Purpose: Change of direction speed (CODS) and reactive agility (RAG) are important qual-ities in futsal, but studies rarely examined the predictors of these conditioning capacities in players of advanced level. This study aimed to evaluate predictive validity of certain an-thropometric and conditioning capacities in evaluation of futsal specific CODS and RAG in top-level players. Methods: The sample comprised 54 male players from Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, members of teams competing at the highest national rank, including national champions for the 2017–2018 competitive season in both countries. The variables comprised set of pre-dictors (body mass, body height, triceps skinfold, reactive strength index [RSI], sprint 10 m [S10M], and broad jump [BJ]; and four criteria: futsal specific CODS and RAG, performed with and without dribbling (CODS_D, CODS_WD, RAG_D, RAG_WD). To identify the asso-ciation between variables Pearson’s correlation and multiple regressions were calculated. Results: Observed predictors explained statistically significant (p < 0.05) percentage of vari-ance for all four criteria (Rsq: 0.28, 0.30, 0.23 and 0.25, for CODS_WD, CODS_D, RAG_WD, RAG_D, respectively). Body mass was significant predictor for all criteria (Beta: 0.35–0.51), with poorer performances in heavier players. In both performances which involved dribbling, significant predictors was RSI (Beta: −0.27 and −0.31 for CODS_D and RAG_D, respective-ly), with superior performances in players with better RSI. The S10M and BJ were not identi-fied as being significantly correlated to studied RAG and CODS performances. Conclusion: Study confirmed specific influence of studied predictors of futsal specific CODS and RAG with consistent negative influence of body mass on studied performances. Almost certainly this can be explained by specifics of RAG and CODS execution. Specifically, tests are performed over relatively small distances, with several changes of direction, which clear-ly mimic the futsal specific performances. Although sprint performance is often observed as important determinant of CODS and RAG, herein we did not confirm its predictive validity in explanation of futsal specific CODS and RAG. Future studies should evaluate other poten-tially important predictors of these capacities in futsal.

The presented study focuses on the impact analysis of a specific training programme primarily focusing on plyometric exercises for the lower limb explosive power, and the selected parameters of swimming turns. The tested set consisted of performance swimmers (n = 20, men n = 12 and women n = 8) in the average age of 17.3 years, average height of 174.2cm, and average weight of 65.8kg. The tested set was divided into two smaller sets. The experimental set (n = 10) used the training process as an extra experimental factor and the supervision set (n = 10) carried out only the main contents of the training process. The specific training schedule was applied during the period of 8 weeks, three times a week for 20 minutes. The effectiveness of the experimental factor was tested through a selected set of tests, focusing primarily on the lower limb explosive power. Three of the tests were conducted on the dryland using the Myotest machine: T1-Squat jump (SJ), T2-Countermovement Jump (CMJ) and T3-Plyometric jump (PJ). The tests conducted in the swimming pool were: T4-max. length of floating up after the push off from the turning wall, and T5-the length of push off after 25m of breaststrokes in the maximum speed with a push off from the wall of maximum floating up. The results pointed out a proportionally higher increase in the experimental set, in which the average percentile improvement of the jump height amounted to 17.7% in T1 (the changes in the supervision set were 0.7%); in T2 the jump height was increased by 22% (the changes in the supervision set were 0.6%); in T3 the time of contact increased by 18.5% (the supervision set showed a decrease by 1.2%), T4 by 14.9% (the changes in the supervision set were 4.1%) and in T5 by 22.7% (the changes in the supervision set were 11.0%). Kendall correlation coefficient (r), pointed out the average value of the correlation coefficient between the experimental factor and the individual tests as follows: T1

Purpose: The main aim of our research was to determine the internal load of goalkeepers in the soccer training process. The internal load of goalkeepers during the training process is examined according to the achieved values of heart rate. Our goal was to expand the knowl-edge of the impact of different methodical forms on the goalkeepers’ internal load in soccer, thereby support the possibilities of improving their training process. The assumption was that the goalkeepers would achieve significantly different heart rate values in different methodical forms. Methods: The research group was formed by six elite youth soccer goalkeepers (n=6) from U16, U17 and U19 categories. In order to evaluate the heart rate was used the POLAR PRO heart rate monitor and the loading zones of goalkeepers were determined by using a pro-gram called POLAR Team2. Subsequently, the obtained data were evaluated by using the Wilcoxon Signed-Rank Test and Cohen´s „r “(effect size). Results: The average difference in HRavg during preparatory exercise and small-sided game was 25 ± 9 beats.min-1, and the average difference in HRmax was 35 ± 12 beats.min-1. During preparatory exercise achieved the goalkeepers’ value of HRavg 134 ± 8 beats.min-1 and in small-sided game was HRavg 159 ± 8 beats.min-1. In individual methodical forms were found significantly different average heart rate values (z = -2.201, p < 0.05, r = 0.9), which statisti-cally and logically confirmed our assumption. Conclusion: Monitoring of soccer goalkeepers´ internal load in the process of training and improvement of game activities can greatly help the coaches in further planning, optimiza-tion and tracking of the training process. Based on our research´s results is recommended to monitor and evaluate the internal load intensity of goalkeepers using sporttesters during entire training process.

Introduction: One of the basic processes to improve stability and prevent injuries in sport is warming up. The aim of our work is to verify the impact of the first part of the training unit (warm-up) on the stability and performance of the footballer. Probands: The research work was carried out on 37 football players in the category U-19 and U-17 in the football club – JUPIE football school of Marek Hamšík. Probands were divided into two groups. The test group consisted of 19 U-19 football players (age average 17.2 ± 0.87), the control group consisted of 18 U-17 football players (age average 15 ± 0.5). Methods: Both groups underwent input measurement consisting of Y balance test and per-formance tests – slalom with ball, run 5 × 10m. Subsequently, the test group footballers un-derwent our intervention, myofascial release + core training, which was added to the opening part of the training unit. The study lasted 4 weeks. Results: Probands of both groups achieved a statistically significant improvement in the y bal-ance test. When comparing the performance tests, they achieved significant improvement in the test group – run 5 × 10m (p = 0.0024) and slalom with the ball (p = 0.0159) and in the control group – run 5 × 10m (p = 0.0182). The improvement in slalom with the ball test in the control group was not statistically significant (p = 0.1798). Conclusion: We have shown a significant effect of core exercises and myofascial release at the beginning of the training unit. However, the benefit was also achieved in the control group, except for the test - slalom with the ball.

Introduction: Ice hockey is a sport that requires high acceleration of players for optimal performance. The speed of athletes is influenced by several factors. The aim of this research was to determine the effect of the eccentric hamstring strength of ice hockey players on speed with directional changes. Methods: The sample consisted of 15 members of the Slovak national ice hockey team; the average age was 27, the average height was 186.46 cm (SD ± 5.04), and the average body weight was 90.87 kg (SD ± 5.91). The players completed a NordBord Nordic Hamstring Test to determine the eccentric force of their hamstrings. We used the 5-10-5 test to determine their speed with directional changes. Results: We measured a small correlation (.129, p > .05) between the eccentric muscle strength of hamstrings and the speed with directional changes in the 5-10-5 test. The average ice hockey player's hamstring strength was 456.13 N (SD ± 51.28) and the average time achieved in the 5-10-5 test was 4.984s (SD ± 0.15). We also found a small correlation between right hamstring force and the right side of the 5-10-5 test (r = .228, p > .05), and there was no correlation between left hamstring force and the left side of the 5-10-5 test (r =-.004, p > .05). Conclusion: According to our study, hamstring eccentric strength does not correlate with speed directional changes. However, more intervention studies are needed.