Annals of Applied Sport Science
Volume:2 Issue: 3, Autumn 2014

In the present study, field goal shooting skills of female basketball players were assessed in the background to their reasoning ability. The sample consists of 100 female intercollegiate basketball players (age = 21.05±1.67 yrs.). Shooting skills reasoning ability were assessed by Johnson’s “Basketball Field Goal Speed Shooting Test” and Mixed Type Group Test of Intelligence prepared by Mehrotra (1984), respectively. Results reveal that field goal shooting ability of female basketball players exhibiting superior reasoning ability was found to be significantly better as compared to field goal shooting ability of female basketball players with low and average reasoning ability. It was concluded that shooting skills of female basketball players is influenced by their cognitive ability i.e. ability to rationalize problems in proper sequence.

The present paper aimed to study the effect of pairwise video check feedback (including the observation of external pattern of skill performance and performing the skill simultaneously) on the learning on acquisition and learning of eye-hand coordination skill. Computer skill of eye-hand coordination skill was the tool used in this study. 24 subjects were randomly selected and equally divided into two groups of experimental and control. Each of the groups performed 3 exercise sessions of 5 attempts with a 24-hour interval between sessions. In each exercise attempt, the experimental group conducted a combination of pairwise video feedback and practical performance of the skill and the control group only performed the practical exercises. Acquisition tests were done at the end of training sessions and retention tests were performed after intervals of 24 hours, 48 hours, and one week after the last session of acquisition. Performing the task in lesser time was the criteria for assessment of individuals. The results showed a significant improvement in the performance of task from the pretest to the final stage of acquisition. Also, over time (24 hours, 48 hours, and after the last training session) in retention test, a stability in performance was seen. Finally, it was found that pairwise video feedback method positively affect the acquisition of skill and retention stability of individuals in eye-hand coordination skill.

It is well established that carbohydrate solutions can improve the performance in prolonged exercise. The aim of this study was to compare the impact of sugar and glucose solutions on exercise performance of swimmers. Twelve male teenager elite Iranian swimmers aged 12-17 years from Waterpolo Team of Ahvaz Oil Industry participated in a double-blind cross-over trial. They consumed three oral 6% purified carbohydrate solutions as glucose, sugar or placebo (aspartame) formulas in three non-consecutive days. In each day the swimmers undertook a 2×200-meter incremental swimming by 15 minutes time interval. Before starting the second course, subjects consumed their solutions. Blood glucose levels and time elapsed in two phases were recorded. Longer Swimming time significantly caused by sugar solution in the second course. Blood glucose level was increased by sugar and glucose solutions higher than the placebo before starting the second swim (p<0.05). However, after swimming, blood glucose concentrations were significantly elevated in all groups. After drinking a sugar solution and before starting the second 200-m swimming, the blood glucose level was higher than two other groups at this phase. Oral 6% sugar solution increased the time of swimming compared with oral glucose and placebo solutions in a 200-m swim. It can be explained by differences in Glycemic index in which sucrose has a lower GI than glucose.

This study aims to determine the effect of a single exhausting exercise on plasma PYY, NPY and IGF-1 in young athletes. Thirty-one young athletes (aged 19.52±2.75 years, body mass 79.24±16.13 kg, height 173±6.49 cm, and body fat 16.37±5.92%) volunteered to participate in this study. The participations, in randomized crossover manner, performed a single exercise bout on a cycle ergometer at 50 watts (W) for five-minute, and the power output was increased by 30 W every 3 minute until voluntary exhaustion. Venous blood samples were collected before (Pre), immediately after (Post) and 1h after (1h Post) exercise to assess plasma PYY, NPY and IGF-1concentrations. Plasma PYY (p=0.042) and IGF-1 (p=0.001) significantly increased at Post exercise. Also, NPY was increased Post (p=0.001) and for 1h Post (p=0.021) exercise. The exhausting exercise increase plasma PYY concentration and this increase may relate to IGF-1 signals in young athletes. However, increased plasma NPY may not be related to stimulation food intake because it does not penetrate the blood-brain barrier.

