Uluslararası Yayınlar

Background and Study Aim. Agility performance, which is a skill related to fast change of direction, explosiveness, and quickness, is a vital performance component for team sports. Illuminating factors that affect agility is substantial to understand the ability requirements and improve. This study aims to investigate correlations of the body analyze parameters and agility performance. Material and Methods. One hundred twenty three young participants (93 male, 30 female) were included in this research. Height, weight, fat (%), fat (kg), fat-free mass (FFM), muscle mass, total body water (TBW, kg, and %), bone mass, basal metabolic rate (BMR), metabolic age, visceral rating, and body mass index (BMI) measured for all participants. Illinois Agility Test (IAT) was used to analyze agility performance. A questionnaire including questions about the physical activity level of participants was applied to all participants after IAT. Results. Results showed that height was a dominant determinant of IAT performance. There were significant positive correlations between height (negative correlation in women), body weight, fat percentage, fat mass, and visceral rating level (p < 0.05). TBW (%) had a negative relation with IAT duration (p < 0.001). There was a statistically significant difference in terms of IAT between the participants who stated their physical activity levels as low, medium and high (p = 0.025*). Increased daily physical activity level and daily step count increased the agility performance (p < 0.05). Conclusions. Coaches and athletes should be considered especially body weight, fat (%), hydration status, and daily physical activity level to improve agility performance.

It is an unknown whether participating in the UEFA Champions League (UEFA-CL) and UEFA Europa League (UEFA-EL) is beneficial or detrimental to national league performance given the heavy fixture. In this study, we sought to answer this question by analyzing the six 2021-2022 UEFA-CL and UEFA-EL group matches and the following national league matches. We compared wins, draws, losses, Goals Forward (GF), Goals Away (GA), points, possession, total passes, and pass accuracy statistics of the six international and national matches. Moreover, we analyzed and compared the GF and GA time intervals in international tournaments and the following national matches. Our results showed that the number of wins, GF, points, possession, and total passes were higher in the six subsequent national matches than in the international matches (p< 0.05). The number of losses and GA in national matches was significantly lower than in international (p< 0.01). GF was significantly higher between the 15-30-minute (international: 70, national: 101; p= 0.022*) and 75-90-minute intervals (international: 130, national: 180; p= 0.017*) in national matches than in international. Likewise, GA was significantly higher in the 0-15-minute interval (international: 74, national: 43; p= 0.007**) and 45-60-minute interval (international: 86, national: 56; p= 0.008**) in international matches. This study showed that the teams were more successful following national league matches than UEFA-CL and UEFA-EL matches. The identified intervals to be considered for scoring more goals and conceding fewer goals could help coaches to improve team success.

In this research, the author analyzed the pass accuracy (PA) of center-back (CB), wing-back (WB), center-midfield (CM), wing-midfield (WM) and center-forward (CF) players, and the points of Turkish Super League (TSL) 2020-2021 season. Pearson Correlation Test was used for statistical analysis and confidence interval was settled as 99% (p < 0.01). The results showed that the PA average of CB and CM players was highly related to the points obtained at the end of the season. The passing accuracy of the teams finishing the league in the best places was above 80%, and it was lower in those teams with less points. In conclusion, the results demonstrated that pass accuracy affected the league rank of TSL, and a pass accuracy of 80% may be a critical level to finish in the top ranking of the league.

Among the number of positive effects of functional training on the performance of athletes, physical parameters is increasing. Therefore, the present study describes the preparation in ten weeks of functional training for children and the measurement of physical and respiratory parameters before and after the training period. Twenty-five male 8-10 age children soccer school players participated in this study. Participants were given functional training for 45 minutes a day, 3 days a week for 10 weeks. Participants' body composition, respiratory parameters and physical fitness parameters were measured before and after 10 weeks of exercise. The results showed significant decrease after ten weeks of functional training in bodyweight, body mass index, and systolic blood pressure and significant increases in vital capacity, forced vital capacity, forced expiratory volume, squat jump, countermovement jump, 1 min crunch, flexibility and VO2max (p < 0,05). The differences in resting heart rate and handgrip measures were meaningless. In conclusion, functional training could improve 8-10 age children's motor skills and respiratory functions and beneficial to controlling body weight.

