Classroom-based physical activity (PA) interventions have received considerable attention due to improvements seen in academic achievement, classroom behaviors, and attitude toward PA. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the Brain Breaks® Physical Activity Solutions in changing children’s attitudes toward PA. Students (N = 3036) aged 8–11 years from schools in Croatia, Lithuania, Macedonia, Poland, Romania, Serbia, South Africa, and Turkey were randomly assigned to either a control or an experimental group. The experimental group received Brain Breaks® videos during classroom sessions throughout the four months of intervention. Student attitudes toward PA were measured using the Attitudes toward Physical Activity Scale (APAS) before and after the intervention. Repeated measures ANOVA indicated a time interaction effect for all APAS variables except fitness. Time-by-group interaction effects with different effect sizes were found for most APAS variables, with the greatest gain effect noted in the experimental group for self-efficacy, followed by learning from the videos concerning PA benefits, exercise importance, and enjoyment from engaging in PA. This study provides evidence supporting Brain Breaks® in terms of learning experience, attitudes towards PA, and personal motivation. Using exercise videos is recommended as an interactive, technology-based PA solution that can be easily integrated into the school setting.

The aim was to generalize the maximum dynamic output (MDO) hypothesis [i. e., the muscle power output in vertical jumps (VJ) is maximized when loaded with one's own body mass] to variety of VJ. We hypothesized that the subjects' own body (a) would be the optimal load for maximizing the power output (i. e., the no-load condition) and also (b) reveal the maximum benefits of stretch-shortening cycle (SSC). 13 participants performed the maximum squat and various counter-movement jumps when loaded by approximately constant external force ranging from -40% to  + 40% of their body weight (BW). Regarding the first hypothesis, the differences in both the peak and mean power recorded under different load magnitudes revealed maxima close to no-load condition (i. e., from -3% BW to  + 8% BW; R2=0.65-0.96; all P<0.01). Regarding the second hypothesis, the differences in performance between VJ executed with and without SSC also revealed maxima close to no-load conditions (0-2% BW), while the same differences in the power output were observed under relatively low positive loads (14-25% BW; R² = 0.56-0.95; all P<0.01). The findings support the concept that maximal power output occurs close to one's own body mass during VJ with and without SSC, thereby providing additional support to MDO hypothesis.

The aim of this study is to compare tactical manifestations of soccer teams, different competitive success, defi ned on the basis of the achieved results in one match at the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa. The teams were divided into 3 groups based on the match results, the tactical analysis included a total of 60 matches of 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa. The fi rst sub-sample of the subjects (winning) was consisted of the teams that won in the fi nal result, the second sub-sample (draw) were the teams that ended in tied score (no winner), while the third subsample (defeat) consisted of the teams which were defeated in the course of regular 90-minute game. Based on the previously processed data, which were taken from the offi cial website of the International Federation of Association Soccer (www.fi fa.com), the observed parameters refer to the game effi ciency, tactical attacking resource-passing the ball and the ball passing structure. Based on the analysis of the successful attacks frequency, it was revealed that there is a statistically signifi cant difference in the number of successful attacks between the teams that had achieved different results (p = 0.003), in favor of the winning teams. Additionally, the successfulness of attacks, observed through their accuracy, indicates the differences in their distribution (p = 0.000) between the aforesaid groups. The results also indicate that the total run distance, on the level of one team is not associated with the fi nal result. However, ball possession (P = 0.001), overall number of passes (p = 0.015) and overall number of correct passes (P = 0.013) were fi gured as important factors in achieving better results, while the analysis of the effi cacy percentage and the structure of the game that applied passing, i.e., pass length is little or not associated with the fi nal result. The results of this study can help identify those tactical attacking resources in soccer, which contribute to achieving better results.

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