כתב העת “בתנועה”

Perceptions of diving instructors about scuba diving with persons with disability

D. Zigdon, Y. Hutzler

This study presents a qualitative research on the experiences and perceptions of diving instructors about leading and teaching persons with disability in scuba diving. Utilizing content analysis and participant observation, this study explores three themes: (a) motivation for becoming engaged in this activity; (b) coaching the diving; and (c) underwater communication. The insights gained by participants within these three themes may contribute to the improvement of the professional routines during instruction practice, and thereby increase the feasibility of taking part in this challenging leisure-time activity for persons with disability.

Descriptors: Qualitative analysis, in-depth interviews, disability sport, special needs, education, diving.

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The effectiveness of external and internal focus of attention with or without “suggestion” on the performance of a closed, self-paced motor task

A. Subotin, R. Lidor, G. Ziv

This study examined the effectiveness of external and internal focus of attention with or without “suggestion” (i.e., convincing the participant that external focus is beneficial) on the performance of a closed, self-paced motor task. Studies on focus of attention have systematically shown that external focus of attention is preferable over internal focus of attention when performing a closed, self-paced motor task (e.g., golf putting, basketball free-throw shooting, dart throwing) in both beginners and experts. One of the proposed explanations for the advantages of external focus of attention is the automation of movement. However, at least one study has found that suggestion, and not necessarily focus of attention, improves performance. Therefore, it is not yet clear whether external focus of attention is the sole factor that influences skill performance, or whether suggestion is also a contributing factor. The main objective of our study was to examine whether suggestion affects the internal and external focus in the same way when performing a dart-throwing task. Fifty-six physical education students were divided into four experimental groups (internal focus, external focus, internal focus + suggestion, external focus + suggestion), and performed the task in two sessions: the first session included skill acquisition, and the second session one week later included retention and transfer tests. In both sessions absolute error, variable error, the number of misses, and the number of participants who hit bullseye were measured. The results showed a significant improvement in absolute error and variable error, and a reduction in the number of misses in all groups. In addition, eight participants from the external focus of attention group hit the bullseye in contrast to only one participant from the internal focus of attention group. The findings did not support the study's hypotheses. One of the possible explanations for the disparity between the results of previous studies and the results of the current study is the difficulty level of the task. It seems that the task was too difficult for most of the participants, and therefore the cognitive guidance failed to lead to significant improvement.

Descriptors: Focusing attention, internal focus, external focus, suggestion, closed task.

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Exercise at leisure and during situational anxiety among children living in the confrontation line in Israel compared to children living in the center of the country

M. Shachaf, M. Sheleg

Studies indicate that physical activity contributes to both physical and mental health. Residents living on a confrontation line live in a reality where the security situation adversely affects their level of anxiety. The research literature shows that exercise helps to reduce anxiety. Therefore, in this study we wanted to examine whether children living in Israeli settlements around the Gaza Strip differed from children living in the center of the country in the number of hours devoted per week to physical activity and to sedentary activity with screens, their attitudes towards exercise, and the level of state anxiety. Sixty children in 5th-6th grades took part in the study, 30 from Israeli settlements around the Gaza Strip and 30 from the center of Israel. Based on the research's findings, which were collected during a cease-fire, it appears that children living in Israeli settlements around the Gaza Strip did not differ from the children living in the center in the number of weekly hours devoted to physical activity and screen activities, in their attitudes about physical activity, or in their and anxiety level. Based on the research's findings, it appears that children with high levels of physical activity report low levels of anxiety. More than that, children who participate in additional physical activity have more positive attitudes towards the contribution of physical activity to their health, release of stress, and pleasure. In addition, the more children believe that exercise contributes to their health, their activity time increases and their screen time decreases. Furthermore, the more children think that exercise contributes to their enjoyment and release of stress, their physical activity time increases.

Descriptors:  Anxiety, physical activity, Gaza Strip, confrontation line, screen time.

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Maccabi Jaffa 1949-1959: Founding and institutionalization

Baruch Furman

In the first decade of the establishment of the State of Israel, the oldest football clubs ruled the scene. The senior league (then League A) was composed of veteran and well-established clubs such as Maccabi Tel Aviv, Hapoel Tel Aviv, Maccabi Rehovot, Maccabi, and Hapoel Haifa – whose histories began years before the establishment of the State of Israel. Only in 1955 did one club, which represented a group of immigrants and did not come from the "old Yishuv", succeed in entering the upper league. It was the Maccabi Jaffa club. The success of the Maccabi Jaffa football club in the first decade of the State raises a great deal of interest because of the political struggles between the major sports organizations. These struggles ended most of the time with the hand of the Hapoel organization on top. The Maccabi union was on top only in Jaffa, mainly due to the success of the Maccabi Jaffa football club which played for 51 years in row in the upper leagues. This article attempts to analyze the processes that led to this success for so many years: how the group was established, the special connection between the team and the Bulgarian community in Jaffa, and other processes that contributed to its winning achievements.

Descriptors: Maccabi Jaffa, immigration of Jews from Bulgaria to Israel, "abandoned property", Bulgarianjews.org.il.

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Basic personal fitness tests in the Israel Defense Forces, 1948-2015: Development and critical assessment

D. Ben-Sira, E. Yanovich, N. Sharvit, D. Ben-Dov, O. Gil

The level of physical fitness in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) is an important component in the total fitness of the individual soldier, as well as of the whole unit.  A variety of physical and combat fitness tests exist for the purposes of control, monitoring and qualification. The aim of this review is to describe the historical development of the basic personal fitness test in the IDF and to assess the rationale for the modification that took place in 2014. The review is based primarily on official documents of the IDF authorities who were in charge of combat fitness. The review includes a critical analysis of the tests, of the ongoing modifications of their structure, and of the standards for performance evaluation. The discussion includes a critical assessment of the validity of the tests’ composition as well as the criteria for gauging the results of the tests in relation to their declared purposes, such as gathering information regarding the physical capacity of the individual soldier as well as the whole unit; monitoring the implementation and the quality of the training program; monitoring the physical load  at various stages of the military service; challenging the soldier to improve his/her physical fitness; requiring the tests for qualification in military courses and training; promoting awareness of the value of physical activity as part of a healthful lifestyle; and, encouraging soldiers to exercise and to improve their physical ability by means of an award system. As a whole, the criterion validity of the tests with regard to the declared goals is not well established and lacks documented evidence.

Descriptors: Physical fitness tests, IDF, validity.

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