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Background: Physical testing is crucial for athlete monitoring, talent identification, optimizing training, and tailoring programs to enhance game-performance in elite competitions. Hypothesis: Load-velocity (L-V) relationship variables discriminate between elite and junior volleyball players, correlate with volleyball-specific performance, and are generalizable across lower- and upper-body exercises. Study Design: Cross-sectional study. Level of Evidence: Level 3. Methods: A total of 9 elite and 11 junior volleyball players were assessed for the L-V relationship (load-axis intercept [ L 0], velocity-axis intercept [ v 0], and area under the L-V relationship line [ A line]) during the countermovement jump (CMJ) and bench press throw (BPT) exercises. Block and spike jump height, as well as standing and jumping spike speed were assessed 24 hours later. Results: Elite players presented greater magnitude in the L-V variables (P ≤ 0.03; effect size [ES] ≥ 1.06) and higher volleyball-specific performance (P ≤ 0.03; ES ≥ 1.09) than juniors (except for CMJ v 0 and A line). The L-V relationship variables were significantly associated with the block and spike jump height and jumping spike speed only in elite players (r ≥ 0.703 and P ≤ 0.04 in 11 out of 18 correlations). No significant associations were observed between CMJ and BPT for any L-V relationship variable (r ≤ 581; P ≥ 0.08, except for A line in junior players). Conclusion: The L-V relationship is a practical procedure to assess volleyball players' maximal mechanical capacities, which are associated with volleyball-specific performance in elite players. However, these data should not be used interchangeably between playing standards or exercises. Clinical Relevance: This information might help strength and conditioning coaches to prescribe more effective training programs that focus on developing the specific physical capacities necessary for players to potentially advance to elite status. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The development and influence of physical capabilities and game action performance over the course of the season are a big challenge for coaches and players. Purpose: The aims of the present study were to examine (1) the seasonal changes in the physical capabilities (mechanical and kinematic) and game-performance indicators in top-level men volleyball players and (2) the relationship between these physical capabilities and game-performance indicators in official matches. Methods: Eleven top-level players participated. Players were physically tested 3 times during the season. Before each test, players' match performance (11 sets) was analyzed according to the level of opposition and match location. The percentage of change, statistical differences over the season (Friedman and Wilcoxon tests), and associations between variables (Spearman r) were calculated (P <.05) among mechanical (force–velocity profile during vertical jump and bench press), kinematic (jump height and spike ball speed), and game action performance features (coefficient, efficacy, and percentage of errors in serve, attack, and block). Results: The theoretical maximal force and velocity during vertical jump and bench press, respectively; the peak spike ball speed; and the serve efficacy significantly increased over the season. Moreover, there was a significant reduction in serve errors as the jump height increased (r = −.44; P =.026), as well as a significant increase in serve errors as the peak spike ball speed increased (r = −.62; P =.001). Conclusion: These findings reveal how the physical and game action performance variables evolve and interact during the season. This may help coaches and trainers to monitor and analyze the most relevant volleyball performance factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Retos: Nuevas Perspectivas de Educación Física, Deporte y Recreación is the property of Federacion Espanola de Asociaciones de Docentes de Educacion Fisica and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Youth football training should ensure proper player development. However, coaches worldwide behave differently during their coaching process. Thus, this study aims to: a) compare the coaching behaviour and training activities of the football coaches from China and Spain, and b) explore the impact of different pedagogy on coach's behaviour and players' perceptions. Systematic observations and semi-structured interviews were developed for 6 youth coaches from Madrid (n = 3) and Beijing (n = 3). And 16 players randomly selected from each academy were queried their perception. The results showed significant differences in coaching behaviours and training activities between both groups. Madrid coaches used more "playing form" (PF) and achieved greater times of activation (motor participation) during practices, compared to Beijing coaches. Concurrent-instruction was the most used behaviour among coaches from both groups. Moreover, Madrid coaches applied more "positive feedback" whereas Beijing coaches used more "negative feedback". This phenomenon is related to different educational and pedagogical backgrounds. Positive feedback is recommended to Beijing coaches and "silence" should also be properly used while "instruction" and "hustle" should be carefully used to help players learn to "think" (e.g. decision-making). This study offers a comparative analysis to develop proper strategies for a better player's development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aims of the study were to determine the epidemiological profile of young female athletes in Catalonia (Spain) who play team sports, and to analyse the risk factors for these injuries. A total of 1,235 adolescents (15 ± 2.4 years old) belonging to 168 teams from 17 clubs (n = 8 basketball, n = 3 football, and n = 6 volleyball) participated in the study. A descriptive and retrospective design was established, analysing the percentage and incidence rate of injuries, type of injury, body area, diagnosis, severity, mechanism and the context in which the injury was sustained. A binary logistic