Predicting social skills in disadvantaged Chinese high school students through physical education.

Introduction: This study analyzed the relationships between social skills and motivation to Physical Education, students´ perceived support regarding Physical Education lessons (from parents, teachers and peers) and basic needs satisfaction in a sample of disadvantaged high school Chinese students according to Self-Determination Theory-related main principles. Physical Education classes are a great opportunity to develop not only psychomotor and physiologically, but also psychosocially in young people, and that is why this study investigates the relationship between the social skills of the students and these other main variables of the Self-Determination Theory. Methods: Two hundred and nine disadvantaged students enrolled in a camp organized by a non-governmental organization in Chengdu province (15.9 ± 0.83 years; 73.9% female and 26.1% male) completed the Chinese versions of the following Self-Determination Theory-related questionnaires (independent variables): Learning Climate Questionnaire, Activity- Feeling States Scale, Perceived Locus of Causality scale; and social skills questionnaire (dependent variable): Matson Evaluation of Social Skills with Youngsters Scale. Results: The standard multiple regression model to predict social skills based on perceived support, basic needs satisfaction and motivation towards Physical Education was significant (F(11, 195)= 13.85; p < .001; R2=.44; Cohen's f2= 0.78). The social skills of the students were positively related to peer support and relatedness subscales. In contrast, introjected regulation, external regulation, and amotivation were adversely correlated with social skills. Discussion: We believe that this information would help policymakers and teachers design new policies, actions, and teaching methodologies to implement for the development of Physical Education and sport programs in China, those that will help young people throughout their life span.

Moderators of the coach leadership and athlete motivation relationship.

The purpose of this study was to determine whether the relationship between coach leadership and athlete motivation was moderated by age, gender, competition level, and seasons spent with a coach. This study involved data from two previous studies that explored this relationship yet provides a novel perspective through the lens of important moderators. Three-hundred and three athletes (Mage = 17.6 years; SD = 3.20; 49.7% women and 50.3% men) responded to questionnaires pertaining to their coaches' leadership behaviours and their own sport motivation. Multiple regression analyses using moderators were conducted. Age, competition level, and seasons spent with the coach significantly moderated the relationships of interest. Coach transformational leadership predicted intrinsic and extrinsic motivation to a greater extent when athletes were younger than 20.8 and 18.2 years of age, respectively. Further, coach transactional leadership predicted intrinsic and extrinsic motivation to a greater extent when athletes had trained for more than two seasons with their coach. Results emphasize the need to consider athlete characteristics from both research and practitioner perspectives. Herein, we advocate for increased awareness amongst key sport stakeholders on the influence that a coach can have on younger athletes' motivation and the importance of developing coach-athlete relationships over time.

Effects of the COVID-19 Health Crisis on Sports Practice, Life Quality, and Emotional Status in Spanish High-Performance Athletes.

Spain is one of the many countries highly affected by the COVID-19 crisis, establishing very restrictive measures with a complete lockdown for more than 3 months. This situation forced the complete closure of sport practice and national or international competitions, leading to a negative impact on physical and psychological health of high-performance athletes. Therefore, the objectives of this study were (a) to determine the effects of the COVID-19 health crisis on Spanish high-performance athletes in terms of sports practice, life quality, and emotional state and (b) to identify the profile with the greatest difficulties during and after the lockdown. A sample of 130 high-performance athletes aged between 18 and 34 years (67 women and 63 men) participated in this study (83.1% achieved a medal in National-International elite competitions; 86.9% were considered student-athletes). Measures included socio-demographic data through a 5-dimension ad hoc survey: physical activity and exercise using an adapted version from the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ); health status and limitations using an adapted version of SF-12 Health Questionnaire; Perceived stress (Short-PSS); and Mood States (29-item POMS). All participants have shown a significant decrease pre-post-lockdown in both health and performance perception, especially in women, individual athletes, medalists, and student-athletes. Strong limitations of training, attention, and motivation as well as a moderate negative emotional state during lockdown were reported, in women, individual athletes, medalists, and student-athletes. Even with an improved emotional state and energy level in the post-lockdown period, moderate-to-high stress scores were reported by women and medalists. Our findings highlight the importance of paying attention to the physical and psychological health of elite athletes on three profiles: team athletes (due to social distance), student-athletes (dual-career issues), and women athletes (prevalence of implicit gender inequalities in sport).

