BACKGROUND: Structural weakness may occur within bicycles (eg, during manufacture or impact) and may result in sudden failure and serious injuries. While some indicators of structural weakness may be detected by visual inspection, others require more advanced non-destructive tests. Available research is yet to adequately examine bicycle riders' awareness and experience of the structural weakness in bicycles, or their knowledge and use of testing methods. METHODS: An online cross-section survey of 298 bicycle riders was conducted to address these knowledge gaps. RESULTS: 11.4% of respondents had experienced at least one crash that they suspected was due partly to structural weakness, with just over half resulting in injury and just under half involving costs greater than $A500. About 25% of respondents had a component replaced because of 'failure during normal use'. More than one third did not think it was necessary to test for indicators or weaknesses when buying a used bicycle, or after a crash. Testing was most likely following motor vehicle collisions and for bicycles with carbon components. Visual inspection was the most reported form of testing and only 42% of respondents reported being aware of any non-destructive methods of testing. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: 11.4% of respondents had experienced at least one crash that they suspected was due partly to structural weakness, with just over half resulting in injury and just under half involving costs greater than $A500. About 25% of respondents had a component replaced because of 'failure during normal use'. More than one-third did not think it was necessary to test for indicators or weaknesses when buying a used bicycle or after a crash. Testing was most likely following motor vehicle collisions and for bicycles with carbon components. Visual inspection was the most reported form of testing, and only 42% of respondents reported being aware of any non-destructive methods of testing.Results suggest that structural weakness in bicycles is fairly common while awareness of the issue, and methods of testing for it, is limited. Public education about when and how to test for weakness (eg, after any crash), and improvement in production standards and quality assurance, may reduce injuries due to bicycle failure.

Cooperation plays a crucial role in individual and team performance in invasion sports, yet little is known about how individual factors like age and sex affect cooperation in football. This study examines the relationship between cooperative behaviour, and age and sex in youth football. Passing actions from 181 male and female U16 and U17 players across six talent selection matches were analysed to understand relationships between age, sex and cooperative passing network measures (betweenness centrality, closeness centrality and transitivity) using linear mixed effects models. Matches were held on FIFA regulation pitches with standard rules (i.e., 11v11) regulated by referees. A large association between age group and closeness centrality was observed in an initial model (partial η 2 = 0.24, adjusted p < 0.001). However, when the model was adjusted for network size, this association was no longer evident, while network size demonstrated a large negative association with closeness centrality (partial η 2 = 0.32, adjusted p < 0.001). In the updated model, no clear associations with age group or sex were observed for betweenness or closeness centrality. Small associations involving network size and the interaction of age group and sex were observed for transitivity, although this study lacked statistical power to detect associations of this magnitude. These contrasting findings highlight the importance of structural characteristics in the analysis of cooperative passing networks. Future studies that utilise convenience samples in which network size varies should account for network size statistically, while more controlled studies should aim to maintain consistent network size when comparing passing networks.

This study evaluated the feasibility, acceptability and perceptual outcomes of a 7-week High-Intensity Multimodal Training (HIMT) intervention and an active matched control (Inter-Session Concurrent Training [ISCT]) in recreationally active adults across three community sites. This study highlights challenges of conducting experimental research in applied settings in collaboration with industry partners and provides recommendations for HIMT research and practice. This study used a mixed-methods convergent design to evaluate a two-arm parallel randomised controlled trial in recreationally active adults. The HIMT group completed 4 × 45-min sessions/week combining aerobic and resistance exercise in a circuit format. The ISCT group completed 2 × 45-min resistance circuit sessions/week and 2 × 45-min aerobic circuit sessions/week. Data were collected at baseline (Week 0), post-intervention (Week 7), and 4 weeks follow-up (Week 11) across three trial sites between June 2024 and November 2024. 80 participants (49 females, 31 males) completed baseline testing (138% of target). One participant withdrew post-baseline, with 79 randomised to HIMT (n = 41) or ISCT (n = 38). Post-testing was completed by 75 participants and follow-up by 73 participants. Session attendance was 91.4%, with participants completing 3.52 ± 0.52 sessions/week. Mean session rating of perceived exertion was 7.47 ± 1.40 (CR-10). The programme was perceived as tolerable and enjoyable. HIMT and ISCT for recreationally active adults within community-based settings is feasible and acceptable. Exercise professionals may consider using HIMT and ISCT to engage recreationally active adults in structured exercise, promoting preventative health and positive lifestyle behaviours. TRIAL REGISTRATION: This Randomised Controlled Trial was pre-registered with the Australian and New Zealand Clinical Trial Registry: ACTRN12624000556549, Protocol: https://osf.io/mxy93/, ETH24-9364.

