Potentially beneficial effects of cold therapies on training adaptation still remain unequivocal. We have, thus, decided to evaluate the effects of a 2-week volleyball training program supported by 10 sessions of whole body cryostimulation (WBC) on growth factors and physical performance. Twenty healthy college-aged men and women randomly assigned either to the cryostimulation group (CRY) or the control group (CON; executed passive rest). Both groups took part in the same 2-weeks training program. Additionally, the CRY group attended in 10 cryo-sessions (3 min, -110°C temperature, five times/week). Blood samples were collected at baseline, 1 h after the first cryo-session as well as before and 1 h after the last session of WBC to assess growth factors, myokines concentration and the amino acid profile. Motor abilities were tested before commencing the training program and 2 days after its completion. The applied intervention resulted in an increase of brain-derived neurotrophic factor and insulin-like growth factor 1 concentrations. The adjusted effect describing the difference between groups in response to applied procedures was for both growth factors large and very likely in the CRY, higher than in the CON group (113%; Coefficient Interval: 38–230%, 45%; Coefficient Interval: 17–79%, respectively). Physical performance dropped in both groups, yet in the CRY group, the magnitude of change was smaller. The fibroblast growth factor dropped significantly 1 h following the first cryo-session, yet irisin remained statistically unchanged. The similar tendency was maintained after the whole procedure, still the range of changes was smaller. In the CRY group, an elevated uptake of tryptophan and valine noted in response to the whole intervention, could have induced a significant decrease of fasting glucose concentration (the adjusted effect small and very likely -6%; Coefficient Interval: -10 to -2%). Overall, a 2-week volleyball training program supported by the whole body cryostimulation protocol resulted in an increase of growth factors and offset a decline of physical performance. Thus these procedure can be applied in professional sport during competition period, especially among those disciplines focusing on an explosive power and ability to concentrate.

Background: The purpose of the present study was to determine the effects of a six-week plyometric high and low-intensity training on the explosive power of lower limbs in volleyball players.

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BackgroundThe aim of the study was to analyse sports results and the somatic composition of participants in the 2014 FIVB Volleyball Men's World Championship held in Poland. Material/MethodsResearch material involved volleyball players participating in the World Championships (n = 280). Their age, height, weight, one-arm spike reach, both-arm block reach, and Rohrer's index were analysed. The mean value of the features and their derivatives in individual teams and groups were calculated and verified using statistical tests (t-Student, Mann Whitney and Cochran-Cox) if the differences were significant. ResultsThe subjects' mean age was 26.33 years (SD = 3.90), body height 198.41 cm (SD = 6.05), body weight 89.40 kg (SD = 8.43), spike reach 344.08 cm (SD = 13.37), block reach 326.68 cm (SD = 13.09), Rohrer's index 1.15 (SD = 0.10). 90.36% of the volleyball players manifested the leptosomatic body composition, 9.28% the athletic one, and 0.36% the pyknic one. The highest and the lowest ranked teams in the analysed tournament significantly differed in the spike reach (P < 0.005) and in body height (P < 0.015). ConclusionsThe leptosomatic body composition type is dominant among volleyball players at the top level of sports championship. The body height and the spike reach significantly differentiate the top and the bottom ranked teams participating in the 2014 FIVB Volleyball Men's World Championship. These characteristics should be taken into account in selection to play men's volleyball.

Background and Study Aim. Aim is to determine the influence of the components of special physical training on the effectiveness of certain elements of the game technique during the competitive activities of beach volleyball athletes. Material and methods. The study involved athletes (n = 20, age - 17-21 years, experience - 8-9 years), who are engaged in beach volleyball (Kherson, Ukraine). Experts (n = 5, work experience - over 20 years) from among the leading volleyball specialists were involved. Training sessions were conducted according to the author’s structure and content of special physical training (preparatory period of the annual cycle). The author's program was to increase the volume of athletic work by 10% (selective classes and integrated work) and 17% (complex classes). The classes used a developed special training device. The device is designed to practice practical game skills. The load at the first stage was 70-80% of the maximum. The load in the second stage was 80-90% of the maximum. Results. Significant (p <0.05) development of explosive power, speed and agility was revealed. There is a significant (p <0,05) increase: in the number of jump serve and spike; improving the quality/number of serve and attack; improving the quality of passing and the number of blocks. Conclusions. The proposed structure and content of special physical training and exercises on a special simulator have significantly increased the level of development of physical qualities. The athlete training program helped to improve the effectiveness of certain technical actions during competitive activities.

