Judo for older adults: the coaches' knowledge and needs of education.

This study aimed to explore the views of judo coaches on their perceived knowledge (PK) and needs for education (NE) for training older practitioners. In total, 470 international (Europe = 48%, Americas = 22%, Africa = 23%, Asia = 5% and Oceania = 2%) judo coaches (IJF: level 1 = 55,3%, level 2 = 33%; judo black belt: 3,4 ± 1,7 dan; F = 15%; university education: 68% >BA) responded an online survey encompassing demographic information and 35 items relevant to training older adults (Aging process; Safety and First Aid; Organization & Environment; Physiology and Fitness; Psychology & Mental Health; Teaching & Training) to be rated on a 7-point Likert scale for PK and NE. Non parametric statistics (p > 0.05) was applied to ascertain differences and relationships between PK and NE, respectively. A bivariate go-zone plot was used to highlight items with the lowest PK and the highest NE mean values. The coaches reported high PK (4.5 ± 0.3 pt) and NE (4.7 ± 0.1 pt) values, with significant higher PK values emerging for high education levels and judo experience. In considering their unique needs and special role, the judo coaches presented valuable insights to develop a sustainable educational curriculum tailored to train older judo practitioners.

Evolution of attack in handball when playing 7 vs. 6 with empty goal between 2020 and 2023: coaches' perception vs. observational results.

Introduction: Recently, several studies on the 7 vs. 6 "empty goal" (EG) in handball have produced different and even contradictory results. The aim of the present study was to investigate the behavior of teams and players in the 7 vs. 6 EG attack in the European (Euro) and World Championships (WCh) between 2020 and 2023 and characterize the coaches' perceptions. Methods: A mixed-methods approach was used, consisting of the following: (i) an observational methodology and instrument developed and validated to collect observational data on player and team behavior; and (ii) a developed and validated questionnaire to coaches on their perceptions of the 7 vs. 6 game. Observational data were collected during the Euro 2020 and 2022 games (n = 62) and the WCh 2021 and 2023 games (n = 70). A total of 132 games and 391 situations of 7 vs. 6 attacking sequences were observed. In total, 156 coaches participated (146 men), with a mean age 42.33 ± 11.87 years, 19 nationalities, and with 12.77 ± 9.45 years of experience. Results and discussion: The choice of 7 vs. 6 offensive play was mostly made in the second half (>73%). The effectiveness of 7 vs. 6 offensive sequences was higher in the top six teams than in the team's ranked 7th to 12th (Euro 2020 51.6%-50.0%; WCh 2021 52.0%-50.0%; Euro 2022 53.1%-41.7%; WCh 2023 50.0%-43.8%). Some patterns of association were found (p < 0.05 and with values >±1.96): (i) scoring a goal with a breakthrough shot was significantly associated with the effectiveness of the 7 vs. 6 attack (Euro 2020 2.61; WCh 2021 2.87; Euro 2022 2.68; WCh 2023 2.32); (ii) teams in the top six significantly used 7 vs. 6 when they were winning (Euro 2020 2.17; WCh 2021 3.52; Euro 2022 5.88; WCh 2023 2.54); and (iii) teams in the bottom six used it when they were losing by at least four goals (Euro 2020 7.56; Euro 2022 6.64; WCh 2023 4.37) or when they were winning by four goals or more (WCh 2021 2.58). Coaches that agree with the possibility of playing 7 vs. 6 (74.4%), rarely or never do so (55.6%) because it brings little or no advantage (52.6%). The results of the analysis confirmed the perception of the coaches, the low use of 7 vs. 6, the low advantage associated with it, and the influence of the result and the moment of the game on its use.

Beyond stereotypes: The role of exposure in reshaping Children's biases towards women as coaches in sports.

