qualities of good mentors

Nature's guide for mentors@Nature

Personal characteristics
- Enthusiasm
- Sensitivity
- Appreciating individual differences
- Respect
- Unselfishness
- Support for other than one's own

Tips for mentors
- Availability: the open door
- Inspiration, optimism
- Balancing direction and self-direction
- The art of questioning and listening
- Being widely read and widely receptive
- The initial project
- Life after science
- Celebration

Sports Sci J@Apr-Aug09

This is the latest sports science journal update.

---

Apr - Aug 09

Coaching

Game-based Training in Young Elite Handball Players. IJSM



Tactical skills of world-class youth soccer teams. JSS



Soccer Skill Development in Professionals. IJSM



Ball Impact Dynamics of Instep Soccer Kicking. MSSE



The development of skill and tactical competencies during a season of badminton. EJSS



Competitive Elite Golf: A Review of the Relationships between Playing Results, Technique and Physique. SM



An in-depth assessment of expert sprint coaches' technical knowledge. JSS



Endurance Athletes: What is the Optimal Training Strategy? IJSM



Analysis of lap times in international swimming competitions. JSS


Relationships between swim performance, maximal oxygen uptake and peak power output when wearing a wetsuit. JSMS



Fin Swimming Improves Respiratory Gas Exchange. IJSM



Assessment of an International Breaststroke Swimmer Using a Race Readiness Test. IJSPP



Strength & Conditioning

MOVEMENT SKILL ASSESSMENT OF TYPICALLY DEVELOPING PRESCHOOL CHILDREN: A REVIEW OF SEVEN MOVEMENT SKILL ASSESSMENT TOOLS. JSSM



Aerobic Conditioning for Team Sport Athletes. SM



Rest Interval between Sets in Strength Training. SM



Forms of Variable Resistance Training. SCJ



Physiological Correlates of Golf Performance. JSCR



An Investigation Into the Relationship of Flexibility, Power, and Strength to Club Head Speed in Male Golfers. JSCR



Cardiac responses to swim bench exercise in age-group swimmers and non-athletic children. JSMS



Physiology

The Quantification of Training Load, the Training Response and the Effect on Performance. SM



A mathematical model for quantifying training. EJAP



Load, stress, and recovery in adolescent rugby union players during a competitive season. JSS



Velocity-Specific Fatigue: Quantifying Fatigue during Variable Velocity Cycling. MSSE



Exercise and Fatigue. SM



Is it Time to Retire the `Central Governor'? SM



Lactate Threshold Concepts: How Valid are They? SM



Physiological Profile of Asian Elite Youth Soccer Players. JSCR



Relationship Between Anthropometric and Physiological Characteristics in Youth Soccer Players. JSCR



A Comparison of Post-Match Recovery Strategies in Youth Soccer Players. JSCR



Effects of cold-water immersion on physical performance between successive matches in high-performance junior male soccer players. JSS



Effect of cold-water immersion duration on body temperature and muscle function. JSS



Effect of water immersion methods on post-exercise recovery from simulated team sport exercise. JSMS



Recovery training in cyclists: ergometric, hormonal and psychometric findings. SJMSS



Effects of wearing compression garments on thermoregulation during simulated team sport activity in temperate environmental conditions. JSMS



The specificity of training prescription and physiological assessment: A review. JSS



Sports performance: is there evidence that the body clock plays a role? EJAP



Criterion-related validity of the 20-m shuttle run test in youths aged 13-19 years. JSS



Criterion-Related Validity of Sit-and-Reach and Modified Sit-and-Reach Test for Estimating Hamstring Flexibility in Children and Adolescents Aged 6-17 Years. IJSM



Improved Race Performance in Elite Middle-Distance Runners After Cumulative Altitude Exposure. IJSPP



Cycling Performance Following Adaptation to Two Protocols of Acutely Intermittent Hypoxia. IJSPP



Inspiratory Muscle Training and Endurance: A Central Metabolic Control Perspective. IJSPP



Nutrition

Catering for the Athletes Village at the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games: The Role of Sports Dietitians. IJSNEM



