2017) The influence of age and maturity status on the maximum and explosive strength characteristics of elite youth female soccer players.

CRD42016035879.

Emmonds, S, Scantlebury, S, Murray, E, Turner, L, Robsinon, C, and Jones, B. Physical characteristics of elite youth female soccer players characterized by maturity status. J Strength Cond Res XX(X): 000-000, 2018-The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of maturity status on the physical characteristics of youth female soccer players. One hundred fifty-seven players from 3 elite soccer academies in England completed assessments of anthropometry, strength (isometric midthigh pull), lower-body power (countermovement jump [CMJ]), aerobic capacity (Yo-Yo intermittent recovery test level 1), change of direction (CoD: 505-left/right), and speed (10 and 30 m). Each player was classified into 1 of 6 maturity groups based on their estimated years from peak height velocity (YPHV). Magnitude-based inferences were used to assess for the practical significance between consecutive groups. Speed, CoD time, CMJ, and aerobic capacity were all possibly most likely better in more mature players. However, there was a likely difference in relative peak force between maturity groups -0.5 YPHV (27.13 ± 4.24 N·Kg) and 0.5 YPHV (24.62 ± 3.70 N·Kg), which was associated with a likely difference in 10-m sprint time (-0.5 YPHV: 2.00 ± 0.12 vs. 0.5 YPHV 2.08 ± 0.16 seconds) and unclear changes in CMJ and CoD time. Findings provide novel comparative data for this cohort relative to maturity status and can be used by strength and conditioning coaches to inform the design of training programs for youth female soccer players. Strength and conditioning coaches should be aware that youth female soccer players may experience a decrease in relative strength around peak height velocity, which may impact upon the speed, CoD time, and CMJ of players.

38The purpose of this study was to evaluate the anthropometric and performance characteristics 39 of high level youth female soccer players by annual-age category (U10-U16

Effective and accessible coach education is a key part of sustainable sport development. Recent world events and inequitable resource division has led to an increase in the prevalence of remote learning. This study examines three methods of low-cost, simple technological-enhanced learning in handball coach education: Video On Demand, Interactive Video Learning, and Direct Remote Learning. Each intervention was examined under several relevant categories: accessibility, comprehensiveness, effectiveness, and empowerment, and compared against the others. All three methods were found to be applicable methods of remote coach learning with positive outcomes in learning and application. Video On Demand was very accessible and thought by participants to allow learning from varied sources. However, interactive methods (Interactive Video Learning and Direct Remote Learning) were preferred in most cases, as they promoted inter- and intrapersonal relational interactions and contextual informal as well as formal learning.

BackgroundSports injuries can have broad reaching health, performance, and financially-related problems for individual athletes and teams. There are widely recognized psychological injury risk factors therefore it follows that psychological skills training may be able to reduce the levels of injury risk.ObjectiveTo examine the relationship between psychological injury prevention interventions and injury risk reduction.DesignSystematic review adopting PRISMA guidelines (PROSPERO reg. CRD42016035879).SettingDatabases searched were CINAHL, MEDLINE, PsycARTICLES, PsycINFO, SPORTDiscus, PubMed and Science Direct. RCTs, non-RCTs that incorporated a comparison group, pre- and post- designs, and qualitative studies were eligible.Patients (or Participants)Twelve studies met the inclusion criteria. Studies included 1306 athletes (female n=520; male n=786) with an age range of 10–33 years and drawn from regional to international level sports.Interventions (or Assessment of Risk Factors)Varying psychological intervention strategies of varying modalities, intensities and volumes were adopted in the final studies.Main Outcome MeasurementsMixed-methods Appraisal Tool (MMAT) was used to appraise study quality.ResultsStudies were appraised as having a moderate risk of bias in reporting. Eleven of the 12 included studies demonstrated a reduced injury risk as a result of the intervention. Five of the 12 included studies demonstrated a statistically significant difference. There is a bias towards the Stress Injury Model as the theoretical underpinning, contributing to a bias towards stress management studies. There is a dearth of literature which considers the role of psychological skills training in reducing non-stress related risk factors (e.g. imagery training to manage neuromuscular deficiency).ConclusionsEvidence suggests psychological skills training can reduce the risk of sports injury occurrence, however this claim is drawn on research with a moderate risk of reporting bias.