With compulsory distance education in Turkey during the pandemic, the positive and negative effects of distance education have been investigated. In this study, the views of 256 students (162 males, 94 females) with a mean age of 21.5±3.457, studying in various departments in the primary field of sports sciences at state (n = 95) and foundation (n = 161) universities, on distance education and face-to-face education. It was taken with the Attitudes towards Distance Education Scale and compared statistically. In addition to frequency and distribution analysis, an Independent Sample T-Test was applied for statistical analysis, and the confidence interval was determined as 95% (p < 0.05). As a result of the research, it was seen that the students found face-to-face education more effective. It was noted that students who found face-to-face teaching more effective than other students agreed with the view that distance education is not engaging with a significant difference (p < 0.05). The same students also stated that they disagreed with the opinions that qualified results can be obtained from distance education applications. According to students ‘ opinions, this study provides educators with information about some of the missing points of distance education compared to face-to-face teaching. The minus points of distance education can be detailed with surveys to be made with more participants.

Covid-19 pandemic dramatically affected soccer. Many competitions played without an audience in the 2019/2020 season. The aim of this study was to analyze Points (P), Goals Forward (GF), and Goals Away (GA) per game in Turkish Super League (TSL), Premier League, Bundesliga, La Liga, and Serie A before (BP) and After Pandemic restrictions (AP) during the 2019/2020 season separately and together. The tables of five leagues were separated into two terms as BP and AP, and P, GF, and GA were calculated for each period. Average P, GF, and GA per game were statistically compared. Paired samples t-test and paired samples correlations were used for statistical analysis. The obtained results showed that home P and GA increased AP in TSL without statistical significance. In parallel, home P and GF increased AP in Premier League and La Liga and showed significant correlations (p< 0.05). In contrast, in Bundesliga and La Liga, home P and GF decreased AP with significant correlation (p< 0.05). In La Liga, away GA significantly decreased AP (p= 0.010148*). When all results of all teams (n= 98) were compared together, home P (r= 0.4371; p= 0.000007***) and GA decreased AP and showed significant correlations. Furthermore, away P (r= 0.386661; p= 0.000084***) and GF (r= 0.505488; p= 0.000001***) increased with significant correlation. These results showed that the Covid-19 pandemic dissimilarly affected different leagues. However, overall results showed that home performances decreased and away results increased AP.

The number of studies on the positive effects of exercise on health is increasing day by day. The data show that 31.1% of adults in the world’s population are physically inactive. It has been shown that 51.6% of the American population meet aerobic activity suggestions, 29.3% fulfill muscle-strengthening recommendations and 20.6% meet both. In Turkey, many types of research related to this field have been published in national publications. This study aims to compile research on exercise and health, published in national journals in Turkey. Thus, this study will provide an overview of studies on health and exercise in Turkey. Besides, in this study, the levels of exercise habits of people living, working, or studying in various cities of Turkey have been reviewed.

Muscle formation and regeneration are critical factors for athlete endurance performance, and the SOX15 gene is one of the important genes for muscle formation and regeneration. Although there are many studies on the relationship between the SOX15 gene and muscle tissue, there are few studies on the relationship between the SOX15 gene and athlete performance relation are very limited number. This study aimed to analyse the SOX15 T/G (rs4227) polymorphisms of soccer referees, who performed 3000 m and above in the Cooper test, and of the control group. For this purpose, 30 male soccer referees, who performed 3000 m and above in the Cooper test, were selected. For the control group, 30 male participants without a sportsman license were selected. In addition, in this study, ACE I/D (rs4646994) and HGF C/A (rs5745697) polymorphisms were analysed. The results showed a statistically significant difference in SOX15 T/G (χ2= 10.24, p= 0.006) between the referees and the control group. The SOX15 T allele showed a significantly higher frequency in soccer referees than in the control group. However, our data did not show statistically significant differences in ACE I/D and HGF C/A. Our results suggested that SOX15 T/G polymorphism could be related to the endurance performance of athletes.

