

The purpose of the study was to compare the degree of intersubject variability in the cardiorespiratory, metabolic, and perceptual responses to high‐intensity interval training (HIIT) prescribed based on the relative anaerobic speed reserve (ASR) or maximal aerobic speed (MAS) and to identify the optimal % ASR for execution of such HIIT. Seventeen male physical education students (age: 23.6 ± 1.1 years, height: 180.2 ± 5.9, body mass: 78.3 ± 8.1 kg ; % body fat: 14.3 ± 2.7%) volunteered to execute three randomly scheduled 10‐min HIIT exercises at 110% vVO2max, Δ15% ASR, or Δ25% ASR. Analysis of variance for repeated measures and the least significant difference post‐hoc test were used to compare the physiological responses and the mean of individual residuals between the training sessions. The coefficients of variation (CV) of time spent ≥90% of maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) and maximal heart rate (HRmax), peak VO2, mean VO2, peak HR, mean HR, blood lactate [La], and rating of perceived exertion (RPE) were 48.7%, 35.9%, 9.3%, 7%, 3.5%, 4.8%, 32%, and 16.9% during 110% vVO2max, 47.2%, 31%, 7.5%, 6.7%, 3.9%, 4.6%, 24.2%, and 14.6% during Δ15% ASR, and 48.1%, 31.5%, 7.6%, 8.4%, 3.6%, 4.1%, 20.2%, and 3.4% during Δ25% ASR session, respectively. Only the residuals in RPE were significantly (p < 0.001) higher in 110% vVO2max and Δ15% ASR in comparison to Δ25% ASR. Time spent ≥90% HRmax/VO2max was maximized during Δ15% ASR session, albeit this was not significantly different from other sessions. The ASR‐based method leads to reduced CVs of physiological and perceptual responses during 10‐ min HIIT ; however, only reductions in [La] and RPE may be considered practically meaningful. Practitioners can use vVO2max for prescription of 10‐min HIIT session comprised of 15‐s work and passive recovery intervals.

To set targeted training intensities, graded maximal or submaximal testing outcomes such as ventilatory threshold (VT) are used. Since physiological responses to exercise and testing differ between men and women, information on testing procedures to identify VT specifically tailored for female athletes could be helpful to optimize training strategies.

This study was intended to investigate the associations between session Ratings of Perceived Exertion (sRPE) and Edwards’ training load (TL) and Banister training impulse (TRIMP) in order to determine the validity of the sRPE method for TL assessment in karate kata discipline. Eight elite karate kata athletes, members of the national karate team, took part in this study. A multistage 20 m shuttle run test was performed to determine maximal heart rate (HRmax). Subsequently, the subjects performed 3 different kata training sessions separated by minimally 48 hours. To calculate Edwards TL, Banister TRIMP and sRPE, heart rate (HR) was continuously monitored during the sessions and RPE of the entire session was collected 30 minutes after each training session. The Pearson correlation coefficient (r) was used for determining associations between TL variables. Edwards TL (p = 0.064) and Banister TRIMP (p = 0.102) were not, but sRPE was significantly different between each training session (p < 0.001). There were no significant correlations between sRPE and Edwards TL (r = 0.53, p = 0.18) or Banister TRIMP (r = 0.13, p = 0.77) when data from all training sessions were pooled. A significant correlation was obtained between sRPE and Edwards TL (r = 0.71, p = 0.04) in situational training session, whereas in technical training session sRPE was significantly correlated with Banister TRIMP (r = 0.82, p = 0.01). HR-based methods for TL assessment are not able to discriminate between kata training sessions and, therefore, sRPE may be more useful for coaches to monitor TL in karate kata athletes.

Training intensity distribution is important to training program design. The zones 1 to 2 boundary can be defined by the Talk Test and the rating of perceived exertion. The zones 2 to 3 boundary can be defined by respiratory gas exchange, maximal lactate steady state, or, more simply, by critical speed (CS). The upper boundary of zone 3 is potential defined by the velocity at maximum oxygen uptake (vVO2max), although no clear strategy has emerged to categorize this intensity. This is not normally definable outside the laboratory. Purpose: This study predicts vVO2max from CS, determined from 1 (1.61 km) and 2 (3.22 km) citizen races in well-trained runners. Methods: A heterogeneous group of well-trained runners (N = 22) performed 1- and 2-mile races and were studied during submaximal and maximal treadmill running to measure oxygen uptake, allowing computation of vVO2max. This vVO2max was compared with CS. Results: vVO2max (4.82 [0.53] m·s−1) was strongly correlated with CS (4.37 [0.49] m·s−1; r = .84, standard error of estimate [SEE] = 0.132 m·s−1), 1-mile speed (5.09 [0.51] m·s−1; r = .84, SEE = 0.130 m·s−1), and 2-mile speed (4.68 [0.49] m·s−1; r = .86, SEE = 0.120 m·s−1). Conclusions: CS, calculated from 2 citizen races (or even training time trials), can be used to make reasonable estimates of vVO2max, which can be used in the design of running training programs.

