Search

Aim: To quantify the physiological demands and impact of muscle function t of the Fran workout, one of the most popular CrossFit benchmarks. Methods: Twenty experienced CrossFitters—16 male: 29 (6) years old and 4 female: 26 (5) years old— performed 3 rounds (with 30-s rests in between) of 21–21, 15–15, and 9–9 front squats to overhead press plus pull-up repetitions. Oxygen uptake and heart rate were measured at baseline, during the workout, and in the recovery period. Rating of perceived exertion, blood lactate, and glucose concentrations were assessed at rest, during the intervals, and in the recovery period. Muscular fatigue was also monitored at rest and at 5 minutes, 30 minutes, and 24 hours postexercise. Repeated-measures analysis of variance was performed to compare time points. Results: Aerobic (52%–29%) and anaerobic alactic (30%–23%) energy contributions decreased and the anaerobic lactic contribution increased (18%–48%) across the 3 rounds of the Fran workout. Countermovement jump height decreased by 8% (−12 to −3) mean change (95% CI), flight duration by 14% (−19 to −7), maximum velocity by 3% (−5 to −0.1), peak force 4% (−7 to −0.1), and physical performance (plank prone 47% [−54 to −38]) were observed. Conclusions: It appears that the Fran workout is a physically demanding activity that recruits energy from both aerobic and anaerobic systems. This severe-intensity workout evokes substantial postexercise fatigue and corresponding reduction in muscle function.

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.

Purpose:This study evaluated the effect of partial-body cryotherapy (PBC) exposure 1, 2, or 3 hours before maximal-effort jump performance, salivary enzyme concentration, perceived readiness, and well-being.Methods:Male team-sport players (N = 27; 24.2 [3.6] y; 91.5 [13.2] kg) were exposed to a blinded bout of PBC (−135°C [6°C]) and control (−59°C [17°C]) either 1, 2, or 3 hours prior to countermovement jumps. Passive saliva samples were collected to determine α-amylase concentration. Self-reported performance readiness and well-being questionnaires were completed using a 1–5 Likert scale.Results:Differences in the change in mean countermovement jump velocity and absolute power between PBC and control were unclear at 1 hour (+1.9% [5.3%],P = .149; +0.7% [10.6%],P = .919; mean difference [90% confidence limits]), 2 hours (+3.3% [2.7%],P = .196; +7.8% [7.4%],P = .169), and 3 hours postexposure (+3.1% [3.3%],P = .467; +0.7% [4.8%],P = .327). Salivary α-amylase concentration was elevated 15 minutes postexposure in the 1-hour (+61% [14%],P = .008) and 2-hour groups (+55% [12%],P = .013). The increase in self-reported performance readiness was higher after PBC (+2.4 [1.2] units,P = .046) in the 2-hour group and by 1.4 (1.1) units (P = .023) after 3 hours. Mental fatigue was favorably decreased 2 hours after PBC exposure (+0.5 [0.1],P = .041).Conclusions:An acute exposure of PBC elicits potentially favorable but unclear changes in countermovement jump performance. The PBC enhances salivary α-amylase concentration and perceived performance readiness, reduces mental fatigue, and could be useful in sport-specific training or competitions.

Wearing an intraoral jaw-protruding splint could enhance respiratory function in clinical settings and eventually exercise performance. Purpose: The authors studied the acute effect of wearing a lower-jaw-forwarding splint at different protruding percentages (30% and 50%) across a wide range of running exercise intensities. Methods: A case study was undertaken with a highly trained and experienced 27-year-old female triathlete. She performed the same incremental intermittent treadmill running protocol on 3 occasions wearing 3 different intraoral devices (30% and 50% maximum range and a control device) to assess running physiological and kinematic variables. Results: Both the 30% and 50% protruding splints decreased oxygen uptake and carbon dioxide production (by 4%–12% and 1%–10%, respectively) and increased ventilation and respiratory frequency (by 7%–12% and 5%–16%, respectively) along the studied running intensities. Exercise energy expenditure (approximately 1%–14%) and cost (7.8, 7.4, and 8.0 J·kg−1·m−1 for 30%, 50%, and placebo devices, respectively) were also decreased when using the jaw-protruding splints. The triathlete’s lower limbs’ running pattern changed by wearing the forwarding splints, decreasing the contact time and stride length by approximately 4% and increasing the stride rate by approximately 4%. Conclusions: Wearing a jaw-protruding splint can have a positive biophysical effect on running-performance-related parameters.

