Modern Sport

This study aims to examine the impact of employing the guided discovery method as the primary approach in teaching certain gymnastics skills, with the sequential method serving as a supportive tool to organize and structure the learning stages. which emphasized the combination of both methods so as to achieve both cognitive and motor objectives for the students. The importance of the current article lies on the emphasizing the duty of guided discovery to develop students’ analytical skills and thinking and motivate the learners to participate actively in the process of learning. Moreover, it contributes to develop motor skill through the structured development which is provided by the successive method which adopts the growth of both cognitive as well as motor abilities. The current research involved 22 college as a samples from the Faculty of Physical Education and Sport Sciences at Al-Qadisiyah University experimental group and a control group. The students with the control may collect instruction by adopting the outmoded method, though the students with the experimental method can follow an instructional program which is planned according to sequential learning and guided discovery. Pre-tests were already done for both groups of students so as to guarantee equality, and then the program was conducted by the experimental group of students over ten educational units. As a conclusion of the present paper, post-tests were managed, and all the datasets were statistically scrutinized so as to achieve dependable findings. This paper lastly came to conclude that the guided method has a significant impact to improve students’ motor acts in gymnastics and stimulate the students’ thinking. Combining the guided discovery with sequential method successfully controlled the students increasingly so as to help combine the skills and accelerate the achievement.

The atmosphere in Baghdad and most regions of Iraq during the summer is characterized by extreme heat and aridity. These climatic conditions are among the negative factors that significantly impact cognitive function and the performance of athletic skills.

Consequently, The current study was designed to investigate the impact of hot and arid conditions on dehydration levels, specific physiological indicators, and the performance of key basketball skills among first-stage students at Al-Mustansiriya University. A sample of 30 students was randomly divided into a control group and an experimental group. The control group was permitted to consume water and fluids ad libitum (as needed) before the practical lecture. In contrast, the experimental group was prohibited from consuming water and fluids before and during the physical and skill exercises of the lecture, except in critical cases.

Following the practical session, physiological indicators were measured (body temperature, pulse rate, and body weight to determine dehydration levels). Lactic acid concentration was also measured, and skill tests were administered (chest pass and free throw).

After data collection, the results were processed statistically. Several conclusions were drawn. The hot and dry environment significantly affected dehydration levels during physical and skill exercises. This impact was markedly more severe in the experimental group, which was restricted from fluid intake, though the control group was also affected to a lesser degree. These conditions also adversely affected the physiological indicators (increased pulse rate and body temperature) and led to an elevated level of lactic acid.

Based on these findings, the researcher recommends providing ample and regular access to water and fluids during practical lectures. Furthermore,

The Paralympic Games are one of the most important sporting events today, as they represent the other side of disability in the world, as “they are an embodiment of the human will and its ability to overcome challenges, and go beyond being just a sports competition to become a global platform that contributes to changing societal attitudes towards disability The purpose of the research is to conduct a historical and documentary analysis of the achievements of the national teams participating in the Paralympic fencing within the Summer Paralympic Games in the period from 1960 to 2024, the researchers used the descriptive-analytical approach to analyze the development of the participation of national teams and achievements. Historical data and medals are reviewed statistically.The researchers concluded that the sport of Paralympic fencing witnessed a clear shift in the balance of power, with European countries dominating the podiums in the early periods of the Paralympic Games, while new Asian powers (such as China and Hong Kong) were born to top the medal table in subsequent editions. 2- There is a strong relationship between countries to participate in the sequence in order to gain competitive experience and raise the technical level to reach achievement. The countries that achieved the highest medal rates were mostly the ones that participated with the largest number of players over the course of the tournaments, but the most important recommendations are: 1- Countries seeking to improve their technical skills should use comprehensive and sustainable strategies that include increasing government support, developing talent discovery programs, providing specialized training facilities, and benefiting from training models that Currently followed by the winning countries in the competitions.

The significance of this study stems from the absence of recent comparative research examining the cooperative style and the command style in volleyball instruction. The research problem was encapsulated in the following question: Are students taught through the cooperative style superior to those taught through the command style, or vice versa, in enhancing the level of volleyball instruction? The study aimed to identify statistically significant differences between the cooperative style and the command style in teaching volleyball to students and to determine the effectiveness of employing the cooperative style in teaching selected volleyball skills. The research population was deliberately selected, comprising 164 students distributed across four classes. The primary experimental sample was chosen randomly by lot and subsequently divided into two equal groups. The experimental group was represented by Class A, consisting of 41 students, who were instructed using the cooperative style. The control group was represented by Class C, consisting of 42 students, who were taught using the command style. The researchers analyzed the data using International Business Machines (IBM) Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS, Version 29) to obtain the results. As for the conclusions, the cooperative style demonstrated an effective impact on learning the performance of the overhand front serve and the main court defense skill, as evidenced by the post-test results of both the experimental and control groups.

