Yoga Coopoo

Work-related constraints in sports coaching: Perceptions of South African female coaches:

The purpose of this study was to investigate the work-related constraints encountered by female coaches in the Gauteng Province of South Africa. Participants were 100 female coaches who completed a 34-item questionnaire on the perceived constraints/hindrances to coaching. A Cronbach’s α of 0.953 was recorded for the questionnaire. Results indicated that coaches identified lack of support for women coaches, inadequate salary, job insecurity, difficulties in working with parents/spectators and coaching at weekends and evenings as the major constraints to their coaching. Based on the results of this study, it is recommended that female coaches should be provided with support programmes which could ensure fair treatment of female coaches, promote equitable salaries, alleviate all forms of discrimination and ensure that their needs are well catered for.

GPS comparison of training activities and game demands of professional rugby union

Closely matching training session exertions with actual match-play intensities ensures players are physically prepared for competition. The movement patterns of four typical rugby union training activities (traditional endurance, high-intensity interval, game-based and skills training) were compared with match-play using global positioning systems. The degree of difference from match-play was determined by calculating Cohen’s effect size statistic. Training activities for players in different positions (tight forward, loose forward, scrumhalf, inside back and outside back) were similarly assessed. Movement patterns were measured as relative distance, distance walking (0–2 m.s−1), jogging (2–4 m.s−1), striding (4–6 m.s−1) and sprinting (>6 m.s−1) and sprint and acceleration (>2.75 m.s−2) frequency. Overall, high-intensity interval training was the most similar to match-play, and could be adopted as a primary training activity. Game-based training failed to meet match intensity in all positions (Effect size = medium to large). If game-based training is used as the primary training activity, supplementary training is required to ensure players are adequately prepared for match demands.

Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is: Verbal Self-Reported Tactical Skills Versus On-Line Tactical Performance in Soccer

The main goal of the study was to examine whether a relationship existed between self-reported and in situ tactical decision-making in the form of actions for small-sided soccer games, namely 4-vs.-4 and 8-vs.-8 games. Sixteen skilled male soccer players participated and completed the Tactical Skills Inventory for Sport Questionnaire (TACSIS). In addition, their decision-making performance was assessed for two 4-vs.-4 and one 8-vs.-8 small-sided soccer games. Video-analysis of the small-sided games was conducted to determine the successful and unsuccessful actions of each player. A performance ratio was calculated for each player based on the small-sided game analyses, which reflected the number of successful decisions made by players; that is, the number of successful ball actions divided by total ball actions. Correlation analysis revealed no significant relationship between the procedural knowledge TACSIS questionnaire scores and performance in the small-sided games. The findings are discussed within the theoretical framework of the two-visual system model and the repercussion for the use of questionnaires for talent identification.

Preseason Functional Movement Screen component tests predict severe contact injuries in professional rugby union players.

Abstract Tee, JC, Klingbiel, JFG, Collins, R, Lambert, MI, and Coopoo, Y. Preseason Functional Movement Screen component tests predict severe contact injuries in professional rugby union players. J Strength Cond Res 30(11): 3194–3203, 2016—Rugby union is a collision sport with a relatively high risk of injury. The ability of the Functional Movement Screen (FMS) or its component tests to predict the occurrence of severe (≥28 days) injuries in professional players was assessed. Ninety FMS test observations from 62 players across 4 different time periods were compared with severe injuries sustained during 6 months after FMS testing. Mean composite FMS scores were significantly lower in players who sustained severe injury (injured 13.2 ± 1.5 vs. noninjured 14.5 ± 1.4, Effect Size = 0.83, large) because of differences in in-line lunge (ILL) and active straight leg raise scores (ASLR). Receiver-operated characteristic curves and 2 × 2 contingency tables were used to determine that ASLR (cut-off 2/3) was the injury predictor with the greatest sensitivity (0.96, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.79–1.0). Adding the ILL in combination with ASLR (ILL + ASLR) improved the specificity of the injury prediction model (ASLR specificity = 0.29, 95% CI = 0.18–0.43 vs. ASLR + ILL specificity = 0.53, 95% CI = 0.39–0.66, p ⩽ 0.05). Further analysis was performed to determine whether FMS tests could predict contact and noncontact injuries. The FMS composite score and various combinations of component tests (deep squat [DS] + ILL, ILL + ASLR, and DS + ILL + ASLR) were all significant predictors of contact injury. The FMS composite score also predicted noncontact injury, but no component test or combination thereof produced a similar result. These findings indicate that low scores on various FMS component tests are risk factors for injury in professional rugby players.

Comprehensive cardiac rehabilitation and quality of life in coronary artery bypass graft patients

The overall success of coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery is much dependent on the postoperative rehabilitation. Cardiac rehabilitation (CR) programmes should be comprehensive and multifactorial to enhance the education and quality of life of the patient. This was a quasi-experimental and longitudinal intervention study to which 18 patients who had undergone CABG surgery were referred. Two questionnaires were administered and patients participated in a 12-week exercise programme. Significant improvements were noted in waist circumference (99.7 ± 8.3 to 97.8 ± 8.8; p=0.042), body fat percentage (22.7 ± 5.3% to 20.5 ± 4.9%; p=0.000), resting systolic blood pressure (125.7 ± 13.7mmHg to 119.7 ± 8.9mmHg; p=0.000), stairs climbed (3.6 ± 3.5 flights to 5.9 ± 4.4 flights; p=0.003), duration of exercise per week (329 ± 383.7min.wk-1 to 527 ± 482.7min.wk-1; p=0.001), kilocalories expended per session (827 ± 765kcal to 1173 ± 699kcal; p=0.001), kilocalories expended per week (2 550 ± 858kcal to 3 996 ± 1 849kcal; p=0.000), chair sit-and-reach (0.7 ± 3.4cm to 1.3 ± 3.4cm; p=0.001), up and go (6.0 ± 1.3sec to 5.1 ± 1.2sec; p=0.002), chair stand (13.4 ± 2.3 to 16.2 ± 2.3; p=0.000), maximum workload (82 ± 23.0 watt to 110 ± 29.4 watt; p=0.000), maximum duration (08:35 ± 02:41min:sec to 11:57 ± 03:51min:sec; p=0.000), physical component score (38.8 ± 6.1 to 52.1 ± 4.2; p=0.000) and mental component score (49.5 ± 8.5 to 56.9 ± 3.1; p=0.002). The findings of this study support the role of CR encompassing lifestyle intervention, education and psychological support in promoting a faster recovery of health and desired performance of the CABG patient.