Malaysian Journal of Sport Science and Recreation
MJSSR is indexed in MyCite. The Malaysian Journal of Sport Science and Recreation (MJSSR) (ISSN: 1823-3198) is an open-access international refereed journal. MJSSR will be accepting research papers in sport science, sport management, physical education, and fitness in various fields of research that include (but not limited to) adapted physical education, health and wellness, extension education and sports, exercise participation across the lifespan, biomechanical and physiological aspects of sports and recreation. PUBLICATION IS FREE OF CHARGE. MJSSR is indexed in MyCite. MJSSR is also available at Google Scholar. CLICK HERE TO SUBMIT MANUSCRIPT
PRELIMINARY STUDY OF PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AND PHYSICAL ACTIVITY BEHAVIOUR AMONG UNDERGRADUATES OF A PRIVATE UNIVERSITY
This study investigated the physical activity pattern and level among undergraduates. A total of 100 students (Male=29, Female=71) from a private university were conveniently chosen for this survey. Type of physical activity was measured by dichotomous items. Physical activity level (PAL) was measured using Physical Activity Index (Griffin, 2006). Results showed that most popular physical activity was exercise activities with females dominating in exercise activities, individual sport, team sport, outdoor leisure, and outdoor challenges as compared to males. In terms of PAL, majority of the participants was in the need improvement level (55%), with only 9% in the good and excellent level. Most participants have friends as their exercise partners, about 30% exercised with family members while about 46% preferred to exercise alone. Even though undergraduates of this study involved in a variety of physical activity, their physical activity level has left much to be desired.
ASSESSING THE IMPACT OF OUTDOOR RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES ON DEVELOPMENT OF MENTAL RESILIENCE AMONG UNIVERSITY STUDENTS: AN EMPIRICAL CASE STUDY AT UITM PUNCAK ALAM, MALAYSIA
Resilience is majorly determinant in well-being, especially in dealing with academic and personal pressures among students. This paper was an attempt to evaluate the influence of outdoor recreative activities on the acquisition of mental resilience of university students in Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) Puncak Alam, Malaysia. The quantitative cross-sectional design was embraced, and 377 students took part in the study. The Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC-10) was used as well as the Outdoor Recreation Self-Efficacy (ORSE) Scale which were all seen to be validated. Descriptive analysis revealed that the dominant activities that the students were involved with were hiking (52.5), kayaking (37.4) and abseiling (28.9). Pearson quantitative correlation was used to show that there is a moderate, positive association between the participation in outdoor recreation and mental resilience, with the variable r = .46, and p < .001. The Multiple regression analysis revealed that participation in outdoor recreation was a significant predictor of mental resilience, 5 =.42, p <.001 and it explained 21.3 of variance in resilience scores. These results insinuate that time spent outdoors is important to the psychological strength and the stress coping abilities of students. The research advises universities to incorporate outdoor recreation in their student development course to engage in a strategic intention that would help students improve on their mental health and resilience. Future Longitudinal research is also recommended to test the long-term outcomes of such interventions.
PARENTS’ PERCEPTION OF WATER SAFETY AND DROWNING RISK FOR THEIR CHILDREN IN SELANGOR
Drowning is a major public health concern, particularly among children. This study investigated parents' perceptions of water safety and the drowning risks their children face in Selangor. A total of 70 parents at the UiTM swimming pool were selected for this study. Descriptive statistics and Pearson correlation analysis were used to analyze parents' perceptions and their relationships with drowning risk. The study examined parent’s perceptions of water safety, drowning risk and the relationship between these factors. The results showed that parents at UiTM swimming pool highly rated swimming skills and early swimming education as protective measures against drowning. For water safety perception, swimming ability had the highest mean score (M=3.98, SD=.534), while the role of supervision had the lowest score (M=3.66, SD=.624). Regarding drowning risk perception, the benefits of swimming received the highest mean score (M=4.64, SD = .430), with perceived barriers scoring the lowest (M=4.00, SD = .443). However, there were mixed responses regarding constant supervision. Moreover, a moderate positive correlation (r = .512, p < .001) was found between parents’ perceptions of water safety and drowning risk. These findings underscore the need for comprehensive water safety education programs addressing skill development and risk awareness.
EFFECT OF FATIGUE ON KINEMATICS AND LANDING STRATEGIES OF THE ANKLE DURING OPEN SIDE CUTTING IN 120-MIN SIMULATED SOCCER MATCH-PLAY
The ankle’s capacity to absorb ground reaction forces during dynamic movements is critical for ACL injury prevention, yet the biomechanical changes in ankle kinematics and foot strike patterns induced by soccer-specific fatigue during high-risk maneuvers like side-cutting remain poorly understood, hindering the development of holistic injury risk assessment and mitigation strategies. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of fatigue on sagittal plane ankle angles during initial contact of side cutting tasks and observe the landing strategies recruited during such tasks in a simulated soccer match-play. Eighteen (n = 18) male, recreational participants (age: 23.1 ± 4.7, height: 1.7 ± 0.1 m; body mass: 70.6 ± 10.0 kg) volunteered for the study. Participants completed 120 minutes of simulated soccer match-play with a 15-minute passive half-time rest period interceding at the 45-minute mark and another 5-minute rest period at the end of 90 minutes of simulated soccer match-play and performed 5 successful trials of side cutting for both dominant and non-dominant limbs at all time points (time: 0 min, 45 min, 60 min, 105 min, 110 min, 125 min, 140 min) during the simulation. A 2 (limb: dominant, non-dominant) × 7 (time: 0 min, 45 min, 60 min, 105 min, 110 min, 125 min, 140 min) mixed within-between analysis of variance was conducted for each dependent variable while the occurrence for different landing strategies was also recorded. There was a significant main effect of time on the ankle angles (F3.493, 104.803 =3.521, p = 0.013, partial η2 = 0.105). However, no significant interaction effect was observed (F3.349, 104.803 = 0.419, p = 0.769, partial η2 = 0.014), suggesting that limb dominance does not play a role in the changes occurring in the ankle angles over time. The probabilities for rearfoot landings appear to increase over time to over 0.75, whereas forefoot landing probabilities appear to drop to below 0.20. This pattern could introduce multiplanar challenges to the anterior cruciate ligament, aligning the structure awkwardly and increasing the forces acting on the ligament. Researchers and practitioners may consider exploring the efficacy of targeted interventions to offset the effects of fatigue on landing strategies and kinematics among soccer players.
