Purpose Grounded in the theoretical framework of achievement goal theory, the purpose of this study was to examine the role of some personal factors (perceived competence and resilience) and situational variables (motivational climate) on burnout in young athletes practicing team sports. Methods Participants were 87 adolescent basketball and volleyball players. Results Mastery (task-involving) climate correlated positively with resilience and perceived competence, and negatively with the three dimensions of burnout (emotional/physical exhaustion, reduced sense of accomplishment, and sport devaluation). In contrast, performance (ego-involving) climate related positively with the three dimensions of burnout. Regression analysis results showed perceived mastery climate to significantly contribute to the amount of the variability in two burnout variables (i.e., reduced sense of accomplishment and sport devaluation). In addition, resilience and perceived competence were shown to moderate the effects of the motivational context towards burnout.Conclusions Overall, findings suggest protective effects of mastery climate, resilience, and perceived competence against burnout symptoms. From an applied perspective, coaches should adopt suitable behaviours to promote a mastery-involving climate.

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Background Physical activity (PA) (e.g., sport, physical education) promotes the psychophysical development of children, enhances health and wellbeing, offers opportunities for enjoyable experiences, and increases self-efficacy. Methods In the DEDIPAC framework, we conducted a naturalistic, cross-sectional study to evaluate the effects of a school-based, long-term intervention on fitness (i.e., cardiovascular endurance, muscular strength, flexibility, speed, and finger dexterity), body mass index (BMI), PA levels, sedentary levels, enjoyment, and physical self-efficacy in primary school children. A group of Italian children (41 boys and 39 girls, aged 10–11 years) involved in the project—named “Più Sport @ Scuola” (PS@S)—was compared with a group of children (41 boys and 39 girls) of the same age not involved in the project. Results After a four-year long attendance to the PS@S project, participants reported higher scores of cardiovascular endurance, muscular strength, enjoyment, and physical self-efficacy compared to children not involved in the project. Correlation analysis results showed that muscular strength scores correlated positively with BMI, PA levels, and enjoyment. Flexibility of the upper body was positively related to physical self-efficacy, and negatively related to speed and BMI. Conclusions Findings suggest that the PS@S project enhanced fitness level, enjoyment, and physical self-efficacy of children.

Including the eccentric phase in resistance training to counteract the effects of detraining in women: a randomized controlled trial. J Strength Cond Res 36(11): 3023-3031, 2022-The current study compared the effects of concentric-based (CONC), eccentric-based (ECC), and traditional concentric-eccentric (TRAD) resistance training on muscle strength, mass, and architecture and the postdetraining retention of the training-induced effects in women. Sixty women were randomly assigned to unilateral volume-equated CONC, ECC, or TRAD knee extension training or control (N 5 15 per group). Before training, after an 8-week intervention period, and after an 8-week detraining period, isokinetic concentric, eccentric, and isometric torque were measured. In addition, thigh lean mass was assessed by dual X-ray absorptiometry and vastus lateralis thickness, pennation angle, and fascicle length by ultrasound. After training, concentric and isometric torque increased (p , 0.05) similarly in all groups, whereas eccentric torque increased more in ECC than that in CONC (+13.1%, effect size (ES): 0.71 [0.04-1.38]) and TRAD (+12.6%, ES: 0.60 [0.12-1.08]). Thigh lean mass increased in ECC (+6.1%, ES: 0.47 [0.27-0.67]) and TRAD (+3.1%, ES: 0.33 [0.01-0.65]). Vastus lateralis thickness and pennation angle increased (p , 0.05) similarly in all groups, whereas fascicle elongation was visible in ECC (+9.7%, ES: 0.92 [0.14-1.65]) and TRAD (+7.1%, ES: 0.64 [0.03-1.25]). After detraining, all groups retained (p , 0.05) similar concentric torque. ECC and TRAD preserved eccentric torque (p , 0.05), but ECC more than TRAD (+17.9%, ES: 0.61 [0.21-1.21]). All groups preserved isometric torque (p , 0.05), but ECC more than CONC (+14.2%, ES: 0.71 [0.04-1.38]) and TRAD (+13.8%, ES: 0.65 [0.10-1.20]). Thigh lean mass and vastus lateralis fascicle length were retained only in ECC (p , 0.05), pennation angle was preserved in all groups (p , 0.05), and thickness was retained in CONC and ECC (p , 0.05). Including the eccentric phase in resistance training is essential to preserve adaptations after detraining.