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
HYDRATION KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDES AND PRACTICES AMONG UNIVERSITY ATHLETES AND RECREATIONAL SPORTS PLAYERS IN THE KLANG VALLEY
Hydration plays an important role in athletic performance and in prevention of heat stroke and injuries. Lack of hydration knowledge may lead to dehydration that can impair performance and health. This cross-sectional study aimed to determine the associations between hydration knowledge, attitudes towards hydration, and hydration practices among university athletes and recreational sports players in the Klang Valley. A total of 193 university students aged 18-24 years old participated in the study, with 79 of them being university athletes and 114 were recreational sports players (engaged in sports at least 4 hours per week). Anthropometric measurements were conducted. Body fat percentage and muscle mass were measured using a bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) machine. Physical activity level was assessed using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Form (IPAQ-SF). Hydration knowledge, attitudes and practices were obtained through a self-administered questionnaire. Majority of the participants were male (84.5%) and the most common type of sports played was basketball (42%). The mean physical activity level was 10,990.54±3,987.05 MET-mins/week. The mean body fat percentage and muscle mass was 19.64±5.83% and 30.62±4.31 kg, respectively. Only 33.7% of the participants had sufficient knowledge on hydration. Hydration knowledge (r=0.730, p<0.001) and attitudes towards hydration (r=0.688, p<0.001) were positively associated with hydration practices. Sex (B=1.046, p<0.001), age (B=0.190, p=0.003), muscle mass (B=0.136, p<0.001), body fat percentage (B=-0.890, p<0.001), hydration knowledge (B=0.060, p<0.001), and attitudes towards hydration (B=0.051, p=0.024), were significant predictors of hydration practices. Thus, providing knowledge on hydration and inculcating positive attitudes towards hydration may improve hydration practices among university athletes and recreational sports players.
Copyright (c) 2026 Nurliyana Abdul Razak, Chin Yi Chian https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
A Cross-Sectional Analysis of Student Perceptions Toward Face-to-Face and Blended Learning Effectiveness in Applied Exercise Rehabilitation Course between Faculty Sports Science and Recreation UiTM Campuses
This study examined differences in student perceptions of face-to-face (F2F) and blended learning (BL) effectiveness in Applied Exercise Rehabilitation courses across four Faculty of Sport Science and Recreation (FSR) Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) campuses in Malaysia. A cross-sectional survey design was employed, with 212 undergraduate students completing a structured questionnaire assessing perceived effectiveness in developing fundamental knowledge, clinical skills, and social competency, alongside learning enjoyment. Chi-square tests of independence with adjusted standardised residuals were conducted to identify campus-specific variations. Results revealed consistently positive F2F perceptions across all campuses, with significant differences observed for fundamental knowledge (p=.004) and social competency (p=.025). However, substantial campus variations emerged for BL perceptions across all domains (p=.001), with FSR UiTM Seremban demonstrating the most favourable perceptions and FSR UiTM Arau exhibiting the least favourable perceptions. Similar patterns were observed for learning enjoyment, where F2F classes received uniformly positive ratings while BL enjoyment differed significantly across campuses (p=.001). These findings suggest that campus-specific factors, including technological infrastructure and instructional design quality, significantly influence BL experiences in psychomotor-intensive disciplines. The study recommends targeted interventions to address campus disparities and emphasises maintaining substantive F2F components for practical skill development within BL frameworks.
blended learning, face-to-face instruction, student perceptions, exercise rehabilitation, psychomotor learning, multi-campus education
Copyright (c) 2026 Rahmat Adnan, SARAH SYAFIEQAH ANUWAR, Siti Nurul Ezzah Che Man, Norasrudin Sulaiman, Hashbullah Ismail, Mazuin Razalli, Shariman Ismadi Ismail https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
BEYOND CONVENTIONAL MENTAL SKILLS TRAINING IN SPORTS: A CRITICAL REVIEW OF CURRENT PARADIGMS
Mental skills training (MST) has emerged as a critical component in optimizing sports performance, complementing physical training. This review challenges conventional perspectives by providing a critical re-evaluation of MST, delving into core mental skills, their theoretical underpinnings, and exploring new frameworks that reshape the field. Key mental strategies such as goal setting, visualization, self-talk, concentration, and arousal regulation are critically reviewed, with particular emphasis on their practical application in diverse sports contexts. A comprehensive literature search from inception to July 2024 was conducted using the databases Web of Science, Scopus, and PsycINFO, and twenty-one (N=21) peer-reviewed studies met the inclusion criteria. This review questions traditional approaches to MST, proposing it as not just a supplementary tool but a transformative force in athletic development. It argues for a more adaptive and integrative approach to MST, accounting for individual and contextual variability in sports performance. Through a critical analysis of both established practices and emerging trends, this review aims to challenge current thinking, inspire innovative MST strategies, and introduce novel insights that can holistically empower athletes to meet the increasingly complex psychological demands of competitive sports.
