Sports, Vol. 12, Pages 109: Comparison of Supervised versus Self-Administered Stretching on Bench Press Maximal Strength and Force Development Sports doi: 10.3390/sports12040109 Authors: Tim Wohlann Konstantin Warneke David G. Behm Stephan Schiemann Purpose: While there is reported superior effectiveness with supervised training, it usually requires specialized exercise facilities and instructors. It is reported in the literature that high-volume stretching improves pectoralis muscles strength under supervised conditions while practical relevance is discussed. Therefore, the study objective wa ..read more

Sports, Vol. 12, Pages 108: Effect of Verbal Encouragement on Performance and Affective Responses in Male Sport Science Students during Sprint Modalities Sports doi: 10.3390/sports12040108 Authors: Faten Sahli Nidhal Jebabli Okba Selmi Manar Boujabli Hajer Sahli Makram Zghibi Monoem Haddad This investigation aimed to examine the effect of verbal encouragement teacher to student (VETS) versus verbal encouragement student to student (VESS) on physical performance and affective responses during different modalities of sprint tests in active male students. In a randomized crossover design, twenty ..read more

Sports, Vol. 12, Pages 107: Stroke Steadiness as a Determinant Factor of Performance in 100 m Freestyle in Young Swimmers Sports doi: 10.3390/sports12040107 Authors: López-Plaza Quero-Calero Alacid Abellán-Aynés The classical kinematic variables in swimming are based on the calculation of mean values. Stroke steadiness determines the relationship between the duration of all consecutive strokes throughout a test. The aims of the current investigation were to examine differences in stroke-to-stroke steadiness according to swimmers’ performance level on both body sides (breathing an ..read more

Sports, Vol. 12, Pages 105: The Impact of a 12-Week Aqua Fitness Program on the Physical Fitness of Women over 60 Years of Age Sports doi: 10.3390/sports12040105 Authors: Katarzyna Kucia Agnieszka Koteja Łukasz Rydzik Norollah Javdaneh Arash Shams Tadeusz Ambroży Background: This study aimed to assess the impact of a 12-week Aqua Fitness program on the physical fitness of older women and emphasize sustainable health practices for aging populations. We focused on evaluating the program’s effectiveness, using the Senior Fitness Test to measure improvements in physical capabilities ..read more

Sports, Vol. 12, Pages 106: Mental Health in First- and Second-Division Soccer Players: A Cross-Sectional Study Sports doi: 10.3390/sports12040106 Authors: Lucía Bonet Ana Benito Héctor Usó Marc Peraire Gonzalo Haro Isabel Almodóvar-Fernández Background: The benefits of sport in mental health have been broadly studied. However, few studies have examined these outcomes in high-performance athletes. We aimed to analyze the state of the mental health of the Villarreal Soccer Club’s first- (FD) and second-division (SD) players and the possible mediating effects of sex and professiona ..read more

Sports, Vol. 12, Pages 104: Dryland Performance Tests Are Not Good Predictors of World Aquatics Points in Elite Male and Female Swimmers Sports doi: 10.3390/sports12040104 Authors: Ragul Selvamoorthy Lewis J. Macgregor Neil Donald Angus M. Hunter Background: Swim performance can be reliant on strength and power. Standardisation of swim performance in different events, distances, and sexes can be completed using World Aquatics points, allowing for ranking of swimmers. The aim of this retrospective cross-sectional study was to assess whether relationships between World Aquatics points and drylan ..read more

Sports, Vol. 12, Pages 103: Birth Advantages in Male Italian Soccer: How They Influence Players Youth Career and Their Future Career Status Sports doi: 10.3390/sports12040103 Authors: Gabriele Morganti Paolo Riccardo Brustio Bruno Ruscello Gennaro Apollaro Elvira Padua Adam L. Kelly Soccer organizations generally adopt deterministic models within their talent pathways. In this framework, early ability and results are emphasized, leading to selection biases, such as birth advantages (i.e., relative age effects and birthplace effects), which research has shown affect both early developmental exp ..read more

Sports, Vol. 12, Pages 102: The Acute Effects of Ball Pressure on Anticipation Timing Following a Series of Purposeful Headers in Adult Football (Soccer) Players Sports doi: 10.3390/sports12040102 Authors: Chad McLean Andrew P. Lavender Ethan Pereira Kerry Peek Paul Davey Fadi Ma’ayah Susan Morris Julia Georgieva The purpose of this study is to investigate the acute effects of ball pressure on anticipation timing following a series of purposeful headers in adult football (soccer) players. There is evidence to suggest acute neurophysiological changes to the brain following purposeful heading; t ..read more

Sports, Vol. 12, Pages 100: Perceived Coach-Created Empowering and Disempowering Climate Effects on Athletes’ Intentions to Use Doping: The Mediational Role of Self-Regulatory Efficacy and Attitudes towards Doping Sports doi: 10.3390/sports12040100 Authors: Beatrice Hoppen Saulius Sukys Background: The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between perceived coach-created empowering and disempowering motivational climate and doping likelihood among athletes and whether the attitudes towards doping and doping self-regulatory efficacy mediates these relationships. Method ..read more

Sports, Vol. 12, Pages 99: Place Matters: A Study on the Influence of Birthplace and the Place of Development on Soccer Academy Players’ Careers Sports doi: 10.3390/sports12040099 Authors: Lander Hernández-Simal Julio Calleja-González Jon Larruskain Alberto Lorenzo Calvo Maite Aurrekoetxea-Casaus The effect of birthplace (the place where a player is born and grows up) is one of the key variables associated with soccer player development and achievement. However, recent studies have questioned the influence of contextual variables on selection and promotion processes related to birthp ..read more