Feeding the Beijing Olympics: An Interview With Jillian Wanik. IJSNEM



Athletic Performance and Vitamin D. MSSE



Caffeine and Taurine Enhance Endurance Performance. IJSM



Is Ginseng an Ergogenic Aid? IJSNEM



Body composition of English Premier League soccer players: Influence of playing position, international status, and ethnicity. JSS



A simple and valid method to determine thermoregulatory sweating threshold and sensitivity. JAP



Practical Sports Nutrition: Survival Nutrition. IJSNEM



Biomechanics and technology development

Validity and reliability of kick count and rate in freestyle using inertial sensor technology. JSS



Validity and Reliability of GPS Units to Monitor Cricket-Specific Movement Patterns. IJSPP



An Evaluation of the Physiological Demands of Elite Rugby Union Using Global Positioning System Tracking Software. JSCR



Active and passive drag: the role of trunk incline. EJAP



Sports Medicine

UEFA injury study—an injury audit of European Championships 2006 to 2008. BJSM



Development and Implementation of a Standardized Precompetition Medical Assessment of International Elite Football Players-2006 FIFA World Cup Germany. CJSM



The Professionalization of Youth Sports: It's Time to Act! CJSM



Psychology and motor control

Mental fatigue impairs physical performance in humans. JAP



Competition stress in sport performers: Stressors experienced in the competition environment. JSS



A motivational model of performance in the sport domain. EJSS



A multi-component assessment model for monitoring training distress among athletes. EJSS



Athlete burnout in elite sport: A self-determination perspective. JSS



Possible early signs of athlete burnout: A prospective study. JSMS



Psychophysiological Stress Response during Competition between Elite and Non-elite Korean Junior Golfers. IJSM



Motor Control and LearningConditions of Practice in Perceptual Skill Learning. RQES



The Effect of Biological Movement Variability on the Performance of the Golf Swing in High- and Low-Handicapped Players. RQES



Sports Vision: Vision Care for the Enhancement of Sports Performance. MSSE



The Placebo Effect in Sports Performance: A Brief Review. SM



Talent ID and development

Talent identification and deliberate programming in skeleton: Ice novice to Winter Olympian in 14 months. JSS



Annual Age-Grouping and Athlete Development: A Meta-Analytical Review of Relative Age Effects in Sport. SM



Is there an influence of relative age on participation in non-physical sports activities? The example of shooting sports. JSS



The Relative Age Effect in Elite Sport: The French Case. RQES



Biological maturity status, body size, and exercise behaviour in British youth: A pilot study. JSS



Genetic Testing and Sports Medicine Ethics. SM



Genotype Distributions in Top-level Soccer Players: A Role for ACE? IJSM



Unique among unique. Is it genetically determined? BJSM



Birth Size, Infant Weight Gain, and Motor Development Influence Adult Physical Performance. MSSE



Peak athletic performance and ageing: Evidence from baseball. JSS

Singapore Sports School to offer 6-year IB programme from 2010

Singapore Sports School to offer 6-year IB programme from 2010@CNA

SINGAPORE: From next year, the Singapore Sports School will be offering a six-year International Baccalaureate (IB) diploma programme to its students.

The programme, which does away with O-level and A-level examinations, is seen as a move to aid the development of young athletes.

The Singapore Sports School was seen as a revolutionary idea when it opened in 2004. It had opted for a more conventional four-year secondary education system then to ease the concerns of parents – many of whom were worried that their children would suffer academically.

Now, parents are calling for more to be done to support the long-term sporting careers of their children. The IB programme is a move in that direction by providing the flexibility needed to match the training schedules of the student athletes.

For one, the twice-yearly IB exam schedule means that students who are unable to take an exam due to competition preparations can do so at another sitting. Furthermore, they will remain in the Singapore Sports School till their late teens.

Mrs Deborah Tan, principal of the Singapore Sports School, said: "Those are crucial years in terms of their biological development and that's where their sports development will probably be showing up in terms of their potential, in terms of eventual performance as well.