High-intensity multimodal training (HIMT), combines aerobic and resistance exercise within a single session, offering a time-efficient training mode. However, the efficacy of HIMT for physical adaptations compared to other combined training models (e.g., inter-session concurrent training [ISCT]) remains unclear. This two-arm parallel randomised controlled trial examined the physical adaptations of 7 weeks of HIMT compared to a matched active control (ISCT) in recreationally active adults. The HIMT group completed 4 × 45-min sessions/week integrating aerobic and resistance exercises. The ISCT group completed 2 × 45-min resistance sessions/week and 2 × 45-min aerobic sessions/week. Training intensity was prescribed at ≥ 7 RPE (CR-10) with weekly volume and exercise selection matched across groups. Maximal strength, aerobic capacity, anthropometry and body composition were assessed pre and post-intervention. Both HIMT (n = 38) and ISCT (n = 37) demonstrated small improvements in upper- and lower-body strength, peak oxygen uptake and maximum work rate (p < 0.05). Trivial but significant improvements were also observed in fat mass, body fat percentage, lean mass, waist circumference and waist-to-hip ratio (p < 0.05). A modest group × time interaction favoured ISCT for reducing body fat percentage (b = -0.628, 95% CI [-1.21 to -0.046], p = 0.035 and d = -0.082). Seven weeks of HIMT and ISCT improved muscular strength, aerobic fitness and body composition. Separating high-intensity aerobic and resistance sessions across days may offer a small advantage for reducing relative body fat. Longer interventions may be needed for greater adaptations. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ETH24-9364, ACTRN12624000556549, Protocol: available on the Open Science Framework.

INTRODUCTION & AIMS: High-Intensity Multimodal Training (HIMT) combines aerobic and resistance exercise within a session, offering a time-efficient way to meet physical activity guidelines. However, the outcomes of HIMT compared to other combined modes of training (e.g., inter-session concurrent training [ISCT]) remain unclear due to heterogeneity in previous interventions. This two-arm parallel randomised control trial investigated the physical outcomes of 7-weeks of HIMT compared to a matched separate aerobic and resistance training control group (ISCT) in healthy, recreationally active adults. METHODS: Participants completed 4 x 45 minutes supervised training sessions per week. Training session intensity was prescribed as ≥7 RPE (CR-10). Prescribed weekly training intensity and volume was matched between groups. Measures of maximal strength, maximal aerobic capacity, anthropometry, and body composition were assessed pre- and post-intervention. RESULTS: Both the HIMT (n = 38) and ISCT (n = 37) groups observed significant, small within-group improvements in lower and upper body strength, peak oxygen uptake and maximum work rate, as well as significant, but trivial improvements in fat mass, body fat percent, lean mass, lean mass percent, waist circumference and waist to hip ratio (p < 0.05). A modest group x time interaction was observed for decreased body fat percent in favour of the ISCT group (b = -0.628, 95% CI [-1.212 to –0.045], p = 0.035, d = -0.082). No significant changes were demonstrated for body mass, body mass index, hip circumference or bone mass (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: 7-weeks of HIMT and ISCT improved muscular strength, maximal aerobic capacity and body composition in recreationally active adults. Separating high-intensity aerobic and resistance sessions across training days may offer a modest advantage for reducing relative body fat. Longer interventions may be required for more substantial adaptations. ETHICS & REGISTRATION: Pre-registration: ACTRN12624000556549, https://osf.io/mxy93/ . Approved by UTS Human Research Ethics Committee (ETH24-9364).

