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Introduction: The purpose of this study was to explore the implications of the in-field implementation of a teaching strategy that promotes critical thinking (TPCT) on tactical ability, declarative, and procedural knowledge. The TPCT is grounded in socio-constructivist theory and aims to enhance players' analytical skills through inquiry, problem-solving, and observation. By emphasizing the socio-constructivist approach, the program fosters skills such as interpretation, analysis, inference, evaluation, explanation, and self-regulation, encouraging players' active participation in questioning and collaborative problem-solving activities. The content of the program focuses on offensive tactical principles of soccer. Methods: Thirteen male U-14 soccer players (mean age: 13.54 ± 1.00 years; mean soccer-federated experience: 3.92 ± 1.00 years; mean body mass: 39.44 ± 6.09 kg; mean height: 1.61 ± 0.10 m) performed a TPCT intervention strategy over 22 sessions, three times a week. Tactical ability was assessed using the Test for Performance Assessment in Team Sports (PATS), while declarative and procedural knowledge were evaluated with the Tactical Knowledge Test in Soccer (TCTOF). These assessments were administered before and after the intervention. Results: After the 8-week teaching strategy, there was a significant improvement and substantial increase in the Tactical Efficiency Index (IE) [ t (12) = 2.61, p < 0.05, r = 0.73], reflecting a 41% rise from the pretest (M = 0.39, SD = 0.21) to the post-test (M = 0.55, SD = 0.24). Changes in declarative knowledge were minimal, with a 0.31% increase. Similarly, procedural knowledge showed a slight increase (3.53%) that did not reach statistical significance. Discussion: The findings suggest that integrating critical thinking into sports training could be a strategy to enhance the tactical abilities of young soccer players. While the increase in tactical ability was significant, improvements in declarative and procedural knowledge were minimal. These results highlight the potential of critical thinking-focused programs to impact tactical performance but suggest that further research is needed to explore the broader effects on other types of knowledge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to examine the effects of cold exposure, hypoxia, and fatigue on pistol marksmanship and target engagement in trained marksmen. Twelve healthy subjects (mean6SD age: 28.864.0 years) performed 3 testing visits under normal/normoxic [Norm21] (24° C; 21% FiO2), cold/normoxic [Cold21] (10° C; 21% FiO2), and cold/hypoxic [Cold14] (10° C; FiO2: 14.3) conditions. Pistol marksmanship and target engagement were assessed through draw time (DT) and shoot-no-shoot (SNS) courses of fire. The 2 protocols were performed before (TpreF) and immediately after (TpostF) a sandbag deadlift fatiguing protocol. Significance was set at p, 0.05. Significant condition 3 time interactions (p 5 0.01-0.03) were found for accuracy SNS (SNSacc), misses SNS (SNSmiss), and total shots SNS (SNStot). Follow-up analyses indicated that SNSacc increased by 14.3% (p 5 0.03), SNSmiss decreased by 34.7% (p 5 0.02), and SNStot decreased by 10.6% (p 5 0.04) from TpreF to TpostF during the Cold21 condition alone. No significance was found for these in the Norm21 (p50.08-0.22) or Cold14 (p50.18-0.47) conditions. Total time (SNST) to completion of the SNS (p50.09) and DT (p50.14) showed no significance across time or condition. Significant difference across time for Cold14 (p50.03-0.02) for reaction time was found. Exercise likely resulted in increased thermogenesis that improved tactically relevant motor skills including SNSacc, decreased SNSmiss, and SNStot in Cold21, but not Cold14. The additive effect of hypoxia coupled with exercise in the Cold14 condition did not improve tactical performance, suggesting multi-stressor environments result in competing physiological responses. Tactical strength and conditioning specialists as well as operators should aim to improve thermoregulation during Cold21 conditions, with exercise as a possible intervention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

IntroductionThe purpose of this study was to explore the implications of the in-field implementation of a teaching strategy that promotes critical thinking (TPCT) on tactical ability, declarative, and procedural knowledge. The TPCT is grounded in socio-constructivist theory and aims to enhance players' analytical skills through inquiry, problem-solving, and observation. By emphasizing the socio-constructivist approach, the program fosters skills such as interpretation, analysis, inference, evaluation, explanation, and self-regulation, encouraging players' active participation in questioning and collaborative problem-solving activities. The content of the program focuses on offensive tactical principles of soccer.MethodsThirteen male U-14 soccer players (mean age: 13.54 ± 1.00 years; mean soccer-federated experience: 3.92 ± 1.00 years; mean body mass: 39.44 ± 6.09 kg; mean height: 1.61 ± 0.10 m) performed a TPCT intervention strategy over 22 sessions, three times a week. Tactical ability was assessed using the Test for Performance Assessment in Team Sports (PATS), while declarative and procedural knowledge were evaluated with the Tactical Knowledge Test in Soccer (TCTOF). These assessments were administered before and after the intervention.ResultsAfter the 8-week teaching strategy, there was a significant improvement and substantial increase in the Tactical Efficiency Index (IE) [t (12) = 2.61, p

