(1) Background: Shooting performance is one of the most important determinants of basketball success and is strongly influenced by vertical jump performance. A lot of research attention has been paid to training programs that may improve the vertical jump. However, the literature regarding the improvement of accuracy during the jump shot is limited. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of the combination of two training programs on explosive power of the lower extremities during the made jump shot. (2) Methods: A total of 61 male basketball players were assigned into training group (T, n = 31, age 15.32 ± 0.65) which was conducting a specific, i.e., experimental training program, and control group (C, n = 30, age 16.3 ± 0.71 years) involved in a regular training program. The experimental training program included specific plyometric training with shooting training which lasted for 10 weeks. The obtained data were processed by nonparametric statistics to determine the differences in the vertical jump outcomes, as well as to determine the level of impact of the experimental training program. Wilcoxon and Kruskal–Wallis tests were used. (3) Results: A significant improvement (p ≤ 0.05) was noticed in the T group, in every vertical jump variable (flight time, height of the jump, power, and speed of the jump during a jump shot for two and three points), while there was no improvement within the C group. (4) Conclusions: The combination of plyometric and shooting training has a positive impact on the explosive power of the lower extremities during the jump shot.

Background: The aim of the research is to explore the relationship between psychological factors and nutritional status in adolescence. The issue of adolescent nutrition is related to several psychological problems, as well as to developmental changes during this period. Research on body image dissatisfaction has confirmed that most adolescents are dissatisfied with their bodies. Developmentally oriented scientists are unique in their approach to explaining the problem of body image, focusing on multiple aspects and attempting to understand the intrapersonal and interpersonal factors that are important for the formation of body image. Methods: The sample included 260 adolescents aged 11 to 15. The assessment of sociodemographic factors, emotional states, physical activity levels, and eating habits was included in the questionnaires filled out by the parents (DASS-21 and the Physical Activity & Nutrition Behaviors Monitoring Form questionnaire). Body Mass Index (BMI) was calculated based on information about the height and weight of the adolescents. Results: The results of the correlation between psychological characteristics and BMI indicate a negative low correlation with all psychological aspects: depression (r = −0.25; p < 0.05), anxiety (r = −0.30; p < 0.05), and stress (r = −0.28; p < 0.05). Over 70% of adolescents are classified in the category of normal BMI. Conclusions: The results indicate that subjects who are of normal weight experience less pronounced depression, anxiety, and stress.

This study purpose was to determine the level of motor competence and differences in motor skills of preschool girls aged 5 to 7 from Serbia according to participation in organized physical activities. Materials and methods. Ninety-one girls aged 5-7 years (mean ± 6.4) were divided into three subsamples: control group, rhythmic gymnastics and sports school. Girls were assessed with the MABC-2 test. Descriptive statistics analyzed the basic characteristics of participants according to the level of motor competence. Furthermore, Pearson’s χ2 test for contingency tables, MANOVA and discriminant analysis were employed to find differences in motor proficiency among groups. Results. Significant differences have been found in girls attending rhythmic gymnastics in aiming & catching on the upper bound of moderate effect size (p < 0.001, η2 = 139), and total test score moderate effect size (p = 0.006, η2 = 0.105) compared to girls who did not participate in organized physical activity. The discrimination coefficient explained the differences in girls in aiming and catching, with a contribution of 41.4%, balance skills with 24%, and a total test score of 22.9%. According to the level of motor competence, 61% from the control group and 40% from the sports school group scored below average in aiming & catching. The total test score of ≥ 50 percentile was achieved by 68.3% of girls in the control group, 84% in the sports school group, and 96% in rhythmic gymnastics. Conclusion. This study confirms that sports practice contributes to the development of motor capabilities and influences individual differences in children’s scores. Our findings can contribute to understanding how important it is to promote object control skills games for girls and older preschoolers generally.

The aim of this study was to conduct a systematic review of research that investigates coordination abilities in basic individual sports, such as athletics, gymnastics, climbing, and swimming. The relevant sports that have a process of identifying very young talents are precisely these basic individual sports. The following electronic databases were used: Web of Science and PubMed. A total of 16 studies met the criteria for participation in this study. Since only a few studies have been done on this topic, this review included studies for the last 30 years. The sample of respondents in the included studies consisted of both males and females, and the total number was 642. The study findings indicate that coordination is a crucial motor ability with a significant impact on athletic success in youth. The level of coordination abilities increases with sports experience, so the development of coordination should be one of the priorities in the training process of gymnasts, athletes, sports climbers and swimmers in younger sportsman ages.

(1) Introduction: This research was conducted with the aim of assessing whether an alternative physical education (PE) program could effectively substitute for the traditional PE curriculum and aid in accomplishing the essential goals and objectives of PE among younger elementary school children. (2) Materials and Methods: This longitudinal 6-month study included third-grade elementary school children of both genders, who were healthy, lived in urban areas, and were involved in an alternative PE program, as well as the regular PE classes. The sample of participants comprised 214 students, with 105 participants in the experimental group and 109 participants in the control group, who underwent pre- and post-intervention measurements. For the purposes of this study, 11 variables were applied to assess the parameters of growth and development, motor abilities, and physical and health education. MANCOVA and ANCOVA methods were used to determine the effects resulting from the alternative and regular PE programs, and differences between the groups, respectively. The data are reported as the mean and standard deviations, and were analyzed using the statistical package SPSS version 20.0 (SPSS Inc., Armonk, NY, USA). (3) Results: Based on the research results obtained for motor abilities and physical and health education, it was concluded that both the alternative and regular PE programs had positive effects in achieving the goals and objectives of PE, but without statistical significance at the multivariate and univariate levels. The differences between the two groups were found to be negligible (effect size, ES < 0.2). (4) Discussion: Sports and PE have distinct objectives and approaches. While sports emphasize competition and winning, PE aims to impart fundamental skills and knowledge, prioritizing inclusivity among younger students. Success in PE is measured by the number of students meeting these goals, potentially affecting both talented and struggling learners. (5) Conclusions: The results obtained from the conducted research indicate that both the alternative PE program and the regular PE program influence changes in motor abilities and physical and health education to a limited extent. The alternative PE program proposed in this study, with its modifications to the structure of existing, regular PE program, can fully replace the latter in schools that do not meet the required spatial and material standards.

(1) Background: The relationship between physical activity (PA) and mental health remains a topic of significant interest, particularly in populations recovering from COVID-19. This study aimed to examine the differences in PA levels and mental health parameters (anxiety, depression, and stress) across sex and age groups following COVID-19 recovery; (2) Methods: The sample of participants (n = 288) was selected using a random sampling method and consisted of participants of different ages and both sexes. Participants’ self-reported PA was assessed using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ), while the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS) was used to measure negative emotional states. The influence of COVID-19 recovery on PA and mental health (depression, anxiety, stress) was analyzed using MANOVA and follow-up univariate tests by age and sex. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05, with SPSS (v23.0) used for data analysis; (3) Results: A statistically significant difference was observed between the initial and final measurements in PA levels (Wilk’s Lambda = 0.95; p = 0.000) and mental health (Wilk’s Lambda = 0.96; p = 0.000) with older individuals—particularly women—demonstrating improved PA levels and better mental health outcomes. In contrast, younger women exhibited a decline in both domains, with increased anxiety, depression, and stress symptoms. While younger men showed increased PA, their mental health parameters were slightly elevated, though still within normal ranges; (4) Conclusions: Our findings suggest that older individuals were better adapted to post-COVID challenges due to maturity and life experience, while younger populations may require additional support. The study underscored the complexity of the PA–mental health relationship and highlighted the need for further research, particularly among younger individuals recovering from COVID-19.