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PURPOSE: The purpose of this article is to determine and explain the growth and development of some anthropological characteristics of young water polo players using longitudinal data. METHODS: The sample of participants consisted of young water polo players, members of the national team (n = 18). They were measured and tested at three time points. At the first time point they were 12 years of age, at the second time point they were 13 years of age, and in the final measuring point they were 14 years of age. The sample of variables consisted of data on five morphological characteristics and three motor abilities. RESULTS: Using the analysis of variance for dependent samples (ANOVA) and multiple comparisons of mean ranks at the significance level of α=0.05, the hypothesis that there exists a statistically significant differences in six out of eight anthropological characteristics for young water polo players was confirmed. CONSLUSIONS: The statistically significant differences in four morphological characteristics and two motor abilities are probably the result of a systematic two-year training and natural process of growth and development of young water polo players. Determined modal values of young water polo national team members can help coaches of young water polo players in the planning, programming and control of training process.

The research was carried out with the aim to determine the effectiveness of various methodical organizational forms of work in the adoption of new motor knowledge in the work with preschool-aged children. The sample of 40 children, with the average age of 5.8 years (SD = 0.61), was divided into two subsamples of which one group of children performed motor tasks using the frontal form of work and the other group performed the same motor tasks using the polygon with obstacles. The results indicate that both groups of participants significantly improved new motor movements. Therefore, regardless of the use of the methodical organizational form of work, children have the opportunity to adopt new motor movements with the help of appropriate choice of work modality.

PURPOSE: Stroke recurrence may be prevented by removing major risk factors (Bašić-Kes, Demarin, 2014). The aim of this study was to investigate social anamnestic factors and specific risk factors for cerebrovascular disease in stroke survivors. METHODS: 60 ischemic stroke convalescents (30M+30F) were included in the study. All participants had a mild neurologic deficit (NIHSS 5-15). The patients mean age was 71 years (min 45 – max 81). A neurologist recorded risk factors for cerebrovascular disease and social anamnesis during medical examination. RESULTS: Insufficient daily physical activity and high stress levels were present in 72.2 % of participants. BMI values and waist-hip circumference values were above the upper limit in both women and men (p

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to explore the cluster association of behavioral risk factors with the presence of chronic diseases. Little is known of how these behaviors, presented as a cluster, are associated with chronic disease/s in young adults. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to explore the behavioral risk factors (BRFs) clusters associations with the presence of chronic diseases. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, 2100 university students (50.4% of women) were recruited from 8 randomly selected faculties in the City of Zagreb. The measurement protocol was conducted from September to November 2017. To assess the number of BRFs and chronic diseases, we used structured questionnaires. Logistic regression analyses were used to explore the associations between BRFs and chronic diseases. RESULTS: From the total sample, 9.3% of participants reported to have some kind of chronic diseases. In univariate model, logistic regression showed that having 2 (OR=2.63 ; 95% CI 1.59-4.34), 3 (OR=3.79 ; 95% CI 2.14-6.71) and ≥4 (OR=7.69 ; 95% CI 3.05-19.39) BRFs was associated with chronic diseases. After the adjustments for gender, self-rated health, sleep quality, socio-economic status, psychological distress and location of birth, having 2 (OR=2.34 ; 95% CI 1.41-3.87), 3 (OR=2.88 ; 95% CI 1.60-5.18) and ≥4 (OR=4.91 ; 95% CI 1.85-13.05) BRFs remained associated with chronic diseases. CONCLUSION: Our study shows that more BRFs are associated with a greater likelihood of having chronic diseases. Thus, special policies aiming to prevent ‘risky’ behaviors are warranted.