The current manuscript aims to verify if the team ability and the players' age influence the distance covered at various speeds and the technical-tactical performance in elite soccer. Physical and technical performance data from all matches in the Spanish LaLiga during the 2018–2019 season were analysed using a computerised tracking system (TRACAB, Chyronhego, New York, USA). Players were categorized into five positional roles: Central Defenders (CD; match observations = 1,179), fullbacks (FB; match observations = 980), Central Midfielders (CM; match observations = 1,000), External Midfielders (EM; match observations = 440), and forwards (F; match observations = 412). The following variables were considered: total distance covered (TD) covered by players, distance covered at high intensity (HIR; >24.0 km · h−1), number of efforts made at high-intensity running (N of HIR), Average Speed (AvSpeed, km · h−1), Offensive Volume (Off Vol): sum of passes, shots, and dribbles executed by the player; Defensive Volume (Def Vol): sum of recoveries, clearances, opponent attack interruptions, and blocked shots executed by the player; and (iii) Game Volume (Game Vol): sum of offensive actions and defensive actions. The variable team quality was established by running an automatic clustering model (two-step) that identified 4 groups of teams: Best teams (ranked from 1st to 6th position), intermediate-higher ranked (from 7th to 11th position), intermediate-lower ranked (from 12th to 15th position), and lower ranked teams (from 16th to 20th position). Generalized linear models were used to analyse differences in players’ match performance according to the team quality, age, and playing position. The main results revealed that: (i) Overall, the team quality affected the performance in all variables (all p

The Army Combat Fitness Test (ACFT) is used to evaluate the fitness level of potential Cadets for military readiness. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the exercise training program implemented by an Army Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) program to gauge the performance metrics of the ACFT. METHODS: Twenty-six student Cadets of the ROTC at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) program participated in the study. Over an 8-month period, the ROTC Cadets trained on campus three days per week. Training was performed in a circuit training format and each participant cycled through each of the four training stations (Strength, Conditioning, Core, and Endurance) for 15 minutes each session (for a total training time of 60 minutes). Each Cadet had body mass and body composition assessed as well as each component of the ACFT [maximum dead lift (MDL), standing power throw (SPT), hand release push-up (HRP), sprint-drag-carry (SDC), leg tuck/plank (LTK/PLK), and 2-mile run (2MR)]. Each variable was evaluated at three time points (pre-, mid-, and post-training program). RESULTS: There was a significant difference in the 2MR score between time points [F(2,50) = 4.530, p = .016, n²= 0.153] with a significant difference between time point at pre- and post-training (p = .02). No other variables displayed a significant change: body mass (p = .741), body fat percentage (p = .238), MDL (p = .061), SPT (p = .308), HRP (p = .126), SDC (p = 0.132), LTK/PLK (p = 0.583). CONCLUSION: The results of this study suggest that the short-term training program used improves 2MR, but not other components of the ACFT over the course of an academic year. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Celal Bayar Üniversitesi Saglik Bilimleri Enstitüsü Dergisi is the property of Celal Bayar University Health Sciences Institute Journal 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.)

Multivariate training programmes are widely recognised as an effective strategy for developing the skills necessary for good performance in the collective modalities addressed in physical education. The aim of this study was to verify the correlation between tactical performance and physical fitness levels in young secondary school students during the teaching of the didactic unit of basketball, using a multivariate training programme. A group of forty-seven students from a Portuguese school volunteered to participate in the study. A correlational study was used to verify association between tactical performance and physical fitness during the teaching of the Basketball Didactic Unit based on TGFU (i.e., 6 weeks) in two different moments. All subjects were randomly divided into two groups (control and experimental) and assessed at two different moments: before the teaching of the didactic unit (pre-test) and at the end of the teaching of the didactic unit (post-test). Tactical performance in basketball was assessed using the Game Performance Assessment Instrument (GPAI), while physical fitness was assessed using some physical tests from the FitEscola battery. Overall, the multivariate training programme did not differentiate the magnitudes of the correlations between the variables analysed. However, it is confirmed that the multivariate training programme seems to emerge as a positive and differentiating pedagogical strategy that should be integrated into physical education classes.

