Search

BackgroundCoping with residual cognitive and gait impairments is a prominent unmet need in community-dwelling chronic stroke survivors. Motor-cognitive exergames may be promising to address this unmet need. However, many studies have so far implemented motor-cognitive exergame interventions in an unstructured manner and suitable application protocols remain yet unclear. We, therefore, aimed to summarize existing literature on this topic, and developed a training concept for motor-cognitive exergame interventions in chronic stroke.MethodsThe development of the training concept for personalized motor-cognitive exergame training for stroke (PEMOCS) followed Theory Derivation procedures. This comprised (1.1) a thorough (narrative) literature search on long-term stroke rehabilitation; (1.2) a wider literature search beyond the topic of interest to identify analogies, and to induce creativity; (2) the identification of parent theories; (3) the adoption of suitable content or structure of the main parent theory; and (4) the induction of modifications to adapt it to the new field of interest. We also considered several aspects of the “Framework for Developing and Evaluating Complex Interventions” by the Medical Research Council. Specifically, a feasibility study was conducted, and refining actions based on the findings were performed.ResultsA training concept for improving cognitive functions and gait in community-dwelling chronic stroke survivors should consider the principles for neuroplasticity, (motor) skill learning, and training. We suggest using a step-based exergame training for at least 12 weeks, 2–3 times a week for approximately 45 min. Gentile's Taxonomy for Motor Learning was identified as suitable fundament for the personalized progression and variability rules, and extended by a third cognitive dimension. Concepts and models from related fields inspired further additions and modifications to the concept.ConclusionWe propose the PEMOCS concept for improving cognitive functioning and gait in community-dwelling chronic stroke survivors, which serves as a guide for structuring and implementing motor-cognitive exergame interventions. Future research should focus on developing objective performance parameters that enable personalized progression independent of the chosen exergame type.

IntroductionCore stability is crucial for preventing and rehabilitating lumbar spine injuries. An external focus instruction using a paper balloon is an effective way to activate the trunk muscles. However, the degree of trunk and lower extremity muscle activation during single leg stance with external focus instruction using a paper balloon is unknown. This study aimed to investigate the core muscle involving activity in the trunk and lower extremities on both the support and non-support sides with or without using external focus instruction using a paper balloon during isometric single-leg stance.MethodsThirteen healthy males aged 20–28 years volunteered to take part in this study and performed a single leg stance task with and without an external focus instruction, pressing their non-supporting foot onto a paper balloon without crushing it. The participant's muscle electrical activity was recorded during the single leg task using surface EMG and intramuscular EMG for six trunk muscles (transversus abdominis, internal oblique, external oblique, rectus abdominis, multifidus, and lumbar erector spinae) and five lower extremity muscles (gluteus maximus, gluteus medius, adductor longus, rectus femoris, and biceps femoris)ResultsCompared to the normal single leg stance, the external focus instruction task using a paper balloon showed significantly increased transversus abdominis (p

Physical literacy (PL), a concept commonly associated with the early years, physical education, and youth sport development, can become a meaningful determinant of health and longevity for the adult and older adult population. A review of 55 recent publications from 2018 to 2023 that encompassed physical literacy conceptual frameworks, assessments, and intervention-based studies was undertaken through an heuristic inspired by the philosophy which gave birth to PL. With particular interest in how PL has evolved in response to the needs of an aging population, this position paper tracks a key shift in focus from the individual to the relational context. It references positive interaction and social participation in recent models as significant features of an across-the-lifespan PL perspective.The concluding position is that fostering joyful inter-action be at the heart of PL promotion, resource development and assessment practices, especially in the case of an aging population.

The concept of physical literacy is continuing to gain traction internationally. This increasing interest has also given rise to concerns about the use, interpretation and meaning of the term “literacy” within the context of physical literacy. This paper explores the development of the terms literate, illiterate, literacy, and illiteracy identifying their historical origin and contemporary meaning. This provides the backdrop to explore the use of the term literacy within the context of physical literacy. In the final part of this introductory section the recent popularity of the literacies movement is explored. Our discussion identifies key intersections and areas of tension associated with the use, interpretation and meaning of literacy in the context of physical literacy. We adopt Whitehead's philosophy of physical literacy and discussion is informed further by Derrida's notion of differance, and Barad's challenge to singular representations of concepts. Once harnessing these concepts, we reach a juncture of an in-between space; entry points of nonidentity (sameness) and points where multiple effects of difference are created. Key discussion topics include: discourse, language and interpretations of literacy; in/tangibility of literacy; capturing literacy; literacy as a process or a product; connotations of the terms literate and illiterate; neoliberalism and literacy and finally literacy as learning. We believe that when understood as the productive and meaningful interaction with/in/through the world, literacy is still the appropriate term within the context of physical literacy. Our discussion leads us to conclude that as embodied individuals, physical literacy is often the literacy through which other literacies have to pass. Through physical activity individuals can not only nurture their own physical literacy but also contribute toward a global or holistic literacy that helps us navigate, connect and make sense of ourselves, others and the world around us. However, the paper acknowledges that this meaning is not always grasped with the historical understanding of literacy as well as it's translations into other languages presenting challenges in articulating the intended use, meaning and connotations of the contemporary understanding of physical literacy.

Recovery after exercise is a crucial key in preventing muscle injuries and in speeding up the processes to return to homeostasis level. There are several ways of developing a recovery strategy with the use of different kinds of traditional and up-to-date techniques. The use of cold has traditionally been used after physical exercise for recovery purposes. In recent years, the use of whole-body cryotherapy/cryostimulation (WBC; an extreme cold stimulation lasting 1–4 min and given in a cold room at a temperature comprised from −60 to −195°C) has been tremendously increased for such purposes. However, there are controversies about the benefits that the use of this technique may provide. Therefore, the main objectives of this paper are to describe what is whole body cryotherapy/cryostimulation, review and debate the benefits that its use may provide, present practical considerations and applications, and emphasize the need of customization depending on the context, the purpose, and the subject's characteristics. This review is written by international experts from the working group on WBC from the International Institute of Refrigeration.

This paper examines Qatar's 2022 World Cup through the lens of liminality, presenting the intricate interplay between tradition, modernity, and human rights. By introducing liminality as an analytical tool, the paper explores how Qatar navigates traditional norms amidst global scrutiny, particularly concerning human rights issues such as migrant labour practices and cultural contestations around human rights. Employing liminality as a conceptual framework, this analysis offers a nuanced understanding of Qatar's endeavour to balance cultural authenticity with international expectations. I reveal why Qatar utilised the transient phase to implement reforms to its social and legal systems, aligning with international human rights while ensuring changes were akin with its cultural identity. The paper highlights the transient nature of change during the liminal phase of sport mega-events, emphasising both the opportunities and challenges presented for changes in Qatar. The paper unpacks Qatar continued navigation in the global stage as an extension of the initial liminal phase, demonstrating its engagements with processes of change and adaptation. The World Cup is a prime example that exposes the dual nature of sport mega events, serving as a springboard for social change, while also revealing underlying cultural and structural tensions. I conclude that Qatar utilised this liminal phase as a rite of passage, enabling the nation to traverse the terrain of modernity while testing the permeability of its cultural boundaries.

