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The aim of this study was to investigate the goals scored in the 2022 amputee football World Cup to gain a better understanding of performance of amputee football players. A total of 294 goals in 80 matches of the 2022 amputee football World Cup were analysed through video footage and match reports. The results revealed 3.67 goals per match. The scored goals were not biased by the halves (p=.56). Significant differences were observed in scored goals according to time periods revealing the second 13-25' (30.27%) and the fourth period 39-50' (30.61%) as being highest goal-scoring periods. The effect of the first goal on percentages of wins was statistically significant (p=.00). The highest percentage of scored goals emerged from instep kick (63.38%). Most of the goals were scored in 5 s or less (48.64%), emerged from free kicks (44.57%) and from the organized attacks (50.34%). Keywords: Amputee soccer (football), amputation, performance variable, performance analysis, goal analysis, match analysis, Amputee football is a competitive sport played by amputees or Les Autres, where only lower limb amputees and lower limb Les Autres play as outfielders and upper limb amputees or [...]

Goalball is one of the Paralympic sport disciplines designed for athletes with visual impairments (VI), and athletes wear eyeshades while they perform the sport for a fair competition. The game is played with a ball with bells inside allowing its movement to be heard by the players and therefore sport-specific attack and defense foundations needs to be developed for this Paralympic sport discipline. Taking the VI into account, movement phases of attack and defense techniques may be improved by the coach with proper training programs and with this, athletic ability of the athlete with VI may be enhanced. This is especially significant for novice goalball athletes as mastering fundamental skills properly may lead to better performance on the court while minimizing the risk of injury. In contrast, there is a scarce literature on examining the kinematic analysis of Paralympic goalball sport. Limited studies carried out 2-D video observational analysis for goal-ball-throwing technique and in fact goalball-throwing technique is three dimensional. Moreover, studies conducted kinematic analysis only for throwing technique. For these reasons, 3-D kinematic analysis of throwing and defense techniques is essential. In addition, development of throwing and defense techniques with precise training methods requires taking into account of kinetic chain of body segments, functional movement must be considered and evaluated completely. From this point of view, functional training methods that can contribute defense performance can be recommended as there is no study evaluating the functional performance of goalball athletes. This also can contribute to development of goalball specific test protocols to evaluate foundational goalball skills and novel training approaches can be applied in order to develop physiological and motor skills of goalball sport. Keywords: Goalball, offensive skill, defensive skill, visual impairment, functionality, motion analysis, athletic training, Goalball is one of the two Paralympic sports, along with Boccia, that does not have an Olympic counterpart. This unique Paralympic sport was invented for individuals with various degrees of [...]

The aim of this study was to determine the effects of a post activation potential application response in sprinting and change of direction performance. Fifteen physically active, healthy men (age 23.5±2.0 years, height 175.0±7.6 cm, body weight 72.2±8.5 kg, body fat 15.7±2.9 %) voluntarily participated in this study. Cross sectional research design with a single group (n=15) and repeated tests was used and applicants participated in sprint and pro-agility tests 8 minutes after the pre-conditioning (PC) with weight wests that corresponded 5% and 10% of their body weights in different days without pre-conditioning. For PC, 8 minutes before for each 30m sprint and pro-agility tests, they did a resisted running with a weight vest corresponding 5% and 10% of their body weights. Analysis shows that, sprint after PC activity as resistance running with %5 and %10 of body weight (p<0.05) and agility (p<0.05) data showed statistically significant difference. According to the results of Bonferroni post-hoc correction, 30m sprint test times, which were performed 8 minutes after the PC which includes a 30m sprint with weight vests corresponding to 5% of their body weight, showed an increase from control test times, 4.34±0.23 seconds to 4.40±0.24 seconds respectively. This 0.07 second increase is statistically significant (p<0.05). In our study, PAP effect being observed as negative, might be related with the lower body weight percentages of resisted running exercise which was selected for PAP.

The aim of this research was to designate and compare the pacing profiles of the Turkish and Non-Turkish female and male athletes completed and ranked in the first tenth (n = 79) in the determined half-marathon road races held in Turkey. The pacings of the athletes were divided into 5 separate segments (0-5, 5-10, 10-15, 15-21.1 km) and calculated on the basis of their average transition speed (min:sec/km). The differences both between the pacing profiles of the Turkish and Non-Turkish athlete groups and between the successive segments within the groups were examined separately for women and men with the variance analysis for mixed patterns. According to the results, there was no statistical differences between the pacing profiles of both female and male Turkish and Non-Turkish athletes (p > 0.05). In addition, there was also no difference between the successive segments within the groups (p > 0.05). According to these results, it can be said that the pacing profiles of the Turkish and Non-Turkish elite athletes were similar and close to even pacing profile without a last sprint. Although it was not statistically significant, all the athletes had small decreases in their pacings in the first 15 km of the race. In the last 6.1 km segment, while small increases in the pacings of the Non-Turkish female athletes were observed, the pacings of the Turkish women athletes were more even with small decreases. Considering the whole race, it was seen that the athletes showed pacing profiles close to positive and reverse J-shaped pacing profile.