Multivariate training programmes are widely recognised as an effective strategy for developing the skills necessary for good performance in the collective modalities addressed in physical education. The aim of this study was to verify the correlation between tactical performance and physical fitness levels in young secondary school students during the teaching of the didactic unit of basketball using a multivariate training programme. A group of fortyseven students from a Portuguese school volunteered to participate in the study. A correlational study was used to verify the association between tactical performance and physical fitness while teaching the Basketball Didactic Unit based on TGFU (i.e., 6 weeks) in two different moments. All subjects were randomly divided into two groups (control and experimental) and assessed at two different moments: before the teaching of the didactic unit (pre-test) and at the end of the teaching of the didactic unit (post-test). Tactical performance in basketball was assessed using the Game Performance Assessment Instrument (GPAI), while physical fitness was assessed using some physical tests from the FitEscola battery. Overall, the multivariate training programme did not differentiate the magnitudes of the correlations between the variables analysed. However, it is confirmed that the multivariate training programme seems to emerge as a positive and differentiating pedagogical strategy that should be integrated into physical education classes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Player interactions in Netball are critical during attacking phases of play to ensure possession is maintained and scoring opportunities are created. This study aims to analyse the characteristics of the passing networks of elite Netball teams and their association with performance outcomes (i.e., win/loss and final margin). Five network metrics used to represent the characteristics of teamwork were calculated for all team performances (n = 112) from one season of professional Netball in Australia. A two-way ANOVA and multiple linear modelling were used to compare characteristics between teams and match outcomes and to predict score margin, respectively. Pass density (F = 65.09, df = 102, p <.001) and pass centrality (F = 7.61, df = 102, p <.01) differed (were higher) in wins/losses. They were also statistically significant contributors (p ≤.005) to the linear model that predicted a score margin (R2 =.731). Key player centrality and mutual connectedness were different between teams but did not differ by match outcome. The results suggest that, ideally, Netball teams should maximise the number of connections between player pairings, while also relying on a subset of players to be heavily involved in passing sequences. Team cohesion (via passing) therefore appears to be an important measure of team success in elite Netball. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Persons working in tactical occupations are often exposed to high-stress situations. If this stress is to be measured, an understanding of the stress outcomes used in these occupations is needed. The aim of this review was to capture and critically appraise research investigating subjective and objective outcome measures of physiological stress in tactical occupations. Several literature databases (PubMed, EMBASE, EBsco) were searched using key search words and terms. Studies meeting inclusion criteria were critically evaluated and scored by two authors using the Joanne Briggs Institute (JBI) critical appraisal tool. Of 17,171 articles, 42 studies were retained. The Cohen's Kappa agreement between authors was 0.829 with a mean JBI Score of included studies of 8.1/9 ± 0.37 points. Multiple subjective and objective measures were assessed during a variety of high-stress tasks and environments across different occupations, including police officers, emergency service personnel, firefighters, and soldiers in the military. Common objective outcomes measures were heart rate, cortisol, and body temperature, and subjective measures were ratings of perceived exertion, and the Self Trait Anxiety Inventory. Often used in combination (i.e., subjective and objective), these outcome measures can be used to monitor stressors faced by tactical personnel undergoing on-the-job training. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

IntroductionA multivariate training program could be a pedagogical choice to improve physical and tactical performance in a team sport taught during physical education classes at different levels of education. Thus, the aim of this study was to verify the effects of applying a multivariate training program on physical fitness and tactical performance during the teaching of a basketball didactic unit in basic and secondary education.MethodsSeventy-five students from a Portuguese school, with an average age of 15.02 ± 1.31 years, included forty-two students from basic school and thirty-three students from secondary school. The FITescola® test battery was used to assess physical fitness (i.e., sit-ups, push-ups, horizontal impulse, shuttle test, 40 m sprint, agility 4 × 10 m). The Game Performance Assessment Instrument (GPAI) was used to assess students' tactical performance for each player's game performance during a 20-minute 3 vs. 3 match. The GPAI variables were decision making index (DMI), skill execution index (SEI), support actions index (SI), and adaptability index (AI). During a basketball didactic unit teaching, the students were randomly divided into two groups, a control group that will not carry out the training program and an experimental group that will carry out a strength training program, high intensity explosive exercises and activities based on small-sided games (SSG) for 6 weeks. The two groups were evaluated in two moments: before the application of the training program and after the application of the training program regarding changes in physical fitness and tactical performance. The independent samples t-test (samples from two groups) and paired sample Test (for the same group) were applied for pre and post-assessment comparisons.ResultsAll indexes present significant differences between basic and secondary students in the pre- and post-assessment tests with small effects (t = −6.54 to −4.82, Δ = −27.57 to −0.16, p

IntroductionThis study aimed to investigate the physical and individual technical-tactical performance of elite futsal players.MethodsThirteen National Team futsal players (27.4 ± 4.7 years, 70.3 ± 7.6 kg, 176.3 ± 5.5 cm) competed in 15 official matches in three distinct competitions. Session rate of perceived exertion (sRPE) and player load (PL) were measured for assessing physical internal and external load, respectively. Individual tactical actions were analyzed using Instat Scout®, considering variables such as fouls, shots, shots on target, goals, successful dribbles, passes, successful passes, ball losses, ball recoveries, and challenges won.ResultsThe cluster analysis classified the players into two groups: “high-involvement” (HIGH) and “low-involvement” (LOW), based on their average effective playing time, sRPE, and PL. A linear mixed model was used to examine the differences in external and internal load and technical-tactical variables between the two groups, accounting for individual repeated measures. Considering absolute values, HIGH players presented higher sRPE, RPE, total PL, shots, goals, passes, successful passes, ball losses and recoveries, and challenges won (p = 0.001–0.039; ES = 0.43–2.48), when compared to their LOW counterparts. However, when analyzed relative to effective time, LOW players reached higher total PL and shots per minute (p = 0.001–0.012; ES = 0.39–0.93) when compared to HIGH players. Non-significant differences were found for the rest of the variables.DiscussionIn summary, these results emphasize the importance of normalizing internal and external load variables and technical-tactical performance variables per effective playing time in futsal. The current findings indicate that players with lower involvement can present the same or even higher physical and technical-tactical performance compared to teammates with more playing time.

