European Journal of Sport Sciences

Tracking Changes in Physical Performance and Match Outputs in Elite Female Field Hockey Players Over an Olympic Cycle: A Follow-Up Study

2024-09-24T15:33:48+02:00

This research aimed to analyse the physical performance and game-related statistics of 17 international female hockey players across an Olympic cycle, exploring whether these metrics changed synchronously. Data from 24 physical performance tests and 102 matches, monitored with 10 Hz GPS units, were evaluated. Minimal variability was observed in the 30 m sprint performance (Coefficient of Variation, CV = 2.3 ± 0.8%), while the greatest variability was found in pull-up tests (CV = 35.8 ± 12.1%). Significant temporal improvements were noted in the YoYo test (p < 0.001), and sprint times for 10m and 30m distances (p < 0.001 for both). Strength, muscular endurance, and neuromuscular metrics also enhanced significantly over time (p < 0.008). Reactive Strength Index (RSI), improved over time (p < 0.008), but none of the values differed significantly from the first test. On average, players covered 5469 ± 1159 m per match, with no significant change in high-speed running distance (637 ± 246 m) across the five years. However, the average running speed did increase (114 ± 13 m.min−1 ;p< 0.001). The findings elucidate the performance benchmarks for elite female hockey players and suggest that advancements in individual performance tests do not necessarily correlate with match statistics, underscoring the complexity of athletic progression and its implications for player management.

Soccer Players’ Attitudes toward and Preferences for Male and Female Coaches

2024-10-17T05:21:18+02:00

This study aims to determine soccer players’ attitudes toward and preferences for male and female coaches. One hundred and forty-five professional soccer players (male: 103, female: 42, age range 18–35 years) participating in Division 1 in the Eastern Mediterranean completed a modified Attitudes Toward Male and Female Coaches Questionnaire (AAMFC-Q) in addition to their demographic characteristics, and general information. A 2 (athletes’ gender) x 2 (hypothetical coach’s gender) multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) indicated a significant two-way multivariate interaction [F(3, 141) = 22.79, p < 0.001] with significant main effects [F(3, 141) = 12.16, p < 0.001] for the gender of the athlete or gender of the hypothetical coach. Our results demonstrated that male soccer players have a preference for male coaches, as indicated by item 12 (“I would prefer it if my new football (soccer) coach were a man”), while female soccer players demonstrated a preference for female coaches. Additionally, male soccer players had significantly (p < 0.01) less favorable attitudes toward female coaches on all items except for question 8 (“I could discuss things with her easily”). In contrast, female soccer players did not exhibit as many negative attitudes toward male soccer coaches. Based on the results of our study, it is evident that male players in sports such as soccer remain resistant to accepting female soccer coaches. This may be a result of greater exposure to male coaches, as none of the male players in our study had previously had a female coach.

Soft Skills–Willingness of Taekwondo Coaches in Croatia for Learning: Sex Differences

2024-07-23T06:39:58+02:00

The paper deals with researching the preferences of taekwondo coaches related to education on soft skills, such as critical thinking and stress management, that have not been given attention in formal and traditional forms of education. The research was conducted on a sample of 102 taekwondo coaches. The results showed that taekwondo coaches show an interest in additional education that would include learning various soft skills. In addition to the types of soft skills, the paper also presents the coaches’ views on what is important to them in education, such as the price or the possibility of attending online programs. In this paper, the coaches’ preferences were analyzed according to sex. The results showed that there are no sex differences in preferences for learning soft skills. The results presented in this paper have strong practical implications, both for the further education of taekwondo coaches and for the development of lifelong training of coaches in Croatia in general.