Augmented feedback (AF) –information that supplements or replaces intrinsic feedback– is widely used in coaching and skill acquisition. However, existing evidence is limited by high risk of bias arising from methodological weaknesses in designs and analysis. Therefore, this study aimed to provide robust evidence on whether AF improves drop jump performance compared to placebo feedback and a control group, and whether improvements are retained after two-weeks without training. To investigate this, a randomised controlled trial with three parallel arms was conducted with seventy-four recreationally active male and female adults (Mage = 20.6±3.1 years). The study followed a pre-registered SPIRIT protocol (OSF: 10.17605/OSF.IO/H43V7). Participants completed a 12-session drop jump training program and were randomised into: (1) Experimental group (correct AF on jump height and ground contact time), (2) Placebo group (random AF within ±5% of actual performance), or (3) Active control (no AF). Outcomes were assessed at baseline, post-intervention (24-48 hours), and retention (2-weeks). The primary outcome was between group differences at post-test and retention in jump height (adjusted by contact time). Data were analysed using linear mixed effects models using a per-protocol approach. Post-intervention, the experimental group improved drop jump performance significantly more than the control (6.0cm; 95%CI: 4.0-8.1cm) and placebo (3.5cm, 95%CI: 1.5-5.5cm), while the placebo group also improved greater than control (2.5 cm, 95%CI: 0.5-4.5 cm). At retention, experimental (4.6cm, 95%CI: 2.6-6.7cm) and placebo (3.3cm, 95%CI: 1.2-5.3cm) performance were significantly greater than control, but differences between experimental and placebo were not significant (1.4cm, 95%CI: -0.6-3.4cm). This suggests that AF improves performance, with correct feedback producing the greatest immediate benefit. However, the presence of feedback alone (placebo) also displayed improvements, suggesting a potential motivational effect. At retention, experimental and placebo yielded similar long-term effects, reinforcing that the informational content and motivational aspects of AF are important for skill acquisition.

Play the ball (PTB) is an important tactical performance indicator in elite rugby league, referring to the action whereby a tackled ball carrier restarts play by rolling the ball underfoot to a teammate following a completed tackle. Despite its growing use in applied performance analysis, the accuracy of commercially coded PTB duration data has not been verified. This study aimed to assess the agreement between commercial and independently coded play the ball event durations from National Rugby League matches. A cross-sectional methodological design was employed using data from 1185 matches over six seasons (2018–2023). A stratified random sample of 372 PTB events was selected within eight standard deviation (SD) categories. Commercial coding of PTB duration was compared against independent coding with stopwatch during playback of official broadcast. Agreement was evaluated using intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs), typical error of measurement (TEM), and Wilcoxon Signed Rank Tests for systematic bias. Agreement was poor for short-duration PTBs (<2.44 s; ICC = −0.03 to 0.32), with systematic underestimation by the commercial provider (e.g., < –3 SD: mean difference = −3.15 s; TEM = 2.51 s; p < 0.001). Agreement improved for moderate-to-long PTBs (≥2.48 s; ICC = 0.75–0.90), with strongest agreement observed in the 1–2 SD category (ICC = 0.90; TEM = 0.09 s; p = 0.60). Commercial PTB coding demonstrated acceptable agreement for moderate and longer durations but may misrepresent very rapid PTBs. Ongoing evaluation to ensure accurate PTB event coding is warranted given the importance of ruck speed in professional rugby league matchplay.

