Xiaodan Guo’s research while affiliated with Gdansk University of Physical Education and Sport and other places

Introduction This study aimed to compare the effects of structured sports games (SG) and psychomotricity activities (PCM) on the locomotor, stability, and manipulative motor competencies of preschool children. Methods A randomized controlled trial was conducted over an 8-week period, involving two experimental groups (SG, n = 30 and PCM, n = 30) and one control group (CG, n = 28), with participants attending two intervention sessions per week. A total of 88 5-year-old children participated in the experiment (boys n = 48; girls n = 40). They were evaluated three times (at baseline, after 4 weeks, and after 8 weeks) using the Motor Competence Assessment test to measure their locomotor, stability, and manipulative motor competencies. Results The scores were standardized to percentiles based on sex and age. However, significant differences were observed between groups post-intervention in the locomotor domain (p = 0.003; ηp2 = 0.128), with the SG showing significantly higher values compared to the CG (mean difference: 17.0%; p = 0.021; d = 0.783), and PCM (mean difference: 19.8%; p = 0.005; d = 0.947). Additionally, significant differences were found between groups post-intervention in the manipulative domain (p = 0.001; ηp2 = 0.142), with the SG showing significantly higher values compared to the CG (mean difference: 19.3%; p = 0.009; d = 0.845) and PCM (mean difference: 21.4%; p = 0.003; d = 0.998). Discussion Our study highlights the significant benefits of increased practice in developing motor competence, particularly in children’s locomotor and manipulative skills. Additionally, at this age, fun, competition, and social interaction seem to play a crucial role, as the SG group demonstrated greater improvements compared to the PCM group.

The objective of this study was to characterize surveyed coaches and elucidate the practices of physical fitness assessment and monitoring for both male and female athletes across three countries. A total of 165 coaches participated by completing a comprehensive 32-question survey. Pre-season assessments are a priority for coaches, with a significant range from 60.5% to 87.7% in Romania, while Portuguese and Spanish coaches tend to prefer testing during the competition (26.3% and 16.9%, respectively). Portuguese and Spanish coaches predominantly favor aerobic tests (50% and 46.8% respectively), whereas Romanian coaches exhibit a preference for sprint (56.9%) and skill tests (52.3%). Notably, change of direction tests are less commonly employed, ranging from 10.5% to 21% across the countries. In terms of exercise intensity determination, Portuguese coaches predominantly employ maximal heart rate (31.6%), while Spanish coaches often rely on the 220-age formula or perceived exertion (27.4%). For strength assessment, Portuguese coaches lean towards direct (34.2%) or estimated (31.6%) maximal repetition methods. When it comes to maximal speed sprint, Portuguese and Romanian coaches show preference (50% and 43.1% respectively), while Spanish coaches exhibit a relative lack of emphasis on individualized speed measures (37.1%). Perceptual scales are the preferred method for recovery monitoring, with adoption rates of 57.9% in Portugal, 53.2% in Spain, and 44.6% in Romania. In summary, this study underscores the distinct assessment and monitoring practices employed by coaches in Portugal, Spain, and Romania. These findings are in alignment with established literature standards, highlighting the diversity of approaches used in different countries.