Періодичні видання

Relationship between protector color, perception of dominance, and match outcome in a Colombian national taekwondo championship

Fri, 27 Mar 2026 00:00:00 GMT

Relationship between protector color, perception of dominance, and match outcome in a Colombian national taekwondo championship A. Cardozo, Luis; Mateos-Olivarez, Malinatzin; González-Palacios, Valeria; Palomino-López, Hannah; Santiago-Angel, Oscar; Torres-Villegas, Jesús E. Background and Study Aim. The effect of colour on sports performance has been widely studied in Taekwondo, but gaps persist across national contexts and regarding subjective variables, such as perceptions of dominance. This study analysed the relationships among protector colour (red/blue), match outcome, and perceptions of dominance in a Colombian national Taekwondo tournament, while controlling for contextual variables such as sex, age category, method of victory, and point differential. Material and methods. Using an observational design with 162 matches (324 athletes), objective and subjective data (perception of dominance assessed by trained observers) were recorded and analysed with chi-square tests, Mann-Whitney U tests, and Multiple Correspondence Analysis (MCA). Results. The results showed a balanced distribution of victories by colour (red: 53.7%, blue: 46.3%; χ²=0.97, p=0.32), with no significant association with contextual variables (all p>0.05). However, a relationship was found between the winner's colour and the perception of dominance (χ²=47.88, p<0.001), with a higher match rate for red (69%) than for blue (57%). Conclusions. It is concluded that, in a context with an electronic scoring system, colour did not influence the objective outcome but did influence perceptions of dominance, suggesting that perceptual effects associated with colour persist and warrant further research.

Level of psychophysiological functioning in adolescent girls who play basketball and volleyball

Fri, 27 Mar 2026 00:00:00 GMT

Level of psychophysiological functioning in adolescent girls who play basketball and volleyball Pomeshchikova, Irіna; Tropin, Yrui; Boychenko, Natalya; Romanenko, Vyacheslav; Merzlikin, Maksym Background and Purpose. Psychophysiological indicators are key determinants of training and competitive effectiveness in team sports, as they reflect sensorimotor reaction speed, cognitive functions, and neuropsychological characteristics that directly influence game performance. Despite numerous studies, comparative evidence on the psychophysiological characteristics of adolescent girls engaged in basketball and volleyball remains limited. This study aimed to compare psychophysiological indicators in girls playing basketball and volleyball at the stage of preliminary basic training. Materials and Methods. The study involved 32 girls with 3-4 years of sports experience: 16 basketball players (age 14.1±0.75 years) and 16 volleyball players (age 14.2±0.70 years). A set of iPadOS-based tablet tests was used to assess psychophysiological indicators. Statistical analysis was performed using Statistica 10. Group differences were evaluated using the Mann-Whitney U test. Factor structure was examined using principal component analysis (PCA). Results. No significant between-group differences were found for most psychophysiological indicators. Volleyball players demonstrated significantly better performance (p<0.05) in choice reaction (Stage 4 of the Visuomotor Choice Reaction test), right-hand reaction time in the Go/No-Go test, and both the number of taps and right-hand reaction time in the Reaction SM Dual test. These findings suggest greater resistance to interference, faster sensorimotor responding, and more efficient cognitive functioning in volleyball players compared with basketball players. No significant differences were observed in neuromuscular function assessed by the Tapping Test (p>0.05). The factor structure in basketball players was more integrated, with choice reaction and spatial perception emerging as dominant components of the model, likely reflecting the need for rapid responses and accurate decision-making under highly variable game conditions. In volleyball players, the factor structure was more differentiated, with a clearer separation of sensorimotor, executive, and neuropsychological components. This pattern may be associated with sport-specific demands for rapid reactions and stable motor performance in more standardized and repetitive game situations. Lability of nervous processes showed independent functional significance in volleyball players, whereas in basketball players it was integrated with other neuropsychological indicators, suggesting different mechanisms supporting game efficiency. Conclusions. Comparative analysis indicated no statistically significant differences in most psychophysiological indicators between girls playing basketball and volleyball. However, volleyball players showed advantages in choice reaction and executive control, evidenced by better performance in the final stages of testing and in right-hand responses in the Visuomotor Choice Reaction, Go/No-Go, and Reaction SM Dual tests. Factor analysis made it possible to propose models of psychophysiological support of game activity that reflect sport-specific demands. In basketball players, integrated sensorimotor-cognitive mechanisms predominated, with choice reaction and spatial perception playing leading roles in rapid game-situation analysis and decision-making. In volleyball players, the model was more hierarchically differentiated, with executive control and response accuracy being key factors supporting stable and reproducible motor actions under standard game conditions. These results may be considered when optimizing the training process.