Employee-Athletes: Exploring the Elite Spanish Athletes' Perceptions of Combining Sport and Work.

Researchers have studied the athletes' dual careers with the aim of helping them to combine the sport and the academic-vocational sphere. Most of this research has addressed the study-sport combination, but there is a lack of studies on the work-sport combination. The main objective of this research was to explore the subjective perceptions of Spanish elite athletes when attempting to combine their careers as professional athletes with a second profession or trade. Further, this study aims to identify the access to facilitating resources and the perception of obstacles and barriers to the development of a dual career. A qualitative approach was chosen to address these research questions. Interpretative phenomenological analysis was carried out on a sample of 18 elite athletes, and the data were collected using semi-structured interviews based on a set of superordinate and subordinate categories. The results showed that the athletes interviewed possessed valuable resources such as the transference of sports values to the work sphere. However, important barriers were highlighted such as the perception of sport institutions as absent entities in the work-sport combination. Thus, the study of this type of dual career seems to be one of the challenges facing the interested scientific community for the coming years.

The Employability Process of Spanish Retired Elite Athletes: Gender and Sport Success Comparison.

The aims of the study were: (i) to describe the work integration after retirement in elite athletes, (ii) to compare the working integration of women and men, and Olympic and non-Olympic athletes, and (iii) to specify the factors that affect their employment status and current monthly income. A total of 476 former elite athletes were surveyed. Non-parametric statistics were applied to compare the differences between groups and a classification tree analysis was performed for the dependent variables. The former elite athlete's unemployment rate was better than the general population. At the gender comparison, a wage gap appeared between women and men. At the comparison between Olympic and non-Olympic athletes, the link to first employment differed in both groups. In the prediction models, finishing higher education arose as a key factor of the working status and the monthly salary. Among those without higher education studies, planning arose as a factor determining their salary, while among those with high qualifications, gender was the key factor. This study supports the importance of a holistic view of athletic career development and it offers practical insights into the process of reaching first employment after retirement.

"Nunca pensé abandonar los estudios": relación entre la formación académica de los progenitores y la carrera dual de deportistas de élite / "I never thought I'd drop out of school". The influence of parents academic history in the development of dual career in the elite athletes / "Nunca pensei em desistir da escola". Influência da formação acadêmica dos país no desenvolvimento da carreira dual do atletas de elite

El objetivo general del presente estudio es explorar la relación de la formación académica de los progenitores en el desarrollo de la carrera dual de los deportistas de élite. Para ello, se diseñó un estudio cualitativo con una muestra de 20 deportistas (10 retirados y 10 en activo). A raíz de las entrevistas semiestructuradas se realizó un análisis de contenido combinando aproximaciones deductivas e inductivas, obteniendo diferentes categorías con significado representativo. Los resultados muestran que los deportistas cuyos padres poseían estudios superiores, optan por la realización de la carrera dual cursando también este tipo de estudios. Además, suelen elegir carreras no vinculadas con el deporte, lo que parece dotarles de una identidad multidimensional que les facilita la retirada de la élite deportiva. Por otro lado, los deportistas cuyos padres no poseían este tipo de estudios, cuando optan por la carrera dual, lo hacen estudiando carreras, estudios reglados o no reglados (no regulados por ley ni contemplados por el Ministerio de Educación), vinculados al deporte, lo que favorece la identidad unidimensional, exclusivamente deportiva, y parece dificultar la transición a la retirada

The main aim of this study is to explore the relation of the educational level of the parents in the development of the elite athletes' dual career. For this purpose, a qualitative study was designed through personal interviews with a sample of 20 athletes (10 retired and 10 active). Subsequently, a content analysis was carried out combining deductive and inductive approaches, and different representative categories were obtained. The results show that those athletes whose parents had a higher education develop a dual career including university studies. In addition, they usually choose a university degree not linked to sports, which seems to give them a multidimensional identity that facilitates the withdrawal of their sporting career. On the other hand, athletes whose parents did not have higher education, when they opt for a dual career, they do so by studying university degrees linked to sports, officially and non officially sanctioned-non regulated by law nor approved by the Education Ministry. This favors a one-dimensional identity exclusively focused on sports, hampering the transition to the athletic retirement

