Vol. 7 No. 1 (2025)

Open Access

Article

Article ID: 710

Health-related fitness: Preservice physical educators attempt the model

by Colin G. Pennington

Insight - Sports Science, Vol.7, No.1, 2025; 105 Views, 77 PDF Downloads

Purpose: This study aimed to explore and describe the perceptions held by eleven preservice teachers regarding Health-Related Fitness as they learn to teach within the model to middle school students during an early field experience. It was hypothesised that issues brought up by the PTs at the beginning of the early field experience will be more self-centred (i.e., class management, preparation, curriculum and pedagogical content knowledge) and more student-centred toward the end of the early field experience (i.e., joy of student achievement, developing relationships). Method: Each PT was formally observed teaching two times for 40-60 min per session, as well as informally interviewed once for a period of approximately two hours at the conclusion of the semester. Additionally, the researcher also had dozens of conversations with each PT over the course of the semester to mentor and guide the PT through their field experience. Written data were analysed through open coding then selective coding to identify a “core category” and relate it to other categories and themes common to occupational socialization theory literature. Analytic induction was employed while documenting negative cases. Results: Most preservice teachers and middle school pupils ultimately “bought in” to Health-Related Fitness by the culmination of the early field experience and, in fact, most PT’s focus did become ore student-centred. Discussion: This exploratory study suggests that preservice teachers learn their conceptions of teaching Health-Related Fitness from a variety of different environments, contexts, and leadership figures. These personal experiences teaching Health-Related Fitness manifest themselves in preservice teachers understanding of how Health-Related Fitness content should be practiced in physical education. Physical education teacher education faculty can facilitate preservice teachers’ self-exploration through introspective and reflective practices.

Open Access

Article

Article ID: 722

Effect of short-term mindfulness training on free throw performance and thought control in novice athletes

by Lixin Ai, Honghai Zhao

Insight - Sports Science, Vol.7, No.1, 2025; 91 Views, 41 PDF Downloads, 13 Supp.file Downloads

Objective: This study aims to investigate the impact of short-term mindfulness-based psychological training techniques on free-throw performance in novice athletes, particularly examining their compensatory effects under auditory interference. By addressing practical challenges in basketball and enhancing athletic performance, our findings seek to offer new insights and innovative training approaches for the field of sports training. Methods: Forty participants were recruited for a 2 × 2 mixed experimental design, with auditory interference (none vs. present) as a within-subject independent variable and group (control vs. mindfulness) as a between-subject independent variable. The intervention lasted 15 min. Dependent variables included mindfulness level, free-throw performance (measured by quality score and shooting percentage), and thought control. Results: 1) Mindfulness Level: Short-term mindfulness training significantly enhanced state mindfulness. 2) Free Throw Performance: No significant improvements were observed in free-throw quality or shooting percentage following short-term mindfulness training. 3) Thought control: Short-term mindfulness training significantly increased overall thought control scores; however, no significant effects were found in its sub-dimensions. Conclusion: A 15-min short-term mindfulness intervention effectively enhanced state mindfulness and overall thought control, particularly under auditory interference. However, neither short-term mindfulness training nor auditory distractions had a direct impact on basketball free-throw performance.

Open Access

Article

Article ID: 728

Performance profiling in sports: A Scopus-based bibliometric and narrative analysis

by Spyridon Plakias, Georgia Karakitsiou, Vasilis Armatas, Charoula Kasioura, Olga Moustou, Anna Tsiakiri

Insight - Sports Science, Vol.7, No.1, 2025; 163 Views, 51 PDF Downloads

Improving the performance of athletes and maintaining their mental health are the main goals of coaches and other practitioners. To achieve these goals, sports psychologists and applied performance analysts use performance profiles, which, despite their great utility, have not received the attention they deserve. Therefore, the aim of the present study is to provide a holistic view of sports performance profiling by conducting a bibliometric analysis and simultaneously offering a brief review of the criteria that should be followed for their development, as well as the benefits that arise from them. We applied a specific Boolean expression to the Scopus database and then evaluated the relevance of the documents to our topic based on their titles, abstracts, and keywords. A CSV (Comma-Separated Values) file was extracted from the database and imported into the VOSviewer software. A bibliometric analysis (using performance analysis and science mapping techniques) was carried out with this software, while we also conducted a literature review. From the literature review, it appears that when performance profiles meet specific criteria for their creation, they can have benefits related to the psychological well-being of athletes, their health, and the suppression of unethical behaviors. From the performance analysis, it was found that 308 authors contributed to the writing of the 97 articles, 10 of whom had written at least 4 articles, while 19 organizations were involved in at least 2 documents. From the scientific mapping, it was found that the subjects of the documents are divided into 5 clusters, with specific journals and authors appearing to be more influential in the field. Our findings can form the basis for further research and prove useful for coaches and sports practitioners.