"These additional two to three years that we're offering beyond the secondary programme are extremely important for athletes in terms of their longevity in the sport, and the sports school is here to help them achieve that."

Students may choose from traditional subjects in the Arts and Sciences, and may also take up modules in Sports Science.

Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports, said the widely recognised diploma programme will open more doors for young athletes.

"You take a child at age 13 doesn't mean it's all over in four years or six years for that matter. The key is to provide training that commensurate with his or her maturity, and keep as many options open as possible," he said.

The Singapore Sports School will take in its first batch of IB students next year, with a cohort of 20 to 30 students.

The programme will also take in students at any point during the six years, even those who are not from the sports school. These students, however, will need to demonstrate a sporting ability.

The IB programme is not the only through-train option available for students. The school currently has tie-ups with Republic Polytechnic and the Auckland University of Technology, where students can continue with a diploma programme after Secondary Four, without sitting for the O-levels.

British Triathlon TID programme

British Triathlon Launches Talent ID programme@UK Sport

British Triathlon has launched a new talent identification programme called ‘trigold’ and is looking to recruit existing high calibre athletes, who have the drive and determination to move into triathlon and win Olympic gold in London 2012.

With just three years before the Olympics, British Triathlon are looking for male and female runners who meet set performance criteria (see notes to editors), are aged between 18 and 30 and also have a history of competitive swimming at club or county level. Athletes who meet these requirements are invited to apply for ‘trigold’ at www.trigold.org.


Applicants will be invited to a three day initial assessment at the National Performance Centre in Loughborough where athletes can get their first taste of triathlon and meet the elite performance team.

Following the initial assessment, successful athletes will be invited onto an intensive three month training programme before then moving onto a nine month fully funded scholarship with British Triathlon providing a training, development and performance programme to develop the athletes swim, bike and run skills.

AYG 09 ended: Team Singapore review

The 9-day Asian Youth Games (AYG) ended on 7 July. From Singapore, 90 athletes competed in swimming, athletics, football, 3-on-3 basketball, beach volleyball, bowling, shooting, sailing and table tennis at the Games, winning 9 gold, 6 silver and 15 bronze medals in six sports.

Out of the 90 athletes in Team Singapore for the AYG, 33 are from the Singapore Sports School (SSS). Out of the 30 medals won by Team Singapore, SSS athletes contributed 17 medals (5 Gold, 5 Silver and 7 Bronze medals).

From my personal findings at AYG, the following key areas that Youth Olympic Games (YOG) athletes and supporting teams will need to work on towards next year YOG:

- Physical preparation (eg hard work, skill development, intense training
camps, stamina)
- Mental preparation (eg simulation, confidence, focus, toughness,
concentration)
- Recovery (eg sleep, nutrition)
- Coaches as motivation
- Team and family support
- Clear tactics (winning strategies).

AYG officially open

Singapore's PM Lee opens inaugural Asian Youth Games@CNA

SINGAPORE: The inaugural Asian Youth Games (AYG) was officially opened by Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on Monday evening. The two-hour ceremony at the Singapore Indoor Stadium was attended by some 7,000 spectators.

AYG H1N1 flu precaution plans

AYG Committee unveils H1N1 flu precaution plans@CNA

The AYG participants have been advised to get themselves vaccinated against the seasonal flu at least two weeks before they arrive, and to familiarise themselves with the current control measures in Singapore.

Upon arrival, each athlete will be issued a flu kit. Inside it include a health advisory, a surgical mask, a digital thermometer and a hand sanitiser. Athletes will also have to undergo twice daily temperature checks which will be supervised.

Participants are also advised to monitor their health closely and stay in their rooms if they are unwell.

But if flu-like symptoms develop, help is close at hand - a 23-room medical centre that has 12 isolation rooms and a pharmacy. The medical centre occupies the ninth floor of Swissotel, the athlete's village.

The centre previously consisted of eight rooms, but the organising committee has since decided to increase that number to the current 23.

20 staff including three doctors, two primary health care providers and two physiotherapists will be on hand to assist with any medical needs.