O objetivo do presente estudo é explorar a relação que exerce a formação académica dos progenitores na carreira dual dos atletas de elite. Desenhouse um estudo qualitativo com uma amostra de 20 atletas (10 retirados e 10 no ativo). Após as entrevistas realizadas, procedeuse a uma análise de conteúdo combinando análises dedutivas e indutivas, obtendo diferentes categorias representativas. Os resultados mostram que os atletas, cujos progenitores possuem estudos superiores, optam por uma carreira dual investindo também nesse tipo de estudos. Para além disso, estes atletas escolhem áreas académicas não vinculadas ao desporto, o que parece dotá-los de uma identidade multidimensional que facilita a retirada desportiva. Por outro lado, os atletas cujos progenitores não têm este tipo de estudos, quando optam por uma carreira dual, fazemno escolhendo áreas académicas, ou cursos não universitários, relacionadas com o desporto, o que favorece a identidade unidimensional, exclusivamente desportiva e dificulta a transição na retirada desportiva

Insights into life after sport for Spanish Olympians: Gender and career path perspectives.

The aims of this study were: i) to examine if Dual Career (DC) pathways are independent of gender, ii) to evaluate whether those athletes who followed a DC experienced less difficulty in their integration into the labor force than the athletes devoted entirely to sport regardless of gender, as well as iii) to analyze whether the type of career path chosen was related with the current labor status, and if differences exist between men and women athletes. A quantitative, cross-sectional, and descriptive study was used based on an ad hoc questionnaire. Two-hundred and twenty-eight retired Olympic athletes completed a questionnaire. The response rate was 28.3%. Athletes who followed a DC with studies had a higher educational level at retirement than those devoted solely to sport and those who followed a DC with work, (χ2(6) = 38.76; P < .001), but no differences were found between men and women (χ2(3) = 3.23; P = .358). Athletes who followed a DC path (with studies or with work) perceived the transition out of sport more positively than those who focused solely on sport (χ2(2) = 7.79; P = .020). Regarding the type of job, more women attained a part-time job (20.9%) than men (3.1%; χ2(5) = 21.83; P = .001). The athletes who followed a DC with studies achieved higher monthly incomes than the other two groups (χ2(2) = 9.08; P = .011). Men athletes achieved higher incomes than women (Z = 5.45; P < .001), but the gender wage gap was apparent for those Olympian athletes considered as the qualified group, probably due to a higher presence of part-time women workers. The findings of this study suggest that future professional opportunities and the transition to the labor market could be made easier by following a DC during the mastery stage. Regardless of career path, women experienced more difficulties in their integration into the job market and there is a wage penalty for highly-qualified women.

Relative Age Effect and Long-Term Success in the Spanish Soccer and Basketball National Teams.

The aims of this study were: i) to analyze whether relative age effect occurs in the athletes of the junior national teams and professional athletes in Spain in general and in soccer and basketball, and ii) to compare the long-term success of the players selected for the junior national team between these sports. The samples for this study were Spanish professional soccer (n = 461) and basketball (n = 250) players in the 2013-2014 premier league and players from the junior Spanish soccer (i.e., n = 273; U-17: n = 107; U-19: n = 166) and basketball (i.e., n = 240; U-18: n = 120, U-16: n = 120) teams that classified to play in the European Championships (from 2004 to 2013). Junior players (42.3%) were more frequently born in the 1st quarter of the year than the professional players (30.7%) (χ2(3) = 30.07; p = .001; Vc = .157). This was found in both basketball (χ2(3) = 12.2.; p = .007; Vc = .158) and soccer (χ2(3) = 20.13; p < .001; Vc = .166). Long-term success is more frequent in soccer, where 59.9% of the juniors selected for the national team played later in the premier league, while in basketball that percentage was 39.6% (χ2(1) = 14.64; p < .001; Vc = .201). On the other hand, 79.4% and 39.8% of the professional soccer and basketball players had been previously selected for junior national teams (χ2(1) = 60.2; p < .001; Vc = .386), respectively. The talent selection process should be reviewed as players born in the second half of the year have fewer opportunities to stand out.

