Objectives: The primary objective of this study was to compare youth athletes from two culturally distinct nations (Germany and Japan) on key aspects of their psychological makeup (goal orientation, fear of evaluation) and perceived coach support.Design: Data were obtained with questionnaires distributed during a training session and analyzed with regression as well as multivariate and univariate analyses of variance.Method: There were 56 German (30 female, 26 male) and 117 Japanese (60 female, 57 male) swimmers with a mean age of 13.2 (SD = 2.0) and 14.1 (SD = 1.8), respectively. All of the athletes participated regularly in high-level competitions.Results: As hypothesized, the German athletes were more task than ego oriented and more task focused than the Japanese, whereas the latter group had higher ego orientation scores than the German swimmers and put similar emphasis on both task and ego concerns. Contrary to expectations, there were no differences between the national cohorts in evaluative fear. The Japanese swimmers perceived their training climates to be more competition oriented than did the German participants. In terms of coach-athlete interactions, the German athletes perceived significantly more instruction, positive feedback, and social support than the Japanese. Coach variables contributed significantly to the Japanese participants' feelings of satisfaction, with no such correlations in the German sample.Discussion: Results are interpreted through cultural traditions and may be partly explained by differences in individualism. Practical recommendations for coaches and consultants are offered in light of the research findings.

Background: This study compares and analyzes the importance and performance of Korean and Japanese adolescents' health awareness in the long COVID-19 pandemic situation. Methods: A frequency analysis was conducted on data collected from 1341 Korean and Japanese adolescents in September 2021 through online and offline surveys to confirm their characteristics (reliability was verified through Cronbach's α). A paired sample test was conducted to analyze health awareness differences and performance of each variable between Korean and Japanese middle-school students and between male and female participants, substantiated by importance-performance analysis (IPA). Results: First, Korean adolescents perceived importance for all factors of health perception greater as compared to their Japanese counterparts. Second, performance differences between Korean and Japanese adolescents were especially significant in hygiene management, disease management and physical activity. Third, in Quadrant 4 of the IPA matrix, there were similarities and differences in a particular factor of health perception between Korean and Japanese adolescents. On this basis, we proposed measures emphasizing the importance of health, to enhance Korean and Japanese adolescents' performance. Conclusions: It is important for national government, public education institutions, and families to couple a therapeutic approach with a preventive and management approach that encourages periodic exercise, desirable diet, and adequate sleep when exploring measures to maintain and promote adolescents' health.

Sport participation has been growing worldwide and its potential benefits are well known. However, youth competitive sport is still a matter of debate. Competition is inherent to sport, but discussions abound when young athletes are involved. This is particularly the case in sports where early specialization and high training loads are the norm, such as artistic gymnastics. In the present study we interviewed 46 coaches, who are coaching developing elite gymnasts in Brazil, and attempted to understand their attitudes toward competition. Coaches expressed concern about the motivation, the ability of athletes to set their own goals, and providing extrinsic rewards. In contrast, some coaches saw extrinsic rewards as an effective strategy to keep their athletes committed. The study highlighted the need for both concern and understanding by coaches about individual differences due to maturation and growth.

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: A comparative study of 3 on 2 and 3 on 3 basketball games based on on-the-ball decision-making and off-the-ball movement performed with 6th grade elementary students. Japan J. Phys. Educ. Hlth. Sport Sci. 53: 439-462.Abstract : The purpose of this study was to verify the effectiveness of modified basketball games based on onthe-ball decision-making and off-the-ball movement. Two types of numerically modified basketball games, "3 on 2" and "3 on 3", were played by two 6th grade elementary PE classes. Twenty-four students participated in the 3 on 2 games, and 28 students in the 3 on 3 games. All games were videotaped, and the Game Performance Assessment Instrument (GPAI) was used for data analysis. This instrument allows counting of the frequency of on-the-ball decision-making and off-the-ball support movement, and assists in judging the performance of students in situations such as shooting, passing, ball-keeping, and supporting, as to whether or not these are appropriate. The main findings are summarized as follows:1. The number of students who experienced on-the-ball decision-making and off-the-ball support situations, and the average frequencies of these experiences, were higher in the 3 on 2 games than in the 3 on 3 games.2. In the 3 on 2 games, the numbers of students who performed appropriate passing, ball-keeping, and support were significantly higher than in the 3 on 3 games (pϽ.001).3. The rates of appropriate shooting, passing, ball-keeping, and support were significantly higher in the 3 on 2 than in the 3 on 3 games (pϽ.01).The 3 on 2 basketball game was shown to be very effective, allowing upper elementary grade students to learn appropriate on-the-ball decision-making and off-the-ball support movement, in comparison with the 3 on 3 game.