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Purpose: Assessing the relationship between external load (EL) and internal load (IL) in youth male beach handball players. Methods: A total of 11 field players from the Lithuanian U17 beach handball team were monitored across 14 training sessions and 7 matches. The following EL variables were assessed by means of inertial movement units: PlayerLoad™, accelerations, decelerations, changes of direction, and jumps and total of inertial movements. IL was assessed objectively and subjectively using the summated heart rate zones and training load calculated via session rating of perceived exertion, respectively. Spearman correlations (ρ) were used to assess the relationship between EL and IL. The interindividual variability was investigated using linear mixed models with random intercepts with IL as dependent variable, PlayerLoad™ as the independent variable, and players as random effect. Results: The lowest significant (P <.05) relationship was for high jumps with objective (ρ =.56) and subjective (ρ =.49) IL. The strongest relationship was for PlayerLoad™ with objective (ρ =.9) and subjective (ρ =.84) IL. From the linear mixed model, the estimated SD of the random intercepts was 19.78 arbitrary units (95% confidence interval, 11.75–33.31); SE = 5.26, and R2 =.47 for the objective IL and 6.03 arbitrary units (95% confidence interval, 0.00–7330.6); SE = 21.87; and R2 =.71 for the subjective IL. Conclusions: Objective and subjective IL measures can be used as a monitoring tool when EL monitoring is not possible. Coaches can predict IL based on a given EL by using the equations proposed in this study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ferioli, D, Conte, D, Rucco, D, Alcaraz, PE, Vaquera, A, Romagnoli, M, and Rampinini, E. Physical demands of elite male and female 3×3 international basketball matches. J Strength Cond Res 37(4): e289–e296, 2023—This study aimed to (1) characterize the physical demands of 3 × 3 basketball games during live playing time and ball possession and (2) assess the differences in physical demands between male and female players. Following an observational design, video footage from 27 games of the International Basketball Federation 3 × 3 World Cup 2019 were analyzed from 104 international 3 × 3 basketball players (n = 52 male and n = 52 female players) resulting in a total of 216 (104 male and 112 female) individual game samples. Manual frame-by-frame time-motion analyses determined the relative frequency (n·min−1) and duration (%) for several physical demands at different intensities, according to sex, during the live playing time and in ball possession phases. Linear mixed models for repeated measures and effect size (ES) analyses revealed small non-significant differences in the intermittent profile of 3 × 3 basketball games according to sex (total movements per minute, male = 39.3 (38.6–40.1); female = 40.2 (39.5–41.0), estimated marginal means with 95% confidence intervals). Female competitions had significantly greater number of low-intensity activities (LIA, small ES) and high-intensity activities (HIA, small ES) performed per minute over longer games (small ES), whereas male players had more recovery activities (small ES). During ball possession, male players spent a larger amount of time performing LIA (small ES) than female players, who displayed both the greatest number of HIA and the highest percentage of playing time performed at high intensity (small ES). Overall, these findings suggest that basketball coaches should design sex-specific training sessions based on the specific match demands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Non-contact ACL injuries usually occur when an athlete lands from a jump. Therefore, landing training is frequently used as an injury-prevention strategy. This systematic review aims to investigate the effects of action observation in the motor learning of the proper landing technique for healthy adults. Randomized controlled trials were deemed eligible if they included athletically active healthy adults without a history of lower limb injuries and if they compared action observation, in the form of direct observation or video feedback, to the control. The outcome measures were lower extremity biomechanical parameters: sagittal plane flexion angles, dynamic knee valgus and vertical ground reaction force. Six trials were included. Two trials were rated at low risk of bias, one trial with some concerns and three trials with a high risk of bias. Pooled data analysis indicated that action observation improves peak knee flexion (MD 15.95, 95% CI 3.53 to 28.38, I2 = 92%) and initial contact knee flexion (MD 4.05, 95% CI 1.62 to 6.48, I2 = 0%). It may also improve peak hip flexion (MD 18.16, 95% CI – 1.71 to 38.03, I2 = 92%) and dynamic knee valgus (SMD 0.52, 95% CI – 0.31 to 1.34, I2 = 75%) and has no effect on vertical ground reaction force (SMD – 0.04, 95% CI – 0.68 to 0.61, I2 = 62%) compared to the control. In conclusion, we can state that action observation is a potential strategy to enhance motor learning of the proper landing technique in healthy individuals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To assess the effects of mental fatigue on physical and technical performance in small-sided soccer games. Methods: Twenty soccer players (age 17.8 ± 1.0 y, height 179 ± 5 cm, body mass 72.4 ± 6.8 kg, playing experience 8.3 ± 1.4 y) from an Australian National Premier League soccer club volunteered to participate in this randomized crossover investigation. Participants played 15-min 5-vs-5 small-sided games (SSGs) without goalkeepers on 2 occasions separated by 1 wk. Before the SSG, 1 team watched a 30-min emotionally neutral documentary (control), while the other performed 30 min of a computer-based Stroop task (mental fatigue). Subjective ratings of mental and physical fatigue were recorded before and after treatment and after the SSG. Motivation was assessed before treatment and SSG; mental effort was assessed after treatment and SSG. Player activity profiles and heart rate (HR) were measured throughout the SSG, whereas ratings of perceived exertion (RPEs) were recorded before the SSG and immediately after each half. Video recordings of the SSG allowed for notational analysis of technical variables. Results: Subjective ratings of mental fatigue and effort were higher after the Stroop task, whereas motivation for the upcoming SSG was similar between conditions. HR during the SSG was possibly higher in the control condition, whereas RPE was likely higher in the mental-fatigue condition. Mental fatigue had an unclear effect on most physical-performance variables but impaired most technical-performance variables. Conclusions: Mental fatigue impairs technical but not physical performance in small-sided soccer games. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fox, JL, Conte, D, Stanton, R, McLean, B, and Scanlan, AT. The application of accelerometer-derived moving averages to quantify peak demands in basketball: A comparison of sample duration, playing role, and session type. J Strength Cond Res 35(12S): S58–S63, 2021—The purpose of this was to study compare peak external workload intensities in basketball using accelerometer-derived moving averages between different sample durations (0.5–5 minutes), session types (training vs. game-play), and playing roles (starting vs. bench players). Five starting and 3 bench players were monitored over a 15-week competitive season using accelerometers. For all training sessions and games, peak external workload intensities were determined using accelerometer-derived moving averages for PlayerLoad per minute (PL·min−1) across sample durations of 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 minutes. Linear mixed-models and effect sizes (ESs) were used to compare peak PL·min−1 between sample durations, session type, and playing role. Peak PL·min−1 was significantly different between all sample durations (p < 0.05; ES = 0.88–5.45), with higher intensities evident across shorter sample durations. In starting players, peak intensities were significantly higher during games compared with training for all sample durations (p < 0.05; ES = 0.69–0.93). Peak game intensities were higher in starting players using all sample durations (p > 0.05; ES = 0.69–1.43) compared with bench players. Shorter sample durations produced higher peak PL·min−1. Peak intensities were higher during games than training in starting players, indicating training may not adequately prepare players for the most demanding passages of game-play. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although the Modified Agility T-test (MAT) has been advocated for assessing change-of-direction performance in basketball, the power-related attributes emphasized during the test are unknown. Therefore, the aim of this study was to identify the power-related determinants of the MAT in basketball players. A cross-sectional, descriptive research design was used whereby national- and state-level male adolescent basketball players (n = 24; 17.3 ± 0.5 years) completed a battery of power-related performance tests. The tests administered included the MAT, isometric midthigh pull, 10-m sprint, countermovement jump, 1-step vertical jump, standing long jump, and repeated lateral bound. Associations between performance during the MAT and other tests were quantified, and performance in each test was compared between faster (>50th percentile) and slower (<50th percentile) players in the MAT. The MAT exhibited large correlations (p < 0.05) with standing long jump distance (r = -0.67, R² = 45%), countermovement jump relative peak force (r = -0.63, R² = 39%), isometric midthigh pull relative peak force (r = -0.55, R² = 30%), and 10-m sprint time (r = 0.53, R² = 28%). The faster group performed better (p < 0.05) during the standing long jump (mean difference; ±90% confidence limits: 0.16; ±0.12 m) and produced greater (p < 0.05) relative peak force during the isometric midthigh pull (2.5; ±2.3 N⋅kg-1) and countermovement jump (2.1; ±1.8 N⋅kg-1) than the slower group. The MAT complements other power-related tests used in basketball and stresses basketball-specific, power-related attributes in various movement planes. These data can inform training and testing approaches to optimize change-of-direction performance in basketball. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to analyze the relationships between anthropometric (height and weight), fitness status (aerobic capacity, Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery Test – level 1, YYIRT-L1; countermovement jump performance, CMJ) and perceived exertion (RPE) of twenty youth (under-14 and under-16) male basketball players and their technical actions (attacking balls-AB, shots-S, received balls-RB, rebounds-R, conquered balls-CB, lost balls-LB) during five small-sided games (SSGs) formats (from 1v1 to 5v5). Pearson's product-moment correlation coefficients tested the relationships between the anthropometric and fitness variables and the technical actions and perceived exertion during SSGs. The results of this study revealed that both anthropometry and fitness variables are associated with technical performance during SSGs. However, correlations are not clear with the levels of perceived exertion reported by players. Coaches should be aware of such relationships to better design their SSGs format and implement basketball drills based on the specific players' characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to analyse the effects of two factors (number of players and training regimes) on players’ physiological and technical demands in basketball ball-drills. Twenty-one young basketball players performed four different ball-drills (two levels for each factor). The number of players involved was 2vs2 and 4vs4, while ball-drill regimes were continuous and intermittent. Physiological demand was assessed using the percentage of maximal heart rate (%HRmax), Edwards’ training load and rating of perceived exertion (RPE). Furthermore, the following technical actions were collected: dribbles, steals, rebounds, turnovers, passes (total, correct, wrong and % of correct pass) and shots (total, scored, missed and % of made shot). A 2 × 2 (number of players × regime) two-way ANOVA with repeated measures was applied for physiological parameters and technical actions. The 2vs2 condition showed higher %HRmax(P < 0.001), Edwards’ training load (P < 0.001), RPE (P < 0.001), number of dribbles (P < 0.001), rebounds (P < 0.001), passes [total (P = 0.005) and correct (P = 0.005)] and shots [total (P < 0.001) scored (P < 0.001) and missed (P < 0.001)] than 4vs4. Moreover, the continuous regime revealed higher %HRmax(P < 0.001), Edwards’ training load (P < 0.001), RPE (P = 0.006) and dribbles (P < 0.001) than the intermittent regime. This study showed that both number of players and regime are useful variables able to modify basketball ball-drills workload. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]