Monitoring the Intended and Perceived Training Load of a Professional Futsal Team Over 45 Weeks: A Case Study.

The aims of this study were to compare the training load intended by a coach with the training load perceived by the players, over a 45-week professional futsal team season and to compare the variation of session rating of perceived exertion (sRPE) across different periods of the season. Eighteen Brazilian professional futsal players participated in the study. The players' rating of perceived exertion (RPE) and coach's rating of intended exertion (RIE) were collected daily throughout the study. To compare the sRPE variation, the season was divided into 4 periods as follows: preseason (PRE-SEASON), first competitive period (COMP1), intercompetition period (INTER-COMP), and second competitive period (COMP2). Based on the cluster analyses, the training sessions were classified into 3 different intensity zones (low, moderate, and high). In all the season periods and intensity zones, the players' RPEs were lower than the coach's RIE. In the low-intensity zone, the INTER-COMP demonstrated higher sRPE values than did the other periods. In the moderate-intensity zones, the INTER-COMP and COMP2 were similar. Finally, for the high-zone intensity, the PRE-SEASON demonstrated higher values than did the other periods. We concluded that the coach overestimated the training load reported by the players in almost all intensity training zones and season periods. The RPE scale does not seem to be a suitable tool when used by the coach for intended training load. Therefore, technical staff should constantly review the training goals in each season period through daily training load control, always taking into consideration the possibilities and limitations of the RPE method.

Performance indicators analysis at Brazilian and Italian women's volleyball leagues according to game location, game outcome, and set number.

This study was done to investigate the advantage of playing at home in elite women's volleyball leagues and the influence of performance indicators in the game score according to set number. The sample consisted of 240 games of the Brazilian Volleyball League (n = 132 games) and the Italian Volleyball League (n = 108 games) from the 2011-2012 season. The relationship of performance indicators (including serve, attack, block, and opponents' errors) with the game outcome (win or lose) was assessed. The results showed that there was a home advantage effect in women's volleyball leagues, with a higher prevalence of victory for the home teams in Brazilian and Italian leagues (58 and 56%, respectively). When related to the performance indicators and among the aspects that were most highly correlated with victory, the attack was the technical indicator that explained most of the results of volleyball games.

Physical Tests to Predict Combat Task Performance Among Brazilian Air Force Infantry Cadets.

INTRODUCTION: The Brazilian Air Force (BAF) personnel must be prepared to perform their professional activities under the worst conditions. This preparation goes beyond habits of practicing physical activity, since it is necessary to perform specific physical tasks, referred to as "combat tasks" (CTs). This study aimed to investigate a combination of specific physical tests (SPTs) for predicting physical performance on simulated tasks (STs) that mimicked the performance of CTs. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty infantry cadets from the BAF took part in anthropometric assessments, 11 SPTs, and 3 STs, during 7 testing days. Bivariate Pearson's correlation was used to determine linear relationships between SPT and ST results, and multiple linear regression models were used to identify test batteries that significantly predicted performance on STs. The level of significance was set at 5%. The study was conducted according to the guidelines of the Declaration of Helsinki and approved by the Ethics Committee of the BAF (protocol code 15796819.4.0000.5250, date of approval September 25, 2019). RESULTS: The greatest predictive power was obtained by the test battery that consisted of sprint-drag-carry, leg tucks, and handgrip strength (R2 = 0.56, P < .01). Conversely, the test battery comprised of push-ups, sit-ups, and 12-minute run (which represents the conventional physical test of the BAF), which presented the lowest predictive power (R2 = 0.14, P < .05). CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, this study identified a test battery for predicting performance on the following STs: foot march, casualty drag, and move under direct fire. This finding represents the first step to improve the reliability of the BAF physical assessments, focusing on combat readiness levels.

Relative Age Effect in the Girls' Volleyball U18 World Championship.

The relative age effect (RAE), within the sporting scope, refers to the possible advantages of participation and performance of athletes born in the first months of the year of selection in relation to others within the same age category. The aim of the present study was to investigate the RAE in girls' volleyball players participating in the U-18 World Championship, analysing the differences between the medal teams and other teams in the tournament, and considering this phenomenon in relation to the continents. Data collection was obtained from the website of the International Volleyball Federation with a sample made of 1654 youth players in the last six world championships (2007, 2009, 2011, 2013, 2015 and 2017). A greater representation of athletes born in the first months of the year of all the world championships was observed. In the comparison among the continents, it was observed that in Africa, there was a more equal distribution of quartiles compared to America, Asia and Europe. It should be noted that there was a higher percentage of medalist athletes born at the beginning of the year in comparison to the countries that placed in the last three positions of the championship. Therefore, in U-18 female volleyball, there is an advantage to have the closest birth age at the beginning of the competitive biennium.