PURPOSE: To find if gymnasts are prone to injury based on their dynamic stability assessment results. The aim is to verify the observations made with the Functional Movement Screen (FMS) test via objective method – Kinovea, video-analysis software. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, there exists no previous research using the FMS to assess young gymnasts. Furthermore, no scientific report has been published showing a precise analysis of the FMS via Kinovea. The seven movement tests that are used in the FMS have different positions and movements that show us where weaknesses and asymmetries are visible ; therefore, they can help identify an athlete's risk of injury as well as provide the basis of testing for potential injuries. This information may be of benefit to trainers and physiotherapists in the injury prevention protocol. METHODS: The sample consists of 10 adolescent competitive gymnasts (6 male and 4 female) in the mean age of 11.57, height of 138.87 cm, weight of 34.04 kg. The FMS test includes seven subtests: deep squat, hurdle step, in-line lunge, shoulder mobility, active straight leg raise, trunk stability push-up and rotary stability. It is used as a diagnostic procedure for assessing postural stability and mobility, and for the broader purpose of preventing professional injury. The movements were recorded by two digital video cameras. Objective assessment was achieved using Kinovea video-analysis software, with the FMS scoring based on criteria established by Cook et al. (2010) and on kinematic equivalents adapted from Whiteside et al., 2016. The results have been analysed by descriptive statistics and presented in tables. RESULTS: The total mean score of the FMS test for the overall sample is 14.12. The average score for males (14.5) is higher than the average score for females (13.75). We can conclude that our participants are not at risk of injury. The lowest average scores were measured in shoulder mobility (1.12), deep squat (1.15) and rotary stability (1.87), while the highest scores were measured in active straight leg raise (2.87), hurdle step (2.41) and in-line lunge (2.41). CONCLUSION: Competitive young gymnasts do not have increased risk of injury, since they have achieved a score higher than 13, which represents the cut-off score for high-school athletes.

PURPOSE: The research’s main goal is to construct new measure instruments (tests) for balance assessing. METHODS: Twenty-three judokas were tested with three balance tests (one standard and two new tests). According to the results of subjects in these tests, sensitivity, reliability and validity of new tests were determined. RESULTS: The both new tests have high values of all important kinesiometric values. CONCLUSIONS: The both new tests could be useful tools for balance assessing in judo, especially, in younger judokas.

Recent studies on biomarkers of aging have shown that glycans are very promising biomarkers in aging research. According to the American Federation for Aging Research, any useful biomarker of aging must, among other criteria, predict the rate of aging and be a better predictor of life span than chronological age alone ; also it must be testable repeatedly without harming the person (or animal). Certain contemporary studies suggest that aerobic exercise training is anti-inflammatory and might counter the age-associated decline in immune function, referred to as immunosenescence. A unique study of the effects of physical activity is currently implemented by the Faculty of Kinesiology University of Zagreb, in which the GlycanAge test is used to thoroughly and scientifically investigate the many times proven benefits of physical activity.

PURPOSE: The aim of the research was to determine and analyse differences among the Croatian female pivots of a younger-cadet, cadet and junior age (U14, U16, U18) in several basic and handball-specific physical fitness indicators. METHODS: The sample of 23 participants, female circle runners or pivots was drawn out of the population of members of the Croatian handball clubs recognized as promising players within their respective age group. Eighteen tests, defining four latent dimensions: agility, power, dynamic strength and flexibility, were chosen to assess basic and handball-specific motor abilities of the young pivots. Univariate analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to establish global and individual differences among the age groups. RESULTS: The significant global age differences were established in three variables: at the level of p

INTRODUCTION: Basketball is one of complex sports and it is one of the most dynamic sports games. Motor learning is a process which implies practice of certain motor movements in order to improve particular motor skills. Motor learning affiliated with performance or experience leads to relatively permanent changes in motor performance. AIM: The objective of the research is to evaluate some of the metric characteristics (objectivity, sensitivity and homogeneity) of a newly constructed basketball polygon and to establish probable existence of differences between the verbal and visual teaching methods for the adoption of the elements of basketball game. METHODS: Children from two sixth-grade classes from one primary school in Dugo Selo participated in the research. The total number of respondents who participated in the study was 50 (N = 50), of which 21 were girls and 29 were boys aged between 12 and 13 years. Students attended the regular program of physical and health education. The research was conducted in May 2017. The survey contained the initial and final evaluation of children’s performances. On a targeted set up of basketball polygon, the evaluation was carried out via 3 basketball elements: ball control, passing and shooting, which were rated from 0 to 2. RESULTS: The visual and verbal group showed a statistically significant improvement over the pre-instruction period and there was an insignificant trend in the direction that the visual group achieved better results than their peers. The distribution of normality was checked by Kolmogorov-Smirnov test (KS). Alpha coefficient of internal consistency was high (0.91) and the correlations of court judgments with the first principal component were high and uniform and the first principal component was explained by a large percentage of total variance (85.39%). The main effect of the group (visual-verbal) was not statistically significant (F1 / 48 = 3.41, p = 0.07). On average, regardless of the polygon time, the visual group achieved somewhat better results based on the judgments (Visual group: M = 3.81, SD = 1.06, Verbal group: M = 3.3, SD = 1.01), but this difference did not reach statistical significance. CONCLUSION: The visual method of adopting elements of basketball game is more effective than the verbal one.

