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The relative age effect (RAE) describes the physical and cognitive (dis)advantages experienced by athletes based upon when their birthdate falls relative to a pre-established cut-off date. Despite RAEs being present in a number of sports, few studies have explored how relative age influences the positive youth development (PYD) of athletes. This study examined the mechanisms that facilitate and hinder athletes' acquisition of PYD outcomes and whether these are influenced by relative age. A secondary objective included determining how athletes employed these skills in other contexts. Twenty competitive female ice hockey players were interviewed (mage = 17. 2 years). Thematic analyses revealed that all athletes, regardless of their relative age, developed a range of PYD outcomes in the personal, physical, and social domains, and have applied these skills in a variety of contexts outside of sport. Across relative younger and older athletes, three interrelated themes emerged and served as the overarching mechanisms that facilitated or hindered athletes' development of PYD outcomes: the social features of the sport environment, the structure of female travel/rep ice hockey, and negative ice hockey experiences. Our findings have implications for creating sport environments that foster PYD. Keywords: positive youth development; relative age effect; female ice hockey; negative developmental experiences; qualitative research, Within sport, it is common practice for athletes to be categorized by chronological age (Baker et al., 2010; Musch & Grondin, 2001) to ensure fairness in competition, age-appropriate instruction, and [...]

Relative age effects (RAEs) explain the (dis)advantages individuals experience as a result of when they are born relative to a pre-determined cut-off date. Within an interuniversity setting, academic timing (AT) may moderate the RAE pattern due to some student-athletes having eligibility years that do not correspond with their birth years. The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of the RAE and AT on interuniversity football players. A series of chi-square goodness of fit tests (?2) revealed no RAE when all student-athletes were analyzed together as well as among those who were delayed (i.e. eligibility years that correspond with a younger cohort), and a traditional RAE among those who were on-time (i.e. eligibility years that correspond with their year of birth). Student-athletes ranged between 1 and 12 years delayed, with the majority of these athletes being delayed by one (30.76%) or two years (30.97%). This study suggests that there may be advantages to student-athletes delaying their participation within football, as these delays may help mitigate the overall RAE by equalizing playing opportunities for relatively younger student-athletes. However, delaying eligibility raises concerns about equity, particularly for those progressing to interuniversity football directly out of high school who may have to compete for roster spots against student-athletes who may be up to 12 years delayed.

Copyright of Journal on Developmental Disabilities is the property of Ontario Association on Developmental Disabilities and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

In an attempt to offset the widespread anticipated impact of aging populations, active aging programs have become nearly ubiquitous in Western society. Nonetheless, older adults tend to remain relatively inactive. The perspectives of older adults constitute a key resource to help guide active aging efforts. Moreover, gender-sensitized and ecological approaches to physical activity programming may contribute markedly to the efficacy and inclusiveness of such initiatives. Considering the paucity of research regarding older men's suggestions for physical activity programs, this study involved semistructured interviews to ascertain the perceptions among 19 older men (aged 75–90 years). Through a thematic analysis, seven key attributes emerged that participants believed physical activity programs should possess: affordable, available, accessible, adapted, alternative, accompanied, and awareness. The complexities and implications pertaining to these attributes are discussed in the context of ecological theory and ideals of masculinity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this paper is to examine the talk of older athletes, with particular focus on how the context of sport helps them negotiate the ageing process. It draws on personal stories provided by 44 World Masters Games competitors (23 women; 21 men; aged 56-90 years; "M" = 72). Four themes emerged: "There's no such thing as old" (a story of avoiding old age); "Keep moving" (a story of fighting the ageing process); "Fun, fitness, friendship... [and] competing" (a story of redefining self and "old age") and; "Making the most of your life... with the capabilities that you still have" (a story of adaptation and acceptance). Together, the four themes show how through sports participation older individuals can simultaneously resist, redefine and accept the ageing process. These stories of a "sporting later life" allow for alternative meanings to the dominant "declining body" narrative of ageing. Therefore, these narratives present the possibility for personal, pedagogical and social transformation.