A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF LEADERSHIP COMPENTENCY GAINS THROUGH OUTDOOR RECREATION BETWEEN UNIVERSITY STUDENTS
Outdoor recreation is necessary to help students in universities become mature while inculcating leadership skills. This research analyzes the impacts of engaging in hiking, kayaking and orienteering on leadership skills developed by 175 members of the TRAINER Club in UiTM Puncak Alam using Kolb’s Experiential Learning Theory for analysis. The research used a quantitative approach and the use of structured questionnaires to assess the leadership dimensions such as persistence, friendliness and dependability as well as demographic details. The obtained results indicated that mean scores for friendliness (M=3.99), persistence (M=3.93), and dependability (M=3.90) were surprisingly high. Where outdoor recreational activity practices were present, statistically meaningful relationships with significant leadership domain areas were seen such as creating a shared vision (r=0.603, p<0.001) and allowing others to act (r=0.518, p=0.004). The data affirms the idea that experiential outdoor recreational activities is of primary importance in acquiring important soft skills. Integration of the reflection and the mentorship practices considerably enhances growth in leadership. Theoretical engagement extends to practical ‘applications’ for educators, club leaders, and administrators where a formalized outdoor recreational activities component is recommended for Malaysia’s leadership programs in its universities. The research lays out key parameters for future longitudinal studies on this subject.
THE INFLUENCE OF EVENT ATTRIBUTES ON SPORT TOURISM DESTINATIONS IN PENINSULAR MALAYSIA: A PRELIMINARY STUDY
Sport tourism is widely recognised as an effective, low-cost method for marketing locations and cultures. Malaysia increased its position in this area in 2023 by hosting major sporting events, boosting its reputation as a sports tourist and holiday destination. However, research frequently fails to focus on the diverse and context-specific nature of event attributes, particularly in non-Western settings. This study fills that vacuum by investigating how event features influence tourist perceptions, visit intentions, and return likelihood in Peninsular Malaysia. To further understand these patterns, a literature review was conducted and observed from the perspective of Tourism Destination Competitiveness (TDC) Theory.
THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN MINDFUL EATING AND BODY MASS INDEX AMONG UNIVERSITY STUDENTS
Mindfulness can promote healthier lifestyles and dietary habits, which may support weight loss. This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between mindful eating and body mass index among university students. A total of 437 participants’ height and weight were obtained, and the Mindful Eating Questionnaire (MEQ) was administered via a self-reported online form. Findings showed that 25.9% of the participants were overweight, and 15.6% were obese. A significant positive relationship was discovered between the total mean MEQ and BMI among university students (r = .105, n = 437, p = < .05). Moreover, split correlation showed that the relationship was significant among males (r = .209, p = < .01) but not among females (p > .05). The total mean MEQ score was significantly greater among males, including for the factors of disinhibition and awareness (p < .05), while females exhibited significantly higher emotional responses than males (p < .05). These findings showed that eating awareness increased with BMI and was more prevalent in men. Overall, a better awareness of eating behavior should be encouraged among university students, particularly those who are overweight. Keywords: Body Mass Index, Gender, Mindful Eating, Overweight, Obese.
EXAMINING SOCIAL SUPPORT AND PSYCHOLOGICAL WELL-BEING DIFFERENCES AMONG YOUTH ACROSS VARIOUS SPORTS
Social support and psychological well-being interrelated where various forms of assistance and care within the social network will encompass positive emotions, self-acceptance, and personal growth in youth sports. However, further research is needed to determine how social support and psychological well-being differ across different sports to tailor support effectively and maximize the mental health benefits for young athletes. The cross-sectional research design and an anonymous online survey to collect data from 298 SUKMA athletes in Negeri Sembilan was performed. The questionnaires used to measure social support was The Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS) and psychological well-being was Psychological Well-being Scale. It involved Autonomy, Environmental Mastery, Personal Growth, Positive Relations with Others, Purpose in Life, and Self-Acceptance subscales. The independent t-test was computed to examine the differences between social support and psychological well-being between types of participation in sports. There was a significant disparity in social support between different types of sports among athletes [t(296)=2.82, p=0.005]. The difference in the level of Significance Others between individual (mean=5.45, SD=1.38) and team sports (mean=4.97, SD1.79) was significant, t(296)=2.66, p=0.008. The family support significant difference between individual sports (mean=5.57, SD=1.31) and team sports (mean=5.05, SD=1.71), t(296)=2.99, p=0.003. The individual athletes (mean=5.31, SD=1.39) reported a substantially higher level of agreeableness compared to team sports (mean=4.92, SD=1.72) in terms of friend support, t(296)=2.12, p=0.035. There was no significant difference in environmental mastery between individuals (mean=14.40, SD=2.76) and team sports (mean=14.05, SD=2.18), t(296)=1.17, p=0.243. While other parameters of psychological well-being indicated the statistical significance of the results among various types of sports. Team sports, on the other hand, encourage people to work together and help each other, but they may limit people's chances to achieve personal goals and grow as individuals by putting more emphasis on group goals and social interaction.