The present study aimed to analyse the playing surface area, dispersion and distance covered of professional football teams comparing the pre-lockdown and post-lockdown periods. Positional and match physical demands data were collected from all matches played in the First Spanish Division (n = 760) during season 2019/2020. Pre-lockdown (1st–27th matchday) and post-lockdown periods (28th–38th matchday) were compared. Variables related to team-level spatial (i.e., convex hull, team width and team length) and physical performance (i.e., total distance and high-speed running distance) were analysed using an optical tracking system (i.e., ChyronHego). In addition, these variables were concerned with respect to the match location contextual variable. Linear mixed models were used to examine the difference between the pre-lockdown and post-lockdown periods following a hierarchical structure considering players, matches and teams. The results revealed that the pandemic lockdown affected the teams' performance when comparing the periods before and after lockdown, showing a general decrease in the average values of the spatial and physical variables measured. The current data could assist practitioners in making informed decisions in order to design and improve training plans for similar situations in which teams return to competition after an unusual period with no training. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of PODIUM- Revista de Ciencia y Tecnologia en la Cultura Física is the property of Universidad de Pinar del Rio 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.)

The aim of this study was to determine whether the ball passing characteristics of elite women's soccer teams are associated with measures of team performance. In total, 170 matches from two professional women's competitions were used in the analysis. Twenty passing characteristics were analysed to determine their association with match outcome and two score-related variables, shots on target and big chances. The value of 18 passing characteristics was different between teams that won or lost their match, when both leagues were analysed together. When the leagues were analysed separately, there were only three characteristics whose value was consistently higher for teams that won; proportions of passes in the defensive third, successful long passes and successful backward passes. Regression models demonstrated that there were relationships between passing characteristics and measures of team performance, such as shots on target (r2 = 0.434, p < 0.001). The present findings provide evidence of the optimal passing characteristics in elite women's soccer teams, which include; more total passes, minimising short passes but maximising their success and the success of long and backward passes. These results provide valuable information regarding the construction of team tactics and strategy of ball movement that is effective and specific to elite women's soccer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study aimed to investigate the relationships between personality traits and tactical knowledge of field hockey players. The sample consisted of 53 Brazilian female field hockey athletes. The collection instruments were the Big Five Personality Factors Inventory, the Self-Assessment Inventory of Tactical Skills in Collective Sports Games, and a sociodemographic questionnaire. The data were treated according to descriptive and correlational statistics. Percentage values were calculated when the variables showed significant differences. The normality and homogeneity of the data were verified by the Shapiro-Wilk and Levene tests, respectively. The partial correlation test, controlled by the position of the players, was used to analyze associations between the variables. A one-way ANOVA was applied to compare participants' age and practice time with their field positions. The Kruskal-Wallis test was used to compare the positions of the players. The value of p<.05 was adopted for statistical significance. As a result, a moderate positive correlation was obtained between practice time and age; a moderate negative correlation of Neuroticism with age and practice time; moderate positive correlations between practice time and declarative and procedural knowledge. The Openness exhibited moderate positive correlations with declarative and procedural knowledge. The midfield players had higher scores in Extraversion when compared to the defensive players. In Agreeableness, the midfield players had higher scores when compared to defense and attack. The study allowed concluding that Openness was associated with the tactical knowledge domain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We examined the effect of physiological workload on gaze behaviour during defensive performance in 2 vs. 1 +goalkeeper game situations in football. Twenty-two players were assigned to either a high- or low-performing group based on a validated measure of tactical performance. A total of 12 game sequences (trials) were presented under high- and low-workload conditions. At the end of each sequence, participants were asked to indicate their perceived exertion using the Rating Scale of Mental Effort and the Borg Scale. The low- and high-workload conditions were defined when the players achieved 60 and 90% of their maximal heart rate, respectively, as per their performance in the Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery Test. Visual search behaviours were recorded using Tobii Pro eye-movement registration glasses. Players reported higher rates of perceived exertion on the high- compared to low-workload condition. Participants in the low-performing group increased their average fixation duration and decreased the number of fixations and number of fixation locations from the low- to high-workload conditions. The low- and high-performing groups displayed different visual search strategies with regards the areas of interest fixated upon. Participants in the high-performing group focused on the SpaceFrontPlayer , followed by Ball , and AnotherOpponent. The low-performing group spent more time focusing on the SpaceFrontPlayer and SpacePlayer than Ball and AnotherOpponent. It appears that physiological workload and tactical expertise interact in constraining visual search behaviours in football players. Coaches and practitioners should consider ways to manipulate individual and task constraints while attending to the close interplay between physiological workload, visual behaviour, and tactical performance during practise. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of the College Of Basic Education is the property of Republic of Iraq Ministry of Higher Education & Scientific Research (MOHESR) 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.)