Background and Study Aim. The inclusion of beach volleyball in the program of the Olympic Games gave some impetus to the development of scientific research on various problems of training athletes. Most of the research results are presented in journals included in the Web of Science Core Collection. However, the publication of research results in journals from national databases remains outside the scope of this database. The aim of this study is to systematically review the scientific literature on various beach volleyball issues in Russian-language scientific resources. Material and Methods. The sources of information were the authoritative database Web of Science Core Collection, Russian Science Citation Index, Scientific Electronic Library eLIBRARY.RU (Russia), National Repositary of Academic Texts (Ukraine). Data extraction from these databases was carried out using the keywords “volleyball” / “beach”. A total of 1,875 documents were found for the keyword “volleyball”. Of these, the keyword “beach” - 273 documents. Further analysis was carried out on 273 documents. The search query results were recorded in the form of tables and a special text file, which were processed in the VOSviewer 1.6.17 program. Results. The most significant and more popular subject categories, journals, authors, articles, keywords have been identified. The relationship between keywords and individual groups of publications has been established. A method for extracting data from the Scientific Electronic Library eLIBRARY.RU in a semiautomatic mode is presented. The trends in the development of beach volleyball in various aspects of the training of elite athletes and the sports reserve, the health-improving function of beach volleyball for youth are shown. Conclusions. Differences in the content of research between Russian-language and English-language resources are a good complement to each other. This fact may contribute to solving the problems of beach volleyball and international cooperation of researchers.

Background and Study Aim. The physical fitness of students is characterized by the level of their abilities development to perform movements of varying complexity. One of the important components in the system of movements is coordination skills. The aim of the study is to identify the level of special and general coordination of students majoring in "Choreography" and provide recommendations for the development of coordination skills in the process of studying modern-jazz dance. Material and Methods. The study involved students of the first and second year of study (n = 10, at the beginning of the study (1 year) age - 17.4 ± 0.7 years) majoring in "Choreography". Tests were used to determine the level of development of general and special coordination skills. The level of coordination readiness at the beginning of training and after three semesters of training was determined. The study was conducted over three semesters (September 2019 - December 2020). Curricula for students’ training do not include the discipline "Physical Education". The development of physical qualities is the task of special subjects in the course of professional training: 16 hours per week. The workload of students in modern-jazz dance was 2 hours a week. Forms of study for a certain period - full-time (70%), online learning (10%), mixed (20%). In September 2019 and in December 2020, the same students passed selected tests. Results. The following significant changes in increasing the coordination level of the abilities were determined: to control temporal and spatial factors of movements; coordination of movements in combination; vestibular stability; musical-rhythmic coordination (p <0.01). The proposed technique assumes that at the first stage of studying modern jazz dance two, three, four centers are coordinated in simultaneous parallel movement. Conclusions. The need to improve the curriculum of modern jazz dance, the introduction of additional courses to the educational program in the major "Choreography". The technical and lexical base of modern jazz dance in combination with special physical training provides opportunities for the coordination skills development in choreographers.

Background and Study Aim. To determine the influence of the level of static balance on the competitive activity of athletes aged 17-21 in beach volleyball. Material and Methods. The study involved athletes aged 17-21 years, who play beach volleyball in the Kherson region. The research was focused on the main indicators: the total number of serves, passes, tactical strikes, blocks, and how the development of static balance affects the level of their performance. Results. Acrobatic exercises in training activities for special physical training positively contributed to the increase in the samples of Bondarevsky (p <0.05), Romberg (p <0.05) and Yarotsky (p <0.05). Samples with different nature of the work performed reflect different aspects of static equilibrium: samples of Bondarevsky and Yarotsky most reflect the nature of the work performed during the competitive activities of athletes; Romberg's test only partially corresponds to these indicators. Conclusions. The proposed methodological approach significantly affects the performance of competitive activities and is directly related to the quality of tactical strikes, high-level performance in defense and the number of serves. The results of the study indicate the difference in samples with different nature of the work. Overstrain of the vestibular centers can negatively affect the quality of tactical strikes in the attack and blocking.