The importance of this research lies in understanding the reality of arm kinetic velocity and how to develop it for the better by measuring it and determining its level during the training period. This is achieved by establishing criteria and levels that help coaches and players determine its true level. The research problem was: Kinetic velocity is an important physical requirement in wrestling, especially for the arms, in performing quick and varied movements that help the wrestler perform the required grip on the opponent. This enables the desired accomplishment to be achieved after being tested and measured using a scientific method consistent with the actual reality of the game. Design and standardization of a test to measure the kinetic velocity of the arms using the Bulgarian bag for ages (18–20) years and weighing between 65 and 86 kg. Finding levels and standards to evaluate the kinetic velocity of the arms using the Bulgarian bag for ages (18–20) years and weighing between 65 and 86 kg. The researcher used the descriptive approach with a survey method. The research community was freestyle wrestling players in the specialized school in Basra Governorate, aged (18–20) years and weighing between 65 and 86 kg. After designing and applying the test, the most important conclusions were reached: The test designed by the researcher is able to detect the level of kinetic velocity of the arms for ages (18–20) years and weighing between 65 and 86 kg. It was recommended:- Adopting the current test as a means to detect the level of motor speed of the arms in freestyle wrestling for ages (18–20) years and weighing between 65 and 86 kg.

This study aimed to examine the impact of a specialized plyometric training program on neuromuscular and EMG responses in elite heavyweight wrestlers. The focus was on exploring changes in muscle activation patterns, contraction velocity, and motor latencies following a tailored training protocol. A quasi-experimental design was used, with 12 elite heavyweight male wrestlers. Electromyographic data were collected from the vastus lateralis, biceps femoris, and gastrocnemius muscles. Maximum voluntary contraction (MVC) and contraction velocity were assessed using an isokinetic dynamometer. A plyometric training program was conducted three times per week for six weeks, including exercises such as depth jumps, hurdle hops, and lateral bounds. Significant improvements were observed in EMG amplitude, with the vastus lateralis showing a large effect size (Cohen’s d = 1.45). Contraction velocity also improved significantly, with mean increases of 15.4°/s (60°/s) and 25.8°/s (180°/s). Additionally, motor reaction time decreased by 23.2 ms (Cohen’s d = 1.42). These results indicate significant neuromuscular adaptations following plyometric training. The study demonstrated that a personalized plyometric training protocol significantly enhances neuromuscular performance in elite heavyweight wrestlers. These improvements in muscle activation, contraction velocity, and motor reaction time suggest the effectiveness of plyometric training in combat sports, particularly for athletes with higher body mass. Future research should explore long-term effects and applications for injury prevention in combat sports.

The study demonstrated a statistically significant positive impact of the educational package on improving cognitive achievement and organizing content in a systematic manner. Its use also led to an improvement in skill performance for basketball free throws, particularly within the experimental group. The modern method outperformed the traditional one, although both contributed to learning. Furthermore, the package contrib The study aimed to I dentify the effect of using an educational package on the academic achievement of female students at the College of Education for Pure Sciences, University of Baghdad. The researcher adopted the experimental method, as it is suitable for the nature of the study, conducted on female students of the College of Education at the University of Baghdad during the academic year 2018–2019. The total number of participants was 21, from which 5 students who took part in the pilot study were excluded. Thus, the final research sample consisted of 16 students Emphasize the dissemination of the contents of the educational package to colleges and departments of education participating in basketball tournaments, and benefit from the expertise it provides in the educational process uted to self-directed learning, enabling female students to review the exercises at any time and place, which reinforced learning and skill retention.