The current investigation examined the impact of academic timing and the relative age effect (RAE) in men's and women's intercollegiate basketball. Academic timing is particularly important in the context of intercollegiate sport, and has received very little attention since Glamser and Marciani (1992) introduced the topic in this journal more than two decades ago. When a student's actual athletic eligibility year is consistent with her or his anticipated athletic eligibility year (based on year of birth), she or he is classified as 'on-time.' Those whose actual athletic eligibility years coincide with a younger age cohort are categorized as 'delayed.' The birthdates of 475 female and 429 male National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division 1 basketball players were collected from the rosters of top-ranked teams and identified as either on-time or delayed based on their birth date and eligibility status. Chi-square goodness of fits tests ([X.sup.2]) were used to compare the distribution of birthdates for the female and male student-athletes with that expected within the United States across each quartile. The analyses revealed that on-time student-athletes were more commonly born in the early months of the selection year whereas delayed student-athletes were more likely to be born in the latter months. Our results suggest that on-time student-athletes born late in the selection year are disadvantaged and that delaying entrance to university may be an option for equalizing the playing field and/or gaining an advantage., Children are traditionally placed into age cohorts as an organizational strategy within educational and sport systems. This categorization is an attempt to ensure equal opportunity and fairness, yet evidence suggests [...]

Previous research suggests that seniors' short-term performance is affected by stereotype threat--defined as a situation in which an individual is at risk of confirming a negative characterization about one's group. The current study attempted to replicate and extend these findings to areas of cognitive and physical functioning considered important to seniors' quality of life and known to decline with age. In total, 99 seniors were tested on six dependent measures: recall performance, reaction time, grip strength, flexibility, walking speed, and self-concept. While seniors were affected by the stereotype intervention, they suffered no performance decrements on the main dependent measures. This raises the intriguing possibility that a certain segment of seniors may be immune to popular stereotypes of aging. (Contains 3 tables.)

This paper reports the results of two studies. The purpose of the first study was to determine if lifestyle variables and past involvement in physical activity was related to current activity levels in master athletes and sedentary older adults. Retrospective interviews were conducted with 12 master athletes and 12 sedentary older adults. Results demonstrated that education level, spouse participation, smoking, and recent physical activity levels were indicators of current involvement. The second study investigated the reliability of the data collected in the retrospective interviews. Similar to results with younger samples, we confirm that lifestyle variables and physical activity involvement could be accurately recalled for a period of 25 years, making this tool a useful addition for the study of physical activity in older adults. (Contains 1 table and 2 figures.)

Research suggests there is a connection between stereotypes, beliefs, and behavior in older individuals. To explore this link of stereotypes affecting beliefs and beliefs affecting behavior, we interviewed young (age 60 to 75) seniors in an effort to further examine these relationships. Semistructured qualitative interviews were conducted with 20 seniors. Questions focused on the broad themes of aging stereotypes and attitudes towards active living. Responses from the participants indicated the variety of opinions and beliefs seniors hold about the aging process. Intriguing results emerged on the topic of role models. Participants often had someone in their lives who represented what it means to age successfully. Generally, this was an individual older than themselves, active, vigorous, and illustrative of the high quality of life that is possible into a very late age. In addition, these individuals provide a direct contrast to the most negative stereotypes of aging. (Contains 1 table.)

Understanding later-life role model choice and motivations, particularly for older men in sport, exercise, and health contexts, is complex and heterogenous, making it difficult for health and exercise promotion initiatives. This qualitative study examined: (1) whether older men have aging role models, and if so, their characteristics; and (2) older men's reasons for role model choice, or lack thereof, and how role models can influence meaningful change in perceptions and practices associated with aging, sport, exercise, and health. Through in-depth interviews and photo-elicitation with 19 Canadian men aged 75 years and over, thematic analysis determined two key themes: Role model choice, and Processes of role models facilitating change. Four key strategies for role models facilitating change in older men were determined: elite (biomedical) transcendence; valued exemplary endeavours; alliance connections; and disconnect and caveats. Ultimately, while promoting the biomedical achievements of role models may resonate with many older men, when applied too closely in sport or exercise contexts (e.g., using Masters athletes as role models), there is potential for unrealistic standards and overmedicalization that could miss uncovering the latent importance that older men place on the diverse experiences and perspectives of aging that go beyond traditional masculine ideals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sport scientists have examined numerous factors influencing the acquisition and manifestation of high levels of performance. These factors can be divided into variables having a primary influence on expertise and variables that have a secondary influence through their interaction with other variables. Primary influences on expertise include genetic, training, and psychological factors while secondary influences include socio-cultural and contextual elements. This paper reviews the factors affecting the development of expert performance in sport and suggests directions for future research.