Background: Successful sprinting performance is very important for soccer assistant referees to track offside positions throughout the match. Although soccer players do not carry any objects in their hands while sprinting, soccer assistant referees are obliged to carry a flag during the match.

Objectives: In this research, it was examined whether carrying a flag affects the sprinting performance of soccer assistant referees. Methods: For this purpose different sprinting lengths, 5 m, 10 m, 20 m and 30 m were performed by soccer referees with and without carrying a flag. In addition, it was analyzed whether the starting sprinting positions affected sprinting performances of soccer referees. Moreover, flag training workouts were added to the training programs of referees and their sprinting performances carrying a flag were retested after a period of 5 months.

Results: Our results showed that carrying a flag decreases sprinting performances of soccer assistant referees significantly (P< 0.05). In addition, it was observed that adding flag workouts to the trainings of soccer assistant referees for 5 months improved their sprint performance significantly (P< 0.05). No difference in sprinting performance was observed regarding the starting sprinting positions of soccer referees.

Conclusions: Carrying a flag decreases sprinting performance of assistant referees which can be improved by additional flag carrying workouts.

The ability of change of direction quickly, in other words agility, and short distance sprinting speed are two of the most important performance components for football referees. The tests used by FIFA and UEFA such as Cooper Test, Yo-Yo Intermittent Test, 40× 75 m tests do not include testing the agility skills of the referees. However, especially the field referees changing their activities constantly. Otherwise, the short distance sprinting is another important factor to well positioning of the football referees. Especially, the assistant referees frequently performs short sprints to follow the offside line. For these reasons, we have compared 5 m, 10 m, 30 m sprint tests, T-Test, Arrowhead Agility Test and Illinois Agility Test scores of the football referees working in Ankara (City referees). All referees performed sprint tests twice and performed the agility tests one time. All tests have shown normal distribution frequencies. Our results showed that all of the six tests have shown positive correlations between (P< 0, 01). Additively, it could be said that the agility skill has a relationship with short distance sprinting because of the referees who showed better sprint performances were also found to have higher agility scores. Consequently, each of the 5 m, 10 m, 30 m, T-Test, Arrowhead and Illinois Agility Test could be used to assess the performance of the referees.

The football referees perform many actions as jogging, running, sprinting, side steps and backward steps during a football match. Further, the football referees change match activities every 5-6 seconds. Many tests are being conducted to determine the physical levels and competences of football referees like 50 m running, 200 m running, 12 minutes Cooper test, 6 × 40 m etc. All of these tests include straight runnings dominantly. However, the football is not completely full of straight runnings. Quickness, turning skills and changing direction speed namely agility is the crucial for referees to maintain well positioning during match. For this reason, we have modified the classical T-Test for referees by addition side steps, quick turnings and backward steps to test agility skills and their speed. And we compared the T-Test scores with 10 meters and 30 meters sprint tests scores of 74 male referees (Ankara, Turkey) who regularly participating in trainings and regularly refereeing in matches. All referees performed 10 meters and 30 meters sprint tests twice and we recorded the best sprint times. The referees performed the T-Test one time. All three tests have shown normal distribution frequencies. Our results showed a significant corelation between all of three tests; 10 meters and 30 meters (r = 0,660; P < 0,01), 10 meters and T-Test (r= 0,226; P < 0,01), 30 meters and T-Test (r= 0,269; P < 0,01). These results showed that, T-Test scores will be usable to determine 10 meters and 30 meters sprint level of the referees and additionally, T-Test could also give information about levels of other crutial skills for referees as agility. In conclusion, our data showed that the modified T-Test for referees could be used for testing each of the running speed and agility skills of the soccer referees.

Talent selection is the most important phase to train elite athletes for future. In the talent selection stages, there are many important criteria’s have shown in the literature. The age is an important criterion. Besides, physical fitness, anthropometric data’s have used to the testing athletes for talent selection. On the other hand, the cognitive, perceptual and motor skills are also important factors to determine talented individuals. Researchers have conducted many tests for talent selection also include genetic testing nowadays. This review summarizes the most important criteria’s and the most commonly used tests roughly.