Copyright (c) 2026 Weijie Huang, Nurdiana Zainol Abidin, Nor Shuhada Binti Mansor, Hazwani Binti Ahmad Yusof, Lian Bizhen https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
GENDER DIFFERENCES BETWEEN SOCIAL SUPPORT AND QUALITY OF LIFE AMONG UNIVERSITY ATHLETES
This study aimed to explore gender-based differences in perceived social support (SS) and quality of life (QoL) among university athletes. The research involved 154 student-athletes from Universiti Teknologi MARA Cawangan Pahang, Malaysia, equally divided between male and female participants. A quantitative, cross-sectional design was employed, utilizing the Social Support Questionnaire Short Form (SSQ) and the Quality of Life Enjoyment and Satisfaction Questionnaire (Q-LES-Q-SF) to assess the perceived social support and QoL of athletes. Descriptive statistics revealed moderate to high scores for both social support (M = 2.71) and QoL (M = 3.69), indicating a generally favorable perception of the psychosocial environment. Mann–Whitney U tests revealed significant gender differences, with male athletes reporting higher levels of social support (M = 85.36) and QoL (M = 86.65) compared to their female counterparts (social support M = 69.64, QoL M = 68.35). The findings suggest that males benefit from a broader network of support, while females exhibit higher satisfaction with their support systems. This research underscores the importance of understanding gender-specific dynamics in social support and QoL, offering insights for enhancing athletes' overall wellbeing through targeted interventions that emphasize both the quantity and quality of support systems.
Copyright (c) 2026 Saidatul Nur Syuhadah Mohamed Sabadri, Maisarah Mohd Saleh, Rozella Ab Razak, Nurul Ain Abu Kasim, Fatin Aqilah Abdul Razak, Mohd Azharul Azemi, Muhammad Haziq Ikram Azha https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
VALIDITY AND RELIABILITY TESTING OF THE GENERALIZED ANXIETY DISORDER 7 (GAD-7) AND DEPRESSION ANXIETY STRESS SCALE (DASS-42) MALAY LANGUAGE VERSION
This study aimed to conduct validity and reliability testing of the Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7 (GAD-7) and Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS 42) Malay language versions, addressing the need for standardised instruments in specific populations. The research methodology integrated quantitative components relevant to a development and validation framework. The qualitative phase involved translators and experts in anxiety and stress , with translation into Malay Language performed using a back-translation technique , and content validation conducted by experts in stress and anxiety to assess the clarity and comprehensibility of the questionnaire items. Subsequently, the quantitative phase involved statistical analysis for validity and reliability testing. The study's population consisted of active students and athletes in Malaysia, aged 18-30 years, participating in various sports. A sample of 58 athletes was selected using stratified random sampling to ensure representation from various sports, age groups, and regions. Data collection was conducted online using Google Forms over a period of four weeks. Demographic results showed an average respondent age of 22.21 years, with the youngest being 20.0 years and the oldest 28.0 years. The majority of respondents were male (69.1%) , pursuing sport study programmes (83.6%) , engaged in large ball games (58.2%) , and had achieved their highest performance level at university (67.3%). For the GAD-7, all items were found to be valid, with r-values ranging from 0.713 to 0.840, exceeding the r-table value of 0.2069. High reliability was also established, with a Cronbach’s Alpha of 0.793. Similarly, all DASS 42 items were valid, with r-values between 0.518 and 0.976, surpassing the r-table value of 0.2542. The DASS 42 demonstrated good reliability, with a Cronbach’s Alpha of 0.669. In conclusion, the Malay language versions of the GAD-7 and DASS 42 questionnaires are valid and reliable for use in the Malaysian student-athlete population, supporting their application in research and practice.
