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Inactivity is higher among women than among men, and there are few specific questionnaires used to assess physical activity (PA) in women that are truly meaningful to them. This article tackles the design and validation process of an ad hoc multidimensional questionnaire to assess leisure time physical activity (LTPA) among adult women of Gipuzkoa. The questionnaire was completed by 3595 adult women (43.5 ± 12.1 years), 32% of which were inactive and 68% of which were active. Content validation, ecological validation, and internal consistency analysis results were satisfactory. The Gipuzkoa Women’s Physical Activity Questionnaire (GWPAQ) consists of four dimensions and 21 items. Barriers to PA were found related to intrapersonal, environmental, and socio-cultural aspects. The importance of family and spousal support in increasing PA levels was also observed. It is concluded that the GWPAQ is valid for obtaining evidence that can be used by public institutions to optimise women-specific PA promotion policies.

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The aim of this paper was to examine the differences in the external and internal load in amateur match officials between the 1st and 2nd half and among different 15 min periods. Twenty-three field referees (FRs) and 46 assistant referees (ARs) from the Spanish División de Honor participated in this study. Match external and internal loads were monitored showing that FRs recorded a lower Powermean, Speedmean, Cadencemean and Stiffnessmean (p < 0.05; d = 0.52 to 0.57) during the 2nd half and they also recorded a lower HRmean, and HRpeak, and spent less time in zone 5 (p < 0.05; d = 0.50 to 0.62). The FRs’ match load decreased during the match but they performed higher Powermean and covered more distance in the last 15 min of the match (p < 0.01; d = 0.87 to 4.28). The ARs external load did not show significant variations between halves, but ARs recorded a lower HRmean and spent less time in zone 5 (p < 0.01; d = 0.41 to 0.63), and the highest values of Powermean, Speedmean, Cadencemean and Vertical oscillationmean during the first 15 min of the match (p < 0.05; d = 0.45 to 0.75). The highest values of HRmean and distance covered were in the 0–15 min period. Results suggest that match load decreases as the match progresses because of the neuromuscular fatigue but increases in the last 15 min.

This study aimed to evaluate the impact of the Emakumea Pilotari (female Basque pelota player) programme organised by the Gipuzkoan Federation of Basque Pelota on the participants. The data were extracted from an ethnography carried out in the 2011-12 season in which 28 women between the ages of 20 and 60 participated; from two discussion groups held in 2013 and 2016, where 12 women between the ages of 24 and 60 participated; and from documents related to the programme. After an inductive analysis, the results suggest that the opportunity to play Basque pelota in a safe and comfortable environment facilitates female Basque pelota players' access to this sport, since it is "their time and their day". The sense of group belonging and the opportunity to play with a more cooperative approach created greater adherence to the task among the participants, since their participation is aimed at both interpersonal relationships and the sport activity. The female Basque pelota players feel included in this programme, as they believe that it is tailored for them, and they emphasise that the proposed exercises make all participants able to enjoy it, regardless of their playing level. Designing and implementing sports-recreational programmes exclusively with and for women can significantly increase their level of participation and their group involvement.