Events of athletic career: a comparison between career paths / Eventos de la carrera atlética: una comparación entre los tipos de carrera

The aim of this paper was to compare the sport stages of elite athletes depending on the career path they took. 476 retired elite Spanish athletes (62.5% male and 37.5% females) from 32 different sports answered a 55 items questionnaire. The starting ages of the students-athletes and the exclusively devoted to sport groups are similar. These similarities could be due to early decisions are taken by parents. Student-athletes reach also mastery stage two years earlier whereby we supposed some of the athletes do not start higher education studies as combining both activities seem to be too difficult. The best sport result was attained at different ages but it seems that the all trajectories spend seven years to achieve it. The non-student-athletes lengthened athletic career could be explained by a consequent delay in assuming new identity shifts. Finally, the student-athletes retire from four to five years before and could be explained because they usually plan more and better the retirement. In summary, the combination of a dual career with studies is the best option (AU)

El objetivo de este artículo es el de comparar las diferentes etapas deportivas de deportistas de élite en función del tipo de carrera que tomaron: trayectoria lineal, convergente o paralela. 476 atletas de élite españoles retirados (62.5% hombres y 37.5% mujeres) de 32 disciplinas deportivas distintas respondieron un cuestionario de 55 ítems. Las edades de inicio en el deporte de los deportistas-estudiantes y de los que se dedicaban exclusivamente al deporte son similares. Estas semejanzas se deben a que son los padres quienes toman las decisiones en edades tempranas. Los deportistas-estudiantes alcanzan también la etapa de maestría con dos años de antelación por lo que suponemos que algunos de los atletas no empiezan los estudios superiores al parecer difícil compaginar ambas actividades. El mejor resultado deportivo fue alcanzado a diferentes edades pero parece que las cuatro trayectorias coinciden en emplear siete años en lograrlo. Aquellos no estudiantes-deportistas alargaron la carrera deportiva posiblemente debido al consecuente retraso en asumir nuevos cambios de identidad. Finalmente, los estudiantes-deportistas se retiraron entre cuatro y cinco años antes y podría explicarse por que planifican más y mejor la retirada. En resumen, la combinación de una carrera dual con los estudios es la mejor opción (AU)

Dual career motivation and Athletic identity on elite athletes / Motivación hacia la carrera dual e identidad deportiva en deportistas de élite

The aim of this study was to analyze if the athletic identity and the dual career motivation depends on the type of sport and the gender. The sample consisted of 63 elite athletes (21.8 ± 3.2 years old). They were all studying higher education studies. Thirty-six were women (21.4 ± 2.9 years old) and twenty-seven men (22.4 ± 3.5 years old). Thirty-one were from individual sports and thirty-two from team sports. The Athletic Identity Measurement Scale (AIMS; Brewer et al., 1993) and the Student Athlete’s Motivation toward Sports and Academics Questionnaire Italian version (SAMSAQ-IT; Lupo et al., 2012) were applied. The athletes of individual sports (23.78 ± 8.83 hours) trained more hours per week (23.78 ± 8.83 hours) than the team sport athletes (12.9 ± 4.67 hours) (F1,59 = 34.73; p < .001; η2 = 0.371). Men had a stronger athletic identity than women (F1,51 = 4,27; p = .044; η2= .077). A multivariate effect was found at the SAMSAQ-IT depending on the type of sport (F3,43 = 3.98; p = .014). The athletes of individual sports achieved higher values than the athletes of team sports (F1,45 = 11.72; p = .001; η2 = 0.207 for SAM; F1,45 = 7.75; p = .008; η2 = 0.147 for AM and F1,45 = 5.20; p = .027; η2 = .104 for CAM). The difficulties observed on women and athletes of individual sports could not be attributed neither to a low academic motivation nor a strong athletic identity

