Effectiveness of a video-feedback and questioning programme to develop cognitive expertise in sport.

The importance within sport expertise of cognitive factors has been emphasised in many research studies. Adaptations that take place in athletes' long-term memories are going to condition their decision-making and performance, and training programmes must be developed that improve these adaptations. In our study, we provide a tactical-cognitive training programme based on video-feedback and questioning in order to improve tactical knowledge in tennis players and verify its effect when transferred to athletes' decision-making. 11 intermediate tennis players participated in this study (12.9 ± 0.7 years old), distributed into two groups (experimental, n = 5; control, n = 6). Tactical knowledge was measured by problem representation and strategy planning with a verbal protocol. Decision-making was measured by a systematic observation instrument. Results confirm the effectiveness of a combination of video-feedback and questioning on cognitive expertise, developing adaptations in long-term memory that produce an improvement in the quality of tactical knowledge (content, sophistication and structure). This, in turn, is transferred to the athletes' decision-making capacity, leading to a higher percentage of successful decisions made during game play. Finally, we emphasise the need to develop effective programmes to develop cognitive expertise and improve athletes' performance, and include it in athletes' formative stages.

Analysis of the relationship between the amount of training and cognitive expertise. A study of young volleyball players.

The main goal of this research was to analyze the relationship between the amount of practice accumulated in training and the level of cognitive expertise achieved by volleyball players who are still in training. Another goal was to determine the number of training hours per week needed to improve knowledge significantly. The study's sample was composed of 520 volleyball players between the ages of 12 and 16 years. The independent variable was the amount of training, defined as the number of weekly hours that the volleyball player devoted to training. The dependent variable was cognitive expertise, measured by declarative knowledge and procedural knowledge. A univariate analysis of variance was done to examine the relationship between the number of weekly hours and the declarative and procedural knowledge reached by volleyball players in the athletic formation training stages. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. There were significant differences in knowledge according to the number of weekly training hours (p < 0.001). These results confirm that there is a relationship between the quantity of practice and the development of cognitive expertise. It is recommended that young players dedicate at least 4 hours weekly to training to achieve a significant improvement in cognitive expertise.

Analysis of declarative and procedural knowledge in volleyball according to the level of practice and players' age.

The main objective of the research was to analyse the cognitive expertise of volleyball players, according to their level of practice and age, as well as to verify the existing difference in the knowledge of individuals of the same age but with different levels of practice. The study sample was comprised of 535 individuals ages 12 to 16 years. The independent variables were the level of practice, i.e., playing category in training and in competition (Under-14 and Under-16), and the age. The dependent variables were declarative knowledge and procedural knowledge. An analysis of variance was performed to examine the influence of the level of practice on the declarative knowledge and procedural knowledge of the volleyball players in training stages. There were significant differences both in declarative knowledge and in procedural knowledge according to level of practice. Significant differences were also observed between consecutive ages at different levels of practice. These results show that the level of practice in training and competition is a more relevant factor than the change of age in development of specific knowledge of the sport.

Elaboración de herramientas cognitivas para la detección, seguimiento y optimización de talentos deportivos en voleibol / Development of cognitive tools for detection, tracking and optimization of sports talents in volleyball

El objetivo de la investigación fue conocer el perfil cognitivo de jugadoras de voleibol expertas, en la acción de saque, con la intención de elaborar a partir del mismo, herramientas cognitivas que orienten la detección, formación y optimización de jóvenes talentos deportivos en voleibol. La muestra de estudio estuvo compuesta por 13 jugadoras de la Selección Nacional Absoluta Femenina de Voleibol. Las variables de estudio fueron: el conocimiento procedimental, la toma de decisiones y el rendimiento, todas ellas evaluadas en la acción de saque. Las técnicas de recogida de datos empleadas fueron la entrevista y la observación sistemática. Los resultados muestran un conocimiento procedimental próximo al perfil experto en la sofisticación conceptual (lo que implica que las jugadoras adaptan y modifican sus interpretaciones a las distintas acciones de juego) pero no en el contenido y estructura conceptual. Consideramos que estos resultados están relacionados con el planteamiento estratégico empleado por el equipo en la acción de saque, caracterizado por el marcaje y decisión de la bloqueadora central del lugar de envío y características del saque que debe ser realizado por la sacadora. De acuerdo con ello, el subconcepto de condición referido fundamentalmente por las jugadoras es marcaje de las bloqueadoras centrales. Existen correlaciones significativas entre toma de decisiones y rendimiento, y entre rendimiento y nivel de calidad 3 en la sofisticación conceptual. De este modo, la verbalización minuciosa de las condiciones que acontecen en las distintas acciones de juego, podría presentarse como un indicador de rendimiento en el deporte. Sin embargo, consideramos conveniente realizar más estudios en este sentido para confirmar los citados hallazgos (AU)