This paper explores the Relative Age Effect (RAE) after nearly 40 years since its initial examination in sports. Two original studies identified significant participation differences between relatively older and younger players in age-grouped elite hockey and soccer. In the current study, we replicate the original analyses using 2023 data. By comparing data from the original studies and 2023, focusing on Major Junior A hockey in North America and the Under-17 and Under-20 World Soccer Tournaments, we observe remarkably similar RAE patterns. For instance, both the original and the 2023 studies indicate that about 40% of elite young adult players were born in the first quarter of the age cohort, compared to just 10% in the last quarter. This paper underscores the ongoing advantages and disadvantages created by RAE and calls for greater focus on strategies to mitigate its unfair effects in sports and education.

Dual-task training and exergaming interventions are increasingly recognized for their potential to enhance cognitive, physical, and mood outcomes among older adults and individuals with neurological conditions. Despite this, clinical and community programs that use these interventions are limited in availability. This paper presents the “FitBrain” program, an outpatient clinical model that combines dual-task and exergaming interventions to promote cognitive and physical health. We review the scientific rationale supporting these methods, detail the structure and methodology of the FitBrain program, and provide examples of session designs that integrate dual-tasking through exergaming. The paper also addresses implementation considerations, such as tailoring interventions to specific populations, ensuring user-centered design, and leveraging accessible technologies. We discuss key challenges, including limited research on programs utilizing multiple technologies and cost constraints, and propose directions for future research to refine best practices and evaluate the comparative effectiveness of multimodal vs. singular interventions. This paper aims to inform clinicians and program developers on implementing dual-task and exergaming interventions within diverse clinical and community settings by offering a structured model and practical guidelines.

During the last 20 years, Malmö has developed into an internationally recognised skateboarding destination and a valued skateboarding place for local and regional skaters. In contrast to many cities, skateboarding and skateboarders have been appreciated and embraced in public planning and development. The aim of the paper is to discuss the development and identity of Malmö as a skateboarding city through the lens of the concepts of placemaking and value co-creation, and—not least—through the narratives of six persons with different relations to skateboarding and Malmö. The paper shows that the City of Malmö has engaged with local skateboarding communities through several initiatives that have fostered a collaborative relationship. The non-profit association Bryggeriet, a skateboard high school, an active skateboarding community, and the City of Malmö are all involved in the placemaking and co-creation of Malmö as a skateboarding city. The city's approach to skateboarding involves a bottom-up strategy, engaging non-experts in the development of spaces, reflecting a shift from traditional top-down models towards a co-creation model in order to create synergetic outcomes. Malmö's transformation into a skateboarding city is characterised by the integration of skateboarding into the urban fabric, showcasing a welcoming attitude. The paper underscores the dynamic interplay between physical, imagined, and lived spaces in urban skateboarding culture. However, it also demonstrates how a successful and professionalised model for introducing the skateboarders’ interests into the corridors of power risks undermining the link to, and the engagement of, the new generation of grassroots skaters, and maybe also the edgy, rebellious character of skateboarding.

IntroductionThe sport of cycling has witnessed phenomenal growth over the past decade. Globally, over 200 million television hours across five continents watched the recent inaugural World Championships in Glasgow, in 2023. The Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI), the world cycling governing body, has highlighted its mission to “promote and support research in cycling epidemiology and medicine, especially for the benefit of lesser-known disciplines” within its 2030 Agenda. This paper outlines a proposed protocol to conduct a systematic review that comprehensively analyses and synthesises the existing literature about cycling-related injuries and illness across all competitive disciplines.MethodsThe Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) guidelines will be followed through each stage of this systematic review. Cycling is an umbrella term used for many individual disciplines. Investigation of all types of injuries and/or illnesses sustained during training and/or competition among competitive athletes across all disciplines will be included in this review. A computerised, systematic literature search will be conducted in electronic databases MEDLINE, Scopus, Embase, and Cochrane Library. Independent screening by two reviewers in a two-step process: title/abstract screening followed by full-text review. The reference lists of included articles will be searched to identify any other potentially relevant articles. Narrative synthesis and tabular/charted presentation of the extracted data will be included.DiscussionThis protocol paper outlines the methodology to conduct a systematic review of injuries and illness across all competitive cycling disciplines. The aims of outlining this systematic review protocol are to aid research transparency, help reduce publication bias, prevent selective publication, and prevent the selective reporting of results. Future systematic reviews based on the proposed protocol will summarise the known prevalence, incidences, locations and burden of injury and illness across the sport of cycling.Trial RegistrationThis study has been registered with the PROSPERO International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (registration number CRD42024502703).

Self-Confrontation Micro-Phenomenological Interviews (SCMPIs) aim to capture the fine-grained details of an athlete's experience, focusing on pre-reflective consciousness without resorting to post-hoc rationalizations. This specific type of self-confrontation interview was developed in the domain of work analysis in cognitive ergonomics. Despite its integration into numerous research studies in sport performance and training practices, the direct effects of the SCMPI on athletes remain underexplored. In this perspective article, we provide a brief overview of the theoretical foundations of SCMPI as well as a description of the paradox of the SCMPI situation. Throughout this paper, we highlight the unsolved questions around use of SCMPIs to improve athletes’ performance by enhancing reflective thinking as well as pre-reflective awareness. Furthermore, we discuss the epistemological and practical considerations regarding the selection and use of activity traces in SCMPIs. The paper calls for further research to evaluate the SCMPI's impact on performance in elite athletes, emphasizing the need for a rational application of this method in both research and practical interventions.

Evidence suggests that engaging in physical activity improves the mental and physical health of transplant recipients. An opportunity to be more active could be participating in the national and international network of Transplant Games. Although the literature on motivations for and the experience of taking part in the Games is available, little is known about what role applied practitioners, specifically sport and exercise psychologists could play as transplant recipients prepare and compete. This paper offers perspectives on the provision of a sports performance well-being service delivered at the British Transplant Games. The paper consists of several sections. The first offers background and how the service came into being. The second provides details of the model and philosophy that underpinned the service delivery. The third includes the trainee and exercise practitioner's casework and the challenges therein. Informed by the team's reflections and post-games survey the final section proposes recommendations for future applied sport and exercise services at this unique event.

