Vjekoslav Cigrovski

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.

Influence of Basic Ski-school in Building Attitudes toward Alpine Skiing as a Leisure Time Recreational Activity

The ski beginners attitude toward skiing can potentially affect the success of basic alpine ski learning. This research aimed at determining the influence of alpine ski learning toward recreational alpine skiing. It included 136 alpine ski beginners (41 females and 95 males), with no previous knowledge of alpine skiing. The 26 item scale questionnaire was constructed for the purposes of this research, with both positive and negative statements toward skiing. The Likerts scale type of questionnaire was fulfilled twice during this research; initially before the start of alpine ski school, and finally at the end of the seven day alpine ski school. Out of 26 claims, positively directed differences between initial and final testing, leading to attitude change were detected in 20 claims. Male participants included in this study had initially more positive attitude toward alpine skiing than female participants (Mean 106.6 vs. 100.7, respectively), but after completion of seven day alpine ski school program, both female and male participants attitude became more positive (Mean 110.7 vs. 109.4, respectively). Specifically, alpine ski school program exerted positive effect on attitude change toward mountain environment (p=0.01) and winter weather (p=0.04). Because of the sedentary way in which todays children and young people spend their free time, it is of utmost importance not only to interest them in physical activity in start, but also to maintain their interest in physical activity through formation of positive attitude toward it. Our results show how alpine ski program can positively affect ski beginners attitude toward alpine skiing and how ski instructors, through simple questionnaire can identify potential obstacles and fears of their pupils in order to choose the appropriate approach of basic ski learning.

Sport Courage, Worry and Fear in Relation to Success of Alpine Ski Learning

(1) Background: Individuals’ psychological traits can influence not just success in sport but also the ability to learn new motor skills. We investigated whether sport courage, worry and fear differ between alpine ski-naive and basic level skiers and how they affect ski learning. (2): A total of 337 students (249 ski-naive and 88 basic level) participated in research consisting of a four-part questionnaire and structured skiing program. (3) Results: For beginners, lower fear (r = −0.30, p < 0.01) and higher Self-efficiency (r = 0.28, p < 0.05) and mastery (r = 0.20, p < 0.01) were associated with better performance; reducing fear and increasing self-efficiency and worry increased performance. Experienced skiers were better in determination, mastery, and self-efficiency (all p < 0.05). In case of lower score in worry (r = −0.28, p < 0.01) and higher in self-efficiency (r = 0.22, p < 0.05) performance was better. Males scored higher in sport courage scale-31 (all p < 0.05). In particular, self-efficiency was associated with better (r = 0.39, p < 0.01), and higher fear with poorer performance (r = −0.33, p < 0.01). Moreover, self-efficiency was a predictor of ski success (p < 0.001). On the other hand, females like ski beginners scored higher in fear (p < 0.001). In females, determination, mastery and self-efficiency had a positive correlation with skiing (r = 0.21, p < 0.05, r = 0.28, p < 0.01, and r = 0.33, p < 0.01, respectively), while association between Fear and skiing (r = −0.46, p < 0.01) was negative, and fear (p < 0.001) was inversely related to success. (4): Conclusions: Psychological factors and gender differences need to be considered during learning phases of alpine skiing. There is a positive association between self-efficiency and performance of male ski beginners, and negative association between fear and achieved results in basic alpine ski school in case of female ski beginners.

CONTRIBUTION OF INLINE SKATING TO LEARNING BASICS OF ALPINE SKIING

Cilj ovog istraživanja bio je da se utvrdi doprinos rolanja usvajanju osnova alpskog skijanja. Istraživanjem je obuhvaćeno 139 ispitanika, koji su bili podijeljeni u dvije grupe kontrolnu i eksperimentalnu. Ispitanici eksperimentalne grupe (n=72) učestvovali su u školi vožnje rolera u trajanju od 10 dana, a ispitanici kontrolne grupe (n=67) za to vrijeme nisu bili uključeni u sportske ili rekreativne programe. Prije i nakon provođenja škole vožnje rolera, svi ispitanici su podvrgnuti testiranju pomoću šest elemenata tehnike alpskog skijanja. Eksperimentalna grupa ispitanika imala je značajno bolje rezultate u elementima tehnike alpskog skijanja (4,09 vs. 3,29; p=0.00). Rezultati ovog istraživanja ukazuju da vožnja rolera može pomoći boljem usvajanju znanja iz alpskog skijanja.

