Psychological analysis of injuries in a first category softball national championship in Cuba

Introduction: the systematic analysis of the relationships between relevant psychological variables for sports performance and injuries is essential to contribute to their prevention in specific sports.Material and methodsa descriptive-correlational and cross-sectional study was carried out in the first category women's national softball championship in Cuba. 88 athletes participated with an average chronological age of 22.91 (SD=6.13) and a sports experience of 10.83 years (SD=4.92). A specific questionnaire, the Competitive Sport Anxiety Inventory and the Psychological Inventory of Sport Execution was applied. Descriptive statistics and Kendall's Tau_b nonparametric correlation coefficient was used for data analysis.ResultsA high injury load was verified with a low perception of the role of psychological factors in its etiology, as well as a notable occurrence of new injuries with negative emotional repercussions. Negative correlations of self-confidence, negative coping control, visual-imaginative control, positive coping control, and attitude control with history of injuries were obtained. The high anxiety showed significant relationships with previous injuries and new injuries during the analyzed competition.Conclusionsthe findings are especially congruent with previous results in elite softball players, although new and greater relationships between variables were determined. All this means that stimulating psychological skills to control anxiety in competition could contribute to the prevention of injuries. However, longitudinal analyzes are required to confirm the predictive role of these variables before proposing psychological interventions in this regard. (AU)

Examining Neural Activity Related to Pitch Stimuli and Feedback at the Plate: Cognitive and Performance Implications.

This study investigated the relationships among neural activity related to pitch stimuli and task feedback, self-regulatory control, and task-performance measures in expert and novice baseball players. The participants had their event-related brain potentials recorded while they completed a computerized task assessing whether thrown pitches were balls or strikes and received feedback on the accuracy of their responses following each pitch. The results indicated that college players exhibited significantly larger medial frontal negativities to pitch stimuli, as well as smaller reward positivities and larger frontocentral positivities in response to negative feedback, compared with novices. Furthermore, significant relationships were present between college players' neural activity related to both pitches and feedback and their task performance and self-regulatory behavior. These relationships were not present for novices. These findings suggest that players efficiently associate the information received in their feedback to their self-regulatory processing of the task and, ultimately, their task performance.

Características psicológicas y lesiones deportivas en lanzadores de béisbol cubanos de alto rendimiento / Psychological characteristics and sports injuries in Cuban high-performance baseball pitchers / Características psicológicas e lesões esportivas em lançadores de beisebol cubanos de alto desempenho

OBJETIVO: Determinar la relación entre las características psicológicas de lanzadores de béisbol de alto rendimiento y las lesiones sufridas durante las series nacionales cubanas del 2017 al 2019. MÉTODO: Se estudiaron 24 lanzadores villaclareños con una edad media de 23.28 años y una experiencia deportiva media de 12.49 años. Se realizó la evaluación psicológica siempre a inicios de cada temporada competitiva, registrando además las lesiones sufridas durante la competición. Este estudio constituye una investigación de tipo descriptivo-correlacional con un diseño longitudinal. RESULTADOS: Se obtuvo una alta incidencia de lesiones y estabilidad en los procesos psicológicos en los lanzadores estudiados. Los lanzadores que experimentaron mayor ansiedad competitiva presentaron más lesiones graves y una mayor susceptibilidad durante los juegos. Se obtuvo que, a menor autoconfianza, control de afrontamiento negativo y control visuoimaginativo, mayor fue la cantidad y gravedad de las lesiones sufridas. CONCLUSIONES: Los resultados reafirman la necesidad de una preparación psicológica que además de lograr el estado óptimo de predisposición del rendimiento deportivo, contribuya a prevenir la ocurrencia de lesiones, ya que existen variables psicológicas que pueden vulnerar al deportista tal y como se ha mostrado al determinarse las relaciones de la ansiedad competitiva, la autoconfianza, el control de afrontamiento negativo y el control visuoimaginativo con la ocurrencia, cantidad, gravedad y contexto donde las lesiones se producen con mayor frecuencia

