Previous studies indicate that there is a large influence of the starting reaction time (RT) on sprint performance, but also that some recent changes in athletic rules may affect this correlation. This study aimed to examine the relationship between RT and results in: men’s (M60mH) and women’s (W60mH) disciplines 60 m over hurdles, 60 m hurdles in the heptathlon (H), 60 m hurdles in the pentathlon (P) at the recently held World Indoor Championship 2022 (WIC). The aim was also to determine whether there are differences in RT between M60mH and W60mH, M60mH and H, W60mH, and P, and between H and P. The study included 170 competitors who competed at the WIC. Pearson’s linear correlation coefficient (r) was used for correlation analysis, and the t-test for independent samples was used to examine differences between groups. A statistically significant correlation (r=0.23, N=72, p=0.05) was found between the results and RT in W60mH when observing the entire sample of participants (r2 = 5.29). Considering that in H (r=0.42, N=10, p=0.23, r2=0.18) and P (r=0.54, N=12, p=0.07, r2=0.29), a much higher correlation was obtained between results and RT than in competitors in the 60 m hurdles event, we believe that this is a consequence of different athletic rules that refer to a false start. There are no significant differences between RT for M60mH and W60mH, M60mH and H, W60mH, and P, and between H and P. Coaches should pay attention to developing all parts of the sprint race, including the reaction time.

The author finds the reason for writing the paper in the current holding of the World Football Championship in Qatar, as one of the biggest sporting events bigger and more significant than the Olympic Games themselves. Often this great global event is seen as the last place where the small can defeat the big, thereby losing the illusion that the rich and the big always win, and that “David can beat Goliath”. Taking the facts into account, football is still primarily a game of the poor, in which the largest number of footballers came from the margins which, according to the author, reflects its greatest social strength. In his work, the author intends to describe and explain the world in which we live through the prism of not only previous championships. It is through the metaphor of football that the author deals with the issue of global order, with the fact that the main issues of this work are more cultural than economic. As the work is of a theoretical nature, the author's intention is to devote special attention to the consideration of physical culture and sport as a factor of socialization within this theoretical analysis, with a special emphasis on the sociology of football.

Monitoring the prevalence of obesity is of great importance for assessing lifestyle interventions aimed at preventing or reducing the health and economic burden of obesity. A sedentary Westerntype lifestyle results in an increase in the incidence of normal-weight (e.g., thin fat) obesity. In the present cross-sectional study, the regional body composition status (using a multifrequency, medically approved electrical bioimpedance monitor) of 844 Slovene adults was examined. The primary aim was to compare the leg fat percentage to total body fat percentage (LEGFAT%-toTOTFAT%) and to trunk fat percentage (TRUFAT%) (LEGFAT%-to-TRUFAT%) ratios of participants in the normal and obese body mass index (BMI) and categories according to the BMI and obesity classifications of the World Health Organization. In addition, examined how correlated with, sex, and age, according to obesity classification cut-offs. Results showed, for the whole sample, that increases by an average of 0.13% each year (ceteris paribus). However, females in the normal BMI and TOTFAT% categories, but not males, had significantly higher LEGFAT%-to-TOTFAT% and LEGFAT%-to-TRUFAT% ratios than those in the obese category. Furthermore, adjusted R2 (linear regression) showed that 82.5% of the variation in LEGFAT% was explained by variations in TOTFAT%, sex, and age. The present results indicated the increasing importance of studying the regional body composition status, especially of TRUFAT% and LEGFAT% compared with TOTFAT% (beyond the known sex differences). The clinical relevance of the increasing disproportionality in the regional body composition status of females with normal BMI and TOTFAT% needs to be further clarified.

