This study aimed to 1) examine the associations between two swim-specific measures of anaerobic performance and dry-land strength-based variables; 2) study the association between the aforementioned variables with swimming performance and its kinematics; 3) analyse sex-induced differences. Twenty-three regional-national swimmers performed five countermovement-jumps and pull-ups, 50-m front crawl, two 30-s tethered-swimming tests at 0 and 1.124 m·s⁻¹ water flow speed. Moreover, 10, 15, 20, and 25-m maximal front crawl were performed to determine anaerobic critical velocity (AnCV). The AnCV was positively correlated with tethered swimming variables in both conditions and dry-land-based variables in both sexes (p < 0.05). Tethered-swimming variables in both conditions were correlated with pull-ups’ average propulsive force in males (p < 0.05). 50-m swimming performance was positively associated with AnCV, tethered-swimming variables, countermovement-jump height, and pull-ups’ average propulsive force for both sexes (p < 0.05). Stroke rate (SR) was positively associated with AnCV in males and females (p < 0.05). Stroke length was correlated with tethered-swimming variables in males (p < 0.05). Except for SR, males presented higher values than females (p < 0.05). Depending on the conditions of their training environment, coaches might use the AnCV and tethered-swimming variables as interchangeable tools for evaluating anaerobic performance.

Ultra-short race-pace training (USRPT) is a high-intensity training modality used in swimming for the development of specific race-technique. However, there is little information about the fatigue associated to this modality. In a crossover design, acute responses of two volume-equated sessions (1000-m) were compared on 14 national swimmers: i) USRPT: 20×50-m; ii) RPT: 10×100-m. Both protocols followed an equivalent work-recovery ratio (1:1) based on individual 200-m race-pace. The swimming times and the arm-strokes count were monitored on each set and compared by mixed-models. Blood lactate [La^-] and countermovement jump-height (CMJ) were compared within and between conditions 2 and 5 min after the protocols. The last bouts in RPT were 1.5–3% slower than the target pace, entailing an arm-strokes increase of ~0.22 for every second increase in swimming time. USRPT produced lower [La^-] ([Mean ± standard deviation], 2 min: 8.2±2.4 [p = 0.021]; 5 min: 6.9±2.8 mM/L [p = 0.008]), than RPT (2 min: 10.9±2.3; 5 min: 9.9±2.4 mM/L). CMJ was lowered at min 2 after RPT (-11.09%) and USRPT (-5.89%), but returned to baseline in USRPT at min 5 of recovery (4.07%). In conclusion, lower fatigue and better recovery were achieved during USRPT compared to traditional high-volume set.

El objetivo de la presente investigación fue analizar el impacto de la Educación Deportiva sobre la motivación del alumnado de bachillerato, considerando la influencia del género. Los participantes fueron 75 estudiantes de bachillerato (38 chicos y 37 chicas; Medad = 16.75, DTedad = 0.87) de tres clases de educación física, quienes completaron medidas sobre regulación motivacional, metas de logro 2x2 y metas sociales al inicio y final de la intervención. El programa de intervención basado en la Educación Deportiva incluyó 12 sesiones de 55 minutos, dos veces por semana en horario regular de educación física. Los resultados del MANOVA 2x2 mostraron un aumento significativo en motivación intrínseca, regulación integrada, identificada e introyectada, así como, en las metas de aproximación-maestría, metas de responsabilidad y de relación. Se encontraron disminuciones significativas en desmotivación, metas de aproximación-rendimiento y evitación-maestría. En cuanto al género, se encontraron cambios significativos en la regulación identificada entre los alumnos y alumnas en el post-test. Se hallaron cambios significativos en regulación identificada, metas de aproximación-maestría y metas de responsabilidad en los alumnos entre el pre-test y el post-test. Las alumnas mostraron cambios significativos en regulación introyectada, desmotivación, metas de evitación-maestría y, metas de responsabilidad y relación. En su conjunto, la Educación Deportiva es un modelo pedagógico que favorece la adecuada respuesta motivacional del alumnado de bachillerato en su proceso de enseñanza-aprendizaje deportivo en la clase de educación física. This research aimed to analyse the impact of Sport Education on high school students’ motivation, considering the effect of gender. The participants were 75 high school students (38 boys and 37 girls, Mage = 16.75, SDage = 0.87) from three physical education classes who completed measures on behavioural regulation, 2x2 achievements goals and social goals in the beginning and the end of the intervention. The intervention programme under Sport Education conditions included twelve 50-minutes lessons, twice per week in regular physical education schedule. The results derived from 2x2 MANOVA showed a significant increase in intrinsic motivation, integrated, identified, and introjected regulation, as well as, mastery-approach goals, and responsibility and relationship goals. There was also a significant decrease in amotivation, performance-approach goals and mastery-avoidance goals. With respect to gender, there were significantly differences in identified regulation between male and female students at post-test. Significantly changes were also found in identified regulation, mastery-approach goals and responsibility goals in male students between pre-test and post-test. Instead, there were significantly changes in introjected regulation, amotivation, mastery-avoidance goals, and responsibility and relationship goals. As a whole, Sport Education is a pedagogical model that promotes the high school students’ adequate motivational response in their sport teaching-learning process in physical education class.

