There has been some research on endurance running in physical education for children with intellectual disabilities, but there may be room for improvement in the practice methods and meaning-making in learning. In this study, we decided to incorporate the perspective of “play” in order to give meaning to endurance running for children with intellectual disabilities. PLAY RUNNING involves control of running speed. We devised a 20-meter round-trip running activity (PLAY RUNNING) in which players move a ball from the opponent’s area to their own area, incorporating ball manipulation and game elements, and aimed to examine its effects. The subjects were five children in elementary school at a special needs school for the intellectually disabled. Practice consisted of shuttle run practice (Phase I), lap running: 70 m×10 laps (Phase II), and PLAY RUNNING: 3 min×2 times (Phase III). As a result of examining this practice, it was indicated that PLAY RUNNING for children with intellectual disabilities could give meaning to exercise through enjoying it and make exercise enjoyable through game elements and ball manipulation elements. Furthermore, continuing to run and increasing running speed could improve shuttle run performance.

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The study sought to boost upper elementary students’ athletic competence by creating a collaborative environment in invasion games classes. To achieve the goal, interventions included dividing the court into 10 numbered grids for clearer student movement, repeating the same drill game to highlight skill progress and boost control, and using a strategy board to encourage discussion. Setting aside time for sharing encouraged reluctant students to participate. They watched videos of each other and used “Homekome” (praise-based comments) to highlight strengths, which fostered recognition among classmates. The students’ sense of athletic competence was maintained or improved.

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This study investigated how two practice structures — Comparative Practice (CP) and Blocked Practice (BP) — affect short-term performance and biomechanical changes in volleyball serving among collegiate athletes. Twenty-two players were divided into a BP group (n=10) and a CP group (n=12). Both groups completed four practice sessions, with performance assessed at two points (pre- and post-intervention) using serve accuracy to a target zone alongside selected biomechanical measures. The results revealed a significant group-by-time interaction. Only the CP group showed a meaningful improvement in serve success rate (p <. 001, η²_p=.43), while the BP group showed no significant change over the same period. Biomechanical changes that aligned with each participant’s intended movement adjustments were observed in 75% of CP participants, compared with just 20% in the BP group (p <. 05, φ=.55). Individual CP cases further illustrated large effect sizes in trunk motion changes — for example, one participant yielded a Cohen’s d of 1.96. Taken together, these findings suggest that CP may promote both performance gains and meaningful movement adaptation over a short training period. While self-regulatory processes were not directly measured, participants’ reflective comments hinted at possible connections to self-monitoring and strategic thinking during practice. Future research employing direct measures of self-regulation would help clarify the mechanisms underlying these effects.

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Neutral site sporting events have drawn increasing attention in recent years. One prominent example is the 2023/24 WE League Cup final, which achieved strong attendance figures despite the broader struggle to fill seats at regular WE League matches. Events held at neutral sites tend to offer a high-quality experience and draw spectators from both the host city and beyond, making it essential for organizers to understand what motivates people to attend—particularly when trying to grow a fanbase. Yet research in this area remains sparse. Studies examining spectator behavior at neutral site matches are limited, as is scholarship on what motivates fans of women՚s sport in Japan. This study addresses both gaps by comparing attendance motivations across three groups at the 2023/24 WE League Cup final: fans traveling from the competing teams՚ home cities, fans from the host city who supported one of the teams, and host city residents with no team allegiance. A questionnaire survey was administered at the event, yielding 398 usable responses—117 from hometown fans, 166 from host city fans, and 115 from host city non-fans. Through confirmatory factor analyses, ANOVAs, and multiple comparisons, the study identified significant differences among the three groups in six areas: interest in the team, interest in the WE League, preference for a wholesome environment, desire to bond with family, excitement-seeking, and connection to a men՚s team. Three motivations—general interest in soccer, the influence of role models, and support for women՚s sport—did not differ significantly across groups. These results reveal meaningful variation in what draws different spectator segments to neutral site matches, and point to the value of crafting targeted promotional strategies that reflect the distinct motivations of each audience.

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To establish local roots, J.League clubs should connect with citizens, businesses, and governments to develop projects. The purpose of this study is to clarify, from the perspective of “New Public Commons,” what kind of support local governments in the hometowns of J.League clubs provide to the clubs and what kind of collaborative projects they carry out. A questionnaire surveyed local governments hosting J.League clubs, including a case study on Matsumoto Yamaga FC and Matsumoto City. Of 168 governments contacted, 112 responded. Several local governments supported clubs through investments, priority use of home stadiums and training grounds, fee reductions, facility improvements, and the distribution of free tickets. In addition, some local governments have implemented collaborative projects such as sports classes for children, city promotion, and hometown tax donation program. This paper summarizes the 2014 lawsuit alleging Matsumoto City’s investment in Matsumoto Yamaga FC was illegal, the court’s dismissal of the claim, and highlights the club’s partnerships with the community, private sector, and public sector. The results of this study suggest that J.League clubs are tending to become a “collaborative sector.” and may have the characteristics of social enterprises.