Copyright (c) 2026 Yesi Setyaning Pambudi, Sapto Adi, Moch Yunus, Mohad Anizu Mohd Nor, Kurniati, Muhammad Putra Ramadhan https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
Whole-Body Vibration Exercise Lowers Blood Pressure, Heart Rate and Arterial Stiffness in Young Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Objective: To evaluate the effects of whole‐body vibration (WBV) exercise training on key cardiovascular markers, specifically systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), resting heart rate (HR), and pulse‐wave velocity (PWV) in healthy young adults. Methods: We conducted a systematic search of PubMed, Embase, Cochrane CENTRAL, Web of Science, and Google Scholar from January 2015 through June 1, 2025. Randomised controlled trials comparing WBV (any modality, 20–40 Hz) versus control (no exercise or sham vibration) in participants aged 18–40 years were eligible. Data extraction and study quality assessment (using the Cochrane Risk of Bias 2.0 tool) were performed independently by two reviewers. Pooled weighted mean differences (WMDs) were calculated using a DerSimonian–Laird random‐effects model. I² quantified heterogeneity, and the overall risk of bias was summarised across studies. Results: Twenty RCTs (n = 846 participants) met inclusion criteria. Compared with control, WBV produced significant reductions in: SBP: WMD = −7.0 mmHg (95 % CI, −9.5 to −4.5; p < 0.001; I² = 42 %), DBP: WMD = −1.8 mmHg (95 % CI, −3.0 to −0.6; p = 0.003; I² = 35 %), HR: WMD = −2.2 bpm (95 % CI, −3.5 to −0.9; p = 0.001; I² = 28 %), PWV: WMD = −0.9 m/s (95 % CI, −1.4 to −0.4; p < 0.001; I² = 48 %) . Subgroup analyses indicated larger SBP and DBP reductions in overweight or metabolic syndrome cohorts and trials using vibration ≥ 30 Hz. Overall risk of bias was moderate: most studies had “some concerns” due to lack of participant blinding or incomplete outcome data. Conclusions: WBV training in young adults yields clinically meaningful improvements in SBP, DBP, HR, and arterial stiffness, with low‐to‐moderate heterogeneity (I² = 28–48 %) and generally moderate risk of bias. Future long‐term, higher‐powered RCTs are needed to confirm these findings and determine optimal vibration parameters
Copyright (c) 2026 Rafiu Olaolawa Okuneye, Abdulkareem Babatunde Taiwo, Fatai Akinola Apalara, Professor, Tony Dansu, Okechukwu Kingsley Oforka, Emmanuel Ekawu Ogar, Yahaya Abdullah, Rofiat Dauda-Olajide, Isaiah Whenayon Ajoseh https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
IMPACT OF COMMERCIALLY MANUFACTURED AND HANDCRAFTED HAND PADDLES ON MALE SWIMMERS’ PERFORMANCE: A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS
Swimming has been well known to have a lot of physical, psychological, and social health benefits, and as such, physical training props like hand paddles both company-made and handcrafted are frequently employed to improve performance. The current research was to evaluate the impact of commercially produced hand paddles and handcrafted paddles on short-distance (50 m) and endurance-based (400 m) swimming among adolescent male swimmers. Twenty competitive 13-17-year-old swimmers were involved in a quasi-experimental within-subject design. The swimmers were put through a series of two tests: a 50 m and a 400 m front crawl in two conditions, using company-made paddles and handcrafted paddles. Trials were randomised and separated by a sufficient rest (24 h 50 m; 48 h 400 m). Paired-samples t-tests were used to analyse performance times. Findings revealed that in the 400 m test, paddles made by the company had a significant improvement in performance over that of paddles made by the hands (496 ± 73.9 s vs. 506 ± 73.2 s; t(19) = 2.28, p < .05) but the 50 m test did not show any significant difference (50.6 ± 4.8 s vs. 53.5 ± 5.3 s; t(19) = 1.90, p = .073). The results indicate that commercially produced paddles can offer a performance benefit in endurance swimming but not in short-sprint performance. The findings are of practical applications to coaches and athletes in the choice of training tools in a certain performance goal.