The research problem lies in the modern use of strategies, including the (4H) strategy and the weak performance of the skills of serving and receiving the serve in volleyball among third-year female students. The researchers have decided to conduct a study. They tried to know the role of each (4H) strategy, emotional intelligence, and social interaction in the performance of the two skills under study. The research aims to know the degree of each of (4H strategy - emotional intelligence- social interaction- serving- receiving the serve) in the research sample, as well as knowing its effect on each of (emotional intelligence - social interaction) in the performance of the skills of serving and receiving the serve in volleyball in the research sample. To achieve the research objectives, the researchers used the experimental method in the style of two groups (experimental and control) on a sample of third-year female students in the College of Physical Education and Sport Sciences for Women/ University of Baghdad, (34) students to represent the total research community. The research tools were represented by the two scales (educational units with the (4H) strategy and emotional intelligence - social interaction) and two tests (serving and receiving the serving). The main experiment with the scales and tests was conducted on the main experiment sample to obtain certain results and process them statistically. In light of the results, several conclusions were reached. The most important preassumptions lie in the values of the study which did not reach the expected level. We hoped that the 4H strategy, emotional intelligence, and social interaction could play a role in the performance of the two skills under study.

Basketball is characterized by great speed, especially physical speed and speed of skill performance, as they play an important role in achieving sporting performances. Therefore, their importance has become apparent through interest in developing them according to specialized group exercises and a competitive atmosphere that helps them to adapt to the playing atmosphere for age groups of 12–14 years and building a correct Basketball base in the future. The research problem was: Skill and physical performance speed are not at the desired level as they progress through the training stages, including for youth and advanced players. Therefore, paying attention to these skills during the early stages of basketball practice, such as those aged 12–14, will help build a more athletic gymnasium that will be capable of achieving speed in the future. Therefore, choosing appropriate exercises, such as group competitive exercises, may help solve the research problem and improve the players’ performance. The aim of the research was to identify the effect of competitive group exercises on raising the level of offensive skill speed performance in basketball for 12–14 years old as in Appendix(1). The experimental approach was used, and the research sample was a specialized basketball school in Basra Governorate. After implementing the exercises, the most important conclusions were reached: Competitive group exercises are important and essential in raising the level of offensive skill speed performance in basketball for 12–14 year olds. It was recommended to adopt competitive group exercises because they are important and essential in raising the level of offensive skill speed performance in basketball for 12–14 years old.

The integration of modern training techniques and methods—such as neuromuscular training, was identified as an advanced trends in sports science. This approach aimed to enhance the efficiency of both the nervous and muscular systems simultaneously through exercises that strengthened the connection between the brain and muscles, leading to improvements in the speed and accuracy of motor performance. This study examined the effect of neuromuscular training on the speed of motor response among tennis players, a sport that required rapid reaction and precise execution. The researcher noted a lack of Arabic studies that investigated the effect of such training on motor response speed among tennis players. Accordingly, the research problem was articulated in the following question: What is the effect of neuromuscular training on motor response speed in tennis?. The researcher employed an experimental approach using a single-group design with pre- and post-testing. The sample consisted of eight (8) players from the national youth tennis team. This experimental group was subjected to a specialized training program focused on enhancing balance, motor control, and reflexes. A series of tests were used to measure motor response speed, including the light reaction test, change-of-direction test, ball-and-racket interaction test, and a multi-target accuracy test. The results revealed statistically significant differences in favor of the experimental group in all four motor response tests, confirming the effectiveness of neuromuscular training in improving motor response speed. Based on these findings, the researcher recommended integrating this type of training into tennis player development programs to enhance technical performance and functional efficiency.

This research aimed to identify the reality of AI applications in sports clubs in Bahrain by measuring the extent to which employees in sports clubs understand the concept and importance of AI and its uses in the sports field, as well as identifying the reality of AI systems application in these clubs and the main obstacles they face in this area. The study employed a questionnaire as a research tool, which was administered to a random sample selected using a snowball method, comprising 97 administrators and coaches from first-tier sports clubs. The study revealed a high level of understanding of the concept and importance of AI and its applications in the sports field, as well as a high level of AI application implementation in the clubs despite facing obstacles, the most significant being the need for substantial investments to activate AI applications more efficiently in all sports clubs. This suggests that smaller clubs may face financial challenges that prevent them from adopting this technology, as well as the need for specialized competencies, which represents a significant barrier, especially given the rising demand in the market for technology specialists. The study recommended the necessity of establishing innovative funding strategies and developing training programs to qualify the staff of sports clubs, which can help reduce costs and strengthen local expertise. Additionally, the research recommended the establishment of a dedicated AI management department in all sports clubs.