Morris, CE, Arnett, SW, and Winchester, LJ. Comparing physical fitness in career vs. volunteer firefighters. J Strength Cond Res 36(5): 1304–1309, 2022—The purpose of this study was to assess the potential similarities and differences in health and physical fitness profiles between career firefighters (CFF) and volunteer firefighters (VFF). The research protocol consisted of a health and physical fitness assessment, testing the 5 components of health-related fitness using previously published and accepted protocols. The subject population consisted of a total of 138 firefighters, including 119 CFF and 19 VFF. Statistical significance was defined as a p level less than 0.05. An independent t test showed evidence of CFF having a significantly higher value/score for the following variables: height (p = 0.034), V̇ o 2max (p = 0.006), push-ups completed (p = 0.024), and plank time (p < 0.001). Volunteer firefighters had a significantly higher value for the following variables: fat mass (p = 0.002), body fat percentage (p < 0.001), and absolute grip strength (p = 0.029). There were no significant differences between groups for the following variables: age (p = 0.299), body mass (p = 0.166), fat-free mass (p = 0.281), body mass index (p = 0.057), flexibility (p = 0.106), or relative grip strength (p = 0.887). With regard to physical fitness testing, the VFF had a significantly worse fitness profile across a number of variables than the CFF. Practical applications: Despite the financial and commitment status of volunteer firefighting departments, their members perform an equally dangerous and important job as do firefighters of professional/career firefighting departments, and more attention should be directed toward developing the fitness and performance of these firefighters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Portuguesa de Ciências do Desporto is the property of Universidade do Porto, Faculdade de Desporto 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.)

In soccer, physical, tactical, and decision-making processes are highly important facets of successful performance. Caffeine has well established effects for promoting both physical and cognitive performance, but the translation of such benefits specifically for soccer match play is not well established. This study examined the effects of acute caffeine ingestion on tactical performance during small-sided games (SSG) in professional soccer players. Nineteen soccer players (22 ± 4 years) underwent a randomized, counterbalanced, crossover, double-blind placebo-controlled trial. The protocol consisted of 5 bouts of 5-min SSG with 3 players plus a goalkeeper in each team (3 + GK × 3 + GK) with each SSG separated by 1 min rest intervals. Tactical performance was assessed using the system of tactical assessment in soccer (FUT-SAT). Prior to each experimental trial, participants ingested caffeine (5 mg·kg−1) or a placebo 60 min before the protocol. Overall, caffeine ingestion resulted in an increased ball possession time when compared to the placebo. When the offensive and defensive core principles were analyzed, the results were equivocal. Caffeine resulted in positive effects on some tactical decisions during the protocol, but it was deleterious or promoted no observed effect on other of the core tactical principles. Caffeine ingestion resulted in less offensive (during SSG3) and defensive (SSG 2, SSG3, and SSG4) errors. Caffeine ingestion also resulted in higher total offensive success during SSG 1 and SSG2, but it was detrimental during SSG3. Additionally, total defensive success was lower for the caffeine conditions during SSG 2 and SSG5 when compared to the placebo. In conclusion, caffeine influenced aspects of tactical decisions in soccer, resulting in fewer offensive and defensive errors, although it may be deleterious considering other tactical parameters. Future studies may clarify the effects of caffeine ingestion on specific decision-making parameters in soccer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although ball screens are widely used in modern basketball, little is known about its efficiency in female competitions. In this study, we identified the predictors of success in ball screens considering time, space, player, task, and contextual related variables in elite women's basketball. The sample comprised 1131 ball screens from 23 close games of the 2018/2019 Women's Portuguese Basketball League. The following variables were considered: ball screen effectiveness (dependent variable), as well as quarter half, time possession remaining, quarter, zone, orientation, pair of execution, finishing action, defensive strategy, screen type, and offensive system (independent variables). Pearson's Chi-square test was used to determine the effects of the independent variables on ball screen effectiveness, whereas classification tree analysis with exhaustive CHAID method was employed to identify the set of variables that best predicted the success in ball screens. Results showed that quarter half, time possession remaining, finishing action, defensive strategy, and offensive system were the best predictors of ball screen effectiveness. In conclusion, our findings highlight the importance of playing ball screens in transition (that is, in the first 8 s of the ball possession), at the beginning of each quarter (that is, first 5 min), and against slide through and hedge defensive strategies to excel in female basketball games. In addition, a drive from the ball handler, as well as a pop out from the screener were the finishing actions that ensured greater success after the ball screen. Findings improve our understanding on how ball screens must be played in female competitions. Hence, we argue that this information will be helpful for basketball coaches to make safer decisions when planning tactical strategies for their teams. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We examined the effect of physiological workload on gaze behaviour during defensive performance in 2 vs. 1 +goalkeeper game situations in football. Twenty-two players were assigned to either a high- or low-performing group based on a validated measure of tactical performance. A total of 12 game sequences (trials) were presented under high- and low-workload conditions. At the end of each sequence, participants were asked to indicate their perceived exertion using the Rating Scale of Mental Effort and the Borg Scale. The low- and high-workload conditions were defined when the players achieved 60 and 90% of their maximal heart rate, respectively, as per their performance in the Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery Test. Visual search behaviours were recorded using Tobii Pro eye-movement registration glasses. Players reported higher rates of perceived exertion on the high- compared to low-workload condition. Participants in the low-performing group increased their average fixation duration and decreased the number of fixations and number of fixation locations from the low- to high-workload conditions. The low- and high-performing groups displayed different visual search strategies with regards the areas of interest fixated upon. Participants in the high-performing group focused on the SpaceFrontPlayer, followed by Ball, and AnotherOpponent. The low-performing group spent more time focusing on the SpaceFrontPlayer and SpacePlayer than Ball and AnotherOpponent. It appears that physiological workload and tactical expertise interact in constraining visual search behaviours in football players. Coaches and practitioners should consider ways to manipulate individual and task constraints while attending to the close interplay between physiological workload, visual behaviour, and tactical performance during practise.