El objetivo del presente estudio fue analizar la identidad deportiva y la motivación hacia los estudios y el deporte en función del género y del tipo de deporte. Participaron 63 deportistas de élite en activo (21.8 ± 3.2 años) que cursaban estudios superiores, 36 mujeres (21.4 ± 2.9 años) y 27 hombres (22.4 ± 3.5años), 31 pertenecían a deportes individuales y 32 colectivos. Se aplicaron los cuestionarios Athletic Identity Measurement Scale (AIMS; Brewer et al., 1993) y Student Athlete’s Motivation toward Sports and Academics Questionnaire Italian Version (SAMSAQ-IT; Lupo et al., 2012). Los deportistas de deportes individuales tenían una mayor carga de entrenamiento que los deportistas de deportes colectivos (F1,59 = 34.73; p < .001; η2 = .371). Los hombres presentaron una identidad deportiva más elevada que las mujeres (F1,51 = 4,27; p = .044; η2 = .077 ). Para el SAMSAQ-IT, hubo efecto multivariado del tipo de deporte (F3,43= 3.98; p= .014). Las puntuaciones fueron más altas en los deportistas de deportes individuales que en los de deportes colectivos (F1,45 = 11.72; p = .001; η2= .207 para MD; F1,45 = 7.75; p = .008; η2 = .147 para MA y F1,45 = 5.20; p = .027; η2 = .104 para MCD). La mayor dificultad observada con los estudios en los deportistas de deportes individuales y en las mujeres, no puede ser atribuida ni a una menor motivación académica ni a una mayor identidad deportiva

Respuestas cardiorrespiratorias y metabólicas al ejercicio realizado sobre una plataforma de disipación de aire / Cardiorespiratory and metabolic responses to exercise performed on an air dissipation platform

Introducción: El objetivo del estudio fue analizar el efecto del ejercicio realizado sobre una plataforma de disipación de aire comparado con el mismo ejercicio en suelo en un grupo de mujeres sanas. Material y métodos: En un estudio cuasi-experimental 14 mujeres sanas de entre 20 y 25 años realizaron un mismo ejercicio en 2 condiciones diferentes separados entre sí por una semana; uno fue sobre una plataforma de disipación de aire y otro sobre el suelo. Durante las 2 pruebas se recolectaron los datos del intercambio respiratorio por un analizador de gases de circuito abierto. La frecuencia cardíaca (FC) fue registrada mediante telemetría. Muestras de sangre capilar (5 μl) fueron extraídas cada 10 min de ejercicio utilizando un analizador de lactato portátil. La percepción subjetiva del esfuerzo (RPE) fue registrada cada 10 min de ejercicio mediante la escala de Borg. Resultados: Hubo diferencias significativas en las variables de FC media (plataforma: 173,1 ± 13,6 lpm; suelo: 166,7 ± 14,1 lpm; z = 1,9; p < 0,05), ventilación (VE) media (plataforma: 58 ± 8,6 l/min; suelo: 54,4 ± 12,4 l/min; z = 1,7; p < 0,05), lactato en el minuto 20 (plataforma: 6,9 ± 2,4 mmol/l; suelo: 4,4 ± 1,9 mmol/l; z = 2,9; p < 0,01), en el minuto 30 (plataforma 7,1 ± 2,6 mmol/l; suelo: 5,0 ± 2,3 mmol/l; z = 2,4; p < 0,01) y en el minuto 40 (plataforma: 5,0 ± 1,9 mmol/l; suelo: 3,6 ± 1,6 mmol/l; z = 1,9; p < 0,05), sin encontrar diferencias significativas en el RPE durante toda la prueba. Conclusiones: La intensidad del ejercicio realizado sobre la plataforma de disipación de aire ante una misma sesión de ejercicio es mayor que la realizada sobre el suelo, teniendo unos valores similares en la percepción de esfuerzo

