The aim of the study was to examine the relationship between basketball referees' performance scores gained during a season and their self-efficacy levels. The study was conducted in correlational design and the accessible sampling method was used for the sample selection. The sample of the study consisted of 64 Class-B referees (2% (n=3) were females and 98% (n=61) were males) who actively served in the 2016-2017 season within Turkish Basketball Federation. A demographic information form, "The Referee Self-Efficacy Scale" developed by Karacam and Pulur, and performance scores calculated by the Central Arbitration Committee of Turkish Basketball Federation were used as data collection tools. Data analysis was conducted using SPSS 21 and AMOS programs. The Pearson-Product Moments Correlation Coefficient was used to determine the relationships between the variables. As a result, a positive significant relationship was found between basketball referees' physical fitness, game knowledge, decision-making, pressure, communication, REFS total score, and their performance scores and the variables age and the number of matches refereed. Moreover, a positive significant relationship was found between basketball referees' physical fitness, game knowledge, decision-making, pressure, communication, and REFS total score and their performance scores.

Aim: This study evaluated the effects of plyometric training with different set configurations on sprint speed, change of direction (COD), jump performance, and perceived exertion in youth football players. Method: Twenty-four U-19 players were randomized into three groups: Cluster Set (CLS, n = 8), Traditional Set (TRD, n = 8), and Control (CON, n = 8). CLS performed 8–10 sets of 2–3 repetitions, while TRD completed 2–3 sets of 8–10 repetitions in an 8-week plyometric program (2 sessions/week). The CON group did not train. Performance measures included 10 m, 20 m, and 30 m sprints, COD, Counter Movement Jump (CMJ), Reactive Strength Index (RSI), and Rate of Perceived Exertion (RPE). A repeated measures ANOVA analyzed group*time interactions. Results: Significant improvements were observed in CLS and TRD groups for sprints (10 m: f = 21.44; 20 m: f = 19.40; 30 m: f = 49.56; p < 0.001), COD (f = 14.66; p < 0.001), CMJ (f = 51.50; p < 0.001), and RSI (f = 24.91; p < 0.001). No changes occurred in CON (p > 0.05). Conclusions: CLS and TRD plyometric training improved sprint speed, COD, and jump performance, with CLS showing slightly superior results and better fatigue management.

This study utilized a relational screening model to examine the relationship between mental well-being and emotional regulation levels among basketball referees. The research sample consisted of 327 active field referees officiating in Turkish basketball leagues during the 2021–2022 season, selected using an accessible sampling method. The sample included 13.50% (n = 44) female referees and 86.50% (n = 283) male referees, with 67.30% (n = 220) holding national accreditation and 32.70% (n = 107) being regional referees. Data collection involved a personal information form, the Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-Being Scale (WEMWBS) and the Referee Emotion Regulation Scale (RERS). Statistical analyses, such as Pearson's correlation coefficient, regression analysis, t-tests, and ANOVA, were conducted using SPSS 21 software, with a significance level set at p < .05. The results of this study indicated that gender and educational status did not significantly influence mental well-being, Suppression, and Cognitive Reappraisal levels among basketball referees. However, the level of refereeing emerged as a significant variable impacting mental well-being, Suppression, and Cognitive Reappraisal levels. Notably, a positive and significant correlation was observed between mental well-being, Suppression, Cognitive Reappraisal levels, age, and experience of basketball referees. Furthermore, a positive correlation was found between referees' mental well-being and emotional regulation levels, highlighting the interplay between these factors. The findings underscore the importance of prioritizing mental well-being and emotional regulation for enhancing the performance of basketball referees. Furthermore, the study emphasizes the need to nurture these aspects to improve referees' psychological resilience and overall performance. Practical research on mental well-being and emotion regulation in refereeing can contribute significantly to the existing literature, providing valuable insights for referee training and support programs.