This descriptive study quantified the position of the first fielder involved in each delivery (primary fielding instances) in men’s professional Twenty20 (T20) cricket, focusing on data from 1964 individual deliveries during the 2022/23 Australian Big Bash League. Variables considered included game phase, non-fielder events, bowling type, primary fielding instance position and all fielding positions. Primary fielding instances were classified by position, bowling type and game phase. Positional utilisation was also examined, quantifying primary fielding instances relative to how often a fielding position formed part of the fielding setup. In-fielders accounted for 63% of all primary fielding instances, with the wicketkeeper (16.4%, n = 277) and bowler (10.2%, n = 172) most involved. However, outfielders ranked in five of the top ten positions by utilisation. Notably, primary fielding instances to deep-third and fine-leg were more frequent for pace bowlers (n = 63) than spin-in (n = 1) or spin-away (n = 0). For spin bowlers, a higher frequency of fielding instances were observed on the side of the field that aligned with the direction of spin. The insights gained from fielder placement based on competency and specific fielding activities may enhance T20 strategies to reduce opposition runs. Further research could help assess the effectiveness of these fielder placements.

This exploratory study addressed a knowledge gap in the practice behaviours of ranked League of Legends players. We sourced data on a random sample of players (n = 913) from four competitive tiers and eight servers. We derived practice behaviour metrics from their last 100 matches. Challenger players had more matches per day, less variability in total hours, went fewer days without a match, and had the most matches in three- and seven-day blocks than other tiers. Servers with larger player pools tended to have more daily practice than comparatively smaller servers. We devised several hypotheses: (1) the volume of solo/duo ranked practice is associated with expertise, (2) more effective stress-coping strategies explain the lower variability in daily practice hours between tiers, (3) there is an interrelationship between player pool size, competitiveness, and practice behaviors, and (4) there are distinct patterns of practice associated with sustained participation or prolonged disengagement.

This study investigated the association between environmental temperature and match-play characteristics (shooting, passing, dribbling and defending) in four professional football leagues. Twenty-seven performance indicators (PI's) were collated from 1585 matches from the German Bundesliga 1 and 2, Spanish La Liga and Australian A-League. Environmental data were obtained for dry-bulb temperature (T) and wet-bulb globe temperature (WBGT) retrospectively from public sources. For each league, linear regressions were used to determine relationships between PI's and T and WBGT and linear mixed models were used to determine those associations across all four leagues. Individual leagues showed varying associations between a collection of PI's and environmental measures. When combining the four leagues' match data, 8 of the 17 investigated parameters were associated with T and WBGT (p < 0.002). Passes, especially short passes, were reduced in higher T (-2.3 [-3.1 to -1.5] and p < 0.001) and WBGT (-3.1 [-4.0 to -2.1] and p < 0.001), alongside an increase in the success rate of passes (0.06 [0.02-0.09] and p ≤ 0.001). The number of passes into the opponent's final third was reduced for both T (-0.18 [-0.25 to -0.05] and p = 0.001) and WBGT (-0.17 [-0.28 to-0.05] and p = 0.002), but the number of key passes leading to a shot or goal was not associated with T or WBGT (p ≥ 0.67). The number of touches, take-ons and turnovers were reduced in higher T and WBGT (all p < 0.001). Accordingly, in higher heat stress, match actions, especially those performed at high volumes, are reduced. Therefore, teams should expect a possibly altered match play and may consider adapting tactical or heat-mitigating strategies to counter these effects.

