This study aimed to assess the effect of closure skills on vocabulary acquisition in teaching methods courses for fourth-year sport education students at the Institute of Sport Education in Zakho. The research addressed the gap in literature regarding the impact of closure techniques on specialized vocabulary learning in sport education teacher preparation. An experimental design was employed with 44 students divided into two experimental groups (teacher-led and student-led closure) and one control group. The educational program consisted of 12 instructional units focusing on command, basic positions, and derived positions in sport exercises. Data were collected through achievement tests and analyzed using ANOVA and t-tests. Findings revealed that both teacher-led and student-led closure skills significantly enhanced vocabulary acquisition compared to traditional methods, with no statistically significant difference between the two experimental approaches. The study demonstrated the effectiveness of closure skills in bridging the gap between content knowledge and effective teaching in sport education. These results align with broader educational research on the importance of structured reflection in learning. The comparable efficacy of teacher-led and student-led closure activities suggests flexibility in implementation for educators. Future research should explore long-term retention, technology integration in closure activities, and application across diverse sport education contexts. This study contributes to the refinement of sport education teacher preparation programs and offers insights for enhancing pedagogical practices in the field of physical education.

The study aimed to identify the differences between the theoretical mean and the answers of the research sample in general in the degree of positive thinking and negative thinking among a sample of students practicing and non-practicing sports activities at the University of Zakho. The sample for the current study included (70) students from the Faculty of Education at the University of Zakho, and it was represented by (40) students from the Department of Physical Education who practice sports activities, as well as (30) students from the Department of Psychology who do not practice sports activities. The study conducted using the descriptive method, due to its suitability to the nature of the research. The data processed using (SPSS) as a statistical package by the researcher, and the study resulted in the members of the research sample generally enjoying a high level of positive thought as opposed to negative thought. The results also showed that students who practice sports activities have a higher level of positive thinking than students who do not practice sports activities. Finally, the study showed there are no differences between students who practice sports activities and students who do not practice sports activities in the level of negative thinking. The researcher concluded with a set of recommendations as follows: 1-Conducting periodic tests to evaluate the degrees of positive and negative thinking among students of both departments. 2-Creating a psychological climate that enhances the positive aspects as well as reduces the negative aspects for students of the two sections of the Department of Education at the University of Zakho. 3-The …

Linear smash, a potent offensive weapon in volleyball, demands complex biomechanical coordination and techniques. This study aimed to identify the biokinematic and goniometric variables of a linear smash and explore their relationship with explosive strength during performance. The research sample comprised 11 female volleyball players from the Sanharib Club. Physical tests measured explosive strength through vertical/forward jumps and medicine ball throws. The biokinematic variables included center of mass elevation/displacement, arch depth, movement time, and velocities. Goniometric variables measured the joint angles during execution. The video analysis software extracted variable values during players' smash attempts. Key findings revealed significant inverse correlations between explosive vertical jump strength and horizontal center-of-mass distance (-0.911) and between explosive medicine ball throw strength and horizontal distance (0.891). Additionally, a positive correlation existed between medicine ball throw strength and shoulder joint angle at the maximum arch (0.82). The vertical center of mass elevation was inversely correlated with the forward jump distance (-0.776). Strong but insignificant relationships emerged between variables such as horizontal speed/medicine ball throw and takeoff-landing distance/jump time. The results highlight the importance of the explosive strength for upward/forward propulsion and proper joint angles for efficient energy transfer during smashing. Recommendations include focusing on correlated variables through targeted training, utilizing joint ranges of motion, and incorporating additional biodynamic factors. This study provides insights into optimizing the linear smash through biomechanical analysis and training interventions.