The aim of the study is to identify the impact of a training program based on games on the tactical performance of football players. The researcher used the experimental method. The sample consisted of 15 players from the team of Bordj Bou Arreridj and 15 players of the team of El Eulma U. 19. The training program was applied during 15 weeks and included 48 tactical situations in the form of games. The results confirmed that training program based on games had a positive impact on the tactical performance of members of the experimental group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Physical Education (20736452) is the property of Republic of Iraq Ministry of Higher Education & Scientific Research (MOHESR) 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 Revista Portuguesa de Ciências do Desporto is the property of Universidade do Porto, Faculdade de Desporto 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.)

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of load carriage (LC) and LC plus respirator use (LC + self-contained breathing apparatus [SCBA]) on firefighters' work capacity to enhance our understanding of occupational demands. Twenty-one male structural firefighter recruits (age: 28.664.3 years; height: 178.667.2 cm; body mass: 94.1615.4 kg; body fat: 22.966.1%) participated. Occupational performance was assessed by time to complete a simulated fire ground test (SFGT). After 2 familiarization trials, recruits performed the following SFGT conditions in a randomized order: PT (physical training clothes), LC only, and LC + SCBA. To describe within-group differences between SFGT conditions, relative difference scores were calculated as follows:%difference5([experimental trial outcome2PT trial outcome]/PT trial outcome) 3 100. Statistical differences between conditions were assessed with repeated-measures analysis of variance. The level of significance was set p < 0.01. Time to complete the LC + SCBA trial (345.9 ± 43.7 seconds; p < 0.001) and LC-only trial (331.2 ± 39.3 seconds; p, 0.001) were significantly greater than the PT trial (241.0 ± 33.3 seconds). Post-SFGT rating of perceived exertion was higher in the LC + SCBA trial (6.7 ± 1.7) and LC trial (6.4 ± 1.5) compared with the PT trial (4.7 ± 1.8; p, 0.001). Heart rate and lactate measures were similar across conditions (p = 0.488; p = 0.287). Personal protective equipment (PPE) significantly decreases the work capacity and increases the perceived effort of occupational tasks. Thus, these findings describe the additional physical demands produced by PPE and indicate that performance of firefighting tasks in an unloaded condition does not reflect work capacity in a bona fide condition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. This study aimed to evaluate the physiological strain index (PSI) along with specific immune system markers in response to a simulated firefighting occupation workload. Methods. Ten healthy male adults completed a 6-min simulated fire stair climb (SFSC) at 60 steps/min. The protocol consisted of four conditions, some including wearing a 34.04-kg vest to simulate personal protective equipment (PPE) and/or inclusion of a color-word interference test (CWIT) as a distracting mechanism. The PSI was evaluated by continuously monitoring the heart rate and core temperature. Salivary cortisol (CORT) was measured at baseline, mid SFSC and post SFSC. C-reactive protein (CRP) was evaluated at baseline and 1 h post SFSC. Results. Repeated-measures analysis of variance showed a significantly different PSI across conditions (p = 0.001). A significantly elevated PSI was exhibited during all 6 min of SFSC for both PPE and PPE + CWIT conditions. Neither CORT (p = 0.116) nor CRP (p = 0.700) was significantly different across conditions or from baseline. Conclusion. These findings suggest that firefighters are potentially at a substantial degree of physiological stress from exercise and the weight of gear alone. Further work should be conducted to further evaluate the usefulness of the PSI as a means to monitor firefighters during fire suppression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Physical Education (20736452) is the property of Republic of Iraq Ministry of Higher Education & Scientific Research (MOHESR) 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 Journal of Physical Education (20736452) is the property of Republic of Iraq Ministry of Higher Education & Scientific Research (MOHESR) 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 Journal of Physical Education (20736452) is the property of Republic of Iraq Ministry of Higher Education & Scientific Research (MOHESR) 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.)