The underrepresentation of women in sports coaching, linked to discrimination and bias may, according to contact theory, be mitigated by increasing the visibility of women coaches, especially among children. Our study examined whether young athletes exposed to women coaches affected their explicit and implicit biases compared to unexposed peers. Seventy-five children aged between 4 and 17 years were evaluated using two explicit attitude measures and an Implicit Association Task. Results indicated that participants with women coach experience were more explicitly satisfied with woman coaches, preferred them more as potential coaches, and associated men with sports less than those without such exposure. Whilst exposure and implicit bias significantly predicted explicit satisfaction, exposure did not moderate the bias relationship. This suggests that exposure to women coaches reduces negative attitudes in young athletes but does not significantly affect the underlying influence of implicit biases, indicating a need for more comprehensive strategies to address gender inequalities in sports coaching.

Interpersonal coping in sport: A systematic review.

PURPOSE: To systematically search for, appraise, and synthesize peer-reviewed literature on interpersonal coping (IC) in sport. DESIGN: A systematic review adhering to PRISMA-P guidelines. METHOD: Systematic searches of CINAHL, PsycArticles, APA PsycInfo, and SPORTDiscus were conducted. To be eligible for inclusion, papers had to be published in full in the English language in a peer-reviewed journal and had to contain empirical data that focused on IC among individuals in sport (i.e., athletes, coaches, sport parents, practitioners). RESULTS: The final sample consisted of 28 studies (22 qualitative, five quantitative, one mixed methods) spanning from September 01, 1981 to July 10, 2023. The results highlight eight antecedents and facilitators of IC (closeness, commitment, communication, complementarity, cultural values, environment and situations, sharing of demands, support), three mediators and moderators of IC (appraisal of own and others' emotions and or coping, gender, individuals within the relationship), and three outcomes of IC (performance, relationships, regulation or management of emotions). The findings were used to develop the first working definition of IC in sport. CONCLUSION: A volte-face of thought is needed to shift attention toward the interpersonal manifestation of coping. IC has wide-reaching implications for individuals, relationships, and other psychological constructs. Methodological innovation is needed to realize stepwise changes in intellectual and practical progress and to develop quantitative measures of IC. Coaches, family members, practitioners, and retired athletes are considerably underrepresented in research on IC. This systematic review offers a vantage point from which composed and coordinated action can be taken to develop research on IC.

The Mental Health of Elite-Level Coaches: A Systematic Scoping Review.

BACKGROUND: Elite-level coaches are exposed to multiple performance, organisational and personal stressors which may contribute to reduced mental health and wellbeing. This systematic scoping review examined the current body of evidence to explore what is known about the mental health of elite-level coaches (i.e. wellbeing and mental ill-health), the risk and protective factors that influence coach mental health, and the relationship between mental health and coaching effectiveness. METHODS: The review adhered to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) guidelines. A systematic search was undertaken and updated in September 2022 using six electronic databases. RESULTS: 12,376 studies were identified and screened, with 42 studies satisfying the inclusion criteria. Despite the paucity of high-quality research, findings indicated that 40% of the included studies examined themes connected to wellbeing, with 76% assessing the nature or prevalence of mental ill-health in elite-level coaches. Among studies exploring mental ill-health, coach burnout was the primary focus, while scant research examined symptoms associated with clinical disorders (e.g. anxiety and depression). Overall, psychological outcomes for elite-level coaches were shaped by risk and protective factors operating at the individual, interpersonal, organisational and societal level. Preliminary evidence was also found to suggest that poor mental health may contribute to reduced coaching effectiveness. It is proposed that coaching effectiveness could therefore be employed as a 'hook' to engage elite-level coaches in greater consideration of their mental health needs. CONCLUSION: Alongside the development of methodologically robust research, there is a need to examine dynamic individual (e.g. psychological skills), interpersonal (e.g. strong social supports) and organisational (e.g. workload) factors that aim to preserve the mental health and optimise the efficacy of elite-level coaches.

Determining the Right Levels of Health Coaching and Heart Rate Variability Biofeedback in a Workplace Behavior Change Intervention: Multiphase Optimization Strategy Preparation Study.