COMPARISON OF STATIC AND DYNAMIC BALANCE BETWEEN NETBALL AND VOLLEYBALL IN FEMALE ATHLETES OF UNIKL RCMP
Background: Balance is crucial for how a person moves, involving the interaction of the body systems to keep us stable. It is not just the ability to stand upright then extends to holding stationary positions as well as dynamic activities like walking, running, and other forms of locomotion, balance is about capably controlling the body's center of mass about its base of support. The body continually alters muscles and joints in an upright position to maintain its balance and avoid falling due to gravity. To maintain our upright posture and prevent accidents the nervous system controls small changes in our muscles and joints. Balance becomes essential when moving around a lot, such as when playing sports or on uneven surfaces to keep the body stable and prevent any injuries. Objective: Thus, this study aims to compare the balance abilities of female athletes in two sports, netball and volleyball, at UniKL RCMP. Methods: This study was a cross-sectional type of study design involving 62 participants that was done in Physiotherapy Gymnasium and Electro Laboratory of UniKL RCMP in August 2024 using purposive sampling techniques. Flamingo Balance Test (FBT) was used to evaluate static balance and Y-Balance Test (YBT) was used to evaluate dynamic balance. Mann-Whitney was used to determine the significant difference of static balance while Independent-t test was used to determine the significant difference of dynamic balance between female netball and volleyball team. The data was analyzed using SPSS version 26. Results: The results revealed that there is no significant difference of static and dynamic balance between female netball and volleyball team of UniKL RCMP (p>0.05). Conclusion: These findings suggest that despite the unique demands of each sport, the balance abilities of netball and volleyball players are comparable, likely due to shared movement requirements such as agility, rapid directional changes, and frequent jumping that are essential in both sports. The similarity in balance performance may also be attributed to the homogeneity of participant characteristics, including age, training backgrounds, and physical attributes. This uniformity in athletic conditioning could contribute to baseline similarities in balance, diminishing measurable differences Keywords: Static Balance, Dynamic Balance, Flamingo Balance Test, Y-Balance Test, Netball, Volleyball
RELATIVE AGE EFFECT AMONG MALES FOOTBALL PLAYERS IN FIFA WORLD CUP 2022
The relative age effect (RAE) in sports competition refers to the continuous imbalance in birth date distribution within an age cohort, which tends to put individuals born earlier in the year at advantage of being selected into sports. The rationale for this study is that most previous research has focused on youth team sports rather than senior team sports, particularly football, and considering that RAE does have a few conflicting results in football, thus the purpose of this study is to examine the presence of RAE among male football players participating in the FIFA World Cup 2022. The secondary data on the football players, including their nationality, name, age, birthdate, and the teams they played for at the FIFA World Cup 2022, was gathered from the official FIFA website. Thus, the players' birthdates would be divided into four quartiles (Q). The present study included a sample of (N=828) male football players of FIFA World Cup 2022, all of whom had professional experience and ranged within the age range of 18 to 40 years. Most of the previous research indicated that RAE was significant in sport performance. Nevertheless, in this finding, there was no significant RAE was found on overall RAE distribution (p = 0.854), between champion and lowest ranked team (p = 0.092), and qualification to the knockout stage (p = 0.726). However, there is overrepresentation of RAE was found on overall distribution football player where post-hoc evaluation proved that Q1 had the highest value (n = 266, SR = 4.10). Followed by the overrepresentation in Q2 on the champion team (Argentina). Meanwhile, there is overrepresentation of RAE in Q1 on disqualified team. In a nutshell, this analysis demonstrates the overrepresentation of RAE in elite international football tournament, highlighting the role of RAE in selection of players that maybe down to the factors of better physique and physiology than the late born.
IMPACT OF SLACKLINE TRAINING & FIFA 11+ EXERCISE PROGRAM IN PREVENTING LOWER LIMB SOFT TISSUE INJURIES AMONG SEMI-PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALL PLAYERS: A COMPARATIVE STUDY
Elite semi-professional football showed a high incidence of soft tissue injury. The positive impact of slackline training on static and dynamic balance could indicate the usefulness of slackline training in injury prevention. The study aimed to compare the impact of slackline training and the FIFA 11+ exercise program on the Y-balance test to prevent soft tissue injuries in the lower limb among semi-professional football players. 30 subjects were recruited and randomly divided into 2 groups [Group A & Group B]. The Y-balance test score was assessed for all participants. Group A followed a supervised slackline training program, and Group B was involved in the FIFA 11+ exercise program. For both groups, the frequency of training was 3 days per week for eight weeks. On statistical analysis, the post-test values showed that the p-value of YBT AT, YBT PL, YBT PM scores between the 2 groups are < 0.05, < 0.01, and < 0.001 respectively. Though both groups showed improvement in Y-balance test scores, Group A showed significant improvement over Group B subjects. In conclusion, slackline training is a better method to improve dynamic balance and thereby prevent injuries than the FIFA 11+ exercise program.
