The Mediterranean diet (MD) is considered one of the healthiest dietary patterns. The aim of this study was to assess MD adherence in children and youth living in the Mediterranean region in Croatia and evaluate the differences in adherence to the MD among different educational stages. In total, 2722 individuals aged 2 to 24 years were enrolled in this study. Subjects were divided into different groups according to the Croatian educational system. Mediterranean Diet Quality Index (KIDMED) was used to assess adherence to the MD. In the total sample, the adherence to the MD was poor in 19.2%, average in 60.8%, and good in 20.1% of the study participants. The prevalence rate of poor adherence to the MD increased with higher educational stage, i.e., the highest prevalence rate of poor MD adherence was observed for college students (39.3%). Children having a higher number of snacks on days-off, those with lower physical activity, and not having breakfast together with a family are more likely to have poor MD adherence, while children having a higher number of snacks on working days are less likely to have a poor MD. The results of this study showed low adherence to the principles of the MD, confirming the need for improvement of adherence to the MD pattern in the studied population.

The Mediterranean diet (MD) is known to be one of the healthiest dietary patterns. Despite the significance of a healthful diet during the early stage of life, data for young individuals indicate that nutrition problems are common. This cross-sectional study aimed to determine parental factors associated with MD adherence in children and adolescents living in the Mediterranean region in Croatia. In total, 2623 children aged 2 to 18 years and their parents participated in this study. Data were collected during the period from September 2021 to February 2022 by using an anonymous questionnaire. We used KIDMED and MEDAS questionnaires for assessing MD adherence in young individuals and their parents, respectively. To assess the association of children’s MD adherence categories with the parental predictors, we performed multivariate multinomial logistic regression. Results showed that the children of parents with a low MD adherence are much more likely to have poor MD adherence than good (OR = 47.54 (95% C.I 18.24, 123.87), p < 0.001) or average (OR = 5.64 (95% C.I 3.70, 8.6), p < 0.001) MD adherence. Further, children of fathers with higher BMI (OR = 1.035 (95% C.I 1.0, 1.071)) and those who do not live with both parents (OR = 1.703 (95% C.I 0.994, 2.916), p = 0.053) are more likely to have poor MD adherence than good MD adherence. These results indicate that interventions focusing on enhancing the quality of both parents’ diets could effectively improve their children’s eating habits.

Feint movement is an important factor for offensive players to outplay their guard, and score. So far, there is no evidence of feint biomechanical analysis on a sample of elite players in handball or other team sports. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate kinematic parameters of single side fake movement between elite and professional level handball players. The sample of participants consisted of 10 handball players divided into two subsamples: elite handball players (100.00 ± 8.00 kg; 196.00 ± 4.64 cm) and professional handball players (91.20 ± 3.42 kg; 192.4 ± 7.30 cm). The kinematic analysis was conducted using a GAIT—LaBACS software system. Variables consisted of two phases (fake phase and actual phase) of feint single change of direction. Both phases included seven kinematic parameters that were observed. Statistical analysis included descriptive statistic parameters. The differences between elite and professional handball players were analyzed by multivariate and univariate variance analysis. Results showed significant differences between elite and professional players (λ = 0.44, p = 0.00), in fake phase (i.e., 1. Phase). The results also indicate that in there is no statistically significant difference between both groups (λ = 0.64, p = 0.22). Two variables had significant differences between elite and professional players (i.e., step length of the stride leg (p = 0.02) and moving the leg opposite the throwing arm in space (p = 0.00)). To conclude, the article examines specific movement patterns of single side fake movement in elite players and the confirmed importance of efficient skill execution in top level handball. On the contrary, less skilled players use more space for the same technical element.