OBJECTIVE: To determine the relationships between the psychological characteristics of high-performance baseball pitchers with the injuries suffered during the Cuban national series from 2017 to 2019. METHOD: Twenty-four baseball pitchers with an average age of 23.28 years and an average sports experience of 12.49 years were studied. The psychological evaluation was always carried out at the beginning of each competitive season, also recording the injuries suffered during the competition. This study constitutes a descriptive-correlational research with a longitudinal design. RESULTS: The results show a high incidence of injuries and stability in the psychological processes associated with the sports performance of the pitchers studied. It is evident that pitchers who experienced greater competitive anxiety had more serious injuries and greater susceptibility during games. On the other hand, it was found that the less self-confidence, negative coping control and visual-imaginary control, the greater the amount and severity of the injuries suffered. CONCLUSIONS: The results reaffirm the need to design a psychological preparation that, in addition to achieving the optimal state of predisposition for sports performance, contributes to preventing the occurrence of injuries, since there are psychological variables that can predispose the athlete, as has been shown in this study by determine the relationships of competitive anxiety, self-confidence, negative coping control and visual-imaginary control with the occurrence, amount, severity and context where injuries occur most frequently

OBJETIVO: Determinar a relação entre as características psicológicas dos lançadores de beisebol de alto desempenho com as lesões sofridos durantes a série nacional cubana de 2017 a 2019. MÉTODO: Foram estudados 24 lançadores de beisebol com idade média de 23.28 anos e experiência esportiva média de 12.49 anos. A avaliação psicológica sempre foi realizada no início de cada temporada competitiva, registrando também as lesões sofridas durante a competição. Este estudo é um estudo descritivo-correlacional com delineamento longitudinal. RESULTADOS: Os resultados mostram uma alta incidência de lesões e estabilidade nos processos psicológicos associados ao desempenho esportivo dos lançadores estudados. É evidente que lançadores que experimentaram aumento da ansiedade competitiva tiveram lesões mais graves e maior suscetibilidade durante os jogos. Por outro lado, verificou-se que quanto menos autoconfiança, controle negativo da capacidade de enfrentamento e controle visual-imaginário, maior a quantidade e a gravidade das lesões sofridas. CONCLUSÕES: Os resultados reafirmam a necessidade de desenvolver um preparo psicológico que, além de atingir o estado ideal de predisposição para o desempenho esportivo, ajude a prevenir lesões. Existem variáveis psicológicas, como ansiedade competitiva, autoconfiança, controle de enfrentamento e controle visual imaginativo, que podem predispor o atleta à ocorrência, quantidade, gravidade e contexto em que as lesões ocorrem com mais frequência

Does the principle of investment diversification apply to the starting pitching staffs of major league baseball teams?

Financial advisors often emphasize asset diversification as a means of limiting losses from investments that perform unexpectedly poorly over a particular time period. One might expect that this perceived wisdom could apply in another high stakes arena-professional baseball-where player salaries comprise a substantial portion of a team's operational costs, year-to-year player performance is highly variable, and injuries can occur at any time. These attributes are particularly true in the case of the starting pitching staffs of professional baseball teams. Accordingly, this study analyzes starting pitcher performance and financial data from all Major League Baseball teams for the period 1985-2016 to determine whether the standard investment advice is applicable in this context, understanding that the time horizon for success for an investor and a baseball team may be distinct. A multiple logistic regression model of playoff qualification probability, based on realized pitcher performance, measures of luck, and starting pitcher staff salary diversification is used to address this question. A further stratification is conducted to determine whether there are differences in strategy for teams with allocated financial resources that are above or below league average. We find that teams with above average resources increase their post-season qualification probability by focusing their salary funds on a relative few starting pitchers rather than diversifying that investment across the staff. Second, we find that pitcher performance must align with that investment in order for the team to have a high qualification probability. Third, the influence of luck is not negligible, but those teams that allocate more overall funds to their pitching are more resilient to bad luck. Thus, poorly resourced teams, who are generally unable to bid for pitchers at the highest salary levels, must adopt alternative strategies to maintain their competitiveness.