Swimming Performance, Hand Paddles, Front Crawl, Adolescent Swimmers, Endurance Training, Sprint Swimming, Training Tools
Copyright (c) 2026 Ashish Kumar Gupta, Gopal Chandra Saha, Smriti Mondal https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
SURVEY OF STUDENTS’ INTEREST LEVEL OF PHYSICAL EDUCATION, SPORTS, AND HEALTH (PJOK) SUBJECT AT SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL MALANG
This study aims to analyze the level of interest of students at SMKN 7 Kota Malang in the subject of Physical Education, Sports, and Health (PJOK). Student interest is a crucial factor in the effectiveness of learning and the achievement of educational goals. This research uses a quantitative approach with a descriptive survey method. The population consists of students at SMKN 7 Kota Malang, with a randomly selected sample of 185 respondents. Data were collected through a questionnaire consisting of 15 statements regarding students’ perceptions and interest in PJOK. Descriptive analysis results show that the majority of students have a high interest in PJOK. The percentage of respondents who feel enthusiastic when attending PJOK classes reached 72.4%, and 63.8% said PJOK makes them more motivated to come to school. In addition, 55.1% agreed and 42.2% strongly agreed that PJOK is beneficial for their health and fitness. A total of 76.8% of students also felt comfortable with the teaching methods used. However, variations in interest were found in several aspects, such as 27% of respondents not looking forward to PJOK lessons, and 42.2% not preferring PJOK over other subjects. Opinions regarding the addition of PJOK class hours were also divided, with 36.2% disagreeing and 7.6% strongly disagreeing. The implications of this study suggest the need for developing more varied and inclusive PJOK learning strategies to maintain and enhance student interest, especially for those who are not fully engaged or lack confidence. The results of this research can serve as a basis for teachers and school administrators in designing more adaptive and engaging PJOK programs.
Copyright (c) 2026 Surya Adi Saputra, Alifia Dinar Erlintang; Yuni Safitri Wijayanti https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN EXERCISE ADDICTION, BODY IMAGE PERCEPTION, EATING BEHAVIOUR AND PSYCHOLOGICAL DISTRESS AMONGST FITNESS CENTRE USERS IN KLANG VALLEY
The rise of exercise addiction and negative body image perceptions among fitness centre users is concerning. This study explores the relationships between exercise addiction, body image perception, eating behaviour, and psychological distress among adults in Klang Valley. A total of 374 participants were selected through purposive sampling, and data were analysed using Spearman's rank correlation with five validated instruments: the Exercise Addiction Inventory (EAI), Body Image Questionnaire (BIQ-19), Self-Regulation Eating Behaviour Questionnaire (SREBQ), Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). Findings indicated many participants showed symptoms of exercise addiction, moderate body image concerns, healthy eating behaviours, and moderate levels of anxiety and depression. Notably, there was a weak, non-significant negative correlation between exercise addiction and body image perception (r = -0.067). However, significant positive correlations were found between exercise addiction and both eating behaviour (r = 0.681) and psychological distress: anxiety (r = 0.740) and depression (r = 0.684). Body image perception negatively correlated with eating behaviour (r = -0.128) and showed weak negative correlations with anxiety (ρ = -0.158) and depression (r = -0.184). Eating behaviour, on the other hand, had strong positive correlations with anxiety (r = 0.694) and depression (r = 0.715). These findings reveal the psychological challenges faced by fitness centre attendees and stress the need for promoting balanced exercise and positive body image. The research insights can inform targeted interventions to improve mental well-being in fitness settings.
Copyright (c) 2026 Nurfarah Yasmin Rosli, PROF. MADYA Ts. Dr. MARIAH BINTI AWANG https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
ASSESSING SPORTS SPONSORSHIP EFFECTIVENESS THROUGH FANS LOYALTY ENGAGEMENT AMONG MALAYSIAN FOOTBALL LEAGUE FANS
This study explores the engagement of sports sponsorship and fans loyalty focusing on the fans of the Malaysian Football League. Although sports sponsorship activities help to create improve fan loyalty, it is still very difficult to find sponsors for sports events. In other words, sponsors invest millions in sports sponsorship, and they also must accept a certain amount of risk. Sponsors certainly expect their sponsorship to increase fan purchase intent for their products and services. Fans also have a major influence on the success of the sports event and the sports sponsorship. This relationship motivated this study to determine whether sports sponsorship is effective through the fans loyalty. Fans are seen as a gesture of goodwill or to return the sponsor's support of sports event. Fan loyalty is measured by three factors in the measurement scale, namely situational involvement, attachment, and satisfaction. Sports sponsorship is measured by four factors, namely attitude toward sponsor, match between sponsor and event fit, favourability, and perceived ubiquity of sports sponsorship. A total of 330 respondents among the Malaysian Football League fans were selected for this study. The results of (r = 0.78) shows that fans loyalty significantly develop a strong connection and engagement with sports sponsorship. The focus of this study expanded and pursued to contribute to the increase of theoretical ways that support sports sponsorship.