COMPARATIVE STUDY OF THE IMPACT OF PLAYING SURFACE ON THE PLAYING STYLE OF THE TOP-FIVE RANKED TENNIS PLAYERS IN THE WORLD
Mastering diverse tennis court surfaces demands distinct skills and strategies, enhancing adaptability for players to excel. Adapting to these differences not only shapes a well-rounded player but also offers a competitive edge by aligning tactics with conditions, opponents, and situations. Through purposive sampling, the study selected the top five global tennis players based on their 2022 ATP Tour Rankings. Analyzing match videos using NacSport Basic+ across clay (N=14), grass (N=14), and hard courts (N=10), the study scrutinized shot selection. Indicators included total serves, aces, success rates in serves, forehand, backhand, and volley shots, unforced errors for each type, and double faults. On hard courts, players achieved a mean of 75.50 ± 15.967 successful serves from 123.10 ± 28.192 attempts. Forehand shots averaged 20.40 ± 9.252 winners and 15.00 ± 6.018 unforced errors. Volleys saw 5.80 ± 1.989 winners and only 1.40 ± 1.075 unforced errors, while backhand shots had more unforced errors (17.30 ± 7.134) than winners (10.30 ± 4.572). Transitioning to grass, the total serves won averaged 74.86 ± 18.068 out of 122.10 ± 30.105 attempts. Forehand shots-maintained prominence with 20.93 ± 7.290 winners and 20.07 ± 7.405 unforced errors. Volleys averaged 6.64 ± 3.608 for winners and 2.86 ± 1.099 unforced errors, with backhand shots showing more unforced errors (19.79 ± 5.508) than winners (12.00 ± 5.189). On clay, players achieved 71.93 ± 18.568 successful serves from 144.27 ± 43.645 attempts. Forehand shots averaged 20.40 ± 6.874 winners and 18.13 ± 7.745 unforced errors. Volleys saw 6.00 ± 2.449 winners and 2.07 ± 1.163 unforced errors, with backhand shots exhibiting more unforced errors (17.27 ± 5.898) than winners (10.53 ± 4.291). In essence, top players strategically adapt their style to each court’s demands, leveraging strengths to excel. This adaptability underscores their exceptional skill and versatility, solidifying their positions as elite tennis players across diverse conditions.
MANAGEMENT STRATEGY OF LARGE CLASS OF PE IN PRIMARY SCHOOL
Classroom management of Large Physical Education (PE) classes is a problem that front-line teachers are particularly concerned about. The purpose is to improve the teaching quality. This study cited 24 relevant literature. I spent 4 years teaching in 2 of the 8 schools I visited on field trips. Ten experts were sequentially interviewed to learn more about how physical education is emerging in large classes. The research results show: 1) The teacher's lax management in the classroom results in poor learning effects and weak teacher authority. 2) Teachers' weak emotional management abilities can't easily lead to students to mobilise their enthusiasm for learning. 3) Long-term marginalisation can easily cause teachers to slack off and no longer pursue personal progress. In order to better manage students on the frontline teachers, the following countermeasures are proposed: First, the card system, team leader system, and reflection system are used in classroom management. Teachers can control the quality and safety well, solve the problem of large class teaching. Second, the cultivation of students' safety awareness not only emphasises theory but also practice, allowing students to participate in management. Third, create a positive classroom environment and serve all students in the classroom. Fourth, help students understand individual differences, formulate personal training plans, and promote healthy physical and mental development.
THE ASSOCIATION BETWEEN CHILDREN EATING BEHAVIOUR AND PHYSICAL ACTIVITY DURING COVID-19
The pandemic of Coronavirus (COVID-19) has resulted in the imposition of home confinement and the indefinite extension of school closures. Several countries, including Malaysia, have enacted ‘lockdowns,' which prohibit people from engaging in outside activities. During this period, it leads to severe repercussions on individuals’ eating and lifestyle behaviour. These behaviours increased the risk susceptibility to weight gain, particularly if the quantity of daily physical activity was reduced as a result of the lockdowns period. There is a need to draw attention to the pandemic's long-term impact on children's eating behaviour and physical activity. Clearly, social isolation and stay-at-home orders issued in cities around the world restrict opportunities for children to engage in physical activity. In addition, COVID-19 may aggravate the risk of a shift towards an obesity epidemic among children. It is critical to tackle children’s eating and lifestyle behaviours during COVID-19 pandemic as these are intrinsically linked to the children's cognitive development, academic performance, and disease susceptibility. The purpose of the activity was to examine the association between the scores of the Children's Eating Behaviour Questionnaire (CEBQ), Physical Activity Questionnaire (PAQ-C) and Body Mass Index (BMI) among selected school children in Pahang during COVID-19. A total of 100 schoolchildren (37 males and 63 females) parents with children aged between 9-12 years completed an online survey which included a set of questionnaires to measure their own level of physical activity (PAQ-C) as well as that of their children’s eating style (CEBQ) during the lockdown period. During COVID-19, schoolchildren are not engaged in physical activity, it showed that only 32 children active compared to 68 children were inactive on doing physical activity per week. Predominantly, children underweight was 39, Normal BMI was 38 children, overweight was 21 children and obesity children was 2, from this descriptive data it showed that enjoyment of food and food responsiveness are related in this study. The Pearson Analysis indicated that there were significantly associated with BMI and CEBQ (P = 0·006 to < 0·001). The physical activity scales revealed positively related to BMI (P = 0·048 to < 0·001). In conclusion, the current findings underlined the growing need for strategies in preserving children’s health and development.