This study aimed to investigate the association between inhibitory control and tactical performance of under-15 soccer players. Data from 166 under-15 soccer players were analyzed. The tactical performance and the inhibitory control were assessed by the System of Tactical Assessment in Soccer (FUT-SAT) and by Conners Continuous Performance Test 2nd version (CPT-II), respectively. The scores of the tactical performance achieved by players in FUT-SAT were separated into three levels: low, intermediate and high. Values of Number of Commission Errors, Number of Omission Errors and Hit Reaction Time of CPT-II achieved by the players from low and high groups in tactical performance were compared by the non-parametric Mann-Whitney test. Results revealed that players with high scores in tactical performance presented lower values of Hit Reaction Time (Z = - 2.569; p = 0.010; r = -0.35). These results suggest that players with better tactical performance presented a better ability to respond faster in an inhibitory control task. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract This paper examines tactical performance – a creative and humorous form of protest - as a form of alter-geopolitical intervention that poses counter-hegemonic challenges in society. This paper extends the writing on humour in political geography through a consideration of the spatial use of humour in political protest. My analysis is informed by a scholar activist methodology rooted in collaboration with resisting others and an ethic of solidarity. The paper argues that the practice of tactical performance requires a narrative that is attentive to an 'action logic' that mobilises humour and requires both emotional and spatial registers understood as sites of intervention that articulate alternative geopolitical narratives and practices from below through various forms of material action. This approach to alter-geopolitical action is grounded in an empirical case study in which the author participated, namely the Dawn of the Debt zombie action during the 2004 May Day protests in Glasgow, Scotland. Drawing upon disposition theories of humour, and a Marxist understanding of the figure of the zombie in contemporary capitalism, the paper argues that while in engaging with particular action logics and sites of intervention, the use of humour in political protest remained ambiguous in its results. This poses challenges to the deployment of humour and tactical performance as forms of alter-geopolitics while at the same time opening up new avenues to activist engagement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The objective of this review was to analyze the physiological impact of fire suppression on the human body. Design: The literature review included studies focused on workload requirements for common firefighting tasks, effect of health status on the firefighting profession, and attempts to establish a minimum physiological workload capacity for successful performance of firefighting. Findings: The existing literature provides evidence of the high degree of physiological stress that firefighters are under during fire suppression tasks and the great degree of maximal physical capacity that firefighting often requires. Firefighters often operate close to maximal aerobic capacity while performing tasks common to the profession. This is especially true due to the added physiological stress placed on the human body while wearing personal protective equipment during firefighting. Conclusions: Future investigations are necessary to further explore markers of physiological stress during firefighting and the impact that it may have on the ability to withstand the development of disease as well as fire suppression safety. Using completion time of fire suppression tasks as a criterion of success may be an important consideration in addition to the physiological requirements of the occupation when assessing the appropriateness of an individual to be a firefighter. An important future consideration is the effect that fire suppression activities may have on reaction time in critical situations in which life-and-death decisions must be made. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objectives of this revision were to identify game indicators, the references for evaluating tactical efficiency, and the types of data analysis used in invasion team sports for the analysis of tactical performance. A search of the principal electronic databases was carried out, the procedure was adjusted to the PRISMA-P 2015 protocol, and 62 non-experimental published articles were obtained from the years 2000-2016. The results showed the complimentary use of diverse types of indicators and the frequent elaboration of instruments ad hoc. The individual technical-tactical actions were widely used. The record of standardised team actions was scarce. The research lines with a sequential data record for their temporary analysis were significant. The transitory or final score and the results of game sequences were the most used references of performance. The big data tools of analysis, web analysis, and the detection of temporal patterns or the application of polar coordinates were emerging methods of analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The objective of this review was to analyze the physiological impact of fire suppression on the human body. Design: The literature review included studies focused on workload requirements for common firefighting tasks, effect of health status on the firefighting profession, and attempts to establish a minimum physiological workload capacity for successful performance of firefighting. Findings: The existing literature provides evidence of the high degree of physiological stress that firefighters are under during fire suppression tasks and the great degree of maximal physical capacity that firefighting often requires. Firefighters often operate close to maximal aerobic capacity while performing tasks common to the profession. This is especially true due to the added physiological stress placed on the human body while wearing personal protective equipment during firefighting. Conclusions: Future investigations are necessary to further explore markers of physiological stress during firefighting and the impact that it may have on the ability to withstand the development of disease as well as fire suppression safety. Using completion time of fire suppression tasks as a criterion of success may be an important consideration in addition to the physiological requirements of the occupation when assessing the appropriateness of an individual to be a firefighter. An important future consideration is the effect that fire suppression activities may have on reaction time in critical situations in which life-and-death decisions must be made.