Copyright (c) 2026 HASYYATI HUSNA DZOOLKARNAIN, Azlina Zid, Mohammad Adzly Rajli, Muhammad Hamdan https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
The Effect of 4-Weeks Complex Training on Physical Performance among Recreational Male Collegiate Athletes
Background: A growing body of literature shows a keen interest in complex training as an alternative training program to improve athletic performance. Inconsistent results remain mixed regarding its effectiveness, particularly in recreational male collegiate athletes. Aim: This study aims to evaluate the effects of 4-weeks complex training program on speed, agility, explosive power, and strength among recreational male collegiate athletes. Methods: A total of 48 participants (19.35 ± 1.51) from a public college volunteered, consented to participate and were randomly assigned between complex training group (CTG = 24) or control group (CG = 24). The participants underwent four physical tests assessing speed (30-meter sprint test), agility (Illinois Agility test), power (Countermovement jump test) and strength (1-RM Bench Press test). Results: The findings revealed that CTG shows statistically significant improvements in all variables, (p < 0.05), while no significant changes detected in all variables for CG (p > 0.05). Both CTG and CG have shown significant Group × Time interaction in all variables (p < 0.05). Conclusion: The outcome of this study shows that 4-weeks of complex training intervention provide improvement on several physical performance among recreational male collegiate athletes. This suggests that complex training able to improve strength and power within one single training session.
Copyright (c) 2026 Norlaila Azura Kosni, Wan Muhammad Afiq Wan Jahari, Muhammad Hamdan, Rabiu Muazu Musa, Nurul Diyana Sanuddin, Raja Mohammed Firhad Raja Azidin https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
MENTAL TOUGHNESS AND MOOD STATES IN MALE UNDER-18 FIELD ATHLETES: EVENT-SPECIFIC DIFFERENCES AT THE 2024 SABAH CHAMPIONSHIP
This study explored mental toughness and mood states in 105 male under-18 field sports athletes competing at the 2024 Sabah School Sports Council Championship in terms of differences due to event type, achievement rank, and age. Mental toughness was measured using the Mental Toughness Questionnaire (MTQ18), and mood states were gauged through the Profile of Mood States (POMS). Data analysis included R for factor analysis and SPSS for descriptive statistics, correlation, and analysis of variance. Results indicated that there was a strong negative relationship between mental toughness and negative mood state, particularly tension, indicating that mental toughness aids athletes in coping with competition stress. Javelin throwers exhibited higher mental toughness and less negative mood than high and long jumpers, indicating event-specific demands such as precision and attention. No achievement rank or age differences were revealed, which would have likely resulted from comparable psychological profiles of these youth athletes and the application of ranked categories. Although low MTQ18 reliability was reported (α = 0.351) because of Malay translation problems, its factor structure was preserved on good fit indices (RMSEA = 0.04), allowing cautious interpretation. The POMS proved reliable (α = 0.786), as for Malaysian athletes. These findings, in the context of Malaysian male adolescent athletes, show the importance of individually oriented psychological training, for example, visualization techniques for javelin throwers, and the demand for culturally normative measures.
Mental Toughness, Mood States, Youth Athletes, Field Events, Sabah School Sports Council Championship
Sabah School Sports Council Championship
Copyright (c) 2026 NANTHAKUMAR MARIAPPAN, Hasnol, Safwan https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
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.
Copyright (c) 2025 Eng Hoe Wee, Tarsame Singh Masa Singh, Anita Christina Anthony Dass https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
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.
Copyright (c) 2025 Fiqrul Iqmar, Mohamad Nadzlee Alim, Zaharul Azwan Bin Abdul Razak https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
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.