Purpose: To compare anthropometric and power-related attributes between competition levels in under-19-year-old (U19) male basketball players. Methods: National-level (n = 7; age: 17.7 [0.5] y), first-division state-level (n = 8; 17.4 [0.4] y), and second-division state-level (n = 8; 17.1 [0.4] y) players from Australian basketball programs participated in this pilot study. Players had various anthropometric attributes (height, standing reach height, wingspan, and body mass) and power-related attributes (isometric midthigh pull, linear sprint, countermovement jump, 1-step vertical jump, standing long jump, repeated lateral bound, and Modified Agility T Test) measured in the preseason. Differences between groups were assessed using 1-way analyses of variance with Tukey post hoc tests and effect sizes (ES) interpreted as trivial, Results: Regarding anthropometric attributes, national-level players possessed greater (P P P Conclusions: Specific anthropometric and power-related attributes clearly differ between competition levels in U19 male basketball players. This information can inform development of testing protocols, reference ranges, and training programs in practice. Further research is encouraged on this topic to confirm our findings across larger samples of basketball players.

Experiential knowledge of elite international coaches was investigated to reveal insights on successful rugby union strategies and tactics required to prevail in international competition. Three elite coaches who coached at a Rugby World Cup were interviewed using an in-depth, semi-structured approach. They were asked about specific strategies and tactics which they believed were required to be successful in an upcoming international tournament and a thematic analysis of qualitative data followed. Particular interest was paid to the influence of potential constraints and how these factors impact performance behaviours over time. The importance of an effective tactical kicking game in attacking strategies was highlighted, along with an adaptable defensive structure following a turnover. Unsuccessful performance behaviours in international rugby were reported to be connected with an irrational kicking game, a weak defensive line and losing possession off set-piece plays. These results support the need for a multidisciplinary approach, where exploring coaches’ knowledge presents an opportunity to enhance understanding across the performance analysis field. Further research is needed to complement experiential knowledge with quantitative research in rugby performance analysis.

Characterising a team's game style is a performance analysis approach that captures game events, and groups them into profiles using clustering techniques to identify the consistent (and winning) strategies a team implements. The aim of this study was to identify the game styles of international hockey teams. Video footage from the 2019 Pro League tournament (n = 74 female and n = 57 male matches) were analysed retrospectively using a notational analysis system in SportsCode™. Variables were arranged into six game style categories (established attack game actions, counter attack game actions, established attack success, counter attack success, set pieces, tempo) and two game style types identified per category using a k-means clustering algorithm. Decision trees were used to identify the influence of extrinsic and intrinsic match factors on the probability of a team playing a particular game style. Opposition and other reference team game style categories were shown to be more important in predicting a game style category than contextual factors. Examination of team profiles highlights how different strategies are successful for different teams such as high-intensity attack or absorbing pressure and counter attacking. This performance analysis process provides practical insights into the holistic performance of international hockey teams.

We examined the degree to which 200-m and 400-m Individual Medley (IM) performance was related to sprint-, middle- and long-distance events before a swimmer reached a Top-20 world ranking. A retrospective longitudinal modelling study was conducted. Data on Top-20 swimmers between 2010 and 2018 were obtained from publicly available websites. A general linear model was used to examine associations between 200-m and 400-mIM performance (FINA ranking points) and performance in sprint, middle-distance and distance events in the previous two years. In the 200-mIM, there were significant associations (p0.001) between prior competition results obtained for both the 200-mIM (r = 0.80; β = 0.543) and 400-m IM (r = 0.70; β = 0.317) events before the Top-20 performance in 200-mIM in the year of the Top-20. Sprint distance events were associated (p0.006; r = 0.39; β = 0.088) with 200-mIM (t). Each additional 10 FINA points in the 200-mIM in each of the two years preceding the Top-20 performance. were associated with an increase of 5 FINA points in 200-mIM in in the year of the Top-20 (goodness of fit R

Training task design with amateur female cricketers has typically comprised of deconstructed and monotonous approaches which may not maximise skill development. Clear guidelines to improve these practices in this cohort are lacking. The training environment should provide the same sources of information, decisions and variability as matches in order to prepare players for the match environment, which can be achieved through representative learning design (RLD). An RLD training intervention designed to promote skill development was performed over five weeks with two amateur female cricket teams to provide a framework for community coaches at the foundation stage of cricket. Skill development was recorded as changes in skilled actions for batting and bowling, with cognitions coded as themes for each skill during training. Six of ten batters and seven of eight bowlers exhibited increases in skill development ranging between 7-49%. Changes in batting and bowling behaviour improved substantially between moderately and extensively designed sessions. Batters' thoughts shifted from their own skill execution to objectives, while bowlers focused on their opponent's execution. Moderate to extensive RLD appears to promote skill development in amateur cricketers, making it a viable option for coach education and training design at the foundation level of cricket.

