The aim of this study was to compare kinetics, muscle activation and performance during resistance exercises between internal focus attention instructions, external focus attention instructions and control condition. Thirty (n = 30, mean age = 21.40 ± 0.93 years old) healthy men were recruited as participants and were asked to perform resistance exercises in three conditions; i) internal focus, ii) external focus and iii) control (no focus attention instruction). Participants performed 10RM squat and deadlift assessment in which kinetics, muscle activation and number of repetitions completed were recorded and analyzed during the exercises. Findings of this study revealed that external focus attention instruction produced greater force production and number of repetitions completed while at the same time lower muscle activity compared to the internal focus conditions. To conclude, external focus attention instructions were suggested to be adopted during resistance training due to its effectiveness to make movement more economic while producing greater performance in which will be more advantages for future adaptations.

This study was conducted to determine the effect of different stance-width; i) narrow, ii) shoulder and iii) wide, on muscle activation and performance during Romanian deadlift (RDL) exercise. Thirty recreationally resistance trained men aged of 19-23 years old (22.20±1.13) were involved in this study. The participants need to perform RDL with 80% of their 1RM in three sessions with three difference stances in randomized order. To measure the muscle activation level during performing the exercise, the electromyogram (EMG) marker was placed on vastus lateralis, biceps femoris, gluteus maximus and multifidus muscles. The number of repetitions completed during each sets was recorded as indicator for performance. The mean EMG value during concentric and eccentric movement along with the number of repetitions completed were analysed using one way repeated measure analysis of variances (ANOVA). The result showed no significant differences were found on EMG reading of vastus lateralis and bicep femoris during eccentric and concentric phase of RDL when three different stances were used. However, when wide stances were used, a significant difference was observed on gluteus maximus whilst significant differences on multifidus were obviously seen when narrow stance were used. Higher number of repetition completed was significantly found when wide and shoulder width stances were used compared to narrow stance. The results of this study revealed the importance to choose correct stance width (depending on training objective) while performing RDL due to its effects on the muscle activation and performance.

The purpose of this study was to examine the sprint time and cardiovascular fitness among professional soccer players during in-season’s training sessions. Thirty participants who officially registered as Perbadanan Kemajuan Negeri Perak Football (PKNP) Club professional soccer players participated in this study. Data were collected during actual in-season training sessions from December 2016 to April 2017. Sprint time performance was determined by the 20m sprint test and 20m Yoyo Intermittent Recovery Test Level 1 was used to determine the cardiovascular fitness level of the players. Repeated Measures and Pearson Correlation Coefficient was used to analyzed the data, there was significant improvement (p<0.05) for sprinting performance from pre-test (3.59 ± 0.36 sec) to post-test (3.20 ± 0.14 sec). There was also a significant improvement for cardiovascular performance from pre-test (68.65 ± 3.88 mhkg-1·min-1) to post-test (75.40 ± 5.45 mhkg-1·min-1) throughout the four months of training periods. There was a significant relationship (p<0.05) between sprint time performance and cardiovascular fitness performance for all six series testing. Thus, it can be concluded that throughout the process of monitoring, the player’s performance can be identified, as showed in this study there was an improvement on sprinting performance and cardiovascular fitness performance throughout six series testing, which mean players undergone relevant training program during the in-season training session.

This study aimed to examine the effects of unilateral versus bilateral resistance training and bilateral deficit on unilateral and bilateral strength adaptation among trained men. Thirty recreationally active, resistance trained men were recruited and were divided into three groups; i) unilateral (n=10), ii) bilateral (n=10) and iii) control (n=10). Chest press and biceps curl strength tests were conducted unilaterally and bilaterally before and after six weeks of training intervention. Unilateral bicep curl and chest press training was given to the unilateral group while the bilateral group was asked to undergo bilateral bicep curl and chest press training. 1RM bicep curl and chest press tests were measured unilateral and bilateral strength and bilateral deficit before and after the intervention. The intervention period were six weeks. Mixed design (ANOVA) was used to compare strength during pre- and post-test in groups while MANOVA was used to compare the changes in percentage during pre and post-test between groups. Results showed a significant difference in the test of unilateral strength within groups. Both unilateral and bilateral training groups managed to improve both unilateral and bilateral strength significantly in both exercises but there was a decrease in unilateral and bilateral strength within control group. On the other hand, all the three groups showed no bilateral deficit for bicep curl and chest press test. The findings also revealed that there was a significant difference in the percentage changes between groups. The unilateral group showed a greater change in percentage the in unilateral strength compared to the control group but no significant difference with the bilateral group. While, the bilateral group showed a greater percentage change in bilateral strength compared with the unilateral and control group. In conclusion, this study showed that both of these unilateral and bilateral exercises can increase muscle strength in trained men. However, the unilateral and bilateral strength adaptation is specific to the training performed especially for multi-joint and complex exercise.

Background and Study Aim. Despite many evidences showed the effectiveness of small sided games (SSG) to be included in sport training programs, majority of the study was done in soccer, while is very limited in hockey. The purpose of this study was to determine and compare the effects of small sided games and traditional training on physical fitness components (cardiovascular endurance, power, speed) and skills (dribbling, hitting, passing) among Under-12 hockey players. Material and Methods. A total of 36 primary schools’ male students aged below 12 that represent their district were randomly divided into three groups; i) 3x3, ii) 4x4 and iii) traditional training (TT). The yo-yo test (cardiovascular endurance), standing long jump test (power) and 30m sprint test (speed) were conducted to measure level of physical fitness performance while the skills of the players was tested based on the skills of dribbling, hitting and passing. Pre- and post-tests were conducted on all fitness and skill level before and after 8 week intervention period. Mixed between within analysis of variances (ANOVA) was used to analyze the differences in physical fitness and skills performance between and within the three groups. Results. The results of this study showed all groups managed to improve their physical fitness and skills in the post test. However, the 3x3 and 4x4 SSG have better improvement compared to TT in physical fitness while no significant differences were found in skills tests. Conclusions. In conclusion, SSG interventions were found to be more effective in improving physical fitness but not in terms of skills. Coaches are encouraging to implement SSG in their training program in order to improve both physical and skills among hockey players.