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Čoh, M, Vodičar, J, Žvan, M, Šimenko, J, Stodolka, J, Rauter, S, and Maćkala, K. Are change-of-direction speed and reactive agility independent skills even when using the same movement pattern? J Strength Cond Res 32(7): 1929-1936, 2018-The purpose of this investigation was to determine whether there are differences between the 2 approaches to quantifying agility (preplanned vs. unplanned response) when reacting to a stimulus in an identical spatial scenarios. The study involved 45 male and 31 female trained athletes (age 21.2 ± 1.78 and 20.6 ± 1.27 years, body height 181.6 ± 8.31 and 167.7 ± 5.03 cm, and body mass 78.9 ± 11.33 and 63.3 ± 8.65 kg, respectively). A light-based reactive training system was used to measure the time to completion in a task that assessed agility by change-of-direction speed (CODS) in a preplanned condition and reactive agility (RA) in an unplanned condition across 4 spatial configurations. Sprint performance in a 30-m sprint and lower limb reactive power in a 10-m single leg jump test was also measured. Significant differences (p ≤ 0.05) were found between men and women in all tests and between performance in the CODS and RA condition for each spatial configuration. Significant correlations were observed between 30-m starting sprint speed and CODS and RA performance measured in a semicircle (r = 0.62, r = 0.60) and lateral (r = 0.54, r = 0.58) configuration in male athletes. The present findings suggest that CODS and RA are 2 different and independent skill domains that define agility. These qualities should be diagnosed by discrete assessments and enhanced by different training methodologies.

Background Low energy availability in male athletes has gained a lot of attention in recent years, but direct evidence of its effects on health and performance is lacking. The aim of this research was to objectively measure energy availability (EA) in healthy male endurance athletes without pre-existing relative energy deficiency signs during pre-race season. Methods Twelve trained endurance athletes (performance level 3, 4, and 5) participated in the cross-sectional controlled laboratory study. Fat-free mass, exercise energy expenditure, and energy intake were measured to calculate EA. Resting energy expenditure was measured and estimated to assess energy conservation. Three specific performance tests were used to assess endurance, agility, and explosive strength performance. For psychological evaluation, the Three Factor Eating Questionnaire and a short Well-being questionnaire were completed. Results Mean EA was 29.5 kcal/kg FFM/day. The majority (66.6%) had EA under the threshold for low EA in females. Critical cognitive restraint (≥13) was reported by 75% of participants. There were no differences in performance, blood values, or psychological evaluation when subjects were divided into two groups divided by EA = 30 kcal/kg FFM/day. Cognitive restraint was negatively associated with measured resting energy expenditure and energy conservation (r = −.578, p = .025 and r = −.549, p = .032, respectively). Conclusions The mean EA measured in this study supports the theory that the threshold for low EA in endurance male athletes might be under the threshold for females. In addition, we confirmed cognitive restraint could be useful for early detection of energy conservation. The high cognitive restraint as measured in our sample stressed the need of eating behavior screening in endurance athletes in order to reduce risk of any disordered eating patterns.

This study assessed differences in agility performance between athletes of team and individual sports by assessing change-of-direction speed (CODS) as pre-planned agility and reactive agility (RA) as non-planed in different spatial configurations. The study involved 36 individual (sprint, hurdles, jumping, tennis, and judo) and 34 team (soccer, basketball, and handball) athletes. CODS and RA were measured with a light-based reactive training system in a frontal (FR), universal (UN), semicircular (SC), and lateral (LA) design. Lower limb power and sprint performance were also measured in a 10 m single leg jump test and 15 m sprint. Individual athletes showed significantly better performance in three of the eight agility tests: LA-RA, UN-RA, and SC-CODS (p < 0.008, p < 0.036, and p < 0.027, respectively) and were found to present stronger correlations (p < 0.01) between jump test performance and the CODS condition. Team athletes showed stronger associations between sprint performance and the CODS condition. In the RA condition both jump and sprint performance showed stronger correlations in the group of individual athletes. Agility performance as measured by CODS and RA should improve with enhanced of motor proficiency. Finally, the tests applied in this experiment seem to be multidimensional, but require spatio-temporal adjustment for their implementation, so that they meet the requirements of the particular sport.