Purpose: We evaluated the extent of changes in training practices, recovery, mental health, and sleep patterns of athletes during the early COVID-19 lockdown in a single country-cohort.Methods: A total of 686 athletes (59% male, 41% female; 9% World Class, 28% International, 29% National, 26% State, 8% Recreational) from 50 sports (45% individual, 55% team) in Malaysia completed an online, survey-based questionnaire study. The questions were related to training practices (including recovery and injury), mental health, and sleep patterns.Results: Relative to pre-lockdown, training intensity (−34%), frequency (−20%, except World-Class), and duration (−24%–59%, especially International/World-Class) were compromised, by the mandated lockdown. During the lockdown, more space/access (69%) and equipment (69%) were available for cardiorespiratory training, than technical and strength; and these resources favoured World-Class athletes. Most athletes trained for general strength/health (88%) and muscular endurance (71%); and some used innovative/digital training tools (World-Class 48% vs. lower classification-levels ≤34%). More World-Class, International, and National athletes performed strength training, plyometrics, and sport-specific technical skills with proper equipment, than State/Recreational athletes. More females (42%) sourced training materials from social media than males (29%). Some athletes (38%) performed injury prevention exercises; 18% had mild injuries (knees 29%, ankles 26%), and 18% received a medical diagnosis (International 31%). Lower-level athletes (e.g., State 44%) disclosed that they were mentally more vulnerable; and felt more anxious (36% vs. higher-levels 14%–21%). Sleep quality and quantity were “normal” (49% for both), “improved” (35% and 27%), and only 16% and 14% (respectively) stated “worsened” sleep.Conclusion: Lockdown compromised training-related practices, especially in lower-level athletes. Athletes are in need of assistance with training, and tools to cope with anxiety that should be tailored to individual country requirements during lockdown situations. In particular, goal-driven (even if it is at home) fitness training, psychological, financial, and lifestyle support can be provided to reduce the difficulties associated with lockdowns. Policies and guidelines that facilitate athletes (of all levels) to train regularly during the lockdown should be developed.

A well-planned periodized approach allows swimmers to achieve peak performance at the major national and international competitions. Purpose: To identify the main characteristics of endurance training for highly trained swimmers described by the training intensity distribution (TID), volume, and periodization models. Methods: The electronic databases Scopus, PubMed, and Web of Science were searched using a comprehensive list of relevant terms. Studies that investigated the effect of the periodization of training in swimming, with the training load (volume, TID) and periodization reported, were included in the systematic review. Results: A total of 3487 studies were identified, and after removal of duplicates and elimination of papers based on title and abstract screening, 17 articles remained. A further 8 articles were excluded after full text review, leaving a final total of 9 studies in the systematic review. The evidence levels were 1b for intervention studies (n = 3) and 2b for (observational) retrospective studies (n = 6). The sprint swimmers typically followed a polarized and threshold TID, the middle-distance swimmers followed a threshold and pyramidal TID, and the long-distance swimmers primarily followed a pyramidal TID. The periodization model identified in the majority of studies selected is characterized by wave-like cycles in units like mesocycles to promote physiological adaptations and skill acquisition. Conclusions: Highly trained swimmers follow a training volume and TID based on their primary event. There is a need for further experimental studies on the effects of block and reverse periodization models on swimming performance. Although observational studies of training have limited evidence, it is unclear whether a different training/periodization approach would yield better results.