BACKGROUND: Work-related stress is associated with poor job performance and negative health outcomes. Changing health behaviors through corporate wellness programs can improve physical and mental health and help employees manage stress. This project sought to pilot the potential addition of brief coaching and biofeedback to an 8-week web-based self-help program to improve employee stress using the multiphase optimization strategy. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to determine which candidate components will be tested in a later optimization phase and at what dose they will be tested, examine the feasibility and acceptability of delivering the different components, investigate whether the outcomes can be feasibly measured, and review evidence to build a conceptual model before the optimization phase. METHODS: The study was positioned within the preparation phase of the multiphase optimization strategy. It is a 2×2×2×2 design with 4 components: 2 types of health coaching and 2 types of biofeedback. All components were tested by turning them on or off. A total of 16 adult office workers (mean age 40, SD 14.3 years; n=15 women) completed an 8-week self-paced web-based stress management and health behavior change program and were randomly assigned to 1 of the 16 conditions, created from a combination of the 4 candidate components. Assessments included web analytics, surveys, and interviews regarding program recommendations, likes, and dislikes. RESULTS: Findings from the interviews provided suggestions to improve the intervention (eg, separating wellness from stress content) and trial conduct (eg, streamlining the onboarding process). On average, participants logged into the wellness program 83 times (range 36-291), with 75% (12/16) participant retention and 67% (8/12) survey completion. There were no reported problems with coaching or obtaining data from interviews or apps. The interview findings suggested potential mediators to include and assess in a future conceptual model. CONCLUSIONS: The results provided areas to improve the intervention content and trial methods. Instead of progressing to the next scheduled large-scale optimization phase, our plan to iterate through a second preparation phase after making changes to the protocol, apps, and corporate coaching partner.

Can Special Olympics coaches accurately report on the motor competence of children with intellectual disabilities?

BACKGROUND: Motor competence is the ability to perform goal directed human movements in a co-ordinated, accurate and error free manner. The aim of this study was to compare the accuracy of coaches' perceptions of children's motor competence with their actual motor competence. METHOD: This study examined the motor competence of children with intellectual disabilities (n = 100) and coaches' perceptions of children's motor competence (n = 10). Participants were assessed using TGMD-3. Coaches completed an adapted version of the pictorial scale of Perceived Movement Skill Competence. RESULTS: The predictive power of coaches perceived motor competence versus children's actual motor competence was assessed. CONCLUSIONS: This research will provide insight for sports organisations to determine whether coaches can accurately report on the motor competence of children with intellectual disabilities.

A pragmatic trial of a family-centered approach to childhood obesity treatment: Rationale and study design.

BACKGROUND: Family-based behavioral treatment (FBT) is an effective intensive health behavior and lifestyle treatment for obesity reduction in children and adolescents, but families have limited access. The purpose of this randomized, pragmatic, comparative effectiveness trial was to examine changes in child relative weight in a 12-month, enhanced standard of care (eSOC) intervention combined with FBT (eSOC+FBT) vs. eSOC alone. METHODS: Children aged 6 to 15 years with obesity, and their primary caregiver, were recruited from primary care clinics. Families were randomized 1:1 to eSOC, a staged approach led by the primary care provider that gradually intensified dependent on a child's response to care and aligns with the American Medical Association guidelines, or the eSOC+FBT arm, which included regular meetings with a health coach for healthy eating, physical activity, positive parenting strategies, and managing social and environmental cues. Both treatments align with the 2023 American Academy of Pediatrics clinical practice guidelines. Assessments occurred at baseline, midpoint (month 6), end-of-intervention (month 12), and follow-up (month 18). Primary outcome was change from baseline to 12 months in child percent overweight (percentage above the median body mass index in the general US population normalized for age and sex). Secondary outcomes were parent weight, child psychosocial factors, heterogeneity of treatment effects, and cardiometabolic risk factors. Exploratory outcomes assessed reach, effectiveness, adoption, implementation, and maintenance. CONCLUSION: This pragmatic trial will generate evidence for the comparative effectiveness of implementing two guidelines-based approaches in primary care for obesity reduction in children and adolescents. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03843424.

