Objectives: .Oral health is as important to an athlete's sporting successas regular exercise and adequate nutrition. The aim of this study was to investigate the relation between oral health and sporting performance. Methods: This prospective study was carried out with male athletes. Athletes' demographic characteristics, dental care habits, number of decayed, missing or filled teeth, and sporting performance data were recorded. The Decayed Missing Filled Teeth (DMFT) index, Significant Caries index (SCI) and Plaque index (PI) were used to assess oral health. The T-Drill, ZigZag , Lateral Change of Direction (LCD) and 505 tests to assess agility, and 10-, 20-and 30-m short sprint tests were used to assess speed. The results were analyzed on SPSS software, and p values < 0.05 were regarded as significant. Results: Ninety-six athletes were included in the study. Active caries was determined in 70.8%. The mean DMFT index value was 3.9 ± 3.7, mean SCI 10.2, and mean PI 0.9 ± 0.4. DMFT was ≥ 4 in 45.8% of athletes and < 4 in 57.2%. No difference was determined between subjects with DMFT < 4 and DMFT ≥ 4 in terms of age, height, body weight, or years engaged in sports. Agility and speed tests results were superior in subjects with DMFT<4 than in those with DMFT ≥ 4, and times to completion of performance tests were shorter (p < 0.05). Pearson correlation analysis revealed that DMFT was positively correlated with agility tests [T-Drill test (r = 0.428), ZigZag test (r = 0.428), LCD test (r = 0.286) and 505 test (r = 0.529)], and speed tests [short sprint, 10-m (r = 0.309), 20-m (r = 0.336), 30-m (r = 0.449)] (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Impairment of oral health has an adverse effect on sporting performance, and this can lead to poorer results in performance tests such as agility and speed.

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This study investigates the differences in agility, speed, jump and balance performance and shooting skills between elite hearing-impaired national team soccer players (HISP) and without-hearing-impairment elite soccer players (woHISP). Players were divided into two groups, the HISP group (n = 13; 23.5 ± 3.1 years) and the woHISP group (n = 16; 20.6 ± 1.4 years), and were tested in three sessions, seven apart, for metrics including anthropometrics, speed (10 m, 20 m and 30 m), countermovement jump (CMJ), agility (Illinois, 505, zigzag), T test (agility and shooting skills), and balance. The results showed that 30 m, 20 m and 10 m sprint scores, agility/ skills (sec), shooting skills (goals), zigzag, Illinois, and 505 agility skills, and countermovement jump scores were significantly lower among players with hearing impairments (p < 0.05). There were no significant T test differences between HISP and woHISP (p > 0.05). The HISP showed right posterolateral and posteromedial, and left posterolateral and posteromedial scores that were lower than the woHISP group (p < 0.05). Anterior scores were not significantly different between each leg (p > 0.05). In conclusion, the HISP group showed higher performance scores for speed (10 m, 20 m and 30 m), CMJ, agility (Illinois, 505, zigzag) and T test (sec and goals), but not balance. Hearing-impaired soccer players are determined by their skill, training, and strategy, not their hearing ability.

Fast growing population, and technological development and its products such as modern computer games, and also heavy urbanisation lead children to leave active play and sports and therefore it is certain to come to pass that they will suffer from health problems like obesity. Children pass their daily time mainly at schools in present education system. That is why sport activities and physical education lessons become opportunities for them to be physically active. However, there is not adequate literature on teachers' knowledge levels of play and sports in order to teach physical education classes effectively. Besides, it is difficult to obtain clear information on which play and sports children like to play or do in Turkey. 4 th and 5 th grade students in 74 elementary school in 2010-2011 educational year in Kirikkale city centre and district represented target population for present study. Sample size was determined by randomly selected 271 4 th and 5 th grade students in 37 elementary school. This survey type study was not only conducted to describe play and sports preferences of elementary school children but also to provide evidence of children's tendency toward traditional games. Findings of this study indicated that most favourite sport was basketball among 4 th grade students whereas 5 th grade students' most favourite sport was athletics. Most favourite play among 4 th grades was hide and seek while 5 th grades reported dodgeball as their most favourite play.