Gastrointestinal disturbances are one of the most common issues for endurance athletes during training and competition in the heat. The relationship between typical dietary intake or nutritional interventions and perturbations in or maintenance of gut integrity is unclear. Twelve well-trained male endurance athletes (peak oxygen consumption = 61.4 ± 7.0 ml·kg−1·min−1) completed two trials in a randomized order in 35 °C (heat) and 21 °C (thermoneutral) conditions and kept a detailed nutritional diary for eight consecutive days between the two trials. The treadmill running trials consisted of 15 min at 60% peak oxygen consumption, 15 min at 75% peak oxygen consumption, followed by 8 × 1-min high-intensity efforts. Venous blood samples were taken at the baseline, at the end of each of the three exercise stages, and 1 hr postexercise to measure gut integrity and the permeability biomarker concentration for intestinal fatty-acid-binding protein, lipopolysaccharide, and lipopolysaccharide-binding protein. The runners self-reported gut symptoms 1 hr postexercise and 3 days postexercise. The heat condition induced large (45–370%) increases in intestinal fatty-acid-binding protein, lipopolysaccharide-binding protein, and lipopolysaccharide concentrations compared with the baseline, but induced mild gastrointestinal symptoms. Carbohydrate and polyunsaturated fat intake 24 hr preexercise were associated with less lipopolysaccharide translocation. Protein, carbohydrate, total fat, and polyunsaturated fat intake (8 days) were positively associated with the percentage increase of intestinal fatty-acid-binding protein in both conditions (range of correlations, 95% confidence interval = .62–.93 [.02, .98]). Typical nutrition intake partly explained increases in biomarkers and the attenuation of symptoms induced by moderate- and high-intensity exercise under both heat and thermoneutral conditions.

Purpose: Pacing, or the distribution of energy expenditure, is particularly important in swimming; however, there is limited research examining pacing profiles in long-distance freestyle events. This study aimed to characterize the pacing profiles of elite male 1500-m freestyle swimmers using a novel method to provide a detailed analysis of different race segments. Methods: The race data for 327 male 1500-m freestyle long-course races between 2010 and 2019 were analyzed retrospectively. The raw 50-m split times for each lap were converted to a percentage of overall race time. The races were classified as a fast-, average-, or slow-start strategy (laps 1–2); as an even, negative, or positive pacing strategy (laps 3–28); and as a fast-, average-, or slow-finish strategy (laps 29–30) to give an overall pacing profile. Results: Slow- and average-start strategies were associated with faster overall 1500-m times than a fast-start strategy (mean = −21.2 s; 90% confidence interval, −11.4 to −32.3 s, P = .00). An even pacing strategy in laps 3 to 28 yielded faster overall 1500-m times than a positive pacing strategy (−8.4 s, −3.9 to −13.0 s, P = .00). The overall 1500-m times did not differ substantially across the finish strategies (P = .99). The start strategy differed across age groups and nationalities, where younger swimmers and swimmers from Australia and Great Britain typically spent a lower percentage of race time in laps 1 to 2 (faster start strategy; −0.10%, −0.01% to −0.23%, P ≤ .02). Conclusion: Adopting a relatively slower start strategy helps conserve energy for the latter stages of a 1500-m freestyle race.

Talent development is at the forefront of research in sport, where female athletes remain underrepresented. With ongoing success and rapid participation growth, there is an opportunity to describe and assess talent development in cricket for female athletes. Research in other sports recommends a holistic approach to talent development, where the connection between individual, task and environmental factors is maintained. A series of semi-structured interviews was conducted to draw from the experiential knowledge of 16 elite female athletes and 7 coaches alongside empirical knowledge regarding player development (individual), training task design and talent development environments. Both players and coaches reported positive early learning experiences, linear career trajectories and early entrance into talent programs, suggesting some early specialisation. Exposure to boy’s/men’s cricket appeared to fast-track skill development in players, and player skill adaptability was considered crucial to expert performance by both cohorts. Training design typically involved functional games-based scenarios, or misaligned task deconstruction in contrast to contemporary skill development practices. Aims for discrete stages of the pathway were ambiguous for both cohorts, potentially limiting the value they provide, and transition between stages appeared fluid to coaches in contrast to the rigidity described by players. Finally, growing professionalism in cricket for female athletes through greater investment, contracts and player support has propagated a skill gap between pathway stages identified by both cohorts, which needs addressing. Closing this skill gap can be achieved by improving coaching practices and support at the amateur levels of cricket to develop the next generation of elite female cricketers.

