This work aimed to identify the influence of selected endogenous (internal load) and exogenous (possession duration, game quarter, and defensive pressure) factors in natural game conditions on the efficiency of dribbling and passing skills. Dribbling and passing skills were assessed during four games of U19 female basketball players and five games of senior (2nd division) female basketball players. In total, 551 dribbling and 914 passing executions were evaluated. Binary logistic regression identified defensive pressure of the opponent as a predictor of dribbling and passing skills effectivity. When the defensive pressure of the opponent was medium, the chances for the ineffective pass were 1.997 times more likely (95% CI; 1.179–3.383), as it is at the minimum defensive pressure. When the defensive pressure of the opponent was high, the chances for ineffective dribbling were 7.45 times more likely (95% CI; 3.672–15.113) and for ineffective pass were 8.419 times more likely (95% CI; 4.6–15.409), as it is at minimum defensive pressure. The game quarter and the internal load were not identified as the predictors influencing the dribbling and passing effectivity. Possession duration was also an insignificant predictor of dribbling and passing skills effectivity. However, the passing skill effectivity decreases when the shot clock is winding down. These findings confirm the importance of transferring game situations into the training process. Coaches should take into account these factors when they want to stimulate determinants of player performance in a balanced and systematic way.

The aim of this study was to determine whether the dynamic motor stereotype of movement (shooting technique) is violated under conditions of an increased lactate concentration in a player's blood after a 30–15 intermittent fitness test. The hypotheses was that there would be statistically significant differences in ball speed and shooting accuracy in jump shots on the goal before and after the occurrence of fatigue in the player. The sample of respondents consisted of 10 top-level handball players of the highest competition rank in Croatia. The results showed significant differences before and after the fatigue protocol in the run-up speed (F = 5.66; p = 0.02), in the maximum speed of the forearm (F = 5.85; p = 0.02) and the hand (F = 4.01; p = 0.04), in the speed in the shoulder joint (F = 5.39; p = 0.02) and wrist joint (F = 4.06; p = 0.04), and in the ball shooting speed (F = 5.42; p = 0.02). The accuracy of the shot was, on average, lower (36.20 vs. 33.17 cm) but not significantly so. High blood lactate levels affect changes in certain kinematic parameters during the performance of a jump shot in handball. Consequently, this reduces the speed of the shot, which can affect situational performance as one of the two significant parameters of scoring success.

To achieve technical efficiency in a judo fight, it is necessary to know the technical details of each throw. The tempo of a judo fight is highly intense, and it is necessary for the competitor to be physically very well prepared. Considering the tempo, an important factor in the fight is the influence of fatigue, which can significantly affect the performance of a technique. The aim of this research is to determine the kinematic parameters and the influence of the fatigue protocol during the performance of ippon seoi nage (ISN) throw. The sample of participants consists of 30 young judokas (17.02 ± 0.91 year; 72.81 ± 6.52 kg; 178.60 ± 5.60 cm). The following variables were observed with Xsens Awinda kinematic system: the angle of the left shoulder (L_shou_A); the angle of the right shoulder (R_shou_A); the difference in the height of the pelvis in the tsukuri phase (Pel_tsu_H); the difference in the height of the pelvis in the kake phase (Pel_kake_H); hand velocity (Hand_V); head position (Head_pos). The participants performed three ISN throws before and after the fatigue protocol. A statistically significant difference (MANOVA) was found between the measurements (F = 8.47; p = 0.00). Additionally, observing the differences between individual variables (ANOVA), a significant difference was found in all measured variables, with a statistical significance of p < 0.05. This research presents key kinematic parameters that had not yet been observed in this manner. Furthermore, based on the established differences, it can be concluded that the participants significantly disrupt the performance of the ISN throw technique in situational, i.e., fight, conditions.

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.