Psicología y lesiones deportivas: un estudio en lanzadores de béisbol / Psychology and sports injuries: a study in baseball pitchers / Psicologia e lesões esportivas: um estudo em lançadores de beisebol

La etiología multifactorial de las lesiones, así como la alta incidencia y prevalencia en lanzadores de béisbol requiere que éstas sean abordadas también desde la Psicología. En la presente investigación se estudian 48 lanzadores de béisbol en Villa Clara, Cuba, para determinar la relación entre variables psicológicas asociadas al rendimiento del deportista y las lesiones sufridas. Se aplicó el Cuestionario de Aspectos Deportivos y Lesiones, el Inventario de Ansiedad Rasgo-Estado, el Inventario de Ansiedad Estado en Competición y el Inventario Psicológico de Ejecución Deportiva. Los resultados muestran una alta prevalencia de lesiones, las que ocurren con mayor frecuencia en la competición. La mayoría de las variables psicológicas establecen relación con la experiencia y el número de lesiones sufridas, estimándose además el efecto negativo que éstas producen sobre la ansiedad, la autoconfianza, el control del afrontamiento negativo, el control de la atención y el control visual e imaginativo

The multifactorial etiology of injuries, as well as the high incidence and prevalence in baseball pitchers, requires that they also should be deal with from Psychology. This research studies 48 baseball pitchers in Villa Clara, Cuba, to determine the relationship between psychological variables associated with the athlete's performance and the injuries they've suffered. The Sports Aspects and Injuries Questionnaire, the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, the State Anxiety Inventory in Competition and the Psychological Inventory of Sports Execution were applied. The results show a high prevalence of injuries, which occur most frequently in competition. Most of the psychological variables are related to the experience and the number of injuries suffered, also estimating the negative effect that they produce on anxiety, self-confidence, control of negative coping, control of attention and visual and imaginative control

A etiologia multifatorial das lesões, bem como a alta incidência e prevalência em lançadores de beisebol, requere que estas sejam abordadas também a partir da Psicologia. Na presente investigação, 48 lançadores de beisebol são estudados em Villa Clara, Cuba, para determinar a relação entre variáveis psicológicas associadas ao desempenho do atleta e as lesões sofridas. Foram aplicados o Questionário de Aspectos Esportivos e Lesões, o Inventário de Ansiedade Traço-Estado, o Inventário de Ansiedade do Estado em Competição e o Inventário Psicológico de Execução Esportiva. Os resultados mostram uma alta prevalência de lesões, que ocorrem mais frequentemente na competição. A maioria das variáveis ​​psicológicas está relacionada à experiência e ao número de lesões sofridas, estimando também o efeito negativo que produzem na ansiedade, autoconfiança, controle do enfrentamento negativo, controle da atenção e controle visual e imaginativo

Comparison of Psychological and Cognitive Characteristics between Professional Internet Game Players and Professional Baseball Players.

The esports industry is increasing in popularity and is now played at the professional level. We hypothesized that esports players may have a significant advantage over the general population in terms of psychological and cognitive characteristics, which may be similar to that of professional baseball players. We recruited three participant groups: esports players (n = 55), pro-baseball players (n = 57), and age- and sex-matched healthy comparison subjects (n = 60). We assessed psychological status using the Korean versions of Temperament and Character Inventory and State and Trait Anxiety Inventory and cognitive functions using the modified Tower of London, Emotional Perception, and Mental Rotation tests. Esports players had similar psychological characteristics to pro-baseball players (higher novelty seeking [p < 0.01 *, ŋ = 0.818], self-directedness [p < 0.01 *, ŋ = 0.757], and self-transcendence scores [p < 0.01 *, ŋ = 0.853], and decreased state anxiety scores [p < 0.01 *, ŋ = 0.808]), which differed from those of the general population. However, esports players showed higher working memory [p < 0.01 *, ŋ = 0.823] and slower emotional perception than pro-baseball players [p < 0.01 *, ŋ = 0.812]. In conclusion, esports and pro-baseball players had similar psychological but different cognitive characteristics.