Field hockey is an evolving sport, but it is unclear whether performance analysis techniques are reflective of current best practice. The objective of this review was to identify performance analysis methods used in field hockey, assess their practicality, and provide recommendations on their implementation in the field. A systematic search of the databases SPORTDiscus, Web of Science, Scopus, MEDLINE and PubMed was performed. Key words addressed performance analysis methods and field hockey, with all other disciplines of sport science excluded. A total of 8 articles were identified from the systematic review. Three studies explored patterns of play in relation to goal scoring opportunities, two articles examined penalty corner strategies and three compared specific actions in hockey. The limited performance analysis research in field hockey has focused on game actions in patterns of play. However, greater insights may be gained by analysing hockey using a holistic approach that incorporates spatio-temporal variables and player-opposition interactions. There is an opportunity to employ novel performance analysis techniques in hockey which provide more practical and effective approaches for analysing strategies and tactics.

Probiotic supplementation may offer team sport athletes a range of benefits beyond the immune and gastrointestinal systems.To examine the effects of a probiotic formulation on perceptual markers of sleep quality and quantity, and muscle soreness, leg heaviness and motivation in elite rugby union athletes.A double-blind randomised controlled trial involving 19 elite male rugby athletes was conducted over 17 weeks encompassing both domestic and international competition. Psychometric variables and salivary biomarkers were assessed twice a week. Athletes were assigned either a daily probiotic (Ultrabiotic 60™) and Saccharomyces boulardii (during international competition) or a placebo. Associations between psychometric scores for perceptual and salivary biomarkers of sleep (melatonin) and inflammation C-reactive protein (CRP) were investigated.Muscle soreness was ∼0.5 units lower (F(1, 343)=42.646, p0.0001) and leg heaviness scores ∼0.7 units lower (F(1, 334)=28.990, p0.0001) in the probiotic group compared to the placebo group. Across both groups, as self-reported muscle soreness scores and salivary CRP concentrations increased, sleep quantity, quality and motivation scores decreased. Conversely as muscle soreness scores and CRP decreased, sleep quantity and quality, and motivation scores improved.A long-term programme of probiotic supplementation in international-level rugby union players may yield favourable effects on self-reported muscle soreness and sleep quality associated with muscle soreness during training and competitions.

Acute illnesses affecting the respiratory tract are common and form a significant component of the work of Sport and Exercise Medicine (SEM) clinicians. Acute respiratory illness (ARill) can broadly be classified as non-infective ARill and acute respiratory infections (ARinf). The aim of this consensus is to provide the SEM clinician with an overview and practical clinical approach to ARinf in athletes. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) Medical and Scientific Commission appointed an international consensus group to review ARill (non-infective ARill and ARinf) in athletes. Six subgroups of the IOC Consensus group were initially established to review the following key areas of ARill in athletes: (1) epidemiology/risk factors for ARill, (2) ARinf, (3) non-infective ARill including ARill due to environmental exposure, (4) acute asthma and related conditions, (5) effects of ARill on exercise/sports performance, medical complications/return-to-sport and (6) acute nasal/vocal cord dysfunction presenting as ARill. Several systematic and narrative reviews were conducted by IOC consensus subgroups, and these then formed the basis of sections in the consensus documents. Drafting and internal review of sections were allocated to ‘core’ members of the consensus group, and an advanced draft of the consensus document was discussed during a meeting of the main consensus core group in Lausanne, Switzerland on 11 to 12 October 2021. Final edits were completed after the meeting. This consensus document (part 1) focusses on ARinf, which accounts for the majority of ARill in athletes. The first section of this consensus proposes a set of definitions and classifications of ARinf in athletes to standardise future data collection and reporting. The remainder of the consensus paper examines a wide range of clinical considerations related to ARinf in athletes: epidemiology, risk factors, pathology/pathophysiology, clinical presentation and diagnosis, management, prevention, medical considerations, risks of infection during exercise, effects of infection on exercise/sports performance and return-to-sport guidelines.

Acute respiratory infections (ARinf) are common in athletes, but their effects on exercise and sports performance remain unclear. This systematic review aimed to determine the acute (short-term) and longer-term effects of ARinf, including SARS-CoV-2 infection, on exercise and sports performance outcomes in athletes. Data sources searched included PubMed, Web of Science and EBSCOhost, from January 1990 to 31 December 2021. Eligibility criteria included original research studies published in English, measuring exercise and/or sports performance outcomes in athletes/physically active/military aged 15-65 years with ARinf. Information regarding the study cohort, diagnostic criteria, illness classification and quantitative data on the effect on exercise/sports performance were extracted. Database searches identified 1707 studies. After full-text screening, 17 studies were included (