A research on age, educational and gender differences in interest towards table tennis, badminton and tennis was conducted on an appropriate sample of 920 adults from the Republic of Croatia. The examinees were given the task of evaluating each sport on a five-degree scale, where “1” indicated a sport that the examinees would never, under any circumstances, like to engage in, while “5” denoted a sport that the examinees would surely like to engage in if they had the opportunity to do so. With regard to their age, the examinees were divided into two groups, “younger”, referring to the examinees aged between 35 and 49, and “older”, referring to examinees aged between 50 and 65. Their level of education was specified by using three different categories, primary school completed or less, secondary school completed and higher education completed. The analysis of differences was completed by the multivariate analysis of variance with three factors in which the groups were determined by gender, level of education and age. The results showed statistically significant differences with regard to gender and level of education (with the relevant level of statistical significance p

14th International Scientific Conference of Sport Kinetics 2018 entitled “Movement in Human Life and Health” was held from 24th to 27th June 2018 and it was organized by the Faculty of Kinesiology, University of Zagreb, Croatia together with the Faculty of Sports and Physical Education, University of Novi Sad, Serbia and under the scientific patronage of IASK (International Association of Sport Kinetics) and in partnership with the Faculty of Education, University J.J. Strossmayer, Osijek, Croatia, FIEP Europe and Croatian Kinesiology Association. The Conference took place in Poreč (Zelena Laguna)/Croatia in hotel Laguna Parentium. The conference programme included podium and poster presentations and lectures by the participants from all over the world who discussed the latest information about the importance of movement in human life and health. Invite lectures were: James S. Skinner (United States of America), Wiesław Osiński (Poland), Włodzimierz Starosta (Poland), Damir Knjaz (Croatia), Han C.G. Kemper (The Netherlands), Saad Al Fazazi (Spain), Lana Ružić (Croatia). Topic of the conference is even more important, especially today when the modern way of living (inactivity) is threatening with epidemic of various chronic diseases. The Croatian Medical Chamber recognized importance of this Conference and rewarded the participants, especially medical doctors, with the highest ever number of points for active and passive participation. Efforts in organizing this conference were made by two faculties from different countries: Faculty of Kinesiology in Zagreb (Croatia) and Faculty of Sports and Physical Education in Novi Sad (Serbia). Many respected experts visited this conference. The Proceedings Book contains 117 contributions, which were submitted by the submission deadline, written by 291 authors from 23 countries from five continents. The three best oral and poster presentations of young scientists (under 35 years of age) were awarded with the special IASK President Cup and N.A. Bernstein Medals. Their papers and abstracts are available in Proceedings book in both print and electronic pdf version. From now you can find it here.

PURPOSE: Preparation training of elite-class wrestlers is a highly intensive physical activity. Such activity leads to muscle tearing and the raise of concentration of certain biomarkers in blood. Some of these biomarkers indicate heart muscle or liver damage, so what we are interested in is whether biochemical tests can reveal if a highly intensive activity such as wrestling preparations at the elite level is harmful to the heart muscle and liver. METHODS: Eleven elite Croatian wrestlers have undergone seven-days preparation and 24 hours after the preparation the subjects had their blood sampled (CK, CK-MB, ALT, AST and GGT). The differences between the level of analysed biomarkers and the upper reference limits have been tested by Wilcoxon Matched Pairs test. Pearson coefficient correlation has been calculated in order to determine the connection between CK and CK-MB in addition to the CK-MB percentage in the total value of CK. RESULTS: The research revealed that AST 273 enzyme was significantly increased (Z=2, 31 ; p=0, 02), but since ALT and GGT enzymes are not, we may conclude there were no liver damages. There is a high correlation between CK and CK-MB (r=0, 75), while the percentage of CK-MB isoenzyme within the total CK percentage is 2, 23%, revealing there were no heart muscle damages. CONCLUSION: Based on the conducted research, we may draw a conclusion there is no health risk referring to liver or heart muscle damage in elite wrestlers during the intensive preparation period.

