Plyometric training is an important part of athletic conditioning with many significant benefits, including improved motor abilities and performance, but it can also increase the serum indices of muscle damage, collagen breakdown, muscle swelling, and soreness. Due to the physical characteristics of water, plyometric training in water presents less eccentric contraction, facilitates faster transition from the eccentric to concentric phase of a jump and offers greater resistance during concentric contraction with acute lower indices of muscle damage. To advance our understanding of the long-term effects of an eight-week plyometric training programme on land and in water on muscle damage indicators (lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), creatine kinase (CK) and serum urea (SU)), two experimental groups of physically active men (a group on land (EG1) and a group in water (EG2)) were tested before and after the first and the last plyometric training to monitor muscle damage indicators and adaptations. The results showed changes in CK activity after both plyometric trainings for EG1 and only after the first training for EG2. Moreover, after the eight-week programme, significant difference was observed in CK activity in comparison with EG2. There were no observed changes in LDH activity while SU showed greater changes for the group on land. The plyometric training programme in water resulted in smaller levels of muscle damage indicators. Although both experimental groups conducted the same plyometric training with the same jump volume, the eccentric and concentric loads were not the same, so it can be concluded that adaptations in muscle damage processes are faster with smaller eccentric loads.

Purpose: Change of direction speed (CODS) and reactive agility (RAG) are important qual-ities in futsal, but studies rarely examined the predictors of these conditioning capacities in players of advanced level. This study aimed to evaluate predictive validity of certain an-thropometric and conditioning capacities in evaluation of futsal specific CODS and RAG in top-level players. Methods: The sample comprised 54 male players from Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, members of teams competing at the highest national rank, including national champions for the 2017–2018 competitive season in both countries. The variables comprised set of pre-dictors (body mass, body height, triceps skinfold, reactive strength index [RSI], sprint 10 m [S10M], and broad jump [BJ]; and four criteria: futsal specific CODS and RAG, performed with and without dribbling (CODS_D, CODS_WD, RAG_D, RAG_WD). To identify the asso-ciation between variables Pearson’s correlation and multiple regressions were calculated. Results: Observed predictors explained statistically significant (p < 0.05) percentage of vari-ance for all four criteria (Rsq: 0.28, 0.30, 0.23 and 0.25, for CODS_WD, CODS_D, RAG_WD, RAG_D, respectively). Body mass was significant predictor for all criteria (Beta: 0.35–0.51), with poorer performances in heavier players. In both performances which involved dribbling, significant predictors was RSI (Beta: −0.27 and −0.31 for CODS_D and RAG_D, respective-ly), with superior performances in players with better RSI. The S10M and BJ were not identi-fied as being significantly correlated to studied RAG and CODS performances. Conclusion: Study confirmed specific influence of studied predictors of futsal specific CODS and RAG with consistent negative influence of body mass on studied performances. Almost certainly this can be explained by specifics of RAG and CODS execution. Specifically, tests are performed over relatively small distances, with several changes of direction, which clear-ly mimic the futsal specific performances. Although sprint performance is often observed as important determinant of CODS and RAG, herein we did not confirm its predictive validity in explanation of futsal specific CODS and RAG. Future studies should evaluate other poten-tially important predictors of these capacities in futsal.

The aim of this article was to find out the views and attitudes of teachers of the fifth and sixth grades of elementary schools in Banská Bystrica on gymnastics. The research group consisted of total number of 25 physical and sport education teachers, 11 male and 14 females from eleven schools. We used our electronical questionnaire to find out the opinions of the teachers. We studied the opinions on teaching the gymnastics but also material equipment at elementary schools. In average we found out positive attitude of teachers toward gymnastics. The teachers consider the existing material equipment at elementary schools in Banská Bystrica to be suficient.

Purpose: The main aim of our research was to determine the internal load of goalkeepers in the soccer training process. The internal load of goalkeepers during the training process is examined according to the achieved values of heart rate. Our goal was to expand the knowl-edge of the impact of different methodical forms on the goalkeepers’ internal load in soccer, thereby support the possibilities of improving their training process. The assumption was that the goalkeepers would achieve significantly different heart rate values in different methodical forms. Methods: The research group was formed by six elite youth soccer goalkeepers (n=6) from U16, U17 and U19 categories. In order to evaluate the heart rate was used the POLAR PRO heart rate monitor and the loading zones of goalkeepers were determined by using a pro-gram called POLAR Team2. Subsequently, the obtained data were evaluated by using the Wilcoxon Signed-Rank Test and Cohen´s „r “(effect size). Results: The average difference in HRavg during preparatory exercise and small-sided game was 25 ± 9 beats.min-1, and the average difference in HRmax was 35 ± 12 beats.min-1. During preparatory exercise achieved the goalkeepers’ value of HRavg 134 ± 8 beats.min-1 and in small-sided game was HRavg 159 ± 8 beats.min-1. In individual methodical forms were found significantly different average heart rate values (z = -2.201, p < 0.05, r = 0.9), which statisti-cally and logically confirmed our assumption. Conclusion: Monitoring of soccer goalkeepers´ internal load in the process of training and improvement of game activities can greatly help the coaches in further planning, optimiza-tion and tracking of the training process. Based on our research´s results is recommended to monitor and evaluate the internal load intensity of goalkeepers using sporttesters during entire training process.

