Fitness test profiles in children aged 8-12 years old in Granada (Spain). J. Hum. Sport Exerc. Vol. 6, No. 1, pp. 135-145, 2011. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of physical education in body composition and health-related fitness among boys and girls aged 8 to 12 years old in Granada (Spain) in a longitudinal, randomized study of 5 months. 106 children (49 boys and 57 girls) between 8 and 12 years old completed the study. They were healthy students of the public schools and no history of formal exercise training. Subjects were tested (body composition and health-related fitness, measured by EUROFIT) at baseline and at week 20. After 5 months of study, girls showed more fat mass than boys (p<0.05) and boys was more height than girls (p<0.05). Health-related fitness showed differences by gender only in slalom (boys vs. girls (p<0.05)). The results of body composition and health-related fitness revealed that the physical activity at school is not sufficient to support an ideal level of health-related fitness.

The primary aim of this study was to examine the effects of 6-week strength training with whole body vibration (WBV) on leg strength and jumping performance in volleyball and beach volleyball players. Twenty-three sub-elite male volleyball (VB; n=12) and beach volleyball players (BVB; n=11) aged 21.2±3.0 years were divided into two groups and subjected to 6 weeks of strength training (three one-hour sessions per week): (I) 12 players (6 VB and 6 BVB players) underwent training with WBV (30-40 Hz, 1.7-2.5 mm, 3.0-5.7 g), and (II) 11 players (6 VB and 5 BVB players) underwent traditional strength training. Squat jump (SJ) and countermovement squat jump (CMJ) measurements by the Ergo Tester contact platform and maximum leg press test (1RM) were conducted. Three-factor (2 time x 2 WBV use x 2 discipline) analysis of variance for SJ, CMJ and 1RM revealed a significant time main effect (p<0.001), a WBV use effect (p<0.001) and a discipline effect (p<0.001). Significantly greater improvements in the SJ (p<0.001) and CMJ (p<0.001) and in 1RM (p<0.001) were found in the WBV training groups than in traditional training groups. Significant 3-way interaction effects (training, WBV use, discipline kind) were also found for SJ, CMJ and 1RM (p=0.001, p<0.001, p=0.001, respectively). It can be concluded that implementation of 6-week WBV training in routine practice in volleyball and beach volleyball players increases leg strength more and leads to greater improvement in jump performance than traditional strength training, but greater improvements can be expected in beach volleyball players than in volleyball players.

Background Practicing physical activity in a natural environment has various benefits that make it an ideal setting to develop healthy behaviors and thereby diminish unhealthy habits. The objective of this study was to develop and verify an explicative model for motivational climate in sport, considering its potential influence on alcohol and tobacco consumption. Methods The study included 2273 adolescents from Granada (Spain), analyzing motivational climate (PMCSQ-2), alcohol consumption (AUDIT) and tobacco consumption (FTND). Multi-group structural equation modeling was conducted, yielding an excellent fit (χ2 = 168.170; gl = 32; p = 0.00; CFI = 0.972; NFI = 0.966; IFI = 0.972; RMSEA = 0.045). Results The main findings were: a negative relationship between task climate and alcohol consumption among students practicing physical activities in a natural environment; a positive relationship between ego climate and alcohol consumption among those practicing other types of physical activity; and a positive and direct relationship between alcohol and tobacco consumption, which was stronger among those who did not practice physical activity in a natural environment. Conclusion We conclude that physical-sport activity practiced in nature is a key to acquiring healthy patterns characterized by intrinsic motivations in sport and lower consumption of harmful substances.

The objectives of this study were to determine the results of the analysis of single and double outdoor badminton men’s matches and to determine the relationship between technical and tactical aspects in a study organized by the BWF (Badminton Word Federation), on a sand surface. Twenty men’s singles matches were recorded using video cameras and analysed with a Dartfish video analysis software package. Along with this, percentages of use of technical elements were analysed by comparing the different modalities. For the single format Lob, Clear, Drop, Smash, Drive were used, different from the double format that used Lob, Clear, Drop, Smash, Drive. The study confirmed the applicability of computerized notation analysis to determine the characteristics of Outdoor Badminton on sand.

The aim of this study was to analyze tactical and technical behavior across different ages and genders in young, elite beach volleyball players. Methods: Forty teams from the Under-18, Under-20, Under-21, and Under-22 from semifinals and finals of the 2016 World Championships and the 2016 European Championship were analyzed. The sample was composed of 69 sets. The variables studied included: Rally time, set time, match time, serve efficacy (standing serve, floating serve, and jump serve), setting efficacy (forearm, overhand, other, and 2nd attack), attack efficacy, and block efficacy. Student's t and Mann-Whitney U-tests were used to analyze specific differences between categories. Results: Significant differences (p < 0.05) in the pass performance, forearm pass in men (from 78.2 to 49.1%), and overhand pass in men (from 12.2 to 40.45%). In addition, in women forearm pass (from 88.5 to 76.3%) and overhand pass in women (from 1.2 to 9.35%). No significant differences in the effectiveness of attack, rally time, serve, and block efficacy. Conclusion: Tactical considerations and gender-specific differences in technical variables may be important for training in young players.