The role of special physical preparedneds in the competitive performance of dancesport athletes

Wed, 18 Mar 2026 00:00:00 GMT

The role of special physical preparedneds in the competitive performance of dancesport athletes Kyzim, Petro; Sashkov, Dmytro; Shkuryeyev, Kyrylo; Stadnyk, Svitlana; Huba, Anatolyi Background and Study Aim. Existing scientific literature primarily focuses on the technical component, which highlights the high level of technique used in performing competitive programs and the incorporation of auxiliary exercises that reflect current trends in dancesport development, where athletes (dancers) are improving their skills. With the changes and richness of movements in the content of the competitive program, the physical fitness of athletes is increasingly becoming a focus. The primary aim of the study is to determine the role of specialized physical fitness of dancesport athletes in competitive activities. Material and methods. The study included a pedagogical experiment and a comparative analysis of the results of the level of special physical fitness of sports dance athletes. The experiment involved a control group (CG) and a main group (OG), each of which consisted of 7 sports couples (n=14) of the "Juvenile" category of sports dances with experience in competitive activities. The results of sports couples in competitive activities did not affect the formation of the control and main groups. Each group had the same number of training sessions (5) in a weekly microcycle. The content of the training process of the main group included functional training, which was supposed to contribute to an increase in the level of special physical fitness of athletes of the "Juvenile" category. The educational and training process in the control group was carried out according to the traditional training methodology. To determine the state of development of the problem, theoretical methods and analysis of competitive activity based on video recordings were used. Statistical analysis of the study indicators was carried out using Student's t-test. Results. During the pedagogical experiment a significant increase (9.1%) in the performance indicators of the experimental group was observed compared to the results of the control group when sports dance athletes performed special tests to match the content of the competitive programs of the "Juvenile" category. Conclusions. Based on the study's topic, we note the special role of specialized physical fitness in dancesport athletes in performing competitive routines. A dancesport competition routine has a clearly structured choreographic component with a specific musical tempo. Test 6 “Performance of the competitive program “Jive” non-stop, number of times” shows high dynamics of the result in the main group compared to the dynamics of performance in the control group. This demonstrates the effectiveness of functional training, performed at a medium and high tempo, in the study group's training process. This improves endurance, which in our case is the dominant component of specialized physical fitness in dancesport athletes in the Juvenile category.

Predictive Power of the Special Judo Fitness Test on Sporting Success in Wrestlers: A Discriminant Function Analysis Approach

Wed, 18 Mar 2026 00:00:00 GMT

Predictive Power of the Special Judo Fitness Test on Sporting Success in Wrestlers: A Discriminant Function Analysis Approach Asan, Selim; Yagan, Edanur; Rasit Inac, Muhammet; Ozbay, Serhat; Gencoglu, Cebrail; Ulupinar, Suleyman; Duarte, Jonatas Deivyson Reis Da Silva; Perepelytsia, Pavlo Background and Study Aim. The Special Judo Fitness Test (SJFT), originally developed to assess agility, anaerobic capacity, and multidirectional movement ability in judo athletes, structurally reflects similar physical and technical demands in wrestling; therefore, this study aimed to determine whether the SJFT performance index could validly predict wrestling-specific competitive performance. Material and Methods. Fifty male wrestlers aged 13-15 years with at least three years of competitive experience (25 medalists and 25 non-medalists) voluntarily participated. The SJFT performance index was used as the independent variable, while competitive success (1= medalist, 2 = non-medalist) served as the grouping variable; discriminant function analysis with equal priors was then applied. Results. Box’s M test confirmed the homogeneity of covariance matrices (F = 0.081, p = 0.776). The analysis produced a single significant canonical function explaining 100% of the variance (Wilks’ λ = 0.840; χ²(1) = 8.285; p = 0.004), with a canonical correlation of r = 0.400 indicating that 16% of the variance was explained by the performance index; group centroids (–0.428 for medalists and 0.428 for non-medalists) indicated clear separation, and the model achieved 70% classification accuracy, correctly identifying 72% of medalists and 68% of non-medalists. Conclusions. The findings suggest that although originally designed for judo athletes, the SJFT can serve as a valid and practical predictor of competitive success in wrestlers. Future research incorporating additional variables may further enhance its discriminative power.