Physical literacy (PL) is recognized as an important concept in maintaining physical activity even in older individuals, but studies have rarely examined the changes in PL as a result of structured exercise programs in older participants. The aim of this pilot study was to examine changes in PL among older women over a one-year period of participation in a community-based exercise program and to determine whether baseline sociodemographic characteristics were associ- ated with the magnitude of these changes. The participants were 51 women (71.3±5.9 years) involved in a community outdoor-exercise program in southern Croatia. Sociodemographic variables (age, educational level, living environment, socioeconomic status) were assessed at baseline, while data on the regularity of participation in the exercise program were assessed at the end of the study (one year later). PL status was assessed at baseline and follow-up via a validated questionnaire (Perceived Physical Literacy Questionnaire for South Eastern Europe). The overall PL improved over the one-year period, with the most pronounced improvements observed in the motivation and confidence domains (5.4%, 7.4%, and 11.8% for the overall PL, motivation-, and confidence-domain, respectively, all at p<0.05). Baseline sociode- mographic characteristics were not associated with the magnitude of these changes. More consistent participation in exercise program was associated with greater improvements in PL. This pilot study provides evidence that PL can be improved even in older age, with most evident improvements in the motivation and confidence domains of PL. Further- more, a controlled study design is needed to confirm this preliminary evidence.
Match running performance in professional soccer is shaped by contextual and environmental factors, with altitude representing an important physiological stressor that can influence players’ ability to sustain high-intensity actions. In addition, match location (home vs. away) may further modify physical performance due to travel demands, crowd effects, and tactical adjustments. This study examined the combined effects of habitual training altitude and match location on match running performance in professional soccer players. Professional male outfield players competing in the Turkish First League during the 2023–2024 season were included. Teams were categorized according to habitual training altitude as low, moderate or high. Match running data were retrospectively obtained from official league match- es using the InStat tracking system. Performance variables included total distance, high-speed running distance, sprint counts, maximal speed, and playing time. Results indicated that playing time and total distance did not differ across altitude groups (p>0.05). However, altitude was negatively associated with high-speed running distance (5.5–7 m·s⁻¹; r=-0.033, p=0.045) and the number of attacking high-speed runs (r=-0.051, p=0.002). Significant differences between altitude groups were also observed for maximum speed (H=10.688, p=0.005), attacking high-speed runs (H=15.345, p<0.001), and attacking sprints >7 m·s⁻¹ (H=7.221, p=0.027). Teams training at higher altitudes exhibited smaller away- match declines in high-intensity actions than low-altitude teams, suggesting altitude-specific adaptations influencing match performance. These findings suggest that habitual training altitude moderates the impact of match location on high-intensity running performance in professional soccer players. Coaches and performance staff should consider both environmental context and altitude-specific adaptations when planning training, recovery, and match strategies throughout the competitive season.
This study aimed to conduct a detailed analysis of offensive strategies and tactics, as well as the temporal and spatial factors that affect the accuracy of the three-point shot in young U21 athletes who participated in the EuroBasket Cham- pionship in the summer of 2025. The research sample consisted of 822 three-point attempts from 16 games (round of 16, quarter-finals, semi-finals and final). The games were analysed using the SportScout STA v.3.2 program. The cate- gorised variables studied were the result of the game and the shot, the level of pressure from the closest defender, the form of the shot, ball movement (Ball Reversals) and entry into the paint (Paint Touches), the area from which the shot was taken, the time period of shot execution, and the range of dribbles and passes that preceded it. The statistical pack- age SPSS 29 was used for statistical analysis with a significance level of p<0.05. The results showed that the overall three-point shooting accuracy was 28.1%. The winning teams had higher shooting accuracy and attempted more three- point shots during the 35 minutes of the game, excluding the final 5 minutes, while paint touches (41.3%) and one ball reversal with a paint touch (37.5%) were associated with higher shooting success. A medium level of defensive contest was associated with the highest shooting accuracy. The Binary Logistic Regression revealed that the variables could not predict victory (win) or defeat (loss). The results contribute to a greater investigation of the three-point shooting skill and could be useful for all coaches in determining their offensive strategy.
This study investigated the acute effects of verbal encouragement and performance feedback on sprint, agility, and vertical jump performance in young female handball players. Twenty-seven female handball players (age: 16.04±1.43 years; height: 166.48±5.10 cm; weight: 54.52±4.16 kg; body mass index: 19.65±0.93 kg/m2) voluntarily participated in the study. The performance characteristics of participants were tested on three different non-consecutive days: no external stimulus (NES), performance feedback (PF), and verbal encouragement (VE). Sprint and agility performances were assessed using a photocell timing system, while vertical jump performance was measured using a contact mat. According to the analysis results, significant differences were observed in sprint, agility, and vertical jump performance under the different feedback conditions (p<0.05). The best performance in the 30-m sprint and Illinois Agility Test was observed under the VE condition (5.22±0.17 s and 17.11±0.11 s, respectively), whereas the greatest vertical jump height was observed under the PF condition (33.24±0.84 cm) (p<0.05). In conclusion, selecting different feedback strategies depending on the targeted performance components during performance evaluation and pre-match preparation in young female handball players can help achieve the targeted high-performance results.
Neuromuscular abilities are relevant determinants of performance in swimming speed tests. This study aimed to ana- lyze the relationship between neuromuscular variables and chronometric performance in the 100-meter freestyle test among adolescent swimmers and to identify the main predictors of competitive performance. A quantitative, cross-sec- tional, correlational study was conducted with 22 adolescent swimmers (aged 14–16 years; 12 females and 10 males). Squat jumps (SJ), countermovement jumps (CMJ), reactivity index (RSI), push-ups, sit-ups, and jump squats were eval- uated. Performance was determined by the total time achieved in the 100-meter freestyle test in a semi-Olympic pool. Spearman correlation analysis and multiple linear regression with backward elimination were performed. The final mod- el was statistically significant (F=8.45; p=0.001), explaining 58.5% of the variance in performance (adjusted R²=51.5%). The countermovement jump reactive strength index contributed most to performance (B=-62.97; β=-0.680; p<0.001), followed by abdominal strength-endurance (B=-0.296; β=-0.512; p=0.006) and squat jump contact time (B=-0.006; β=-0.399; p=0.038). In conclusion, reactive strength and core-related neuromuscular characteristics were significant predictors of 100-meter freestyle performance in adolescent swimmers. These findings suggest that neuromuscular monitoring may help characterize performance-related capacities; however, longitudinal studies with larger samples are required to confirm causal relationships.