Comparison of standard and newer balance tests in recreational alpine skiers and ski novices

Collaborative learning has been shown to be a useful tool for improving several social skills in students; however, it is very diffi cult to set up the initial conditions that guarantee its eff ectiveness. Since group projects are made for students and, most importantly, by students, we should not forget to take their opinions based on previous experience into consideration, which might increase the effi ciency of their own learning. Th erefore, the aim of the study was to investigate what secondary school students learn from and think about group projects in Physical Education. A total of 94 secondary school students (46 girls and 48 boys) participated in the study carried out in the 2015/2016 school year. Th e participants were given the assignment to create a video exercise, which they were working on in small groups in PE. A questionnaire was designed to investigate students’ learning outcomes, participation, evaluation, and attitudes towards the project. Diff erences for selected categorical variables were determined using the Chi-square test. Th e majority of the students reported improvement in selected social skills and better relationships with their teammates. In addition, several signifi cant diff erences in students’ opinions with respect to age and gender were found.Alpine skiers should physically prepare for skiing due to the specifi c body movements it requires. As balance is essential for the success of competitive alpine skiers, we investigated its importance during preparation for alpine skiing in recreational skiers. We included 24 male participants ; twelve recreational skiers just aft er 10 days of alpine skiing, and twelve alpine ski novices. All participants were tested with two balance tests (BAL40 and GYKO). Participants of the two groups did not diff er signifi cantly in the results of the BAL40 standard balance test. In contrast, we found signifi cant diff erences in four out of six variables measured with the GYKO test performed on BOSU trainer during the two-feet stand. Participants specifi cally diff ered in the variables overall average body tilt (p=0.02), overall average deviation of body tilt (p=0.00), overall medio-lateral average body tilt (p=0.01), and overall medio- lateral average deviation of body tilt (0.00). Average results were lower for participants of the group of recreational skiers than for participants of the novice alpine ski group, suggesting that balance is important for recreational skiers, either as an acquired trait during skiing, or the result of conditioning training in the preparation period for skiing. According to the results, we would advise recreational skiers as well as people planning to be involved in alpine skiing as a new recreational activity to include balance exercises in the preparation period.

The influence of ski helmets on sound perception and sound localisation on the ski slope

OBJECTIVES The aim of the study was to investigate whether a ski helmet interferes with the sound localization and the time of sound perception in the frontal plane. MATERIAL AND METHODS Twenty-three participants (age 30.7±10.2) were tested on the slope in 2 conditions, with and without wearing the ski helmet, by 6 different spatially distributed sound stimuli per each condition. Each of the subjects had to react when hearing the sound as soon as possible and to signalize the correct side of the sound arrival. RESULTS The results showed a significant difference in the ability to localize the specific ski sounds; 72.5±15.6% of correct answers without a helmet vs. 61.3±16.2% with a helmet (p < 0.01). However, the performance on this test did not depend on whether they were used to wearing a helmet (p = 0.89). In identifying the timing, at which the sound was firstly perceived, the results were also in favor of the subjects not wearing a helmet. The subjects reported hearing the ski sound clues at 73.4±5.56 m without a helmet vs. 60.29±6.34 m with a helmet (p < 0.001). In that case the results did depend on previously used helmets (p < 0.05), meaning that that regular usage of helmets might help to diminish the attenuation of the sound identification that occurs because of the helmets. CONCLUSIONS Ski helmets might limit the ability of a skier to localize the direction of the sounds of danger and might interfere with the moment, in which the sound is firstly heard.

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