This study aimed to compare three swimming conditions in a swimming flume with water at 26 ℃ (using swimsuit) and 18 ℃ (randomly with swimsuit and wetsuit). Seventeen swimmers (32.4±14.7 years old, 175.6±0.06 cm height, and 70.4±9.8 kg body mass) performed three bouts until exhaustion at a 400-m front crawl pace (24 h intervals). ANOVA repeated measures compared the experimental conditions. Swimming at 26 ℃ with swimsuit evidenced a higher metabolic demand (total energy expenditure; (E)), comparing to 18 ℃ swimsuit (p=0.05) and with 18 ℃ wetsuit (p=0.04). The 26 ℃ swimsuit condition presented higher peak oxygen uptake (VO2peak), blood lactate concentrations ([La-]_peak), rate of perceived exertion (RPE), maximal heart rate (HR_max), anaerobic lactic energy (AnL), E, energy cost (C), V̇O2 amplitude (Ap), and stroke rate (SR), but lower stroke length (SL) and stroke index (SI) than 18 ℃ wetsuit. The 18 ℃ swimsuit condition (comparing to wetsuit) lead to higher V̇O2peak, [La-]_peak, HR_max, E_, C, Ap, and SR but lower SL and SI. Swimming at aerobic power intensity with swim and wetsuit at 18 ℃ does not induce physiologic and biomechanical disadvantages compared to 26 ℃. The results suggested that the use of wetsuit might increase performance at 18 ℃ water temperature for competitive master swimmers. Its use is thus recommended in open water swimming competitions when the water temperature is 18–20 ℃. Received: 20 January 2021 Accepted: 07 April 2021 Article published online: 21 May 2021 © 2021. Thieme. All rights reserved. Georg Thieme Verlag KG Rüdigerstraße 14, 70469 Stuttgart, Germany

As most parents do not meet physical activity (PA) recommendations, new PA promotion strategies need to be developed considering the role of motivation as an essential underlying factor of PA behavior. Recreational sports programs practiced in the family would represent an effective strategy to promote PA for the entire family in general, and for parents in particular. Building upon self-determination theory, the purpose of this study was to examine the effect of the Active Methodology for Improving Sports Initiation (MAMI Deporte^®) program on parents’ behavioral regulation. The participants were 58 parents (50% men) and 78 children (48.71% boys), who were randomized into a control group (29 parents and 39 children), which followed its habitual sports activity over 8 months, and an experimental group (29 parents and 39 children), which completed the MAMI Deporte^® program. Specifically, the MAMI Deporte^® program focused on simultaneous participation between parents and children in multisports activities, including 32 lessons distributed into 2 h/week for 8 months. Pre-and-post-intervention measures were collected. The results showed significant differences in the parents’ level of intrinsic motivation, integrated regulation, identified regulation and introjected regulation in favor of the experimental group. Nonsignificant effects were found for gender. These results were discussed, highlighting the internalization process of the value of sport in the family experienced by parents after the MAMI Deporte^® family-based sports program.

The effects of pre-activation exercises on undulatory underwater swimming (UUS) have not been studied. This research aimed to: 1) assess the effects of a jumping-exercise strategy upon UUS performance and kinematics variables; 2) test the different effects on males and females, and; 3) to explore if stronger participants exhibit greater post-activation performance enhancement (PAPE). Ninety-two age-group national level swimmers randomly assigned into control (17 males and 18 females) and experimental groups (27 males and 30 females) took part in a cross-sectional study designed to test two maximal 15-m UUS performance efforts. The experimental group performed four maximal tuck jumps before the first or the second UUS effort. Performance and kinematics variables were analyzed using instantaneous velocity data via speedometer. Maximal lower-limbs force was obtained during a countermovement jump through a linear-encoder. Two-way repeated measures ANOVA test and linear regression analysis were used to explore variable interactions between baseline and PAPE, and the association between the PAPE response and strength of the swimmers, respectively. Despite trends toward improvements in push-off velocity (Δ = 1.33%; d = 0.12), the results did not show enhancements nor deterioration in UUS performance and kinematics after the tuck jumps. No specific PAPE responses modulated by sex or by the strength level of the swimmers were observed for this age-group (p < 0.05). Four tuck jump repetitions executed prior to diving could be insufficient to acutely enhance UUS performance. The fact that the exercise performed during warm-up was a body-weight based exercise, was possibly not enough to evoke PAPE.