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The aim of the present study was to evaluate the anaerobic power of elite male volleyball players, using the Wingate Anaerobic Test to examine the relationship between anaerobic power and jumping performance. Athletes (n=56) and Nonathletes (n=53) were divided into three age groups: Adults (18-25 yr.), Juniors (15-16 yr.), and Youth (10-11 yr.). Measurements of height, body mass, vertical jump and Wingate scores indicated higher values for athletes. The specific training effects of anaerobic power were more pronounced at the age of 10-11 years than for Nonathletes. A significant correlation coefficient between peak power and vertical jump was found for Athletes (r=.86) and for the total group (r=.82). These results indicated that vertical jump may predict the maximal anaerobic power and could be used by coaches as a practical and easy-to-apply field screening test for evaluation in volleyball training.

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This study examined the specific effects of a 6-month training program on the physical performance characteristics of rhythmic gymnastics (RG) athletes. Seventy-one female rhythmic gymnasts and 81 non-gymnasts (total, 152) were divided into four age categories: 8–10 yrs, 11–12 yrs, 13–14 yrs, and 15–17 yrs. Field measurements of speed, muscular strength, jumping ability, explosive power, and flexibility were made before and after a 6-month training program. The analysis of covariance, using as covariate the initial values, indicated that RG athletes attained the best scores in speed (p < 0.001), jumping ability (p < 0.001), and sit-ups (p < 0.001) and were more flexible than the control group in the sit-and-reach test (p < 0.01) and shoulder flexibility measurements (p < 0.001). In addition, gymnasts showed significant progress and obtained the highest scores in the majority of the tests as compared to the control group after 6 months of training. When measuring hip flexibility and leg lifts forward and sideward, gymnasts had better values on the right leg than the left leg. This observation shows the partial use of the right leg as the prevalent working leg as compared to the left leg which is considered the “support” leg during the performance of different exercises. These results reveal the physical performance characteristics of RG gymnasts as well as the specific adaptations attained in strength and flexibility after 6 months of training. Coaches and athletes should be aware of these findings in order to develop and maintain physical abilities sufficient for a successful technical performance in RG.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the physiological profile of top-level wrestlers in a simulated competition. 12 male athletes, aged 23.2±4.5yrs who were participants in the 74kg division at the Greece National Greco-Roman Championship were the evaluated subjects. During all competitions the heart rates were measured and stored with a transmitter with a digital display while the capillary blood samples were collected 3 minutes after each round was completed in order to evaluate the lactate concentrations. The statistical design was based on the One-Sample T-Test analysis. The statistics showed that the mean-max heart rate values (b•min -1 ) and mean-max lactate concentrations (mmol•l -1 ) in 2 nd and 3 rd round were significantly higher than in the 1 st round. Specifically, the values were as follows: 1 st round HR mean 138±4 -HR max 143; La mean 12.43±2.8 -La max 15.80, 2 nd round HR mean 172.2±5.6 -HR max 178; La mean 13.67±2.7 -La max 19.3, 3 rd round HR mean 183±6.3 -HR max 193; La mean 14.6±2.7 -La max 20.26.The results indicate that the physiological profile of these wrestlers was both aerobic and anaerobic. Conclusively, the wrestling aerobic training with a simultaneously increase in anaerobic threshold could contribute to a benefit in tactical especially in the last round of a Greco-Roman wrestling competition.