PURPOSE: This study investigated associations between environmental temperatures and match running performance in 4 professional football leagues. METHODS: Running performance indicators including total, high-speed, and sprint distances were collated from 1610 matches from the German Bundesliga 1 and 2, Japanese J-League, and Turkish SüperLig. Environmental data for each of these matches were obtained for dry-bulb and wet-bulb globe temperatures (WBGT) retrospectively from public sources. Linear regressions were used to determine relationships between running performance indicators and both temperature and WBGT for individual leagues. Furthermore, linear mixed models were used to determine associations across all 4 leagues, accounting for differences between them as random effects. Bonferroni corrections were applied to account for multiple tests. RESULTS: Overall, combined-league data showed that total distance (95% CI, -0.50 to 0.37; β: -0.36), number of high-speed runs (95% CI, -4.57 to 2.93; β: -0.29), high-speed distances (95% CI, -0.07 to 0.05; β: -0.28), number of sprints (95% CI, -2.72 to 2.07; β: -0.39), and sprint distances (95% CI, -0.05 to 0.03; β: -0.22) were all lower when WBGT was higher (P < .001), whereas the peak speed recorded per match (95% CI, 0.01 to 0.03; β: 0.18) was higher when WBGT was higher (P < .001). Models with temperature instead of WBGT derived similar results. CONCLUSION: Warmer environmental conditions were associated with lower total, high-speed, and sprint distances covered. These responses may result from an increased thermoregulatory load or indirectly from an adapted individual or team-tactical pacing strategy in warmer conditions. Teams should consider strategies to counter such effects to avoid lower distances covered at high intensities that are related to success in football.

This study aimed to examine the effect of visual pre-cueing presented at different time intervals in the response time of dyslexic and non-dyslexic children. Fifteen dyslexic and 15 non-dyslexic children performed a computerised four-choice reaction time task across four conditions: no pre-cue and a 43-ms time interval (or duration) of a centralised dot appearing in the stimulus circle at 43, 86 or 129 ms prior to the stimulus. Each condition was repeated eight times, totaling 32 trials, and presented in a random order. Response correctness and response times were recorded for each trial, and z-scores were obtained by standardising performance in the three pre-cued conditions relative to the no pre-cue condition. Dyslexic children took longer to respond in the task than non-dyslexic children. Both dyslexic and non-dyslexic children had faster response times in the pre-cued conditions than in the conditions without the pre-cue. These lower response times were inversely correlated with the length of the pre-cueing interval. These results suggest that dyslexic children use visual pre-cueing to improve decision-making. The ability of dyslexic children to use pre-cues may offer an interesting avenue for the exploration of interventions aimed at minimising behavioural and cognitive difficulties resulting from dyslexia.

BACKGROUND: Skill acquisition science is the study of how motor skills are acquired, developed and/or learned. There is substantive evidence for general motor skill acquisition in controlled laboratory settings yet the literature on the learning of sports-related skills is typically less conclusive. OBJECTIVES: This scoping review aimed to summarise the current literature on skill acquisition intervention studies examining the learning of sports-related skills as part of a randomised controlled trial, by synthesizing and extracting the most relevant features. METHODS: Four electronic databases (PsychINFO, PubMed, SPORTDiscus and Web of Science) were searched for relevant studies. The sample characteristics of these studies were extracted, and summarised. Two systematic searches of the literature were conducted. In the first search, eighty-six studies were retained. A second search was conducted in July 2022 to include new studies and specifically focused on the inclusion of within-subject design studies, resulting in the inclusion of 35 additional studies. A third search was conducted in May 2023 to include new studies resulting in the inclusion of 10 additional studies. RESULTS: One hundred and thirty studies across 29 sports were included in the review. The vast majority of the studies in this scoping review (n = 104) examined the learning of a sport-related skill in participants with no experience. Twenty-eight percent of all retained studies (n = 35) considered only the learning of a golf skill, and all studies were practiced in a laboratory environment, examining closed motor skills (n = 130). The most common intervention categories reported were attention (n = 22), instruction and demonstration (n = 20), practice design (n = 20), and perceptual training (n = 19). Nearly half of all studies used an immediate retention test within 48 h of the cessation of practice (n = 63), and just over one quarter of studies (n = 34) reported incorporating some form of transfer test. Eighty-six percent (n = 112) reported positive findings. CONCLUSIONS: The skewed focus on golf skills across a small number of skill acquisition interventions, the inconsistent use and reporting of performance measures, practice durations and measures of learning alongside the relatively small sample sizes consisting mostly of inexperienced learners and the skewed publication of positive findings should warrant caution. More empirical studies across a broader range of sports and with more consistent methodologies are needed to develop a robust pool of literature that can support academics and practitioners interested in which skill acquisition interventions could be used to influence the learning of sports-related skills.