regression model was applied (p <.05) to determine relationships between factors, sports and injuries. The results indicated a higher percentage of female players injured in basketball and football, with acute, lower limb, long-term injuries that occurred without contact and in training, being more frequent. Volleyball was the sport with the lowest risk of injury, although the risk of injury increases if a second sport is not played. These findings serve to establish strategies that adapt the sporting environment to the development and characteristics of young athletes, encouraging their participation and ensuring the health of participants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Physical Education (24482455) is the property of Universidade Estadual de Maringa and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Purpose: To assess the evolution of the volleyball's game demands throughout players' development in men's volleyball. Method: A total of 150 sets and 6.671 rallies were analyzed. The sample was composed of 30 sets each by under-14, under-16, under-19, national senior, and international senior teams (1.291, 1.318, 1.310, 1.372, and 1.380 rallies for each category, respectively). Sets included in the sample were stratified and then randomly selected. The variables studied included play time, rest time, rallies played, jumps, hits, types of ball contact, types of game interruptions, performance of the game phases, and performance of the actions. Student t and Mann Whitney U tests were used to analyze specific differences between categories. Results: The results showed significant reductions in the play times of the rally (from 8.91 to 6.79 s) and the set (6 min 23 s to 4 min 30 s), significant increases in the rest times of the rally (19.64 to 26.53 s) and the set (13 min 44 s to 20 min 27 s), and a significant increase in the number of jumps per set (113.5 to 181.3). Significant improvements in the reception performance (1.57 to 2.45 out of 3), attack performance (2.13 to 2.67 out of 4), and side-out-phase success (48.4% to 69.6%) were found. Throughout the players' development, data show an increase in the speed, intensity, and efficacy of the side-out phase. Conclusions: The findings provide reference values to guide athletes' development and to monitor training and matches both physically and technically tactically. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Physical Education (24482455) is the property of Universidade Estadual de Maringa and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of E-balonmano.com: Journal of Sports Science / Revista de Ciencias del Deporte is the property of Federacion Extremena de Balonmano and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Introduction: Volleyball is a dynamic sport in which athletes often use jumps and small displacements during rallies. However, temporal aspects and physical behaviors (e.g., jumps per set and specific movements per set) have not yet been investigated by considering the competition phase and role. Objective: This study aimed to compare temporal and physical indicators by considering the competition phase, set result, and role when possible. Methods: The observed matches were from FIVB Beach Volleyball U21 World Championships 2019. A total of 8 matches, 16 sets, and 556 rallies were observed. The observed parameters showed great intra- and inter-reliability for qualitative and quantitative variables [Kappa ≥ 0.85 - Level of Agreement: strong; intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC ≥ 0.90)]. The sets were split into the phase of the competition (group or final), result of the set (winner or loser), and roles (blocker or defender). The temporal variables (i.e., rally, rest time between rallies, total work time, total rest time, duration of the set, duration of the match, TRT: TWR ratio, and the number of rallies) were compared by considering the competition phase; physical variables (jumps per set, jumps per set in the attack, and specifics movements) were compared by considering the competition phase, set result, and roles. In addition, rallies are classified as short (≤3 s), medium (4-7 s), and long (≥8 s), and the association of the types of rallies with the competition phase was confirmed. Results: Medium rallies are more frequent than other types (~58%). Blockers jump more times per set (p = 0.003) and have more digs with movement (p < 0.001). Conclusions: The competition phase seems to slightly increase the temporal and physical indicators. Moreover, blockers are more physically required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The influence of aerobic training on cardiovascular disorders has already been demonstrated. However, the effect of resistance training is less well known. Arterial stiffness is an increasingly important measure in cardiovascular health. Therefore, this review attempted to study the results of resistance training-based interventions on arterial stiffness in healthy people, for both acute and chronic interventions. A literature search was conducted for randomized controlled trials on the acute and chronic effects of strength training. Studies published in PubMed and SportDiscus databases between 1999 and April 2019 were analyzed. In chronic strength training effects, the majority of groups showed large (d = -1.49 to -1.20) and moderate (d = -1.07) decreases, and small and trivial changes in arterial stiffness. In acute effects interventions, a very large decrease (d = -3.92) was observed, while large (d = 1.24-1.48) and very large (d = 3.88) increases were also found. A resistance training-based intervention of more than four weeks' duration with a frequency of two days per week seems not to compromise cardiovascular health, due to decreases in arterial stiffness. However, there is a general trend towards both increasing and maintaining arterial stiffness after isolated strength training sessions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of RICYDE. Revista Internacional de Ciencias del Deporte is the property of Revista Internacional de Ciencias del Deporte and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)