Suspect cases will be tested for H1N1 flu with a throat swab, and a dedicated ambulance service is available to ferry patients to the Communicable Disease Centre.

opening of Kano Jigoro Memorial International Sport Institute

Japan sets up Olympic Institute to celebrate centenary@inside the games

May 30 - The Japanese Olympic Committee (JOC) has marked the centenary of its country’s active involvement in the Olympic Movement by announcing the creation of the Kano Jigoro Memorial International Sport Institute.



The Institute, inaugurated exactly 100 years after Jigoro Kano became the first International Olympic Committee (IOC) member from Asia, will promote the values of Olympism in Japan and across the world.



Officials from Tokyo's bid to follow London and host the 2016 Olympics also hope that the formation of the Institute will demonstrate Japan's committment to the Games.


As a demonstration of Japanese society’s commitment to the Olympic Movement on all levels, the Institute will focus on Olympic education and research, the fight against doping and programmes to support internationally development through sport, they said.


Its establishment will ensure that the legacy of Jigoro Kano – the legendary founder of the long-standing Olympic sport of judo – will continue to benefit the Olympic Movement.



Like Pierre de Coubertin, founder of the IOC, Kano was passionate about the educational qualities of
sport.


The Institute will serve as a hub for the people of Asia and from across the world for the promotion of the social and cultural values of Olympism, international sporting and intercultural exchange, and world peace through sport, officials claimed.



It will also serve as a coordinating organisation for the international aid and contributions made by the Japanese Government and other entities through sports.


Formed in partnership by the JOC, the Japan Sports Association (JASA), the Japan Anti-Doping Agency (JADA) and the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, the Kano Jigoro Memorial International Sport Institute is also supported by the Japanese business community.


Hiroshi Okuda, the senior advisor to the Toyota Motor Corporation, is expected to play on its board.

YOG update

Youth Olympics well on track, with 15 months to opening@CNA

Singapore: Preparations for the first Youth Olympic Games to be held in 2010 are progressing well, said the Singapore Youth Olympic Games Organising Committee (SYOGOC).

At the end of a visit by the YOG Coordination Commission on Wednesday, good progress was reported on the finalisation of the sports programme, with the daily competition schedule almost complete.

significance of YOG

How important is the concept of the Youth Olympic Games?@sport business

For the best young athletes, The Youth Games immediately become an inspirational challenge, and they will no doubt be fantastic fun to take part in. You can see the events’ stature quickly building and great stories evolving over time, as athletes competing in Singapore win through to The Games of the future.

The big job remaining, will be to build on the success and experiences of the 3,000+ who have been embraced by the event, to spread the word and inspire even more young people to participate in sport when they return to their homes all around the world.

China budget for London Olympics

China amasses $120m to fund Olympic athlete preparations@sportbusiness

The Chinese Olympic Committee (COC) earned $60 million from the Beijing Olympics, and has raised another $60 million to fund its athletes’ preparations for the London Olympics in 2012.

Singapore Olympic Pathway Programme for London Olympics

Pathway to 2012 Olympics@Straits Times

A NEW Olympic Pathway Programme (OPP) has been launched to provide focused support for Singapore's top athletes at the 2012 London Olympics.

Athletes who have the potential to win medals at the coming Games, or who show potential for significant achievement at the Games, will be considered for the Programme.

The first batch of athletes to be considered for the programme are paddlers Feng Tianwei, Wang Yuegu, Sun Beibei and Yu Mengyu; swimmer Tao Li and shooter Jasmine Ser.

More athletes may be added to the programme when they meet the eligibility criteria.

Mr Teo Ser Luck, Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Ministy of Community Development, Youth and Sports, and Ministy of Transport, will helm the OPP Steering Committee.

He said on Thursday: 'The OPP is an additional support mechanism to help our athletes push for Olympic success.

'We hope that this programme will provide more motivation for our athletes to fulfil their Olympic ambitions and realise our vision of developing a sports institute to groom more elite athletes.'