The purpose of this research was to determine the serve cognitive profile of experts volleyball players to develop cognitive tools to guide the detection, training and optimization of young sport talents in volleyball. The simple of this study consisted of 13 players of the Women’s National Volleyball Team. The variables studied were: procedural knowledge, decision making and performance, in volleyball serve. The data collection techniques used were interviews and systematic observation. The results show a profile close to procedural knowledge expert in conceptual sophistication (which implies that the players adapt and adjust their interpretations to different game actions) but not in the content and conceptual structure. We believe that these results are related to the team’s strategic plan when serving, which is characterized by the marking and the decision of the midblocker about the serve direction and the kind of serve that should be done by the server. Accordingly, the players relate primarily to subconcept condition “marking of central players”. There are significant correlations between decision making and performance, between performance and quality level 3 on the conceptual sophistication. So, verbalization conditions that occur in the differents game actions, there could be an indicator of performance in sport. However, further studies should consider in this regard to confirm the above findings (AU)

Calidad microbiológica en frutas de conchas comestibles expendidas en mercados populares de los municipios Valencia y San Diego, estado Carabobo, Venezuela / Microbiological quality of fruits that have edible peels sold at popular markets of the Valencia and San Diego Municipalities, Carabobo State, Venezuela

Las frutas constituyen un grupo de nutrientes indispensables para la salud y bienestar del individuo. Se evaluó la calidad microbiológica en frutas de concha comestible (fresas, guayabas y duraznos) expendidas en mercados populares de Valencia y San Diego, estado Carabobo, Venezuela. Se determinó el número de UFC/g de mesófilos aerobios (MA), coliformes totales y fecales (CT, CF) y Salmonella spp. según Normas COVENIN. La mayoría de los recuentos obtenidos de MA fueron elevados en la mayoría de las frutas. Los niveles de contaminación por estos microorganismos se encontraron entre 1,4x10(5) y 6,6x10(10) UFC/g. Los recuentos encontrados para CT generalmente resultaron inferiores a los obtenidos para los MA, y se encontraron en un rango de 2,6x10³ a 7,2 x 10(10) UFC/g. No se detectó la presencia de CF y de Salmonella spp., en las muestras evaluadas. De las frutas analizadas las fresas fueron las que presentaron el mayor grado de contaminación microbiológica tanto por MA como CT. La ausencia de CF y Salmonella spp. sugiere que las condiciones a las cuales fueron sometidas las frutas durante el período de pre y postcosecha, estuvieron aparentemente dentro los límites permisibles de calidad sanitaria.

Fruits constitute a group of indispensable nutrients for the health and wellbeing of individuals. We evaluated the microbiological quality of fruits with edible peels (strawberries, guavas and peaches) sold at popular markets in Valencia and San Diego, Carabobo State, Venezuela. We determined the number of CFU/g of mesophilic aerobics (MA), total and fecal coliforms (TC, FC) and Salmonella spp. according to COVENIN guidelines. Most of the MA counts obtained were high in most fruits. The contamination levels by these microorganisms were found to be between 1.4x10(5) and 6.6x10(10) CFU/g. The counts found for TC were generally lower than those for MA, and occurred in amounts of between 2.6x10³ and 7.2x10(10) CFU/g. The presence of FC and Salmonella spp. was not detected in the samples evaluated. Of the fruits studied, strawberries were the ones which showed the highest microbiological contamination degree both by MA and TC. The absence of TC and Salmonella spp. suggests that the conditions to which the fruits were submitted during the pre and post harvest period apparently were within the permissible limits of sanitary quality.