Introduction: The aim of the study was to analyze the effect of exercise performed on an air dissipation platform compared to the same exercise on the floor in a group of healthy women. Material and methods: In a quasi-experimental study 14 healthy women between 20 and 25 years performed exercises under two different conditions separated by one week, one was on an air dissipation platform and another on the floor. Respiratory exchange data were collected during the two tests using an open-circuit gas analyzer. Heart rate (HR) was recorded via telemetry. Capillary blood samples (5 μl) were taken every 10 minutes during the exercises using a portable lactate analyzer. The rated perceived exertion (RPE) was recorded every 10 minutes during the exercises using the Borg scale. Results: There were significant differences in mean HR variables (platform: 173.1 ± 13.6 bpm; floor: 166.7 ± 14.1 bpm; z = 1.9; P < 0.05), average ventilation (VE) (platform: 58 ± 8.6 L/min; floor: 54.4 ± 12.4 L/min; z = 1.7; P < 0.05), lactate in the 20th minute (platform: 6.9 ± 2.4 mmol/L; floor: 4.4 ± 1.9 mmol/L, z = 2.9; P < 0.01), 30th minute (platform: 7.1 ± 2.6 mmol/L; floor: 5.0 ± 2.3 mmol/L; z = 2.4; P < 0.01) and 40th (platform: 5.0 ± 1.9 mmol/L; floor: 3.6 ± 1,6 mmol/L; z = 1.9; P < 0.05), with no significant differences in RPE throughout the test. Conclusions: The intensity of exercise on the air dissipation platform with the same session of exercises is greater than that performed on the floor, with similar values in the perceived exertion

Eficacia en la aplicación de las medidas de formación para los deportistas de alto nivel en el territorio español / Efficiency of the application of academic training policies for spanish top athletes / Eficácia na aplicação de medidas de formação para desportistas de alto rendimento em território espanhol

La formación académica y la planificación son fundamentales para una exitosa inserción laboral de los atletas de élite. El objetivo de este estudio fue detectar el nivel de aplicación de las medidas de formación por los diferentes agentes que participan en el sistema. Al analizar el proceso de información se apreciaron ciertas carencias en el mismo. El cambio de fechas de exámenes con motivo de competiciones/concentraciones oficiales fue el aspecto más demandado por los diferentes deportistas. Dado que el periodo de los 20 a los 30 años es crítico para la formación, sería necesario aportar un servicio de cobertura total para la población de deportistas de Alto Nivel, con el fin de dar un asesoramiento permanente y trazar una línea continua desde la vida deportiva a la vida laboral en los deportistas

Academic training and planning are fundamental in ensuring the integration of elite athletes into the labour market. The main goal of this study was to analyse the extent to which academic measures are applied by the system’s different stakeholders. When the information process was analysed, certain shortcomings were noted. Most calls by athletes were for the dates of exams to be changed due to their coincidence with an official competition, as confirmed by requests to all bodies. The period from 20 to 30 years of age is critical in academic terms and a fully comprehensive service should be ensured for these top athletes in order to provide ongoing guidance

A formação académica e a planificação são fundamentais para uma bem sucedida inserção laboral dos atletas de elite. O objectivo deste estudo foi detectar o nível de aplicação de medidas de formação pelos diferentes agentes desportivos que participam no sistema. Ao analisar o processo de informação foram identificadas algumas carências no mesmo. A mudança das datas dos exames por motivos de competições/concentrações oficiais foi o aspecto mais pedido pelos diferentes desportistas. Dado que o período dos 20 aos 30 anos é crítico para a formação, seria necessário adicionar um serviço de cobertura total para a população de desportistas de Alto Rendimento, com o objectivo de assessorar permanentemente e traçar uma linha contínua desde a vida desportiva à vida laboral dos desportistas

Kinematic pattern of the drag-flick: a case study.

The drag-flick is more efficient than hits or pushes when a penalty corner situation is in effect in field hockey. Previous research has studied the biomechanical pattern of the drag-flick, trying to find the cues for an optimal performance. On the other hand, some other studies have examined the most effective visual pick-up of relevant information in shots and goalkeeper anticipation. The aim of this study was to analyse the individual differences in the drag-flick pattern in order to provide relevant information for goalkeepers. One female skilled drag-flicker participated in the study. A VICON optoelectronic system (Oxford Metrics, Oxford, UK) was used to capture the drag-flicks with six cameras. The results showed that the main significant differences between right and left shots (p<0.05) in the stick angles, stick minimum angular velocity and front foot-ball distance were when the front foot heel contacted the floor (T1) and at the minimum velocity of the stick, before the dragging action (T3). The findings showed that the most relevant information might be picked up at the ball-and-stick location before the dragging action.