The integration of digitalization and sustainability principles, encapsulated within the Twin Transformation (TT) approach, has emerged as a transformative paradigm within sport management. However, there is a critical gap in understanding how these two transformative forces can be synergistically harnessed within the field of sport management. This paper explores the conceptual underpinnings of TT and its implications for enhancing organizational performance and addressing contemporary challenges in the sports industry. Drawing upon interdisciplinary perspectives, the paper examines how TT fosters innovation, enhances fan engagement, and promotes environmental responsibility within sport management. Through a synthesis of theoretical insights and practical examples, the paper highlights the potential of TT to drive positive change across various facets of sport management, from operational practices to stakeholder engagement. Furthermore, the paper underscores the importance of ongoing research and scholarly inquiry in advancing our understanding of TT and its implications for theory and practice in sport management. Overall, this paper provides a comprehensive overview of TT in sport management, offering valuable insights for researchers, practitioners, and stakeholders seeking to navigate the dynamic landscape of the sports industry.

Sport management leadership research has predominantly focused on leadership behaviours, particularly transformative leadership, without fully acknowledging the complex, multifaceted nature of leadership within the sports context. This perspective overlooks the reality that sports leaders operate within complex organizations and varied contexts that significantly influence their behaviours. Leadership in sports demands core capabilities in decision-making, communication, and strategic thinking, and a mindset that influences perception, decision-making, and behaviour. Consequently, a singular focus on transformative leadership may undervalue the importance of other attributes. This paper thus argues for a comprehensive leadership framework that integrates behaviours, roles, capabilities, and mindset, and draws insights from business management. By proposing this framework organized across four domains—Context, Roles, Capabilities, and Mindset—this paper aims to foster a deeper understanding of sports leadership dynamics, highlighting the necessity of a holistic approach that considers the interconnectedness of these elements.

In the dynamic sport of racecar driving, split-second decisions and rapid execution are imperative. Such an environment requires a tight functional coupling of perception and action. This paper introduces an approach for training racecar drivers rooted in ecological and embodied perspectives. It discusses three pivotal affordances of racecar driving: turn-ability, overtake-ability, and defend-ability. The paper also discusses the relevant environment and equipment (i.e., simulators) that can be useful for training racecar drivers. In addition, practice activities relevant for the actual racetrack or to the simulator are discussed. Coaches are encouraged to try and implement the proposed training strategies (or parts of it), evaluating their impact on racing performance. Furthermore, researchers can continue exploring these principles, fostering a fusion of empirical insights with practical expertise from coaches and racing communities. By synergizing empirical research with insights from practitioners, we can refine the strategies employed in the training of racecar drivers.

Theory without relevance for practice in a professional graduate degree has been critiqued by some scholars as a deficit approach when preparing MBA students for the workforce. Scholars and practitioners alike call for more pedagogy in the curriculum with a focus on innovation, creativity, and the involvement of industry practitioners. This paper serves as a case study of a moment in time on Monday, 14 June 2021, when the concept of “pracademics” was realized between two artists and two faculty. Following the transcription of the dialogue between two guest speakers from the Hip Hop world (i.e., Fat Joe and DJ Khaled) and two faculty from the sport management MBA program, the paper analyzes the deeper meaning of their intellectual presence with their expertise in the business of culture (i.e., Hip Hop). Findings reveal how the pairing of Hip Hop artists and faculty in an MBA program can address the innovation gap within global business curricula and models. The broader umbrella of pedagogy and application has implications for other academic disciplines to embrace this concept of pairing academics and industry practitioners.

Discourses around environmental sustainability and climate change are increasingly prominent in the sports sector, with a growing range of sports organisations developing policies to address these issues. This paper contends that figurational (or process) sociology can offer a useful framework for examining the development of policy as a process in the context of sport and, specifically, mega-events. The Olympic Games serve as an example for purposes of contextualisation, illustrating four interconnected dimensions of figurational sociology: lengthening chains of interdependence, established-outsider power relations, internalisation of social values, and unintended consequences. Further, the paper seeks to highlight the utility of a figurational perspective particularly when this is enhanced through the integration of complementary concepts, namely knowledge transfer, isomorphism, and diffusion of innovations. Thus, it is asserted that a blended figurational approach can help facilitate understanding of interdependencies and dynamic power relations across expanded stakeholder networks in relation to sports mega-events. Finally, the paper touches on the relevance of sport in relation to the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals to highlight the need for policy coherence that is arguably unachievable without the understanding of stakeholder interdependencies and power relationships a figurational lens enables. Such understanding is therefore considered to be important as a foundation for the enactment of meaningful policy in the fight against climate change.

Electronic performance & tracking systems (EPTS) are commonly used to track the location and velocity of athletes in many team sports. A range of associated applications using the derived data exist, such as assessment of athlete characteristics, informing training design, assisting match adjudication and providing fan insights for broadcast. Consequently the quality of such systems is of importance to a range of stakeholders. The influence of both systematic and methodological factors such as hardware, software settings, sample rate and filtering on this resulting quality is non-trivial. Highlighting these allows for the user to understand their strengths and limitations in various decision-making processes, as well as identify areas for research and development. In this paper, a number of challenges and considerations relating to the determination of EPTS validity for team sport are outlined and discussed. The aim of this paper is to draw attention of these factors to both researchers and practitioners looking to inform their decision-making in the EPTS area. Addressing some of the posited considerations in future work may represent best practice; others may require further investigation, have multiple potential solutions or currently be intractable.

For the past decade, scholars have been working towards developing a robust theory of social entrepreneurship in sport (SES). However, SES theory remains void of peripheral country perspectives and thus perpetuates the Eurocentric views of entrepreneurship. This paper used a decolonial feminist lens and Whittemore and Knafl’s methodology to conduct an integrated review of SES literature written in or about a peripheral country context. The review examined how scholarship from and about this context had considered geographical and culturally specific perspectives in the development of SES theory. A total of n = 1971 papers were retrieved, with only n = 12 providing relevant peripheral country context. This scarcity of literature indicates that the current theory of SES lacks peripheral country perspectives. Many papers in this review (n = 5) are written by authors in or from a peripheral country. Their contributions to SES literature revealed the decolonial feminist approaches that centralize alternative perspectives and added plurality to the definition of SES. The findings revealed the nuanced theoretical approaches to SES and highlighted the gaps in this context. The review shows how, despite the rise in social enterprises that focus on gender equity and the economic inclusion of women, gendered studies were still very scarce.