Exploring Coaches' Cognitive Perception of Football Training Tasks: A Questionnaire-Based Study and Comparison with a Framework Tool for Assessing Cognitive Demands in Small-Sided Games / Exploración de la percepción cognitiva de los entrenadores sobre las tareas de entrenamiento de fútbol: un estudio basado en cuestionarios y una comparación con una herramienta marco para evaluar las demandas cognitivas en juegos reducidos / Exploração da perceção cognitiva de tarefas de treino em futebol: Estudo baseado numquestionário e comparação com uma ferramenta para avaliar e comparar as exigências cognitivas em jogos reduzidos

La función cognitiva es crucial en entornos de rendimiento competitivo debido al tipo de tareas y carga de trabajo involucradas. Sin embargo, aún se necesita determinar cómo toda la información ambiental en un entorno competitivo afecta la carga cognitiva.Por lo tanto, el objetivo fue investigar la percepción cognitiva de los entrenadores sobre las tareas de entrenamiento de fútbol, mediante el uso de un cuestionario y comparar los resultados con una herramienta de marco para evaluar las demandascognitivas en juegos reducidos. Un total de 57 entrenadores de fútbol (a nivel nacional y regional) completaron un cuestionario para calificar las demandas cognitivas percibidas de doce situaciones diferentes de juegos en espacios reducidos. Las respuestas fueron hechas por cada entrenador a partir de un conjunto de alternativas proporcionadas por los autores utilizando una escala de uso de Likert de 10 puntos. La carga cognitiva durante los juegos reducidos se calculó mediante una ecuación que incluía el número de jugadores implicados en la tarea, la superficie ocupada por cada jugador y la duración del ejercicio. Los resultados del cuestionario mostraron que los entrenadores de nivel nacional presentaron resultados de correlación más altos, mostrando una alta concordancia entre la percepción de los entrenadores y los resultados de la carga cognitiva en comparación con los entrenadores de nivel regional. La relación establecida entre todas las variables mostró que la complejidad de las tareas aumenta utilizando formatos con mayor número de jugadores, áreas pequeñas y ejercicios de mayor duración. Por lo tanto, el marco de carga cognitiva puede ser una herramienta útil y sencilla para quelos entrenadores evalúen las demandas cognitivas durante las sesiones de entrenamiento.(AU)

Cognitive function is crucial in competitive performance environments due to the type of tasks and workload involved. Thus, the present study aimed to investigate coaches’ cognitive perception of football training tasks, through the use of a questionnaire and compare the results with a framework tool to assess cognitive demands in small-sided games. A total of 57 football coaches (national and regional levels) filled out a questionnaire to rate the perceived cognitive demands of twelve different small-sidedgame situations. The answers were made by each coach from a set of alternatives supplied by the authors using a 10-point Likert use scale. The cognitive load during small-sided games was calculated using an equation that included the number of players involved in the task, the surface area occupied by eachplayer, and the duration of the exercise. The questionnaire results have shown that national-level coaches presented higher correlation results showing a high agreement between coaches' perception and the cognitive load results when compared to regional-level coaches. The relationship established between all variables showed that the complexity of tasks increases using formats with a larger number of players, small areas, and bigger duration drills. Thus, the cognitive load framework may be a useful and simple tool to coaches assess the cognitive demands during training sessions.(AU)