Biomechanical analysis of the penalty-corner drag-flick of elite male and female hockey players.

The aim of this study was to analyse the kinematic sequencing in the penalty-corner drag-flicks of elite male and female field hockey players of international calibre. Thirteen participants (one skilled male drag-flicker and six male and six female elite players) participated in the study. An optoelectronic motion analysis system was used to capture the drag-flicks with six cameras, sampling at 250 Hz. Select ground reaction force parameters were obtained from a force platform which registered the last support of the front foot. Twenty trials were captured from each subject. Both player groups showed significantly (p < 0.05) smaller ball velocity at release, peak angular velocity of the pelvis, and negative and positive peak angular velocities of the stick than the skilled subject. Normalised ground reaction forces of the gender groups were also smaller than that of the skilled drag-flicker. By comparing these players we established that the cues of the skill level are a wide stance, a whipping action (rapid back lift) of the stick followed by an explosive sequential movement of the pelvis, upper trunk and stick.

El patrón de movimiento en el swing de golf en jóvenes promesas / No disponible

Introducción: El swing de golf es una destreza que podríamoscatalogar de golpeo de velocidad donde el objetivo esque la cara del palo alcance la máxima velocidad en el momentodel impacto.Objetivos: Analizar la secuencia temporal del swing degolf y determinar su patrón de movimiento.Métodos: Se han analizado biomecánicamente 10 golpeosde 4 jugadores promesas, mediante el sistema de fotogrametría3D Vicon Oxford Metrics® de captura automática.Resultados: En primer lugar se ha podido comprobar quelos valores absolutos de velocidades lineales eran mayoresen los chicos que en las chicas. El análisis de las 2 fases delswing indica que la fase de aceleración downswing presentauna variabilidad menor que el backswing. El análisis de la secuenciatemporal de máximos alcanzados en las velocidadeslineales de los segmentos muestra que sus acciones siguenun orden diferente en función del sexo. La secuencia en loschicos empieza por el movimiento de caderas y sigue conel codo izquierdo, el hombro izquierdo y el palo; en las chicas,las caderas y el codo izquierdo actúan simultáneamenteseguidos del hombro izquierdo y del palo. En cambio, lassecuencias de velocidades angulares encontradas seguíanen ambos sexos el mismo orden: primero el giro de caderas,luego el giro de hombros y por último la aceleracióndel palo. Esta secuencia de acciones se encontraba más separadaen el tiempo en los hombres que en las mujeres.Conclusiones: Se hallaron los patrones del movimientomediante fórmulas discriminantes en ambos sexos, capacesde predecir si el golpeo sería “bueno” o “malo” siguiendoel criterio de rendimiento marcado en la velocidad de la cabezadel palo

Introduction: The golf swing is a skill that could be classifiedas high velocity hitting in which the main goal is thatthe head of the golf club reaches its maximum velocity atthe moment of impact.Aims: To analyze the timing sequence of the golf swingand to identify the movement pattern of this skill.Methods: Ten golf swings executed by four young playerswere biomechanically analyzed. Automatic capture with ViconOxford Metrics® was used.Results: The absolute values of the linear velocities werehigher in men than in women. In the interval analysis, thedownswing showed less variation than the backswing.Analysis of the maximum speed timing sequence revealed adifferent order depending on gender. In men, the sequencestarted with the hip movement, followed by the left elbow,left shoulder and the club head. In women, the hips and leftelbow moved simultaneously, followed by the left shoulderand the club head. In contrast, the angular velocity sequencesfollowed the same order in both genders: first the hipturn, then the shoulder turn, and finally the golf club headacceleration. These key events were more separated in thetime line in men than in women.Conclusions: Movement patterns were found throughdiscriminatory formulae in both genders, which were ableto predict whether the golf swing was “good” or “bad”, taking the club head speed as the performance criterion (AU)