An evaluation of player behaviour and performance across different playing conditions in team sport is difficult. This study examined integrative (indegree and outdegree importance) and individual (goals, kicks, handballs, marks, tackles, kick and handball proficiency) level behaviours at one professional Australian Football club across three different conditions: small-sided games (SSGs), match simulation and competitive Australian Football League (AFL) matches. Estimated marginal means identified negligible changes for integrative measures across conditions. This may suggest larger changes to control parameters are required to modify these behaviours, as it relies on interdependent cooperative behaviour. Individual level behaviours demonstrated varied responses across changing conditions. AFL matches revealed the lowest kicks and marks per minute compared to the other conditions, whilst having the highest rate of tackles. Players had lower kick proficiency in conditions with a higher number of players. Moreover, one SSG with a floater (player who participates in attack for both teams) elicited a higher number of handballs per minute relative to every other condition. These findings provide implications for measuring the (in)stability of individual and integrative level behaviours and how changes to constraints may alter these metrics. This method may provide a foundation for future hypotheses testing and for player monitoring that can assist practitioners to examine the changes in players behaviours in response to changing constraints.

Team invasion games are sports in which individual team members interact and exchange information to coordinate their behaviours and actions in pursuit of the common goal of winning matches. Researchers have used social network analysis to quantify the cooperative behaviours of sports teams (cooperative network analysis), yet this research exists across an array of disciplines and uses various methods. Therefore, accessibility for practitioners and researchers interested in using it to quantify team cooperation in team invasion games may be limited. This systematic mapping review aimed to identify, report and discuss research in this emerging research area. Articles were systematically searched in electronic databases and reference list scans resulting in 112 papers included. Football was the most studied sport ( n = 91), and passing was the most observed interaction between players within a sports team ( n = 107). This review further revealed a lack of consistency in reporting between the included studies with respect to nomenclature and network measures. A comprehensive map of the current literature on the use of cooperative network analysis in team invasion games is provided which can be used by practitioners and researchers tasked with or interested in analysing team performance.

Decision-making is critical to team invasion game performance. As such, understanding how to measure and develop it is important to researchers and practitioners. However, due to the abundance of assessments available in this area, the optimal use of these assessments is still unclear. The current systematic scoping review summarises and examines the quality of reporting of the available literature on decision-making assessments that can be used in the context of youth team invasion games. It uses an ecological dynamics perspective to evaluate the extent to which the included decision-making tasks adhered to principles of representative task design, specificity of perception and action components and constraints present in each task. The results revealed that soccer was the most frequently studied invasion game (70% of studies). While realistic task (85% of studies) and individual constraints (68% of studies) were often present in decision-making tasks, environmental constraints received far less attention (9% of studies). About one-third of studies were situated on either end of the controlled laboratory in situ study continuum (controlled laboratory = 35%, in situ = 33%). In total, 39% of studies coupled sport-specific perception and action components. Furthermore, studies that implemented sport-specific perception–action coupling featured much smaller sample sizes than those without. The findings of this systematic review can aid researchers and practitioners who want to measure decision-making skill in youth team invasion game athletes by allowing them to make informed choices about which assessment to use based on the extent to which an assessment matches a set of pre-determined criteria.

Effective team behavior in high-performance environments such as in sport and the military requires individual team members to efficiently perceive the unfolding task events, predict the actions and action intents of the other team members, and plan and execute their own actions to simultaneously accomplish individual and collective goals. To enhance team performance through effective cooperation, it is crucial to measure the situation awareness and dynamics of each team member and how they collectively impact the team's functioning. Further, to be practically useful for real-life settings, such measures must be easily obtainable from existing sensors. This paper presents several methodologies that can be used on positional and movement acceleration data of team members to quantify and/or predict team performance, assess situation awareness, and to help identify task-relevant information to support individual decision-making. Given the limited reporting of these methods within military cohorts, these methodologies are described using examples from team sports and teams training in virtual environments, with discussion as to how they can be applied to real-world military teams.