The study of anxiety, particularly its relationship to sociodemographic variables, has been fruitful in sport psychology research. This study aims to determine the comparison of athletes' anxiety with the variables of gender differences and the type of sport played (individual/group). The application of structural equation modeling has been carried out on 80 Indonesian athletes. Of this number, 40 (50%) are female athletes and 40 (50%) are male athletes. They compete in a variety of individual sports (swimming, rock climbing; 50%) and team sports (basketball, volleyball; 50%). Athletes' ages ranged from 20-25 years (M = 22 years; SD = 4.99). After testing the measurement invariance of the first- and second-order models, across gender and sport type (individual vs. team), latent mean comparisons were investigated and statistics were calculated to obtain appropriate effect sizes. Significant differences were detected between male and female athletes as well as between individual and team sports. Female and individual sports athletes have higher levels of general sports anxiety. The results of this study provide evidence that anxiety is assessed differently by athletes based on gender and type of sport. Keywords: Athlete anxiety; gender differences in sports; individual vs. team sports; sports psychology research; structural equation modeling in sports;

Bu araştırmanın amacı beden eğitimi öğretmenlerinin başarı algıları üzerinde akademik iyimserlik, psikolojik iyi oluş ve fiziksel öz saygı değişkenlerinin yordama güçlerini incelemektir. Araştırma ilişkisel tarama modelinin kullanıldığı betimsel bir çalışmadır. Araştırmanın örneklemi, Ankara ili merkez ilçelerinden seçilen 374 beden eğitimi öğretmeninden oluşmaktadır. Örneklemin belirlenmesinde tabakalı örnekleme tekniği kullanılmıştır. Verilerin çözümlenmesi SPSS 21 ve AMOS programları kullanılarak yapılmıştır. Değişkenler arası ilişkilerin belirlenmesi için Pearson Momentler Çarpımı Korelasyon Katsayısı, beden eğitimi öğretmenlerinin akademik iyimserlik, psikolojik iyi oluş ve fiziksel öz saygılarının başarı algılarının anlamlı yordayıcıları olup olmadığı, değişkenlerin doğrudan ve dolaylı etkileri path analizi ile incelenmiştir. Araştırma sonuçları beden eğitimi öğretmenlerinin başarı algısı, akademik iyimserlik, psikolojik iyi oluş ve fiziksel öz saygı düzeyleri arasında pozitif yönlü ve anlamlı ilişki olduğunu göstermiştir. Ayrıca beden eğitimi öğretmenlerinin başarı algılarını, akademik iyimserlik ve fiziksel öz saygı pozitif yönlü ve doğrudan yordarken, psikolojik iyi oluş akademik iyimserlik üzerinden başarı algısını dolaylı olarak yordamaktadır.

Background: This study aimed to determine the effect of the Nordic hamstring curl training (NHCT) program on athletic performance elements such as linear speed, change of direction (COD), jump performance (CMJ), and eccentric muscle strength (Nordic Hamstring Curl Breaking Point Angle—NHCBP) in young football players. Methods: The study group consisted of 40 male football players who were actively trained and had no previous eccentric training experience or reported any injuries. The participants were randomly divided into a training group (TG = 20) and a control group (CG = 20). The TG performed the NHCT program twice a week for eight weeks, in addition to their standard football training. The CG continued with standard football training. Results: The study findings revealed no statistically significant differences in the interaction between group and time in 10, 20, and 30 m sprint performance. However, statistically significant differences were found in CMJ performance in terms of group–time interaction (F = 19.99, p < 0.001, η² = 0.52), COD (F = 11.10, p < 0.004, η² = 0.38), and NHCBP (F = 6.14; p < 0.02; η² = 0.25). After the eight-week NHCT program, the experimental group showed improvements of 18% in CMJ performance, 8% in COD performance, and 25% in NHCBP performance. Conclusions: The NHCT program significantly increased hamstring muscle strength in football players, and this increase positively affected players’ linear speed and change of direction performance. NHCT has the potential to enhance athletic performance in football.