A major concern in the context of aging populations is improving patterns of active leisure involvement. However, there is insufficient knowledge pertaining to the relationship between successful aging and active leisure. Preliminary evidence indicates older Canadian women have varying beliefs about the ways they can age successfully and the role physical activity may have in this process. To more fully inform health promotion initiatives, the current study explored the related perspectives of 19 older Canadian men (75–90 years of age) who varied in their level of physical activity involvement. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and analyzed through the use of standard coding and comparison procedures. Overall, older men appeared to also use multiple perspectives to frame the intersection of successful aging and physically active leisure. Researchers, practitioners, and policy makers should be aware of these nuances so that aging-related programs and policies may be tailored accordingly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite their prevalence, the longitudinal impacts of relative age effects (RAEs) on sport and other forms of physical activity (PA) are understudied. This study examined longitudinal participation patterns in organized sport (team and individual), unorganized PA, and non-participation with respect to RAEs in a prospective cohort of adolescents. Data from the first 24 cycles of the MATCH study were used for analyses. Elementary students (n = 929) were recruited from 17 schools in Atlantic Canada. Respondents self-reported PA three times/year. Mixed multilevel logistic models compared the likelihood of participating in each context across birth quarter. Chronological age and gender were considered, along with the interaction between chronological and relative age. Individuals born in Quarter 1/Quarter 2 were more likely to report participation in organized team sport but not individual sports. Relatively older participants born in Quarter 2 were more likely to report participation in unorganized PA. Increasing chronological age was associated with decreased participation in organized sport (particularly team-based) and increased non-participation. Gender was not associated with organized sport participation, but girls were under-represented in unorganized PA and more likely to report non-participation. The interaction parameters suggested that RAEs were consistent throughout adolescence in each context. Longitudinal analyses suggest RAEs are context dependent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal on Developmental Disabilities is the property of Ontario Association on Developmental Disabilities and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This investigation makes three noteworthy contributions to literature on the Relative Age Effect (RAE); 1) it adds to the small number of studies in women's sports, 2) it is one of very few papers to examine the RAE in intercollegiate athletics, and 3) it (re-)introduces "academic timing" to the discussion of RAEs in this context. The 50 top-ranked NCAA Division I women's softball teams at the conclusion of the 2011 season served as the focus for this investigation. Student-athletes were grouped into quartiles according to their birth date and identified as "on-time" or "academically delayed" based on their birth year and eligibility status. On-time student-athletes were over four times more likely to be born in quartile one than in quartile four, demonstrating a traditional RAE. This pattern was reversed for those who were academically delayed, with quartile four birth dates constituting more than half of the entire sample. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined the moderating effects of academic timing on the relative age effect in men's and women's U Sports (formerly Canadian Interuniversity Sports) volleyball. Interuniversity sport exists within an academic setting and encompasses different age groups within a single team, making it necessary to account for the academic timing of student athletes when studying the relative age effect. To be considered "on-time," a student athlete's birthdate and expected athletic eligibility status must coincide, while a "delayed" student athlete will have an athletic eligibility corresponding with a younger cohort. We collected birthdates and eligibility years from the U Sports eligibility certificates of 2,780 male and 3,715 female athletes for the years 2006–2007 through 2013–2014; we then classified athletes as either on-time or delayed. We used a chi-square (χ2) goodness-of-fit tests to compare the observed distributions of student athletes' actual versus "expected" births across each quartile. Our analyses demonstrated an advantage for athletes born in the first half of the selection year. These results suggest that delaying entry into university may help equalize the playing field for relatively younger athletes wishing to compete in U Sports volleyball. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sporting events for older adults are proliferating in both popularity and participation numbers, mirroring the growth that is occurring globally with an aging population. Preliminary evidence indicates that older athletes have a tendency to compare themselves (in terms of their performance, participation, and aging) to inactive older adults deemed "worse-off." Our aim was to examine the stories and experiences of older, male Masters athletes, not only in terms of their own lives and in relation to others but also in the broader context of current (neoliberal) policies that promote sport across the lifespan. We use social comparison theory to interpret our findings and highlight the strengths and limitations of social comparison as a psychological strategy. For this study, 17 male competitive athletes (age range from 70 to 90 years) who participated in either the 2013 or 2017 World Masters Games were interviewed as part of a larger project on the meaning of sport in their lives. Seven different sports were represented, and participants hailed from multiple countries. Within the interpretive paradigm, we used qualitative methods to interview each participant, analyze individual transcripts, and develop common themes across the data set to address the aforementioned aims. Our two major themes were, Sport as social