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Perceived stress in Italian coaches and sport mental health were investigated during the rebooting of sport activities following the first COVID-19 lockdown period. A sample of 237 coaches from various sports were asked to answer the Italian version of the Perceived Stress Scale and the Sport Mental Health Continuum, together with reporting of demographic information. Coaches’ perceived stress levels were compared with data collected during the lockdown period. Women showed a significant decrease in their perceived stress levels compared to the lockdown period, whereas this was not true for men. Hierarchical regression indicated that, during the rebooting phase, increased age of coaches and their psychological well-being experienced in sporting contexts (a sport mental health dimension) were predictive of decreased perceived stress levels. Practical implications for practitioners working in this field are discussed in the conclusions.

Purpose: To identify motivational determinants explaining Physical Education teachers' behaviors promoting students' physical activity (PA) amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. Method: Nine hundred thirty-one Italian and French teachers completed a questionnaire assessing motivational determinants (self-determined motivation, self-efficacy, perceived ease and usefulness toward digital technologies, engagement at work), their intention and behaviors promoting PA, in reference to before and during the pandemic. Path analyses tested the associations of changes in motivational determinants with changes in intention and behaviors. Results: Increases in autonomous, controlled motivation, self-efficacy, and perceived usefulness toward digital technologies, and a decrease in amotivation were associated with an increase in the intention to promote PA. In turn, an increase in intention, but also in self-efficacy, autonomous motivation, and perceived usefulness toward digital technologies were paired with an increase in behaviors promoting PA. Conclusion: Implications regarding the commitment of Physical Education teachers to challenging pedagogical situations, such as promoting PA amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, are discussed.

The article discusses the influence of constraints in small-sided games (SSGs) on the technical-tactical actions of U-11 football players in Spain. It highlights the variability in players' performance within SSGs due to the unpredictable nature of game scenarios. The study by Garcia-Angulo et al. focuses on how task-specific constraints affect players' actions during SSGs, emphasizing the importance of understanding these effects for coaching young athletes. However, the commentary critiques the study's theoretical basis, study design, and lack of consideration for long-term effects, suggesting the need for interdisciplinary research and rigorous methodology in future studies. [Extracted from the article]

The influence of playing formations and team ranking on the physical performance of professional soccer players is an open question that needs to be explored. The present study aimed to investigate the impact of these factors on the physical exertion of Serie A soccer players. We analyzed match data from 375 players, categorizing teams based on their final ranking and comparing performance across different playing formations. The Kruskal–Wallis test and the Dunn test with Bonferroni adjustment revealed that high-ranking (HR) teams exhibited a higher percentage of high-intensity (HI) accelerations compared to mid-ranking teams, suggesting the critical role of HI efforts in achieving favorable match outcomes. Moreover, the 4-3-3 playing formation was associated with greater acceleration demands than other formations, particularly in HR teams. Our study also established benchmarks for various performance metrics, enabling coaches to assess player performance and identify potential signs of overtraining. These findings contribute to a deeper understanding of the physical demands in soccer and offer practical implications for coaches and players in optimizing training and performance strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this research was to establish prevalence estimates for aphantasia, hypophantasia, typical imagery ability, and hyperphantasia in a large multi-national cohort. In Study 1, the Vividness of Visual Imagery Questionnaire was completed by 3,049 participants. Results indicated prevalence estimates of 1.2% for aphantasia, 3% for hypophantasia, 89.9% for typical imagery ability, and 5.9% for hyperphantasia. In Study 2, to replicate these findings in a larger sample, the Study 1 data were combined with openly available data from previous prevalence studies to create a total sample of 9,063 participants. Re-analysis of this data confirmed prevalence estimates of 0.9% for aphantasia, 3.3% for hypophantasia, 89.7% for typical imagery ability, and 6.1% for hyperphantasia. These robust and up-to-date estimates provide enhanced clarity to researchers regarding the prevalence of differing visual imagery abilities and provide a platform for future studies exploring the role of visual imagery in various cognitive and behavioral tasks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Grounded in achievement goal theory and basic psychological needs theory, the aim of this study was to examine the impact of the interaction of perceived motivational climate in physical education with psychological needs satisfaction (relatedness, competence and autonomy) and psychobiosocial states on student intention to engage in leisure-time physical activity. Participants (N = 470 Italian students, 287 boys and 183 girls, aged 16-19 years) completed the Teacher-Initiated Motivational Climate in Physical Education Questionnaire, the Psychological Needs Satisfaction Scale in Physical Education, the Psychobiosocial States Questionnaire, and a measure of intention to engage in leisure-time physical activity. Structural equation modelling analysis indicated that a perceived task-involving climate was related to intention to engage in physical activity through the serial mediation of competence need satisfaction and pleasant/functional psychobiosocial states. The findings highlight the importance of task-involving climate and competence need satisfaction in determining pleasant emotional states and, consequently, in promoting leisure-time physical activity. Teachers should apply curricular and pedagogical strategies that aim to create a task-involving motivational climate, make movement experiences personally meaningful and pleasant and therefore stimulate students to adopt an active lifestyle.