The Relationship Between Baseball Participation and Health: A Systematic Scoping Review.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between baseball participation and health (musculoskeletal, general, and psychological health) and to identify research gaps in the existing literature. DESIGN: Systematic scoping review. LITERATURE SEARCH: Medical databases and gray literature were systematically searched from inception to November 2018. STUDY SELECTION CRITERIA: All studies that investigated constructs related to the health of current or former baseball players were included. DATA SYNTHESIS: Data were extracted for thematic summaries. RESULTS: Ten thousand five hundred seventy-four titles/abstracts were screened, and 678 studies were included. Ninety percent of articles included only baseball players playing in the United States, 34% of articles investigated professional baseball players, and 11% studied college baseball players. Five hundred eighty-three (86%) studies investigated musculoskeletal health, 77 (11%) general health, and 18 (3%) psychological health. Injury incidence (injuries per 1000 athlete exposures) ranged from 0.7 to 3.6 in professional, 4.7 to 5.8 in college, and 0.8 to 4.0 in high school baseball. Among baseball players, 31% to 50% reported regular tobacco use. There was limited research investigating psychological health in current or former baseball players at all competition levels. CONCLUSION: Almost 90% of all articles investigated musculoskeletal health, with few articles studying general or psychological health. Baseball players have high tobacco, alcohol, and drug use compared to the general population, which may have negative health outcomes. Little is understood about the long-term musculoskeletal, general, and psychological health of baseball players. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 2020;50(2):55-66. doi:10.2519/jospt.2020.9281.

The speed of perception: the effects of over-speed video training on pitch recognition in collegiate softball players.

During interceptive motor tasks, experts demonstrate distinct visual search behavior (from novices) that is reflective of information extraction from optimal environmental cues, which subsequently aids anticipatory movements. While some forms of visual training have been employed in sport, over-speed video training is rarely applied to perceptual-cognitive sport contexts. The purpose of the present study was to determine whether over-speed video training can enhance visual information processing and augment visual behavior for a pitch-recognition task. Twelve collegiate softball players were recruited for the study. A between-subjects, repeated measures design was implemented to assess changes in participants' pitch recognition on a video-based occlusion task after one of two training interventions: (A) over-speed video training (n = 6) or (B) regular video training (n = 6). Both training interventions required individuals to view 400 videos of different pitches over the span of 10 days. The over-speed group viewed the videos at gradually increasing video speeds (+ 0.05 × each day). Performance (i.e., identifying pitch type and location), quiet-eye duration (i.e., total QE, QE-early and QE-late) and cortical activation (i.e., alpha wave activity/asymmetry; F3/F4 and P7/P8) were measured during the pitch-recognition tasks. Results showed significant performance improvements across groups, but no differences between groups. Both interventions were associated with a reduction in alpha wave activity for P8, an increase in alpha activity for F3, and a significant increase in QE-late. An increase in QE-late was associated with a decrease in P7/P8 alpha asymmetry and improvements in pitch-type recognition. Consistent with the extant literature, our results support the importance of a later QE offset for successful performance on perceptual tasks, potentially extending to perceputal-motor tasks. Although participants in the over-speed condition did not experience significantly larger improvements in performance than controls, this study highlights the association between QE and brain activity reflective of expertise.

Changes in lumbar kinematics and trunk muscle electromyographic activity during baseball batting under psychological pressure.

Psychological pressure during sports competition disturbs the ideal physical movement and causes injury. Baseball batting frequently causes trunk injuries. This study aimed to examine the influence of psychological pressure on the lumbar kinematics and trunk muscle activity during the baseball batting. Fourteen collegiate baseball players participated in this study. The participants performed bat swings under three different psychological conditions (non-pressure, pressure, and emphasized pressure). The lumbar kinematics and trunk muscle activity were measured during each bat swing. One- and two-way analyses of variance were performed to compare the lumbar kinematics and trunk muscle activity among different psychological pressure conditions. The lumbar flexion angle throughout the bat swing in the swing phase, from the moment of ground contact of the lead foot to the moment of ball contact, was significantly larger under the pressure and emphasized pressure conditions than under the non-pressure condition (P<0.05). The bilateral lumbar erector spinae (LES) activities in the swing and follow-through phases were significantly higher under the emphasized pressure condition than under the non-pressure condition (P<0.05). These results indicate that the baseball batting under psychological pressure influenced the lumbar kinematics and bilateral LES activities and may be related to the development of low back pain.

Psychological well-being and quality of life in visually impaired baseball players: An Italian national survey.