The imposition of COVID-19 lockdown restricted the daily activities of many people, including athletes. This study investigated the training practices of athletes in the Philippines during the first COVID-19 lockdown. A total of 442 athletes answered an online survey (May-July 2020), with questions pertaining to training practices, such as training frequency and duration. Data were analyzed according to: athlete classification (world-class, international, national, state, or recreational), sport category (individual or team), and sex (male or female). During lockdown, significant reductions in training frequency (except recreational, i.e., lower pre-lockdown training) and duration were observed for all athlete classifications. Similarly, training frequency and duration decreased significantly irrespective of sport category and sex. World class athletes appeared to be less affected by lockdown (types of exercise and specific training) as compared to lower-classification athletes. Athletes grouped in accordance with sex and sport category demonstrated little to no difference in training practices during the COVID-19 lockdown. The findings of the current study highlight the challenges experienced by athletes during lockdown, which may aid policy makers in the development of guidelines related to lockdown or lockdown-like situations and establish appropriate support for affected athletes.

When I (C. Foster) was in my teens, I was a runner. While any objective observer would have known that my prospects for Olympic medals or world records were low, I had “delusions of grandeur” and believed that I might find the right combination of knowledge and effort to succeed. That never happened. However, that passion and quest for success led to my professional career. For many of us, the same quest to achieve “the impossible dream” drove our professional careers (only 2 of us [A. Casado and K. Chamari] were Olympians, so we are better as scientists than athletes). This same mindset is, to some degree, the underlying rationale for IJSPP. I asked several of my friends to identify factors necessary for success. In other words, what do we know and what do we need to know? Later, in a more detailed referenced manuscript, we can treat this topic more fully.

For the world of sport, the social protocols instituted in response to the COVID-19 epidemic present several problems. These include the loss of revenue, the disruption of athletic careers, and the inability to train and practice normally. Can sports science provide answers that will help us to understand, and perhaps minimize, the impact of COVID-19? For the last 50 years or so, sports science has been able to contribute to competitive sport, even though sometimes we feel like practice and science are worlds apart. However, as this pandemic is unprecedented in modern history, this time there might be more questions than answers.

This study examined the effects of a 6-week repeated sprint training on redox-based homeostasis and their association with muscle damage. Fifteen male physical education students (aged 20.0±1.0 years; body weight 77.7±6.0 kg; height 181.0±4.4 cm; %body fat 8.7±3.0 %), familiar with intermittent activities, volunteered to participate in the study. Experimental training program consisted of 2-3 sets of 6-10 straight-line or shuttle 20-m repeated sprints with departures every 25 seconds and a 2-minute inter-set passive recovery. The training intervention lasted six weeks during which 18 training sessions were performed. The levels were measured of the following: 15-F2t-isoprostanes in plasma and 24-hour urine; superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase and glutathione reductase in erythrocytes; uric acid and creatine kinase in serum after the first and the penultimate training session. The level of muscle damage following the repeated sprint exercise was not significantly altered (402 to 496 U/L; p=.151) and had no significant associations with the changes in markers depicting redox-homeostasis. A significant increase in plasma 15-F2t-isoprostanes (0.32 to 0.56 ng/mL; p=.026), and a subsequent decrease in glutathione reductase (7.7 to 3.4 U/g Hb; p