Use of the anaerobic speed reserve to normalize the prescription of high-intensity interval exercise intensity.

The aim of this study was to compare the perceptual and physiological responses and time-to-exhaustion in high intensity interval exercise (HIIE) protocols that are prescribed based on the relative anaerobic speed reserve (ASR) or maximal aerobic speed (MAS) in athletes with different ASR values, as well as the coefficient of variation (CV) of the abovementioned variables. Eleven long-distance runners and ten rugby players were submitted to five experimental sessions on different days; the first and second session were intended for the determination of the anthropometry, MAS and maximal sprint (MSS). In the subsequent sessions, three HIIE15:15s protocols were performed until exhaustion (110%MAS, Δ25%ASR, and Δ50%ASR) in random order. The anthropometric characteristics and variables obtained from the MAS and MSS tests in the different groups were compared by Student's unpaired t-test. The analysis of mixed models for repeated measures (groups and protocols) was used to compare the speed, delta blood lactate, rating of perceived exertion, and time-to-exhaustion. Rugby players presented higher ASR (13.6 ± 0.9 km h-1) compared to long-distance runners (12.6 ± 0.9 km h-1) (P = .049). For the HIIE15:15s protocols, there were no protocol and group interaction effects. However, lower CV values were observed for time-to-exhaustion (a mean reduction of 52%) and delta blood lactate (a mean reduction of 48%) in Δ25%ASR and Δ50%ASR when compared to 110%MAS. Furthermore, the rating of perceived exertion CV was similar in all HIIE15:15s protocols. The prescription of intensity of HIIE based on the ASR was able to reduce the inter-subject variability of lactate and time-to-exhaustion in rugby players and long-distance runners.

Anthropometrical and Physical Fitness Predictors of Operational Military Test Performance in Air Force Personnel.

The objective of this study was to verify the relationships between the anthropometrical and physical fitness parameters (measured by the Physical Conditioning Assessment (PCA) of the Aeronautics Command), with the operational performance in the simulated military task performance (SMTP) performed by the infantry military of a Brazilian Air Force (BAF) unit. These evaluations were performed on two distinct days, interspersed by 48h, with PCA on the first day and the SMTP in the second. The distribution of the dependent variable was not normal (Shapiro-Wilk test, p = 0.001). Data are presented as mean and standard deviation, median and interquartile, for variables normally and non-normally distributed, respectively. The correlation between variables was determined using the Spearman's correlation coefficient. A regression model to predict performance in the SMTP, based on the anthropometrical, physiological and performance variables, was performed. The significance level was set at 5%. Based on the results, there was an association between all the PCA and SMTP variables: weight, lean body mass, trunk flexion, and estimated VO2max based on the distance covered in the 12-minute test. The following equation was generated: SMTP (s) = 350.611 - 1.556 (fat-free mass, in kg) - 0.34 (12-min running distance, in m) - 0.632 (sit-up, in repetitions). The explained variance of the SMTP was 72.3% with an estimated standard error of 3.6s. It was observed that, although the association was diagnosed in some variables, there is a need to analyze possibilities for improvement in the selection of physical fitness tests that are closer to operationality in BAF Infantry military personnel.

Effects of 12 Weeks of Physical Training on Body Composition and Physical Fitness in Military Recruits.

The aim of this study was to analyze the morphological and functional changes in military recruits after twelve weeks of physical training. The sample consisted of 130 volunteer recruits aged 18-19 years. Anthropometric variables were assessed (body weight, height, body mass index, arm, waist, and hip circumference, waist/hip ratio, skinfold thickness of the triceps, suprailiac, and abdomen, and body fat percentage) and the sit-up test (1 minute), push-up test, and 12-minute running test. The physical training protocol involved running workouts, strength, agility, and flexibility. Descriptive statistical procedures were performed with mean, standard deviation, variance, and percentage and the comparison between the two moments was performed using the Student t test for dependent samples. The significance level was set at p <0.05. The results demonstrated a decrease in the sum of the three skinfolds (42.7±25.2mm to 33.9±17.7mm), a decrease in fat percentage (14.1±7.3% to 11.8±6.1%), an increase in lean mass (57.6±6.0kg to 58.6±8.0kg), and decreased fat mass (10.1±6.4kg to 8.3±5.2kg). They also showed improvements in push-up test (21.3±9.0 to 33.5±8.9), sit-up test (35.2±8.3 to 49.8±7.4), the 12 minute test (2212±316m to 2760±214m), and V̇O2max (35.2±8.3ml.kg-1.min-1 to 49.8±7.4 ml.kg-1.min-1). No differences were observed in body mass, height, body mass index, or hip circumference. According to the above, it was found that the methodology adopted in the physical training was effective in reducing the percentage of fat and increasing cardiorespiratory fitness, improving the physical capacity and health of the military recruits.