This study examined alcohol use and related social normative perceptions among a sample of 1,886 Central-Eastern European high school students. The youth represented in the study averaged 16.5 years of age and were from several localities in the countries of Hungary, Slovakia, Czech Republic, and Romania. Data for the study were collected through a school-based alcohol use survey that was completed in June 2005. Our results support the hypothesis that drinking was related to perception of the prevalence of alcohol use by schoolmates and by the number of friends who drink and/or engage in episodic heavy drinking. Specific implications of findings in terms of substance use prevention are discussed. In addition, the need for future research and the limitations of the current research are discussed. This study was largely financially supported through an international grant from the College of Health and Human Performance, Brigham Young University.

Complex reaction speed, acceleration, maximum speed, speed of whole -body change of direction and agility represent the basic components of sport performance mainly in sport games and combat sports. However, contradictory findings have been reported as to the extent of the relationship between the different speed and agility components. This study comprised 117 players (soccer -56, basketball -17, volleyball -20, and handball -24) playing youth leagues U15-U17 who were assessed for 10-m sprint (acceleration), flying 30-m sprint (maximum speed), triple-jump (special explosiveness) performance, Illinois agility test (speed of whole-body change of direction) and Fitro Agility Check (agility). Low (0.112-0.425 in soccer) correlation coefficients between the factors were found in soccer, while in the other sport games they were medium (0.329-0.623 in basketball; 0.414-0.686 in handball) to high (0.569-0.768 in volleyball). Negative relationship was observed between Triple jump and all other tests performances in all sports games. The findings suggest that specific training procedures for each speed and agility component should be utilized already in junior ages.

Horička, P., Hianik, J., & Šimonek, J. (2014). The relationship between speed factors and agility in sport games. J. Hum. Sport Exerc., 9(1),. This study deals with the issue of various understanding of the term "agility", mainly within the context of team sport games. Under this term complex psychomotor abilities are understood. Their development requires a high degree of neuro-muscular specificity. The development of these abilities are underpinned also by perceptual components including also anticipation and decision-making processes. Authors point to the importance of agility in sport games. They stress the fact that the speed of movement is only one of the components of the complex motor ability called agility. Based on the theoretical analysis authors carried out measurements of basic factors of speed abilities and agility in 14-17-year-old basketball, volleyball and soccer players (n=56). The results showed that no statistical differences were observed in the level of agility tested by Fitro agility test (basketball -p=0.189; volleyball -p=0.949; soccer -p=0.832). Spearmann rank correlation test showed that no significant correlation (p=0.786; p > 0.05) was found between the results of Fitro agility test and Illinois test measuring speed abilities. The results suggest that agility is not simply one of speed abilities. Besides simple reaction speed, acceleration, deceleration accompanied by the change of direction of movement it comprises also perceptual components determined by complex reaction to unexpected, changeable stimuli occurring during a sport game.

in the shortest possible time, similarly to cyclic speed, however, without defining the direction of movement (Harman & Garhammer, 2008). In fact, this issue is much more complex, since speed of movement is not constant during the whole length of trajectory of movement and thus it can be divided into several phases: acceleration, maintaining maximum speed and deceleration (Plisk, 2008). Agility is most frequently defined as a fast change of direction of movement (Altug, Altug, & Altug, 1987). It can adopt various abilities started from simple frequency of leg movement at running up to a fast change of running direction. Agility comprises a speed component, which is not the most significant

