The Relationship between 200 m Performance and Selected Anthropometric Variables and Motor Abilities in Male Sprinters.

The goal of this study was the investigation of the relationship between 200 m performance and motor abilities and anthropometric characteristics of different level of male sprinters (200 m performance 23.80 ± 2.16 s--the best results 21.40 s). The physical fitness measures included: 50 m from standing and flying start, standing long jump (SLJ) standing five jump (SFJ), double and single leg countermovement jumps CMJ), flexibility (sit and reach) and 4 kg shot put throwing (over head). The Spearman correlation coefficient was applied to verify the association. The results demonstrated strong relationships (p < 0.05) between 200 m performance and experience (age) and body mass (r = 0.85, r = -0.80 respectively) As for the motor abilities strong relationship exists between 200 m and time of 150 m, 50 m from standing and flying start and CMJ on single leg. Vertical jumping displayed stronger relationship with 200 m performance that horizontal one. From a practical point of view this is very important notice.

The Relationship between Selected Motor Ability Determinants and Anthropometric Characteristics in Adolescent Athletes from Various Sport.

The main purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between speed, lower extremities explosive power, simple, and complex responses in adolescent athletes from various disciplines. Thirty nine athletes of 16.5 years old, N = 13 sprinters and jumpers, N = 13 soccer players, and N = 13 judokas participated in the experiment. Pearson correlations, a one-way ANOVA and an independent t-test for establishing differences between those three groups of athletes was applied. Additionally the Ward method of hierarchical cluster analysis also was applied. The strong correlation occurred between complex responses and speed; 20 m from standing and 20 m flying start (r = 0.62 and r = 0.65 respectively). In other cases, no strong association was found. The substantial differences between groups occurred in the 20 m run from flying start (t = 5.92) and standing triple jump (t = 4.16). The study indicates that adolescent athletes may need to be assessed differently to a certain extent, including sport specialization.

CIGARETTE SMOKING AMONG 17-18 YEAR OLD ADOLESCENTS - PREVALENCE AND ASSOCIATION WITH SOCIODEMOGRAPHIC, FAMILIAL, SPORT, AND SCHOLASTIC. FACTORS.

BACKGROUND: Though adolescence is recognised as a critical period for smoking prevention, there is a lack of research focused on this issue in Kosovo. The aim of this study has been to examine the gender-specific factors of influence (predictors) for smoking among adolescents in Pristina, Kosovo. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study sample comprised 1002 adolescents at the age of 17-18 (366 boys, 636 girls), all of whom were in the school's 12th grade. The predictors included sociodemographic variables, familial (i.e.,parental) monitoring, parents' educational background, and sport-related factors. The Chi2 and forward stepwise logistic regression analyses with a dichotomous criterion (smoking vs. non-smoking) were applied. RESULTS: The incidence of smoking was high (31% and 40% smokers, including 7% and 12% daily smokers for girls and boys, respectively). The regression model revealed more frequent absence from school(odds ratio (OR): 1.544; 95% confidence interval (Ci): 1.063-2.243), more unexcused school absences (OR: 1.360; 95% CI: 1.029-1.796), and frequent parental questioning (OR: 1.530; 95% CI: 1.020-2.295) to be significant predictors'of smoking among boys. For girls, a higher risk of smoking was associated with lower scholastic achievement (OR: 1.467; 95% CI: 1.089-1.977), more frequent absence from school (OR: 1.565; 95% CI: 1.137-2.155), increased conflict with parents (OR: 1.979; 95% CI: 1.405-2.789),and a self-declared perception of less parental care (OR: 0.602; 95% CI: 0.377-0.962). Sports were not found to be strongly related to smoking. However, a high riskof daily smoking was found among boys who participated in team sports and subsequently quit. CONCLUSIONS: This study reinforces the need for gender- and culture-specific approaches to studying the factors that influence smoking among adolescents.

Sport-specific and anthropometric factors of quality in junior male water polo players.

There is evident lack of studies which examined anthropological determinants of success in water polo. The aim of this investigation was to study the physical fitness differences between two qualitative levels of junior water polo players (males; 16-18 years of age; 6+ year of experience in water polo). The sample (N = 54) comprised of 13 members of the junior national-squad (5 centers and 8 perimeter players), and 41 team-athletes (11 centers and 30 perimeter players). The sample of variables included: four anthropometric measures (body height, body mass, BMI and body fat percentage), and five sport-specific fitness tests (20-meters-sprint-swimming, maximal dynamometric force in eggbeater kick, in-water vertical jump, drive-shoot-speed, and sport-swimming-endurance). Discriminant analysis and t-test revealed no significant differences between national-squad and team-players for center players. The national-squad perimeters were advanced over their team-level peers in most of the fitness capacities and body-height. The result highlights the necessity of the playing-position-specific approach in defining anthropological factors of success in team-sports.

Non-linear relations between selected anthropological predictors and psycho-physiological exercise-responses.

In this paper, some very useful non-linear-relation procedures are actualized. The authors have defined the characteristic correlations between a set of anthropological characteristics (14 anthropometric and 14 motor-endurance status variables) and a set of psycho-physiological exercise-responses during the hi-lo and during the step aerobic dance training (heart rate, lactate concentration and rating of the perceived exertion). 60 healthy females served as the sample of subjects (mean age 21 +/- 1.4 years). The experiment consisted of two parts. In the first one, the linear correlations between the two sets of the variables were established. In the second part, non-linear (squared) relations, between the variables of the two sets were calculated. Results confirm the statement that the non-linear correlations, in some cases, better determinate the real nature of the relations between the variables, than linear correlation models.