How Can We Improve Running Events? The IPA4RE Questionnaire and Its Potential Impact on the Experience of Runners.

The benefits that a positive running experience provides to individuals have been broadly studied by the scientific community, with the finding that running sport events are a facilitating tool to attract more individuals into physical activity. This study focuses on a sport management approach to improve the quality and organizational efficiency of running sports events so that a better experience for runners can be provided. The methods of this research consist of the validation of a new questionnaire called 'The IPA4RE questionnaire'. Furthermore, an IPA analysis for a specific event was carried out. As our main findings, the most valued aspects perceived by consumers are the event atmosphere, security, event route, and convenience of bib collection and event day information. In conclusion, the IPA4RE can be used as a management tool by running event organizers to make more efficient use of their resources and provide a better experience to participants.

The New Generation of Professional Soccer Talent Is Born under the Bias of the RAE: Relative Age Effect in International Male Youth Soccer Championships.

In 2019, numerous championships of youth categories soccer national teams were held. In the present study, we analyzed the existence of the Relative Age Effect (RAE) in four major male championships that, due to their importance and participating teams, most likely brought together the great bulk of the players who will dominate professional soccer in the next decade. Participants were professional and amateur youth male soccer players who participated in the last international championships: UEFA European Under-21 Championship (2017-2019); UEFA European Under-19 Championship (2019); South American Youth Football Championship (also known as Conmebol U-20) (2019); and FIFA U-20 World Cup (2019), with 823 players (20.25 ± 0.84 years). In the four championships analyzed, the existence of RAE was found for all players (p < 0.001). Analyzing the players when considering their position on the pitch and their championship, RAE was found, statistically significant, in 10 of the 16 classifications. New generations of elite soccer players arrive with a clear bias in the selection of talent; an unfair bias, based on unequal opportunities in early categories, which should be reviewed by sports authorities.

Walkability and Fitness Center Prices, Opening Hours, and Extra Services: The Case of Madrid, Spain.

Walkability has been associated with urban development and political plans, contributing to more connected cities with improvements in communication, shopping, and pedestrian base. Among these services, fitness centers are becoming important elements for communities due to their impact on the health and welfare of citizens. The present study aims to examine how an area's Walk Score® affects fitness center services, specifically membership costs, opening hours, and aquatic services. Data from 193 fitness centers were retrieved, representing all the areas of the municipality of Madrid, Spain, including fitness centers in the 21 city districts. A nonlinear relationship between an area's Walk Score® and fitness centers' monthly fees is observed. Only in premium fitness centers, a weak curvilinear model is observed, following a quadratic equation, showing that fitness centers with higher prices are in less walkable areas. Additionally, the association between Walk Score® and a fitness center's opening hours reveals that fitness centers with wider hours of operation tend to be in moderately to highly walkable locations. Lastly, the existence of a swimming pool is related to a lower Walk Score®. Thus, fitness centers in less walkable areas try to offer additional services as differentiation from competitors, whereas centers in walkable locations use this advantage as a strength.

The Talent Development Pathway for Elite Basketball Players in China.

A large portion of previous sport talent development research has been conducted using Western countries study subjects such as Canadian, Swedish, Spanish, British, or American athletes. However, the factors that affect oriental culture athletes remain an unexplored field. The aims of this investigation were to consolidate the exploration of the pilot study that studied the key factors for Chinese elite basketball players' careers and understand what facts have helped them to achieve the highest sportive level through qualitative research. The pathway to excellence of 11 Chinese elite basketball players were analyzed through a semi-structured interview with different categories such as social context, sport context, tactical factors, or anthropometric factors. Results showed that cultural factors, family tradition, academic studies, coaches, mental strength, training structuration, and international competitions had a great effect and influence in the talent development of Chinese basketball players.

Key Factors on Talent Development of Expertise Basketball Players in China / Factores clave en el desarrollo del talento de la experiencia jugadores de baloncesto en China / Fatores-chave no desenvolvimento de talentos de especialização jogadores de basquete na China

The aim of this investigation was to explore what are the key factors on Chinese elite basketball player's careers, and understand what facts have helped them to achieve the highest sportive level. The pathway to excellence of three Chinese elite basketball players were analyzed through a semi structured interview with different categories such as Social Context, Sport Context, Tactical Factors or Anthropometric Factors. Results showed that "family tradition", academic studies, coaches, training structuration and international competitions had influenced the talent development of Chinese basketball players

El objetivo de esta investigación fue explorar cuáles son los factores clave en el desarrollo del talento de tres jugadores de baloncesto chinos de élite y comprender qué hechos los han ayudado a alcanzar el nivel deportivo más alto. El camino hacia la excelencia de estos jugadores de baloncesto de élite chinos se analizó a través de una entrevista semiestructurada con diferentes categorías, como contexto social, contexto deportivo, factores tácticos o factores antropométricos. Los resultados mostraron que la "tradición familiar", los estudios académicos, la influencia de los entrenadores, la estructuración de entrenamientos y las competiciones internacionales habían influido en el desarrollo del talento de los jugadores chinos de baloncesto