The Multi‐Action Plan (MAP) model presents an idiosyncratic framework for human performance. MAP research has categorised four Performance Types (PTs; T1–T4) using self‐paced activities. Specifically, T1–4 present four distinct mental states experienced by athletes during performance, differing, among other aspects, in the level of effort and perceived control. However, transitions between PTs are yet to be empirically investigated. This study aimed to examine MAP in the hyperdynamic open‐skill combat context of judo. We explored how judoka experienced PTs and the transition processes between these mental states. Six British, high‐level judoka (n = 6; Mdnage = 19) were interviewed using a retrospective semi‐structured interview schedule. Interpretative phenomenological analysis indicated that judo presents a hyperdynamic difficult‐to‐predict performance context due to the opponent and fighting rhythm. Second, participants strongly related to T2 and T3 and less to T1 and T4. They also reported experiences 'between' T2 and T3. Lastly, participants reported common transition pathways (e.g., T2–T3), typical transition cues, and specific trainable strategies to optimise performance. Findings are discussed in relation to existing literature. Lastly, we present limitations, applied, and research considerations. Highlights: The Multi‐Action Plan model presents four distinct mental states experienced by athletes during performance, differing, among other aspects, in the level of effort and perceived control.The study findings indicate that judo presents a complex and dynamic performance environment, in which judoka (judo practitioners) mostly experience effortful and controlled mental states.Judoka experience specific transitions and respective self‐regulatory processes between mental states during a fight, which can lead to optimal (upregulation) or suboptimal (downregulation) performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

