Browsing by Author "Fernandes, Helder Miguel"
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- Effects of lower limb power, aerobic capacity and hand grip strength on the technical efficiency of young tennis playersPublication . Honório, Samuel; Santos, Jorge; Serrano, João; Rebelo, Miguel; Semião, Pedro; Vitorino, Diogo; Groflin, Yannick; Fernandes, Helder Miguel; Vaz, Luís; Silva, Ana Filipa; Thomas, Ewan; Kramperova, Veronika; Batista, Marco; SamuelIntroduction: Tennis is a sport with no time limit. This can result in matches lasting less than an hour or up to five hours. This variability requires that high-competition tennis athletes be trained both at an anaerobic level for better performance, and at an aerobic level, to help with recovery between points, during the game. Methods: This cross-sectional study intended to analyse how lower limb power, aerobic capacity and hand grip strength influences the technical efficiency of tennis players. Training among young tennis players provides a positive and crucial role in building technique effectiveness, so early but convenient and adapted preparations through training play an essential role in helping these young players to improve their skills in this game. Twenty-six athletes, aged between 8 and 16 (M=11.26±2.25), 18 males (69.2%) and 8 females (30.8%) were included. They performed the Hand-Grip strength test, the aerobic capacity was tested via one-mile (1609 meters) test. For technical efficiency, they performed 50 right and 50 left shots, checking which ones reached the area inside and outside the tennis court and the leg power capacity through the Chronojump system. Non-parametric tests were applied, Mann-Whitney, Wilcoxon and Kruskal-Wallis and also Rho Spearman correlations between variables. Results: Comparisons between level of training (p≤0.02) and years of practice (p≤0.04) revealed that all the variables had a direct and positive influence on the technical efficiency of these tennis players. As for correlation results, all independent variables have a strong correlation with tennis technical efficiency (0.480 to 0.736). Conclusions: Findings suggest that higher physical fitness capacities are associated with greater technical efficiency.
- Physical performance tests and anthropometric data to predict selection in U19 rugby union playersPublication . Vaz, Luis; Batista, Marco; Honório, Samuel; Fernandes, Helder MiguelAnthropometric and performance data were collected from 184 rugby players (mean age=17.9±0.5 years, body mass=84.2±13.5 kg; height =1.79±0.07 m) to explore: (i) the correlation among indicators; and (ii) compare profiles from the selected (n =39) and non-selected (n =145) players to represent the Portuguese under-19 national team. Anthropometry characteristics included body height and body mass. Physical performance variables included push up and pull-up test, squat, Sargent test, flexed arm hang test, sit-and- reach test, 20 m shuttle run test, handgrip strength test, 20-m and 50-m sprint and Illinois agility test. The results showed that the selected rugby athletes reported significantly higher levels of right (t = 2.77, p = 0.01, ES= -0.5 [-0.8 to -0.2]) and left handgrip strength scores (t = 2.81, p = 0.01, ES = -0.5 [-0.8 to -0.2]), and significantly better (i.e. lower) levels of agility scores (t = -2.28, p = 0.02, ES = 0.4 [0.1 to 0.7]) than the non- selected rugby athletes. Accordingly, prospective players need to be constantly monitored and evaluated across age-categories in order to allow them to achieve the anthropometrical and fitness requirements needed to play at the international level.
- Relationships between psychological skills and European U19 rugby union tournament outcomes and performance indicatorsPublication . Fernandes, Helder Miguel; Batista, Marco; Vaz, LuisThe purpose of this study was to investigate and identify the psychological skills and strategies related to tournament outcomes and performance indicators in a European under-19 Rugby Union Championship. The sample included a total of 183 elite male U19 rugby players, aged between 17 and 19 years (M= 18.67, SD= 0.51), who competed at the U19 European Championship 2014. These players represented seven national teams ranked by the teams' final classification in the championship, as follows: Georgia (1st place, n= 34), Portugal (2nd place, n= 20), Spain (3rd place, n= 26), Russia (4th place, n= 27), Netherlands (5th place, n= 17), Belgium (6th place, n= 14), and Romania (7th place, n= 45). Athletes responded to translated and adapted versions of the questionnaire Test of Performance Strategies (TOPS; Thomas et al., 1999) an hour before the first match of the tournament. Summary matches' statistics and the final ranking position (inverted) of the national teams were retrieved from an official website. Correlation results showed that a more frequent use of self-talk, emotional control and goal-setting strategies was positively related to points, tries and conversions scored, whereas imagery levels were positively associated to penalties scored. On the other hand, higher levels of negative thinking were positively correlated to points, tries and penalties conceded, whereas higher activation levels were negatively related to points, tries and conversions conceded. The teams' final ranking was significantly predicted by goal-setting (β= 0.21), imagery (β= 0.17), activation (β= 0.32) and negative thinking (β= −0.16) levels (R2= 0.11, p= 0.005).
- Using Anthropometric Data and Physical Fitness Scores to Predict Selection in a National U19 Rugby Union TeamPublication . Vaz, Luis; Kraak, Wilbur; Batista, Marco; Honório, Samuel; Fernandes, Helder MiguelThe purpose of this study was to compare measures of anthropometry characteristics and physical fitness performance between rugby union players (17.9 ± 0.5 years old) recruited (n = 39) and non-recruited (n = 145) to the Portuguese under-19 (U19) national team, controlling for their playing position (forwards or backs). Standardized anthropometric, physical, and performance assessment tests included players’ body mass and height, push up and pull-up test, squat test, sit- and-reach test, 20 m shuttle run test, flexed arm hang test, Sargent test, handgrip strength test, Illinois agility test, and 20-m and 50-m sprint test. Results showed that recruited forwards players had better agility scores (p = 0.02, ES = −0.55) than the non-recruited forwards, whereas recruited backs players had higher right (p < 0.01, ES = 0.84) and left (p = 0.01, ES = 0.74) handgrip strength scores than their counterparts. Logistic regression showed that better agility (for the forwards) and right handgrip strength scores (for the backs) were the only variables significantly associated with an increased likelihood of being recruited to the national team. In sum, these findings suggest that certain well- developed physical qualities, namely, agility for the forwards players and upper-body strength for the back players, partially explain the selection of U19 rugby players to their national team.