Inquiries in Physical Education and Sport

The Effect of Self-Talk on a Novel Dance in Greek Traditional Dance Class

2024-01-24T15:55:28+00:00

The purpose of the present study was to examine the effects of instructional self-talk on dance performance of a Greek traditional dance ‘Giatros’, among Secondary Education students. Participants were 32 children (12 boys, 20 girls), aged 7-15 years old (M =11.47, SD= 2.27). They were divided in two age groups, corresponding to education levels: 1) school year 3^rd to 6^th (7-11 years old), and 2) school year 7^th to 9^th (12-15 years old). In each age group, children were randomized in two groups: a) experimental and b) control. Both experimental and control group was taught the dance using the mimetic method, while in the experimental group the technique of self-talk, was also applied. Participants’ dance performance was video recorded and analyzed. According to the 3-way ANOVA with repeated measures, all students learned the basic dance pattern however, dance performance in experimental group was significantly higher (p<.05) than in control group in both age groups. Results revealed that instructional self-talk is an effective technique that may be used in Secondary Education Greek traditional dance classes.

Keywords: psychological techniques, children, self-talk, Greek traditional dance.

Disability and Autonomy Functioning of People With Disability: A Review

2024-01-24T14:39:59+00:00

Disability is a negative condition in human functioning that affects a large number of people. The
current review study aims to provide a proposal on the functional issue faced by people with
disabilities through the development of the autonomous mode of operation. Autonomy is defined as
self-regulation and integration in acting, is central to healthy psychological development and
functioning. The limitations in people's functionality as a result of disability emphasizes the importance
of autonomy as a way of reducing limitations to improve the everyday life of people with disability. The
importance of the role of autonomy in human life is supported by the self-determination theory, which
considers autonomy as one of the basic psychological needs whose coverage can lead to the
achievement of a good life by humans. This follows from the fact that man acts, decides based on his
personal beliefs and regulates his own behavior. Autonomy in the disability setting has been
associated with creative learning and engagement, greater energy and vitality, having more rewards
in one's relationships with society, personal satisfaction, freedom, increased productivity, positive self-
concept and making appropriate decisions.

Compositional Analyses of the Associations Between Sedentary Time and Different Intensities of Physical Activity with Cardiometabolic Health Markers Among School-Age Children

2024-02-15T12:54:09+00:00

Preventing excessive weight, obesity, and related diseases such as cardiovascular diseases are significant benefits of physical activity (PA) in children and adolescents. According to the recommendations of the World Health Organization (WHO), children can achieve significant health benefits by engaging in an average of 60 minutes per day of moderate to vigorous intensity physical activity (MVPA). This research aimed to examine the impact of adherence to PA recommendations on selected cardiovascular health indicators and explore the relationship between these indicators and PA and sedentary behavior (SB) parameters. The sample consisted of 101 children (65 boys and 36 girls), aged 8–12 years (M=10.56 ± 1.47), attending primary schools in the region of Rhodope, Greece. PA assessment was conducted using Actigraph GT3X+ accelerometers, while the health indicators examined were blood pressure, resting heart rate, body mass index (BMI), and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR). Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to examine the impact of adherence to PA recommendations on cardiovascular health indicators. The relationship between movement behavior parameters and selected health indicators was examined using linear regression analysis and the Pearson correlation coefficient (r). According to the results, adherence to PA recommendations appears to influence most of the children's cardiovascular health indicators, while vigorous PA demonstrates particular protection against cardiovascular diseases associated with excessive weight.

The Effect of Spatiotemporal Skills Data of Complex I on Attack Performance in High-Level Men’s Volleyball

2024-06-11T11:37:33+00:00

In volleyball, skills are interconnected and influence each other. This study examines the interconnectedness of volleyball skills by investigating the influence of spatiotemporal reception and setting characteristics on attack performance in complex 1 in high-level men's volleyball. A total of N=4,447 attacks from 36 matches of high-level men's tournaments (Olympic Games 2021, European Championship 2021) were examined and analyzed. The observation method collected data on the variables selected for this research. Data was recorded using a specific protocol in Microsoft Office Excel on a portable computer. For the reliability assessment of the observers, the first two authors observed and recorded 10% of the sample (4 matches) and repeated the same process 15 days later. Statistical analysis involved a chi-square test of independence to determine the relationship between spatiotemporal reception and setting characteristics and attack performance. The Cramer V coefficient and adjusted residuals were used to evaluate the effect size and identify significant associations (p<0,05). The results of this study showed that certain spatiotemporal characteristics of skills play a significant role in attack performance. These elements concern the reception direction (p<0,001), the setting tempo (p<0,001), the setting zone (p<0,001) and the threat existence of the middle-attacker player (p<0,001). The attack performance after reception is not influenced by the reception zone (p=0,074) and the reception trajectory (p=0,102), as well as the threat point on the net of the middle-attacker player (p=0,055). In conclusion, the results support the notion that volleyball skills are interconnected, particularly at high levels of play. Precise execution of preceding actions, specifically reception and setting skills, is crucial for maximizing attack performance. Coaches could use the research findings to shape their coaching plans differently, emphasizing the technical skills affecting attack performance and allocating their coaching time accordingly. At the same time, they should find solutions to face these elements when applied by opponent teams.

The Skill of Attacking in Complex I is an Element of Distinction in U20 Junior Volleyball Matches at the European Championships 2020.

2024-07-17T13:49:18+00:00

The aim of this study was to record elements of technique in complex I through observation and to determine which of them led to the victory of the teams participating in the 2020 European Men's U20 Volleyball Games. The sample consisted of 4187 phases - match episodes of complex I from 8 matches (all matches) played by the teams participating in the semi-final and final phase. The items assessed were related to the skill of attack contained in a complex I observation protocol (reception, setting, attack). These elements of the technique were recorded by observing the videotaped matches and recording each event in a protocol structured with a separate scale for each variable (skill). The statistical analysis performed using SPSS software was x2 (chi-square) analysis to assess whether the variables (frequency data) differed significantly in terms of the final outcome of winning or losing. The significance level was defined as p < 0.05. According to results, the type of attack used (strong attack, wrist placement and finger placement) played a significant role. Attack direction zones 1, 5, 6 & 8 appeared to be statistically significant in distinguishing the winning teams. It was also observed that quality of attack (attack - difficult defense & counter attack and ace - direct point scored) was a major factor that distinguished the winners from the losers. The above results could be used by coaches as elements of technique which should coach players to have high levels of success and be winners. Also, the skill of attacking which resulted in more points for the winners could be parts of coaching time, especially of a similar high level.