On the basis of the integrative concept of self-esteem discussed in sport-related literature, various studies refer to its importance in the context of sports activities. Self-esteem is often understood as a personality trait because it tends to be durable and stable. No accurate description is available regarding the types of sports in which subjects participated. The main purpose of the research was to identify and compare the levels of self-esteem and self-confidence of athletes practicing individual and team sports. The self-esteem and self-confidence levels were measured by the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (Rosenberg 1979) and the Self-Confidence Test (Romek, 2000). All participants were males. Subjects were divided into two categories: 40 for individual sports and 40 for team sports. There were two evaluation periods: P1, the beginning of the preparation period, and P2, the beginning of the competition period. There were statistically significant differences for P1 (p < 0.002) and P2 (p < 0.003). The differences between the average values of the two periods were 5.8 points and 3.8 points, both favorable to the group of athletes who practiced individual sports. There were significant differences between the individual and team athletes in self-esteem level. Individual athletes presented a higher level of self-esteem.

This study aimed to examine the effect of Play and Stay tennis program on learning the service skill on Elementary School pupils and the development of their satisfaction. Sixty-two (62) 5th class Elementary pupils, aged 11 years (Mean Age=11.13, SD=0.33) took part. The pupils, from four classes of two national elementary schools (two classes from each school), were divided into two groups: the experimental group which followed the Play and Stay program, and the control group which followed the traditional teaching method. The four-week course was held during the Physical Education lessons, (20 min of 3 hours/week). A quantitative evaluation was made on 10 trials at the service by each pupil. The qualitative evaluation of the technique was made (video-taping, observation, and a 5-element skill assessment) for service learning, comprising of: an initial test at the beginning, a final test at the end, and a retention test one week after completing the program without any practice. At the end of the course, all participants completed a feedback questionnaire on the level of satisfaction with the program. ANOVA repeated measures revealed significant interaction between groups and measurements for technique evaluation (F(2.120)=30.82, p<0.01), as well as the outcome of service skill (F(2.120)=10.44, p<0.01). The t-test analysis for independent samples showed significant differences between the experimental and the control group in four of the six variables on the satisfaction questionnaire. These findings indicate that the Play and Stay tennis teaching program was effective in helping pupils to learn the service skill, while simultaneously having fun and enjoying the procedure. This suggests that students will be motivated to become more involved in tennis as a sport, since enjoyment and satisfaction stimulate interest in participation

Individuals with lower extremity injuries and back pain may exhibit weakness and stiffness in important muscles such as the gluteus maximus and external hip rotators. To aid clinicians in understanding the impact of exercises on factors like stability, endurance, and strength, electromyography (EMG) examination can be employed to monitor muscle activation. In this investigation, the EMG activity of the gluteus maximus and medius were compared between two exercises: the turn-out bent knee pulse and the single-leg banded glute bridge. The study enrolled a group of 64 healthy young women, aged 19 to 24 years. The raw data collected were standardized and represented as a percentage of maximum voluntary isometric contraction (%MVIC). To assess the reliability of the EMG recordings, the test–retest analysis was performed using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC3,1). Statistical analysis involved conducting a one-way ANOVA to compare the EMG amplitudes between the two exercises. Remarkably, the results demonstrated a significantly higher EMG signal amplitude during the single-leg banded glute bridge exercise (mean ± SD: 90 ± 28% MVIC) when compared to the turn-out bent knee pulse exercise (mean ± SD: 70 ± 15% MVIC) (F = 16.584, p = 0.001). The study found that the single-leg banded glute bridge exercise had a significantly higher EMG signal amplitude compared to the turn-out bent knee pulse exercise. This suggests that the single-leg banded glute bridge exercise may be more effective in strengthening the gluteus maximus and medius muscles. Overall, this study highlights the importance of targeted muscle training in rehabilitation protocols and the use of EMG examination to monitor muscle activation.

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Aim. Tennis popularity in Greece has been gaining ground in the last decade. The study examines the views of Greek tennis players about the sport. Materials and methods. The survey was conducted during the Hellenic Juniors' Tennis Tournament that took place in Athens, March 2019. Data were collected from a sample of 45 teenagers, participating at the Tournament. Survey participants completed a self-completion questionnaire. Data were analyzed with SPSS. Questions regarded the demographics and the teenagers' beliefs about the level of tennis in Greece, their preferences regarding tennis coaches, whether there are opportunities for tennis athletes to be promoted in Greece, the preferred characteristics of trainings and their view about organization of tennis in Greece. Results. The level of tennis in Greece is considered moderate to high. The quality of coaching is considered to be medium to high and coaches are expected to display many qualities and give at least once a month their feedback to the athletes. Tennis is an expensive sport that needs to be advertised by the media. The introduction of tennis in schools would augment the popularity of tennis in Greece. Conclusion. In order to have a broader view of tennis in Greece, it is important to take into consideration the beliefs of young tennis players, as well as the beliefs of tennis coaches and tennis agents.