Although functional asymmetry is very common and normal in professional athletes, the better interlimb symmetry between dominant and nondominant sides (bilateral symmetry) could contribute to successful performance in basketball. The aim of this study was to evaluate the importance of bilateral symmetry of the one-leg jumping and agility performances in differentiating basketball players according to their (i) playing position (guards, forwards, and centers) and (ii) performance levels (first division vs. second division). The participants were 102 professional male basketball players, with all members of the teams competing in the two highest national divisions at the moment of testing (height: 194.92 ± 8.09 cm; body mass: 89.33 ± 10.91 kg; 21.58 ± 3.92 years of age). Performance levels (first division, N = 58 vs. second division, N = 44) and playing positions (guards, N = 48; forwards, N = 22; centers, N = 32) were observed as dependent variables. We measured one-leg jumping capacities (running vertical jump and lay-up vertical jump), basketball-specific preplanned agility (CODS), and basketball-specific reactive agility (RAG), all executed on dominant and nondominant sides. Accordingly, the bilateral symmetry of jumping and agility was calculated by calculating the ratio of the corresponding performances on the dominant and nondominant sides. Factorial analysis of variance (performance levels × positions) indicated that the bilateral symmetry of one-leg jumping differentiated players according to their playing position, with better bilateral symmetry among guards (F-test = 6.11 (medium effect size) and 5.81 (small effect size), p < 0.05 for lay-up and running-jump symmetry, respectively). Performance levels significantly differed in the bilateral symmetry of lay-up jump, with better symmetry for first-division players (F-test = 10.11 (medium effect size), p < 0.001), which was mostly influenced by significant differences among guards. Playing positions and performance levels did not differ in bilateral symmetry of the CODS and RAG. The study reveals the importance of bilateral symmetry of the sport-specific performance in differentiating playing positions and performance levels in basketball. Further studies in other multidirectional sports and other sport-specific performances are warranted.

The awareness of the importance of physical literacy (PL) is globally increasing; however, knowledge of the applicability of PL measurement tools in southeastern Europe is limited. The aim of this study was to evaluate the reliability and validity of translated versions of the CAPL-2 and PLAYself questionnaires in 9- to 11-year-old elementary school children from Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Montenegro. The participants were 303 children (141 girls; all 9 to 11 years of age) from Croatia (n = 71), Bosnia and Herzegovina (n = 162), and Montenegro (n = 70), enrolled in regular elementary school. The participants were tested throughout a test–retest procedure using two PL evaluation tools, i.e., the Canadian Assessment of Physical Literacy (shorter version, CAPL-2) and the Physical Literacy Assessment of Youth (PLAYself) questionnaires. With an intraclass correlation (ICC) of 0.70–0.80 for specific questionnaire subscales and 0.84 for the total score, PLAYself was found to be reliable. With Kappa values of 0.11–0.23 and a percentage of absolute agreement of less than 62%, CAPL-2 appeared to be less reliable. Factors related to sport participation were significantly positively associated with the PLAYself score, indicating its proper validity. In conclusion, we suggest the usage of the PLAYself questionnaire in further studies examining PL in children of a similar age in the region. Future studies in other age groups and languages are also warranted.

Flexibility is an important determinant of dynamic balance, but studies rarely examined the chronic effects of flexibility training on changes in balance capacity. This study aimed to determine the influence of different forms of flexibility exercises on dynamic balance in female professional football players. Participants were 30 female professional football players (age =19.0±4.1 years), divided into three groups dynamic stretching group (DSG; N=10, age =18.9±3.3 years), static stretching group (SSG; N=10, age =19.5±4.3 years) and control group (N=10, age =18.5±3.3 years). All groups participated in equal football training, while DSG and SSG performed additional flexibility training 3-times a week (10-15 min of duration) throughout the study course (16 weeks). Dynamic balance was measured by the Y-balance test (YBT), and ANOVA for repeated measurement was applied to identify the effects. Results evidenced the significant influence of both flexibility programs on dynamic balance. Both DSG and SSG were equally effective in the first part of the study (until the 8th week), but between the 8th and 16th study week, only DSG improved their balance capacity significantly. Static stretching should be applied in the first phases of flexibility training aiming at the improvement of dynamic balance, but in later phases, usage of dynamic stretching is suggested.

Studies have rarely examined the effects of changes in legal anti-doping knowledge (LADK) on doping tendencies in athletes. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a structured educational intervention focused on LADK and to analyze how LADK changes affect elite athletes’ doping tendency. The participants were athletes (n = 310; 156 females; 24.1 ± 4.2 years of age), all actively competing at the senior national or international level in either individual (N = 119) or team sports (N = 191), tested on sociodemographic-, sport-, doping-factors (including doping tendency—DT), and LADK. Participants were randomly divided into an experimental group (E: N = 140) and a control group (C: N = 170). The E group participated in a structured educational program on LADK. A pre- and posttest design was used to evaluate changes in LADK (dependent variable). Logistic regression was calculated to evaluate the association between LADK and binarized DT (negative vs. neutral/positive DT). Factorial ANOVA for repeated measurements revealed significant improvement in LADK in the E group, with significant ANOVA effects for time (F test = 35.8, p < 0.05) and time × group interaction (F test = 12.27, p < 0.05). The logistic regression did not reveal significant correlations between LADK and DT. Further studies exploring younger athletes, as well as long-term, multidimensional interventions, are warranted.

Background and Study Aim. Although physical activity (PA) is an important determinant of physical fitness (PF) in children, studies have rarely examined the associations between PA and PF in early school-age children within narrow age spans. The aim of this study was to evaluate the associations between different intensities of PA and various indices of PF in children aged 9 -11 years. Material and Methods. The participants were 121 children aged 9 - 11 years (49 girls) who were tested for PF (anthropometrics, aerobic endurance, upper body and abdominal strength, jumping power, mobility and flexibility), and the PA was directly measured via GeneActiv triaxial accelerometers. A t test was used to define differences between sexes, while Pearson’s correlations between PA variables and PF indices and multiple regressions for PF criteria were used to calculate sex stratification. Results. Compared with girls, boys achieved better results in terms of jumping power capacity, upper body strength, and aerobic endurance, and they had a higher number of steps taken per day, and a higher amount of vigorous PA per day (all p < 0.05). The girls achieved better results in terms of flexibility and mobility. Correlations between PA-intensities and PF were weak to moderate. Multiple regression calculations revealed that vigorous PA was a significant predictor of jumping power, upper body strength, and aerobic endurance in boys (16%, 20%, and 13% of the explained variance, respectively) and jumping power in girls (18% of the explained variance). Moderate PA was a significant partial regressor of aerobic endurance in girls (13% of the explained variance). Conclusions. Tailoring physical-education curricula to gender-specific PA responses and expanding PF assessments can enhance student engagement, optimize fitness outcomes, and improve the overall effectiveness of physical education programs.