Understanding neural control of movement necessitates a collaborative approach between many disciplines, including biomechanics, neuroscience, and motor control. Biomechanics grounds us to the laws of physics that our musculoskeletal system must obey. Neuroscience reveals the inner workings of our nervous system that functions to control our body. Motor control investigates the coordinated motor behaviours we display when interacting with our environment. The combined efforts across the many disciplines aimed at understanding human movement has resulted in a rich and rapidly growing body of literature overflowing with theories, models, and experimental paradigms. As a result, gathering knowledge and drawing connections between the overlapping but seemingly disparate fields can be an overwhelming endeavour. This review paper evolved as a need for us to learn of the diverse perspectives underlying current understanding of neuromuscular control. The purpose of our review paper is to integrate ideas from biomechanics, neuroscience, and motor control to better understand how we voluntarily control our muscles. As biomechanists, we approach this paper starting from a biomechanical modelling framework. We first define the theoretical solutions (i.e., muscle activity patterns) that an individual could feasibly use to complete a motor task. The theoretical solutions will be compared to experimental findings and reveal that individuals display structured muscle activity patterns that do not span the entire theoretical solution space. Prevalent neuromuscular control theories will be discussed in length, highlighting optimality, probabilistic principles, and neuromechanical constraints, that may guide individuals to families of muscle activity solutions within what is theoretically possible. Our intention is for this paper to serve as a primer for the neuromuscular control scientific community by introducing and integrating many of the ideas common across disciplines today, as well as inspire future work to improve the representation of neural control in biomechanical models.

This research paper explores the experience of British-Bangladeshi and Black African Caribbean communities living in the areas surrounding London's Olympic Park, in terms of how they are appropriating the legacy-led socio-spatial changes, applying Lefebvre's right to the city perspective. Highlighting the top-down legacy-led regeneration process, the empirical evidence suggests that the games-led regeneration is contributing to an unjust trade-off between pre-existing minoritised ethnic residents and wealthier gentrifiers, ignoring the real needs of the socially and economically disadvantaged ethnic minority communities in East London. The findings provide a further understanding of factors such as housing and health-related inequalities and sub-standard living conditions, which may have contributed to the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on the Bangladeshi and African Caribbean people living in East London boroughs. Given the scale of the pandemic, the paper argues that a greater understanding of the socio-structural problems and barriers arising out of poverty and deprivation is needed in order to formulate appropriate policy interventions to reduce disproportionate social, economic and health-related impacts on some minoritised communities, which could be achieved through residents' active participation and appropriation at different stages of the legacy-led regeneration process.

This study provides a different understanding of the constraints imposed by the pandemic and the official and unofficial restrictions that accompanied it. It is an empirical effort demonstrating that the pandemic's effects are not purely negative, but rather, also helped to produce positive and productive practices that draw upon both the inhibiting and enabling features of the constraints it triggered. Engaging with “productive power” in Foucault by considering constraints as practices that both inhibit and enable, the empirical goal of this paper is to explore how pandemic-related constraints on sports and physical activity prohibit foreign worker participation in sports and physical activity. It also examines how the constraints encourage them to pursue an active life in new and unique ways. To achieve this goal, the paper examines the South Korean context, particularly unskilled foreign workers with E-9 visas for non-professional employment in the fishing, farming, and manufacturing industries and their involvement in sports and physical activity during the COVID-19 pandemic. The findings address three “inhibitors” that specifically prevented foreign workers from getting actively involved, then demonstrate that explicit restrictions on sports and physical activity can be transformed into four “enablers” that encouraged foreign workers to participate. The conclusion offers critical reflections on Foucault's “ethical subject,” followed by the limitations and implications of the study.

There has been an increase interest in knowing and enacting pedagogical approaches such as the Constraints-led Approach (CLA) and Nonlinear Pedagogy (NLP) which are underpinned by Ecological Dynamics in recent years among practitioners. While there seems to be a perceived uptake of such pedagogical approaches that encourages exploratory learning and the development of individualised movement solutions, there are still concerns on how these pedagogical approaches are enacted on the ground. In this paper, we the authors, as “pracademics”, attempted to address some of the common concerns that we are aware of from our regular interactions with academics and practitioners. In brief, we highlighted some of the common challenges related to sense making concepts from Ecological Dynamics and building connections to practice. We stressed the need to invest time to think differently to create representative learning environment, rethink how assessment is to be done, finding a balance between theoretical jargon and practical application as well as intentionally situating coach development and support. We may not have all the answers, but we hope this paper could provide a useful starting point on how to apply Ecological Dynamics Theory to practice design.

Youth unemployment reflects the lack of economic growth and prosperity for many nations in sub-Saharan Africa where the average age of the population is estimated to be 24 years in 2050. The study generates insights informed by preliminary findings of an ambitious 6-month government-funded “youth employment program” in South Africa. The paper reports on qualitative data emanating from two field visits per organization providing the baseline of this national project as the researcher had been tasked to develop the monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL) system. About 4,000 of this population are from Special Olympics and comprise of youth with complex needs, while the baseline focus on 45 youth as part of the unified leadership initiative (partnering with a mainstream individual). The MEL system allows for a mixed-method approach, but the paper draws on narrative data obtained during field visits where 10 managers were interviewed and 47 youth interns (42.5% men and 57.5% women) took part in focus group discussions. The interview and focus group questions explored their work-related histories and profiles, current involvement with a structured program, experiences, perceptions, expectations, and pragmatic recommendations. Emerging themes and analysis report five main themes that refer to (i) personal employment histories, (ii) local embeddedness, (iii) a typology of work, (iv) program benefits, and (v) enablers and goal setting. Contextual realities shaped the agency of all research participants, but promising results show positive outcomes of soft skills associated with the level of employability and job-seeking strategies.

The relevance of a sociological view on the problems of society has never been as important as it is today. To quote the editors of the journal Nature in their editorial, Time for the Social Sciences, from 2015: if you want science to deliver for society, you need to support a capacity to understand that society. In other words, the technological and scientific disciplines cannot simply transfer their findings into everyday life without knowing how society works. But this realisation does not seem to have caught on everywhere. The sociology of sport is entering a critical period that will shape its development and potential transformation over the next decade. In this paper, we review key features and trends within the sociology of sport in recent times, and set out potential future challenges and ways forward for the subdiscipline. Accordingly, our discussion spans a wide range of issues concerning the sociology of sport, including theories and approaches, methods, and substantive research topics. We also discuss the potential contributions of the sociology of sport to addressing key societal challenges. To examine these issues, the paper is organized into three main parts. First, we identify three main concentric challenges, or types of peripheral status, that sociologists of sport must confront: as social scientists, as sociologists, and as sociologists of sport, respectively. Second, we consider various strengths within the positions of sociology and the sociology of sport. Third, in some detail, we set out several ways forward for the sociology of sport with respect to positioning within academe, scaling up research, embracing the glocal and cosmopolitan aspects of sociology, enhancing plurality in theory, improving transnational coordination, promoting horizontal collaborations, and building greater public engagement. The paper is underpinned by over 60 years (combined) of work within the sociology of sport, including extensive international research and teaching.

