This study examined the reliability of and differences between sole measurements in the standing with the back to a wall (SBW) and natural standing (NS) positions using a newly developed device. A total of 60 healthy children (boys: 31; girls: 29, average age 7.5±0.78 years) participated in the study.

The device captures the sole of the foot with a scanner, and can measure each sole size based on the sole scanner image displayed on the computer. Automatic analysis was performed by pointing with the cursor in order.

The sole was measured twice each in SBW and NS conditions, and the size of the sole was measured twice, respectively.

The results indicated that the reliability of the measurements was very high except for those of the arch of the right foot in SBW and NS. Compared to NS, the sole in SBW has A narrower heel width and the center of the sole is closer to the toes.

This study aimed to investigate the relationship between first goals and final league position using game statistics for the Kanto University Football First Division League and to identify fundamental findings for better performance. The data comprised 132 games from the 2019 Kanto University Football First Division League. Match results published on the official website of the Kanto University Football Association were used to categorize matches into those in which the first goal was scored and those in which the first goal was conceded, and the win rate, points acquisition rate in the first goal-scored or conceded games, average goals scored per season, average goals conceded, and average goal difference were calculated. Based on the final ranking, the teams were classified into three groups: higher, middle, and lower. The findings of this study are as follows.: (1) The lower-ranked group had significantly fewer opportunities to score the first goal than the higher-ranked group and had a significantly lower winning rate in matches in which they did score the first goal. Therefore, the lower-ranked group did not win as many matches as the higher-ranked group. (2) Comparing the lower-ranked group with the middle-ranked group, the lower-ranked group had a significantly lower percentage of the points acquisition rate in the first goal-scored games. Therefore, to perform better, the lower-ranked group needs to increase at least the number of draws in matches in which they scored the first goal. (3) Comparing the higher-ranked and middle-ranked groups, the win and points acquisition rates in the first goal-scored games were similar. However, the higher-ranked group had significantly more opportunities to score first. Therefore, the middle group must score the first goal in more games to get closer to the top group.

There are no studies that have simultaneously examined muscle strength of high- and low-level athletes in each of the two competitive styles in wrestling. The purpose of this study was to clarify the characteristics of muscle strength by style and level of competition in lightweight athletes specializing in freestyle (FS) and Greco-Roman style (GS) in wrestling.

Thirty-seven male collegiate lightweight wrestlers (age, 20.3±1.2 years; height, 165.3±3.7 cm; weight, 63.6±2.9 kg; competition career, 12.7±3.7 years) participated in this study. Participants were divided into 4 groups as follows: high-level GS (HGS, n=9), low-level GS (LGS, n=8), high-level FS (HFS, n=8), and low-level FS (LFS, n=12). Isometric and isokinetic muscle extension and flexion torque of elbow, knee, and trunk as muscle strength were measured by biodex system 4. The main results of this study showed that isometric and isokinetic (60, 180, and 300 deg/sec) elbow extension strength were higher in high-level athletes than in low-level athletes, regardless of competitive style (all P<0.05), and that HGS was higher than HFS and LGS in isometric knee flexion muscle strength (P=0.001, P=0.023, respectively), and that GS was higher than FS in isometric knee and trunk extension muscle strength (P=0.029, P=0.014, respectively). The results of this study suggest the importance of upper extremity extensor strength in wrestling competitions and the need for strength improvement programs based on competition style.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between the the physical ability of female collegiate badminton players and their shot skills.

The subjects were female collegiate badminton players with similar athletic careers (around 10 years).First, to clarify the athletic ability of the athletes, a round robin tournament was held to rank the participants (ranking points were given) and the relationship between the results and their shot skills that are frequently used in competitions, was analized. Then next, we investigated the relationship between shot skills and their physical abilities (muscular functional strength, anaerobic and aerobic capacity) which included their abilities to move on the court.

The results are as follows:

1. There were positive correlation between ranking points and shot skill points (for clears and smashes).

2. There were high correlation between ranking points and 6-direction footwork agility test, 30 times repeated shuttle, and total work of isokinetic knee joint extensor muscular strength.

