No abstract

This study aimed to analyze the modulating effect of competition seriousness and competition level in the testosterone and cortisol responses in professional soccer player. Ninety five (95) soccer players were included in this study (professional, n = 39; semiprofessional, n = 27; amateur, n = 29) before and after training, friendly game and official games. Repeated measures ANOVA showed higher testosterone levels (F(1,89) = 134, p < 0.0001, η2p = 0.75) in professional soccer players, when compared with semiprofessional (p < 0.0001) or amateur athletes (p < 0.0001). After winning a competition game an increase in testosterone levels was observed in professionals (t = −3.456, p < 0.001), semiprofessionals (t = −4.400, p < 0.0001), and amateurs (t = −2.835, p < 0.009). In contrast, this momentary hormonal fluctuation was not observed after winning a friendly game or during a regular training day. Additionally, statistical analysis indicated that cortisol levels were lower in professional (t = −3.456, p < 0.001) and semiprofessional athletes (t = −4.400, p < 0.0001) than in amateurs (t = −2.835, p < 0.009). In soccer players a rise in testosterone was only observable when the team was faced with an actual challenge but did not support a different response between categories. Thus, the desire to achieve a goal (and keep the social status) may be one of the key reasons why testosterone levels rise promptly. Conversely, testosterone did not change after friendly games, which suggests these situations are not real goals and the players do not perceive an actual threat (in terms of dominance) more than the preparation for their next competitive game.

La toma de decisiones por parte de los deportistas se viene estudiando como un tipo de habilidad cognitiva. En este estudio se parte de una perspectiva motivacional y emocional de la toma de decisiones en el deporte, que ha recibido una menor atención en la literatura. Se aplica el Cuestionario de Estilos de Toma de Decisión en el Deporte-CETD (Ruiz y Graupera, 2005) que evalúa tres escalas: Competencia Decisional Percibida, Ansiedad y Agobio al Decidir y Compromiso en el Aprendizaje Decisional. Se toma una muestra de 121 jugadoras (76) y jugadores (45) de voleibol de diferente nivel de pericia deportiva: autonómico, nacional e internacional. Los resultados muestran que las escalas del cuestionario tienen una buena fiabilidad cuando se aplican a muestras mono-deportivas. Las jugadoras y jugadores de voleibol tienen un perfil decisional muy similar (no se encuentran diferencias significativas), con una moderada percepción de competencia, baja ansiedad y alto compromiso (perfil en V). Según aumenta el nivel deportivo se incrementa moderadamente el compromiso y la percepción de competencia, mientras que decrece considerablemente la ansiedad ante la toma de decisiones. Como consecuencia el perfil en V del nivel internacional es considerablemente más cerrado que el de los niveles deportivos inferiores.Palabras clave: ansiedad; competencia percibida; decisión; deporte colectivo; pericia deportiva. Decision making in sport has been studied as a kind of cognitive skill. This study has been developed from a motivacional and emotional point of view and this question has received little attention in the scientific literature. It was applied the Decision Making Style Questionnaire-CETD (Ruiz y Graupera, 2005) that assess three scales: Perceived Decisional Competence, Anxiety and Strain to Decide and Commitment for learning how to decide. One hundred and twenty one voleyball players participated (76 female and 45 male) of differente level of expertise: State, National and International. Results showed that the scales of this questionnaire had good reliability when it was applied to specific sport samples. Male and female volleyball players had a similar decisional profile (there were no significant differences), with a moderate selfperception of decisional competence, low level of anxiety and high commitment (V profile). As competence increased, moderately increased the level of commitment and selfperception of decisional competence, too, and decreased the level of anxiety. As a consequence, the decisional profile of the International Group was very different from the rest of the two groups of lower competence. R e s u m e n

The aim of the present study was to analyse differences in the psychoneuroendocrine stress responses of high-level, young swimmers depending on whether an autocratic and democratic coaching style was applied. Modifications in cortisol and the motivational climate of 18 young swimmers (15.3 ± 1.86 years, 10 females and 8 males) were analysed before and after two training sessions with equivalent training loads but directed by two coaches applying different approaches, i.e., autocratic (A) and democratic (D). The basal testosterone levels of the coaches were also assessed. The basal testosterone concentration was higher in coach A than in coach D; the athletes perceived them as autocratic and democratic, respectively. Swimmers under coach A's instructions showed higher cortisol levels, suggesting higher cortisol production related to coaching style. Furthermore, differences in the motivational climate concerning ego (i.e., athletes comparing their ability with that of other athletes) were observed with coach A, whereas differences in motivational climate concerning the task (i.e., athletes comparing their ability with their own past performance) were observed with coach D. Cognitive variables showed negative perceptions affecting athletes' training experience and performance when they were screamed at or insulted by coach A. There were no gender or age differences in cortisol production or motivational climate. In conclusion, this study suggests that an autocratic coaching style modulates cortisol release in both genders, affecting young elite swimmers' motivational climate and training experience.

El objetivo de este estudio fue el desarrollo y evaluación métrica del Test Motor SportComp, instrumento diseñado para ayudar a los profesores de educación física en la evaluación de la coordinación motriz global de sus alumnos de Educación Secundaria. En la actualidad no existen tests que evalúen la coordinación motriz de forma válida y fiable y que puedan ser empleados por el profesorado de educación física en el contexto de sus clases de manera rápida y económica. El presente test se construyó a partir de una revisión de la literatura científica sobre medición motriz entre los 12 y 17 años. La validez de contenido de las pruebas empleadas fue evaluada por expertos y las pruebas seleccionadas fueron aplicadas a 5732 escolares de estas edades. Se analizaron los resultados mediante la técnica de componentes principales que permitió la extracción de un solo factor formado por 5 tareas motrices relacionadas con la coordinación motriz global. El Coeficiente de Correlación Intraclase (CCI) permitió obtener una fiabilidad test-retest de (CCI=0,91). Asimismo, mostró una satisfactoria validez criterial con la batería MABC-2 uno de los más reconocidos para la detección de problemas de coordinación motriz. Las propiedades métricas del presente test son muy satisfactorias y ofrecen buenas posibilidades para ser empleado por los profesores de educación física en sus clases por su bajo coste económico, poco tiempo de aplicación reclamado y poseer normas ajustadas por edad y sexo. Asimismo, este test ofrece el potencial de poder servir para detectar a los alumnos con sospecha de poseer problemas de coordinación motriz y por lo tanto contribuir a la mejora de los programas de educación física que palíen esta condición.Palabras clave: evaluación; validez; competencia motriz; problemas de coordinación motriz; Educación Secundaria. ResumenCorrespondencia/correspondence: Luis Miguel Ruiz-Pérez Universidad Politécnica de Madrid. España Email: luismiguel.ruiz@upm.esThe purpose of this study was the development and metric evaluation of the SportComp Motor Test, an instrument designed to aid physical education teachers in the assessment of gross motor coordination of adolescents. There are currently no valid tools to assess motor coordination in physical education classes useful for teachers. Many instruments are very expensive, time consuming and difficult to apply in P.E. contexts. The SportComp test was developed based in a review of motor tests for children 12 to 17 years old, Content validity was evaluated by experts and motor tasks selected was applied to 5732 students of this age range. Principal components analysis yielded one component relating to gross motor function. Findings suggested satisfactory criterial validity with the MABC-2 Test and test-retest reliability (ICC 0,91) [95% CI 0,94]. Psychometric properties of this test were good and its possibilities to be applied in P.E. context high cause its low cost, low time consuming, norms and its possibilities to detect students with low motor coordination. This motor test ...