Background and Objectives: Although studied extensively among adults, self-rated health (SRH) has not received the same research attention among adolescents. It has been suggested that SRH in adolescents may be a function of adolescents' overall sense of functioning and may reflect psychosocial functioning more so than in adults. The rating of health as poor by adolescents might be a somatic expression of life distress and may be connected with risky behaviors. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate self-rated health (SRH) in Central and Eastern European (CEE) adolescents and determine its association with psychosocial functioning and other dimensions of adolescent health. Methods: A survey was administered to 3,123 students in 34 secondary schools across CEE which included measures of SRH, psychosocial functioning (loneliness, hopelessness, shyness, perceptions of social status, self-rated happiness, and perception of physical attractiveness), and other dimensions of adolescent health (height/weight, physical activity, eating breakfast, sleep). Results: More girls (19.4 %) than boys (11.3 %) rated themselves as "not healthy" and this was true in each of the six countries. Significant predictors of SRH in the logistic regression model were gender, country of residence, hopelessness, shyness, subjective social status-society, self-rated happiness, perception of physical attractiveness, vigorous physical activity, eating breakfast, overweight status, and usually get 7-8 hours or more sleep a night. Conclusions: SRH appears to be associated with psychosocial functioning and other dimensions of adolescent health in CEE youth.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate differences in multiple athletic performances, and to examine associations between athletic performance and Functional Movement Screen (FMS) in young soccer players. Forty-one soccer players were tested on peak height velocity (PHV), 5-, 10-, and 30-m sprint times, 505 change of direction (505 COD), Y-reactive agility tests, countermovement jump (CMJ), and squat jump (SJ) height. Significant main effects ( P <0.01) were recorded in all tests except FMS total score whereas the U16 group outperformed U12 and U14 in almost each test. However, when the results were adjusted to the PHV 7 of 11 tests were nonsignificant. Significant associations were recorded between trunk stability push-up (TSPU) and 5 m ( P =0.04) and 505 COD (preferred) times ( P =0.01), and SJ height ( P =0.03) in the U12. In the U14, significant associations were recoded between TSPU and SJ ( P <0.01) and CMJ height ( P =0.03). In the U16, significant associations were recorded between deep overhead squat and 5-m sprint time ( P =0.02) and CMJ height ( P =0.04). Results of this study indicate that athletic performance in young soccer players is multidimensional in nature, and it is a consequence of several factors including maturation, different training strategies, and movement proficiency.

-In many sport disciplines reaction time plays a key role in the sport performance. It is good to point out for example ball games or fighting sports (fencing, karate etc.). The research is focused on detection of the differences in the simple and choice reaction time during visual stimulation among elite, sub-elite fencers and beginners. For the measurement a Fitrosword device and the SWORD software were used. An additional stimulus was added during measuring which should increase the overall number of stimuli, but shouldn't force fencer to any reaction whatsoever. The results from presented study can be compared with Hicks law. The next focus of the study was to identify the difference in reaction time during two different movement tasks with different complexity movement requirements. The research was built up on a hypothesis that the results will differ among different performance groups of fencers. The difference however was overt among beginners and elite fencers (p = 0.0088, d = 0.5) in reaction time during different movement tasks (direct hit vs. lunge). The results of this research could be useful to trainers for training process organisation and increase the effectivity of muscle coordination during several movements in fencing.Key words: Fencing; Visual Stimulus; Reaction time; Additional Stimulus; Hicks law. (esgrima, karate, etc Resumo -Em muitos desportos, o tempo de reação desempenha um papel crucial no resultado desportivo. Como exemplo, pode-se citar jogos que envolvam bola ou desportos de combate

Limited data are available on the active and sedentary behaviours of young people in Eastern Europe. Hungary, Romania, and Slovakia are relatively new members of the European Union. The socioeconomic status of the people of these countries differs from that of their Western European counterparts. These three countries are understudied in respect of physical activity and sedentary behaviour patterns in youth. Ecological momentary assessment was employed for data collection among 13-to 18-year-old students (n0623). A 3 (socioeconomic status))3 (country) )2 (gender) multivariate analysis of variance, with physical activity, technological sedentary behaviour, and sedentary socializing behaviour as dependent variables, showed that for weekday behaviours there were significant multivariate main effects for country (P B0.001) and gender (P B0.001), but not for socioeconomic status (P 0.05). Slovakia showed greater technological sedentary behaviours than the other two countries. Romania and Slovakia had higher physical activity levels than Hungary. Boys spent more time than girls on technological sedentary behaviours, while girls spent more time than boys on socializing sedentary behaviours on weekdays and weekends (P B0.001). For weekend behaviours, the country )gender interaction was significant (P B0.046), with the highest rates of technological sedentary behaviours for males in Slovakia and Hungary, with lower figures for girls in these countries and particularly for boys and girls in Romania. There was a significant multivariate main effect for country (P B0.001), with fewer technological sedentary behaviours in Romania than the other two countries. Hungarian youth were less active than Romanian youth. These three Eastern European countries show quite high levels of sedentary behaviours but these co-exist with varying physical activity patterns. Values differ by country and gender.