The literature suggests that there is a relationship between motor function and cognitive development however, few studies have explored the specific role of Functional Movement Skills on cognitive function. This research aimed to determine if Functional Movement Skills predict cognitive function, when accounting for confounding factors, in a sample of primary school children in Ireland. Cross-sectional. Sixty primary school children (51.7 % girls, age range 7-12 years, mean age 9.9 ± 1.28) were assessed in their Functional Movement Skill proficiency using the Test of Gross Motor Development-3rd Edition and a subtest of the Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency 2 Short Form (to assess balance). Participants also completed a series of cognitive tests which formed part of the Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery. A series of hierarchical regression analyses were conducted whilst controlling for covariates (Age; Gender; Socio Economic Status). Attention Switching, Reaction Time, and Emotional Recognition were found to be associated with Overall Functional Movement Skills (Locomotor, Object Control, Stability). Overall Functional Movement Skills significantly accounted for 4.7 % of the variance in Simple Reaction Time (ΔR² = 0.032; p = 0.13) whilst Stability significantly accounted for 5.5 % (ΔR² = 0.055; p = 0.04) and 12.9 % (ΔR² = 0.129; p = 0.00) of the variance in Simple Reaction Time and Emotional Recognition, respectively, after controlling for covariates. Overall Functional Movement Skills may be more related to reaction time than attention and spatial working memory, whilst stability may be more associated with emotional recognition. Further research is warranted. Greater comprehension of the impact of Functional Movement Skills on cognitive function in children can contribute to the development of more effective and efficient physical activity programmes, which can in turn contribute to and promote holistic child development.

Context: Lack of education, stigma, and negative self-attitudes are key barriers to help-seeking in Gaelic footballers. With the prevalence of mental health issues in Gaelic footballers and the increased risk of experiencing mental health challenges after injury, mental health literacy (MHL) interventions are necessary. Objectives: To design and implement a novel MHL educational intervention program in Gaelic footballers. Design: Controlled laboratory study. Setting: Online. Patients or Other Participants: Elite and subelite Gaelic footballers divided into intervention (n = 70; age = 25.1 ± 4.5 years) and control (n = 75; age = 24.4 ± 6.0 years) groups. In the intervention group, 85 participants were recruited, but 15 dropped out after completing baseline measures. Interventions: A novel educational intervention program, “GAA [Gaelic Athletic Association] and Mental Health—Injury and a Healthy Mind,” was designed to address the key components of MHL and was underpinned by the Theory of Planned Behavior and the Help-Seeking Model. The intervention was implemented online via a brief 25-minute presentation. Main Outcome Measures: Measures of stigma, help-seeking attitudes, and MHL were completed by the intervention group at baseline, immediately after viewing the MHL program, and at 1 week and 1 month after the intervention. The control group completed the measures at similar time points. Results: Stigma decreased, and attitudes toward help-seeking and MHL increased in the intervention group from baseline to after the intervention (P < .05), with significant differences sustained at 1-week and 1-month follow-ups. Our results showed differences in stigma, attitudes, and MHL between groups across time points. Intervention participants provided positive feedback, and the program was appraised as informative. Conclusions: Remote online delivery of a novel MHL educational program can effectively decrease mental health stigma, improve attitudes toward help-seeking, and increase the recognition and knowledge of mental health issues. Gaelic footballers with improved MHL may be better equipped to manage their mental health and cope with stressors, leading to improved mental health outcomes and overall mental well-being.

Farming is a uniquely demanding occupation, with family and work often deeply intertwined. Whilst this integration is common amongst the agricultural sector in Ireland (99.7% farms classified as family), it can lead to a conflict of responsibilities, but this has not been examined to date. Therefore, this study aimed to examine work–family conflict (WFC) in farmers in Ireland, and if WFC differs based on socio-demographic factors, mental health, social support and farm-specific stressors. A cross-sectional study examined WFC in 446 farmers in Ireland. Depression, anxiety, stress, suicidality, general mental health, psychological flexibility, cognitive fusion, self-experience, perceived social support, farm stress and attachment were also measured. Participants reported moderately high levels of WFC (25.1 ± 7.2). Being younger, male, having children aged 5 years or less, higher reported working hours on the farm, higher farm-specific stressors, and lower psychological flexibility contributed to higher WFC. In addition, lower social support, mental health and psychological skills were significantly associated with higher WFC. Future research should consider the integrated nature of work and family in farm life and use a qualitative approach to further understand gendered experiences of WFC.

Performance analysis serves as a crucial feedback mechanism in sport. Key performance indicators (KPIs) are essential to this, yet research predominantly examines KPIs relative to outcomes. This systematic review synthesises existing literature on KPIs in Rugby Sevens to identify their application, context and classifications while highlighting gaps and inconsistencies in the field. A systematic search across seven electronic databases identified 18 relevant publications meeting inclusion criteria, detailing 220 unique KPIs. These KPIs serve diverse purposes, including assessing winning or losing, team ranking, and scoring or conceding, reflecting the complexity of performance analysis. The majority (56%) of studies focused on game or tournament outcomes, while 33% examined performance. Despite diverse applications, there is a notable focus on outcome-oriented research, potentially limiting holistic effectiveness. Notably, 46% of the studies provided operational definitions for KPIs, leaving a sizeable proportion (54%) without explicit definitions. This review highlights the complexity of the performance analysis domain and KPI usage within Rugby Sevens and advocates for use of an existing framework to standardise definitions. Addressing these gaps will facilitate a more consistent and effective approach to performance analysis, promoting deeper insights into the multifaceted nature of the sport and evolve the overall landscape of Rugby Sevens performance assessment.

The primary aim of this study was to generate sport‐specific movement category velocity thresholds for elite rugby sevens male and female players. Match activity data were collected via Global Positioning Systems (GPS) (10 Hz) from 19 male and 11 female players during 88 competitive international fixtures during the 2022/2023 and 2023/2024 seasons. A two‐stage unsupervised clustering method was applied. The elbow method, a technique used to determine the optimal number of clusters in a dataset, was first applied to identify the number of movement categories. Spectral clustering was then used to define the velocity thresholds corresponding to each category. For both male and female rugby sevens, four movement categories were identified with varying velocity thresholds. The male movement category velocity thresholds were low (0.0–2.05 m.s ⁻¹ ), moderate (2.06–4.26 m.s ⁻¹ ), high (4.27–7.20 m.s ⁻¹ ) and very high (> 7.20 m.s ⁻¹ ). Although the female movement category velocity thresholds were low (0.0–1.87 m.s ⁻¹ ), moderate (1.88–3.74 m.s ⁻¹ ), high (3.75–5.97 m.s ⁻¹ ) and very high (> 5.97 m.s ⁻¹ ). A comparison of the total distance covered in the respective gender‐specific zones revealed that females covered a significantly less distance in the low‐velocity movement category ( p = 0.02) and a significantly more distance in the very‐high‐velocity movement category ( p < 0.001). This work informs customised movement categories that allow for better physical load assessments in male and female rugby sevens and the provision of sport‐specific and gender‐specific conditioning programmes.