Behind the mask: Attentional focus and coping strategies of elite level fencers.

This study aimed to identify attentional foci and coping strategies of elite fencers during competitive matches, explore the co-occurrences between both, and examine their impact on performance. Twenty-two epeeists (11 males and 11 females) from a national team took part in self-confrontation interviews during two simulated tournaments. Data were analysed using inductive and deductive content analyses.

Striking a balance: Exploring attention, attack accuracy and speed in fencing performance.

In fencing, it remains unclear whether practice enhances visual-spatial attention allocation. We explored whether this ability is improved in fencers and if it is related to attack speed and accuracy. Twelve novices (<1 year of experience) and 12 trained epee fencers (18 ± 10 years of experience) visited the laboratory twice (familiarization and testing session).

Coping profiles of adolescent football players and association with interpersonal coping: Do emotional competence and psychological need satisfaction matter?

Using a person-centered approach, the present study aimed to investigate the coping profiles of adolescent football players involved in elite football training centers. The purposes were to (1) identify coping profiles based on the reported use of multiple coping strategies in response to competitive stress, (2) explore whether emotional competencies and psychological need satisfaction would predict coping profile membership, and (3) examine the extent to which coping profiles were differently associated with individual and team perceived stress, interpersonal coping, and subjective team performance, as well as demographic characteristics. A sample of 416 young French football players (males = 282; females = 134; M  = 16.

An extended validation of the Communal Coping Strategies Inventory for Competitive Team Sports: A multilevel approach.

A questionnaire that can properly measure communal coping in sport is required to further investigate and understand how individuals in a team collectively cope with stressful sport situations. The Communal Coping Strategies Inventory for Competitive Team Sports (CCSICTS; Leprince et al., 2019) needed to be validated at the collective level and in its situational form to be used in broader sport situations.

Fatigue in elite fencing: Effects of a simulated competition.

The fatigue induced by fencing remains scarcely investigated. We aimed to investigate both objective (neuromuscular performance fatigability) and subjective (perceived fatigue, effort, and workload) manifestations of fatigue in elite fencers following a five-bout simulated competition. Changes in countermovement jump height, knee extensors maximal isometric torque, rate of torque development, voluntary activation, and contractile response to muscular electrical stimulation were measured in 29 elite fencers [12 epee (6 women), 11 saber (5 women), and 6 foil].