Italian baseball played by visually impaired and blind athletes is an adapted team sport which maintains the peculiar fast-moving features of this popular sport. It is also a mixed team game played together with sighted subjects. Here, we performed a national survey aimed at assessing the differences in psychological well-being (PWB) and quality of life (QoL) between visually impaired baseball players from Italian teams and non-players using a structured online questionnaire. Forty-three visually impaired baseball players and thirty-four visually impaired sedentary individuals completed a structured self-report survey including the validated 18-item Italian versions of the PWB (PWB-18) scale and the Short Form-12 (SF-12) questionnaire to assess the QoL. PWB-18 and SF-12 reference data from the Italian normally sighted population were also employed for comparison with the visually impaired baseball player group. Visually impaired baseball players reported better scores in all dimensions of the PWB-18 scale and significant higher scores in both physical and mental QoL evaluated by SF-12 than the non-player group. In addition, PWB-18 scale findings revealed significant differences between visually impaired baseball players and the reference normally sighted population consisting in lower scores for autonomy, environmental mastery, positive relations with others and purpose in life dimensions. Conversely, the mean scores for PWB-18 personal growth and self-acceptance dimensions were not significantly different between the two groups. The SF-12 questionnaire results demonstrated a significantly higher physical score in visually impaired players compared with the reference population. Instead, the SF-12 mental score of visually impaired athletes tended to be lower, though this difference was not statistically significant. Collectively, our findings suggest that the practice of Italian baseball may have a positive impact on PWB and QoL of visually impaired individuals.

Predictors of Smokeless Tobacco Susceptibility, Initiation, and Progression Over Time Among Adolescents in a Rural Cohort.

BACKGROUND: Use of smokeless tobacco (ST, moist snuff and chewing tobacco) is elevated among male rural youth, particularly participants in certain sports, including baseball. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to assess factors associated with adolescent male athletes' ST-related behaviors over time, including: baseline use, initiation, and progression in use intensity in a school-based longitudinal cohort. METHODS: Baseline and one-year follow-up questionnaires assessed sociodemographic characteristics, environmental factors, and tobacco-related perceptions and behaviors among 9- to12th-grade interscholastic baseball players in 36 rural California schools. Population characteristics were compared among ST use categories (never, experimental, and experienced users). Multivariable models using generalized estimating equations were estimated for outcomes among baseline ST never-users (ST susceptibility and future initiation) and experimenters (ST expectations and progression in ST use). RESULTS: Of 594 participants, over half (57%) had ever tried a tobacco product and the most common products tried were ST (36%) and electronic cigarettes (36%). Being older, perceiving less ST harm, being Non-Hispanic White, using alcohol or other tobacco products, having family or friends who use ST, and being receptive to advertising were associated with greater baseline ST use. Baseline alcohol consumption, lower perceived ST harm, peer use, and susceptibility and expectations were predictive of ST initiation and/or progression at one-year follow-up. Conclusion/Importance: Certain environmental, socio-demographic, cognitive, and behavioral factors predict ST susceptibility and later initiation and progression in use. Interventions addressing these factors have potential to prevent ST uptake and continued use within this high-risk adolescent population.

Relación entre clima empowering y diversión en pitchers de béisbol: el papel moderador de la motivación autónoma / Relationship between empowering climate and enjoyment in baseball pitchers: the moderator role of autonomous motivation / Relação entre clima empowering e diversão em arremessadores de beisebol: o papel moderador da motivação autônoma

Tomando como base la conceptualización jerárquica y multidimensional del clima motivacional, propuesto por Duda (2013), el objetivo de este estudio fue poner a prueba el papel moderador de la motivación autónoma en la relación entre la percepción del clima empowering creado por el entrenador y la diversión en la práctica deportiva en pitchers de béisbol. Participaron 97 pitchers Mexicanos (Medad = 14.12, DT = 1.09) pertenecientes a 39 equipos de 10 Ligas de Hermosillo, Sonora, México. Las variables psicológicas fueron evaluadas con las versiones adaptadas al contexto mexicano del Cuestionario de Clima Motivacional Empowering y Disempowering creado por el entrenador (EDMCQ-C), la Escala de Motivación en el Deporte (SMS-II), y la escala de Satisfacción Intrínseca en el Deporte (SSI). Los resultados del modelo de regresión de moderación rodados con PROCESS indicaron que: la motivación autónoma modera la relación entre el clima empowering y la diversión (B = -.15, p < .05), concretamente, para valores altos de motivación autónoma la relación entre clima empowering y diversión fue nula, pasando a ser esta relación positiva y significativa para valores de motivación autónoma inferiores a 2.05. En conclusión, la motivación autónoma modera la relación entre la percepción del clima empowering creado por el entrenador y la diversión en la práctica de pitchers de béisbol