comparison: "It's the competitive nature" and Downward comparisons. A number of participants commented on the nature of sport, and competitive sport in particular, as being important to their motivation to train and prepare. Within the theme of Downward comparisons , we established two categories: Resisting loss and Assigning blame. While downward comparisons were used by our participants to separate themselves from other seniors of the same age, thereby bolstering their sense of self, participants also tied those comparisons to neoliberal notions of individual and moral responsibility for health. Participants believed that compromised health was due to individual negligence and bad decisions, with little reference to uncontrollable factors, such as non-modifiable risk factors for disease, disability, and/or socioeconomic status, which could be affecting people's lives or decisions. Ultimately, our findings show that the useful psychological strategy of social comparison for maintaining a positive sense of self and performance may also have some negative individual and societal consequences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Demographic studies indicate a remarkable aging trend in North America. An accurate profile of the decline in physical and cognitive capabilities over time is essential to our understanding of the aging process. This study examined the maintenance of skilled performance across the careers of 96 professional golfers. Data were collected on scoring average, driving distance, driving accuracy, greens in regulation, putts per round, and number of competitive rounds played using online data archives. Analyses indicate that performance in this activity can be maintained to a greater extent than in activities relying on biologically constrained abilities. Although the generalizability of these results to "normal" aging populations is not known, they suggest that acquired skills can be maintained to a large extent in the face of advancing age. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Relative age effects (RAEs) explain the (dis)advantages individuals experience as a result of when they are born relative to a pre-determined cut-off date. Within an interuniversity setting, academic timing (AT) may moderate the RAE pattern due to some student-athletes having eligibility years that do not correspond with their birth years. The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of the RAE and AT on interuniversity football players. A series of chi-square goodness of fit tests (χ2) revealed no RAE when all student-athletes were analyzed together as well as among those who were delayed (i.e. eligibility years that correspond with a younger cohort), and a traditional RAE among those who were on-time (i.e. eligibility years that correspond with their year of birth). Student-athletes ranged between 1 and 12 years delayed, with the majority of these athletes being delayed by one (30.76%) or two years (30.97%). This study suggests that there may be advantages to student-athletes delaying their participation within football, as these delays may help mitigate the overall RAE by equalizing playing opportunities for relatively younger student-athletes. However, delaying eligibility raises concerns about equity, particularly for those progressing to interuniversity football directly out of high school who may have to compete for roster spots against student-athletes who may be up to 12 years delayed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined the role of relative age on leadership behaviors among male house league ice hockey players. Athletes completed an online survey that solicited their birthdate along with their responses to the leadership scale for sport. As expected, the results of our analyses revealed no relative age effects. Captains scored significantly higher on the training and instruction, democratic behavior and social support dimensions of the leadership scale for sport. While there were significant multivariate differences between birth quartile and the dimensions of leadership, a relative weight analysis revealed that quartile of birth did not differ significantly on any of these dimensions. Thus, male house league hockey players are not (dis)advantaged in terms of their leadership behaviors as a consequence of relative age. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although sport is promoted as a vehicle to enhance health and well-being throughout the life course, little is known about the psychosocial benefits and costs associated with sport participation in older adulthood. A mixed studies systematic review of English-language, peer-reviewed, original research articles (from the earliest record until March 2015) was undertaken to identify psychosocial outcomes of sport for adults over age 65 and to determine whether sport provides psychosocial outcomes that are distinct from other forms of physical activity. Results suggest sport involvement later in life was related to ageing, cognitive/perceptual, emotional, social, and motivational outcomes but it remains unclear whether these effects were solely related to participation in sport. Additional work with increased attention to methodological design and participant recruitment is needed to better understand psychosocial outcomes of older adults’ sport participation and to inform potential interventions. Recommendations to enhance the quality of future studies in the area are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Opportunities for older adults in Western countries, particularly women, to participate in physically demanding, competitive sports have increased since the 1960s. Now, coinciding with the neoliberal shift in social policy, older adults live at a time when physical activity is highly encouraged through ‘healthy or active ageing’ discourses in media, policy policies and the sport/exercise sciences. This study sought to understand how 63 Masters athletes (aged 60 and over) explain their participation in sport and, in particular, the extent to which they use neoliberal language of personal moral responsibility and economic efficiency to explain their own participation and the non-participation of older adults in sport. While degrees of moral talk were evident in the older athlete responses, in almost all cases, non-participation in sport was seen as irrational and in need of explanation. Overall, our findings suggest that older people’s participation in sport has been, or at least is in the process of being, normalized among participants in Masters sport. We discuss how this changing idea about sport and ageing might reshape social policy, as well as social relationships, between older people and the state and between different groups of older people. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Purpose:There has been an increase in research on the effect that virtual reality (VR) can have on physical rehabilitation following stroke. However, research exploring participant perceptions of VR for post-stroke rehabilitation has been limited. Method:Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 10 chronic stroke participants (10 males, mean age = 72.1, mean time since injury = 38.6 mos.) who had recently completed an upper extremity VR stroke rehabilitation programme. Results:Four main themes emerged: ‘the VR experience,’ ‘functional outcomes,’ ‘instruction,’ and the ‘future of VR in stroke rehabilitation,’ along with nine sub-themes. Participants illustrated the positive impact that VR training had on their functional abilities as well as their confidence towards completing activities of daily living (ADL). Participants also expressed the need for increased rehabilitation opportunities within the community. Conclusion:Overall, participants were optimistic about their experience with VR training and all reported that they had perceived functional gain. VR is an enjoyable rehabilitation tool that can increase a stroke survivor’s confidence towards completing ADL.Implications for RehabilitationAlthough there is an increase in rehabilitation programmes geared towards those with chronic stroke, we must also consider the participants’ perception of those programmes.Incorporating participant feedback may increase enjoyment and adherence to the rehabilitation programmes.The VR experience, as well as provision of feedback and instruction, are important aspects to consider when developing a VR programme for stroke survivors.VR for rehabilitation may be a feasible tool for increasing the survivors’ confidence in completing ADL post-stroke. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current investigation examined the impact of academic timing and the relative age effect (RAE) in men's and women's intercollegiate basketball. Academic timing is particularly important in the context of intercollegiate sport, and has received very little attention since Glamser and Marciani (1992) introduced the topic in this journal more than two decades ago. When a student's actual athletic eligibility year is consistent with her or his anticipated athletic eligibility year (based on year of birth), she or he is classified as 'on-time.' Those whose actual athletic eligibility years coincide with a younger age cohort are categorized as 'delayed.' The birthdates of 475 female and 429 male National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I basketball players were collected from the rosters of top-ranked teams and identified as either on-time or delayed based on their birth date and eligibility status. Chi-square goodness of fits tests (X²) were used to compare the distribution of birthdates for the female and male student-athletes with that expected within the United States across each quartile. The analyses revealed that on-time student-athletes were more commonly born in the early months of the selection year whereas delayed student-athletes were more likely to be born in the latter months. Our results suggest that on-time student-athletes born late in the selection year are disadvantaged and that delaying entrance to university may be an option for equalizing the playing field and/or gaining an advantage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study employed an intervention involving motor skills training, whole body exercise, and sports and games to improve manual motor skills and reaction time in a group of adults with autism spectrum disorder and an intellectual disability (ASD-ID). Eleven adults with ASD-ID engaged in this intervention for 90 minutes twice a week, for 12 weeks. Modified versions of the 25 Grooved Pegboard, Box and Block, and Stick Catching Tests measured fine and gross motor skills and reaction time, respectively. Motor skills were evaluated at the beginning, middle, and end of the program, and following 4 weeks with no training. Trends indicating improvement in motor skills were evident, but participant difficulties in performing the Stick Catching Test made assessment of reaction time challenging. Despite this, many findings of practical significance emerged from this study, which demonstrated a viable model for implementation of similar programs with multiple participants. Given the importance of motor skills for independence, safety, and quality of life, more research on activities that promote the development of these skills in adults with ASD-ID is warranted. Understanding how to facilitate motor skill development in these individuals will assist them in becoming more active in the community and more independent around their homes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of commercial gaming as an intervention for fine motor recovery in chronic stroke.Methods: Ten chronic phase post-stroke participants (mean time since CVA = 39 mos; mean age = 72 yrs) completed a 16-session program using the Nintendo Wii for 15 min two times per week with their more affected hand (10 right handed). Functional recovery (Jebsen Hand Function Test (JHFT), Box and Block Test (BBT), Nine Hole Peg Test (NHPT)), and quality of life (QOL; Stroke Impact Scale (SIS)) were measured at baseline (pre-testing), after 8 sessions (mid-testing) and after 16 sessions (post-testing).Results: Significant improvements were found with the JHFT, BBT and NHPT from pre-testing to post-testing (p = 0.03,p = 0.03,p = 0.01,respectively). As well, there was an increase in perceived QOL from pre-testing to post-testing, as determined by the SIS (p = 0.009).Conclusion: Commercial gaming may be a viable resource for those with chronic stroke. Future research should examine the feasibility of this as a rehabilitation tool for this population.Implications for RehabilitationStroke survivors often live with lasting effects from their injury, however, those with chronic stroke generally receive little to no rehabilitation due to a perceived motor recovery plateau.Virtual reality in the form of commercial gaming is a novel and motivating way for clients to complete rehabilitation.The Nintendo Wii may be a feasible device to improve both functional ability and perceived quality of life in chronic stroke survivors. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Background: Multiple Sclerosis is an autoimmune disease that affects more than 2.3 million people around the world. Symptoms are numerous and varied, often having a profound effect on activities of daily living. While for many years individuals with MS were told to avoid exercise for fear of worsening their symptoms, recent research has emphasized the multi-faceted benefits associated with regular physical activity. Given the strain that MS can put on family and interpersonal relationships, the intention of this study was to investigate the exercise experiences of individuals with MS and the extent to which these experiences affect, or are affected by, their spousal relationship. Methods: In-depth qualitative interviews were conducted with 10 individuals, five with MS, along with each of their spouses, in order to gain a comprehensive understanding of living and exercising with the disease. An inductive approach was used to analyze the interview data. Results: The results displayed the important physical, psychological, and social benefits of involvement in an exercise program. Spouses help to counteract barriers and facilitate exercise, and are well aware of the integral role they play in their partner's health and well-being. Spouses also valued the increased independence they gained, in the form of reduced care-giving responsibilities and enhanced social opportunities, as a result of the improved physical function of their partner. These findings contrast the severe strain on spousal relationships that is often reported in studies on people living with MS. Conclusions: Rather than an inexorable downward decline in physical ability that is common with MS, participants spoke of a positive reversal in physical function, which has had far-reaching implications for multiple aspects of their lives, including their psychological outlook, their sense of independence, overcoming isolation, and their relationship with their spouse, all of which are identified in the literature as notable aspects of life affected by the disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Motor impairments have been acknowledged as a symptom of autism spectrum disorder (ASD); however, few reliable measures of motor control are available for individuals with ASD, particularly for adults. This study examined the reliability of four Jebsen Test of Hand Function (JTHF) subtests ("card turning," "small common objects," "checkers," "heavy cans") for adults with ASD and an intellectual disability (ASD-ID). Eleven adults with ASD-ID completed these four subtests weekly for three consecutive weeks. Absolute agreement intraclass correlations (ICC) revealed high test re-test reliability for each subtest (ICC > 0.90). These subtests of the JTHF are recommended to monitor change in hand function during motor control interventions designed for adults with ASD-ID. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The relative age effect (RAE) has become a well-studied consequence of organizations utilizing a cutoff date to establish age cohorts. Within this case study, students will explore and learn how to perform various statistical analyses (i.e., chi-square, effect sizes, standardized residuals) to determine whether the RAE exists among those who competed in the 2011 and 2012 Little League World Series (LLWS). Students will learn about the mission and history of Little League Baseball (LLB) and discuss potential changes and/or strategies that could be used by the organization to make the LLWS more inclusive. Furthermore, students can use the knowledge gained from this case study to critically analyze the current status of various other sport organizations to help develop potential strategies to ensure fairness and equality for all participating athletes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Talent identification is the process of recognizing participants with the potential to excel in a particular sport. Coaches and scouts are responsible for making an accurate attempt at identifying talent to select athletes for a team roster. The current study used a multi-step approach to assess coaches' perceptions of talent within a local high school. Part 1 consisted of two steps: a) Eight hockey coaches ranked the skills they felt were important when selecting an athlete for a hockey team, b) video clips showcasing the identified skills found in part a) were developed from 13 high school hockey players. In Part 2 seven coaches and two scouts viewed the video clips and generated a list of the top five and bottom five players. Overall, the most frequently identified skills were skating, speed/agility, puck handling, positional play, and shooting. Ranking the players proved challenging with nine of the 13 players being placed in both the top and bottom groups of five. These findings outline the lack of agreement among the coaches/scouts in selecting players which highlights the difficulty in identifying talent. Despite the heterogeneity of the sample of players, even experienced coaches and scouts disagree about what constitutes a skilled hockey player. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Balance is essential to several activities of daily life, from the capacity to stand independently to the execution of complex sport movements. The extent to which balance can be improved has led researchers to consider whether underlying features of a general balance ability exists, and whether they can be used to predict performance on future balance tasks. Adjacent to this investigation is the debate between theorists who support a general motor ability (GMA) and those who advocate for motor specificity. The notion of task specificity has been supported within the literature, such as the highly cited study by Drowatzky and Zuccato (1967) that compared balance tasks, finding weak correlations between tasks assessed. The purpose of the current study was to replicate this classic study using a more mature, contemporary sample and investigate the relationship between six static and dynamic measures of balance among a young adult population to determine if there is continuing support for this notion. Standardized instructions and procedures were followed when completing the Stork Stand Test, Diver's Stand Test, Bass Lengthwise Stick Test, Sideward Leap Test, Modified Bass Stepping Stone Test, and a Modified Balance Beam Test. Five hundred and seventy university students completed these six balance performance tests. A Spearman's rank-order correlation test, assessing the relationship between the results, revealed significant weak to moderate correlations. These results contrasted with the original study that yielded weak correlations between balance tasks, with only one correlation reaching significance (Drowatzky & Zuccato, 1967). While the nature of the tasks assessed made it difficult to draw conclusions with respect to the motor specificity hypothesis, they allowed further reflection on the complexity of balance, and on the specificity of practice hypothesis, thus calling to revisit the debate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this paper is to examine the talk of older athletes, with particular focus on how the context of sport helps them negotiate the ageing process. It draws on personal stories provided by 44 World Masters Games competitors (23 women; 21 men; aged 56–90 years;M= 72). Four themes emerged: ‘There's no such thing as old’ (a story of avoiding old age); ‘Keep moving’ (a story of fighting the ageing process); ‘Fun, fitness, friendship … [and] competing’ (a story of redefining self and ‘old age’) and; ‘Making the most of your life … with the capabilities that you still have’ (a story of adaptation and acceptance). Together, the four themes show how through sports participation older individuals can simultaneously resist, redefine and accept the ageing process. These stories of a ‘sporting later life’ allow for alternative meanings to the dominant ‘declining body’ narrative of ageing. Therefore, these narratives present the possibility for personal, pedagogical and social transformation. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This study aimed to determine whether: (a) isometric handgrip ( IHG) training lowers resting blood pressure ( BP), (b) cardiovascular reactivity to a serial subtraction ( SST), IHG ( IHGT), and cold pressor ( CPT) task predicts this hypotensive response, and (c) cardiovascular reactivity is attenuated posttraining. Resting BP and cardiovascular reactivity to a SST, IHGT, and CPT were measured in 24 hypertensives (51-74 years) before and after 10 weeks of IHG training ( n = 12) or control ( n = 12). IHG training lowered resting BP (Δ8/5 mmHg), whereby the decrease in systolic BP was correlated to pretraining systolic BP reactivity to the SST ( r = −.85) and IHGT ( r = −.79; all ps < .01), but not the CPT ( r = .34; p > .01). Furthermore, following IHG training, systolic BP reactivity to the SST (Δ7 mmHg) and IHGT (Δ8 mmHg) was reduced (all ps < .01). The results offer promising implications for hypertensives and may provide a tool to identify IHG training responders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to examine how older people make sense of their capacity to maintain sports performance. Performance maintenance is predominantly examined from a quantitative perspective, with little attention given to how people themselves account for it. We interviewed 44 competitors (23 females, 21 males) from the 2009 Sydney World Masters Games (aged 56–90 years; mean = 72 years). The major themes were: ‘Use it or lose it’ (performance preservation required specific ‘training’ and the continuation of general physical activity); ‘Adapt’/‘modify’ (participants compensated for their decline in speed, strength and endurance so they could continue competing in sport); ‘It's in my genes’ (participants attributed their ‘family history’ and/or innate ‘determination’ to performance maintenance); and ‘I like to push myself’ (participants valued improved performance, pushing their bodies and winning which motivated them to continually train and compete). The findings are discussed within a framework of three key performance maintenance theories: (a) preserved differentiation, (b) selective maintenance and (c) compensation. Although compensation and continued training are effective ways to counter decline in later life, this study extends past research by showing how older athletes tend to combine and/or generalise stable and unstable attributes of performance preservation. In particular, this research highlights the importance individuals and Western society place on self-responsibility for health, competition and performance maintenance, which act as key motivating factors. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

With the increasing number of individuals over the age of 65 years worldwide, it is critical for society to recognize the importance of helping seniors maintain their health, physical, and cognitive functioning as well as their engagement with life. These three dimensions provide the foundation for successful aging (SA). The positive role of engagement with life has been understated to date in the literature. This review highlights the components of SA with particular emphasis on engagement and how physical activity positively impacts engagement which in turn positively influences health and physical function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines how older women's meanings of successful aging differ depending on their attitudes towards old age and current leisure practices. Twenty-one women aged 75–92 completed in-depth interviews and were divided into three groups (inactive, moderately active, or highly active). Comparisons were made across groups to determine how meanings of “old” and “successful aging” differed. Findings were interpreted using biographical, biomedical, and psychosocial approaches to successful aging, and theories of leisure as a site for women's resistance and empowerment. This study contributes to knowledge about the role of physical activity in shaping the meanings of aging among older women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Relative age effects (RAEs) have been widely studied in the contexts of education and sport