Referees and assistant referees are submitted to high physical stress during matches. Pressure to make decisions in front of large crowds is another potential stressor. These two stressors can impair attention executive control, depending on physical fitness and individual vulnerability or resilience to situational pressure. Error percentage for referees and assistants may reach around 14% during a soccer match. Although previous studies have suggested that soccer referees and assistants should take cognitive assessments, they are only required by Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) to demonstrate knowledge of the rules and pass annually in a fitness test (FIFA-Test). This study aimed to assess attention performance in referees and assistants before and after the mandatory FIFA-Test. It is hypothesized that the high physical demands associated with the pressure to pass the FIFA-Test would interfere with attention performance. The sample included 33 referees and 20 assistants. The Continuous Visual Attention Test (CVAT) consisted of a 15-min Go/No-go task. Performance in the CVAT is based on four variables: omission and commission errors, reaction time, and variability of reaction time (VRT). Failure in the CVAT was defined by a performance below the 5th percentile of the age- and sex-matched normative data in at least one variable of the CVAT. Before the FIFA-Test all participants performed the CVAT. The second CVAT began 3–7 min directly following completion of the FIFA-test. Considering only the officials who passed both the FIFA-Test and the first CVAT (19 referees and 15 assistants), 44% (9 referees and 6 assistants) exhibited a performance decline in the second CVAT. A significant increase in VRT was found after the high intensity exercise. As increase in VRT is thought to reflect executive dysfunctions and lapses of attention, we concluded that physical fitness alone may not be enough to help officials cope with the physical and contextual stresses associated with the FIFA-Test. These data suggest that over 35% of soccer referees and their assistants who were considered physically able to referee matches may not be mentally prepared for the attentional demands of refereeing soccer matches.

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The aim of the present study was to develop and validate a specific estimation model of maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max) based on submaximal ventilatory indicators on a cycle ergometer test protocol in elderly men. We tested, using an incremental protocol, 181 healthy and non-athletes male volunteers, aged between 60 and 79 years old, randomly divided into two groups: group A, of estimation (n = 137), and group B, of validation (n = 44). The independent variables were: body mass in kg, second workload threshold (WT2) and heart rate at the second ventilatory threshold (VT2). The cross-validation method was used in group B, with group A serving as the basis for the model and the validation dataset. The results presented a multiple linear regression model for estimation of VO2max = 31.62 + 0.182 (WT2) -0.302 (body mass) in mlO2/kg/min-1; adjusted R2 = 0.98 and SEE = 0.682 (mlO2/Kg/min-1). The construction of this specific model for healthy and non-athletes elderly men can demonstrate that it is possible to estimate VO2max with a minimum error (SEE < 1.00) from indicators of ventilatory thresholds obtained in an incremental submaximal test.

The present study evaluates the influence of a periodized training programme on the technical performance of beginner gymnasts. The sample population, consisting of 17 artistic gymnasts, all female, between 8 and 13 years of age, was divided into two groups: An experimental group (EG; n = 9) and a control group (CG; n = 8). Initially, both groups underwent a diagnostic evaluation to determine the baseline technical level of the athletes. Both groups then underwent a 24-week training programme involving three hour-long sessions per week. The EG participated in a periodized programme, while the CG had no periodization. At the end of the training period, both groups underwent another diagnostic evaluation (post-test), which revealed a higher technical level among those who had taken part in the periodized training programme.

Periodization is a methodological system that distributes training contents. With the evolution of sports, several periodization models were developed based on Matveev’s classic periodization, Verkhoshansky’s Blocks periodization model, Vorobiev’s Modular, Arosiev and Kalinin`s Pendular, Tschiene`s High Load, Valdivielso’s ATR, Platonov’s Multicyclical, and Bompa’s Priority, among others. The vast majority of models - and even their variations - have made it difficult to classify and select which periodization to use. To that end, the aim of the present study was to create criteria to identify sports training periodization models and, with the use of analysis and discussion of their characteristics, propose a classification and indicate the applicability of the most widely cited models in the literature. In the methodology of this study, a group technique known as direct discussion was used. The group consisted of 20 Master’s students, all researchers of the models proposed and sports training students at the Science of Human Motricity Course of Castelo Branco University, in addition to four discussion mediators. Despite a number of conceptual differences, the results show that most of the contemporary periodization training models derive from Matveev’s model, in an attempt to meet the demands currently imposed by sports. We analyzed the models investigated and concluded that despite their diversity, some characteristics are common and help distinguish each of them in terms of structure, load variation, number of peaks, sports level and applicability.  Resumen. La periodización es un sistema metodológico que distribuye los contenidos formativos. Con la evolución de los deportes, se desarrollaron varios modelos de periodización basados ​​en la periodización clásica de Matveev, el modelo de periodización de Bloques de Verkhoshansky, Modular de Vorobiev, Pendular de Arosiev y Kalinin, Carga de alto de Tschiene, ATR de Valdivielso, Multicíclico de Platonov y Prioridad de Bompa, entre otros. La gran mayoría de modelos, e incluso sus variaciones, han dificultado la clasificación y selección de qué periodización utilizar. Para ello, el objetivo del presente estudio fue generar criterios para identificar modelos de periodización del entrenamiento deportivo y, con el uso del análisis y discusión de sus características, proponer una clasificación e indicar la aplicabilidad de los modelos más citados en la literatura. En la metodología de este estudio se utilizó una técnica grupal conocida como discusión directa. El grupo estuvo integrado por 20 estudiantes de maestría, todos investigadores de los modelos propuestos y estudiantes de formación deportiva del Curso de Ciencia de la Motricidad Humana de la Universidad Castelo Branco, además de cuatro mediadores de discusión. Los resultados muestran que la mayoría de los modelos de entrenamiento de periodización contemporáneos derivan del modelo de Matveev, en un intento de satisfacer las demandas impuestas actualmente por los deportes. Analizamos los modelos investigados y concluimos que a pesar de su diversidad, algunas características son comunes y ayudan a distinguir cada uno de ellos en cuanto a estructura, variación de carga, número de picos, nivel deportivo y aplicabilidad.