Analysis of scored goals in the cerebral palsy football World Cup

This study aimed to report the goal patterns in cerebral palsy (CP) football for a better understanding of the performance of this para-sport. All goals (270) of the 48 2019 IFCPF World Cup matches were analysed through match reports, and 65% of them were analysed by video footage. The results showed 5.6 goals per match. Teams that scored more and conceded fewer goals correlated to a better ranking position in the championship (r= 0.72-0.73; p< 0.01). The distribution of goals scored was not biased by halves (49.3% vs 50.7%; χ²= 0.1; p= 0.88) nor by 15-min periods (26.3% vs 23.0% vs 23.3% vs 27.4%; χ²= 0.5; p= 0.92). In 91.7% of the matches, the team which scored the first goal went on to win the match (χ²= 81.5; p< 0.01). FT3 players scored more goals by player (χ²= 22.1; p< 0.01), while there were no statistical differences in the distribution of goals conceded by goalkeepers according to their sport class (χ²= 4.7; p= 0.09). The goals were scored mainly from organized attacks (74.4%), from the penalty area (52.5%) and through individual action (51.9%). All this information could be crucial for coaches in CP football to plan their game strategies.

The experiences and perceived health benefits of individuals with a disability participating in sport: A systematic review and narrative synthesis

BACKGROUND

Sports participation has many physical and mental health benefits for individuals with a disability including improved functionality and reduced anxiety, yet a large proportion of individuals with a disability are inactive.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the experiences and perceived health benefits of sport participation across four disability populations: children and adolescents, adults, elite athletes and veterans with a disability.

METHODS

A mixed-methods systematic review was conducted. Eligible studies had participants who were children, adults, elite athletes or veterans with a physical, visual or intellectual disability. Data were extracted using the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) tool and quality assessment involved the Quality Assessment Tool for Studies with Diverse Designs (QATSDD). Content, thematic and narrative synthesis techniques were used. Confidence in cumulative evidence was determined using GRADE-CERQual and Classes of Evidence.

RESULTS

Several positive aspects of sport participation were highlighted across all four populations, including socialisation opportunities, pure enjoyment, a sense of freedom and providing an arena to challenge stereotypes. The paucity of research within the 'veterans with a disability' group limited analysis of experiences and benefits of sport in this population.

CONCLUSIONS

This systematic review was the first to explore this phenomena, finding that overall sport is a beneficial experience for individuals with a disability. The positive aspects should be promoted when encouraging sport participation for children, adolescents, adults and elite athletes. More research is needed to explore these phenomena in veterans and to compare perceived benefits between populations to enable tailored promotion of sport.

The podium illusion: a phenomenological study of the influence of social support on well-being and performance in elite para swimmers

Background

The value of social support in enhancing performance is well established in non-impaired and sub-international level athletes with impairments. Despite this, no research to date has explored the experiences of social support in elite para-athletes. The aim of this study was to explore the experiences of social support in elite British para-swimmers and the influence on their wellbeing and performance.

Methods

A hermeneutic phenomenological study involving semi-structured interviews was undertaken with 8 elite British para-swimmers (3 male, 5 female, mean age 24.9 years). Participants represented 5 para-swimming classes and all 10 of the International Paralympic Committee impairment categories. Data were analysed following a modified version of the Framework Method. Research quality and trustworthiness were ensured through employing techniques including data triangulation, member checking and reflexivity.

Results

Five themes and 11 sub-themes were generated. The five themes were: ‘the coach-athlete relationship’, ‘team bond’, ‘tangible aid’, ‘The Podium Illusion’ and ‘British para-swimming’. The overall findings and the magnitude of support mentioned in the fourth theme led to the development of a new model called ‘The Podium Illusion’ which reflects the magnitude of support that is available to elite para-swimmers to help maximise their performance and wellbeing.

Conclusion

Social support is essential for athlete wellbeing and performance. Findings underpin a new model, ‘The Podium Illusion’.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13102-021-00269-1.

Influence of upper-limb muscle strength on the repeated change of direction ability in international-level wheelchair basketball players

This study aims 1) to compare repeated change of direction ability (rCODA) and bench press (BP) between low (A category, ≤2.5) and high (B category, ≥3.0) sport classes and 2) to analyse the relationships between rCODA and BP performance in a sample of wheelchair basketball (WB) players. Seventeen world-class WB players volunteered participated in this study. All the players undertook two tests: the repeated (x12) Modified Agility T-test (rMAT) to measure the rCODA and the movement velocity in a BP test. No significant differences were observed between categories in the rMAT and BP. For the total sample, BP variables with a mean propulsive velocity of 1 m·s^-1 (V1_LOAD) largely correlated with all the full rMAT outcomes (r>-0.625; p< 0.05). Having a better BP could be favourable to perform repeated efforts and this seems particularly relevant in fatigue conditions, and especially for the B category players.

Objective and subjective methods for quantifying training load in wheelchair basketball small-sided games

The aim of the present study was to analyse the training load in wheelchair basketball small-sided games and determine the relationship between heart rate (HR)-based training load and perceived exertion (RPE)-based training load methods among small-sided games bouts. HR-based measurements of training load included Edwards' training load and Stagno's training impulses (TRIMP_MOD) while RPE-based training load measurements included cardiopulmonary (session RPEres) and muscular (session RPEmus) values. Data were collected from 12 wheelchair basketball players during five consecutive weeks. The total load for the small-sided games sessions was 67.5 ± 6.7 and 55.3 ± 12.5 AU in HR-based training load (Edwards' training load and TRIMP_MOD), while the RPE-based training loads were 99.3 ± 26.9 (session RPEres) and 100.8 ± 31.2 AU (session RPEmus). Bout-to-bout analysis identified greater session RPEmus in the third [P < 0.05; effect size (ES) = 0.66, moderate] and fourth bouts (P < 0.05; ES = 0.64, moderate) than in the first bout, but other measures did not differ. Mean correlations indicated a trivial and small relationship among HR-based and RPE-based training loads. It is suggested that HR-based and RPE-based training loads provide different information, but these two methods could be complementary because one method could help us to understand the limitations of the other.