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- ⛑️ Mental Wellbeing in Youth Football Explored
⛑️ Mental Wellbeing in Youth Football Explored
PLUS: Complex Contrast Training for Performance
Haresh Suppiah
October 14, 2024 • Estimated Reading Time: 5 minutes
Welcome, science enthusiasts.
In today’s edition:
Promoting mental wellbeing among youth Australian Rules footballers.
Enhancing athletic performance with complex contrast training.
IOC statement on youth athletes at the Olympics.
Identifying shoulder injury risks in competitive swimmers.
Differences in strength and fatigue between scapular muscles.
Predicting sprint performance using jump tests.
Analysis of patients at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics Polyclinic.
Differences in knowledge about female athlete health issues.
and several more…
FEATURED ARTICLES 🌭
Key finding:
Young male footballers reported better mental wellbeing than females, highlighting the need for a tailored wellbeing curriculum.
How they did it:
Methodology: The study involved 608 young Australian football players (aged 16-19) who completed the EPOCH Measure to assess various aspects of mental wellbeing based on the PERMA model.
Results: Young male athletes reported higher levels of perseverance, optimism, happiness, and overall wellbeing compared to young female athletes, although both genders had similar scores in engagement and connectedness.
Innovation: This research utilized a continuous improvement model, collecting annual wellbeing data to inform a tailored curriculum for youth athletes in the AFL Talent Pathway.
Correlation: Young athletes displayed higher levels of perseverance relative to the general adolescent population, suggesting a distinct profile of mental wellbeing shaped by the competitive sports environment.
Why it matters:
By implementing a tailored wellbeing curriculum based on the unique mental health profiles of young athletes, sports practitioners can more effectively foster resilience and connectedness in their players, ultimately enhancing performance and reducing the risk of burnout in the competitive landscape of elite sports.
Key finding:
Coaches identify complex contrast training as an efficient way to boost athletic performance for team sport athletes during limited training time.
How they did it:
Methodology: A three-round Delphi survey was conducted with 38 elite strength and conditioning coaches to gather consensus on complex contrast training practices.
Results: Consensus was reached on performing complex contrast training during in-season periods and power-specific training blocks, recommending four sets of 3-4 repetitions with 85-90% of 1RM for strength exercises.
Innovation: Coaches prioritized time efficiency and the recruitment of high-threshold motor units in complex contrast training, viewing it as a practical method for team sport athletes.
Application: Recommendations included using bodyweight to 30% 1RM for power exercises and maintaining 2-3 minutes of rest between contrast sets to optimize performance without excessive fatigue.
Why it matters:
Understanding how elite strength and conditioning coaches prescribe complex contrast training offers sport practitioners valuable insights for optimizing their athletes’ training efficiency and performance—because let’s face it, in the world of sports, time is as precious as a last-minute winning goal! By adopting these evidence-based recommendations on exercise combinations, load, and rest periods, coaches can effectively enhance both strength and power while working within the tight schedules typical of competitive seasons.
QUICK BITES 🍤
Athlete Health and Well-being
-Athletes from countries with low life expectancy and education expenditure visited the Tokyo 2020 Polyclinic more frequently.
Female Athlete
-Increased education on the female athlete triad correlates with better knowledge and confidence among collegiate cross-country athletes.
Injury
-A significant evidence-practice gap exists for 28 key shoulder injury risk factors in competitive swimmers, highlighting the need for research collaboration.
-Scapular dyskinesis leads to weaker protractors and reduced muscle balance, especially in symptomatic patients.
Talent Identification and Development
-New formulae can predict NFL Combine sprint performance using jumping and anthropometric measurements, improving athlete evaluation.
Youth Athlete
-A universal framework is needed to ensure elite youth athletes’ health, safety, and success in international sports.
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Curated by Haresh Suppiah