Exploring Convergence and Divergence in Seemingly Contrasting Perspectives on Training Perceptual-Cognitive Abilities for Sports Performance Through Moderated Dialogue.

Current Opinion article considers the diverging perspectives of two academics on the trainability and role of perceptual-cognitive abilities in sports performance, specifically applied to agility and sidestepping. This work uses a moderated dialogue approach between these two authors, each representing differing viewpoints: one advocating for the role of perceptual-motor skills through representative learning environments and another emphasising physical resilience. The article explores how fostering scientific discourse through moderated questions posed by a third party can be used to identify convergences and divergences in these perspectives.

How Strong Is Strong Enough? Assessing When Physical Performance Tests Cease to Be Predictive of Sprint Performance in Trained Football Players.

Vial, S, Scanlan, M, Beranek, P, Kadlec, D, Barley, OR, and Cochrane Wilkie, J. How strong is strong enough? Assessing when physical performance tests cease to be predictive of sprint performance in trained football players. J Strength Cond Res XX(X): 000-000, 2025-Quantifying underlying capacities of sprint performance are useful for monitoring training and guiding interventions.

An Exploratory Vector Field Analysis of Ground Reaction Force During Maximum Sprinting Efforts in Male Soccer Players and Sprinters.

The ability to accelerate and attain high velocities is essential for both individual and team sport athletes. The purpose of this explorative study was to retrospectively analyze the ground reaction force using Statistical Parametric Mapping (SPM) vector field analysis, as traditional scalar analyses often fail to acknowledge the interdependence of force vector components. The ground reaction force vector and the scalar components (i.

Examining the Effects of Dynamic and Isometric Resistance Training on Knee Joint Kinetics During Unplanned Sidesteps in Elite Female Athletes.

Kadlec, D, Jordan, MJ, Alderson, J, and Nimphius, S. Examining the effects of dynamic and isometric resistance training on knee joint kinetics during unplanned sidesteps in elite female athletes. J Strength Cond Res 38(12): 2079-2087, 2024-The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of a 4-week block of isometric (isometric RT ) and dynamic resistance training (dynamic RT ) on kinetic variables associated with anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury risk during unplanned sidesteps in elite female athletes.

Evaluation of the HEAL™ing Mental Health program: A prospective cohort study of short-term changes from a physical activity and lifestyle education program for people with mental health disorders living in rural Australia.

This study aimed to evaluate short-term outcomes of the HEAL™ing Mental Health program, an 8-week intervention for change in functional, behavioural and physiological health and wellbeing designed for people living with mental health conditions in rural or regional areas of Australia. A prospective cohort study was completed, reporting on 19 items (pre-program) and 15 (post-participation change), organised across seven domains. Participants took part in an Accredited Exercise Physiologist/Nurse led supervised group exercise (60 minutes) and healthy lifestyle education program (60 minutes).

Training for "Worst-Case" Scenarios in Sidestepping: Unifying Strength and Conditioning and Perception-Action Approaches.

Sidesteps can impose high demands on the knee joint and lead to non-contact anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries. Understanding how different constraints shape an athlete's movement strategy and the associated joint demands can help design training interventions to increase injury resilience. Motor capacities, such as muscular strength and power, act as boundaries for the safe execution of perceptual-motor skills and co-determine the emergence of unique movement strategies.

With Great Power Comes Great Responsibility: Common Errors in Meta-Analyses and Meta-Regressions in Strength & Conditioning Research.

Background And Objective: Meta-analysis and meta-regression are often highly cited and may influence practice. Unfortunately, statistical errors in meta-analyses are widespread and can lead to flawed conclusions. The purpose of this article was to review common statistical errors in meta-analyses and to document their frequency in highly cited meta-analyses from strength and conditioning research.

Test Re-test Reliability of Single and Multijoint Strength Properties in Female Australian Footballers.

Purpose: To examine the test re-test reliability of isometric maximal voluntary contractions (MVC) of hip adduction (ADD), hip abduction (ABD), and multijoint leg extension (SQUAT) in sub-elite female Australian footballers.

Methods: Data were collected from 24 sub-elite female Australian footballers (age 22.6 ± 4.