The aim of this study was to investigate the immediate and delayed effects of the kinesio-taping on the hand grip strength. Six-teen female volleyball players currently competing in Turkey Women's Volleyball 2nd league (age 18.1±2.3 years, height 172.9±7.3 cm) voluntarily participated in this study. In cross-over research design, all participants participated in a total of 4 different measurements, immediately after kinesio-taping (1), immediately after placebo taping (2), after volleyball training (3), 48h post taping (4). In kinesio-taping, approximately 2-3 cm ends of kinesio-tapes were applied without tension, and the middle region was stretched by approximately 10-15% in "Y-shape". Hand grip strength measurements were made 4 times on different days that before kinesio-taping, immediately after kinesio-taping, immediately after training and 48 hours after taping with a portable handheld dynamometer. According to the results of the one-way repeated measures ANOVA, the kinesio-taping to forearm didn't elicit any significant changes in hand grip strength over the conditions (p > 0.05). The results of the current study showed that the kinesio-taping in female volleyball players did not have a significant effect on immediate, right after training and 48 hours after taping, compared to placebo taping measurements in dominant and non-dominant maximal hand grip strength.

The aim of this study is to evaluate the physical activity levels and the quality of life of the university students. In this purpose, the SF-36 life quality scale was used to examine the quality of life of the participants and physical activity levels were also determined through IPAQ. One-way ANOVA was used to compare the quality of life based on the physical activity levels of the participants. Moreover, the Bonferroni Correction were used to determine which physical activity level causes the difference by keeping the type I error rate fixed at 0.05. Statistically significant results were observed between social function and physical activity levels for the female group. In addition, statistically significant results were found between vitality and physical activity levels for the male group. The results show that there is a significant relationship between physical activity and quality of life. The individuals who feel more fit and social tend to have an active life. Given that it is crucial to intensify the studies on this topic for university students to encourage them for taking up regular physical activity as a part of life style.

