Purpose: The aim of this study was to compare the effects of different volumes of static stretching exercises (SS) on the reactive strength index (RSI), leg stiffness (Kleg), and hamstring flexibility in well-trained judo athletes. Method: In total, 17 international level judo athletes (11 women and 6 men; age, 20.47 ± 1.59 years; experience in judo, 11.35 ± 1.84 years) were recruited for this study. The athletes completed three different SS sessions named low (LV-SS: 3.5 min), moderate (MV-SS: 7 min), and high volumes (HV-SS: 10.5 min), 72 h apart, in a randomized crossover study. Before and after each SS exercise session, hamstring flexibility, RSI and Kleg were evaluated by a sit-and-reach test and a Myotest accelerometric system, respectively. Results: Different volumes of SS exercises improved hamstring flexibility (p < .05); however, no one exercise was superior in improving hamstring flexibility than the other (p > .05). Different volumes of SS exercises neither improved nor reduced RSI and Kleg (p > .05). Conclusion: Judo athletes can use LV-SS, MV-SS, or HV-SS for hamstring flexibility enhancement, and SS exercises can be used as a part of a warm-up session prior to judo training or competition.

This study aims to determine the effects of strength and serving practices on serving skills performed by volleyball players who practice volleyball regularly. 30 female athletes with an average age of 16.30±0.8 years control group (CG) and 16.44±0.1 years experimental group (EG), who have been participating in volleyball practices on a regular basis for at least five years (90 min/day, three days/week), volunteered for this study. All players were randomly divided into two groups: the EG (n=15) and the CG (n=15). The participants continued attending their regular practices three times a week for 14 weeks, involving technical-tactical training and speed and agility practices required to succeed in volleyball. In addition to these practices, the EG also performed extra serving practices for another hour once a week and participated in strength workout training programs aiming to improve their upper and lower extremities on another day. At the beginning of this study, these players' anthropometric characteristics and ability to get the serve over the net and to serve to a target were noted before and after this 14-week program. When the physical characteristics of these groups were compared, no statistically significant differences were found (p&gt;0.05). However, when the players' ability to get the serve over the net and to serve to a target were compared, statistically significant differences were found between these two groups (p&gt;0.05). Finally, it was concluded that strength and serving practices, in addition to technical practices, which play a crucial role in improving performance and skills in volleyball, improved the serving skills of young female volleyball players; thus, giving extra programs to improve serving skills was found essential.<p> </p><p><strong> Article visualizations:</strong></p><p><img src="/-counters-/soc/0095/a.php" alt="Hit counter" /></p>