Racecar driving is a fast-paced sport that presents the driver-athlete with many perception-action coupling and decision-making challenges. One question that arises is how racecar drivers deal with the influx of perceptual information and manage to perform successfully in such high speeds and, as a result, very limited time to make decisions and act upon them. In this perspective paper, I suggest that the ecological approach is one theoretical framework that can help researchers understand how skill is acquired in racecar driving. I also suggest that an embodied perception of affordances can provide a good basis for research in the field. Specifically, it is an extended embodied cognition that includes not only the driver's mind and body, but the car itself. In a sense, the driver and the car are embodied into one unit and any perception of affordances should be based on this unit. This paper will also discuss the constraints during a race, the affordances the race driver must perceive and how they change over the course of a race, and how researchers can use a racecar driving paradigm to study human perception and action from an embodied and an ecological approach. Specifically, because the driver is seated, measuring EEG and eye movements is relatively simple and can provide additional information on drivers' visual perception of affordances, and their ability to act upon them.

Mega-sporting events (MSEs) have great potential to promote human rights and be a force for good, not only in the host country or city where the event takes place, but also beyond. At the same time, these events are regularly linked to human rights abuses and this opinion piece provides an overview of MSE-related adverse human rights impacts and discusses how the governance of these events enables these impacts to occur in the context of bidding for, preparing, and delivering these events. At the core of this discussion the paper presents a shared responsibility approach and argues that if applied in a preventative and retrospective way and including the concept of collaborative remedy, it can help address these adverse impacts. This is followed by a reflection on the feasibility of this approach, by considering to what extent current developments in the evolving sport and human rights movement are going in that direction and the paper finishes with a brief discussion on the importance of making the current changes sustainable and how research and education are key elements of this endeavour.

The traditional model of community club-based sport is fine for those, particularly children and youth, who enjoy the competitive focus and have the skills and commitment to play. But societal preferences during leisure time have changed dramatically over recent decades. However, sport organisations have made limited progress in response to these changes in providing ways in which children and youth can participate outside the traditional competitive structures and environments. In this paper the context of community club-based structures is reviewed leading into an assessment of the associated impact of these structures on sport participation. Children and youth's current motivations to play sport including what makes sport fun to play, are considered. It is then demonstrated that the associations between motivations to play sport and the factors that contribute to fun and enjoyment, are often misaligned for many individuals, with a primary focus on competition-based structures to deliver community club sport. In the final part of the paper a model for community sport organisations where people are put first is proposed - Sport4Me. Sport4Me is about flexible, inclusive, equitable sporting opportunities that focus on friends, fun, physical literacy and play. The model would complement the traditional competitive club-based model and afford participants more choice whilst fostering an environment that promotes lifelong involvement in sport. This model will require structural and cultural changes to the sporting environment and include coaching practices. Sport4Me is an evidence-based model, but it is not radical in its conceptualisation but rather, builds on previously proposed approaches, considers the needs and wants of potential sport participants and widens the scope of sport delivery.

While there is a burgeoning body of literature on visual methods in ethnography, including drawing and illustration as method for collecting and exploring data, little has been written about how artistic illustrations can be used as a representational method for finished ethnographic texts. Based on an illustrated ethnography–a PhD thesis on sport pedagogy in youth detention–this paper explores what artistic illustrations can do for representations of ethnographic texts. An important starting point of the paper is that artistic illustrations are purpose-full–they can be used strategically to highlight some details over others, thus making it possible for researchers to selectively accomplish several aims when it comes to representation. Particularly, we focus on ethical, affective, and descriptive purposes for using artistic illustrations when publishing research on sport in total institutions. We present selected illustrations from the thesis together with analytical and procedural commentary to shed light on some strategic thinking behind the production of the illustrations. Finally, we conclude with some reflections on the methodology and discuss some further considerations for illustrating ethnographic texts in terms of benefits, risks, and possibilities.

This perspective paper considers what scholars and teachers of sport sociology can (un)learn by applying the concept of intersectionality in research and in the classroom. I focus on contemporary forms of activism in the context of sport in the United States (U.S.) and demonstrate intersectionality's utility through three examples of athlete activism from the past 10 years led by sports people. Although each example is focused on a particular axis of difference and domination, such as sexual harassment (read: gender) and Black Lives Matter (read: race), I show that the cause at stake is always already intersectional. This has consequences for the field of sport studies/sport sociology; in engaging in intersectional research, sport sociologists and researchers alike can inform policymakers in sport in the decision-making process. In the final part of the paper, I offer insight from my positionality as a graduate student through reflection on how I—and my colleagues—might understand our role within the “matrix of domination” that characterizes both our subject and our field. As novice sport scholars, graduate students can translate the theoretical meanings and purpose of intersectionality into lived reality by being intentional in what and how we teach and research. In this case, I suggest that intersectional justice in sport does not just mean on the track/field/court; it can also mean in the classroom, thereby expanding our notion of what activism “in sport” is and looks like.

In recent years, Physical Education (PE) has seen a growth in the commitment to youth voice research. This approach foregrounds the practice of researching with young people, rather than conducting research on or about them. Whilst we are cognisant of the many possibilities youth voice research offers, we are also concerned that there is a tendency to overlook the challenges of supporting youth voice activities. This paper draws on our collective reflections to bring to the fore some of the complexities we have encountered when attempting to engage in school-based youth voice research. We explore the following questions: How can youth voice research engage with different young people to capture a diversity of voices? What are the challenges of undertaking youth voice research? What are the possibilities of change through youth voice research? We consider these questions by drawing upon four principles of student voice work including communication as dialogue, participation and democratic inclusivity, unequal power relations, and change and transformation. We use these principles to critique our own research and, in doing so, draw on entries from our research diaries. The paper questions whether young people need help to share their insights and experiences about PE, or whether it is us - researchers, teachers and schools - who need help to more readily recognize and be attentive to young people's voices. We also point to the importance of recognizing modest change through youth voice research and the need to secure adult allies to support activities and potential outcomes. Engaging in youth voice research is an immersive and messy encounter that involves navigating a journey that is anything but straightforward. Even though this is the case, our moral and ethical compass continues to point us in this direction and we remain firm advocates of youth voice work. This paper offers a starting point for others to begin to grapple with the pitfalls and possibilities when supporting youth voice research.