Defining the differences between the dominant (D) and non-dominant (ND) leg is one of the ways to determine the asymmetry between the extremities and thus the risk of injury. The aim of this research is to determine the differences in specific unilateral tests in young male and female basketball players. The sample consisted of 17 female basketball players (average height 177.96 ± 6.38 cm; average weight 69.53 ± 8.00 kg and age 15.50 ± 0.96 yr.) and 34 male basketball players (average height 194.29 ± 7.52 cm; average weight 83.66 ± 9.66 kg and age 15.40 ± 1.28 yr.) of the cadet and junior national teams. Tests were used to assess the explosive power of the lower extremities: high jump with D and ND leg take-off with arm swing (S_vis_jedn_L; S_vis_jedn_D), basketball two-step with D and ND leg take-off (Dvokorak_L, Dvokorak_D) and Drift protocol consisting of 5 consecutive unilateral jumps in place (Drift_L, Drift_D). The tests S_vis_jedn (p = 0.02) and Dvokorak (p = 0.03) showed statistically significant differences with an error of p˂0.05 in the group of male basketball players. Significant differences were found in female basketball players in the test S_vis_jedn (p = 0.03). In other tests, there are no significant differences between jumps with D and ND leg take-off. The presented results indicate differences between the extremities and represent the basis for the correction of the training plan and program. The methodology in this paper is simple to implement and analyse and is

The main aim of this research is to analyse the kinematic model of two different variations of executing the jump shot, one performed after one step in the preparation phase and the other performed after a three-step preparation phase (run-up). Respondents (N = 27) are female Croatian national handball team players (U17 and U19). After basic anthropometric and morphological measurements, along with the warmup, respondents proceeded to shoot with one- and three-step shots directed at targets in the upper and lower opposite corner of the goal. A significant difference was found in all measured kinematic parameters between one- and three-step jump shots: hand velocity (p < 0.001 for the upper opposite (UO) and p < 0.001 for the lower opposite target (LO)); hand height reached (p < 0.05 UO and p < 0.01 LO); jump height (p < 0.001 UO and p < 0.001 LO); shoulder velocity (p < 0.001 UO and p < 0.001 LO); and ball velocity (p < 0.05 UO and p < 0.01 LO). Coaches should incorporate specific jump shots after one step to automate this movement and produce the best shooting technique, which will allow them to have smaller differences or no differences between techniques with three-steps and one-step jump shots. Consequently, this will lead to better performance indicators which consist of shooting on target from various positions in the field.

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.

Definiranje razlika između dominantne (D) i nedominantne noge (ND) jedan je od načina utvrđivanja asimetrije između ekstremiteta a samim time i rizika od ozljeđivanja. Cilj ovog istraživanja usmjeren je na utvrđivanje razlika u specifičnim unilateralnim testovima kod mladih košarkaša i košarkašica. Uzorak ispitanika činilo je 17 košarkašica (prosječne visine 177,96 ± 6,38 cm; prosječne mase 69,53 ± 8,00 kg i dobi 15,50 ± 0,96 god) i 34 košarkaša (prosječne visine 194,29 ± 7,52 cm; prosječne mase 83,66 ± 9,66 kg i dobi 15,40 ± 1,28 god) kadetske i juniorske reprezentativne selekcije. Korišteni su testovi za procjenu eksplozivne snage donjih ekstremiteta: skok u vis iz koraka odrazom D i ND nogom sa zamahom ruku (S_vis_jedn_L; S_vis_jedn_D), košarkaški dvokorak odrazom D i ND nogom (Dvokorak_L, Dvokorak_D) i Drift protokol koji se sastoji od 5 uzastopnih jednonožnih skokova u mjestu (Drift_L, Drift_D). U testovima S_vis_jedn (p=0,02) i Dvokorak (p=0,03) prikazane su statistički značajne razlike uz pogrešku p˂0,05 kod košarkaša. Kod košarkašica su utvrđene značajne razlike u testu S_vis_jedn (p=0,03). U ostalim testovima nema značajnih razlika između skokova odrazom D i ND nogom. Prikazani rezultati ukazuju na razlike između ekstremiteta te predstavljaju bazu za korekciju plana i programa treninga. Metodologija u ovom radu je jednostavna za provedbu i analizu te je usmjerena na imitaciju situacijskih uvjeta