(1) Background: Adolescents who are under the care of child and youth institutions are vulnerable due to factors that can include disruption to family structure or education and adverse experiences. They often experience poor or unstable support systems, leaving them at risk of delinquency. In this context, sports engagement may provide a stable structure and have positive effects in this population. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to explore the perceptions, knowledge, beliefs, and behaviors regarding social and emotional skills among at-risk adolescents, with a specific focus on their engagement in sports. (2) Methods: Ninety-six adolescents aged 12 to 17 years (66 female, 30 male), residing in child and youth care institutions across Italy, Portugal, the UK, and Turkey, participated in this study. The participants were divided into 14 focus groups, each with six to eight participants of similar ages. (3) Results: Thematic analysis revealed four main themes: Emotional causes of behavioral problems; Emotional skills to regain control; Social support makes sports worthwhile; Sport as a socio-emotional resource. (4) Conclusions: The study findings highlight that although sports create many challenging emotional situations for these adolescents, they also provides resources that may help them cope with their emotions within and beyond sports. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of mindfulness-based interventions on performance have recently been investigated, with several studies assessing changes in brain activity. The aim of the current systematic review was to identify the neural correlates of mindfulness practice that enhance performance. We completed searches on Scopus, PubMed, EBSCO, and Web of Science in February 2020. Peer-reviewed studies that implemented mindfulness-based interventions or compared groups of mindfulness meditators with non-practitioners and measured the neural activity underpinning performance were eligible. The quality of the studies and evidence was assessed with the Cochrane risk of bias tool and the GRADE system. Of the 1836 records identified, 20 published articles (925 participants) were found, including 8 experimental, 5 quasi-experimental, and 7 cross-sectional studies. None of the studies were rated as having a low risk of bias. The quality of evidence was graded to be low and very low. The main finding that emerged was the potential enhancing effect of mindfulness practice on performance monitoring abilities, which are highly important to detect and adjust to errors. Overall findings did not provide a robust evidence for neural correlates of mindfulness practice aimed to enhance performance, highlighting the need for future research. This study is registered on PROSPERO, number CRD42020185471. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In sports, athletes might train or compete with some degree of mental fatigue that has an impact on performance. The present study investigated the effect of strategic motivational self-talk on endurance performance in mentally fatigued individuals. Twelve healthy men performed three cycling endurance tests at 80% peak power output until exhaustion. Two experimental conditions (mental fatigue [MF] and mental fatigue plus motivational self-talk [MF + M−ST]) and a control condition (CO) were set out. Mental fatigue was induced via 30 min Stroop task; an electroencephalogram of the frontal cerebral cortex was continually monitored. Affective state and perceived exertion were recorded during each session and subjective workload after the endurance exercise trials. Theta band power spectral density was significantly higher in both experimental condition (MF and MF + M−ST) compared to CO, without significant differences between MF and MF + M−ST. Endurance performance was significantly worse in MF (227 ± 63s) than in CO (329 ± 84s). However, motivational self-talk reversed the deleterious effect of MF on endurance performance as in MF + M−ST (368 ± 139s) it was significantly better than MF and not significantly different from CO. Displeasure and perceived exertion scores were similar at the end of exercise and presented similar rate of increase among conditions. Mental demand after exercise was significantly greater in MF than in CO condition. These results suggest that motivational self-talk mitigates the negative effect of MF on endurance performance due to an elevated engagement with the task. Lay summary: This study examined to what extent the deliberate and planned use of cue words to enhance motivation (i.e., motivational self-talk), influenced endurance performance in mentally fatigued individuals. The harmful impact of mental fatigue on endurance performance was mitigated by using motivational self-talk during cycling exercise. Strategic motivational self-talk can be used to mitigate the harmful effect of mental fatigue effect on endurance performance. Motivational self-talk can be used to slow down the athletes' perceived exertion and the feeling of displeasure during high-intensity endurance training and competitions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pompa, D, Carson, HJ, Beato, M, di Fronso, S, and Bertollo, M. Attentional focus effects on lower-limb muscular strength in athletes: A systematic review. J Strength Cond Res 38(2): 419-434, 2024--Evidence links an athlete's focus of attention to enhancing strength performance. However, additional research is needed to investigate the applicability of studies beyond the tasks and population currently examined. Therefore, we aimed to systematically review studies concerning attentional focus effects on strength characteristics on lower-limb tasks in athletes. Scopus, Web of Science, and EBSCO databases were searched using PRISMA PERSIST guidelines and keywords related to the focus of attention, force production processes, and athletes. Subjects were categorized: world class (tier 5); elite (tier 4); highly trained (tier 3); trained/developmental (tier 2); nonathletes (tiers 1-0); and mixed (different levels). Fifteen of 296 studies met the inclusion criteria. Included studies investigated the focus of attention effects on performance (n56), between skill levels (n52), and for learning (n55), with respect to subject preference (n51); one study did not state the aim. Studies achieved an average risk of bias score of "excellent"; however, findings suffered in the assessment of certainty. Only 2 studies reported an advantage for one type of attentional focus (external focus) across conditions (g 5 0.13-0.42) with tier 2 and mixed tier athletes. Research does not address the needs of elite athletes, and there is limited evidence on each type of strength characteristics and muscle action. There is also a need to incorporate methodological steps to promote task-relevant instructions. Research should focus on contextualized information within professional practice to offer stronger translational implications for athletes and coaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of the study was to investigate the individuals' dynamics of perceived control and hedonic tone over time, with respect to the 4 performance states as conceptualized within the multiaction plan (MAP) model. We expected to find idiosyncratic and differentiated trends over time in the scores of perceived control and hedonic tone, typified by fluctuations among 2 optimal and 2 suboptimal types of processing during performance. Method: Ten elite-level shooters participated in the study. They were asked to identify the most relevant, idiosyncratic core component of their shooting action and perform 120 shots distanced 10 m from the target. Subjective accounts of perceived control and hedonic tone of the core component of action were assessed prior to and after each shot. We used a probabilistic approach to derive the 4 performance categories according to 2 × 2 interactions of perceived control and performance and hedonic tone and performance. Results: Logistic ordinal regression analysis enabled the identification of 4 idiosyncratic performance types for each athlete with respect to perceived control and hedonic tone intensity scores. Within- and between-individual differences in intensity bandwidth and probability levels were apparent across the 4 performance types. Changes among 4 types of processing were also observed during performance. Conclusion: Consistent with the MAP model conceptualization, the findings provided support for the different patterns of perceived control and hedonic tone intensity scores during performance. The results suggest applied arguments for using action- and emotion-centered strategies to help athletes in reaching and sustaining optimal performance states.