O objetivo desta pesquisa foi explorar quais são os fatores-chave no desenvolvimento do talento de três jogadores de basquete chineses de elite e entender que fatos os ajudaram a atingir o mais alto nível esportivo. O caminho para a excelencia desses jogadores de basquete chineses de elite foi analisado por meio de uma entrevista semiestruturada com diferentes categorias, como contexto social, contexto esportivo, fatores táticos ou fatores antropométricos. Os resultados mostraram que a "tradição familiar", os estudos acadêmicos, a influência dos treinadores, a estruturação de treinamentos e as competições internacionais influenciaram o desenvolvimento do talento dos jogadores de basquete chineses

Comparison of the Movement Characteristics Based on Position-Specific Between Semi-Elite and Elite Basketball Players / Comparación de las Características de Movimiento Basadas en la Posición Específica entre los Jugadores de Baloncesto Semi-elite y Elite / Comparação das características do movimento baseadas na posição específica entre jogadores de basquete semi-elite e elite

The aim of study is to comparison of the movement characteristics based on position-specific between world-class elite and semi-elite basketball players. 24 basketball players were selected from Spanish U18 semi-elite (Guards = 5; Forwards = 5; Centres = 2) and World-class elite basketball players (Guards = 5; Forwards = 4; Centres = 3), respectively. Physical demands were assessed using WIMU PRO Local Positioning System (Realtrack Systems, Almeria, Spain) during practices. The differences between Spanish U18 semi-elite and World-class elite basketball players from different position were tested by independent sample t-test. Our result showed that Spanish U18 semi-elite basketball players from all position, made more movement of acceleration and deceleration per average minutes than their counterpart World-class basketball players. Moreover, Spanish U18 guards have better performance in the performance profiles of g-force acceleration (ES = 0.88) and deceleration (ES = 0.98) than World-class guards, as the same results as Spanish U18 centres (g-force acceleration, ES = 0.44; and g-force deceleration, ES = 0.53). Conversely, World-class forwards have better performance in max acceleration (ES = 0.42) and deceleration (ES = 0.42) than Spanish U18 forwards. In conclusion, differences in distribution of accelerations and decelerations appeared between player positions, which would be of importance when monitoring training and game loads and when prescribing specific training exercises

El objetivo del estudio ha sido comparar las características de los movimientos realizados por los jugadores de baloncesto, de acuerdo a la posición específica de juego, en jugadores de élite y semi-élite. Se seleccionaron 24 jugadores de baloncesto semi-elite U18 (Bases = 5; Aleros = 5; Pivots = 2) y jugadores de élite de clase mundial (Bases = 5; Aleros = 4; Pivots = 3), respectivamente. Las demandas físicas se evaluaron utilizando el sistema de posicionamiento local WIMU PRO (Realtrack Systems, Almería, España) durante los entrenamientos. Para observar las diferencias entre los jugadores de baloncesto semi-elite U18 y de élite de clase mundial desde diferentes posiciones se utilizó la prueba t de muestra independiente. Los resultados mostraron que los jugadores de baloncesto semi-elite U18, independientemente de la posición de juego, hicieron más movimientos de aceleración y desaceleración por minuto promedio que los jugadores de baloncesto de clase mundial. Además, los bases U18 tuvieron un mejor rendimiento en los perfiles de rendimiento de aceleración de fuerza g (ES = 0.88) y desaceleración (ES = 0.98) que los bases de clase mundial, al igual que los pivots españoles U18 (g- aceleración de fuerza, ES = 0.44; y desaceleración de fuerza g, ES = 0.53). Por el contrario, los aleros de clase mundial tuvieron un mejor rendimiento en aceleración máxima (ES = 0.42) y desaceleración (ES = 0.42) que los aleros U18. En conclusión, aparecieron diferencias en la distribución de las aceleraciones y desaceleraciones entre las posiciones de los jugadores, lo que sería importante al monitorear el entrenamiento y las cargas del juego y al prescribir ejercicios de entrenamiento específicos

O objectivo do estudo foi o de comparar as características dos movimentos realizados pelos jogadores de basquetebol, de acordo com a posição de reprodução em reprodutores de elite e semi-elite. Foram selecionados 24 jogadores de basquete sub-elite de sub-18 (Armadores = 5; Alas = 5; Pivôs = 2) e jogadores de elite da classe mundial (Armadores = 5; Alas = 4; Pivôs = 3), respectivamente. As demandas físicas foram avaliadas usando o sistema de posicionamento local WIMU PRO (Realtrack Systems, Almería, Espanha) durante o treinamento. Para observar as diferenças entre os jogadores de basquete semi-elite e elite de basquete de classe mundial de diferentes posições, foi utilizado o teste t de amostra independente. Os resultados mostraram que os jogadores de basquete Sub-18 semi-elite, independentemente da posição de jugego, fez mais movimentos de aceleração e desaceleração por classe média minuto mundo jogadores de basquete. Além disso, as armadores U18 tiveram melhor desempenho nos perfis de aceleração da força g (ES = 0,88) e desaceleração (ES = 0,98) do que as bases de classe mundial, assim como os pivôs espanhóis da U18 ( g- aceleração da força, ES = 0,44; e desaceleração da força g, ES = 0, 53). Pelo contrário, a classe alas mundo realizado melhor em aceleração máxima (ES = 0 .42) e desaceleração (ES = 0 0,42) do que beirais U18. Em conclusão, eles apareceram diferenças na distribuição de acelerações e desacelerações entre as posições dos jogadores, seria importante para monitorar treinamento e jogo carrega e ao prescrever exercícios específicos de formação