A função cognitiva é crucial em ambientes de desempenho competitivo devido ao tipo de tarefas e carga de trabalho envolvidas. No entanto, ainda precisa ser determinado como todas as informações ambientais em em contexto competitivo afetam a carga cognitiva. Assim, o objetivo deste estudofoi investigar a perceção cognitiva de treinadores sobre tarefas de treino de futebol, através de um questionário e comparando os resultados com um instrumento para avaliar as exigências cognitivas durante jogos reduzidos.Um total de 57 treinadores de futebol (nível nacional e regional) preencheram um questionário para avaliar as exigências cognitivas de doze situações diferentes jogos-reduzido. As respostas foram dadas por cada treinador a partir de um conjunto de alternativas fornecidas pelos autores utilizando uma escala de Likert de 10 pontos. A carga cognitiva durante pequenos jogos foi calculada através de uma equação queincluía o número de jogadores envolvidos na tarefa, a área de superfície ocupada por cada jogadore a duração do exercício. Os resultados do questionário mostraram que os treinadores de nível nacional apresentaram resultados de correlação mais elevados, mostrando uma alta concordância entre a perceção dos treinadores e os resultados de carga cognitiva em comparação com os treinadores de nível regional. A relação estabelecida entre todas as variáveis mostrou que a complexidade das tarefas aumenta utilizandoformatos com maior número de jogadores, áreas pequenas e exercícios de maior duração. Portanto, esta ferramenta para avaliar a carga cognitiva pode ser uma forma útil e simples para os treinadores avaliarem as exigências cognitivas durante as sessões de treino.(AU)

Pro-anorexia coaches prey on individuals with eating disorders.

OBJECTIVE: While studies have focused on pro-ana communities and pro-anorexia websites, no research has been conducted on the presence of pro-anorexia coaches within these communities. This study aimed to gain insight into the modus operandi of pro-anorexia coaches. METHOD: First, three fake profiles were used to attempt interaction with pro-anorexia coaches (n = 31). Second, an online questionnaire on experiences with pro-anorexia coaches was completed by 79 respondents. Third, a follow-up in-depth interview was conducted with 14 of these respondents. RESULTS: The results show that pro-anorexia coaches' behavior fits a five-staged model which has similarities to stages of online grooming. They focus on (1) building trust and developing a dependency relationship with the aim of (2) obtaining sexually explicit materials. Subsequently, they (3) increase pressure, (4) utilize blackmail methods with acquired content, and (5) groom respondents to meet in person. DISCUSSION: Pro-anorexia coaches deliberately abuse vulnerable young people who suffer from eating disorders to receive sexually explicit material or to meet face-to-face with a sexual intention. This study shows that the modus operandi of pro-ana coaches is similar to online grooming. Clinical professionals need to be aware of this practice to detect victims and potential victims in order to support and treat them. Prevention is invaluable to further combat pro-anorexia coaches and protect potential victims. PUBLIC SIGNIFICANCE: Individuals with an eating disorder are avid internet users. A minority frequent pro-anorexia websites and fora seeking help in losing weight. This study showed that pro-anorexia coaches prey on these individuals, often to obtain sexually explicit content. The modus operandi of pro-anorexia coaches shows similarities to online grooming. Awareness of this phenomenon and the way in which pro-anorexia coaches operate is valuable for clinicians, parents, and teachers.

Australian elite sport coaches' mental health literacy of eating disorders, orthorexia, and muscle dysmorphia in athletes: A qualitative study.

Athletes have an increased risk of developing eating disorders (EDs) compared to non-athletes. Coaches are in a unique position to identify symptoms and promote timely support; however, research has not yet explored coaches' mental health literacy about DSM-5 EDs and related orthorexia and muscle dysmorphia conditions in elite athletes. Eighteen Australian elite sport coaches from aesthetic, weight-class, and endurance sports participated in individual semi-structured interviews to investigate their mental health literacy of EDs and related conditions. Four themes emerged from the data. Theme 1 (knowledge of EDs and related conditions) highlighted coaches' awareness of maladaptive perfectionism as a key risk factor, limited awareness of EDs without observable weight loss, and conceptualisation of EDs as a nutritional issue. Theme 2 (facilitators to managing EDs) highlighted the helpfulness of building trust with athletes, accessing support staff, emphasising body functionality, and lived experience. Theme 3 (barriers to managing EDs) highlighted coaches' challenges with communicating about body image, responding to denial, and funding constraints. Theme 4 (future ED education and training) highlighted coaches' desire for in-person, interactive training and to support junior-level coaches. These findings may assist in developing tailored educational resources to improve coaches' ability to identify and manage eating-related concerns in athletes.

