This study aimed to compare the perceptions of boys and girls regarding their gender-specific talent development environments (TDEs) in state-level youth soccer. Seventy-one players (girls, n = 35; boys, n = 36) aged 11–18 years completed the Talent Development Environment Questionnaire (TDEQ-5), Sports Motivation Scale (SMS-6), Coach-Athlete Relationship Questionnaire (CART-Q), and Self-Efficacy and Outcome Expectancies (SEOE) of strength training questionnaire. Mann–Whitney U tests and Hedges’s g effect sizes were used to identify group differences. Boys scored higher for TDEQ-5 subdimensions: long-term development focus, alignment of expectations, and holistic quality preparation. For the CART-Q, boys perceived greater coach commitment, whilst girls perceived greater coach complementarity. The SMS-6 results suggested higher amotivation among girls and higher external regulation and introjected regulation among boys. Finally, boys reported greater self-efficacy and outcome expectancies related to strength training. Overall, the findings reveal significant disparities in boys’ and girls’ perceptions of their TDEs. Whilst these findings provide a more nuanced understanding of youth soccer TDEs, further research is necessary to identify the critical factors for effective athlete development regardless of gender, or with more informed considerations of gender. Stakeholders should consider the unique constraints and resources specific to their TDE to determine which strategies may best impact their functionality.

Soccer is described as a high-intensity, multidirectional sport requiring athletes to possess a high level of physical conditioning to compete at the elite level. Strength, linear sprint and change of direction (COD) abilities are key physical characteristics in soccer-specific performance, with research suggesting athletes who possess greater relative lower-body strength are superior in sprint and COD ability. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between relative lower-body strength with linear sprint and COD ability among elite youth female soccer athletes in Western Australia. Forty-four (U13, n = 11; U14, n = 12; U15, n = 11; U19, n = 10) athletes completed an isometric mid-thigh pull (IMTP), 30 m sprint and 505 COD test. Results demonstrated a significant moderate correlation between relative IMTP (IMTPr) performance and 10 m ( r = −0.315, p = 0.037) and 30 m ( r = −0.0347, p = 0.021) sprint time, however, there was no significant correlation between IMTPr performance and COD deficit ( r = −0.227, p = 0.168). This study suggests that relative lower-body strength is moderately related to greater sprint performance but not COD ability in elite youth female soccer athletes. Overall, relative lower-body strength appears to be advantageous to linear sprint performance in elite youth female soccer athletes, and therefore the inclusion of appropriate and targeted strength training in the physical preparation and long-term athlete development of this demographic may be recommended.

Issue Addressed: Mental health disorders (MHDs) are prevalent amongst university students with detrimental impacts on individual students, universities and the wider community. There is an urgent need for proactive and preventative strategies to address the mental health crisis in the university population. This study evaluated the efficacy of a 13‐week unit developed to directly educate university students about ways to improve and maintain well‐being.Methods: Fifty‐eight university students from five disciplines participated in a 13‐week elective undergraduate unit “Well‐Being Fundamentals for Success” as part of their degree. The Act Belong Commit mental health promotion campaign framework formed the basis of teaching materials. Outcome well‐being measures were self‐assessed at weeks 1, 6 and 12 using four scales: (1) Warwick‐Edinburgh Mental Well‐being Scale (WEMWBS); (2) Perceived Stress Scale (PSS); (3) Brief Resilience Scale (BRS) and (4) Mindful Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS). Post‐unit group interviews (n = 11) were analysed for key themes.Results: Linear mixed models demonstrated a significant improvement in BRS over the semester; well‐being (WEMBS) and mindful attention (MAAS) did increase but not significantly. There was a significant increase in stress (PSS) over the semester. Key themes that emerged from the group interviews were that (1) University life contributes to well‐being; (2) University life contributes to stress; (3) The well‐being unit helped students see and do things differently; (4) An overall endorsement of the unit.Conclusion: University students’ resilience increased over the semester following participation in a curriculum focused on well‐being which featured a combination of theoretical content and experiential workshops.So what? Incorporating mental well‐being curriculum into tertiary education is proactive preventive health strategy which may assist with the increasing prevalence of MHD in Australia.

