The purpose of this study is to reveal the average level and variability of the signs of physical development and specific working capacity of 17-19-year-old Bulgarian handball players and, on this basis, to develop an up-to-date norm framework for control and optimization of sports training in the studied age group. The object of the study is the characteristics of physical development, specific physical fitness, technical and tactical skills, and some mental characteristics. The research was done among 115 handball players between the age of 17 and 19 from the top 10 teams, participating in the national championship for juniors under 19 years old. Anthropometric measurements and sports-pedagogical testing were conducted for the needs of the study with a total of 34 indicators for establishing the level of physical development, specific physical and technical-tactical preparation and some mental characteristics and qualities of the handball players of the studied age group. The following research methods were applied to solve the purpose and tasks of the research: review study and theoretical analysis of the specialized literature, anthropometry, manual dynamometry, sports-pedagogical testing and ascertaining psychological experiment. Frequency analysis and descriptive statistics, sigma estimation method, and index method were used for mathematical-statistical data analysis. The applied approach allowed developing normative tables for evaluation of the results of each competitor or team, based on which, person or team optimization models could be developed, revealing both strengths and weaknesses in their preparation.

Introduction: Physiological and body composition variables have important role for assessment of training status and evaluation of health status of athletes. Regular monitoring of these variables during training may provide valuable information to coaches for training and selection of players’ training protocol participating in both team sports and individual events. Purpose and objectives of the study: The aims of this study were to compare physiological and body composition variables between male athletes participating in team sports (football) and individual sprint event and also to correlate training duration (both in years and hours per week) of male athletes participating in both team sports as well as sprint with physiological and body composition variables. Applied Methodology: The study was carried out with thirty-year-old (n=30) and BMI matching male Indian athletes participating in team sports (football, n=16) and individual sprint event (n=14), having minimum 2 years of official training. They were in post competitive phase during the test. Several physiological and body composition variables were assessed such as height, weight, body mass index, training age (years), training time (hours/week), fat mass, fat-free mass, body cell mass, muscle mass, VO2 max, maximal power, training intensity and fatigue index following standard protocol. Achieved major results: The sprinters were found to possess significantly more fat free mass (p < .01), body cell mass (p < .01), muscle mass (p < .01), less fat mass (p < .05) and more average anaerobic power (p < .01) than their peers - football players. However, no significant correlation was found between any of the measured physiological and body composition parameters and the training status of these players. Conclusion: This study would provide useful information for assigning training protocols to the athletes participating in team sports and individual sprint events on the basis of physiological and body composition parameters.

This article presents a methodology aimed at increasing the force of the rear-hand straight punch at the torso-level (gyaku zuki chudan). To accomplish the tasks of the survey, a video-computerized system was used to record and analyze the parameters of the punches performed by the participants. The results concerning the force of the torso-level rear-hand straight punch were registered in identical ways for each of the participants in order to make sure that the survey was performed under uniform conditions. The input data was processed by means of kinematics analysis software. To prove the credibility of the data registered the necessary statistical analysis methods were applied. If more and more coaches start using modern tools and methods to develop the sports and technical skills of their entrusted athletes, this will increase the quality of the karate training process.

Football attracts the attention of a number of researchers who study the management of football clubs and academies in different countries. The focus is on the managerial philosophy, goal setting, organization of the sports training process and others. An important element in the business management of football clubs is the use of marketing techniques - active communication, targeted promotional activities, the choice of communication constants to impose corporate identity and reputation. The purpose of this research was to examine the experience and operational capabilities of some football academies in Bulgaria in creating a corporate identity and establishing a football brand. The research tasks were related to: researching literary and documentary sources on the problem under study, conducting expert research with heads of football academies (14 people) in connection with the application of brand management as a form of brand management and enforcement, researching and analyzing the experience of PFC “Levski” in the policy of imposing the brand among the fans. As part of our work we used different research methods, such us: content analysis, survey method, with a strong expert focus and case studies. During the research we analyzed the promotional tools used by football academies, their policy to create a club identity, the importance of quality in the creation and supplying the service of teaching and the professional training of young players. A study of similar nature is a novelty for sports management practice in football. The conclusions and final recommendations can be used as a starting point in order to upgrade and diversify the forms of promotional policy of football academies.