Singapore sports scene update

Youth sports development gets $15m boost@Straits Times

The Singapore Youth Sports Development (SYSD) committee announced yesterday that $15 million will be jointly committed by the Ministry of Community, Youth and Sports (MCYS), the Ministry of Education (MOE) and the Singapore Totalisator Board to support youth sports development initiatives.

The committee, jointly set up by MCYS and MOE last September, will allocate $5 million for training athletes for the YOG, with the remaining $10 million to be used for developing a national talent framework in schools.

While Singapore's estimated 535,000 students under the age of 18 go through physical education lessons, only 10 per cent represent their schools in competitions.

Among the plans to unearth more talent and grow the sporting pool are the formation of training centres for each of the 26 YOG sports.

Specialised workshops and programmes will also be organised, on top of more sports medicine and sports science support.

SSC to channel S$58.8m to NSAs this year@CNA

More money will be channelled to National Sports Associations (NSAs) this year. S$58.8 million will be disbursed, a 25 per cent increase from the S$47 million given out last year.

Most of the additional funds will go towards helping the associations prepare for the upcoming Asian Youth Games.

NSAs can also look forward to multi-year planning, and funds will be made available to those with good and viable programmes.

Sports Council rolls out plans to reach the very young in pre-schools@CNA

There are some 194,000 children under the age of four in Singapore and the Singapore Sports Council (SSC) hopes to get them to embrace sports even at this tender age by developing a Fundamental Skills Programme for those aged 18 months to six years old.

Details are being worked out, but about a S$100,000 will be spent to develop the curriculum. The council will also work with private sector companies to roll out the programme in pre-school institutions later this year.

8 new schools chosen to train promising young athletes@CNA

The Education Ministry's talent spotting scheme for young athletes has been expanded to include eight new schools.

Yio Chu Kang Primary School is one of the newest Junior Sports Academies, tasked to identify and train promising talent in sports such as shooting, fencing and swimming.

Four of these centralised training institutes were set up in 2008 and since then, they have trained 260 young athletes in wushu, table-tennis, badminton, and track and field.

The eight new schools are Anglican High School, Anglo-Chinese (Primary), Catholic High School, Yio Chu Kang Primary, Ahmad Ibrahim Secondary, Nan Hua Primary, Pasir Ris Crest Secondary, Paya Lebar Methodist Girls' (Secondary) School.

AIS Robert T Withers PhD Scholar Award for physiologists

Talented sports physiologists recognised for excellence@AIS

Talented sports physiologists Nicola Bullock and Eileen Robertson from the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) have been named joint winners of the inaugural AIS Robert T Withers PhD Scholar Award.

‘Both of the PhD scholars are working at the forefront of sports science research and development and pushing the limits of scientific inquiry to help Australian athletes and teams gain that winning edge,’ said Professor Gore. ‘They have shown tremendous passion, drive and commitment in their PhD research work.’

Nicola Bullock was commended for her exhaustive PhD research into the performance of Australia’s winter athletes in skeleton racing. Her research, which was mentored by Dr David Martin, has let to a much greater understanding of key factors that affected the performance of skeleton athletes at the Winter Olympic Games.

Eileen Robertson, currently a lecturer in exercise physiology at the University of Canberra, was recognised for her significant contribution under the guidance of Professor David Pyne to physiological expertise and support that helped maximise the performance of AIS swimmers and teams in preparation for the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games.

The AIS Robert T Withers PhD Scholar Award includes a $5000 prize and medallion. It is open to current PhD scholars (or individuals who graduated less than one year ago) from any Australian university, sports institute or academy, who have conducted exercise physiology research that has had a substantial impact, or the potential to have a strong impact, on Australian sport.

Singapore Sports School to offer a 6-years long term athlete development programme

Singapore Sports School to offer 6-year education programme@CNA

SINGAPORE: Singapore Sports School has plans to introduce a six-year education programme next year. Currently, the school offers a four-year O-Level course for its students.

Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports, Vivian Balakrishnan, joined in the school's 5th anniversary celebrations on Thursday.