Tjelesno vježbanje važno je sredstvo za unapređenje zdravstvenog statusa ljudi. Budući da je kardiorespiratorni fitnes jedna od najvažnijih komponenata zdravstvenog fitnesa, potrebno je pronaći optimalne programe treninga za razvoj te komponente. Radi toga je u posljednje vrijeme iznimno popularan postao visokointenzivni intervalni trening (VIIT). Taj se program treninga sastoji od visokointenzivnih (85 – 95% VO2maks.) intervala rada koji se izmjenjuju s niskointenzivnim (40 – 60% VO2maks.) ili pasivnim intervalima odmora, a optimalni sadržaji za realizaciju treninga uključuju cikličke oblike kretanja. VIIT se može programirati u obliku kratkog i dugog formata, a oba omogućuju maksimiziranje vremena provedenog u zoni maksimalnog aerobnog napora. Uza statistički značajno unapređenje maksimalnog primitka kisika (VO2maks.) ovaj tip treninga utječe i na ostale čimbenike rizika od razvoja kardiovaskularnih bolesti, odnosno klinički značajno smanjuje potkožno masno tkivo, snižava sistolički i dijastolički krvni tlak i razinu glukoze u krvi te pozitivno regulira masnoće u krvi. Učinci treninga mogu se očekivati već nakon nekoliko tjedana vježbanja, a veličina promjena ovisit će o ukupnom volumenu treninga te inicijalnom statusu vježbača. VIIT je siguran program treninga, a brojna istraživanja upućuju na njegovu veću učinkovitost u odnosu prema umjerenointenzivnomu kontinuiranom treningu kod svih populacija. Zbog visokog intenziteta rada za provedbu VIIT-a potrebno je vrlo malo vremena, stoga on postaje vrlo učinkovita trenažna strategija za unapređenje zdravlja budući da je nedostatak vremena najčešće navedena barijera tjelesnom vježbanju. Naposljetku, za postizanje optimalnih rezultata programiranje i provedba programa treninga moraju biti povjereni stručnoj osobi, kineziologu, koji će znati prilagoditi program treninga pojedincu i uvjetima rada., Physical exercise is an important factor for the improvement of general health status. As cardiorespiratory fitness is one of the most important components of health-related physical fitness, it is essential to find optimal training programmes for its development. Recently, high-intensity interval training (HIIT) has become an extremely popular training programme used for that purpose. This training programme consists of high-intensity (85 – 95% VO2max) work intervals which are interspersed with low-intensity (40 – 60% VO2max) or passive recovery intervals with cyclic exercises as optimal training modes. HIIT can involve either short or long interval formats, both of which enable maximization of time spent in maximal aerobic zone. Besides producing significant improvements in maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max), this type of training affects other cardiovascular risk factors and clinically significantly decreases subcutaneous fat, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, and blood glucose levels while positively regulates blood lipids. Training effects can be expected within a few weeks of exercising, with the magnitude of changes depending on the total training volume and the subject’s initial health status. HIIT is a safe training programme that numerous studies have proven to be effectually superior to moderate-intensity continuous training in all populations. HIIT is performed with high intensity and thus requires short session time, which makes it a very time-efficient training strategy for health improvement as lack of time remains one of the most commonly cited barriers to regular physical exercise participation. Finally, for optimal results, training programme has to be created and implemented by an expert, a kinesiologist who will be able to adapt the training programme to the individual and the working conditions.

Even though the IF has been recognized a long time ago as a misleading and flawed measure of research quality, for many reasons (Eston, 2005), and too highly valued by research community (Davies, 2003), we still tend to judge journals by their position on the Journal Citation Report (JCR) list.

Objectives: In addition to being a serious health-hazard, substance-use-and-misuse (SUM) in military forces negatively infl uences physical fi tness and army readiness. The aim of this study was to defi ne the prevalence of SUM, which includes cigarette smoking, alcohol consumption, and multiple SUM (i.e. practice of daily smoking and harmful alcohol drinking), and factors infl uencing SUM in the Croatian Special Army Forces (SAF). Materials and Methods: We studied 73 SAF members. A self-administered validated questionnaire was used to gather socio-demographic and military-professionrelated data, and SUM factors. The associations between studied variables were established by the Chi2 test, and forward conditional logistic regression (FCLR). Results: With less than 40% of daily smokers, smoking was within expected values. Almost 80% of the examinees reported no binge drinking, while 54% reported harmful drinking according to the Alcohol Use Disorders Identifi cation Test scale. Paternity and education level were negatively associated with daily smoking, while higher incidence of daily smoking was found for privates and those who practiced harmful drinking (all at p < 0.05). The FCLR demonstrated a higher risk of harmful alcohol consumption for younger commissioned offi cers (OR for military rank = 5.54, 95% CI: 2.19-13.99; OR for age = 0.85, 95% CI: 0.76-0.95). Conclusion: Although SUM incidence was not alarming compared to the overall population and the previously reported military data, additional efforts are necessary in order to decrease cigarette consumption. The study showed that protective/risk structure of the substance misuse in the military should be investigated specifi cally with regard to particular military services, corps, and socio-cultural environment.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the validity and reliability of equations for predicting maximal values of heart rate (HR) in military personnel.Five hundred and nine members of the Croatian Armed Forces (age 29.1 +/- 5.5 years; height 180.1 +/- 6.6 cm; body mass 83.4 +/- 11.3 kg; maximal oxygen uptake [VO2(max)] 49.7 +/- 6.9 mL O2/kg/min) were tested. The graded exercise test with gas exchange measurements was used to determine VO2(max) and maximum HR (HR(max)). The analysis of variance was used to determine the differences between the equations to calculate HR(max).The analysis of variance yielded statistically significant differences between seven HR equations (p0.05). The values from Stevens Creek's (HR(max) = 205 - [age/2]) and Fox and Haskell's (HR(max) = 220 - age) equations had the highest correlation with the HRmax obtained by the graded exercise test.The authors recommend using the HR(max) values from the Stevens Creek and the Fox and Haskell equations for the purpose of training, testing, and daily exercise routine in military personnel.