Rondo training is one of the important training methods due to its importance in maintaining the ball on the one hand, and on the other hand, its role in developing motor coordination and its impact on the accuracy of the basic skill represented by the long pass from the shoulder level and the compound skill represented by the dribbling and chest pass. Motor abilities are also a link between physical and skill abilities and play an important role in the accuracy of performing the game’s skills, whether offensive or defensive .The objectives of the research were to prepare rondo basketball training for female students, and to know the effect of rondo training on developing motor coordination in basketball for female students, and that developing motor coordination affects the accuracy of basic and compound skills in basketball. For female students, the researchers used the experimental method using the single-group method, where the experiment was conducted on a sample randomly selected by (lottery) from the second-stage female students of the College of Physical Education and Sports Sciences for Girls / University of Baghdad, with a number of (15) students and a percentage of (17%). The exploratory experiment and pre- and post-tests were carried out in addition to the main experiment, which lasted (8) weeks, with one unit per week according to the lessons in the table. It was implemented from 1/27/2025 to 3/17/2025. The researchers concluded that there is an effect of Rondo training in developing motor coordination, as well as the emergence of its effect in all research variables and the emergence of differences between the pre- and post-tests of the variables of the research sample‘ And this achieves one of the sustainable development goals of the United Nations in Iraq which is (Quality Education).

This study investigated the impact of a differential-training regimen on mental imagery and core technical skills among under-21 footballers in Baghdad, Iraq. Using a descriptive-experimental design, thirty youth-club players completed a six-week intervention consisting of three 90-minute sessions per week featuring varied, non-repetitive, game-representative tasks (passing in congestion, dribbling under pressure, finishing from multiple angles, and positional rotations). Outcomes included standardized tests of mental imagery and fundamental skills-ball control, passing, shooting, dribbling, and receiving-supplemented by a player questionnaire evaluating program clarity, variety, motivation, engagement, task difficulty, and perceived improvement. Paired-samples t-tests showed statistically significant pre- to post-intervention gains in mental imagery (imagery quality, anticipation, decision-making speed, cognitive flexibility) and in all fundamental skills, evidencing the efficacy of differential training for both cognitive and technical development. Questionnaire responses corroborated these findings, with high mean ratings across domains, indicating the program's appropriateness and strong acceptability to participants. We conclude that differential training meaningfully enhances cognitive readiness and technical execution in U-20 football, and offers a practical, competition-relevant method for accelerating decision-making and adaptability across varied match contexts. Accordingly, we recommend integrating differential training into routine curricula to strengthen fundamental skills and mental imagery.

This research provides coaches with a standardized, scientifically validated test to assess visual depth in youth tennis players under 19. The test aims to facilitate continuous evaluation of players’ performance during both training and official competitions. The research addresses the lack of standardized tests that accurately assess visual depth in youth tennis players under 19, particularly under conditions simulating actual competition. The absence of such essential assessment tools for this age group constitutes a significant research gap. Therefore, the researchers undertook the task of designing and standardizing the test. The objectives of the research included designing and standardizing a test to measure the level of visual depth in youth tennis players under 19 years old, in addition to developing standards and levels to evaluate and measure visual depth in this age category. The researchers used the descriptive method in the form of a survey, as it suits the nature of the problem. The research sample consisted of 67 youth tennis players under 19 years old from the central and southern provinces. Two players were excluded due to non-compliance, bringing the total research sample to 65 players. Five players were allocated for the pilot study, while the Development sample included 60 players. After designing the test and applying it to the Development sample, the researchers concluded that the test is capable of detecting the level of visual depth in youth tennis players under 19 years old. Standards and levels specific to this test were established with the goal of advancing the game of tennis among youth players under 19.

The study aimed to prepare special exercises to develop speed-strength and straight punches for the research sample members. The research problem emerged as the researcher, being a boxing coach, observed a weakness in some physical abilities, including speed-strength, and inconsistency in the skill performance level (straight punches). Accordingly, the researcher prepared special exercises aimed at developing some physical abilities., including speed-strength and the performance of straight punches for juniors, and to contribute to improving and developing the players’ level, finding positive solutions, and understanding their impact on performance. The researcher used the experimental method. The sample consisted of junior boxers aged (14–16 years), totalling (14 players). The sample was divided into two equal groups: control and experimental. The researcher hypothesized statistically significant differences between the pre-test and post-test in straight punches for the juniors and for both For both the first and second groups to which the training program was applied and in favor of the second group. The researcher concluded that variety in performance plays a positive role in developing speed-strength and the performance of straight punches (right and left). The researcher recommended paying attention to preparing diverse training programmes based on scientific foundations targeting physical and motor abilities, and introducing modern means and devices in educational units to help achieve the best performance.