PURPOSE: The aim of this paper is to define attitudes towards and knowledge of the Croatian wrestling coaches about the permitted supplements and doping in wrestling. METHODS: Knowledge and attitudes were investigated by a valid test (17 questions) consistzing of questions about knowledge (11 questions) and questions about attitudes (6 questions). Descriptive statistical parameters: mode, mode frequency, percentage frequency of the correct answers and total percentage of the correct answers were calculated. RESULTS: Results indicate that majority of wrestling coaches did not answer properly on important questions about diet and 57.5% of them did not check prohibited list of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). It is alarming that 17.5% of wrestling coaches would allow any kind of performance enhancers if they knew the doping control would not test them. CONCLUSION: Based on the results of this study it can be concluded that the Croatian wrestling coaches are still not educated enough when it comes to diet issues. Therefore, it is necessary to continuously educate wrestling coaches and wrestlers in diet, supplements and doping. These results could be valuable in prevention, which is known as the best method for fighting against doping.

Influence of the environment is an important factor in child development. The purpose of this study was to determine the differences in motor skills and abilities of preschool children attending kindergartens in two different community size environments: medium vs. large city. METHODS: Participants in this research were 444 preschool children from the capital, large urban city, and one medium size city. For the assessment of motor abilities and skills six tests were used from the Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency, second edition (BOT2). Besides that, two tests were adapted from the ALPHA Health-Related Fitness test-battery (standing long jump and 40m sprint test). RESULTS: Main results of this research show significant differences in some motor abilities and skills of children from different places of residence. Children from the capital city achieved better results in the test of alternative ball dribbling with hands (F=10.52 ; p

PURPOSE: The purpose of this paper was to establish the correlation between GDP / $, total population in millions, country size in km2 and the total number of medals won by seventeen European countries at the world and European football championships. METHODS: The analysis included seventeen European countries which won medals at the world and European football championships. Predictor variables in this paper comprised: GDP per capita ($), country size (km2), and total population (million). Data on the predictor variables were collected from the World Bank website and date from 2015. The criterion variable represents the total number of medals won by the European countries at the world and European football championships. RESULTS: The value of Spearman correlation coefficient between the total number of European medals won at the world and European soccer championships and the total number of people in a country is 0.523. This coefficient points to the statistically significant correlation between the total number of medals a European country won at the world and European football championships and the total number of inhabitants of the country. This means that the greater number of people in the country means the greater number of medals won at the world and European soccer championships. CONCLUSIONS: The results of the research showed that more populated countries, unlike those less populated, were likely to win more medals at the world and European football championships, while the country’s size and GDP per capita did not effect sports results. Statistically significant correlation has been established between the total population (million) of a country and the total number of medals won at the world and European football championships.

Movement, one of the basic human needs, has become a great challenge for all age groups in contemporary society. Many studies showed correlation between physical inactivity and many noncontagious diseases, while physical activity, especially natural movements such as walking and running, proved being useful in maintenance of optimal psycho-physical health status. Walking, the movement learnt in the earliest life stage, and running, a somewhat more complex aerobic activity, are irreplaceable forms of physical exercise in almost all models of recreational sport due to their applicability, effectiveness and simplicity. Many recreational associations started different projects with the health promotion goal. One of them is the so called “running school” which makes popular training models available to almost everyone. A great number of running schools that are ever more popular throughout the world is evident in the increasing numbers of recreational runners. It is exactly this type of physical activity promotion and awareness raising on its usefulness that make running schools top recreational projects in Croatia as well.

The global epidemic of non-communicable diseases like diabetes mellitus, hypertension, obesity and metabolic syndrome is growing. As for those patients, the adherence to physical exercise is of the greatest importance, and a very essential part of their therapy. However, special health considerations should be taken into account when prescribing an exercise program (Pedersen, B.K. & Saltin, B., 2015). Traditionally, aerobic activity is recommended in the prevention / treatment of most chronic illnesses. For a medicine to be efficient in a particular disease, we need to prescribe the right type of a drug, its action, its dose and frequency. Similarly, if we consider exercise to be a medicine, in order to achieve its maximal efficiency, the physical exercise must be thoroughly programmed, better say personalized. Even though many general practitioners, as well as internal medicine and other specialist would say that anything is better than nothing, and more is better than less, this might not be completely true when it comes to people with chronic illnesses.