Overweight and obese children often suffer for many physiological and psychological is-sues. Resistance training allows them to excel over their peers due to strength ability which is related to their somatotype. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of an eight-week resistance training program on body composition in overweight and obese children. Study sample included 8 boys and 4 girls (age = 11.7 ± 1.54) who were involved in an eight-week strength specifically designed program consisted of two strength training unit per week. Resistance of exercise was set on 8‒10 RM. Body composition were measured by InBody 720 two times before and after the training intervention. The Wilcoxon matched pairs test was used. Results showed increase in total body weight (2.7%), lean body mass (2.5%) and fat mass (3.7%). This effect indicates that used resistance training program is suficient to lean body mass grow. Nevertheless, program proved to be inadequate to avoid an increase in fat mass. This could be caused by many factors which should be consider in further research (e.g. longer technique practice, diet, number of training units).

Introduction: One of the basic processes to improve stability and prevent injuries in sport is warming up. The aim of our work is to verify the impact of the first part of the training unit (warm-up) on the stability and performance of the footballer. Probands: The research work was carried out on 37 football players in the category U-19 and U-17 in the football club – JUPIE football school of Marek Hamšík. Probands were divided into two groups. The test group consisted of 19 U-19 football players (age average 17.2 ± 0.87), the control group consisted of 18 U-17 football players (age average 15 ± 0.5). Methods: Both groups underwent input measurement consisting of Y balance test and per-formance tests – slalom with ball, run 5 × 10m. Subsequently, the test group footballers un-derwent our intervention, myofascial release + core training, which was added to the opening part of the training unit. The study lasted 4 weeks. Results: Probands of both groups achieved a statistically significant improvement in the y bal-ance test. When comparing the performance tests, they achieved significant improvement in the test group – run 5 × 10m (p = 0.0024) and slalom with the ball (p = 0.0159) and in the control group – run 5 × 10m (p = 0.0182). The improvement in slalom with the ball test in the control group was not statistically significant (p = 0.1798). Conclusion: We have shown a significant effect of core exercises and myofascial release at the beginning of the training unit. However, the benefit was also achieved in the control group, except for the test - slalom with the ball.

Introduction: Physical activity (PA) performed at recommended levels is associated with mul-tiple health benefits. However, as indicated by the available studies, the volume of habitual physical activity of children continuously decreases. Aim: The aim of the study was to assess the relationships between physical activity per-formed by school-age population and indicators of motor performance and body composition. Methods: The research group consisted of 144 students of the primary school assigned into groups according to the years of study (first, fifth and eighth-year students). The amount of physical activity was examined through a non-direct method, using Fels PAQ, recording four scores, namely sport index, leisure index, work (chore) index and total score. Body composition was tested using a direct segmental multi-frequency bioelectric impedance analysis (DSM-BIA). Motor performance was assessed in four categories. Endurance and strength endurance were assessed using Jacik’s motor test; strength abilities were measured using a hand grip test; speed abilities were tested in linear sprints at 5 and 10 meters and in the test of speed with changes of direction at 4 x 10 m and, finally, explosive strength was assessed from results of the countermovement jump (CMJ), squat jump (SJ) and 10-second repeated jumps tests. The strength of association between the selected factors was determined from the results using the Spearman’s rank correlation analysis. Results: The amount of physical activity was mainly associated with the indicators of active body mass (fat free mass, skeletal muscle mass) in all age categories. Low association was found in the parameters of adipose tissue (body fat percentage, visceral fat level). When assessing the strength of association between the characteristics of motor performance and physical activity performed, we observed various courses of associations, based on which it is not possible to determine the tendency. When assessing the relationship between the amount of physical activity and motor performance of students regardless of age, we found medium association only with indicators of strength abilities (hand grip test) and characteris-tics of speed abilities. Conclusions: The results are not explicit but they point to some tendencies in relationships between habitual physical performance and body composition indicators. With respect to mo-tor performance, it is not possible to consider these results decisive; therefore, further data collection and more accurate assessment of relationships are necessary.

Energy drinks are frequently purported as a non-alcoholic beverage food commodity to im-prove cognitive function and concentration and as such is marketed especially on vulnerable populations such as professional drivers, students, managers. We aimed to explore the acute dose-effect of commercially available multi-ingredient beverage on cognitive performance. Twenty adult university students, caffeine-deprived received two 500 ml non-alcoholic, glucose-free, multi-herbal extract drinks differing in ingredients dose: DRINK100, threefold higher concentration dosage (DRINK300) and ingredients-free, flavored-matched placebo (PLA) in a double-blind, three-way cross over, randomized order, separated by a 7-day wash-out period. Cognitive functions, autonomous nervous system activity, and specific mental performance were assessed. Drinks were consumed in the late evening (20 p.m.). Standardized psychomotor vigilance task (PVT) to detect reaction time, lapses and the total score and spectral analysis of heart rate variability (software-driven, standing/lying down with ~300 beats recorded in each position, relative change in total power score be-tween consecutive measurements was used) took place immediately prior and 60, 120 and 180 min post-drink consumption (post-drink). Thirty minutes of the cognitively demanding task (continuous manual text transcription) was commenced immediately and in 90, and 150 min post-drink. Total word counts were used in assessing mental performance chang-es. The ecologically valid methodology was used to mimic typical students time of drink consumption. During the 60min post-drink, the level of alertness decreased independently of the drink category, however, DRINK300 increased correct: lapsus ratio in 120 min and this remained elevated until the end of testing. No significant effect of DRINK100 over PLA on vigilance was present. DRINK300 led to an increase in autonomic nervous system activity after drink admin-istration in 60–90 minutes post-drink with a clear decline observed in PLA. This corresponds with a significant increase in the number of words transcripted in the corresponding time in DRINK300, however, not sustained in 180 min post-drink. We demonstrate an acute and transitional dose-effect of multi-herbal caffeine-containing non-energetic beverage on cognitive and autonomous nervous system performance. The effect appears to be evident immediately ( < 30 min) post-drink. A beverage containing guar-ana equivalent to 120 mg of caffeine reduce cognitive performance impairment and this is sustained over ~180 min.