Discobolul Vol. 1//2023

The paper aims to bring to the fore some training methods and equipment that can improve sports performance in swimmers aged 12-14 years. The research, conducted at two swimming centres in Bucharest and Bacău, involved 32 athletes who were divided into two groups as follows: 16 in the experimental group and 16 in the control group. They were elite athletes practising swimming from the age of 5-6 years, 6 to 8 times a week. All of them performed the same in-water training for 14 weeks, but those in the experimental group also used a device to train their respiratory muscles before and after each workout, 3 x 30 inhalations. The research methods used were: literature review, pedagogical observation, experiment, mathematical statistics, and graphical method. The efficiency of the inspiratory muscles was measured using the PowerBreathe K-Series device, which recorded the values of lung capacity, inspiratory muscle strength and power, inspiratory pressure and breathing energy. The obtained results confirm the research hypotheses according to which there is a significant difference (of 36.7%) between the improved times of the two groups in favour of the experimental group, meaning 0.67 hundredths of a second for every 50 m swum in their preferred event after 14 weeks of using the device to train their respiratory muscles.

In the literature one can find a few studies on race car drivers. The aim of the research was to highlight the resilience level, the aggression level and risk taking behavior among Romanian race car drivers. 30 athletes participated in the study, rally drivers, athletes practicing competitive hill climb racing, drifting and circuit racing. The Brief Resilience Scale, The Romanian adaptation of the Makarowski's Stimulating and Instrumental Risk Questionnaire and The Romanian adaptation of the Makarowski's Aggression Questionnaire were used. After applying the Kruskal-Wallis H test, no significant differences were emphasized between sports disciplines (circuit, drift, rally and hill climbing), in terms of the psychological variables examined. However, when athletes were investigated according to age and taking into account the reported ability to concentrate and relax before competitions, significant differences were observed. Race car drivers (in the entire sample) over 18 years old registered a higher score for Foul play and Assertiveness, while athletes who reported a moderate level of concentration during competitions and, also, who declared that are less relaxed before contests, obtained higher values for Foul play. The findings provide valuable data regarding the resilience level, aggression and risk-taking behavior of race car drivers, according to age, sports discipline, perceived level of relaxation and concentration, which can guide specialists in the training process.

The purpose of this study is to create a psychological profile of students in Sport Management from the National University of Physical Education annd Sports, in terms of the Big Five personality superfactors, Thinking Style (i.e. rational versus irrational beliefs) and (perceived) Efficacy and to study the degree of association between these factors. The following hypotheses were formulated: 1) There are significant correlations between the Big-Five model superfactors (Extraversion, Agreeableness, Conscientiousness, Emotional Stability and Autonomy) and Self-efficacy, in the case of Sports Management students; 2) There are significant correlations between the Big-Five model superfactors (Extraversion, Agreeableness, Conscientiousness, Emotional Stability and Autonomy) and Thinking Style: Irrational Cognitions (Demandingness in the form of ’musts’, Low Frustration Tolerance, Self-Downing and/or global evaluation, Global Score Attitudes and Beliefs) in the case of students in the Sport Management Specialization; 3)There are significant correlations between Self-Efficacy and Thinking Style (i.e. Irrational Cognitions: Demandingness in the form of ’musts’, Low frustration tolerance, Awfulizing, Self-downing and /or global evaluation, Attitudes and Beliefs Global score) in the case of Sport Management students. The participants in the research were 39 students in the Sports Management Specialization (28.21% female and 71.79% male) aged 19-23 years. The 5 Factor Personality Questionnaire (CP5F) and Attitudes and Beliefs Scale-II (ABS-II), both from the Computerized Platform for Psychological Assessment (CAS++), S.C.Cognitrom S.R.L. and the Self-Efficacy Scale (Schwarzer & Jerusalem) were applied. The correlates study led to confirmation of all three hypotheses.