Y-balance test for lower limbs (LQYBT) and upper limbs (UQYBT) are frequently used to assess dynamic single-leg balance. In this study, we aimed to examine the test-retest reliability of both tests, to compare scores on the dominant and nondominant sides and report on the magnitude of asymmetry, as well as assess any gender differences. A sample of 30 healthy, recreationally active individuals (15 men and 15 women; age, 22.83 ± 8.78 years; height, 175.46 ± 8.29 cm; body mass 72.08 kg ± 12.60 kg) completed the LQYBT und UQYBT measurements twice 12 to 14 days. Reliability was assessed using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) (absolute agreement, two-way random), paired-samples t-test, and typical error (expressed as coefficient of variation, CV). Both tests showed moderate to good relative reliability (ICC = 0.62 – 0.85) and acceptable absolute reliability (CV = 3.54 – 7.20 %), with a possible learning effect for certain reach directions. Men tended to score better than women, but statistically significant differences were confirmed in only 3 of 12 comparisons. Differences between dominant and non-dominant sides were mostly very small and statistically significant in only 2 of 6 comparisons. Mean asymmetry scores were in the range of ~3-6%. These results contribute to the evidence on the utility of LQYBT and UQYBT testing in healthy adults.

Adequate development, testing, continuous motor competence monitoring and physical fitness are very important factors in the development of children aged 7 to 10. The purpose of this study was to determine the differences in the motor competence of the children engaged in organized physical activities in sports clubs and the children who were not included in any kind of organized physical activity. The study included 119 children, 57 children engaged in organized activities in sports clubs (age: 8.44 ± 0.78; height: 133.17 ± 7.21; weight: 31.96 ± 7.73 BMI: 17.9 ± 3.38) and 62 children who had no additional organized physical activity (age: 8.43 ± 0.84; height: 134.85 ± 7.60; Weight: 34.44 ± 9.20 BMI: 18.7 ± 3.68). Motor competence was assessed by the Kiphard-Schilling body coordination test (KTK). After adjusting for age, gender, and BMI effects, we found small to medium significant mean differences (p<0.05, d [95%CI]) between the groups in hopping for height tests (d=0.78 [0.41, 1.16]), jumping sideways (d=0.79 [0.42, 1.17]), moving sideways (d=0.68 [0.32, 1.06]), and walking backward (d=0.44 [0.07, 0.81]). The results have shown that the children who were engaged in organized physical activities in sports clubs have a higher level of motor competence than their peers who were not included in the organized system in sports clubs. The authors strongly suggest that teachers, educators, coaches, and parents should encourage and include children in organized systems of physical activity, i.e., training processes in sports clubs.

This transversal study aimed to examine the contribution of predictor variables of the construct of health status (objective and subjective assessment of health) to the variability of the criteria satisfaction with life, emotional dimensions (positive affect, negative affect), and emotional factor of distress (depression, anxiety, and stress) in junior handball players. The pertinent sample consisted of 132 junior handball players in – Serbian First League. The average age of participants was 18.25 ± 0.90 years of age. The following measuring instruments were used: 1) the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale – DASS-21, 2) De Jong Gierveld Loneliness Scale – DJGLS, 3) the Satisfaction with Life Scale‒ SWLS, and 4) The Positive and Negative Affect Schedule – PANAS showed satisfactory internal consistency. The conducted multiple regression analysis explained 51% of the proportion variance of the dependent variable satisfaction with life, positive and/or negative affectivity, and cognitive aspect of distress, where the only statistically significant negative predictors were loneliness and subjective assessment of health status. At the same time, when it comes to the assessment of loneliness in adolescents, these independent variables achieved significant interaction with the subjective assessment of health. This would mean that handball players, who subjectively assess their health as bad, and feel lonelier. On the other hand, the regression model did not confirm the role of the predictor variable objective assessment of health status and loneliness. This regression study has contributed to the existing literature and empirical data on the significance of the rarely explored relations between the constructs of health and well-being in the adolescent sports population. Theoretical contributions and practical implications for future research were also discussed.

The aim of this study was to show the influence of linear speed on the ability to change the direction of movement. Nineteen football players (16.90±2.28 years old) from the Serbian Super League participated in the research. Tests were performed to estimate speed: the linear speed at 5 m, 10 m, 20 m, and flying start at 10 m, and the 505 test for dominant and non-dominant leg, as well as CODS deficit, were applied to assess the ability to change direction. Using regression analysis, it was shown that linear speed has no statistically significant effect on the ability to change direction with elite female football players (P<0.05). In interpreting the results, several factors should be taken into account and the complexity of the linear speed relationship and the ability to change direction should be understood. The findings we gained from this research could influence the modification of training cycles, primarily strength, movement mechanics, and later more specific training episodes of football players.