Based on Duda's (2013) hierarchical and multidimensional conceptualization of the motivational climate, the objective of this study was to test the moderating role of autonomous motivation in the relationship between the perception of the empowering climate created by the coach and the enjoyment in the practice by baseball pitchers. Participants were ninety-seven Mexican pitchers (M age = 14.12, SD = 1.09) belonging to 39 teams from 10 Leagues in Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico. The psychological variables were measured with the adapted to the Mexican context versions of the Empowering and Disempowering Motivational Climate Questionnaire-Coach (EDMCQ-C), the Sport Motivation Scale (SMS-II), and the Sport Satisfaction Instrument (SSI). The results of the moderated regression model with PROCESS indicated that: autonomous motivation moderates the relationship between the empowering climate and enjoyment (B = -.15, p < .05), specifically, for high values of autonomous motivation the relationship between climate empowering and fun was null, becoming this positive and significant relationship for values of autonomous motivation lower than 2.05. In conclusion, the autonomous motivation moderates the relationship between the empowering climate perception created by the coach and the enjoyment in the practice of baseball pitchers

Baseando-se no conceito hierárquico e multidimensional do clima motivacional, proposto por Duda (2013), o objetivo deste estudo foi colocar em prova o papel moderador da motivação autônoma na relação entre a percepção do clima empowering criado pelo treinador e pela diversão na prática esportiva em pitchers de beisebol. Participaram 97 pitchers mexicanos (M idade = 14.12, DT = 1.09) pertencentes a 39 equipes de 10 ligas de Hermosillo, Sonora, Ciudad de México. As variáveis psicológicas foram avaliadas com as versões adaptadas ao contexto mexicano do Questionário de Clima Motivacional Empowering e Disempowering criado pelo treinador (EDMCQ-C), a Escala de Motivação no Esporte (SMS-II), e a Escala de Satisfação Intrínseca no Esporte (SSI). Os resultados do modelo de regressão de moderação rodados com PROCESS indicaram que: a motivação autônoma condiciona a relação entre o clima empowering e a diversão (B = -.15, p < .05), concretamente, para altos valores de motivação autônoma a relação entre o clima empowering e diversão foi nula, passando a ser positiva e negativa para valores de motivação autônoma inferiores a 2.05. Concluindo, a motivação autônoma condiciona a relação entre a percepção do clima empowering criado pelo treinador e a diversão na prática de pitchers de beisebol

Noise levels at baseball stadiums and the spectators' attitude to noise.

BACKGROUND: Many public health professionals have expressed concern that regular participation in recreational settings with high noise levels might induce hearing loss. This study measures the noise levels in a baseball stadium and analyzes baseball fans' attitude of effect of recreational noise exposure on their hearing. METHODS: In the baseball stadium, noise levels from the beginning to the end of four games were measured in four seating sections, the red, blue, navy, and outfield sections using a sound level meter. For the survey sample, 344 randomly selected participants who visited the stadium and/or were baseball fans completed a 16-question survey on their noise exposure during the game and on the potential risk of hearing loss. RESULTS: The LAeq average of the 16 measures produced 91.7 dBA, showing a significantly high noise level in the red and navy sections. As a function of frequency by LZeq analysis, the noise levels of low frequencies between 0.05 and 1 kHz were significantly higher than other frequencies except for the outfield section, but the levels abruptly decreased above 1 kHz. Despite the very high noise levels, 70% of the respondents preferred sitting in either the red or the navy section to be closer to the cheerleaders and to obtain a good view. Most respondents reported that they did not consider wearing earplugs, and one-third experienced hearing muffled speech after the game. Notably, they agreed that an information announcement regarding loud noise and hearing protection was needed at the stadium. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that the noise levels in baseball stadiums are high enough to cause hearing damage and/or tinnitus later when applying a rule of 85 dB LAeq for 8 hours with a 3-dB exchange rate. We expect these results to improve public education regarding safe noise exposure during popular sports activities.

The characteristics of coaches that verbally and physically abuse young baseball players using a self-reported questionnaire.