THE EFFECTS OF RESISTANCE TRAINING ON FASTING BLOOD GLUCOSE AND POWER STRENGTH ON OVERWEIGHT MEN
Resistance training has numerous advantages, including increased in muscle strength, endurance, and overall health. The goal of this study was to determine and compare the effect of 6 weeks of voluntary to failure resistance training on fasting blood glucose and power strength in overweight men who took part in one session per week (1TPW) or three sessions per week (3TPW) sessions per week. Fourteen overweight men age: 29±9 years; weight: 80.7±5.9 kg; height: 169.8±5.6 cm; BMI: 27.9±1.2 kg/m2 were selected for this study. Each training session comprising nine exercises performed at 80 percent of one repetition maximum (1RM) to volitional failure. Fasting blood glucose and power strength were measured every week, beginning with the baseline. Paired sample t-test was used to compare the baseline and post-intervention outcome. The result showed a significant difference (p<0.05) in fasting blood glucose and power strength for both groups. However, the 3TPW group had a greater improvement in terms of percentage in reducing fasting blood glucose and increasing power strength on overweight men. Group 1TPW fasting blood glucose decreased by 18% while group 3TPW decreased by 55.4%. Meanwhile, group 1TPW power strength increased by 14.2% compared to group 3TPW increased by 41%. There were significant differences between 1TPW and 3TPW resistance training on fasting blood glucose and power strength. In conclusion, training 1 time per week or 3 times per week are beneficial in reducing fasting blood glucose and increasing power strength. However, training three sessions per week resulted in greater increases in muscle strength and blood glucose compared to one session per week.
QUIET EYE DURATION AND PERFORMANCE OUTCOME IN PETANQUE
Petanque is a competitive skill sport that is popular in Malaysia. Athletes often must perform in a high-pressure situation during a game. The purpose of the research is to understand the influence of the quiet eye duration on the performance outcome across different difficulties amongst the athletes. Ergoneer Dikablis (v3.55) eye-tracking system was used to collect the quiet eye duration of 8 Malaysian petanque athletes in a field setting at the National Sports Council (MSN), Keramat. The athletes were required to shoot the single ball (SB) and double ball (DB) (right ball only) across five different distances from the starting point alternately. The arrangement of a double ball is more difficult compared to a single ball. Three trials were permitted for each distance. Successful trials were recorded when the targeted ball was displaced from its original position in SB (whole ball) and in DB (ball on the right). A previous study found that athletes with higher levels of expertise and successful performance had longer QE duration. The performance outcome and the quiet eye duration were analysed for normality. The Mann-Whitney U-test and Kruskal-Wallis tests were conducted using SPSS statistical software. From the statistical findings, it was found that irrespective of distance, there is a difference in the quiet eye between a single ball and a double ball. As p=0.846, which is greater than p=0.05, there is no significant difference between distance and quiet eye for a single ball. As p=0.865, which is greater than 0.05, there is no significant difference between the distance and quiet eye for the double ball. In conclusion, the duration of the quiet eye is influenced by the difficulty level of the ball arrangement. The performance outcome was not found to be influenced by the quiet eye.
SELF-TALK ON SPORT PERFORMANCE AND SELECTED PSYCHOLOGICAL VARIABLES: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW
Self-talk is a psychological skill training that improves motor performance and sports skills among athletes. Previous research has indicated differences between motivational self-talk and instructional self-talk in sports performance. However, there is a lack of attention paid to the effectiveness of self-talk toward psychological barriers. Therefore, the primary aim of this study was to examine past studies on the effect of self-talk on sports performance and to select psychological variables among athletes. Through a systematic review, we analysed the scientific production concerning the sports psychology of self-talk toward athletes. The process review was conducted by the PRISMA protocol and a search performed by using online data sources (Scopus, Web of Science, and Semantic Scholar), as well as, conference proceedings of possibly related papers. The search was limited to articles published within ten years and written in English. A total of 38 studies were analysed. Referring to a total of 38 studies (nine articles focused on the self-talk questionnaire, six articles on motivational self-talk, six articles on instructional studies, and 17 articles focused on both motivational self-talk). Based on this, only 9 studies satisfied the eligibility criteria related to sports performance and psychological effects. As a result, a sample of 9 studies was subjected to systematic quality analysis. The analysis results showed that negative self-talk decreases athletes’ performance. In addition, there is inconsistent evidence on the effect of motivational and instructional self-talk based on specific sports. Based on this review, instructional self-talk is beneficial for fine skills (free-throw basketball and penalty shoot-out), and motivational self-talk is effective for gross skill (running). Thus, it can be concluded that both motivational and instructional self-talk play an important role in enhancing motor performance.