La comunicación en la formación y el rendimiento del balonmano. Una variable perdida: revisión sistemática (2013-2023) / Communication in Handball Training and Performance, A Lost Variable: Systematic Review (2013-2023)

El balonmano, un deporte altamente dinámico y competitivo, involucra una interacción compleja de variables que influyen en el rendimiento de jugadores y equipos, entre ellas está la comunicación. Este artículo se centra en examinar la relación entre la comunicación y el entrenamiento en el balonmano durante el período 2013-2023. El objetivo de esta revisión sistemática es revelar el estado actual de la investigación en este ámbito. 12 estudios fueron exhaustivamente revisados, abordando la comunicación, el rendimiento y la formación en el contexto del balonmano a partir de una revisión sistemática siguiendo las directrices del PRISMA, recopilando evidencia de una exhaustiva búsqueda de literatura en la Web of Science, abarcando artículos publicados entre 2013 y 2023. Los resultados resaltan un interés creciente en la comunicación entre entrenadores y jugadores, especialmente enfocado en mejorar el rendimiento de los jugadores. La literatura subraya la importancia de una comunicación efectiva en la formación y el desempeño, pero se identifica una carencia en el enfoque integral de la comunicación como variable crítica. A pesar de la evidencia abundante sobre su importancia, la exploración de la comunicación en el contexto del balonmano aún está en sus etapas iniciales en comparación con otros deportes. Se concluye que existe un creciente interés en la relación entre la comunicación del entrenador y el rendimiento de los jugadores en balonmano, pero se necesita un enfoque más integral. Los entrenadores pueden utilizar esta información para mejorar la formación y el rendimiento (AU)

Handball, a highly dynamic and competitive sport, involves a complex interplay of variables influencing player and team performance, with communication being one of them. This article focuses on examining the relationship between communication and coaching in handball during the period 2013-2023. The objective of this systematic review is to unveil the current state of research in this field. Twelve studies were thoroughly reviewed, addressing communication, performance, and coaching in the context of handball through a systematic review following PRISMA guidelines, gathering evidence from an extensive literature search in the Web of Science, covering articles published between 2013 and 2023. The results highlight a growing interest in coach-player communication, particularly aimed at enhancing player performance. The literature underscores the importance of effective communication in training and performance but identifies a lack of a comprehensive approach to communication as a critical variable. Despite ample evidence of its significance, the exploration of communication in the context of handball is still in its early stages compared to other sports. It is concluded that there is a rising interest in the relationship between coach communication and player performance in handball, but a more comprehensive approach is needed. Coaches can use this information to enhance training and performance (AU)

Exploring the experiences and perceptions of coaches, athletes, and integrated support teams towards the management of three national Paralympic teams.

This study explored the experiences and perceptions of coaches, athletes, and integrated support teams towards the management of three Paralympic teams across North America and Europe. Six focus groups with athletes, three interviews with head coaches, and 10 interviews with support team members were conducted and analyzed using a reflexive thematic analysis. Our analysis resulted in three overarching themes to portray the coaches' role and behaviours in managing their (1) athletes, (2) integrated support teams, and (3) team as a collective unit. All teams were made up of a diverse group of athletes that required individualized considerations regarding age, finances, and disability. Coaches were successful when they fostered autonomy and managed interpersonal conflict by utilizing their integrated support teams to foster cohesiveness. This study provides an in-depth view of the role of the coach in managing national parasport teams by incorporating multiple perspectives from three teams around the world.

Training, supervision, and experience of coaches offering digital guided self-help for mental health concerns.

