SPORT I ZDRAVLJE

BODY MASS INDEX AND LIFESTYLE: DETERMINANTS OF PHYSICAL ACTIVITY OF CADET FOOTBALL PLAYERS

Miroljub Ivanović, Vladimir Pantelić, Irina Ćosić — Mon, 30 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0200

This cross-sectional study examined the influence of lifestyle predictors—fruit consumption, vegetable consumption, cigarette use, and alcohol intake—on
various physical activity indicators (walking, cycling, recreational aerobic exercise,and resistance training) among cadet football players. The sample comprised 163 adolescent football players (Mean_age = 15.58 ± 1.23years) from three Serbian clubs. The multiple regression models explained between
5.8% and 8.2% of the variance in physical activity outcomes. Vegetable consumption (β=0.29, 95% CI [0.12, 0.46], p<.01) positively predicted walking and cycling frequency, whereas cigarette use (β = −0.26, 95% CI [−0.42,−0.10], p<.05) negatively predicted aerobic and resistance training participation.
Despite the relatively low predictive power (R²<.10), the models provide relevant baseline evidence for understanding behavioral correlates of physical activity in adolescent athletes. Applied relevance: Results highlight the need for integrated training programs that combine physical preparation with health education focused on diet quality and smoking prevention.

COGNITIVE-MOTOR MECHANISMS IN LEARNING COMPLEX KINESIOLOGICAL TASKS IN TEN-YEAR-OLD CHILDREN

Nebojša Švraka, Vlado Švraka, Duško Simić, Goran Nikovski — Mon, 30 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0200

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of cognitive-motor learning on the acquisition of complex kinesiological tasks in 10-year-old children.
The research was conducted on a sample of 25 fourth-grade elementary school students (13 girls and 12 boys). Over the course of five consecutive instructional sessions, the students practiced a complex motor obstacle course that involved jumping, crawling, and ball handling. Task performance time was measured using Witty photo cells, with both descriptive and inferential statistical methods applied. The results showed a statistically significant reduction in task completion time between the initial and final measurements (t = 10.27; p < .001), indicating effective motor learning. Gender-based analysis revealed that boys performed slightly better in the final series compared to girls, with significant differences observed in the final stages (p < .01). A stable normal distribution of results was also observed, which enabled the use of parametric statistical tests. This study confirms that systematically organized motor tasks engaging cognitive processes can enhance the efficiency of motor pattern acquisition in children. The obstacle course proved to be an effective tool for integrating cognitive-motor mechanisms into school practice.

BILATERAL TRANSFER IN THE MOTOR DEVELOPMENT OF CHILDREN BY USING GAMES AND PHYSICAL ACTIVITY: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW

Nebojša Ilić — Mon, 30 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0200

Regular participation in physical activities, such as sports games and exercises that engage both extremities, plays a key role in the development of
children bilateral transfer. Through such activities, children acquire the ability to transfer skills and movements learned by using both extremities, which can be vital for their motor coordination and performance in various activities. The goal of this systematic review was to determine, based on the previous researches, the effects of games and other types of physical activities on bilateral transfer in motor development of children. Research data were collected by taking inclusion and exclusion criteria into account on PubMed, Web of Science and Google Scholar. As a result of the evaluation carried out within these criteria, twenty (N = 20) original scientific studies were included in this research. The main findings of the research indicate that bilateral transfer programs, which include elementary games or programmed practice sessions, as well as programmed soccer exercises, have a positive effect on the bilateral transfer of children aged 3-12 years. These findings are in accordance with the results of the previous researches, done with adults, which wеre also analyzed, and suggest that short-term or long-term side-to-side transfer can be achieved in a wide range of age groups.

DIFFERENCE IN PHYSICAL PERFORMANCE BETWEEN YOUNG ELITE AND SUB-ELITE FOOTBALL PLAYERS

Mon, 30 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0200

The aim of this study was to determine the differences in speed, agility, and quickness between young elite and sub-elite football players. Participants were
youth football players from two different competition levels. The sub elite-level participants were from second league (n=48; 15.9 ± 1.0 years), while the elite-level participants were from the first league (n=42; Age=15.6 ± 1.5 years). Players were tested for speed (sprint 5,10, 20m), agility (Illinois test, change of direction test left and right, reactive agility) and repeated sprint ability. We found a statistically significant difference between two teams in all performance tests (p<0.05), favoring the elite team. This research highlights significant differences in physical performance between elite and sub-elite young football players, driven by a combination of factors including training intensity, coaching expertise, access to resources, and psychological attributes.

EFFECTS OF HIIT PROGRAMS ON THE BODY COMPOSITION OF WOMEN

Lazar Jovanović, Iryna Skrypchenko, Tatiana Dobrescu, Slavko Dragosavljević — Mon, 30 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0200

The aim of this study was to examine the effect of a ten-week high-intensity interval training (HIIT) program on changes in body composition in women. The study involved 42 female subjects, aged 25 to 32 years, divided into an experimental (n=22) and a control group (n=20). The experimental group participated in a HIIT program three times a week for 10 weeks, while the control group did not have organized physical activity. Body composition parameters were measured using bioelectrical impedance, and statistical data processing included an ANOVA test for repeated measures. The results showed significant improvements in the experimental group in terms of reducing body mass, fat percentage and increasing muscle mass, with statistically significant values (p<0.05) and large effect sizes (eta² > 0.14). It was concluded that HIIT is an effective method for improving body composition in women, and is recommended as an effective form of physical activity in order to improve health and appearance.

THE IMPACT OF A PROGRAMMED KINESIOLOGICAL TREATMENT ON NEUROMUSCULAR RESPONSES IN CHILDREN

Mon, 30 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0200

It is known that a decrease in neuromuscular reaction speed affects executive function, leading to poorer planning, goal setting, decision-making,
attention, or reading, and that young children with slow reaction speeds are more likely to have academic difficulties and exhibit symptoms of attention deficit and hyperactivity. The sample consisted of 110 fifth-grade students from the elementary schools "Knez Ivo od Semberije" and "Sveti Sava" in Bijeljina, aged 10 ± 6 months, both male and female. The first group included 59 students (33 boys and 26 girls) who participated in a programmed kinesiology treatment aimed at improving muscle reaction speed, while the second control group consisted of 51 students (29 boys and 22 girls) who attended physical education classes according to the curriculum set by the Ministry of Education and Culture of the Republic of Srpska, with a weekly fund of 3 classes. All participants were fifth graders from the mentioned schools in Bijeljina. The following exercises were used to assess muscle reaction speed: Lunge, Isometric single-leg squat, Squat, Isometric squat. Electromyography is an indirect diagnostic procedure for assessing electrical activity generated in muscles by nerve impulses that create an action potential in the membrane of the muscle fiber, either at rest or during activation.The results show that in most analyzed variables, no statistically significant differences were observed. In the variable sEmg Lunge, a statistically significant difference was observed at t = -2.42; p = 0.04. To improve neuromuscular reaction speed, the exercise program must focus on the neuromuscular system. To improve reaction speed, a child must not carry significant amounts of subcutaneous fat.