It is often needed in basketball practice to evaluate the stage of the young basketball players preparation. In this way the necessary information is received which serves as a landmark about the level of their development – whether they have the necessary physical qualities and basketball skills, whether they go forward within the educational and training process and whether there is a perspective for their development as highly qualified competitors in the future. The disclosure of the factor structure of the physical development and the specific workability of growing up basketball players has high informative value for the optimization of the educational and training process. The aim of the study is to optimize the training process for growing basketball players by revealing the factor structure and identifying the main factors of sports preparedness in the age range of 15-16 years. The subject of research is the sports training of growing basketball players. The object of the study is the signs of physical development, the special physical and specific techno-tactical preparation. The research was done among 65 basketball players (15-16 years old). Sport and pedagogical tests as per 20 indicators, bearing information about the basic symptoms of the physical development and the specific basketball workability, were made for the needs of the study. The results of the tests were subjected to processing by descriptive statistics, correlation and factor analysis. Results: At the beginning of the study, seven main factors were identified that characterize the specific preparedness in basketball, while at the end of the study, the derived components were five.

Background: The anatomy, origin, function, and appearance of the Palmaris Longus Muscle (PLM) in different populations are well studied. However, little is known about its contribution to wrist flexion movements in sports. This study investigates whether the existence or absence of the PLM affects maximal torque output or torque consistency of submaximal wrist flexion moment. Methods: One hundred ninety-seven well-trained sports students were clinically examined to ascertain the presence of the PLM. Forty of them from different sport disciplines were assigned to two groups (athletes in handgrip sports: HG, athletes in non-handgrip sports: NHG). Their 80 upper limbs were divided based on the PLM-presence/absence and hand-dominance/non-dominance. Maximal Isometric Torque (MIT) at 150º, 180º, and 210º wrist angle, and torque steadiness at 150º and 180º, at 25%, 50%, and 75% of MIT were measured on a Humac Norm dynamometer. Results: In all MIT tests, HGs significantly surpassed NHGs, independently of the dominant or non-dominant side in presence of the PLM (p <.05). Steadiness was significantly higher in HGs than in NHGs in dominant hands having the PLM, at 25% and 75% of MIT at both angles (p <.05). Conclusions: It is concluded that the existence of the PLM provides an advantage in sustained handgrip sports (throwers, racquet sports, basketball, handball players), contributing positively to decreased torque variability and higher maximal torque independently of muscular length. Important implications for sports performance and injury prevention have also resulted.

It is widely assumed that wrestling is a sport posing high requirements as regards one’s physical qualities strength and endurance. A lot of specialists, however, point out the necessity of harmonious and balanced development of all motor qualities, including flexibility. This research is aimed at wrestlers’ physical preparation and more specifically the dynamics in the physical quality flexibility. We attempted to find out whether altitude influences the manifestation of the physical quality flexibility and to what extent. The research was done among 13 wrestlers from Bulgarian National team, Greco-Roman style, men. We measured the flexibility of the spinal cord and coxofemoral joint during training camps held at low and high altitude. The tests used (?1, ?2, ?3 and ?4) are easy to be applied. The results were processed statistically and further discussed. It is clear that there were statistically significant differences only along T2, and there was no reliable difference in the results along the rest of the tests - ?1, ?3 and ?4 at a low and high altitude.

Despite its importance and significant contribution to the final game out-come, the free throw shooting motion is greatly understudied. The purpose of this study was to examine kinematic differences between proficient and non-proficient free throw shooters and to determine which variables have the greatest impact on successful free throw shooting performance. Thirteen healthy recreationally active males volunteered to participate in this study. Each participant shot three sets of ten consecutive free throws from the regulation distance from the basket. Each set was performed under 3 minutes with 1-2-minute rest between each set. A high-definition camera recording at 30 fps captured the free throw shooting motion from a sagittal point of view. Video analysis software was used to analyze the following kinematic variables: knee angle, elbow angle, hip flexion, ankle flexion, release angle, shoulder angle, hand release height, and elbow height. The findings of this study suggest that lower elbow positioning influenced by greater knee, ankle, and hip flexion during the preparatory phase of the shooting motion may lead to improvements in free throw shooting accuracy. Moreover, greater ball release height and release angle, as previously suggested, could decrease the margin of error and enhance free throw shooting performance. By using these kinematic variables to create the discriminant function projection model, it is plausible that proficient free throw shooters can be accurately classified in 94% of cases.