The Mediterranean diet (MD) is considered one of the healthiest dietary patterns. The aim of this study was to assess MD adherence in children and youth living in the Mediterranean region in Croatia and evaluate the differences in adherence to the MD among different educational stages. In total, 2722 individuals aged 2 to 24 years were enrolled in this study. Subjects were divided into different groups according to the Croatian educational system. Mediterranean Diet Quality Index (KIDMED) was used to assess adherence to the MD. In the total sample, the adherence to the MD was poor in 19.2%, average in 60.8%, and good in 20.1% of the study participants. The prevalence rate of poor adherence to the MD increased with higher educational stage, i.e., the highest prevalence rate of poor MD adherence was observed for college students (39.3%). Children having a higher number of snacks on days-off, those with lower physical activity, and not having breakfast together with a family are more likely to have poor MD adherence, while children having a higher number of snacks on working days are less likely to have a poor MD. The results of this study showed low adherence to the principles of the MD, confirming the need for improvement of adherence to the MD pattern in the studied population.

SUMMARYWe have analysed fifteen matches played by the male Croatian national handball team at the World Championship in Tunisia in 2005 and those played at the European Championship in Austria in 2010. The research has been conducted with the purpose of establishing the frequency of shooting from certain zones, i.e. from the attacking positions, the frequency of rebounded balls off the goal keeper or off the goal frame, as well as establishing where or who to the performed shots rebound. The field for the position game was divided into five zones: the left wing player, the left back player, the middle back player, the right back player and the right wing player. The mentioned zones also represent the rebounding zones. The results have shown that most shots were performed from the central zone, while the frequency of shooting from other zones was mostly equally disposed. The average number of the balls rebounded off the goal keeper or the goal frame is 17.6 balls. In 71% of the cases, the rebounded balls end in the possession of defence players which is the consequence of their close position in relation to the ball. The biggest number of rebounded balls (40%) returns to the central zone. By the χ 2 test we established that the largest number of shots performed from a certain zone rebounds in the same zone, or, in rare cases, in the nearby zone. This greatly depends on the shooting angle, which is mostly in a straight line in relation to the goal, and on the goal keeper's position in relation to the ball. The research implies the need for practising this game segment during handball training by the means of specific and situation training exercises.

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Feint movement is an important factor for offensive players to outplay their guard, and score. So far, there is no evidence of feint biomechanical analysis on a sample of elite players in handball or other team sports. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate kinematic parameters of single side fake movement between elite and professional level handball players. The sample of participants consisted of 10 handball players divided into two subsamples: elite handball players (100.00 ± 8.00 kg; 196.00 ± 4.64 cm) and professional handball players (91.20 ± 3.42 kg; 192.4 ± 7.30 cm). The kinematic analysis was conducted using a GAIT—LaBACS software system. Variables consisted of two phases (fake phase and actual phase) of feint single change of direction. Both phases included seven kinematic parameters that were observed. Statistical analysis included descriptive statistic parameters. The differences between elite and professional handball players were analyzed by multivariate and univariate variance analysis. Results showed significant differences between elite and professional players (λ = 0.44, p = 0.00), in fake phase (i.e., 1. Phase). The results also indicate that in there is no statistically significant difference between both groups (λ = 0.64, p = 0.22). Two variables had significant differences between elite and professional players (i.e., step length of the stride leg (p = 0.02) and moving the leg opposite the throwing arm in space (p = 0.00)). To conclude, the article examines specific movement patterns of single side fake movement in elite players and the confirmed importance of efficient skill execution in top level handball. On the contrary, less skilled players use more space for the same technical element.

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