Large-scale and mega sport events (SMEs), such as Olympic Games and FIFA World Cups, have been more frequently hosted in emerging nations. Bidding and hosting SMEs is considered an object of policy for many emerging nations, with SMEs viewed as key factors in local and national development strategies. This has largely been driven by the assumption that their legacy provides solutions to economic, social, cultural, or political challenges. A variety of legacies have predominated the literature over the past two decades, however it is proposed that there is a difference in the types of legacies anticipated or realized within emerging nations. This exploratory study therefore aimed to determine the types of legacies anticipated or realized by emerging nations as a result of hosting sport events, and to determine if these differ from those of established nations. A systematic literature review followed the PRISMA approach to identify and select peer-reviewed articles that focused on legacies from major and mega-events hosted in emerging nations. A set of 97 publications were analyzed qualitatively to reveal the key legacy themes. The findings confirm legacy as a growing body of knowledge in emerging nations, aligned with increasing event hosting. The findings reveal insights on the extent of literature on this topic in emerging nations, including the major nations, events, authors and publications represented. While the paper cannot determine unique legacies for emerging nations, it identifies key legacy focus areas for these nations, primarily: social development; politics, soft-power and sport-for-peace; the economics of tourism, image and branding; infrastructure and urban development; and sport development. This paper proposes a conceptualization of key legacy areas for emerging nations and proposes future research themes. The paper is unique in its highlighting of the significance of legacy outcomes for emerging nations from the hosting of sport mega-events. It therefore contributes to a more nuanced understanding of and imperative for legacy from sport events globally.

This paper reviews some mainstream meso-level policy analysis frameworks widely applied in sport. There is, however, an absence of consensus for an established framework for analysing sport policy in general and, instead, techniques emanating from other fields of study have been relied upon. The resultant approach to sport policy analysis is inconsistent, multidimensional, and lacks unanimity, leading to calls for a sport-specific framework. This research outlines how meso-level frameworks have been applied in sport policy and issues linked to sustainability from a grassroots policy perspective. A narrative literature review provides an overview of prevalent approaches, namely Institutional Analysis, the Multiple Streams Framework, Policy Network Theory, and the Advocacy Coalition Framework. Aspects of applying these models to sport policy—including some key advantages and disadvantages—are outlined, especially the issue of conventional top-policy processes, the impact on policy implementers at grassroots level, and the potential for bottom-up policy influence. The article examines the four frameworks in the context of praxes in sport, noting the overall importance of a meso-level approach to sport policy analysis and that arriving at an holistic and inclusive accord has merit.

This paper reviews the principles employed to identify team tactical formations in association football, covering over two decades of research based on event and tracking data. It first defines formations and discusses their history and importance. It then introduces the preprocessing and team/position-level principles. Preprocessing includes match segments and normalized locations followed by data representation using various options, such as average locations, hand-engineered features, and graphs for the team-level and relative locations, distributions, and images for the position-level approaches. Either of them is later followed by applying templates or clustering. Among the limitations for future research to address is the reliance on spatial rather than temporal aggregation, which bases formation identification on newly introduced coordinates that may not be available in raw tracking data. Assuming a fixed number of outfield players (e.g., 10) fails to address scenarios with fewer players due to red cards or injuries. Additionally, accounting for phases of play is crucial to provide more practical context and reduce noise by excluding irrelevant segments, such as set pieces. The existing formation templates do not support arrangments with more or fewer players in each horizontal line (e.g., 6-3-1). On the other hand, clustering forces new observations to be described with previously learned clusters, preventing the possibility of discovering emerging formations. Lastly, alternative evaluation methods should have been explored more rigorously, in the absence of ground truth labels. Overall, this study identifies assumptions, consequences, and drawbacks associated with formation identification principles to structure the body of knowledge and establish a foundation for the future.

This paper investigates the historical prohibition of skateboarding in Norway from 1977 to 1989, a unique instance of such a comprehensive ban globally. The study aims to understand the circumstances leading to this ban and the rationale behind it. Two primary explanations emerged around the ban: one from a bureaucratic perspective citing risk management, and the other from skateboarders seeing it as a regulation of their counterculture. We argue that neither narrative alone is sufficient, proposing instead that other mechanisms were at play. Firstly, the ban was the inaugural case under the newly enacted Product Control Act, which was initially designed to address environmental issues. The State Pollution Control Authority found itself ill-prepared to handle the new responsibilities inherent in product control, resulting in diffuse responsibilities across several agencies. Secondly, the ambiguous categorization of skateboards as toys rather than sports equipment influenced the decision to enact the ban. The timing of the skateboard phenomenon coincided with the passing of the Product Control Act, suggesting a case of a solution seeking a problem. In conclusion, we posit that the skateboard ban resulted from a complex interplay of factors, including novel legislation, ambiguous responsibilities, cultural categorizations, and coincidental timing, rather than being solely a response to risk management or counterculture curtailment.

IntroductionPhysical inactivity is a global health challenge, exacerbated by increased screen time and sedentary behaviors. Enhancing physical activity levels at schools offers a promising approach to promote lifelong healthy habits.MethodsThis protocol paper outlines the MOVE12 pilot study, a 12-week intervention study designed to increase physical activity among Norwegian upper secondary school students through 6–7-min daily MOVE-breaks integrated into lessons. Developed using the six-phase Intervention Mapping (IM) protocol, grounded in the social-ecological model and self-determination theory, the intervention focuses on fostering motivation and creating a supportive environment. Key steps include needs assessment, performance objectives, theoretical methods, and program structuring for sustainability.ResultsLinear mixed models, t-tests, and regression analyses will evaluate quantitative outcomes, while qualitative focus groups will explore engagement and behavior change.DiscussionMOVE12 provides insights into scalable school-based interventions addressing physical inactivity, highlighting the potential of the IM framework to establish sustainable health promotion strategies.

IntroductionWhile the impact of anthropogenic climate change on sports and the subsequent need for adaptation to evolving climatic conditions are acknowledged, there remains a notable paucity of scientific inquiry within the realm of sports and sports event studies specifically addressing climate change and its ramifications for event planning and management. Existing studies predominantly stem from health, medical, weather and climate science and mostly focus on mega-events and elite athlete contexts. Moreover, they often only focus on one specific impact (e.g., extreme heat) without providing a comprehensive summary or overview of all eminent impacts, resulting risks and potential adaptation strategies. This study aims to explore how (German) sports events are impacted by climate change and identify measures for organizers to address these impacts.MethodsFollowing a comprehensive literature review, semi-structured interviews with event planners and organizers in Germany were conducted, ranging from small local events to weekly league competitions to national championships and major events.ResultsThe findings demonstrate that climate change adaptation is not yet a primary focus in the German sports event context. While some planners, especially those of large-scale events, have started implementing adaptation measures, others are only beginning to address the issue.DiscussionThe study discusses the challenges that sports event organizers face in adjusting to the adverse effects of climate change and also examines specific adaptation strategies. The paper emphasizes the imperative for organizers to incorporate climate adaptation measures more effectively into routine event planning and management processes, and provides practical guidelines to achieve this integration.

