Background: Cheerleading is an emerging and increasingly popular sport among girls. The figures performed during routines require a high level of balance from the athletes. The aim of the study was to analyze the impact of participation in cheerleading classes on body balance in girls during early adolescence. Methods: A total of 35 female cheerleaders from the Power Stars Sząbruk Club (Poland) were divided into three age groups: 8–9 years (n = 15), 10–11 years (n = 11), and 12–14 years (n = 9). Balance assessment was performed using the E.P.S R/1 pedobarographic platform. The Kruskal–Wallis test with Bonferroni post hoc correction was used to analyze intergroup differences in foot load distribution and balance parameters. Results: The analysis revealed statistically significant differences in the pressure on the forefoot area of the right foot (p = 0.007) between the 8–9 and 12–14 age groups, and in the balance level between the youngest group (8–9 years) and the oldest group (12–14 years) at p = 0.028, as well as between the middle group (10–11 years) and the oldest group (p = 0.004). Conclusions: Participation in cheerleading classes may influence the increase in balance, particularly in terms of the distance of center of pressure (C.O.P.) shifts and the average speed of these shifts. In adolescence, muscle development is crucial, and when closely linked with motor coordination, it helps maintain body stability.

Introduction: The game of rugby is becoming more and more popular, despite the fact that it is a collision sport in which skill plays a large role. In the training process, great importance is placed on the development of general physical fitness, in particular, on strength, power and muscular endurance.Aim: The aim of this study is to analyse the co-organisation between range of motion, body balance, power and speed of the kick and throw in men practicing rugby.Material and methods: The study involved 19 players training rugby on the Extraleague team of MKS Ogniwo Sopot, with an average age of 27.325.49. The Inbody 270 body composition analyser, the EPSR1 mat measuring the distribution of foot pressure on the ground, the WiVA sensor for measuring the range of motion and the Tendo Unit for measuring the explosive force were used to carry out testing.Results: The results indicate that people with a higher level of balance perform a throw with more power and speed. It was also shown that the range of motion in the upper limb is directly proportional to the range of motion in the hip joint.Conclusions: In the sport of rugby, flexion and extension movements of both the shoulder and hip joints are performed alternately. Based on the results, it can be concluded that in rugby athletes, balance training deserves special attention, which may translate into greater speed and power of the throw during a game. At the same time, an increase in the range of motion when flexing the arm and an increase in the pressure on the forefoot were noted, and the inversely proportional relationship between the COP area of the whole body and the heel area of the left foot may indicate the transfer of body mass by the tested players to the metatarsal and forefoot.

(1) Background: In rugby, players are divided into two primary formations: the scrum and the backs (attack line), which differ significantly in terms of their roles, as well as their physical and cognitive demands. Scrum players are predominantly engaged in frequent physical contact and power-based activities, whereas backs are required to respond rapidly to dynamically changing game situations, demonstrating greater agility and decision-making speed. The purpose of this study was to analyze the reaction times of rugby players, taking into account their playing positions. (2) Methods: The study involved 30 athletes, all members of the Polish national under-20 rugby team (15-a-side). Data were collected during a training camp conducted four weeks prior to the U20 European Championships held in Prague. Reaction time was assessed using the Witty SEM system. (3) Results: The findings revealed that backs achieved superior results in simple reaction tests, while third-row and forward players performed better in complex reaction tests. (4) Conclusions: Reaction time differentiates players according to their positional roles and corresponds with the specific demands of those roles. Backs are required to respond to stimuli more rapidly, as they are primarily responsible for initiating offensive actions and organizing the defensive line.