RAUTER, S.; VODICAR, J. & SIMENKO, J.Body asymmetries in young male road cyclists. Int. J. Morphol., 35(3):907-912, 2017. SUMMARY: An anthropometric analysis was conducted on 64 competitive young male road cyclists of different age categories (U17; U19; & U23 years of age). The purpose of the study is to find asymmetries between the left and right side of upper and lower limbs with the NX-16 (TC 2 ) 3D body scanner, which includes measurement of left and right upper arm girth, elbow girth, forearm girth, wrist girth, thigh girth, knee girth, thigh length, calf girth, and shin length. Body composition was measured by the bioelectrical impedance machine InBody 720 (Biospace Ltd.). Results of body composition measurements of male road cyclists showed that U17 and U19 youth road cyclist differed statistically in five (from 11) paired variables, and the U23 age group differed statistically in six (from 11) paired variables. All of the age groups differed statistically in elbow, forearm, and calf girth. The main finding of study was that as the age of a cyclist increases, there is a tendency to increase asymmetries between the left and right side of several body segments.

Background Low energy availability (EA) can be detrimental for athlete health. Currently, it is not known what the threshold for low EA in men is, and what effects it may have on performance. Methods This study was set to determine potential effects of low EA by modulating male participants’ exercise energy expenditure and controlling energy intake and consequently manipulating EA in three progressive stages (reducing EA by 25%%, and 75 %). Performance was measured with three specific tests for explosive power, endurance, and agility. Blood was drawn, resting energy expenditure was monitored and two questionnaires were repetitively used to address any changes in eating behaviors and well-being. Results Repeated measured design showed poorer performance (power output 391.82 ± 29.60 vs. 402.5 ± 40.03 W, p = 0.001; relative power output 5.53 ± 0.47 vs. 5.60 ± 0.47 W/kg, p = 0.018; explosive power 0.28 ± 0.04 vs. 0.32 ± 0.05 m, p = 0.0001, lactate concentration 7.59 ± 2.29 vs 10.80 ± 2.46 mmol/L, p = 0.001). the quartile range for testosterone was lower (2.33 ± 1.08 vs. 2.67 ± 0.78, p = 0.026) and there was a tendency for lower triiodothyronine (4.15 ± 0.61 vs. 4.46 ± 0.54 pmol/L, p = 0.072). Eating behaviors and well-being were worse (46.64 ± 7.55 vs. 24.58 ± 7.13, p = 0.011 and 15.18 ± 2.44 vs. 17.83 ± 3.54, p = 0.002). The intervention also resulted in lower body fat (8.44 ± 3.15 vs. 10.2 ± 2.5%, p = 0.013). Conclusions Analysis showed that most of the negative effects occurred in the range of 9–25 kCal·kg∙FFM·d −1 . This is the range where we suggest a threshold for LEA in men could be. Reducing EA impaired explosive power first, then endurance. It was associated with a reduction in testosterone, triiodothyronine and there was a tendency for reduced IGF-1, but hormones were more resilient to changes in EA. Psychological assessment of eating behaviors and well-being proved to be very useful, whereas monitoring resting energy expenditure did not.

Purpose. The main goal of the experiment was to examine the differences between reactive agility (rA) as non-planned (randomly selected stimuli) movement and change-of-direction speed (cODS) as pre-planned movement among different levels of sports performance -young soccer players and physical education students. Methods. The two groups in the study included 36 young male and female soccer players and 58 male and female physical education students. Timing for universal agility was defined by two different specification: pre-planned agility as a change of direction speed and non-planned (randomly selected stimuli) agility as reactive agility. The study used FitLight Trainer, a wireless system of interconnected light powered sensors. Results. Soccer players were significantly faster in selected test of cODS (-1.73s; 13.1%) and rA (-2.34s; 14.3%). The greatest difference between male and female subjects was observed in the non-planned universal reactive agility UA-rA (-2.84s; 17.9%). A t-test indicated statistically significant gender differences in the selected test of pre-planned (non-reactive) and non-planned (reactive) agility among soccer players and students. Conclusions. The practical message for coaches and related professionals is that agility in team sports (including soccer) as motor skills represent various physical qualities. Therefore, it should be diagnosed and developed via separate assessments and training.Citation: rauter S, coh M, Vodicar J, Zvan M, Krizaj J, Simenko J, Szmajda L, Mackala K. Analysis of reactive agility and change-of-direction speed between soccer players and physical education students. Hum Mov. 2018;19(2):68-74; doi: https://doi.org/10.5114/hm.2018.74061.

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