BACKGROUND: Because the relationship between coaches and athletes is unequal, verbal and physical abuse remains a common problem among sports coaches. We aimed to elucidate the characteristics of baseball coaches who verbally/physically abuse young baseball players. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted on youth sports team coaches in Miyagi prefecture, Japan (n = 380), using a self-reported questionnaire. Multivariate logistic regression models were used for the analyses, evaluating the following variables: sex, age, educational level, smoking habits, years of coaching, level of baseball-playing experience, personal experience with verbal/physical abuse by former coaches, satisfaction with athletes' attitudes, number of athletes on the team, team competition level, awareness of the recommendations of the Japanese Society of Clinical Sports Medicine, limitations in the total pitch count, difficulty in coaching in other positions, number of games per year, and acceptance of former verbal/physical abuse. RESULTS: The prevalence of verbal/physical abuse toward young athletes was 74.5% (n = 283) and 6.6% (n = 25), respectively. Verbal abuse was significantly associated with personal experience of verbal abuse by former coaches (odds ratio [OR]: 2.00, 95% confidence interval [95% CI]: 1.04-3.85), and acceptance of verbal/physical abuse (OR: 2.61, 95% CI: 1.34-5.10). Physical abuse was significantly associated with greater than 10 years of coaching experience (OR: 7.16, 95% CI: 1.36-37.78), personal experience with physical abuse by former coaches (OR: 4.25, 95% CI: 1.23-14.70), and acceptance of verbal/physical abuse (OR: 3.85, 95% CI: 1.51-9.84). CONCLUSIONS: Coaches' experiences with verbal/physical abuse by former coaches negatively affected young athletes. Breaking this cycle is necessary to keep athletes active and interested in playing baseball. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III.

Effect of novel recovery garments utilising nanodiamond- and nanoplatinum-coated materials (DPV576-C) on physical and psychological stress in baseball players: A randomised, placebo-controlled trial.

Based on research suggesting that nanomaterial containing nanodiamond- and nanoplatinum-coated fibres (DPV576-C) may reduce the stress response, garments to enhance athletes' recovery from training-induced stress have been manufactured. This study examined the effects of wearing recovery garments on the physical and psychological stress of Japanese male baseball players. Thirty-eight players aged 18-21 (19.6 ± 0.2 years) who participated in a two-week intensified training programme were randomly assigned to two groups: 19 wore recovery (DPV576-C) garments (RG group) and 19 wore non-recovery garments (placebo group). Both groups wore the garments overnight. Mood states, using the Profile of Mood States questionnaire, and salivary cortisol levels were measured before (day 0) and after (day 14) the training period. Saliva samples were collected from 07:00-07:30 am. Both groups' fatigue scores significantly increased after the training period (RG: 8.4 ± 0.8-10.1 ± 0.8 score; placebo: 9.8 ± 1.0-11.7 ± 1.0 score). The total mood disturbance (TMD) score increased significantly in the placebo group (21.0 ± 2.3-27.2 ± 3.0 score) but not in the RG group (17.4 ± 2.7-20.2 ± 2.2 score). Salivary cortisol concentrations decreased significantly in the RG group (0.71 ± 0.08-0.49 ± 0.05 µg/dL) but not in the placebo group (0.61 ± 0.06-0.58 ± 0.10 µg/dL). Therefore, wearing the DPV576-C garments overnight attenuated increases in TMD levels and decreased salivary cortisol levels following intensified training. DPV576-C garments may have beneficial effects on training-induced physical and psychological stress among athletes.

Prediction error induced motor contagions in human behaviors.

Motor contagions refer to implicit effects on one's actions induced by observed actions. Motor contagions are believed to be induced simply by action observation and cause an observer's action to become similar to the action observed. In contrast, here we report a new motor contagion that is induced only when the observation is accompanied by prediction errors - differences between actions one observes and those he/she predicts or expects. In two experiments, one on whole-body baseball pitching and another on simple arm reaching, we show that the observation of the same action induces distinct motor contagions, depending on whether prediction errors are present or not. In the absence of prediction errors, as in previous reports, participants' actions changed to become similar to the observed action, while in the presence of prediction errors, their actions changed to diverge away from it, suggesting distinct effects of action observation and action prediction on human actions.

Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrests During the Japanese Professional Baseball Championship Series.

