The purpose of this study was to compare various metabolic and functional responses while playing tennis on clay and hard courts. Twelve 90-minute matches were played (6 on clay courts and 6 on hard courts) by 4 nationally ranked players. During the on-court tests, oxygen uptake (VO2) and heart rate (HR) were measured using portable systems. Capillary blood lactate concentration (LA) was measured every 10 minutes. Additionally, distance ran, playing time, resting time, and exercise to rest ratio were monitored by time-motion analysis. The statistical analysis showed that playing time was higher on clay courts than on hard courts (p < 0.05), and resting time on clay courts and hard courts was not statistically different (p > 0.05). The exercise to rest ratio was affected by the interaction between playing time and resting time, showing a longer recovery time per unit of exercise on hard courts than on clay courts (p < 0.05). Distance ran, mean HR, and mean LA were significantly higher on clay courts than on hard courts (p < 0.05). There was less fluctuation of the VO2 response on clay courts than on hard courts. Therefore, it is suggested that conditioning programs should be adjusted according to the playing surface to account for the longer playing time, greater exercise to rest ratio, increased HR and LA, and a more steady pattern of VO2 seen on clay courts.

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Introduction. At present, there is no information about the physical fitness (PF) of children and adolescents attending school in the province of Neuquén. The provincial Department of Sports developed the Physical Fitness Assessment Plan. The main objective of this study was to administer the ALPHA-Fitness test battery to the students of Neuquén in order to develop PF reference standards. Population and methods. A total of 4487 male and female students of Neuquén aged 9-18.9 years were assessed based on four PF components of the high priority ALPHA-Fitness test battery: 1) morphological: body weight and height to estimate body mass index; 2) musculoskeletal: standing long jump test; 3) motor: 4 x 10 m speed/ agility test; and 4) cardiorespiratory: 20-m shuttle run test (SRT). Results. The mean body mass index was 22.9 ± 4.7 kg/m 2 ; 25 % of participants were overweight and 12.7 %, obese. The mean values for the cardiorespiratory component were 4.3 ± 2.5 stages, 10.1 ± 1.2 km/h, maximal oxygen volume of 38.7 ± 6.7 mL/kg/min; standing long jump: 147.3 ± 34.6 cm; and for the motor component: 13.0 ± 1.5 s. Male participants had a better performance in PF tests (p < 0.001). Conclusion. The study results provide the first PF standards for male and female children and adolescents of the province of Neuquén, Argentina.

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principal propósito del estudio fue aplicar la batería ALPHA-Fitness en escolares neuquinos, con el objetivo de construir tablas normativas de referencia de la CF. Población y métodos. 4487 alumnos neuquinos de ambos sexos, de entre 9 y 18,9 años de edad, fueron evaluados con la batería ALPHA-Fitness de alta prioridad en 4 componentes de la CF: 1) Morfológico: peso corporal y estatura para calcular el índice de masa corporal; 2) Muscular: salto en largo sin carrera previa; 3) Motor: 4 x 10 m para evaluar la velocidad/agilidad; y 4) Cardiorrespiratorio: test de ida y vuelta en 20 m (20 m-SRT; por shuttle run test). Resultados. El índice de masa corporal medio obtenido fue 22,9 ± 4,7 kg/m 2 ; se clasificó el 25 % en la categoría sobrepeso, y el 12,7 %, en obesidad. Los valores medios obtenidos para la CF fueron componente cardiorrespiratorio: 4,3 ± 2,5 etapas, 10,1 ± 1,2 km/h, volumen de oxígeno máximo de 38,7 ± 6,7 ml/kg/min; salto en largo: 147,3 ± 34,6 cm; motor: 13,0 ± 1,5 s. Los sujetos masculinos tuvieron mayor rendimiento en las pruebas de CF (p < 0,001). Conclusión. Los resultados de este estudio proveen las primeras tablas normativas de CF en niños y adolescentes de ambos sexos