Nenad Rogulj

Identification of sport talents using a web-oriented expert system with a fuzzy module

This paper presents a fuzzy expert system for scouting and evaluation of young sport talents. Based on the knowledge of several human sport experts, various motoric skills tests, morphologic characteristics measurements and functional tests are quantized according to their importance for a chosen set of sports. Obtained values are entered into the knowledge database along with the grades of the measured results for each test. Fuzzy logic is implemented in order to make the system more flexible and robust. The whole system is web-oriented, i.e. developed ASP.NET application is available to the internet users with a proper login and password. The developed expert system gives acceptability prediction and proposal of the most suitable sports for the person being tested. The output results of the system were evaluated by 4 experts, using real data collected during several years. Comparison is done between the sport proposed by our expert system and the actual outcome of the persons sports career. Also, the comparison of the expert system output and the human expert suggestions were done. All tests showed high reliability and accuracy of the developed system. Strengths, possibilities and future plans of the Sport Talent expert system are also discussed.

The Relationship Between Handball Players and Alcohol and Smoking Habits

Abstract Recent studies have revealed that sport activity is a protective factor regarding smoking, but a risk factor for alcohol abuse. Considering these findings, it is necessary to investigate the occurrence of substance misuse. Sports that are associated with a substantial amount of physical/mental stress are very interesting from the perspective of substance misuse (e.g., handball). This research was performed to more closely study the population engaged in handball regarding the risk for alcohol and/or tobacco consumption. The sample of respondents consisted of 150 senior handball players who were members of 9 first-league handball clubs from Croatia and abroad. The respondents were grouped into sub-samples according to sex, age, experience, the number of weekly training sessions and their social environment (clubs). Alcohol consumption data were obtained using the AUDIT questionnaire. The differences between groups were tested using the Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney U tests. The study revealed that handball players engaged in alcohol misuse, and they were grouped in the harmful drinking category (AUDIT score, 16-19 for all groups). Regarding tobacco product consumption, the risk groups were women (who smoked significantly more than men, MWU test: Z = 3.30. p < 0.001), handball players with less experience (who smoked significantly more than experienced players, MWU test: Z = 3.68, p < 0.001). Borderline significance was observed for the impact made by social environments, and age was not a significant predictor of tobacco consumption. Regarding alcohol consumption, the highest hazard group were national handball players, who drank much more than foreign players did (MWU test: Z = 2.04, p = 0.04); however, sex, age, experience and training habits were not alcohol consumption predictors in handball. This study reveal that the typical behaviors regarding alcohol and tobacco consumption followed by the general population do not apply to handball players. Targeted prevention can be much more precisely established considering this research.

Razlike motoričkih sposobnosti učenica rukometašica i onih koji se ne bave sportom

Summary The study was conducted on 75 thirteen year old girls, with the aim to determine which basic mobility measurement tests can detect the differences between groups of women who train handball and those who do not practice sports. Analysis of variance has shown that handball players are superior in tests of explosive strength and agility, while the difference was not found in tests of flexibility and dynamic strength. It can be assumed that the kinesiology structures that are based on long repetition may not be appropriate to the handball game; they are less important for the success of a situational player than a single movement or to a lesser extent repeated maximally quick and explosive movements. This study has given a series of information that might have their practical application in a purposeful orientation and selection of gifted handball players, in a higher-quality construction of a work program in handball, and in the easier operationalization or implementation of transformation processes.

Expert System for Identification of Sport Talents: Idea, Implementation and Results

In this chapter, detailed description of the complete expert system for identification of sport talents will be given. Current version of developed software based solution has the following characteristics: ability of forming a referent measurement database with the records of all potential and active sportsmen, diagnostics of their anthropological characteristics, sports talent recognition, advising and guiding amateurs into the sports activities suitable for their potential. Also, a comparison of the test results for the same person and for overall achievement monitoring through a longer time period is possible. Evaluation and tests of the presented fuzzy-based approach with some other approaches used for the evaluation of the morphology models suggest that it is capable of successful recognition of the sport compatible for the tested individual based on his/her morphological characteristics.