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This study aimed to determine how closely ball speed and spin rate measurements from a radar gun match those from Rapsodo, as well as whether there are any consistent errors between the two methods during baseball pitching. Twenty-seven university baseball pitchers participated in the study. Each participant threw five pitches from the mound toward a catcher. Ball speed and spin rate for each pitch were measured simultaneously using both a radar gun and Rapsodo. Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs; two-way random-effects model) were calculated to assess the agreement between the two measurement systems. Additionally, Bland-Altman analysis was conducted to examine the presence of systematic bias. The ICCs were 0.995 for ball speed and 0.964 for spin rate. The measurement error between methods was determined to range from -0.3 to 0.0 m/s for ball speed and from -62.2 to 17.1 rpm for spin rate.

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This study explored how university-student coaching impacts junior high students’ athletic development. Coaching behaviors affect children’s attitudes towards and engagement in sports. External weekend coaches were assigned to support this initiative. The purpose of this study was to determine which types of coach-student interactions most effectively promote development. The participants included 195 junior high school students residing in City K (121 males and 74 females; mean age = 13.48 ± 0.58 years). Survey measures focused on sport-related development, experiences of interaction with university student coaches—including acceptance, close engagement, and affirmation from mentors—and club activity adjustment, such as motivation toward participation. Results indicated that higher levels of club activity adjustment correlated with greater perceived personal growth. These findings underscore the importance of accepting and supportive behaviors for university student coaches working with adolescents.

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This study examined the effects of two tag-up start techniques in collegiate baseball by comparing baserunning times for a normal start and a rolling start. Twenty-two male collegiate baseball players participated. Running time from third base to home plate was measured with a wireless photoelectric timing system for two techniques: a conventional normal start and a rolling start adapted from softball. Mean running time was 3.74±0.14 s for the normal start (95% CI: 3.68－3.80 s) and 3.63±0.14 s for the rolling start (95% CI: 3.57－3.69 s). The rolling start was significantly faster than the normal start (t (21) =6.34, p < 0.01, Cohen’s d=1.35). The mean difference between techniques was 0.11±0.08 s (95% CI: 0.07－0.15 s), corresponding to a distance of 0.84±0.61m. These findings suggest that the rolling start is a viable option in tag up situations, as even the lower bound of the confidence interval (0.07s) represents a difference that could determine whether a run scores in a close play at home plate. However, the measurements were conducted under controlled conditions in which participants determined their own timing, and thus did not include the element of timing the departure to match the fielder's catch. Further research under game-like conditions is needed to determine whether the observed time reduction can be replicated in actual competition.

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Globalization has made Japanese footballers, especially from the J.League, desirable assets for European clubs, highlighting Japan’s rising reputation for developing skilled young talents. Although more Japanese players are moving from J.League to European clubs, Japanese clubs receive comparatively lower transfer fees and related income than clubs in nations with similar FIFA rankings. This study confirms, through data analysis, that the income received by Japanese clubs is indeed significantly lower than that of comparable countries. Furthermore, it reveals that this discrepancy is likely due to the specific negotiation channels and tactics employed by Japanese clubs, particularly their overreliance on players’ agents.

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This study explored how commitment to personal values relates to subjective well-being among Japanese university student-athletes, with Sport-Life Balance (SLB) as a central focus. SLB adapts the concept of work-life balance to an athletic context, emphasizing harmony between sport participation and other areas of life. While prior research suggests that living in accordance with one՚s values supports mental health, empirical work examining SLB and performance-related values among Japanese student-athletes has been limited. Participants were university athletes who completed an online survey. Value commitment was assessed across two domains: SLB-related values (such as maintaining balance between academic and athletic responsibilities) and performance-related values (such as striving to win). Subjective well-being was rated on a 0-10 scale. Factor analysis confirmed that these two dimensions were distinct yet moderately correlated. Hierarchical regression analyses were then conducted separately for athletes competing at higher and lower levels. Among high-level competitors, commitment to performance-related values significantly predicted subjective well-being, while SLB commitment did not. Among lower-level athletes, both value domains were significant predictors. Notably, SLB commitment levels were similar across both groups, suggesting that valuing balance is a broadly shared disposition among student-athletes regardless of competitive standing. These findings indicate that competitive achievement is central to the well-being of high-level athletes, whereas those competing at lower levels benefit from commitment to both performance and life balance. The study highlights the value of helping athletes identify and commit to a range of personal values — and of fostering balance-oriented, not only performance-oriented, approaches to supporting subjective well-being.

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