Fabio Scamardella’s scientific contributions

Background. The sport of bocce, and in particular the specialty of Raffa, has seen significant competitive development in recent decades, but the scientific literature on the anthropometric characteristics of athletes, especially among young people, is still limited. Objectives. This study aimed to analyze the physical characteristics of Raffa’s junior players at national level, focusing on anthropometric variables such as height, weight and body mass index (BMI). Materials and methods. A sample of twenty athletes, divided into a research group consisting of ten athletes of national interest and a control group of ten non-competitive practitioners, was subjected to baseline measurements during regional events. Results. The findings showed an average height of 170.5 cm and an average weight of 65.8 kg for the research team, with an average BMI of 22.63, indicating a condition of normal weight. However, 33.3% of the athletes in the research group were overweight or class I obese, suggesting the need for greater attention to physical preparation. The data were compared with those of the control group, which had an average height of 173.5 cm, an average weight of 74.5 kg and a BMI distribution with 50% of the athletes classified as overweight. The results were discussed in relation to the initial hypotheses and the existing literature. Conclusions. This study offers important insights for the development of personalized training programs and for the selection of young talents, highlighting the importance of adequate physical preparation. Future prospects include deepening the analysis of the somatotype and the use of larger and more diverse samples.

Background. In recent decades, the evolution of female athletes’ physical characteristics in women’s tennis has sparked interest, particularly regarding the influence of stature on success in Grand Slam tournaments. Objectives. This study aimed to analyze the evolution of the height of the finalists and winners of the women’s Grand Slam tournaments in order to evaluate whether height is a determining factor for success and whether this impact varies according to the playing surfaces. Materials and methods. A retrospective analysis of the heights of the finalists and winners from 2000 to 2024 in the four major Grand Slam tournaments was conducted: Australian Open, Roland-Garros, Wimbledon and U.S. Open. The data were compared between tournaments on fast surfaces (Australian Open and U.S. Open) and tournaments on slower surfaces (Roland-Garros and Wimbledon). Results. The findings revealed a significant increase in the average height of the finalists and winners in tournaments on fast surfaces, with a clear increase in the average height starting from 2021. In tournaments on slower surfaces, the average height showed more stable or slightly declining trends, suggesting that other physical qualities, such as mobility and endurance, may be key to success. In particular, the average height of the Australian Open and U.S. Open finalists indicated a continuous increase, while at Roland-Garros and Wimbledon the fluctuations were more contained. Conclusions. This study confirms that stature has a significant impact on success in Grand Slam tournaments, but this effect is mediated by the playing surface. In tournaments on fast surfaces, greater stature seems to give a competitive advantage, while on slower surfaces other physical factors can play a role. Future perspectives include exploring other anthropometric variables and analyzing their evolution in relation to the needs of modern gaming.

p>Teacher training, particularly in-service training, is among the factors that can influence the success or failure of the teaching/learning process. Among the necessary skills that teachers must have and transmit to their students are Life Skills, i.e., a set of social, cognitive, and personal skills that can be learnt, developed, and made transversal in every area of one’s life and in every learning context. Through ‘Learning through play’, it is possible to develop social and cognitive skills, mature emotionally and gain the self-confidence needed to engage in new experiences and face everyday challenges. From this perspective, Gamification can be a useful means and added value for teachers to train, engage and motivate students.</p