Annals of Applied Sport Science

Background. The outbreak of Coronavirus-19 or COVID-19 has detrimental effects on the sports industry. Cancellation of sports training and competitions, movement restriction, and social isolation present an emotional challenge for athletes.
Objectives. This cross-sectional study examined the prevalence of emotional distress among athletes during the MCO of Covid-19 in Malaysia.
Methods. 224 male and 264 female athletes participated in this study in May 2020. The majority of the participants were archers (20.7%), followed by athletics (12.9), netball (8.4%), and badminton (6.6%). An online survey was employed, which consists of three measures: (a) demographic information, (b) Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale -21, and (c) Kessler Psychological Distress Scale - 10.
Results. The results indicated that 7.2% (N=35) of the participants reported severe to extremely severe stress, 20.5% (N=100) of participants experienced severe to extremely severe anxiety, and 10% (N=49) participants reported severe to extremely severe depression. Moreover, Chi-Square analysis revealed no significant differences between the level of stress, anxiety, and depression based on age, gender, and category of sports (individual vs. team sports), except for gender and depression (X2 (4, N=488) = 12.18, P= 0.016). More female athletes reported severe depression (20.3%) compared to male athletes (13.4%).
Conclusion. This finding suggests further assessment, monitoring, and treatment plan for athletes, especially female athletes, to ensure their mental health and emotional wellbeing during this Covid19 pandemic.

Background. In order to be successful in sports, coaches, and athletes must work together. As a result, they play an important role in maintaining their relationship.
Objectives. This cross-sectional study determines the athletes’ relationship toward coaches in Malaysia.
Methods. This study included 168 male athletes and 195 female athletes. Archers made up the majority of the participants (12.4%), followed by athletes in athletics (8.8%), petanque (8.8%), and pencak silat (8.5%). An online survey was used, with two measures included: (a) demographics and (b) the Coach-Athlete Relationship Questionnaire (CART-Q).
Results. According to the findings, the athletes have a stronger bond with their coaches. Furthermore, it revealed a significant difference in commitment between males and females and years of experience with a coach. Male athletes are more committed to their coaches than female athletes (t = 2.39, p = 0.02). Athletes who have trained with a coach for more than ten years are found to be more committed to their coach. (t = -2.52, p = 0.01). It reveals a significant difference in complementarity to training time per week (11-20 hours and 21-35 hours) between groups of athletes (F2, 360 = 3.03, p < 0.05).
Conclusion. Findings suggest that additional assessment, monitoring, and treatment plans be developed for athletes, particularly female athletes, and young athletes, to ensure that their psychosocial support is prioritized in the process of building a good social network in a relationship that involves processes to influence each other.

Background. Archery is a sport that requires a unique set of skills, equipment, and mental focus.
Objectives. The aim of this study was a compare characteristics of psychophysiological and shooting performance between intermediate and elite compound archers.
Methods. Using a cross-sectional study design, twenty archery players participated in the study (age range from 13–21 years old). The participants were divided into two groups: intermediate groups and elite groups. The revised Competitive State Anxiety-2 (CSAI-2R) was used to measure competitive anxiety and arousal. In addition, heart rate was measured using a Polar heart rate monitor, and a digital pulse oximeter (Instant Read Finger Pulse Oximeter, Model OX250, MeasuPro, USA) was used to monitor participants’ blood oxygen percentage.
Results. The results of the groups were compared using descriptive, independent T-test and Pearson correlation tests. The descriptive analysis indicated a pattern of decrement in cognitive anxiety, somatic anxiety, blood oxygen, and heart rate among the elite group compared to the intermediate group during shooting. The results also showed a significant difference between groups for oxygen percentage and shooting performance. No significant difference between groups for cognitive anxiety, somatic anxiety, self-confidence, and heart rate. Furthermore, self-confidence and shooting performance showed a higher correlation among the elite group.
Conclusion. It can be concluded that the elite archers with better shooting scores are associated with lower psychophysiological variables, including cognitive anxiety, somatic anxiety, blood oxygen percentage, heart rate, and higher self-confidence compared to intermediate archers.

Background. Sports performance is the way sports participation is measured. Sports performance is a complex mixture of biomechanical function, emotional factors, training techniques, tactics, and many other aspects.
Objectives. This research aimed to examine the muscle activation of compound archers during shooting.
Methods. Twenty-four compound archers, consisting of 10 males and 14 females, who met the inclusion criteria were included in the study. Athletes were divided into three according to their shooting score. A wireless surface EMG system (Trigno EMG sensor, Delsys Inc., USA) measured activity on the middle deltoid, posterior deltoid, middle trapezius, lower trapezius, triceps, and anconeus muscles. The measurement was recorded of nine shots, and the distance between the archers and the target was 18m.
Results. There was no statistically significant difference between the elite, intermediate, and junior compound archers. No significant difference was found between the genders upon comparing muscle use during shooting. However, in terms of percentages, compound archers employed the most sustained contractions of the posterior deltoid, middle trapezius, anconeus, and lower trapezius muscles when shooting. During shooting, they also used the most prolonged contraction of the posterior deltoid, middle trapezius, anconeus, and lower trapezius muscles.
Conclusion. It can be concluded that these three findings show the same trend toward using muscles among compound archers during shooting. Therefore, more research on compound categories needs to be conducted to further findings and comparisons in the future.