The main purpose of the study is to assess the development level of coordination abilities in 61 water polo players aged 10-12 years using the Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency, Second Edition (BOT-2). This test battery was designed for specialists, providing them with an effective and reliable tool to measure fine and gross motor skills. After analysing the test battery, we applied only five out of the eight subtests (the other three were considered irrelevant for the game of water polo). The tests used in our study aimed at measuring: fine motor precision (FMP), fine motor integration (FMI), bilateral coordination (BC), balance (BAL), upper limb coordination (ULC). The results were statistically interpreted using IBM SPSS v. 12, SmartPLS and Microsoft Excel. We chose these programs for their accurate calculation of mean differences between the obtained scores but also for their interpretations of the t-Test at the significance thresholds required for each subtest. Most of the selected athletes achieved below-average scores for: FMI (score = 2.54), BC (score = 2.85), BAL (score = 2.84), FMP (score = 3.07), ULC (score = 3.23). In order to achieve superior performance, athletes whose scale score is 20-24 and ideally over 25 should be selected. In conclusion, the testing provided essential and relevant information on the level of manifestation of coordination abilities in athletes, allowing specialists to implement specific exercises for the development of coordination abilities in the training process.

Bodybuilders in Limpopo Province adhere to various training and dietary routines to attain their desired physique. However, the anthropometric status and macronutrient intake of these athletes remain unknown. A total of ninety-three bodybuilders from the Capricorn District, Limpopo Province, who were members of IFBBSA, participated in the study. Ethics approval was granted by the University of the Free State Health Science. Athletes signed informed consent before participation Measurements of weight and height were taken to calculate body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC), and body fat percentage (BF%). Three 24-hour-recall questionnaires were completed. The SAMRC FoodFinder-3 was used to analyse macronutrients, with the mean values considered. Data were exported to the SPSS (v28), and descriptive statistics were applied. Pearson’s correlation test was used to determine the relationship between variables. The BMI was 25.8±4.4 kg/m2 in males and 24.9±3.6 kg/m2 in females, while MUAC was 35.6 cm for males and 28.3 cm for females. About half of both genders exhibited excess BF% (9.9% for males and 17.3% for females). Most males (81.6%) and all females had acceptable WC. Energy intake was 148 kJ/kg/day and 142 kJ/kg/day while carbohydrate intake was 4.7 g/kg/day for males and 4.3 g/kg/day for females. Fat intake was high in both genders. However, protein intake was optimal in males (1.4 g/kg/day) and suboptimal in females (1.1 g/kg/day). About half of the bodybuilders exceeded the sport-specific recommendations for BF%. However, the energy and carbohydrate intakes were suboptimal, while protein and fat intakes were optimal and high respectively.

The purpose of the research was to highlight the correlations between the level of social behaviour and the level of involvement in sports activities for citizens living in the neighbourhoods of Târgoviște municipality. The study was carried out from October 2022 to February 2023 and involved a sample of 368 people from Târgoviște municipality, of which 84 men and 284 women. The research took place in the 12 neighbourhoods of Târgoviște municipality: Centre, Suseni, Matei Voievod, Micro 3, Micro 4, Micro 5, Micro 6, Micro 9, Micro 11, Micro 12, Aleea Trandafirilor and CFR (Micro 2 neighbourhood is included in Suseni, and Prepeleac area is included in Micro 11). As part of the research, a questionnaire was applied to find out respondents’ opinions on their degree of involvement in both social life and sports activities. The research results showed the existence of a statistically significant correlation (r = 0.542; p < 0.001) between the level of social behaviour and the level of involvement in sports activities. The study reveals that men participate in sports activities in a significantly higher proportion than women. On the other hand, civic behaviour is at significantly lower levels among young people aged 19-30 and under 18 than among older people. In addition, significantly lower levels of civic/social behaviour were observed among those who did not participate in sports activities at all, compared to those who were involved in such activities.

The research analyses the performance of the CSM Bucharest women’s team during the current competition season across all four competitions in which the team participates. At the time of the paper’s elaboration, 38 games had been played, and the analysis of the games was conducted by reviewing recorded matches, scrutinizing the "match papers" completed by the team's assistant coach in real time during each game, and also using the statistics provided by the European Handball Federation and the Romanian Handball Federation. Offense performance: The team averaged 57 possessions per game, scoring an average of 31.5 goals with an overall shooting efficiency of 53%. Out of a total of 1224 goals scored, when analysing the goals scored by each player from the perspective of the position occupied in the field, left-back players accounted for the highest percentage at 28%. Left wing players and right back players scored 15% each, closely followed by the line players, with 14%. The middle back player scored 8% of all goals, the same percentage being registered also for the penalty shoots. Défense performance: The team achieved an average saving percentage of 34,5%. The average number of goals received per game was 26.2. Out of 996 received goals, the team r