Accessible, low-cost intervention options are necessary to address the rise in mental health problems among college students. Digital guided self-help, or coached, programs have been developed to provide such services, with many commercially available. As such, there are a large and growing number of individuals coaching these programs. However, an unmet need is to evaluate and assess best practices for training and supervising individuals in these positions. To this end, we describe how we recruited, trained, and supervised coaches as part of a large randomized controlled trial using a widely available digital commercial platform. Coaches were trained to provide digital guided self-help for depression, anxiety, and/or eating disorders for college students. Coaches initially attended three live training sessions over 2-3 weeks, viewed multiple training videos, and read a detailed coaching manual developed by our team. Thereafter, they attended weekly supervision. Following their term, coaches completed an exit survey to assess their supervision and training experiences. A total of 37 of 70 (53%) graduate-level student coaches completed the survey. The experience was reported as very positive (95%). In particular, the majority reported feeling well prepared, more confident, and felt they had developed useful skills for their own practice.

Good organizational practices to encourage women high-performance coaches in sports.

Women play a vital role in professional sport on and off the field. Globally, the dearth of women high-performance coaches in sport is a concern. For example, in Australia women represent 15% of high-performance coaches. One reason could be due to the lack of knowledge on good organizational practices that encourage women in this role and the overwhelming knowledge of practices focused on barriers for women high-performance coaches. The purpose of our research was to determine what good organizational practices exist to attract, develop, and retain women as high-performance coaches in Australia. Using a qualitative research design, semi-structured interviews were conducted with two study groups that comprised 16 women high-performance coaches and 13 senior managers from five National Sport Organizations (NSOs) in Australia. Data analysis was guided by practices that influenced the attraction, development, and retention of women high-performance coaches. Practically, findings revealed 12 good organizational practices and 31 associated recommendations to assist senior managers from NSOs in their quest to encourage women high-performance coaches in their sport. Theoretically, our research "reverses the lens" of the Ecological Intersectional Model (EIM) at the organizational level whereby the focus turns to good organizational practices rather than barriers for women high-performance coaches.

Physical predictors for retention and dismissal of professional soccer head coaches: an analysis of locomotor variables using logistic regression pipeline.

Introduction: Soccer has enormous global popularity, increasing pressure on clubs to optimize performance. In failure, the tendency is to replace the Head coach (HC). This study aimed to check the physical effects of mid-season replacements of HCs, investigating which external load variables can predict retention or dismissal. Methods: The data was collected in training and matches of a professional adult male soccer team during three complete seasons (2020/21-2022/2023). The sample included 6 different HCs (48.8 ± 7.4 years of age; 11.2 ± 3.9 years as a HC). The 4 weeks and 4 games before and after the replacement of HCs were analysed. External load variables were collected with Global Positioning System (GPS) devices. A logistic regression (LR) model was developed to classify the HCs' retention or dismissal. A sensitivity analysis was also conducted to determine the specific locomotive variables that could predict the likelihood of HC retention or dismissal. Results: In competition, locomotor performance was better under the dismissed HCs, whereas the new HC had better values during training. The LR model demonstrated a good prediction accuracy of 80% with a recall and precision of 85% and 78%, respectively, amongst other model performance indicators. Meters per minute in games was the only significant variable that could serve as a potential physical marker to signal performance decline and predict the potential dismissal of an HC with an odd ratio of 32.4%. Discussion: An in-depth analysis and further studies are needed to understand other factors' effects on HC replacement or retention.

Evaluation of Validity and Reliability of a German General and Sports Nutrition Knowledge Questionnaire for Athletes and Coaches (GSNKQ-AC).