Because the Japan Professional Baseball Championship Series (Japan Series) is a stressful sports event, it is possible that watching Japan Series matches may increase the risk of cardiovascular events. Therefore, we investigated the potential association between the Japan Series and the incidence of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) events. National registry data for all cases of OHCA between 2005 and 2014 from 47 prefectures of Japan were obtained. We used a time-stratified case-crossover design with a conditional Poisson regression model to compare OHCA events during the Japan Series with those events that occurred during the periods except for dates of the Japan Series. The estimated associations for each prefecture were pooled at the nationwide level using a random-effects meta-analysis. In total, 666,020 OHCAs of presumed cardiac origin were reported during the study period. On days of Japan Series matches, the pooled relative risk of OHCA was 1.033 (95% confidence interval 1.012 to 1.055; p = 0.002; I2 = 3.5%, P for heterogeneity = 0.405). Stratified analyses by gender revealed that the substantial increase in OHCA during the events was observed for men, whereas we found no significant increase for women. We also found a considerable rise in OHCA among patients aged ≥65 years; however, there was no significant evidence of increased risk in those aged 18 to 64 years. In conclusion, stressful baseball match is associated with an increased risk of OHCA. Prevention measures for severe emotional stress-related OHCA should be implemented, particularly for elderly men.

Does Smile Intensity in Photographs Really Predict Longevity? A Replication and Extension of Abel and Kruger (2010).

Abel and Kruger (2010) found that the smile intensity of professional baseball players who were active in 1952, as coded from photographs, predicted these players' longevity. In the current investigation, we sought to replicate this result and to extend the initial analyses. We analyzed (a) a sample that was almost identical to the one from Abel and Kruger's study using the same database and inclusion criteria ( N = 224), (b) a considerably larger nonoverlapping sample consisting of other players from the same cohort ( N = 527), and (c) all players in the database ( N = 13,530 valid cases). Like Abel and Kruger, we relied on categorical smile codings as indicators of positive affectivity, yet we supplemented these codings with subjective ratings of joy intensity and automatic codings of positive affectivity made by computer programs. In both samples and for all three indicators, we found that positive affectivity did not predict mortality once birth year was controlled as a covariate.

Evaluating the heat-aggression hypothesis: The role of temporal and social factors in predicting baseball related aggression.

We examined the role that season progression and social threats play in the heat-aggression hypothesis within Major League Baseball put forward by Reifman, Larrick, and Fein (1991). Box score data from 38,870 Major League Baseball games between the years of 2000 and 2015 was used to test the heat-aggression relationship, while accounting for temporal and social factors that may be simultaneously exerting influence on player behavior. Controlling for a number of other variables, we observed that the effect of temperature on aggressive behavior is partially contingent on the point of the season in which the game took place. Aggressive behavior was also more likely to occur when teams played divisional (compared to league and inter-league) rivals, however this relationship was contingent on season progression. We provide potential boundary conditions relating to the heat-aggression relationship, indicating this may not be a ubiquitous phenomenon.

Automated vision occlusion-timing instrument for perception-action research.

Vision occlusion spectacles are a highly valuable instrument for visual-perception-action research in a variety of disciplines. In sports, occlusion spectacles have enabled invaluable knowledge to be obtained about the superior capability of experts to use visual information to guide actions within in-situ settings. Triggering the spectacles to occlude a performer's vision at a precise time in an opponent's action or object flight has been problematic, due to experimenter error in using a manual buttonpress approach. This article describes a new laser curtain wireless trigger for vision occlusion spectacles that is portable and fast in terms of its transmission time. The laser curtain can be positioned in a variety of orientations to accept a motion trigger, such as a cricket bowler's arm that distorts the lasers, which then activates a wireless signal for the occlusion spectacles to change from transparent to opaque, which occurs in only 8 ms. Results are reported from calculations done in an electronics laboratory, as well as from tests in a performance laboratory with a cricket bowler and a baseball pitcher, which verified this short time delay before vision occlusion. In addition, our results show that occlusion consistently occurred when it was intended-that is, near ball release and during mid-ball-flight. Only 8% of the collected data trials were unusable. The laser curtain improves upon the limitations of existing vision occlusion spectacle triggers, indicating that it is a valuable instrument for perception-action research in a variety of disciplines.