Kontaktni timski sportovi su sportske igre koje po svojoj strukturi naglašavaju ili zahtijevaju fizički kontakt između igrača. Iznimno su popularni kod mladih jer pobuđuju intrinzičnu motiviranost kod sportaša i učenika. Bavljenjem ovakvim vidom tjelesne aktivnosti razvijaju se zdravstveni, motorički, funkcionalni i psihološki potencijali kod sportaša. Osim nabrojanih pozitivnih aspekata, postoje i oni negativni koji su vezani uz ozljede koje mogu biti indicirane kontaktom. Ovo pregledno istraživanje ukazalo je da kod kontaktnih sportova najčešće dolazi do ozljeda kostiju, ligamenata i tetiva. Znanstveno su istraženi najpopularniji sportovi: nogomet, košarka, rukomet, ragbi i vaterpolo. Svaki sport zasebno nosi potencijalne rizike od ozljede te je za svaki posebno objašnjen na osnovi preglednih znanstvenih istraživanja. Osim analize najučestalijih ozljeda kod momčadskih kontaktnih sportova, prezentirane su i modificirane inačice za ragbi, košarku i rukomet, kod kojih nema kontakta, čime je smanjena mogućnost ozljeda kod sportaša. Touch rugby, netball i street handball prezentirani su sa svojim pravilima te se mogu vrlo lako implementirati u rad s mladim sportašima i učenicima na satu TZK-a. Ovakve igre potiču uključivanje velikog broja učenika i sportaša, čime se razvija baza za zdravstveno, tjelesno usmjereno vježbanje gdje je mogućnost ozljede svedena na minimum.

Background: The jump shot is a critical technical element in modern handball, requiring the complex integration of speed, power, and precision. As the game evolves toward higher intensities, traditional coaching models require validation against objective biomechanical data. This study aimed to investigate the kinematic characteristics of the jump shot in elite players and establish a methodological framework for transitioning raw kinematic parameters into expert-based performance models. Methods: Kinematic analysis was conducted on five elite male handball players (n = 5, 15 total trials), focusing on the approach, flight, and release phases. Additionally, ten highly qualified handball experts (N = 10) independently established a theoretical performance model. To enable direct comparison between objective measurements and expert assessments, kinematic frequencies were linearly normalized onto a five-point ordinal continuum. The relationship between the kinematic model and the hypothetical expert model was determined using Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient. “Kinematic analysis was conducted on elite handball players, focusing on the approach, flight, and release phases. Results: Elite players predominantly utilize a two-step approach, with the first step slightly longer than the second to optimize the kinematic chain. Kinematic data and expert evaluations showed high congruency regarding body posture, highlighting the necessity of diagonally aligned shoulders and a forward-leaning trunk during the flight phase. A statistically significant correlation was observed between objective kinematic parameters and expert ratings, confirming the model’s validity. Conclusions: This study demonstrates a novel approach for evaluating technical performance by bridging the gap between biomechanical data and expert intuition. These findings provide a valuable exploratory foundation for automated technical evaluation systems and offer practical insights into contemporary technical trends for elite-level coaching in the rapid tempo of modern handball.

Umjetne podloge na sportskim igralištima i terenima imaju sve veću primjenu posljednjih 20 godina. Razvoj modernih tehnologija izrađivanja takvih podloga je u konstantnom porastu te se na tržištu mogu pronaći različiti proizvođači koji plasiraju svoje proizvode u sportskoj industriji. Nogomet koji najrašireniji sport u svijetu je među prvima je implementirao terene sa umjetnom travom u sustav treninga i odigravanja utakmica. Danas je u upotrebi umjetna trava 4. generacije koja se postavlja na nogometne travnjake širom svijeta te bi trebala zadovoljavati najveće europske standarde. Pregledom istraživanja na travnatim površinama uočeno je da je umjetna trava prve i druge generacije imala zabilježenu veću incidenciju ozljeda u odnosu na prirodne travnjake. Naročito treba pripaziti na toksičnost granulata koji je bio postavljan na umjetnu travu te su zabilježena kožna i respiratorna oboljenja na travnjacima starijih generacija. Tenis pripada sportovima gdje su se među prvima koristile umjetne podloge različitih karakteristika. Učestale promjene igranja na različitim teniskim podlogama dovele se do ozljeđivanja igrača koji nisu bili adekvatno fizički pripremljeni. Dvoranski sportovi poput rukometa, odbojke, futsala koriste višenamjenske umjetne podloge za svoja natjecanja. Istraživanja na ozljedama u dvoranskim sportovima pokazala su da postoje povećani rizici od ozljede kada se igra na umjetnim podlogama. Cilj ovoga stručnoga rada je potaknuti znanstvenu i sportsku zajednicu na važnost prevencije i dobre fizičke pripremu sportaša za igranje na različitim umjetnim podlogama. Također, konačan zaključak je da konstantno treba provoditi kontrolu proizvodnje umjetnih podloga te redovito pratiti incidenciju ozljeđivanja za vrijeme treninga i natjecanja kako se ne bi povećala opasnost za ozljedu kod sportaša.