Background: Authors in their contribution point to the differences in the methods of measurement of agility in the practice. Based on the experience of coaches as well as on their own experience have come to the conclusion that the Illinois Agility Test, which has long been used for the testing of agility in fact does not measure perception abilities and decision-making processes, since motor activity performed during the testing procedure represents a closed skill, where the only task of the tested person is to accelerate, decelerate and change the direction of running, while the task is known in advance. On the contrary, some authors recommend the testing of agility using apparatuses measuring selective reaction, such as Fitro Agility Check. Objective: The aim of the research was to find out differences in the performance of players from the point of view of sport specialization and also to assess the relationship between the performance of players in two agility tests (Illinois Agility Test, measuring the ability of simple reaction, acceleration, deceleration and changes of movement direction, as well as Fitro Agility Check, measuring the above mentioned processes plus the ones of perception and decision-making). Methods: The sample comprised basketball (G1), volleyball (G2) and soccer (G3) players (N = 55 boys, Mage = 15.78 years, age range = 14-17 years) from sport clubs in Slovakia. Illinois Agility Test (IAT) was used for testing acceleration and deceleration speed, simple reaction as well as changes of direction. Time of the trial was recorded by Microgate photocells. Fitro Agility Check (FAC) was used for the testing of reactive agility. Differences between independent groups were assessed using Kruskal-Wallis H test, or Mann-Whitney U test. Non-parametric Spearman correlation coefficient was used for detecting whether any correlation between the two variables exists (results in FAC vs IAT). Results: The greatest differences were found between the performances of players in IAT, on the contrary in the test FAC we found agreement in performances of players of different specializations. The value of statistical significance (p = .774) point to the non-existence of a relationship between the performance in IAT vs FAC and stress fundamental difference between both variables. Conclusions: This study provides evidence supporting the experience of coaches that when developing agility it is inevitable to transfer from performing exercises with the change of direction planned in advance realized in static conditions onto the practice of open skills, in which reaction to the changing conditions of the match is combined with anticipation of the resulting optimum solution of the given situation

The aim of this study was to assess the functional form of the relationship between two anthropometric measurements—body height (BH) and body mass index (BMI)—and two motor abilities—change of direction speed (CODS) and agility (AG)—in female elite basketball and handball players. It was hypothesized that BH and BMI might be significantly associated with AG and CODS. Two scenarios of the Five-Time Shuttle Run to Gates test (planned and unplanned) were used to evaluate the CODS and AG. Two forms of models were built to assess functional forms of the relationships between CODS and AG vs. BH and BMI: simple linear regression and binomial curvilinear regression for each type of team sport. The results confirmed the relationships between both anthropometric measurements and motor abilities only in HB, whereas in BB only a significant relationship was noted between BH and AG. Moreover, two curvilinear functional forms of the relationship were identified: inverted L-shape and inverted U-shape. Therefore, it was concluded that the first form of function indicated an initially proportional relationship between anthropometric measurement and motor test results and plateau after reaching a certain value of the BH or BMI. Similarly, the second form of function indicated the peak value of the BH or BMI which is threshold for the value of the anthropometric measurement when a progressive effect in the functional feature occurs.

Nova obzorja v predmetno specifičnem izobraževanju: Raziskovalni vidiki predmetnih didaktik. V zadnjih treh desetletjih so se na področju predmetno specifičnega izobraževanja razvile različne raziskovalne metode. Predmetne didaktike so utrdile svoj položaj med znanostmi, seveda vsaka na svoj način in z lastnim tempom. Znanstvena monografija Nova obzorja v predmetno-specifičnem izobraževanju vsebuje celovite in poglobljene raziskave znotraj predmetnih didaktik, ki jih je napisalo več avtorjev iz Slovenije, Hrvaške, Slovaške in Češke. Monografija predstavlja za razsikovalce s tega področja pomembne nove ideje in dogajanja. Odseva tako raznolikost raziskovalnih vprašanj na tem področju kot tudi vrsto metod, ki se uporabljajo za njihovo raziskovanje. Monografija je sestavljena iz štirih tematskih delov: STEM izobraževanje, izobraževanje na področju športa in umetnosti, izobraževanje na področju družboslovja in humanistike in pedagogika. Upamo, da bo monografija prispevala nove informacije in znanja k razvijajočemu se, vendar izjemno pomembnemu področju raziskovanja.

(1) Background: The arch structure and mobility of the foot are considered injury risk factors in volleyball. However, there are limited studies presenting differences in injury prevalence and the risk of lower limb injuries in relation to the competitive level in male volleyball. Therefore, the main aim of the current study was to evaluate foot mobility (through navicular drop test) as an injury risk factor in volleyball players from different competitive levels. (2) Methods: The reliability and usefulness of navicular drop testing were initially assessed in test–retest procedures (based on a sample of eight participants and 16 feet measurements), with primary analyses conducted using foot measurements of the twelve top-level volleyball players (24 feet) and eighteen academic-level volleyball players (36 feet). The modified navicular drop test was conducted, and the feet were classified based on arch height, and injury prevalence was retrospectively assessed with a previously validated questionnaire. Chi-squared tests, receiver operating curves, and logistic regression were used as statistical methods. The navicular drop test was verified as a reliable tool by intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) (3.1) analysis. (3) Results: There were no significant differences in injury prevalence between academic- and top-level volleyball players, though there was a significant relationship between pronated foot and injury risk independent of competitive level. Generally, for both groups, thresholds above 10 mm of the navicular drop were predictors of lower limb injuries. The risk of injury if the foot was pronated ranged from 70% (academic level) to over 90% (top-level players). However, no statistically significant effect of competitive level on the chance of injury was observed. (4) Conclusions: Our study found a high prevalence of foot injuries independently of competitive level. There was a relationship between pronation of the foot and the risk of injury. However, the risk of lower limb injury was higher in pronated top-level players. Also, a navicular drop greater than 10 mm was an excellent predictor of injuries at both competitive levels.

Aim: The aim of the study is to provide a new tool to measure the level of defensive agility objectively. Methods: The sample included 14 elite male volleyball players of the University of Nitra club (22.3 ± 5.7 years). Measurements consisted of body height (BH); body weight (BM); body mass index (BMI), and the defensive agility test (DRAT (test-retest)) with an interval of one week between the two tests using an electronic timer (Witty photocell) and Witty SEM lights (Microgate, ITA). The validation included assessing the equality of mean values in the test and retest (t-Student), effect sizes with Cohen’s d, analysis of variance (ANOVA), intraclass correlation coefficient determinations (ICC model), and random intercept correlation (Φ). Results: The results indicated no significant differences in both tests except for left movement (p = 0.0255). The ICC value of the test time was statistically significant (0.91); standard error of measurement (SEM = 0.02); repeatability coefficient (RC = 0.20); minimal difference (MD = 0.04). Effect sizes were trivial to small (d = ˂−0.05–0.17>; right), medium (d = 0.35; backward) a large (d = −0.67; left). Conclusions: The DRAT test showed excellent reliability in total time (ICC = 0.91). Validation of the DRAT test’s consistency, reliability, accuracy and validity can help coaches make decisions about evaluating and monitoring defensive reactive agility performance in sports games.