Caffeine and sodium bicarbonate are extensively researched ergogenic aids known for their potential to enhance exercise performance. The stimulant properties of caffeine on the central nervous system, coupled with the buffering capacity of sodium bicarbonate, have been associated with improved athletic performance. This has led to investigations of their combined effects on strength. The aim of the present study is to investigate the effect of isolated and combined caffeine and sodium bicarbonate consumption on strength using the isometric mid-thigh pull test (IMTP). Nineteen male college students (age 23.6 ± 1.6 years) participated in this crossover, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. They were exposed to the following conditions: control (no supplement), placebo (20 g maltodextrin), caffeine (6 mg/kg), sodium bicarbonate (0.3 g/kg), and a combination of caffeine and sodium bicarbonate. Supplements and placebo were diluted in water and consumed 60 min prior to the IMTP tests. Two 5 s IMTP trials were performed at 40–60% and 60–80% of One Repetition of Maximum (1RM) with a 60 s rest between. Consumption of caffeine or Caf + NaHCO3 did not significantly change peak IMTP strength values at any intensity (p = 0.110). The peak IMTP values did not show significant differences between conditions or from control condition values (1091 ± 100 N) to Caf (1224 ± 92 N), NaHCO3 (1222 ± 74 N), and Caf ± NaHCO3 (1152 ± 109 N). However, the test of the results of the ANOVA analysis of repeated measures of effect within the caffeine condition was significant for the increase in IMTP relative strength compared to control (p < 0.05). Thus, the IMTP force values increased significantly from control to Caf (p = 0.016) and from Pla to Caf (p = 0.008), but not for other comparisons (p > 0.05). In summary, caffeine supplementation alone, taken 60 min before exercise, positively affects submaximal strength performance. In contrast, sodium bicarbonate, whether taken alone or in combination with caffeine, does not enhance submaximal strength in the IMTP tests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fasting during Ramadan causes significant changes in important features of human life, such as sleep behaviors, nutrition, and physical activity. This study aimed to investigate the effects of Ramadan fasting on sleep patterns, nutritional characteristics, and physical activity levels in young individuals doing active sports. Twenty-six individuals (14 males-12 females) between the ages of 19-25 and doing active sports participated in the study voluntarily. In the study, the athletes' sleep patterns, nutrition, and physical activity characteristics were determined using a questionnaire. Participants answered a questionnaire about their sleep patterns, nutritional characteristics, and physical activity levels one week before and during the first week of Ramadan. Comparisons between before and Ramadan answers were made by paired t-tests. Wilcoxon’s z was calculated for comparisons between the non-parametric variables. According to the statistical comparisons, the number of workouts per week, and daily training time, were significantly (p<0.05) decreased during Ramadan. In addition, it has been determined that the sleeping and waking hours have changed. It is seen that there is no statistically significant difference in total sleep times. There was no significant difference was found in the highintensity, moderate-intensity physical activity and sitting times of the athletes (p>0.05). Significant decreases were found in walking and total calorie (MET) parameters (p<0.001). Moreover, no significant difference was found in the total calorie, carbohydrate, fat, protein, and liquid consumption. Ramadan fasting was affected by the number of workouts per week, daily training number, bedtime, waking-up time, walking, and total calorie (MET) parameters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It has been found that anthropometric swimming performance factors may be related to and affect swimming performance. In light of this, the study's objective was to examine the association between certain motoric and anthropometric traits and 25-meter freestyle swimming performance results. A total of 16 male swimming students from Yozgat Bozok University's Faculty of Sport Sciences (age: 21.75±1.23 years; weight: 78.29±13.04 kg; height: 177±5.44 cm; body fat percentage: 17±7.5 %) took part in the study as volunteers. Height, body mass, skinfold thickness, circumference measurements (biceps in flexion, calf), diameter measurements (humerus epicondyle, femur epicondyle), static flexibility measurements (shoulder flexion, trunk-neck extension, ankle extension), and strength measurements (leg strength, back strength) were carried out to assess the anthropometric measurements of swimming students. In a semi-Olympic swimming pool, short-course freestyle scores of swimming students were recorded. The data appeared to have a normal distribution after the skewness and kurtosis tests, so the Pearson Correlation test was used to look at the correlation between 25-meter freestyle swimming levels and other characteristics. It was discovered that there was no statistically significant correlation between static flexibility and strength tests and 25-meter freestyle swimming performance results, but there was a negative and statistically significant correlation between swimming performance results of swimming students and mesomorph variables (r=-0.529, p=0.035). It is believed that identifying swimmers' somatotype structures may be crucial for talent selection and serve as an indicator of swimming ability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The athletic function of the foot is also extremely important in soccer and constantly exposed to the full impact of weight bearing, because it plays a vital role as a contact point with the ground, absorbing abnormal forces, and main area of the body to kick the ball. The purpose of this study was to compare female soccer players and sedentary individuals in terms of plantar pressure distribution while walking and bilateral standing with barefoot. Eleven female soccer players (21.44±2.12 years, 162.25±5.77 cm, 53.12±6.01 kg, BMI=20.23±1.52 kg/m2, Experience=5.98±0.78 years) and 14 sedentary individuals (23.38±5.79 years, 164.92±5.88 cm, 56.31±6.56 kg, BMI=20.67±1.78 kg/m2) participated in this study. Participants performed self-paced walking and 30 seconds bilateral standing on a 1.5-meter walking platform with barefoot. Each footprint was divided into 12 areas as total foot, hindfoot, midfoot, forefoot, 1st metatarsal, 2nd metatarsal, 3rd metatarsal, 4th metatarsal and 5th metatarsal, big toe, second toes and toes 3-4-5. Maximum force [MF (N)], peak pressure [PP (kPa)], contact area [CA(cm2)], mean pressure [MP (kPa)] and maximum force normalized to body weight [MFNBW (N)] plantar pressure values were analyzed with Mann-Whitney-U test. Results indicated that sedentary group showed significantly higher CA in the forefoot, 3rd and 4th metatarsals; MF in 4th and 5th metatarsals; MP in 5th metatarsal, p<0.05. On the other hand, soccer players demonstrated significantly higher MP in the forefoot, 2nd and 3rd metatarsals and PP in 2nd and 3rd metatarsals, p<0.05. This study indicates that soccer players and physically inactive sedentary individuals demonstrate different plantar pressure patterns during gait and bilateral stance. Coaches and athletic trainers should consider these different patterns while planning intervention protocols. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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