Acute respiratory illness (ARill) is common and threatens the health of athletes. ARill in athletes forms a significant component of the work of Sport and Exercise Medicine (SEM) clinicians. The aim of this consensus is to provide the SEM clinician with an overview and practical clinical approach to non-infective ARill in athletes. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) Medical and Scientific Committee appointed an international consensus group to review ARill in athletes. Key areas of ARill in athletes were originally identified and six subgroups of the IOC Consensus group established to review the following aspects: (1) epidemiology/risk factors for ARill, (2) infective ARill, (3) non-infective ARill, (4) acute asthma/exercise-induced bronchoconstriction and related conditions, (5) effects of ARill on exercise/sports performance, medical complications/return-to-sport (RTS) and (6) acute nasal/laryngeal obstruction presenting as ARill. Following several reviews conducted by subgroups, the sections of the consensus documents were allocated to ‘core’ members for drafting and internal review. An advanced draft of the consensus document was discussed during a meeting of the main consensus core group, and final edits were completed prior to submission of the manuscript. This document (part 2) of this consensus focuses on respiratory conditions causing non-infective ARill in athletes. These include non-inflammatory obstructive nasal, laryngeal, tracheal or bronchial conditions or non-infective inflammatory conditions of the respiratory epithelium that affect the upper and/or lower airways, frequently as a continuum. The following aspects of more common as well as lesser-known non-infective ARill in athletes are reviewed: epidemiology, risk factors, pathology/pathophysiology, clinical presentation and diagnosis, management, prevention, medical considerations and risks of illness during exercise, effects of illness on exercise/sports performance and RTS guidelines.

This study implemented a 2-week high carbohydrate (CHO) diet intended to maximize CHO oxidation rates and examined the iron-regulatory response to a 26-km race walking effort. Twenty international-level, male race walkers were assigned to either a novel high CHO diet (MAX = 10 g/kg body mass CHO daily) inclusive of gut-training strategies, or a moderate CHO control diet (CON = 6 g/kg body mass CHO daily) for a 2-week training period. The athletes completed a 26-km race walking test protocol before and after the dietary intervention. Venous blood samples were collected pre-, post-, and 3 hr postexercise and measured for serum ferritin, interleukin-6, and hepcidin-25 concentrations. Similar decreases in serum ferritin (17–23%) occurred postintervention in MAX and CON. At the baseline, CON had a greater postexercise increase in interleukin-6 levels after 26 km of walking (20.1-fold, 95% CI [9.2, 35.7]) compared with MAX (10.2-fold, 95% CI [3.7, 18.7]). A similar finding was evident for hepcidin levels 3 hr postexercise (CON = 10.8-fold, 95% CI [4.8, 21.2]; MAX = 8.8-fold, 95% CI [3.9, 16.4]). Postintervention, there were no substantial differences in the interleukin-6 response (CON = 13.6-fold, 95% CI [9.2, 20.5]; MAX = 11.2-fold, 95% CI [6.5, 21.3]) or hepcidin levels (CON = 7.1-fold, 95% CI [2.1, 15.4]; MAX = 6.3-fold, 95% CI [1.8, 14.6]) between the dietary groups. Higher resting serum ferritin (p = .004) and hotter trial ambient temperatures (p = .014) were associated with greater hepcidin levels 3 hr postexercise. Very high CHO diets employed by endurance athletes to increase CHO oxidation have little impact on iron regulation in elite athletes. It appears that variations in serum ferritin concentration and ambient temperature, rather than dietary CHO, are associated with increased hepcidin concentrations 3 hr postexercise.

Purpose: Although pacing is considered crucial for success in individual swimming events, there is a lack of research examining pacing in relays. The authors investigated the impact of start lap and pacing strategy on swimming performance and whether these strategies differ between relays and the corresponding individual event. Methods: Race data for 716 relay (4 × 200-m freestyle) finals from 14 international competitions between 2010 and 2018 were analyzed retrospectively. Each swimmer’s individual 200-m freestyle season’s best time for the same year was used for comparison. Races were classified as a fast, average, or slow start lap strategy (lap 1) and as an even, negative, or positive pacing strategy (laps 2–4) to give an overall race strategy, for example, average start lap even pacing. Results: A fast start lap strategy was associated with slower 200-m times (range 0.5–0.9 s, P ≤ .04) irrespective of gender, and positive pacing led to slower 200-m (0.4–0.5 s, P ≤ .03) times in females. A fast start lap strategy led to positive pacing in 71% of swimmers. Half of the swimmers changed pacing strategy, with 13% and 7% more female and male swimmers, respectively, displaying positive pacing in relays compared with individual events. In relays, a fast start lap and positive pacing was utilized more frequently by swimmers positioned on second to fourth relay legs (+13%) compared with lead-off leg swimmers (+3%). Conclusion: To maximize performance, swimmers should be more conservative in the first lap and avoid unnecessary alterations in race strategy in relay events.

