Background: Research on the application of technology in sports in Romania is completely lacking, and the existing studies at the international level have mainly been carried out in recent years. We considered it appropriate to highlight the best practice models of technology application in sports that can be multiplied, adapted, improved, and widely used. The paper aims to identify the use of technology and devices in sports, with an emphasis on their role in training and competitions with the aim of improving sports performance, to provide sports specialists, organizations, and authorities with a wide range of information regarding the connection between sport and technology. The results obtained regarding the application of technology in sports refer mainly to the following: techniques and technologies used in training and competition (portable localization technology and global positioning systems (GPS); Virtual Reality (VR) technology; video analysis; digital technologies integrated into sports training); aspects of sports training targeted through the use of technology (use of technology for athlete health, recovery, and injury management; use of technology for monitoring sports performance and various body indicators); training optimization and ecological dynamics and the sustainable development of sports. Conclusions: Unitary research, at a European or even global level, in a uniform theoretical and practical framework, could lead to much more efficient training with large increases in sports performance. The coaches and specialists working with the athlete determine the specificity of some elements of the training, depending on the characteristics of each athlete. Large clubs could become a factor in generating and disseminating knowledge related to training and competition monitoring, sports performance enhancement, and health, recovery, and injury management. Research directions for the use of technology in sport and the formation of connections with other fields can be extended. For example, combined technologies assisted by specialized software can be used. Creativity must be the starting point for the use and combination of existing technologies in sports and for the creation of new ones. Their creation and use involve the teamwork of athletes, coaches, and specialists from different fields, such as sports, physiology, psychology, biomechanics, informatics, etc.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of 8-week β-alanine supplementation on C-Reactive Protein (CRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6), body composition, and bio-motor abilities in elite male basketball players. Twenty male basketball players (age: 23 + 0.6 years; body mass: 78.3 + 4.8 kg; height:185.3 + 5.4 cm, %BF, 15.2 ± 4.8) volunteered to participate in this study. They were divided into a β-alanine group (BG, N = 10) and a placebo group (PG, N = 10). All players were preparing for university competitions and had played for over five years. Players used 6.4 g/d of β-alanine in BG and maltodextrin in PG. The participants were involved in regular basketball training three months before the study. CRP, IL-6, body composition parameters, and bio-motor abilities were measured before starting the exercises and after completing the eight-week training period. The research findings showed a significant decrease in CRP and IL-6 and an increase in anaerobic peak power between the pre-test and post-test, as well as between BG and PG groups (p < 0.05). Although the other measured factors were a relative improvement compared to the pre-test and also compared to PG, these changes were not statistically significant (p < 0.05). Eight weeks of β-alanine supplementation ameliorated increases in IL-6 and CRP associated with in-season physical stressors in collegiate basketball players. These changes in pro-inflammatory cytokines suggest that β-alanine supplementation may be a useful nutritional strategy for immune regulation and can also improve anaerobic performance compared to PG.

The aim of the research was to identify the effect of 4vs.4 small-sided games (SSGs) with goalkeepers (4vs.4+GK), applied twice a week, for 8 weeks, on U18 football players’ physical ability, compared to that of the athletes who performed specific aerobic endurance training. The research included 40 football players U18, divided into two groups: 20 in the experiment group (EG) aged 17.49 ± 0.61 years and 20 in the control group (CG) aged 17.66 ± 0.54 years. From the initial test (IT) to final tests (FT) performed on the parameters, maximum oxygen consumption (VO_2max) and 10 m and 20 m sprint and agility with and without a ball showed a significant increase for both groups. The first and last SSG training was monitored, using total distance (TD), high-intensity distance (HSR—high-speed running) and maximum intensity distance (VHSR—very-high-speed running). Comparative analyses of EG and CG parameters at the FT shows that the differences between the means of two groups are statistically significant in favor of the experimental group in terms of all parameters, except 10 m sprint (p < 0.05). Referring to SSGs, the experimental group had a 7.78% increase rate in TD (p < 0.0005), a 30.90% (p < 0.0005) increase rate with HSR and no significant differences (p > 0.05) with VHSR. The experimental training program of 4vs.4+GK SSGs, applied to U18 football players, produced significant progress in the physical, and functional parameters.

Background: Smartphones are an integral part of young people’s everyday lives and offer an interactive digital environment that can be incorporated into sport training to support engagement and skill development. Methods: A total of 40 male basketball players aged 12–14 years participated in this quasi-experimental study. Participants were allocated by existing school teams, with one team assigned to the experimental group (n = 20) and the other to the control group (n = 20). Both groups completed a six-month training period consisting of three sessions per week. Hand–eye coordination and dribbling-related performance were evaluated using two standardized mobile-application-based field tests with both hands during initial and final assessments. The data were analyzed using mixed-design repeated-measures ANOVA, with time as the within-subject factor and group as the between-subject factor. Results: The mixed-design repeated-measures ANOVA showed significant time × group interactions for all assessed outcomes, indicating greater improvements in coordination performance and bilateral upper-limb performance in the experimental group compared with the control group. Conclusions: These results indicate that mobile-application-based training can be a practical and effective approach for developing coordination and supporting bilateral upper-limb performance in youth basketball players.

Background: Padel is a rapidly growing racket sport characterized by high-intensity rallies, frequent changes of direction, and high perceptual-cognitive demands. Reactive agility is a key performance factor because players must constantly adapt their movements to unpredictable stimuli such as ball rebounds and opponents’ actions. Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of an 8-week reactive agility training program on physical and game-related performance in competitive padel players. Results: A randomized controlled trial was conducted on 40 competitive padel players, with a mean age of 24.3 ± 3.1 years, randomly assigned to an experimental group, n = 20, and a control group, n = 20. The experimental group followed a structured reactive agility training program, while the control group continued standard training routines. Performance was assessed before and after the intervention through reactive agility tests, reaction time measurements, and padel-specific performance indicators. Statistical analysis included paired and independent t-tests, with significance set at p 0.05. The experimental group showed significant improvements in reactive agility, −8.2%, p 0.001, reaction time, −12.5%, p 0.001, and padel-specific performance, +15.4%, p 0.001. The control group showed only minor improvements, between 2% and 5%. Between-group comparisons revealed statistically significant differences in favor of the experimental group across all variables. Conclusions: Reactive agility training significantly improves both physical and perceptual-cognitive performance in competitive padel players. Integrating stimulus-based training into regular practice may improve movement efficiency, decision-making, and overall competitive performance.