He also opened "The Champion Heritage Centre", which chronicles the school's sports and academic achievements.

The school in Woodlands now wants to offer more to students, some of whom have also excelled in their studies.

Dr Balakrishnan said: "When we first started the Sports School, we said that we will provide secondary school education up to O-Levels and then the students would have to move on. We now realise that we need a longer platform for these students, so we will run a six-year programme."

The in-house programme will be introduced next year for the secondary one cohort. The school now has tie-ups with other institutions offering A-Level, Diploma and even degree programmes.

Over the years, the school has achieved much in the sporting arena and the new six-year education programme will ensure that the students can balance between studies and sports.

More manpower will be recruited to support the programme, but for now, there are no plans to expand the infrastructure.

Expending their energies, 400 students showed off their creative skills in a concert as part of the celebrations.

Sports Sci J@Nov 08-Mar 09

This is the latest sports science journal update.

---

Nov 08-Mar 09

Coaching

Peaking for optimal performance: Research limitations and future directions. JSS (free access)



What makes coaches tick? The impact of coaches' intrinsic and extrinsic motives on their own satisfaction and that of their athletes. SJMSS



Does Improved Decision-Making Ability Reduce the Physiological Demands of Game-Based Activities in Field Sport Athletes? JSCR



Does Childhood Motor Skill Proficiency Predict Adolescent Fitness? MSSE



The changing shape of “successful” professional footballers. JSS (free acces)



Fitness determinants of success in men's and women's football. JSS



Analysis of High Intensity Activity in Premier League Soccer. IJSPP



Analysis of lap times in international swimming competitions. JSS



Relationships between swim performance, maximal oxygen uptake and peak power output when wearing a wetsuit. JSMS



Analysis of speed, stroke rate, and stroke distance for world-class breaststroke swimming. JSS



Movement coordination patterns in triple jump training drills. JSS



The Professionalization of Youth Sports: It's Time to Act! CJSM



Strength & Conditioning

Optimizing Performance by Improving Core Stability and Core Strength. SM



Understanding Change of Direction Ability in Sport: A Review of Resistance Training Studies. SM



Cross-Sectional Area and Muscular Strength: A Brief Review. SM



Comparison of Linear and Reverse Linear Periodization Effects on Maximal Strength and Body Composition. JSCR



Sprint Training in Preadolescent Soccer Players. IJSPP



Squat Jump Training at Maximal Power Loads vs. Heavy Loads: Effect on Sprint Ability. JSCR



Determining Variables of Plyometric Training for Improving Vertical Jump Height Performance: A Meta-Analysis. JSCR



Vibration Training: Could It Enhance the Strength, Power, or Speed of Athletes? JSCR



Using Functional Tests to Identify Core Weakness. PTJ



Effects of Static Stretching on Repeated Sprint and Change of Direction Performance. MSSE



Dynamic Stretching and Golf Swing Performance. IJSPP



Basketball game-related statistics that discriminate between teams' season-long success. EJSS



Physiology

Fatigue management in the preparation of Olympic athletes. JSS



Technical performance during soccer matches of the Italian Serie A league: Effect of fatigue and competitive level. JSMS



Sea-Level Exercise Performance Following Adaptation to Hypoxia: A Meta-Analysis. SM


Cycling Performance Following Adaptation to Two Protocols of Acutely Intermittent Hypoxia. IJSPP



Improved Race Performance in Elite Middle-Distance Runners After Cumulative Altitude Exposure. IJSPP



Improved running economy and increased hemoglobin mass in elite runners after extended moderate altitude exposure. JSMS



The Influence of Respiratory Muscle Training Upon Intermittent Exercise Performance. IJSM



The Effects of Wearing Lower-Body Compression Garments During Endurance Cycling. IJSPP

The Effects of Compression Garments on Intermittent Exercise Performance and Recovery on Consecutive Days. IJSPP



Effects of wearing compression garments on physiological and performance measures in a simulated game-specific circuit for netball. JSMS