Breath-by-breath energy expenditure during open water swimming has not yet been explored in an ecological environment. This study aimed to investigate and compare energetics and kinematics of 5 km swimming, in both swimming pool and open water conditions. Through four independent studies, oxygen uptake ( $$\dot{V}\text{O}$$ 2) kinetics, heart rate (HR), blood lactate concentration ([La−]) and glucose level (BGL), metabolic power ( $$\dot{E}$$ ), energy cost (C) and kinematics were assessed during 5 km front crawl trials in a swimming pool and open water conditions. A total of 38 competitive open water swimmers aged 16–27 years volunteered for this four part investigation: Study A (pool, ten females, 11 males), Study B (pool, four females, six males), Study C (pool case study, one female) and Study D (open water, three females, four males). In the swimming pool, swimmers started with an above average swimming speed (v), losing efficiency along the 5 km, despite apparent homeostasis for [La−], BGL, $$\dot{V}\text{O}$$ 2, $$\dot{E}$$ and C. In open water, swimmers started the 5 km with a below average v, increasing the stroke rate (SR) in the last 1000 m. In open water, $$\dot{V}\text{O}$$ 2 kinetics parameters, HR, [La−], BGL, respiratory exchange ratio and C were affected by the v and SR fluctuations along the 5 km. Small fluctuations were observed for energetic variables in both conditions, but changes in C were lower in swimming pool than in open water. Coaches should adjust the training plan accordingly to the specificity of open water swimming.

Pacing is arguably more crucial for optimal performance in swimming than in land-based sports, however little is known about the process of developing pacing skills in swimmers. The aim of this study was to examine the current practices of high-performance swimming coaches in relation to pacing entrainment and competition preparation. Twenty-one swimming coaches who were currently coaching or had coached swimmers at national open, international age or international open level, participated in a semi-structured interview. Interview transcripts were examined using hierarchical content (qualitative) analysis to identify general dimensions, higher-order themes and sub-themes. Data were categorised into two main areas: training and competition. The general dimensions of monitoring, pacing aids, periodisation and training for multiple events emerged within training; whereas optimal strategy, racing, warm up swims and multiple main events emerged within competition. Coaches identified the importance of a highly individualised approach based on swimmer needs and characteristics. However, the difficulty in achieving this goal when working with large groups of swimmers was identified as a challenge. Although swimming is a time-based sport, efficient technique and pacing were considered vital to success. Despite this, it appears that key variables including stroke rate, stroke count, split times and rating of perceived exertion were not monitored by a number of coaches. These parameters are likely important tools to maximise pacing skill development, especially in young swimmers. However, given the current lack of information on how athletes learn and develop pacing skills, coaches would benefit from evidence-based guidelines in this area.

Background: Motor control and skill acquisition research have contributed greatly to understanding the learning process in sport, but very little of this knowledge has been applied in practice over...

Haycraft, JAZ, Kovalchik, S, Pyne, DB, and Robertson, S. Classification of players across the Australian Rules football participation pathway based on physical characteristics. J Strength Cond Res 36(3): 702-709, 2022-This study investigated the utility of physical fitness and movement ability tests to differentiate and classify players into Australian Football League (AFL) participation pathway levels. Players (n = 293, age 10.9-19.1 years) completed the following tests; 5-m, 10-m, and 20-m sprint, AFL planned agility, vertical jump (VJ), running VJ, 20-m multistage fitness test (MSFT), and athletic ability assessment. A multivariate analysis of variance between AFL participation pathway levels was conducted, and a classification tree determined the extent to which players could be allocated to relevant levels. The magnitude of differences between physical fitness and movement ability were level-dependent, with the largest standardized effect size (ES) between Local U12, Local U14, and older levels for most physical fitness tests (ES: -4.64 to 5.02), except the 5-m and 10-m sprint. The 20-m, 5-m, AFL agility, 20-m MSFT, overhead squat, and running VJ (right) contributed to the classification model, with 57% overall accuracy reported (43% under cross-validation). National U16 players were easiest to classify (87%), while National U18 players were most difficult (0%). Physical fitness tests do not seem to differentiate between players after selection into AFL talent pathway levels. Other attributes (i.e., skill, psychological, and sociocultural) should be prioritized over physical fitness and movement attributes by selectors/coaches when considering selection of talented players.