‘MUSIC TO MOVE’ – EFFECTS OF LISTENING TO PREFERENTIAL MUSIC ON AEROBIC ENDURANCE PERFORMANCE AND RATE PERCEIVED OF EXERTION RESPONSES
Music has been shown to reduce the rating of perceived exertion (RPE), increase motivation and enhance exercise performance. However, the effects of exercise performance and RPE with recommended tempo songs are less conclusive. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of listening to preferred music on aerobic endurance performance and rate perceived of exertion responses. Thirty physically active males (mean ± SD: 18.27 ± 0.45 years, body mass 21.45 ± 1.40 kg·m-2) were recruited for this study. In the experimental study design, participants completed two trials separated by a minimum of 72 hours. In music condition, participants listened to their own preferred music (selection song tempo range was between 121 - 131 bpm). Participants were required to complete a 2.4 km maximal effort run with RPE measured throughout the test. Time to complete 2.4 km aerobic endurance performance and RPE score were significantly lower (PRE: in music condition (11.30 min ± 1.67; 4.83 ± 1.15) compared with in no music condition (11.58 min ± 1.59; 5.43 ± 0.73). In conclusion, the findings of this study indicated that listening to music preference has a significant effect on running performance during 2.4 km aerobic endurance performance. The results from this study could hold important implications for the application of music and enduring aerobic endurance exercise.
THE EFFECT OF SLEEP QUALITY ON COGNITIVE FUNCTION AMONG IPOH YOUNG ADULTS
A good sleep quality enhances both physiological and psychological functions. Despite the importance of sleep quality, it is one of the common issues faced by the young population due to modern lifestyle. The main purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of sleep quality on cognitive function (working memory and executive function) among Ipoh young adults. A total of thirty-two (n=32) healthy male Ipoh young adults aged (21.0 ± 1.0) years old participated in this study. The sleep quality was measured using Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PQSI). Meanwhile, for cognitive function the N-Back task was used to measure working memory and the Wisconsin Sorting Card Test (WSCT) was used to measure executive function. The results of this study showed a significant effect of sleep quality on working memory (0-Back p = 0.011, 1-Back p = 0.001, 2 Back p = 0.008) and executive function (Category Achievement p = 0.001, Total Errors p = 0.010). These findings demonstrated sufficient evidence that sleep quality affects cognitive function (p < .05). Hence, sleep quality is associated with better cognitive function in young adults.
COMPARISON BETWEEN SPORTS DRINK AND COCONUT WATER ON CARDIOVASCULAR ENDURANCE PERFORMANCE AMONG FOOTBALL PLAYERS
A sports drink is a drink containing electrolytes and glucose, meanwhile coconut drink is known as a natural source of sports drink. Both drinks have the benefit of restoring energy and electrolyte, especially when ingested during strenuous physical activity that requires maximum endurance performance. The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of sports drinks and coconut drinks in enhancing cardiovascular endurance performance among UiTM football players. A total of 24 male participants representing Universiti Teknologi MARA Football Club (UiTM FC) were recruited. Participants were randomly assigned into three groups that are isotonic drink group (IDG) (n=8), the coconut drink group (CDG) (n=8), and the control group (n=8). Cardiovascular endurance performance was determined based on bleep test results at the pre-test and post-test. The intervention was conducted by giving a different type of drink according to the assigned group. IDG received 100 plus isotonic drink, CDG received a Vita Coco drink and CG were only given plain water. After the end of the pre-test session, the participants were given 2-hour to rest, and drinks were given according to their group. After 2-hour of rest, the participants continue with the post-test. The level of VO2 max was measured by an equation based on the bleep test results. The result shows there was a significant increment in pre-post-test VO2 max level within all groups, showing improvement in the mean level of VO2 max at post-test. The mean of pre-post-test VO2 max for the three respective groups was IDG 47.53 ± 6.32 to 49.46 ± 5.88 ml/kg/min, CDG 47.01 ± 3.45 to 48.81 ± 3.29 ml/kg/min and CG 47.06 ± 3.11 to 47.91 ± 3.43 ml/kg/min. However, there was no significant difference (p=0.276) between groups and pre-post-test VO2 max level. Looking at between groups effect, there was no significant effect (p=0.900) between these three groups and their VO2 max level. In conclusion, there was a significant positive change in the participant's pre post-test VO2 max level for all three groups across two different periods at the pre-test and post-test. This suggests ingesting drinks between exercises substantially improved football players' cardiovascular endurance performance. However, there was no significant difference in the participants' cardiovascular endurance performance between the three groups. This indicates the type of drink does not influence the cardiovascular endurance performance among these football players.
MAPPING OF SDGS IN THE ENGINEERING AND COMPUTER SCIENCE CURRICULUM AT UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MARA
Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) are central players in the achievement of the SDGs. As many HEIs strive to embrace sustainability as one of the university's core values and increase the visibility of the institutions globally, there is a need to explore the embedded curriculum framework of SDGs into programs and courses offered at Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM). This study is to determine the percentage of SDGs elements that have been incorporated into the university curriculum. The methodology used includes data collection using the university online syllabus system for the science and engineering and technology fields, namely all the engineering fields, Civil, Mechanical, Electrical, and Chemical Engineering, and Computer Sciences, and analyzing the results for in-depth interpretation and dimension analysis. A total of 520 courses were analyzed. The results showed that three SDGs were not addressed by the curriculum. The highest percentage of courses were mapped to SDG9 (25%) followed by SDG4 (15%), SDG 11 and SDG12 at 12%. The SDGs elements were found to be highly incorporated in mechanical engineering compared to other disciplines. The finding helps the understanding of the baseline status of sustainability in the university curriculum and opportunities to improve. It is suggested that another review needs to be executed to include the three SDGs which were addressed in the current curriculum. When all SDGs are addressed, the outcomes of the curriculum will be global graduates who are knowledgeable and responsible in ensuring a harmonized and peaceful future.