Despite the availability of nutritional recommendations, studies have reported inadequate nutrition in athletes. The existing literature highlights the importance of the nutritional knowledge of both athletes and coaches in influencing athletes' food choices and behavior, as well as its direct and indirect impact on athletes' performance and health. To adequately assess nutritional knowledge, monitoring via valid and reliable questionnaires is required. As no questionnaire tailored to German-speaking athletes and coaches exists, this study aimed at developing a new General and Sports Nutritional Knowledge Questionnaire for Athletes and Coaches (GSNKQ-AC). The development followed a literature-based, ten-step validation approach. The initial questionnaire (63 items) was revised and reduced to 29 items in the final version after conducting construct verification in the target group (n = 84 athletes and coaches), evaluating content validity by a panel of nutrition experts (n = 8), verifying face validity by think-out-loud interviews in the target group (n = 7), and conducting classical test theory for item reduction analysis (n = 53). For the final GSNKQ-AC, internal consistency, calculated as Cronbach's alpha, was 0.87. Students with a focus on sports nutrition (n = 31) scored significantly higher than athletes and coaches (n = 53), revealing good construct validity (77% vs. 62%, p < 0.001). Test-retest reliability (n = 42, matched pairs) showed a Spearman's correlation coefficient of r = 0.61 (p < 0.01). The brief GSNKQ-AC can be used for status quo or longitudinal assessment of nutritional knowledge among athletes and coaches to reveal gaps and ensure purposeful planning of educational interventions.

Coaches' Mind Games: Harnessing Technical Fouls for Psychological Momentum in Basketball.

This study explored the emotional and cognitive dimensions associated with technical fouls (TFs) in basketball coaching. Using in-depth interviews with Israeli first-division basketball coaches, we aimed to uncover the emotional and cognitive intricacies involved in TFs. Through rigorous thematic content analysis, we delved into coaches' ability to perceive and manipulate psychological momentum on the court. We revealed that coaches intentionally use TFs as strategic tools. TFs were employed to elicit specific emotional responses and cognitive shifts in players, affecting their emotional states, arousal levels, motivation, and overall team performance. However, coaches approached TFs with caution due to the associated emotional and cognitive risks. They carefully weighed potential benefits against unforeseen consequences in their decision-making. Furthermore, our research highlighted coaches' belief in the immediate positive impact of TFs on referee decisions, underscoring the interplay between emotional influence and strategic advantage. Nevertheless, this advantage was perceived as short-lived, emphasizing that TFs are a two-edged sword with unpredictable outcomes.

Coaches' Perceptions of Common Planning Concepts Within Training Theory: An International Survey.

BACKGROUND: The planning of training is a popular yet controversial topic among coaches and sports scientists. Periodisation is often presented in the literature as the most efficacious approach to planning training. While historically surveys of coaches appeared to support this a key failing was that no unified definition of periodisation exists. Recent surveys offering a periodisation definition and an alternative planning methodology found many choosing the alternative therefore questioning periodisation's wide acceptance. The current survey looked to explore how coaches perceived specific concepts, drawn from the literature, that relate to the planning of training. METHODS: 106 coaches [age range: 18-65+ years, 31% 15+ years coaching, 58% individual-events/sports and 32% international level] from across the world completed a novel cross-sectional online survey on the planning of training and the training process. Topics included use of periodisation, division of time into discrete periods, assignment of goals and training to pre-determined periods and the adaptability of pre-established plans. RESULTS: The majority described their planning approach as training periodisation (71%). Similarly, there was strong agreement with the necessity to determining a goal for the season (85%) and divide the season into distinct manageable periods of time (73%). When examining whether physical adaptations are achievable within specific and fixed timeframes only a minority (33%) agreed, a similar result was found for training physical capacities in a sequential order (37%). Finally, there was limited support for training targets remaining fixed over a training period (10%). CONCLUSIONS: As a tool for the planning of athlete's training, periodisation is often presented as the best and most popular approach. Recent research however has highlighted possible discrepancies in its usage among practitioners. The results of this survey echo this and question the acceptance of periodisation concepts even among periodisation users. In part this may be due to key tenets of periodisation no longer being supported by research or practice. A lingering question then is whether the beliefs of coaches, developed through experience and supported by research, will continue to be marginalized. If sports scientists wish to aid coaches then they need to be engaged in future research initiatives as co-collaborators.