The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of body weight on fitness tests among the personnel of the Croatian navy. Forty two naval personnel (age 27 +/- 4.1 years; body mass 86.2 +/- 4.9 kg; height 184.6 +/- 7.4 cm; body fat percentage 17.3 +/- 5.2) participated in this study. In order to evaluate the fitness of the naval servicemen, we applied a testing procedure that included measurements of 7 fitness tests and 15 body anthropometric tests. A negative correlation was found between the body fat percentage and all the analyzed sprint tests and three anaerobic power tests (r), SP5 (r = -0.42), SP10 (r = -0.51), SP20 (r = -0.53), SJ (r = -0.45), CM (r = -0.57), SLJ (r = -0.67). Also a negative correlation was found between the body fat percentage and VO2(max) (r = -0.44). A positive correlation was found between the sprint test and the power performance test and thigh and calf girth. Spiriting ability is influenced by the strength of a person. This is one of the reasons why we found a positive correlation between the sprint test (SP5, SP10 and SP20) and thigh and calf girth. In this study we found a negative correlation between body fat percentages and all the sprint tests and three anaerobic power tests and VO2(max). The ectomorph somatotypes have positive correlations with all variables. The mesomorph somatotypes have the greatest positive correlations with all variables. The endomorph somatotypes have negative correlations with all variables. According to the body composition of Croatian naval servicemen we can conclude that they need a sufficient level of strength and endurance for everyday tasks. The effectiveness of a weight-management program is determined by the success of the participants in losing the necessary amount of weight and being able to maintain that weight loss. This requires long-term tracking of these individuals in a naval environment.

The purpose of this study was to compare accelerometry-derived external load and internal load calculated as a session rate of perceived exertion (sRPE) in elite male basketball over 3- days prior to the match and assessing players’ recovery status on the match-day. Thirteen professional basketball players participated in this study (age: 25.7±3.3 years ; height: 199.2±10.7 cm ; weight: 96.6±9.4 kg). All players belonged to a team competing in LigaEndesa (Spanish 1st Division) and Euroleague in the 2016/2017 season. Variables used in external motion analysis were: PlayerLoad (PL), accelerations and decelerations (ACC and DEC), jumps (JUMP) and changes of direction (CoD), in total (t) and high intensity (h) thresholds, while internal demands were registered using sRPE method. All variables were expressed in absolute (accumulated in the session) and relative values (per min of practice). For the evaluation of readiness, Total Quality of Recovery (TQR) questionnaire was used, measured in Arbitary Units (AU). The results showed differences in load and intensity (pMD-2>MD-1). Only hJUMP, tJUMP and RPE variables showed no difference between MD-3 and MD-2, while both days significantly differed from MD-1. The average TQR score for all of the match days was 7.9±1.31 AU. This study showed differences in the amount of external and internal load between three days of training, where a team can be efficiently prepared for competitions by progressively decreasing the load over the 3-days prior to the match.

SWOT analiza bila je temelj za definiranje i razradu prioritetnih razvojnih programa koji se odnose na tehnologiju kondicijske pripreme hrvatskih hrvačkih reprezentacija. Autori su ih poredali po važnosti, a vodeći računa o tome da se snage i šanse iskoriste a da se slabosti i prijetnje u što skorijem roku i što više umanje. Na navedeni način ukupno su definirana 4 razvojna programa. 1.Podizanje razine tehnologije kondicijske pripreme u hrvatskim hrvačkim klubovima 2.Podizanje razine znanja o utjecaju kondicijske pripreme i farmakoloških sredstava, a posebno onih znanja vezanih za reguliranje (skidanje) tjelesne mase pred važna natjecanja i doping 3.Podizanje razine suradnje u radu na podizanju kondicijskih sposobnosti na relaciji stručni stožer reprezentacije - klupski trener - reprezentativac 4.Stvaranje materijalno - tehničkih pretpostavki za neovisnost o susjednim sportskim savezima

Rad definira motoričko učenje i donosi klasifikaciju motorilkih vještina, opisuje proces motoričkih vještina i faze motoričkog učenja. Bavi se i procesom pučavanja motriških vještina, opisuje važnost povratnih informacija i vrsta upute i uvjeta rada za učenje motoričkih vještina, te daje praktične preporuke kako davati povratne informacije.