Open Access

Article

Article ID: 735

Exploring team dynamics through network analysis: A season review of an elite Portuguese soccer team

by Ricardo Alves, Gonçalo Dias, Nuno André Nunes, Sérgio Querido, Vasco Vaz

Insight - Sports Science, Vol.7, No.1, 2025; 96 Views, 19 PDF Downloads

Social network analysis was applied to investigate team dynamics and inter-player connections during matches to offer deeper insights into the organizational framework of an elite soccer team competing in the Portuguese First Division during the 2020–2021 season. This study aimed to assess the impact of match outcomes and the deployment of various tactical systems on the team’s macro network metrics, such as density and clustering coefficients. Data was collected from thirty-four matches, with each match’s passing interactions meticulously analyzed to construct adjacency matrices, thereby quantifying player interconnections. The study’s findings revealed a nuanced relationship between network metrics and match outcomes. Density was significantly higher in matches that ended in losses, suggesting a potential over-reliance on certain players or interactions in adverse scenarios. Conversely, matches won were characterized by higher clustering coefficients, indicating a more cohesive and interconnected team effort. The analysis of five different tactical systems revealed significant differences in density, pointing to the influence of tactical choices on player interactions. No significant differences were found in clustering coefficients across the tactical systems, suggesting a consistent internal team cohesion irrespective of the strategy employed. These insights highlight the utility of network analysis in enhancing the understanding of team dynamics and strategic planning. This study underscores the potential of such analytical approaches to inform better tactical decisions and optimize team performance, ultimately contributing to a more sophisticated level of competitive analysis in professional sports.

Open Access

Review

Article ID: 711

Addressing gender inequalities in European football: Key dimensions and strategies

by George Yiapanas

Insight - Sports Science, Vol.7, No.1, 2025; 154 Views, 53 PDF Downloads

Women’s football in Europe has undergone a remarkable transformation in recent years, evolving from a historically marginalized status to a vibrant and increasingly celebrated part of the football world. Despite these advancements, gender inequality continues to present a formidable and multifaceted challenge, reflecting broader societal inequities and deep-rooted historical biases that persist in many aspects of life. This study employs a robust theoretical approach to systematically identify the key dimensions of gender inequality in European football and assess existing strategies deployed by the UEFA and its national associations, aimed at mitigating these disparities. This in-depth examination uncovers gaps and opportunities, providing a nuanced understanding of where progress has been made and where continued effort is required. Additionally, the study presents a comprehensive set of actionable insights and evidence-based recommendations designed to enhance current strategies and introduce pioneering solutions that effectively address specific challenges. Ultimately, this study contributes to the broader discourse on gender equality in sports, offering actionable insights for stakeholders committed to transforming the landscape of European football. The goal is to pave the way toward a more equitable and inclusive future for women’s football, setting an example for sports globally through evidence-based reforms and fostering collaboration among key stakeholders and policymakers.

Open Access

Opinion

Article ID: 741

A new era in soccer performance analysis research?

by Spyridon Plakias, Themistoklis Tsatalas, Xenofon Betsios, Giannis Giakas

Insight - Sports Science, Vol.7, No.1, 2025; 489 Views, 153 PDF Downloads

In this opinion paper, we explore the current state and future directions of soccer match analysis, emphasizing the need to balance quantitative and qualitative methods in performance analysis (PA). Through a comprehensive review of the literature, we highlight the predominant focus on quantitative data and the evolving recognition of the importance of qualitative insights, particularly through video analysis, which is an established practice in biomechanical analysis. Our findings suggest that while quantitative data provide objective and reliable metrics, qualitative video analysis offers a richer, more nuanced understanding of player performance and tactics, which are more accessible to coaches. We argue for the integration of qualitative match analysis into the scientific literature on PA, supported by quantitative data, to enhance the practical application of the research findings. This approach aims to bridge the gap between academic research and practical implementation, making PA more relevant and useful for coaches and applied performance analysts.