THE IMPACT OF THE MOVEMENT CONTROL ORDER PHASES ON THE QUALITY OF LIFE AMONG MALAYSIAN UNIVERSITY STUDENTS
This study measured the impact of the different phases during movement control order on the quality of life among local Malaysian university students aged >18 years old. An online survey was distributed through a social media platform during the movement control order (MCO; 20 April to 12 May 2020) and conditional movement control order (CMCO; 12 to 20 May 2020). The same participants completed the SF-36 quality of life questionnaire that assessed the overall physical health, mental health, and eight domains which are physical functioning (PF), physical role functioning (RF), bodily pain (BP), general health perceptions (GH), vitality (V), social role functioning (SF), emotional role functioning (EF), and mental health (MH) in both phases. A total of 523 participants (Male = 222, female = 301) completed the survey. A Wilcoxon signed-rank test showed that there was a significant difference in participants’ quality of life between the MCO and CMCO phases. It was revealed in comparison to the CMCO phase, the participants reported lower in both health-related and mental quality of life for PF (Z = -13.79, p <.001), RF (Z = -13.59, p <.001), BP (Z = -11.64, p <.001), GH (Z = -12.97, p <.001), V (Z = -13.15, p <.001), SF (Z = -15.19, p <.001), EF (Z = -13.71, p <.001), and MH (Z = -8.47, p <.001). In overall university students' quality of life, a better score was shown in physical health quality of life (Z = -13.98, p <.001) and mental health quality of life (Z = -13.21, p <.001) during CMCO compared to MCO phase. Variance experiences through the COVID-19 pandemic faced by university students during both phases of movement control order and conditional movement control order were noted to have an impact on their quality of life.
TRENDS IN TECHNOLOGY-ENHANCED ONLINE LEARNING FOR LOW ACHIEVERS IN INTRODUCTORY PROGRAMMING: A SYSTEMATIC LITERATURE REVIEW
Technology-enhanced online learning (tel) has been widely utilized in facilitating teaching and learning in higher academic institutions. although exhaustive studies have been done in investigating the usage and effectiveness of tel in programming education, there is still insufficiency of studies being done in utilization of tel in introductory programming specifically for low achievers who often faced with learning difficulties such as lack of motivation and interests, lack of problem-solving skills and logical thinking and the technical issues in the technologies used. therefore, this study investigates the trends of tel in introductory programming in terms of its pedagogical approach in addressing the difficulties faced by the low achievers and the online technologies needed to facilitate their learning through a systematic literature review study between the year 2017 till 2021. by adopting kitchenham’s methodology, a total of 20 papers have been selected from various journals and databases and we found that the trends of tel for low achievers in introductory programming comprised of six main online educational technologies, which are the web-based learning, mobile learning, multimedia learning, gamification, block-based programming and virtual reality or robot simulations. the findings from this review can be used for future research in utilizing tel in the field of programming education, especially for low achievers.
THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SELF CONFIDENCE AND PSYCHOLOGICAL PERFORMANCE ON TRACK AND FIELD STUDENT-ATHLETES
Psychological performance is a crucial ingredient for athletes’ success in sport. In many research reviews, researchers have found that low level of self-confidence can have deteriorating effect on athletes’ performance. However, to date there has been very limited research to examine self confidence level and psychological performance according to the levels of skills, especially on track and field athletes. The main aim of the study was to compare and correlate the self-confidence and psychological performance level among track and field athletes who represent national, state, district and university level during Sport between Universities event. Data was collected from 77 student-athletes, using Self Confidence and Psychological Performance Inventory (PPI). The results showed that national level athletes obtained the highest score on self-confidence, F (3, 77) = 15.212, and psychological sport performance F (3, 77) = 13.442. Positive correlation (r=0.007) existed between self-confidence and psychological performance. Based on the current results, it is recommended that sport psychologists, sport counsellors and coaches in Malaysia use the findings to design appropriate training programs to help athletes acquire higher level of self-confidence to enhance athletes’ psychological performance in sports.
THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AND STRESS LEVEL AMONG UNIVERSITY OFFICE WORKERS
Office workers are a subgroup of employee who perform administrative clerical work in front of computers on regular basis. This group is characterized as the population that engages in less physical activity and tend to have higher level of stress. The main objective of this study is to determine the relationship between physical activity and stress level among office workers in a university. Physical activity level was measured with International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ-SF) (7 items) and Perceived Stress Scale Questionnaire (PSS) (10 items) was the instrumentation used to measure stress level. Total of two hundred thirteen (N=213) office workers were participated in this survey. Most of the respondents report moderate physical activity (58.2 %) and moderate level of stress (70.0%). The findings of this study showed that there was no significant relationship between physical activity and stress level (p > .05). As for conclusion, physical activity and stress level were not associated and interdependent to each other. There are multiple factors that affect physical activity engagement and stress level.
