Journal of Sports Research

Specific physical test for higher elite speed climbers

Shunko Andrey — 2025-03-20

This study aims to identify significant physical tests for elite male speed climbers. By analyzing existing research and testing methods, we develop a reliable test battery to assess and monitor physical preparedness in competitive speed climbing. The study included 10 elite Russian national team climbers and a comparative group of 24 lower-level athletes. The test battery covered power, speed, coordination, and flexibility. Tests included the countermovement jump (JHT), Laffaye upper limb test, tapping test, and forward bend test. Statistical analysis using Pearson’s correlation assessed the significance of each test in relation to climbing performance. Four key tests demonstrated strong correlations with speed climbing performance: JHT (r=0.933, p=0.012), Laffaye test (r=0.897, p=0.007), tapping test (r=0.821, p=0.009), and forward bend (r=0.967, p=0.001). These tests effectively differentiate elite climbers and provide a standardized method for assessing physical readiness. The identified tests can be used to monitor and enhance training programs for speed climbers. Express testing allows for rapid assessment, benefiting both elite and developing athletes. Coaches and athletes can use these tests to track performance, tailor training strategies, and identify talent. The results support structured physical preparation in speed climbing.

Anthropomorphic profile of masters competitive Olympic weightlifters

Andrew Hatchett — 2025-06-24

The masters athlete is typically defined as older than 35 years who either trains for or takes part in athletic competitions often specifically designed for older participants. Masters athletes provide a unique research cohort to understand the role of regular vigorous exercise in optimizing physical potential and health with advancing age. Olympic weightlifting is a sport that demands specific physical attributes and rigorous training to excel. Anthropomorphic and competition data were collected for male and female athletes competing at the 2022 World Master Weightlifting Championships. Of the 820 eligible athletes, 172 from 17 countries participated in the physical assessment of the study. Female participants were slightly taller when compared to the general public and males shorter. Participants, both female and male, presented lower body mass index scores and waist circumference measures. Understanding the physical profiles of Masters athletes provides valuable insights for considering the impact of Olympic weightlifting. Masters Olympic weightlifters present physical profiles of aging with a functional capacity greater than that of an age-matched general population.

Monitoring of athletes condition: Male handball players body part pain in handball performance

Fatima Tus Johora Mukta — 2025-08-01

Handball is a globally popular sport that requires frequent jumping, landing, and rapid directional changes, often resulting in pain or physical discomfort among players. This study observed 13 national-level male handball players during a training camp to assess the impact of body part pain on performance. Pain was monitored over four consecutive days during the second daily practice session. A Visual Analog Scale (VAS) was used to evaluate both pain in specific body parts and self-rated performance aspects such as satisfaction and concentration. Linear mixed modeling was applied to analyze the relationship between pain and performance, accounting for daily individual variation. The results revealed that several players reported high VAS pain scores in the dominant shoulder and elbow, while one athlete reported a maximum score of 10 in the dominant knee. Pain in the ankle joints was also notably high. This study highlights the importance of monitoring physical discomfort during training, as pain in key joints may negatively affect both perceived and actual handball performance.

Exploring sports injury rates and demographics in several sports disciplines

Ali Mseer Yaseen — 2025-09-08

Knee injuries caused by sporting activities in various types of sports could be diverse mainly due to differences in the physical nature of the sport, participants’ profiles, and the intensity of training involved. This research sought to explore patterns in the prevalence of five common knee injuries: meniscal tears, acute anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries, patellar instability, tendinopathy, and patellofemoral syndrome in three strike-related sports. A cross-sectional study involving 275 athletes participating in sports such as athletics, basketball, boxing, karate, soccer, jiu-jitsu, judo, kickboxing, kung fu, Greco-Roman wrestling, and volleyball was conducted. Data were obtained from medical histories and standardized self-administered questionnaires, with injury prevalences classified accordingly. Injury patterns and demographic variables, including age and sex, were statistically analyzed using descriptive statistics. The most common locations of ACL injury were found to be in football and judo, while laceration/testing mobility of the patellar tendons and patellofemoral syndrome were more prevalent in kickboxing and Greco-Roman wrestling. The study also revealed age differences across sports, with the youngest injured athletes participating in Greco-Roman wrestling. The results of this study are valuable for establishing sport-specific patterns of knee injury and highlight the necessity of targeted prevention and recovery strategies. Successful interventional programs should consider both individual and demographic attributes of athletes and the biomechanical demands of their respective sports.

The influence of crowd noise and size on fouls and home court advantage in the WNBA

Kerianne Lawson Rubenstein — 2025-10-07

Large and loud crowds add to the intensity of a sporting event and impact player performance. A rowdy crowd can cause players and coaches, particularly those from the visiting team, to make mistakes or become frustrated, leading to more flagrant and technical fouls in basketball games. This article examines how crowd size, along with other factors that influence the noise level in the arena, correlates with flagrant and technical fouls in the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA). This article uses a fixed effects model with crowd size, as measured by the percentage of the arena that is full, as the variable of interest and fouls as the outcome variable. The model controls for the size of the arena and other game-specific characteristics. The results indicate that crowd size, and therefore crowd noise, is positively associated with flagrant fouls and technical fouls committed by coaches. This article also investigates how larger and louder crowds affect the home and away teams differently. The findings provide some evidence of a home court advantage in terms of technical fouls committed by coaches. This article contributes to the existing literature on how crowds can contribute to home court advantage but provides additional context by looking at fouls as an outcome variable.

From podium to leadership: Examining the influence of demographics, peak Olympic achievement, and career tenure on athlete leadership

Noemi Zaharia — 2025-11-07

This study examines how demographic and performance-related factors influence perceived leadership traits among Olympians, contributing to an understanding of leadership identity shaped by elite sport experience. Responses from 242 Olympians representing 67 countries and 44 Olympic sports were analyzed using the Leadership Trait Questionnaire (LTQ) to assess self-reported leadership characteristics. The study focused on gender, age, highest Olympic placement, and number of Olympic participations. Results show that all four variables significantly affect leadership self-perception, with gender and achievement level showing particularly notable differences. These findings suggest that leadership development in elite athletes is influenced not only by competitive success but also by broader experiential and demographic factors. The study offers a cross-national perspective on athlete leadership, revealing diverse leadership profiles within the Olympic community. Practical implications include the integration of leadership training into athlete development and career transition programs, emphasizing the transferable value of Olympic experience beyond sport. By identifying key influences on leadership self-perception, the research supports a more holistic approach to athlete identity and post-sport career readiness. The study provides a foundation for future research on leadership development in sport and its relevance to broader professional contexts.