PURPOSE: To examine the construct validity and reliability of 2 single items for fatigue and recovery in dancers. The construct validity was assessed using reference instruments: the fatigue items of the Brunel Mood Scale (BRUMS) and the Short Recovery and Stress Scale (SRSS). A secondary aim was to explore the respondent interpretation of these 2 items using a concept identification approach. METHODS: Two hundred forty-three (N = 243) dancers completed single-item fatigue and recovery (unipolar and bipolar), BRUMS, and SRSS once for construct validity. For reliability, 49 dancers completed the questionnaires twice, 1 week apart. Using a concept identification approach, 49 dancers were also asked comprehension and interpretation of fatigue and recovery. RESULTS: The fatigue item correlated with SRSS stress items (rs = .37-.51) and BRUMs fatigue items (rs = .63-.66). The recovery item was only partially confirmed in terms of construct validity, when using the SRSS recovery items as reference (rs = .39-.43). Reliability was confirmed for the single items of fatigue (κ = .77-.78) and recovery (κ = .71-.78). Main responses for the concept of fatigue were tiredness (34.7%), muscle soreness (17.3%), and energy (13.0%). Main responses for the concept of recovery were muscle soreness (43.0%), tiredness (27.9%), and fatigue (24.0%). CONCLUSION: We provide preliminary confirmation of the validity and reliability of the single item fatigue in dancers. The recovery item was only partially confirmed in terms of construct validity, when using the SRSS recovery items as reference, but did display acceptable reliability and agreement. Further research is warranted further exploring other measurement properties.

This study aimed to investigate the test-retest reliability and discriminant validity of the Mobalytics Proving Ground™ assessment for League of Legends. Forty participants (age: 24.15 ± 3.68 y, sex: male = 31, female = 9) were a priori classified into two expertise groups: (1) esports players (age: 22.98 ± 3.64 y, sex: male = 18, female = 2), and (2) controls (age: 25.31 ± 3.42 y, sex: male = 13, female = 7). Participants completed three separate trials (60 s each) online. To assess test-retest reliability, variables displaying normal distributions were analysed using intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) estimates for two-way mixed-effects models with 95% confidence intervals. The average ICC for all the independent variables in the esports group and control group were moderate (ICC esports = 0.53 and ICC control = 0.72). The average 95% confidence intervals for the independent variables in the esports and control group were ICC = 0.30–0.75 and ICC = 0.55–0.86, respectively. A Friedman test revealed an effect size of 0.11 in the esports group and 0.07 in the control group. In terms of discriminant validity, there were significant differences for 17 variables when comparing the best scores of each group. Overall, the Mobalytics Proving Ground™ assessment used in the current study can, to some extent, distinguish esports players from controls.

Despite awareness of the importance of quantifying technical, tactical, and physical characteristics of match play, few studies have examined the structural relationship of these aspects in professional sport. Accordingly, this study concurrently examined these components in relation to quarter outcome (n = 272) in Australian Football. The study followed a retrospective longitudinal case study design where one teams' cooperative passing network, skill counts, physical loads, and spatiotemporal behaviours during official Australian Football League games were collected from a period spanning four seasons (2016-2019). A principal components analysis (PCA) and structural equation modelling were used to explore the structural relationships between components and examine the influence on quarter outcome as determined by the point differential (<i>quarter margin</i>). <i>Scoring opportunity</i> and <i>ball movement</i> had direct associations with <i>quarter margin</i>, while <i>unpredictability, uncontested behaviour</i> and <i>physical behaviour</i> did not. Negative associations between <i>uncontested behaviour</i> and <i>scoring opportunity</i> suggest that elevated high-pressure success and a lack of synchrony may positively influence <i>scoring opportunity</i>, a determinant of <i>quarter margin</i>. Further, negative associations between <i>physical behaviour</i> and <i>ball movement</i> suggest that with less physical work, a team's collective ability to transfer possession between teammates is facilitated, offering an interesting dichotomy between skill and physical demands of Australian Football. While hundreds of different metrics are available, the present study was the first to concurrently examine the influence of a variety of match play components on performance outcomes in Australian Football. These results may provide direction for coaches and practitioners when contemplating practice design, tactical strategies, or the development of behaviour through specific training exercises. Game plans and training drills that focus on optimising attacking and low-pressure ball movement coupled with high levels of mutual interaction between teammates may be beneficial for performance.

