Montenegrin Journal of Sports Science and Medicine

5-11

Authors: Seyed Morteza Tayebi, Ali Akbar Mahmoudi, Elaheh Shirazi, Maedeh Sangi

The present study was conducted to investigate the acute responses of some iron indices of young elite wrestlers to three types of aerobic, anaerobic, and wrestling exercises. A total of 24 elite volunteer wrestlers were randomly categorized into three groups (n=8) aerobic, anaerobic, and routine wrestling exercises. The exercises were conducted during three non-consecutive sessions within one week. The aerobic exercises included 35 min of continuous running with 130 beats per minute (BPM) on a treadmill; the anaerobic exercises included 15 min circuit movements and 15 min rest with 160 BPM, and the wrestling training included routine wrestling exercises. Blood sampling was done in the first and third sessions in order to study the acute responses which included four stages of 1 h before, immediately, 3 h, and finally 24 h after exercises. The study of the acute response to the first session showed that the type of exercise had no effect on serum iron (p=0.57). Furthermore, the serum ferritin (p=0.012) and TIBC (p=0.006) affected was affected by type of exercise. The study of the acute response to the second session showed that the type of exercise had no effect on serum ferritin (p=0.731) and TIBC (p=0.231), rather the serum iron was affected by the type of exercise (p=0.01). Conclusively, the study of acute response showed that wrestling exercises led to a decline in iron stores during exercise and reduced total iron binding capacity during a 24-h recovery period. The study of acute exercise after a short adaptation period showed that despite the fact that serum iron had no change in anaerobic and wrestling exercises over the passage of time, it changed during aerobic exercise and 24-h recovery periods. Furthermore, the progress of iron deficiency was only observed in the first stage which prevented its progress to the next stage.

29-35

Authors: Sakir Serbes, Cevdet Cengiz, Murvet Sivri, Tugce Filiz

The purpose of this study is to examine public and private middle school students’ levels of Health-Related Fitness Knowledge (HRFK) according to school type, gender, and grade. A cross-sectional survey method was applied in the research. A total of 334 public middle school students (nfemale =154 and nmale = 180) and 386 private middle school students (nfemale =187 and nmale = 199) participated in the survey. The data collection instrument was developed by Hunuk and Ince (2010) based on the “Superkids-Superfit Knowledge” study (Mott, Virgilio, Warren and Berenson, 1991). The data collected was analysed using the following descriptive and non-parametric tests: the Pearson chi-square, Mann-Whitney U-test, and Kruskal-Wallis H-test. Findings indicated a significant difference according to school type and age group (p<.05), but a non-significant difference according to gender and HRFK test result. Results improved year to year except among 7th graders. In other words, private middle school students’ HRFK results were higher than those of public middle school students; grade level was also linked to HRFK, but gender was not. These results suggest that physical education curriculums should be developed with reference to HRFK objectives. Another recommendation would be that HRFK tools be customized by grade level in the Turkish context.

45-48

Authors: Karel Hulka, Radim Weisser

Small-sided games are a specific form of training in which exercise intensity can be manipulated mainly by modifying external factors. The aim of this study was to determine the influence of a number of players during small sided futsal games on metabolic responses and distance covered at elite senior futsal players. Fifteen top level Czech futsal players (males, aged 26.81±5.30; body height = 176.10±4.34 cm; body weight = 71.31±5.30 kg, and peak heart rate=191.23±5.4 beats•min-1) participated in the study. Heart rate, blood lactate concentrations, distance covered, and rate of perceived exertion were monitored during small-sided futsal games. We found significant differences between blood lactate concentration values and perceived exertion; it was significantly higher during 3vs3 and 4vs4 small-sided games than during 6vs6 games. When we compared the distance covered by players, we found significantly higher distance covered during 4vs4 than in 6vs6 games. The results of this study demonstrated that the small-sided games 3vs3 and 4vs4 were valuable tools to develop specific futsal fitness. As the most intensive, the 4-a-side game was found.

57-64

Authors: Marta Hurst, Manuel Loureiro, Beatriz Valongo, Lorenzo Laporta, Pantelis Nikolaidis, José Afonso

This work analysed team sports as complex systems in which behavioural variables need to be taken into consideration when studying performance. Within this understanding, the use of Social Network Analysis constitutes a useful research path. As such, this research analysed two of the least studied game complexes: attack coverage and freeball and downball, in eight matches from the first Group Stage of the Women’s World Grand Prix 2015, comprising a total of 1,264 rallies. Eigenvector centrality values were calculated, with each behavioural variable counted as a node and their connections as edges. The results showed that playing in off-system is central in both complexes, although more so in attack coverage than in freeball and downball situations. Results also showed that although freeing a higher number of players for attack action is potentially advantageous, such action would become a disadvantage when faced with an effective blocking action and the sudden need for effective attack coverage. Overall, this study showed that volleyball coaches should take off-system game moments into stronger consideration and devise a strategy of play that will turn off-system play into an advantage.

73-79

Authors: Bülent Okan Miçooğulları

The aim of the present study was to examine the psychometric properties of the Test of Performance Strategies (TOPS; Thomas et al., 1999) on the Turkish population. The TOPS was designed to assess eight psychological skills and strategies used by athletes in competition (activation, automaticity, emotional control, goal-setting, imagery, relaxation, self-talk, and negative thinking) and the same strategies, except negative thinking is replaced by attentional control used in training. The sample of the study included athletes who were training and competing in a wide variety of sports across a broad range of performance standards. The final sample consisted of 433 males (mean ± s: age 22.47 ± 5.30 years) and 187 females (mean ± s: age 20.97 ± 4.78 years), 620 athletes in total (mean ± s: age 21.25 ± 4.87 years) who voluntarily participated; TOPS was administered to all participants. Afterward, Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) was conducted by Analysis Moments of Structures (AMOS) 18. Comparative fit index (CFI), non-normed fit index (NNFI) and root mean square error of approximation (RMSEA) were used to verify whether the model fit the data. Goodness-of-fit statistics were CFI= .91, NNFI= .92 and RMSEA= .056. These values showed that the tested model is coherent at a satisfactory level. Moreover, results of confirmatory factor analyses revealed that a total of four items (two items from competition and two from practice) within the subscale of automaticity have been removed. The 28 items within the remaining seven subscales have been validated. In conclusion, Turkish version of TOPS is a valid and reliable instrument to assess the psychological skills and strategies used by athletes in competition and practices.