Talent development in sport is a comprehensive area of research with various conceptualisations of how the body moves and how skills are developed. The sports coaching environment is often criticis...

Purpose: To examine correlations between peak force and impulse measures attained during the isometric midthigh pull (IMTP) and basketball-specific sprint and jump tests. Methods: Male, adolescent basketball players (N = 24) completed a battery of basketball-specific performance tests. Testing consisted of the IMTP (absolute and normalized peak force and impulse at 100 and 250 ms); 20-m sprint (time across 5, 10, and 20 m); countermovement jump (CMJ; absolute and normalized peak force and jump height); standing long jump (distance); and repeated lateral bound (distance). Correlation and regression analyses were conducted between IMTP measures and other attributes. Results: An almost perfect correlation was evident between absolute peak force attained during the IMTP and CMJ (r = .94, R2 = 56%, P P r = −.44, R2 = 19%), 10-m sprint time (r = −.45, R2 = 20%), absolute (r = .57, R2 = 33%), normalized (r = .86, R2 = 73%) CMJ peak force, and standing long-jump distance (r = .51, R2 = 26%). Moderate to very large correlations were evident between impulse measures during the IMTP and 5-m sprint time (100 ms, r = −.40, R2 = 16%, P > .05) and CMJ absolute peak force (100 ms, r = .73, R2 = 54%; 250 ms, r = .68, R2 = 47%; P Conclusions: The IMTP may be used to assess maximal and rapid force expression important across a range of basketball-specific movements.

Purpose To quantify the effects of a short-term (6-d) low carbohydrate (CHO) high fat (LCHF), and low energy availability (LEA) diet on immune, inflammatory, and iron-regulatory responses to exercise in endurance athletes. Methods Twenty-eight elite male race walkers completed two 6-d diet/training phases. During phase 1 (Baseline), all athletes consumed a high CHO/energy availability (CON) diet (65% CHO and ~40 kcal·kg−1 fat-free mass (FFM)·d−1). In phase 2 (Adaptation), athletes were allocated to either a CON (n = 10), LCHF (n = 8; 0.05). No differences between CON and LEA were evident for any of the measured biological markers (all P > 0.05). Conclusions Short-term adherence to a LCHF diet elicited small yet unfavorable iron, immune, and stress responses to exercise. In contrast, no substantial alterations to athlete health were observed when athletes restricted energy availability compared with athletes with adequate energy availability. Therefore, short-term restriction of CHO, rather than energy, may have greater negative impacts on athlete health.

Race walkers must conform to a unique gait pattern with no visible loss of contact with the ground. However, how the gait pattern affects the race walking economy is unclear. We investigated the energy cost (amount of energy spent per distance unit) at different race walking velocities and over a 25 km hybrid walk. Twenty-one international-level male race walkers (V˙O2peak 63.8 ± 4.3 ml kg-1 min-1, age 31 ± 5 y, body mass 68.1 ± 7.0 kg) performed an incremental treadmill test consisting of 4 × 4 min submaximal stages with 1 km h-1 increments, and a 25 km submaximal hybrid walk (treadmill-overground) on separate days. Energy cost was measured continuously during the submaximal test and at km 0-1, 6-7, 12-13, 18-19, 23-24 of the 25 km hybrid walk. The CRW was similar across the four submaximal stages where half the athletes completed them at a higher (1 km h-1) absolute velocity (-0.01-0.15 ± ∼0.65); range of standardised differences ±90% CL, with a tendency for higher performing athletes to have a lower CRW when this was analysed during absolute race walking velocities of 12, 13 and 14 km-1 for the entire cohort (0.46-0.49 ± ∼0.67). There was no substantial change in CRW from the start to the end of the 25 km walk for the entire cohort (0.08 ± 2.2; standardised change ±90% CL). Elite race walkers are characterised by having a similar energy cost among athletes who perform at the same relative exercise intensity, and substantially higher energetics than counterpart elite endurance runners.