over the past 25 years. The RAE phenomenon is concerned with identifying age (dis)advantages relative to other children within a pre-defined age group. While intended to promote equality and fairness through the maintenance of general developmental similarities (e.g., cognitive, physiological), age-based grouping policies common to most educational and sport development systems have had the unintended consequence of advantaging "relatively" older children, while disadvantaging those who are "relatively" younger within the same cohort. Differences in developmental outcomes as a result of relative age have been shown to persist throughout adulthood resulting in considerable long-term social, emotional, and economic benefits (or detriments). The purpose of this review paper is to introduce readers to the RAE phenomenon, explore its underlying causes, examine its short- and long-term discriminatory effects, and provide directions for future research in this area, particularly as they pertain to leadership development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intense sport competition is typically associated with young people. Also, much of the literature on exercise for older adults focuses on benefits derived from regular physical activity, such as walking, dancing and fitness classes, and suggests that one should avoid extremely strenuous exercise. The rising phenomenon of older people competing in sport presents a challenge to these assumptions. In 2009, approximately 28,000 athletes from 95 countries gathered in Sydney, Australia to compete across 28 different sports at the World Masters Games. We interviewed 44 competitors (23 females, 21 males; aged 56-90 years; M=72) about what they gained from competing in sport that extended beyond non-competitive physical activity outcomes. Five key themes emerged from the data. The first theme, "I like a challenge", depicts Masters sport as an ideal context to test one's abilities. In particular, lifelong athletes (or those who had returned to sport after a long break) enjoyed the satisfaction of knowing they "can still do it"! On the other hand, Masters competitions provide space for older people to begin sport in later life, as the second theme highlights, "I discovered that at this age group I could win things"! Theme three, "I'm more motivated to work harder", describes how regular competitions provided goals for participants which structured their training. Also, the act of competing brought out their best performances. The fourth theme, "You know where you stand", shows how participants liked that competition enabled them to compare themselves with others of their own age cohort. The final theme, "Travel" and "companionship", explains how the organized, competitive structure of Masters sport and its club system allowed for regular travel, the establishment of ongoing friendships and weekly social interaction. Our data suggest that sport provides unique benefits to participants above and beyond those gained from general physical activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous research suggests that seniors' short-term performance is affected by stereotype threat—defined as a situation in which an individual is at risk of confirming a negative characterization about one's group. The current study attempted to replicate and extend these findings to areas of cognitive and physical functioning considered important to seniors' quality of life and known to decline with age. In total, 99 seniors were tested on six dependent measures: recall performance, reaction time, grip strength, flexibility, walking speed, and self-concept. While seniors were affected by the stereotype intervention, they suffered no performance decrements on the main dependent measures. This raises the intriguing possibility that a certain segment of seniors may be immune to popular stereotypes of aging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disorder of the central nervous system. The average onset of the disease is 30 years of age, and it afflicts women more often than men (ratio of approximately 2:1). The symptoms of the disease include fatigue, motor weakness, heat sensitivity, reduced mobility, abnormal gait mechanics, and poor balance. These symptoms decrease cognitive and physical functional capacity of an individual and tend to result in sedentary lifestyle behaviors. A sedentary lifestyle among individuals with MS increases the risk of secondary diseases such as coronary heart disease and obesity, particularly as one ages. The effect of exercise in treating symptoms of MS has been under explored, perhaps due to the fact that exercise was thought to magnify MS-related fatigue and other symptoms. Recent research has challenged this notion, advocating exercise as an effective therapy for the management of MS, as well as maintaining overall fitness and improving quality-of-life measures. While the research shows clear benefits, the barriers to exercise participation among MS patients are significant. Recommendations for various forms of exercise are provided, along with strategies for overcoming barriers to participation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In many Western countries, more and more people are living longer. As part of this demographic shift, increasing numbers are participating in Masters sport. In the past, sport was considered important for the development of young people; however, the potential for sport participation to affect positive development across the lifespan is now recognized. The purpose of this paper is to introduce conceptual frameworks from developmental psychology that are being used to understand youths’ positive development through sport, and to explore these frameworks in the context of sport as an avenue for positive development in older persons. To achieve this aim, we outline research on sport participation as it applies to youth development and consider relevant aspects as they broadly apply to development later in life. This discussion highlights the inherent paradox of sport participation—that it has the potential to provide considerable positive growth but also the potential for significant negative consequences. Finally, we explore areas of future research related to positive development in older persons through sport. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]