The current study explored the association between talent pool size and relative age effects in Football Australia's talent pathway. It also compared relative age effects between male and female players. Participants were 54,207 youth football players (females: <i>n</i> = 12,527, age-range = 14.0-15.9; males: <i>n</i> = 41,680, age-range = 13.0-14.9) eligible for the National Youth Championships. We developed linear regression models to examine the association between the member federation size and the probability of a player being born earlier in the year. We also analysed selection probabilities based on birth quartile and year half across three layers. Overall, talent pool size was associated with a higher probability of selecting a player born in the first half of the year over the second. More specifically, an increase of 760 players led to a 1% higher selection probability for those born in the first six months of a chronological age group. In addition, there were more occurrences of relative age effects in the male than the female sample. Future studies should focus on the impact of the talent pool size on relative age effects at each major talent identification/selection stage of a talent pathway.

This study followed a longitudinal design to objectively monitor practice behaviors of professional and semi-professional esports players over a year. Publicly available data were collected from 30 male Counter-Strike: Global Offensive players (age: 23.76 ± 2.88y). Players were classified into two groups: professional (n = 18) or semi-professional (n = 12). The total hours of practice (all game-specific practice) and the competitive hours of practice (time spent in competitive modes only) were collected weekly. Generalised Estimating Equations were used to compare the practice behaviors of the two groups. Professional and semi-professional esports players completed an average of 30.9 ± 8.2 h and 24.7 ± 3.6 h per week of total game-specific practice, respectively, and 19.6 ± 6.9 and 15.0 ± 2.7 h of competitive practice, respectively. A significant week∗group interaction was observed for total practice time (Wald χ2 = 9.48, p = 0.002) and total competition practice time (Wald χ2 = 7.54, p = 0.006). Specifically, professional esports players completed 6.6 (SE = 2.2) hr per week more of total practice hours than semi-professional players, of which 4.8 (SE = 1.8) hr were competitive practice. This sample of expert esports performers complete high volumes of practice which can be monitored via publicly accessible repositories.

There is limited research investigating objective practice monitoring in team sports. This observational study examined the practice activities used by eight professional coaches across 72 different practice sessions in one season within a professional Australian football team. This study aimed to evaluate the extent to which these practice types differed from those shown to facilitate skill acquisition in team sports. Across the whole season (pre-season and in-season), coaches implemented seven practice types which were categorised into training-form and playing-form. Practice type frequencies were different between pre- and in-season (χ 2 = 109.6, p < 0.001). Significant differences were reported for practice type duration between pre-season and in-season (p = 0.023, d=–0.17), where in-season activities were longer. Coaches implemented a higher percentage of practice time to playing-form activities in-season (62.0 [Formula: see text] 25.4) compared to pre-season (52.4 [Formula: see text] 19.8) [95%CI: –2.35:21.4]. Coaches were more likely to alter the frequency of practice types, rather than the exposure time. Players performed more training-form activities during pre-season than in-season (χ 2 = 30.8, p < 0.001). There were no differences in playing-form activities between pre- and in-season. This study provides insights into the practice activities implemented by professional Australian football coaches and discusses the extent to which they represent best practice in the context of skill acquisition.