Effect of Compression Stockings on Running Performance in Men Runners. JSCR


The influence of cold water immersions on adaptation following a single bout of damaging exercise. EJAP



Effect of cold water immersion after exercise in the heat on muscle function, body temperatures, and vessel diameter. JSMS



To Cool, But Not Too Cool: That Is the Question-Immersion Cooling for Hyperthermia. MSSE



Cold-induced vasodilation. EJAP



Mental fatigue impairs physical performance in humans. JAP (free access)



Training and 24-hr Urinary Catecholamine Excretion. IJSM



Changes in heart rate recovery after high-intensity training in well-trained cyclists. EJAP



Validity and Reliability of Short-Term Heart-Rate Variability from the Polar S810. MSSE



Effect of high intensity intermittent training on heart rate variability in prepubescent children. EJAP



The Ecological Validity and Application of the Session-RPE Method for Quantifying Training Loads in Swimming. JSCR



Using Session-RPE to Monitor Training Load in Swimmers. SCJ



Aerobic Cost in Elite Female Adolescent Swimmers. IJSM



A Method for Determining Critical Swimming Velocity. IJSM



Characteristics of performance in skeleton World Cup races. JSS



Validity of the Running Repeated Sprint Ability Test Among Playing Positions and Level of Competitiveness in Trained Soccer Players. IJSM



Is a fatigue index a worthwhile measure of repeated sprint ability? JSMS



Repeated-bout exercise in the heat in young athletes: physiological strain and perceptual responses. JAP



Longitudinal changes in haemoglobin mass and V O2max in adolescents. EJAP



Effect of commercial airline travel on oxygen saturation in athletes. BJSM



Why does exercise terminate at the maximal lactate steady state intensity? BJSM



Progressive Statistics for Studies in Sports Medicine and Exercise Science. MSSE



Measurement Studies in Sports Science Research. IJSPP



Inference About Magnitudes of Effects. IJSPP



Game creativity analysis using neural networks. JSS



Nutrition

Nutrition and Athletic Performance. MSSE



Dehydration: Cause of Fatigue or Sign of Pacing in Elite Soccer? SM



Rates of fluid ingestion alter pacing but not thermoregulatory responses during prolonged exercise in hot and humid conditions with appropriate convective cooling. EJAP



Core temperature differences between males and females during intermittent exercise: physical considerations. EJAP



Caffeine Improves Physical and Cognitive Performance during Exhaustive Exercise. MSSE



Caffeine and sports performance. APNM



Effect of Caffeine on Sport-Specific Endurance Performance: A Systematic Review. JSCR



Ramadan Fasting’s Effect on Plasma Leptin, Adiponectin Concentrations, and Body Composition in Trained Young Men. IJSNEM



Biomechanics

A Review of Vision-Based Motion Analysis in Sport. SM



Validity and reliability of a simple categorical tool for the assessment of interceptive skill. JSMS



Relationships between stroke parameters and critical swimming speed in a sprint interval training set. JSS



Validity of the use of a fixed point for intracycle velocity calculations in swimming. JSMS



Effects of different shoe-lacing patterns on the biomechanics of running shoes. JSS





Sports Medicine

Selected Issues for the Adolescent Athlete and the Team Physician: A Consensus Statement. MSSE



The Inflammatory Response to Skeletal Muscle Injury: Illuminating Complexities. SM



Another major win for physiotherapy — curing patellofemoral pain. BJSM



Patellofemoral pain syndrome: a review on the associated neuromuscular deficits and current treatment options. BJSM



Sports Injuries Surveillance During the 2007 IAAF World Athletics Championships. CJSM



Epidemiological studies of injuries in rugby league: Suggestions for definitions, data collection and reporting methods. JSMS



Is your prescription of distance running shoes evidence-based? BJSM



The Epidemiology and Aetiology of Injuries in Sailing. SM



Total Hemoglobin Mass-A New Parameter to Detect Blood Doping? MSSE



Medication Use by Athletes at the Athens 2004 Summer Olympic Games. CJSM



What to tell the media—or not: consensus guidelines for sports physicians. BJSM



Psychology

Why do English players fail in soccer penalty shootouts? A study of team status, self-regulation, and choking under pressure. JSS