3. There were high correlation between shot skill points especially in smash and mean anaerobic power output, 6-direction footwork agility test, 30 times repeated shuttle, and total work of isokinetic knee joint extensor muscular strength.

The above results suggests that improving both the clear and the smash shot skills, improving aerobic capacity on the on-court by doing a 30 times repeated shuttle, improving lower limbs extensor strength and maintaining anaerobic power output may lead to a high level of smash shot skills that can be the key to deciding matches.

Specialized tests are necessary to evaluate the movement speed of badminton players. However, the measurement methods should be simple and practical. Therefore, this study created a new test and examined its validity.

The participants were male high school badminton players: 13 experienced (5–12 years of badminton experience) and 10 beginners (less than 1 year of badminton experience). The participants undertook the 7-point touch test (7-PTT), and their results were compared. The 7-PTT involved touching shuttlecocks placed at seven locations on the court with a racket. In addition, a side step test was performed to confirm that there were no differences in basic agility ability. The side step test, a commonly used test in Japan, evaluated the players’ general agility. Data were examined using the Shapiro–Wilk, Levene’s test, and Student’s t-test.

Our results showed that, based on the 7-PTT, the experienced group (mean (M): 11.19 seconds, standard deviation (SD): 0.81) was significantly faster than the novice group (M: 12.22 seconds, SD: 0.70) (t=3.26, p=0.004, Hedge’s effect size (g)=1.30). In the side step test, there was no significant difference between the experienced group (M: 65.5 points, SD: 5.46) and the novice group (M: 64.5 points, SD: 6.12) (t=0.39, p=0.700, g=0.16).

Therefore, the 7-PTT may be an appropriate specific test for evaluating movement speed during badminton. Furthermore, the 7-PTT demonstrated practicality and ease of implementation in a competitive setting, indicating its high utility as a test.

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between the psychological skills of high school basketball players with DIPCA.3 and cognitive training and the effects of EFF representing stats and cognitive training. The results showed that psychological skills attributed to EFF had a 46–74.9% contribution rate. Furthermore, regression equations were obtained for “Will to Win,” “Self-Control,” “Concentration,” and “Judgment” for Pre, “Cooperation,” “Will to Win,” “Decision Making,” “Confidence,” and “Self-Control” for Int, and “Relaxation,” “Will to Win,” and “Patience” for Post. Regarding the effects of psychological skills and cognitive training, significant main effects were found in the “self-confidence,” “operational ability,” and “cooperativeness” factors, “total score,” “willingness to self-actualize,” “self-confidence,” “decisiveness,” “predictive ability,” “judgment,” and “cooperativeness” scales, indicating a significant effect of change over time. The results also showed a certain degree of relationship between EFF and psychological skills, and although cognitive training improved psychological skills over time, it was difficult to say that this was solely due to the effect of cognitive training. However, because improving psychological skills may lead to improved basketball performance, it is important to reexamine cognitive training from qualitative and quantitative perspectives and to develop training that uses the latest ICT and other technologies.

This study aimed to determine the actual state of long-distance running classes in Japanese high schools. A total of 738 schools were randomly selected from high schools throughout Japan (15% sampling rate), and a survey was conducted in February 2023 using mail questionnaires. Of the 738 schools surveyed, 199 schools responded (27.0% response rate). Data from 197 schools were analyzed, excluding two schools, which failed to fill out the questionnaire. The findings of the study indicated that 68.0% of the high schools offered long-distance running as a mandatory class in at least one grade. The first, second, and third grades, in that order, had the highest percentages of mandatory long-distance running classes. Since the total body endurance of high school students declines as they progress through the grades, it is necessary to investigate the effect of mandatory long-distance running classes on students’ overall body endurance in the future. The average distance run per class was between 2.5 and 3.4 km for boys and between 2.0 and 2.8 km for girls, which was approximately within the range of the distance indicated in the Courses of Study. In addition, while the goals related to “attitude of proactive learning” tended to be oriented, the goals related to “knowledge” did not. This suggests the importance for students of accumulating knowledge about long-distance running classes to acquire and utilize said knowledge in the future.