SCIENCE OF GYMNASTICS JOURNAL
Vol. 4 Issue 3 2012
EDITORIAL
Dear friends,
Today we are celebrating our 10th issue of the Science of Gymnastics Journal. As this is our last issue in 2012 it is time to look back and evaluate the year. In 2012, we have published 20 articles and more than 17,000 people visited our web page. In August we received a Letter of Acceptance from the Elsevier's SCOPUS database. Along Thomson Reuters Web of Knowledge, this is the most influential science database. Last year the Journal was entered in the Copernicus Index. For 2011, our score was 5.09 which place us in the top half of scientific journals in the physical education area. In SCOPUS and Web of Knowledge, the Journal has already been quoted by other researchers. This is a source of great pride for our team and we hope the trend will continue. For those of you who would like to quote the Journal - its abbreviation in Web of Knowledge is SCI GYMNASTICS J. Notice for authors and reviewers: from now on we are using ScholarOne ( http://mc.manuscriptcentral.com/sgj ).
The Olympic Games in London were the biggest event this year for gymnastics fans. I was in London and was thrilled to watch the gymnastics competitions (artistic, rhythmic, trampoline). The FIG President, Mr Bruno Grandi, made an excellent overview of the good and the bad sides of gymnastics at the Games. This may inspire researchers to analyze the bad sides so that we can improve our sport. Additionally, it would be interesting to study (in my opinion) the most difficult combination of elements ever performed from the motor control perspective. On the high bar, Epke Zonderland connected Casina, Kovacs and Kolman salto. Simon Trček, a talented young Slovenian photographer, took a number of excellent photos of Epke Zonderland during the FIG Challenge Cup in Maribor (Slovenia) in spring 2012 where Epke performed the same combination. Simon donated one of his photos to our Journal for you to enjoy Epke's virtuosity and enourmous motor control.
The first article in this issue is from the rhytmic gymnastics. Portugese authors Susana Corujeira, Rita Santos Silva, Tiago Vieira, Claudia Dias, Eunice Lebre, and Carla Rego found that competitive gymnastics affects the body composition but does not appear to compromise the nutritional status, the normal progression of puberty, bone mass and genetically defined final height. These results question the concept of simultaneous presence of malnutrition, amenorrhea and osteoporosis (FAT).
The second article is from Greece. Miltiadis Proios conducted a study on the athletic identity and achievement goals of gymnasts.
The third article comes from Slovenia. Marjeta Kovač tested the reliability and objectivity of gymnastics knowledge tests for use in schools. Similar tests can also be used in other sports.
The Portuguese, Canadian and Spanish team of authors: Lurdes Avila-Carvalho, Panaginota Klentrou, Maria da Luz Palomero and Eunice Lebre, contributed the fourth article in which they analyzed handling, throws, catches and collaborations in elite group rhythmic gymnastics. The article offers a number of suggestions which could improve the Code of Points.
The fifth article is from Slovenia and USA and deal with media and television in particular. Simon Ličen and Andrew C. Billings scrutinized Slovenian TV presenters reporting on gymnastics.
The sixth article comes from Tunisia and United Kingdom; authors are from Bessem Mkaouer, Monem Jemni, Samiha Amara, Helmi Chaaben and Zouhair Tabka; interesting article about take off from different tasks.
The last article comes from a Slovak and Czech group of authors lead by Anton Gajdoš along with Marie Provaznikova, Karel Bednar and Stephen J. Banjak and is the continuation of their article in the previous issue on the 150th anniversary of the first Sokol Club in Prague.
I wish you pleasant reading and a lot of inspiration for new research projects and articles,
Ivan Čuk Editor-in-Chief
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