The purpose of this study was to explore the strength and conditioning (S&C) practices within the Western Australian National Premier League men's (NPLM) and women's (NPLW) competition from an athlete's perspective. A quantitative cross-sectional survey comprising of 40 closed-ended questions was distributed to semi-professional football athletes (n = 143). Independent t-tests and chi-squared analysis were used to examine between-competition differences. NPLM athletes reported significantly longer time participating in organised football ( p = .011, d = 0.33), the NPL competition ( p = .003, d = 0.49) and earlier exposure to unsupervised ( p = .012, d = 0.38) and supervised ( p = .007, d = 0.48) resistance training than NPLW athletes. No significant differences were observed in beliefs regarding the importance of resistance, cardiorespiratory, sprint, or plyometric training, nor in perceived training obligations across the season. Training frequency during the pre-season, in-season and off-season was comparable between competitions. However, NPLM athletes were more likely to complete supervised off-season resistance training ( p = .036, ϕ _c = 0.16), cardiorespiratory training ( p = .044, ϕ _c = 0.16), and off-season physical performance testing ( p = .011, ϕ _c = 0.21). No differences were observed for recovery session participation or wellness monitoring. These findings suggest similar in-season S&C structures between semi-professional men and women in the NPL. However, there appears to be small differences between NPLM and NPLW off-season training supervision and physical performance testing. Reduced access to structured off-season support in the NPLW may contribute to developmental inequities. Practitioners and governing bodies should consider targeting strategies to improve off-season provisions within women's football.

Objective: We explored the impact of a 10-week staff fitness program on university employee productivity and cognition. Methods: Forty-seven participants were included (staff fitness n = 27; control group n = 20), with a two (groups) × three (time points) between-subjects/within-subjects design employed. Participants completed the Victoria Stroop Color and Word Test and the Health and Work Questionnaire at each time point, to assess cognition and productivity, respectively. Participants also completed the International Physical Activity Questionnaire weekly to monitor physical activity. Results: Findings revealed no significant between group or longitudinal differences in productivity or cognition. A nonsignificant but large improvement ( P = 0.055; d = 0.97) in physical activity was evident in staff fitness participants, while control group physical activity significantly decreased ( P = 0.013). Conclusions: The staff fitness program improved physical activity levels, despite no improvements in productivity or cognition.

Workplace exercise programs are imperative for improving employee health and wellbeing. Employee cognition and productivity can also benefit from such programs; however, the practical application of interventions to influence these outcomes is poorly understood. This research aimed to assess the suitability of a university Staff Fitness Program for improving employee productivity and cognition. Forty-seven participants were included in the study, comprising 27 Staff Fitness participants and 20 control group participants. A two (groups) x three (time-points) between-subjects/within-subjects design was employed over 14 weeks, comprising ten weeks of once-weekly exercise intervention for Staff Fitness participants. All participants completed the Victoria Stroop Colour and Word Test and the Health and Work Questionnaire at each time-point, to assess cognition and productivity, respectively. Participants also completed the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (short form) at time-point one, three and during training weeks (excluding week one) to measure physical activity. Appropriate T-tests and non-parametric equivalents were used to assess group differences in outcome measures and across time-points. There were no significant between group or longitudinal differences indicative of improved productivity or cognition. The Staff Fitness group demonstrated a non-significant improvement (Z = 73.00, p = .055) in physical activity from time-point one (M = 1540.93 MET-min-week, SD = 1083.74) to three (M = 2077.32 MET-min-week, SD = 1401.48) with a large effect size (d = 0.97), while control group physical activity significantly decreased (Z = 10.00, p = .013). The present Staff Fitness Program benefited employees by improving physical activity, despite no improvements in productivity or cognition. Future research should further explore the application of workplace exercise programs and the manipulation of exercise parameters to show improvements in employee productivity and cognition.