Purpose. The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between impulsiveness and tactical performance of U-15 youth soccer players. Methods. The sample comprised 100 U-15 youth soccer players. Impulsiveness and tactical performance were assessed using the Continuous Performance Test-II (CPT-II) and the System of Tactical Assessment in Soccer (FUT-SAT), respectively. FUT-SAT enables evaluation of ten core tactical principles of soccer game: (i) penetration; (ii) offensive coverage; (iii) depth mobility; (iv) width and length; (v) offensive unity; (vi) delay; (vii) defensive coverage; (viii) balance; (ix) concentration; and (x) defensive unity. Impulsiveness values were obtained using the Omission and Commission Error analysis. Tactical performance values were obtained through the Game Tactical Performance Index (GTPI), Offensive Tactical Performance Index (OTPI) and Defensive Tactical Performance Index (DTPI). The Kolmogorov-Smirnov test and Spearman's Correlation one were performed (p < 0.05) through SPSS, v. 22. Results. We observed a positive correlation between impulsiveness and GTPI (rho = 0.226; p = 0.018). Conclusions. It is concluded that impulsiveness is related to tactical performance of U-15 youth soccer players. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explored how varying the number of creative opponents affects youth players' performance during football small-sided games (SSGs). Initially, 60 players from 3 different age groups with n = 20 in each (under-9, U9; under-11, U11; and under-13, U13) were tested during SSGs to rank them according to their creative potential. Based on these rankings, four players shown to possess with a medium creative potential were assigned to the intermediate team for each age group. This team competed against a team on which players with high creative potential were progressively included (from one to finally all four players, 1C to 4C) during a 4-a-side plus goalkeeper SSG. The results showed that U9 players increased the individual space explored when facing more creative opponents (p = .012), while the U11 (p = .026) and U13 (p < .001) only increased when facing 2C and 3C. Playing against more creative opponents induced more variability in the distance to own (p = .046) and the opponent team's centroid (p = .046) in the U9, regularity in the U11 (team centroid, p < .001; opponents' centroid, p = .001) and lower regularity in the U13 (team centroid, p = .013 opponents' centroid, p = .009). These distinct movement patterns seemed to reflect the differences in players' perceptual and motor skills. A higher creative score was found against 1C (vs 2C and 4C, p = .006) and 3C (vs 4C, p = .006) in the U9. The results from the effect sizes indicated higher values on the players' attempts, fluency and versatility when facing 1C to 3C, whereas a clear decrease was observed against 4C for all age groups. Hence, moderate and high demanding scenarios prompt the emergence of new behaviours while extremely high demanding scenarios (i.e. 4C) seem to constrain all the creativity components. Overall, adding creative players mostly impacts the team's collective behaviour rather than the players' creativity-related skills. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In an effort to reduce the rates of firefighter fatality, injury, and workplace stress, there has been a call for research to advance knowledge of firefighting performance and injury prevention. Physical and psychological variables important to firefighter health and performance have been identified, yet the interrelated nature of these variables has been overlooked. Given the overlap between the physical and psychological demands of firefighting and sport, and given that an integrated framework has been used in the sport domain to guide athlete health and performance research and practice, firefighter organizations could benefit from adopting a sport-based, integrated model of firefighter training and performance management. Guided by the Meyer Athlete Performance Management Model (MAPM), the purposes of the current study were to: (a) describe the physical and psychological characteristics of firefighters-in-training (i.e., cadets and recruits), and (b) explore relationships between the physical and psychological variables associated with health and performance. Firefighters-in-training employed by a Midwestern area fire department in the United States (N = 34) completed a battery of physical and psychological assessments at the department's Fire and Safety Academy building. Results of the current study revealed significant correlations between several of the physical and psychological characteristics of firefighters-in-training. These results, along with the multidimensional data set that was also established in the current study, provide preliminary evidence for the use of a sport-based integrated performance model such as the MAPM to guide training and performance research in firefighter populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Military personnel must maintain physical performance despite exposure to operational stressors such as sleep loss, caloric restriction and high cognitive load. Habitual sleep and specific sleep features are positively associated with fitness and may contribute to physical performance in operational settings. Further, by affecting muscle recovery, sleep may contribute to the ability to maintain performance across multiple days of exposure to operational stressors., Objectives: We examined the role of individual differences in baseline sleep on baseline physical performance and on change in physical performance throughout exposure to simulated military operational stress (SMOS)., Methods: Military personnel (36 male, 9 female, 26.3 ± 5.3 years) completed a 5-day SMOS protocol during which they completed a tactical mobility test daily. Sleep questionnaires were administered at intake and sleep was monitored each night with polysomnography. Lasso regressions were used to identify meaningful predictors of physical performance at baseline and of change in physical performance across SMOS., Results: Better aerobic fitness, lower daytime sleepiness (Epworth Sleepiness Scale), and lower absolute slow wave activity (0.5-4 Hz) predicted better physical performance at baseline (66.1% of variance explained), but did not relate to changes in performance., Conclusions: Collectively, higher daytime sleepiness and slow wave activity may reflect more chronic exposure to insufficient sleep and higher baseline sleep drive, which in turn led to compromised physical performance. The findings suggest that low self-report sleepiness and low objective slow wave activity may reflect two quantifiable markers of healthy sleep behaviors that have implications for operational performance., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest Dr. Germain is CEO and owns equity in NOCTEM, LLC. The work presented here is unrelated to NOCTEM. No other authors have conflicts of interest to report., (Copyright © 2022 National Sleep Foundation. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)