Purpose: Change of direction speed (CODS) and reactive agility (RAG) are important qual-ities in futsal, but studies rarely examined the predictors of these conditioning capacities in players of advanced level. This study aimed to evaluate predictive validity of certain an-thropometric and conditioning capacities in evaluation of futsal specific CODS and RAG in top-level players. Methods: The sample comprised 54 male players from Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, members of teams competing at the highest national rank, including national champions for the 2017–2018 competitive season in both countries. The variables comprised set of pre-dictors (body mass, body height, triceps skinfold, reactive strength index [RSI], sprint 10 m [S10M], and broad jump [BJ]; and four criteria: futsal specific CODS and RAG, performed with and without dribbling (CODS_D, CODS_WD, RAG_D, RAG_WD). To identify the asso-ciation between variables Pearson’s correlation and multiple regressions were calculated. Results: Observed predictors explained statistically significant (p < 0.05) percentage of vari-ance for all four criteria (Rsq: 0.28, 0.30, 0.23 and 0.25, for CODS_WD, CODS_D, RAG_WD, RAG_D, respectively). Body mass was significant predictor for all criteria (Beta: 0.35–0.51), with poorer performances in heavier players. In both performances which involved dribbling, significant predictors was RSI (Beta: −0.27 and −0.31 for CODS_D and RAG_D, respective-ly), with superior performances in players with better RSI. The S10M and BJ were not identi-fied as being significantly correlated to studied RAG and CODS performances. Conclusion: Study confirmed specific influence of studied predictors of futsal specific CODS and RAG with consistent negative influence of body mass on studied performances. Almost certainly this can be explained by specifics of RAG and CODS execution. Specifically, tests are performed over relatively small distances, with several changes of direction, which clear-ly mimic the futsal specific performances. Although sprint performance is often observed as important determinant of CODS and RAG, herein we did not confirm its predictive validity in explanation of futsal specific CODS and RAG. Future studies should evaluate other poten-tially important predictors of these capacities in futsal.

The aim of the study was to detect the current level of explosive strength of lower limbs. Results were compared with the best individual personal performance which is evaluated through FINA points. 10 male and 14 female junior representatives in swimming (n=24; height = 178.7 ± 7.59 cm; weight = 67.5 ± 7.76 kg) and 10 male and 8 female senior rep-resentatives in swimming (n=18; height = 179.8 ± 5.54 cm; weight = 72.6 ± 8.32) from the Slovak Republic participated in testing. The explosive strength of lower limbs was meas-ured by standing broad jumps and by the diagnostic device Myotest where CMJ and SJ tests were used. The results were compared by Pearson correlation coeficient with the best point performance of a particular proband. The average height of the junior repre-sentatives in the SJ test was 33.0 cm and of the senior representatives was 40.9 cm. The average height of the junior representatives in the CMJ test was 36.0 cm and the value of the senior representatives was 45.9 cm. The average value of junior representatives in the standing broad jump test was 220.0 cm and in senior representatives was 269.3 cm. Senior representatives achieved better results in all tests. The average point performance in junior representatives was 708.0 points and in senior representatives was 761.7 points. Percen-tual difference between the groups was detected in tests at values from 18.1% to 21.6% and the difference in FINA points was 7.1%. Pearson correlation coeficient showed high and medium values on statistical significance of 1% between tests of explosive strength, although, it showed the low values between the explosive strength tests and value of FINA points. The explosive strength of the lower limbs is one of the factors of sports performance that affect swimming performance. However, its level of impact needs to be verified by fur-ther research.

Purpose: The main aim of our research was to determine the internal load of goalkeepers in the soccer training process. The internal load of goalkeepers during the training process is examined according to the achieved values of heart rate. Our goal was to expand the knowl-edge of the impact of different methodical forms on the goalkeepers’ internal load in soccer, thereby support the possibilities of improving their training process. The assumption was that the goalkeepers would achieve significantly different heart rate values in different methodical forms. Methods: The research group was formed by six elite youth soccer goalkeepers (n=6) from U16, U17 and U19 categories. In order to evaluate the heart rate was used the POLAR PRO heart rate monitor and the loading zones of goalkeepers were determined by using a pro-gram called POLAR Team2. Subsequently, the obtained data were evaluated by using the Wilcoxon Signed-Rank Test and Cohen´s „r “(effect size). Results: The average difference in HRavg during preparatory exercise and small-sided game was 25 ± 9 beats.min-1, and the average difference in HRmax was 35 ± 12 beats.min-1. During preparatory exercise achieved the goalkeepers’ value of HRavg 134 ± 8 beats.min-1 and in small-sided game was HRavg 159 ± 8 beats.min-1. In individual methodical forms were found significantly different average heart rate values (z = -2.201, p < 0.05, r = 0.9), which statisti-cally and logically confirmed our assumption. Conclusion: Monitoring of soccer goalkeepers´ internal load in the process of training and improvement of game activities can greatly help the coaches in further planning, optimiza-tion and tracking of the training process. Based on our research´s results is recommended to monitor and evaluate the internal load intensity of goalkeepers using sporttesters during entire training process.

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