SCADA ODL FLIPPED CLASSROOM: A CASE STUDY FOR THE SCHOOL OF ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING
Using open and distance learning (ODL) for courses that included laboratory sessions was challenging to teach and learn during the COVID-19 era. SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition), also known as ESE691, is the School of Electrical Engineering elective that requires students to be present in the lab for their mini-project group assignments. During the outbreak, students were not permitted to attend the laboratory, but they were required to complete their assignments. The rapid transition from face-to-face delivery modalities to a flipped classroom will be more difficult for final-year electrical engineering students. As a result, the purpose of this study was to investigate the perceptions of students taking ESE691 in a flipped classroom environment from October 2020 to February 2021. The data was gathered using a qualitative method, and the results were analysed using SPSS. This survey had 68 participants, with 22 female students and 46 male students filling out a google form. The findings show that while using the ODL platform to create a flipped classroom for SCADA, the eight questions are critical. The implementation of the flipped classroom for the internal consistency test has a Cronbach's alpha of 0.819, which is sufficient for the questions' reliability.
PHYSICAL ACTIVITY, SLEEP QUALITY AND DAYTIME SLEEPINESS AMONG IPOH YOUNG ADULTS
Poor sleep quality due to physical inactivity and excessive use of gadgets is one of the issues faced by young adults. Unfortunately, there is limited data regarding sleep quality characteristics among young adults’ population in Malaysia. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the relationship between physical activity, sleep quality, and daytime sleepiness among young adults in Ipoh. Total of three hundred thirty-five (N=335) young adults in Ipoh (male= 191, female= 144) age between 18-25 years old were participated in this study. Participants completed the International Physical Activity Questionnaires-Short Form (IPAQ-SF), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS). Results indicated that there was no significant correlation between physical activity and sleep quality (p>0.05) or between physical activity and daytime sleepiness (p>0.05). However, a significant correlation was found between sleep quality and daytime sleepiness (p<0.05, r= -0.278). The findings demonstrated that most of the variables in this study are not interdependent to each other except between sleep quality and daytime sleepiness. Objective measurement should be considered in future studies to provide additional insight into variables information.
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ANTHROPOMETRY ATTRIBUTES AND CARDIOVASCULAR FITNESS AMONG MALE UNIVERSITI PUTRA MALAYSIA FUTSAL ATHLETES
Anthropometry attributes are among the contributing factors needed to ensure the good performance of athletes. Anthropometry attributes can also be used as an indicator for other fitness components. The present study aimed to determine the relationship between anthropometry attributes and cardiovascular fitness among male Universiti Putra Malaysia futsal athletes. A total of 14 male university futsal athletes participated in this study. Anthropometry measurements taken in this study were height, weight, BMI, body fat percentage, and skeletal muscle percentage. For cardiovascular fitness test, several tests were conducted which were the Beep test, Illinois agility test and Running Anaerobic Strength Test (RAST). The correlation test showed that weight, BMI, and body fat percentage have a negative relationship with VO2 max and a positive relationship with the fatigue index. On the other hand, skeletal muscle percentage showed a positive relationship with VO2 max. The results show that anthropometry attributes have a relationship with cardiovascular fitness, especially VO2 max.
FOOTBALL COACHING LEADERSHIP STYLE IN MALAYSIA: AN EXPLORATORY FACTOR ANALYSIS
This study aims at identifying the constructs in the Leadership Scale for Sport (LSS) from the perspec-tive of Malaysian football players. To date, empirical study of factor analysis on coaching leadership style construct in a sports setting is limited. There are 330 professional football players from the Ma-laysian Super and Premier League who were involved in this study. Leadership Scale for Sport (LSS) by Chelladurai and Saleh (1980) was used, and the exploratory factor analysis was done to obtain information on this current study. The findings showed that from 40 items that measure the five con-structs of a coach's style, only 24 items had been formed. However, the five constructs remain. The extraction revealed the five constructs gave a higher eigenvalue than 1, and cumulatively contributed approximately 70.44% overall variance changes for the coach's leadership style variable. Through the rotated sums of squared loadings analysis, the five constructs predicted as much as 77.47% overall change of variance for the variable coaching leadership style are Factor 1=17.36%; Factor 2=16.09%; Factor 3=14.56%; Factor 4=11.88% and Factor 5=10.55%.
A COMPARISON STUDY: THE INFLUENCES OF ONLINE LEARNING ON HIGHER INSTITUTION STUDENTS’ LEARNING OF SPORT SKILL SUBJECTS DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC
The global educational system has been influenced as a result of the presence of Covid-19. Schools were driven to develop online learning programmes due of the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, despite the fact that open online courses have emerged as the primary focus of education reform in the higher education sector, physical education has never been offered any attention by educational reforms which is distance learning. This is despite the fact that distance learning has been actively developed and developed by both the government and schools. New norms demand another approach. Hence, the objectives in this study are to identify if there any differences in students’ well-being, the role of lectures and the effectiveness of sport skill subject learned during online learning among UITM Puncak Alam and MSU Shah Alam students during Covid-19. This study is a quantitative study. A set of questionnaire was distributed to 304 students of UITM Puncak Alam and MSU Shah Alam who took sport skills subject during pandemic covid-19. The findings show there was no significant difference in effectiveness of sport skill subject learned through out online between UITM (M=3.3967, SD=.854) and MSU (M=3.413, SD=.717) students; t (-1.75), p =.862 >0.05. In conclusion, both students and lecturers experience difficulties when participating in online learning. Tolerance and cooperation on the part of both the lecturers and the students are essential to the success of an online learning programme. During the times when classes are held online, it is essential that students and teachers are able to communicate effectively with one another.