Montenegrin Journal of Sports Science and Medicine

5-9

Authors: Luka Pezelj, Boris Milavic, Marko Erceg

Spirometry is an essential test for assessing the state of the respiratory system. It provides the measurement of the ventilation volumes and fl ows expressed in absolute and relative values. Among elite athletes, the values of ventilation parameters are usually higher than the norm; therefore the interpretation of individual results of elite athletes in relation to the general healthy population is not advisable. Th is study aimed to determine the respiratory characteristics of elite sailors in the Olympic Finn class, and the diff erences between more successful and less successful sailors according to the criterion of sport effi cacy. Th e study included 33 sailors of the Olympic Finn class who participated at the 2015 Finn European Championship. Absolute values of spirometry parameters of elite Finn sailors (FVC-Forced-vital-capacity 5.96±0.79; FEV1-Forced-expiratoryvolume-in-1-second 5.10±0.63; FEV1/FVC%-Forced-expiratory-volume-in-1-second/Forced-vital-capacity 86.10±6.38; MVV-Maximum-voluntary-ventilation 190.94±32.64) are higher than the spirometry values of most other athletes. Relative values of spirometry parameters of elite Finn sailors (FVC% 101.24±14.21; FEV1% 102.53±12.09; FEV1/FVC%% 102.00±7.94; MVV% 96.77±18.59) are within the ranges of most elite athletes. Elite sailors can be considered healthy in terms of ventilation, and sailing as a sports activity can be considered benefi cial for the ventilatory function of the lungs. More successful sailors had higher mean values of absolute and relative ventilation parameters of FVC, FEV1, and MVV, whereas signifi cant diff erences were determined in the variables of MVV. Th e diff erences between more successful and less successful sailors in the MVV and MVV% variables could be interpreted precisely by the state of respiratory muscles.

17-22

Authors: Marino Krespi, Goran Sporis, Stevo Popovic

Th e purpose of the present study was to investigate the eff ects of exponential and linear tapering protocols on the distance covered according to playing positions among junior elite soccer players. One-hundred and fi ft y-eight junior elite soccer players (mean age: 17.07±0.79 years; mean height: 177.85±6.64 cm; mean weight: 71.27±7.96 kg; mean body-mass index: 22.50±1.66 kg/m²) were randomly selected into two groups: (1) exponential and (2) linear tapering group. Training sessions were conducted three times a week for eight weeks. Aft er four and eight weeks of the tapering period, participants were measured in the distance covered according to four basic playing positions on the fi eld: (1) goalkeepers, (2) defenders, (3) midfi elders, and (4) forwards. Th e results showed that the largest eff ects between the pre- and post-measurement had defenders in the exponential and goalkeepers in the linear group, goalkeepers in the distance covered by slow and medium running in both groups, forwards in fast running and sprinting in the exponential group, and midfi elders in the linear group. In conclusion, our results suggest that the exponential tapering protocol brought somewhat larger eff ects, especially in fast running and sprinting in forwards and slow and medium running in goalkeepers. Future studies need to implement both the exponential and the linear tapering protocols in order to enhance performance but favouring the exponential to produce larger eff ects.

29-36

Authors: Jorge Batista, Bruno Goncalves, Jaime Sampaio, Julia Castro, Eduardo Abade, Bruno Travassos

Th is study aimed to explore the eff ects of previous instruction on technical, tactical and external workload performances in football small-sided games. Two 7-a-side balanced competitive teams received instructions regarding the rules of the small-sided games proposed. Additionally, one team received instructions from the coach regarding the collective tactical behaviour required for each exercise condition: (a) Without strategic instruction (WSI); (b) Defensive strategy (DS); (c) Off ensive strategy (OS) to play against the team that only received the rules of the small-sided games. Th e comparisons among game scenarios were assessed via standardised mean diff erences. Th e comparison between WSI and DS revealed higher number of defensive actions, less space covered, and more distance covered in jogging for DS in comparison with WSI. Th e comparison between WSI and OS revealed more passes per ball possession, larger team length, larger space covered, lower distance covered walking, and more distance covered in jogging for OS in comparison with WSI. Th e results reinforce that coaches’ previous instruction constrains the technical, tactical, and physical demands of small-sided games in football. Th e use of previous instruction regarding strategical and tactical behaviour allows highlighting the players’ behaviour and ensures functional team performance.

43-50

Authors: Ilkay Dogan, Yasin Ersoz

Euroleague is one of the most popular professional indoor sports leagues in the world. It is globally ranked as the fi ft h-highest professional indoor sports league and the second-highest professional basketball league, just trailing behind the National Basketball Association (NBA). Th e objective of this study was to determine which game-related statistics can assist in predicting the team that will qualify for the next rounds of the Euroleague. Th e data used in the study were obtained from each team’s offi cial average box score on the Euroleague website for 2010-2017. Th e datasets were arranged into two groups depending on the qualifi cation of the teams into the subsequent round. Discriminant analysis was applied to fi nd the gamerelated statistics that better contribute to qualifying for the next round. A three-point fi eld-goal percentage was considered to be an essential variable in every round. However, it was also observed that, contrary to expectations, off ensive rebounds had a negative eff ect in the fi nal four rounds. It is recommended these results be used to plan the team strategies and the player strategies accordingly in a long-term and demanding tournament like Euroleague.

61-67

Authors: Urban Johnson, Andreas Ivarsson, James Parker, Mark B. Andersen, Ingrid Svetof

Th is study aimed to explore whether a six-week intervention, based on participation in outdoor exercise, including activity-tracking devices and combined with individual consulting sessions, can both increase physical activity and yield positive changes in physiological and psychological health measures. A total of six participants, with a mean age of 41.2 (range 33-50 years), completed the ten-week study and the six-week intervention. Th e full study consisted of a four-week control/baseline and a six-week intervention period in which each participant acted as their own controls. Continuous measures of physical activity data were collected using a wrist-worn activity sensor during the ten-week study, along with pre- and post-measures of cardiovascular fi tness, upper-body strength, BMI, general health, and motivation to exercise. Th e intervention consisted of a resistance-training programme for an outdoor gym and three motivational interviewing sessions. Eff ect sizes (percentage) for changes pre- to post-training were calculated. Th e results, because of the small sample size, are presented as individual cases, but the group, as a whole, showed average increases from baseline (pre-) to post-measures in strength (maximum row; 15.33%), time to exhaustion (3.58%), number of steps per day (4%), and autonomous motivation (12%) and average decreases in body weight (-1.08%), fat percentage (-7.58%), strength (chest; -2.5%), and stress symptoms (-2.17%). Th e six-week intervention programme showed promising results regarding physical activity changes. Th is study contributes to the limited evidence of the impact of resistance training programmes using outdoor gyms, electronic tracker, and motivational interviewing on physical activity outcomes