The use of social media by athletes can support them in difficult moments, but it can also become a source of negative emotions and psychological distress. This perspective critically examines psychoanalytic psychotherapy as a method for restoring athletes' psychological well-being after experiencing negative effects from social media use. The paper characterizes the key elements of psychoanalytic psychotherapy relevant to athletes, discusses the role of the psychoanalytic psychotherapist in working with athletes and describes the specifics of the psychoanalytic therapeutic process in this context. The potential advantages of psychoanalytic approaches over cognitive-behavioral methods are examined in treating the psychological impacts of problematic social media use among athletes. The analysis suggests that hate speech and negative online interactions can activate athletes' unprocessed life experiences rooted in early developmental stages. Psychoanalytic psychotherapy may offer a particularly effective method for restoring athletes' psychological wellbeing in such cases by addressing deep-rooted intrapsychic conflicts. However, a comprehensive approach integrating multiple therapeutic modalities is recommended to address the complex challenges athletes face in the digital age. This perspective acknowledges limitations in current research and suggest directions for future studies to develop and validate tailored interventions for athletes grappling with social media-related psychological distress.

The presence of a doping substance in an athlete's biological sample may not be only related to intentional pharmacological support. The unintended use of a prohibited substance may be due various reasons. This paper describes the case of a Polish canoeist preparing for the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris who presented a positive doping test result, as a consequence of administering medication to her injured dog. The athlete used a Trofodermin cutaneous spray (containing clostebol acetate) for pet treatment, which resulted in human transfer during close contact and subsequent detection by doping authorities. To bolster the athlete's defense, it was essential to substantiate the scenario of an unconscious violation of anti-doping rules with scientific evidence. Hence, the decision was made to analyze and compare samples of the athlete's hair and her dog's fur. This investigation confirmed that clostebol absorption occurred through the skin of the hands, transfer during sleeping with the dog on the same bedding and/or inhalation (during the application of the medication, which was dispensed to the animal's paws). This defense was accepted by the Court of Arbitration for the Sport Anti-Doping Division, which subsequently found that the athlete committed an anti-doping rule violation, but under circumstances that amounted to a “no fault” scenario.

Resistance exercise (RE) has been demonstrated to result in a myriad of benefits for individuals treated for cancer, including improvements in muscle mass, strength, physical function, and quality of life. Though this has resulted in the development of recommendations for RE in cancer management from various international governing bodies, there is also increasing recognition of the need to improve the design of RE interventions in oncology. The design and execution of RE trials are notoriously complex, attempting to account for numerous cancer/treatment related symptoms/side effects. Further, the design of exercise trials in oncology also present numerous logistical challenges, particularly those that are scaled for effectiveness, where multi-site trials with numerous exercise facilities are almost a necessity. As such, this review paper highlights these considerations, and takes evidence from relevant areas (RE trials/recommendations in oncology, older adults, and other clinical populations), and provide a practical framework for consideration in the design and delivery of RE trials. Ultimately, the purpose of this framework is to provide suggestions for researchers on how to design/conduct RE trials for individuals with cancer, rather than synthesizing evidence for guidelines/recommendations on the optimal RE dose/program.

IntroductionOver the past few years, attention has focused on how physical activity can enhance esports players' performance. For example, complementing esports training with physical activities has been explored. However, most of these activities are based on traditional strength or endurance-related exercises, which do not align with the interests of children attending organized esports clubs.MethodsIn this study, we investigate playful physical activities. Our research is based on qualitative pilot studies, where we observed and interviewed players (N = 77) and coaches (N = 12) from nine organized esports clubs for two to four months per club. We explored their experiences with playful physical activities implemented during esports training. Using a reflexive thematic analytical approach, we revisited and analyzed the data.ResultsThe results are presented in this paper as three nonfictional short stories, creatively describing the lived experiences of the players and coaches. We emphasize patterns of shared meaning and identify the “What's” and “How's” associated with esports training when playful physical activities are incorporated. Despite differences in form, duration, and intensity compared to activities referenced in the literature on esports and performance, our results demonstrate that playful activities positively influence esports players' skills and performance.DiscussionFurthermore, our findings suggest that playful physical activities, as opposed to traditional strength and endurance exercises, often associated with physical activity, are acceptable for esports coaches. However, for maximum impact, these activities must be relevant and directly related to the games played in the esports clubs. Based on our research, we recommend implementing playful physical activities that align with the actual esports training to support developing and optimizing players' esports skills and performance.

The effects of eccentric exercise (ECC) in older adults have received limited scientific attention, considering the ample evidence for its effectiveness in general and athletic populations. The purpose of this paper is to review the effects of ECC exercise modalities vs. traditional or concentric (CON) exercise on muscle strength, body composition and functional performance in older adults. Inclusion criteria regarding the age was >55 years. Three major scientific literature databases (PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science) were screened for trials comparing the effect of ECC and CON exercise programs, and 19 papers were included in the meta-analysis. ECC and CON training programs were typically matched by the duration of each session. The difference between ECC and CON was expressed as standardized mean difference (SMD). Regarding isometric knee strength, the pooled effect favored ECC (SMD = 0.50), but was not statistically significant (p = 0.160). ECC exercise elicited greater improvements in timed up and go test (SMD = −0.68; p = 0.004), 2-min sit-stand test (SMD = 0.53; p = 0.030) and 30-s sit-stand test (SMD = 0.81; p = 0.002), but not in 6-min walking test (SMD = 0.01; p = 0.960). The effects on body composition and muscle architecture were unclear (SMD = −1.44 to 1.95; p = 0.060–0.689). In conclusion, our literature review indicates that ECC exercise is superior to, or at least as good as CON exercise for preserving health and overall function in older adults.

Sports nutrition is a relatively new discipline; with ~100 published papers/year in the 1990s to ~3,500+ papers/year today. Historically, sports nutrition research was primarily initiated by university-based exercise physiologists who developed new methodologies that could be impacted by nutrition interventions (e.g., carbohydrate/fat oxidation by whole body calorimetry and muscle glycogen by muscle biopsies). Application of these methods in seminal studies helped develop current sports nutrition guidelines as compiled in several expert consensus statements. Despite this wealth of knowledge, a limitation of the current evidence is the lack of appropriate intervention studies (e.g., randomized controlled clinical trials) in elite athlete populations that are ecologically valid (e.g., in real-life training and competition settings). Over the last decade, there has been an explosion of sports science technologies, methodologies, and innovations. Some of these recent advances are field-based, thus, providing the opportunity to accelerate the application of ecologically valid personalized sports nutrition interventions. Conversely, the acceleration of novel technologies and commercial solutions, especially in the field of biotechnology and software/app development, has far outstripped the scientific communities' ability to validate the effectiveness and utility of the vast majority of these new commercial technologies. This mini-review will highlight historical and present innovations with particular focus on technological innovations in sports nutrition that are expected to advance the field into the future. Indeed, the development and sharing of more “big data,” integrating field-based measurements, resulting in more ecologically valid evidence for efficacy and personalized prescriptions, are all future key opportunities to further advance the field of sports nutrition.

The spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic in 2020 affected the sports industry with the cancellation of many professional sports competitions worldwide. Thus, the postponement and organization of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games behind closed doors became a significant disruption to the global sports landscape. In this paper, we present a novel, conceptual discussion, signifying and defining the pandemic via the concept of international security as a hybrid threat. We associated the term hybrid threat to clarify better the difficult times facing sport mega-events. First, the paper proffers that the COVID-19 pandemic is a form of hybrid threat while reflecting on the connected implications of using sport as a soft power tool for nations. Secondly, we discuss the impact of COVID-19 on sport mega-events globally and explain the implications of COVID-19 on the Tokyo 2020 summer Olympic Games. This paper although drawing on some figures associated with COVID-19 and the Tokyo Olympic Games presents a theoretical contribution to knowledge in the area of sport mega events, soft power and hybrid threat. We outline how the threats, triggered by the pandemic, have impeded a successful Olympic Games and clarify how these threats have affected Japan's opportunity to use the Games as a soft power tool, which is the paper's key contribution to the field.

Events have played a significant role in the way in which the Coronavirus pandemic has been experienced and known around the world. Little is known though about how the pandemic has impacted on supporting, managing and governing events in municipal (i.e., local) authorities as key stakeholders, nor how events have featured in the opening-up of localities. This paper reports on empirical research with senior events officers for local authorities in the UK on these key knowledge gaps. Specifically, it examines events officers' unfolding experiences of the pandemic. The paper points to unpreparedness for a crisis of this scale and magnitude, and the roles of innovation, adaptation and co-production in the emergent response. It highlights the transformative nature of the pandemic through reconsiderations of the purpose of public sector involvement in events and, from a policy perspective, how relatively smaller-scale, more agile and lower-risk arts events and performances can figure in local recovery. Finally, while the effects on, and response of, the body corporate (the local authority) to crises is an obvious focus, it is important to recognise those of the individuals who manage the response and drive change.

As demands for more sustainable ways of living increase, organisers of sport events have come under increasing pressure to adapt. At the same time, more and more national and local event policies increase the demand for events. These two trends raise the question of how policy makers can combine the demand for events with a sustainable way of living; a question that so far has been subject to little research. The present paper analyses the conceptualisation of sustainability in all local policies relating to events in Norwegian municipalities. The paper is based on the analysis of policies covering 22 municipalities and includes both general development plans and more specific policies on events in its analysis. The analysis shows that all the municipalities have adopted a “broad” conceptualisation of sustainability, i.e., pursued a development, which should not limit the possibilities of future generations, in their general development plans. Although the general development plans serve as a basis for every other policy, the paper also shows that the municipalities in the specific policies for events often had “narrow” conceptualisation of sustainability, i.e., focusing on making local events reoccurring and/or increasing the capacity for hosting external events. The findings emphasise the relevance of looking at the local level when conducting future studies on events and sustainability and suggest that the practitioners acknowledge the complexity of reconciling demands for more events and increased sustainability.

Community is a context for much research in sport, sport management, and sport policy, yet relatively few authors explicitly articulate the theoretical frameworks with which they interrogate the concept. In this paper, we draw from communitarian theory and politics in order to contribute to a robust discussion and conceptualization of community in and for sport management research and practice. We provide a synthesis of current sport management and related research in order to highlight contemporary theoretical and methodological approaches to studying community. We distinguish between community as a context, as an outcome, as a site for struggle or resistance, as well as a form of regulation or social control. We then advance a critical communitarian agenda and consider the practical implications and considerations for research and practice. This paper synthesizes current research and establishes a foundation upon which sport management scholars and practitioners might critically reflect on community and deliberatively articulate its implications in both future research and practice.

This paper describes nine instances of positive anti-doping tests that could be accounted for by the use of permitted generic prescription drugs contaminated with diuretics, which are prohibited in sport at all times under the WADA Prohibited List. The contamination levels found in the medications are reported and were below FDA limits for manufacturers that are based primarily on safety considerations. These cases demonstrate that great care must be taken to identify the source of low-level anti-doping positives for diuretics reported by WADA-accredited laboratories, and possibly other prohibited substances as well, in order to avoid sanctioning innocent athletes. An evaluation of the cases in this paper supports an approach which establishes a laboratory minimum reporting level (MRL) for diuretics found most commonly in medications. A global consensus after extensive review of similar anti-doping cases has resulted in implementation of a recently announced solution regarding potential diuretic contamination cases.

Since the turn of the millennium, Sweden has, like many other countries, become more neoliberal in many areas, including that of sport. The government has increased its expectations on the sports movement and become more result-oriented, which, for example, its revised motives for supporting the sports movement and the establishment of an audit organization can illustrate. However, in contrast to other countries, the Swedish government has not introduced any financial cutbacks in its support for sports. Rather, the opposite is true. The financial support has increased significantly over the last two decades. In the paper, we argue that this contradictory development of Swedish sport policy can be understood as expressions of neoliberalism and social entrepreneurship. As a theoretical concept, social entrepreneurship offers a way of understanding the increased Swedish government support for sport. There are in particular two underlying reasons for this claim. Firstly, sport is considered as a solution to various societal problems, such as social exclusion and refugee crises. Secondly, much of the increased support has been in form of various large-scale, earmarked, and time-limited political initiatives/reforms and project grants, which all have aimed to achieve social change through sport, such as social inclusion. In the paper, we consider these initiatives as expressions of social entrepreneurship. This paper contributes to the ongoing scholarly debate on how neoliberalism and neoliberal policies in the public sector have affected sport organizations. Also, by using social entrepreneurship theory, we provide new theoretical insights into how sport policy can be understood and analyzed.

Swisscom Asport (“Asport”) has set itself the target of covering the entire video process from production to distribution. Its services should be affordable not only for professional sports clubs but also for their amateur counterparts. Despite limited resources, clubs want to increase their attractiveness through new technologies and meet members' needs. This paper examines the factors that lead to the acceptance of Asport services by sports clubs. In addition, the willingness to pay for these services is evaluated. Pricing is critical to success in innovation and also because of the limited financial resources of sports clubs. Based on the literature research, a conceptual model was developed based on the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology model (UTAUT), tested using an online survey of Swiss amateur football clubs, and evaluated using regression analysis. The study findings show that social environment exerts the strongest influence on behavioral intention, defined as “acceptance” in this paper. Furthermore, the two independent variables, performance expectancy and effort expectancy, have a significant effect on user acceptance. In contrast to the original model (UTAUT), this paper demonstrates the direct influence of attitude to use. Of the independent variables, facilitating conditions have an additional effect on attitude to use. The results demonstrate that it is not acceptance but attitude to use that influences willingness to pay. An in-depth evaluation of willingness to pay shows that the optimal price point is 83.3% lower than the price offered by the company; however, there are budget-dependent variations in the assessment.