The proportion of elderly and sarcopenia cases is expected to increase in the coming decades. Early diagnosis of sarcopenia using muscle strength as a criterion is important to prevent adverse health effects. The repetitive chair stand test is an effective tool for assessing muscle strength. Poor test performance may indicate an individual with potential sarcopenia. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of the ability to perform the five-repetition chair stand test on the prevalence of sarcopenia in residents of western Slovenian nursing homes. 83 candidates (age 83.8±7.6 years, 69% of whom were women) we included in the study. The prevalence of sarcopenia was determined according to European Working Group for Sarcopenia guidelines and the five-repetition chair stand test was used to assess physical performance. Relative risk with a 95% confidence interval was calculated to assess the difference in risk for sarcopenia between the complete rises and the incomplete rises group. 37% of participants were diagnosed as sarcopenic, of whom approximately half were unable to complete the 5-chair stand test. The risk of sarcopenia was twice as high in participants who were unable to complete the test (RR = 2.05 (CI 1.21-3.49); p=0.0077). The inability to complete the repeated chair stand test in older adults from nursing homes significantly increases the risk of sarcopenia. Therefore, this test could be useful in identifying individuals at high risk.

The paper presents the results of field research on the population of dancers – members of the hip-hop community who are “contestants” in battles. The field research was carried out in April 2022 on a sample of dancers aged 17 to 40 (N = 31). The research results indicate that the hip-hop community in Serbia is small, but that such battles in specific forms contribute to the community’s maintenance and expansion. Battles also play a significant role in the progression and expression of dancers as individuals. Dancers consider hip-hop to be not only an art form but much more, hip-hop is synonymous with a lifestyle and a “way of looking at the world” for dancers. Although the research was carried out on a small sample, it represents the author’s pioneering contribution to a deeper understanding of the hip-hop community in Serbian society. It also indicates the need to carry out compatible research in the future.

Female swimmers participate in intensive swimming training during their menstrual periods, and they may appreciate additional understanding and flexibility regarding their training volume/intensity. Male coaches often view menstruation contemptuously as an unfortunate state that “is not a disease,” and high-performance female swimmers perceive coaching methods differently. Our study aimed to examine menstrual status and perceived coaching and training methodology. In a cross-sectional study, members of the Slovenian women’s national swim team (n = 14, age: 16.6 ± 3.1 years, body mass index: 20.1 ± 1.9 kg/m2) competing at international and national levels were included. The menstrual status (i.e., regularity, duration, perceived pain before and during menstruation, bleeding) and the opinion of these female swimmers regarding training during their menstrual periods were assessed via our in-depth questionnaire, and the athletes responded to additional questions pertaining to the motivation of swimming, coaching strategy and training methods via a questionnaire. All swimmers included in our study had experienced their first menstrual period, and the majority (85%) reported moderate or heavy menstrual bleeding. Most swimmers (93%) reported that their swimming training was “undisturbed” during their menstrual period; however, 64% of swimmers requested a reduction in training frequency or at least the usual training volume/intensity. In terms of the motivation for swimming, 74% of swimmers reported that they like swimming and like spending time with their friends. In terms of coaching and training methods, the swimmers reported polarized responses, probably because most of them are members of two major swimming clubs with different coaching styles. To conclude, when executed correctly, a similar kind of systematic screening method (i.e., anonymously and perhaps by experienced psychologists) may serve as a valuable tool to further modify training methods at a high-performance level. Moreover, unpleasant issues related to menstrual periods from the athlete’s perspective (i.e., pain, bleeding, malaise, discomfort, inability to achieve maximum effort) should not be ignored, left for swimmers to handle alone, or taken for granted. Male coaches need to seek to understand the impact of menstruation and work with athletes to maximize training.