Nikola Prlenda

CONSTRUCTION OF SCALE FOR EVALUATION OF ATTITUDE TOWARDS ALPINE SKIING

Ones attitude towards sport can potentially influence the success of learning knowledge and skills of specific sport activity. The aim of this research was to construct a scale for evaluation of attitude towards alpine skiing as a specific recreational activity. For this purpose we constructed a scale initially consisting of 60 statements of both positive and negative attitude towards alpine skiing. Statements included affective, cognitive and behavioral components. The research was conducted on 173 participants (72 female and 101 male), students of Faculty of Kinesiology University of Zagreb by the use of five graded scale on which participants could claim their statements with 1. I strongly disagree ; 2. I disagree ; 3. It is all the same ; 4. I agree ; 5. I strongly agree. Parameters of descriptive statistics were calculated for all the variables, correlation of each variable with first component, as well as reliability and homogeneity. After analysis initial scale was condensed to 26 statements, which improved reliability (Cronbach α=0.92) and homogeneity (r=0.33). Factor analysis extracted six statistically significant components from the scale of attitude towards alpine skiing. First component is the participants attitude towards alpine skiing (λ=9.24) and with proportion of 35.53% it explains the results of evaluation of attitude towards alpine skiing. To conclude, the constructed scale of 26 statements will among other enable monitoring of attitude changes influenced by alpine ski knowledge acquisition, and will give the answer to what proportion the attitude towards alpine skiing influences efficiency of alpine ski learning.

CAN EXPLOSIVE LEG STRENGTH OF VOLLEYBALL PLAYERS BE IMPROVED DURING COMPETITIVE SEASON

Summary The primary aim of this research was to determine the influence of programmed conditioning training on explosive leg strength of volleyball players during competitive season. Investigation included thirteen senior volleyball players, members of Croatian national league. Before and after the end of conditioning trainings examinees were tested on Kistlers platform on five tests: squat jump, counter movement jump, one leg high jump with left and right leg and repeat squat jump. Conditioning training program lasted for eighteen weeks, and during the period examinees were twice a week, besides the usual program, involved in special trainings. The special training included weight lifting and different jumps-variants of jumps from ankle, variants of bench jumps, and variants of one leg bench jumps. Results were analyzed