The popularity of running and consequently of running injuries has increased tends to develop shoe sole constructions aiming at preventing different injuries. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of shoe outsole containing nanoclay particles on knee joint power during stance phase of running. Fourteen healthy male shod runners run 3 times at 3.5 m.s-1 under three shoe conditions manufactured by polyurethane (PU), 1% Polyurethanes-clay nano-composites (NPU1) and 2% Polyurethanes-clay nano-composites (NPU2). The joint power (Pj) was calculated by multiplying the joint moment (Mj) and the joint angular velocity (ωj). Knee joint peak power in the three dimensional planes were compared between the shod conditions during the stance phase of running using repeated measurement ANOVA (P< 0.05). The results showed that the negative peak of knee joint power in sagittal plane was significantly different between the PU and NPU2 conditions. No significant differences were noted in other positive and negative peaks. It is concluded that using Polyurethanes-clay nano-composites can change shock absorbing ability of knee joint​.

In the current competitive world, organizations can reach competitive advantage which support entrepreneurship by providing the required tools. One of the most important tools for developing entrepreneurship which was neglected in previous studies is organizational knowledge management. The present paper aims to shed light on the role and importance of knowledge management in sport entrepreneurship in sport organizations of Mazandaran Province. 250 managers and employees of sport organizations were selected as the sample. Two questionnaires were used for data collection knowledge management questionnaire with 22 questions (including knowledge acquisition, knowledge creation, knowledge storage, knowledge sharing, and knowledge application) and entrepreneurship questionnaire with 35 questions (including idea creation, opportunity discovery, and idea exploitation). The results show that there is a significant relation between knowledge management and entrepreneurship process (r=0.068, p= 0.001) and also between knowledge management and entrepreneurship components (idea creation: r=0.33, p= 0.001 opportunity discovery: r= 0.53, p= 0.001 idea exploitation: r= 0.33, p= 0.001). According to the results, paying attention to knowledge management can systematically support the organizations in idea creation, opportunity discovery from created ideas, idea exploitation, and also entrepreneurship. Managers of sport organizations should assume that knowledge management is one of the empowerments of entrepreneurship or, in other words, knowledge management is one of the effective factors in the emergence of entrepreneurship. Hence, knowledge management should be regarded as one of main priorities and special planning must be done for it.

One of the most important factors affecting organizational effectiveness is organizational culture and entrepreneurship. The aim of the present study was to determine the relationship of organizational culture and corporate entrepreneurship with effectiveness in offices of sport and youth in Golestan Province. Research method was correlation and the statistical population included all directors and experts of general directorates of sport and youth in Golestan province (N=280). 164 persons were randomly selected as the sample. The required data were collected by using Denison Organizational Culture Survey (DCOS), author-made Corporate Entrepreneurship Questionnaire, and Effectiveness Inventory (Heydari Nejad and Saberi, 2010). The results showed that there is a positive and significant relationship between organizational culture and effectiveness (r=0.457) and also between corporate entrepreneurship and effectiveness (r=0.795). The results also indicated that organizational culture and corporate entrepreneurship are good predictors of organizational effectiveness. Generally, in sport organizations, because of the nature of sport and physical activities, effectiveness would be ideal when teamwork culture, support for initiative and creativity, and flexible structure encourage employees to innovate.

Today, the proper playing of managerial roles is of special importance in effective and successful management of sports clubs. The present paper aimed to study the managerial roles of sports clubs CEOs in Isfahan Province in the current and desirable conditions. Statistical population included all managers and directors of Sepahan, Zobahan, Foolad Mahan, and Gitipasand sports clubs (N=83), which was considered as the sample as well. An author-made questionnaire with 31 items on a Likert’s 5-point scale was used for data collection. Validity of the questionnaire was confirmed by 15 experts and professors and its reliability was obtained α=0.94 by Cronbach’s alpha coefficient. 84 questionnaires were handed out among all managers and directors of the studied sports clubs, 76 of which (91.5%) was returned. The results showed that priority of CEOs roles, respectively, include decisional role (4.16±0.61), informational role (4.09±0.56), and interpersonal role (4.03±0.67). The results of factor analysis also indicated that the roles of entrepreneurship, data collection, spokesman, and allocation of resources, respectively, are the most important roles of CEOs and negotiation, figurehead, and leadership roles are the least important ones in the desirable conditions. A significant difference was observed between the roles of managers in the current and desirable conditions (Sig.=0.001). The results suggested that the respondents’ expectations of sports clubs CEOs’ roles in desirable conditions is beyond their perceptions in the current situation. It can be generally concluded that sports clubs CEOs need to better perform all managerial roles, especially decisional role.