Copyright (c) 2025 Nur Azmina Mohamed Yunus, Azlina Zid, Mohd Noorazlan Ab. Aziz, Mohammad Adzly Rajli, Fadli Fizari Abu Hassan Asari https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
OOI EVALUATING THE COMBINED EFFECT OF HONEY AND WALKING ON BONE HEALTH IN POSTMENOPAUSAL WOMEN AGED 50 TO 65 YEARS
This study aimed to investigate the combined effects of honey consumption and walking exercise on the bone speed of sound (SOS, an indicator of bone mineral density), t-score and z-score, blood bone metabolism markers, i.e., serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP)(bone formation marker), serum C-terminal telopeptide of type I collagen (1CTP) (bone resorption marker) in 50 to 65 years old postmenopausal women. Forty postmenopausal women participants aged 50-65 years old were being assigned into four groups: control (C), honey supplementation alone (H), walking exercise alone (Ex) and combined honey supplementation and exercise (HEx) groups. Walking exercise sessions were carried out 30 minutes per session, three sessions per week for six weeks by participants in Ex and HEx groups. Honey drink was consumed by participants in H and HEx groups with 20 grams of honey diluted in 300 ml water seven days per week for six weeks. Participants’ bone SOS, T-score and Z-score, serum ALP and 1CTP were determined. It was found that 37.8% of the participants had normal bone health status, 30.4% had osteopenia, and 29.7% had osteoporosis. There were no statistically significant differences in bone SOS, T-score, Z-score, serum ALP and 1CTP between pre- and post tests in all the groups. Six weeks of HEx did not significantly affect bone SOS and bone metabolism markers in postmenopausal women. Future studies with higher frequency and intensity of exercise and longer intervention duration are warranted for determining the beneficial effects of this combination on improving bone health and metabolism in postmenopausal women.
honey, bone speed of sound, walking, postmenopausal women
Copyright (c) 2026 Habilla, Foong Kiew Ooi, Syamsina, Chee Keong Chen, Nik Hazlina , Mahaneem, Zulaikha, Afiq, Ain https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
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.
Copyright (c) 2025 Muhammad Hamdan, Raja Mohammed Firhad Raja Azidin https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
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.
Copyright (c) 2025 Mohamad Nadzlee Bin Alim, Zaharul Azwan Bin Abdul Razak, Fiqrul Izzat Bin Faidrul Iqmar https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
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.
Copyright (c) 2025 Ms Alyaa, Kamisah Supian, Jamilah Kamis https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
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.
Copyright (c) 2025 Siti Nur Aisyah Mazlan, Ani Mazlina Dewi Mohamed https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
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.
Copyright (c) 2025 Rozita Abdul Latif, Wahidah Tumijan, Hasmiza Abdul Majeed https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
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
Copyright (c) 2025 Fakhrul Haqimie Mazelan, Vijayamurugan Eswaramoorthi https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
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.
Copyright (c) 2025 Siti Aisyah Ibrahim, Mohd Zulkhairi Mohd Azam, Sufyan Zaki, Mohd Hanifa Sariman, Norasrudin Sulaiman, Maisarah Shari https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
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.
Copyright (c) 2025 Shibin Rag Panikare, Aparna Sudhan Mohana, Nizar Abdul Majeed Kutty https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
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.
Copyright (c) 2025 Hazim Asyraf Zainor, Muhamad Noor Mohamed, Mardiana Mazaulan, Nurul Ain Abu Kassim, Raja Nurul Jannat Raja Hussein, Sharifah Maimunah Syed Mud Puad https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
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.
Copyright (c) 2025 Mohamad Nizam Bin Mohamed Shapie, Mohamad Rahizam Bin Abdul Rahim, Wenyao Chen https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
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.
Copyright (c) 2025 Nurul Diyana Sanuddin, Maisarah Mohd Saleh, Siti Aishah Abd Rahman, Wan Mohd Norsyam, Nur Azida Durrani Mazahan, Adam Linoby https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
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.
Copyright (c) 2025 Muhammad Haikal Zawawi, Mohd Azim Nural Azhan, Al-Hafiz Abu Bakar, Siti Syahirah Aqilah Shafee, Ahmad Dzulkarnain Ismail, Stuart Gray https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
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.
Copyright (c) 2025 Yallini Selva, Viswanath Sundar, Amir Arifudeen https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
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.
Copyright (c) 2025 Mohd Saufi Bin Dali, Mohad Anizu Mohd Nor, Ahmad Fikri Mohd Kassim https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0