Coping Skills of Olympic Developmental Soccer Athletes. IJSM





The effects of perceived and received support on objective performance outcome. EJSS



Reflective practice, experience, and the interpretation of anxiety symptoms. JSS



Talent ID and development

Anthropometric and performance measures for the development of a talent detection and identification model in youth handball. JSS



Birthplace effects on the development of female athletic talent. JSMS



Birth date and birth place effects in National Hockey League draftees 2000–2005: comments on Baker and Logan (2007). BJSM



Do anthropometric and fitness characteristics vary according to birth date distribution in elite youth academy soccer players? SJMSS



Validity and Reliability of the Medicine Ball Throw for Kindergarten Children. JSCR



Global Gene Expression in Skeletal Muscle from Well-Trained Strength and Endurance Athletes. MSSE



The Human Gene Map for Performance and Health-Related Fitness Phenotypes: The 2006-2007 Update. MSSE



Endurance Performance: Genes or Gene Combinations? IJSM

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brain performance peaks at the age 22

Old age begins at 27 as mental powers start to decline, scientists find @telegraph

The study of 2,000 men and women lasted over seven years. The respondents, aged between 18-60, were asked to solve visual puzzles, recall words and story details and spot patterns in letters and symbols.

Similar tests are often used to diagnose mental disabilities and declines, including dementia.

The research by the University of Virginia found that in nine out of 12 tests the average age at which the top performance was achieved was 22.

The first age at which performance was significantly lower than the peak scores was 27 – for three tests of reasoning, speed of thought and spatial visualisation. Memory was shown to decline from the average age of 37. In the other tests, poorer results were shown by the age of 42.

However, the report published in the academic journal Neurobiology Of Ageing, found that abilities based on accumulated knowledge, such as performance on tests of vocabulary or general information, increased until at the age of 60.

AYG update

Preparations for Asian Youth Games remain on track@CNA

SINGAPORE: Despite the current economic climate, preparations for the inaugural Asian Youth Games, to be held in Singapore from June 29 to July 7, remain on track.

Of the estimated budget of S$15 million, slightly over S$3 million in sponsorship has been raised. The rest will be borne by the government.

NZ high performance budget 2009-2012

SPARC investment plan for high performance success@SPARC

SPARC has announced the four year 2009-2012 high performance investment programme for targeted sports geared to get New Zealand athletes on the podium at London 2012.

Under the High Performance Strategy 2006-2012 New Zealand is targeting at least 10 medals for the London Olympics.

The targeted investment is part of an overall high performance investment programme of approximately $35 million per annum. Other components of the investment programme include; high performance funding to other national sports organisation under the contestable investment process ($4.8 m) – announced in December 2008; performance enhancement grants direct to athletes and coaches ($5.5 m); Prime Ministers sports scholarship programme ($4.25 m) – announced January 2009; high performance support e.g. technology, research, innovation, talent transfer ($2 m) and New Zealand Academy of Sport athlete and coach support programme ($ 5.7m).

UK recovery forum

RECOVERY AND REGENERATION THE FOCUS OF NORTH EAST FORUM@EIS

The discussion topic was Recovery and Regeneration and former West Midlands Regional S&C Lead Nick Grantham of Smart Fitness started of with a presentation on recovery methods and choices based on type of fatigue. The 'Recovery Pyramid' which Nick and current EIS S&C Coach Mark Jarvis developed formed a large part of the information presented where various levels and stages of recovery method choices are ranked according to a needs basis.

Nigel Stockill of Optima Life presented his information on his equipment and software for monitoring recovery status in relation to heart rate variability.

GB Basketball Lead Duncan French then discussed the strategies he has put in place with GB Basketball based around the distinct needs for a team during a touring situation where travel, training and games all have to be finely balanced in order to keep the players healthy while on tour duty. Duncans information displayed how athletes can self help and make their own decisions based on how they are feeling and the situation they find themselves in at any given time.