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The COVID-19 pandemic has thrown education in turmoil, globally, resulting in many challenges for quality education and associated activities, such as sports, to continue. This study's foci are on what detrimental effects of discontinued athletics have on the learner athletes; how information communication technology (ICT) utilisation can mitigate these effects and enable continued athletics participation and coaching. A qualitative research approach was employed. Purposive, convenient sampling method was used to select the participants. Data was collected by means of a face-to-face interview; examining artefacts; two focus group interviews and semi-structured questionnaires. The data was arranged manually according to categories and themes. The findings and recommendations were aligned to the third stage of the Crisis Recovery Stages of Wa-Mbaleka and Costa' model and the research questions were answered. The coach's use of ICTs for training proved to be an effective way for athletes to continue school athletics during the COVID-19 pandemic, with implications for education and society.

This article explores the initial steps in developing and presenting Sport Psychology in a leadership and sport curriculum at Stellenbosch University's (SU) Centre for Human Performance Sciences' (CHPS) Academy for Girls' Leadership and Sport Development. Sport Psychology does not feature within the South African school curriculum specifically, yet the CHPS recognises the importance of exposing girls to the principles and skills of Sport Psychology and has a leadership curriculum for girls participating in sport to this end. This paper reports on a qualitative and exploratory reflective inquiry by the author who presented this theme. What was gained during this process, as well as the associated challenges encountered, suggest possible areas for research as well as changes and adjustments which could be made in similar Sport Psychology curricula.

There is a considerable lack of literature on international student athletes despite the extent to which colleges and universities are increasingly relying on them to heighten the winning reputation of their sports programs. This research focuses on international student athletes from Africa. Based on interviews of 16 student athletes from seven different African countries, the range of their experiences upon entering universities in the United States, particularly their challenges, were identified. Many of the serious issues affecting the student athletes were matters related to the host environment's underestimations about the African student athletes' desires to learn, misunderstandings about their culture and religions and other negative assumptions that undermined their academic success. We also found that the vast majority of these student athletes experienced negative stereotypes and discrimination based on their race and their region of origin.

Talent identification in sports is a complex process, whereby the aim is to identify, select and promote players who are considered to have the necessary skills and competencies (e.g., technical, tactical, and physical attributes) to succeed in senior adult competition. To support this process, this study focused on the development of a questionnaire to assist in the identification of talent among South African youth soccer players. This will establish a measure of the attributes coaches consider important when making talent identification decisions for outfield soccer players. The questionnaire was constructed following established instrument development phases. In phase 1, 61 questionnaire items were generated based on a review of the relevant literature. In phase 2, a panel of experts examined the content validity of the preliminary items. In phase 3, the provisional 59-item questionnaire (Talent Identification Questionnaire in Soccer for Outfield Players; TIDQ-OP) was administered to 173 experienced South African soccer coaches (130 males and 43 females) who ranged in age from 18 to 64 years. In phase 3, the factorial structure of the questionnaire was established through principal component analysis. The final questionnaire consisted of 58 items. These preliminary analyses indicate the usefulness of the TIDQ-OP as a tool to assist South African coaches in the identification and selection of talented players. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although mental health screenings are not routinely conducted in rugby, the Sport Concussion Assessment Tool – Fifth Edition (SCAT-5) is widely performed and measures affective, cognitive, sleep, and physical symptoms. This study investigated the psychometric properties of the SCAT-5 to explore its potential as a mental health screening tool. During preseason for the 2021 Western Province Super League A in South Africa, clinicians conducted mental health assessments of 71 adult male rugby union players. The SCAT-5 Symptom Evaluation, Baron Depression Screener for Athletes (BDSA), Athlete Psychological Strain Questionnaire (APSQ), Center for Epidemiologic Studies–Depression (CES-D), and Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) were compared to each other and to fully structured diagnostic interviews by mental health professionals using the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI) 7.0.2. Lifetime MINI-defined mental disorders were common, being identified in 33.8% (95% CI 22.79–46.17%). Only 4.29% of participants had a previous diagnosis. Exploratory Factor Analysis indicated a mental health construct of depression/anxiety being measured by the SCAT-5. The SCAT-5 had strong internal consistency (α = 0.94) and showed moderate convergent validity with the CES-D (r = 0.34; p = 0.008) and GAD-7 (r = 0.49; p < 0.0001). The area under the curve for the ability of the SCAT-5 to identify current disorders was 0.87 (p = 0.003), on par with the CES-D and GAD-7. Since the SCAT-5 has the potential to identify depression and anxiety, it may allow mental health screening without the need for additional measures. Follow-up studies should further explore its discriminative ability in larger samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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There are various contributing factors to sporting success among elite athletes, including Olympians. The purpose of this paper was to investigate the enablers and/or barriers to sporting success among South African former Olympians from historically disadvantaged areas (HDAs) using the SPLISS framework. This would enable an understanding of the factors that lead to sporting success among athletes from HDAs. A qualitative research design was employed for this study, whereby semi-structured interviews were conducted among 15 former Olympians who represented South Africa between the 1992 and 2016 Olympic Games. The ATLAS.ti (version 22) software tool was used to analyse the data. The study found that athletes from HDAs attributed their sporting success to the functional competition structure, sports access at community level, access to scholarships and bursaries to elite schools/universities, good coaching support and mentorship, access to local and international competitions, as well as community and peer athlete support. The highest barriers reported by athletes were inadequate financial support, a dysfunctional school sport system, lack of sports facilities, equipment and transport system, poor post-career and scientific support. Elite athletes from HDAs need consistent financial support, school/foundation level sport access, quality sports facilities, equipment, and reliable transport to training and competitions, post-career, as well as scientific support to achieve their full potential and attain international sporting success. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) lockdown was a strange and new occurrence, which left many individuals ill-equipped to cope with the new way of living. Sportspersons had to adapt to a new training style within a new environment, both physically and mentally. Aim: The purpose of this study was to understand the physical, mental and emotional parameters among sportspersons during the COVID-19 lockdown regulations. Setting: The study consisted of 105 regular sportspersons (from South Africa). Methods: This was a quantitative research study design using an online questionnaire. An online questionnaire was adapted and distributed via online social platforms (WhatsApp, Twitter and Instagram) to collect data in which sportspersons (n = 105) answered questions about the effects that they experienced during lockdown on their physical, mental and emotional well-being. Results: Sportspersons participated in cardiovascular training, flexibility training, strength training and bodybuilding exercises during pre-lockdown. During lockdown, more than 74% of sportspersons had adequate training space, equipment and the time to perform physical activity. However, more than 43% of these sportspersons experienced a decrease in flexibility, muscle mass and muscle strength. Exercise was used as a form of stress relief by 77.1% of sportspersons throughout lockdown. In addition, sportspersons who used exercise as a form of stress relief continued to experience an increase in stress throughout lockdown. Conclusion: The outcomes from this study demonstrated how the COVID-19 lockdown had adverse effects on the overall health and well-being of most sportspersons. Other outcomes included the effects that physical inactivity had among sportspersons, including changes in diet and sleep. Contribution: This study highlights the urgency for the sports fraternity to adopt measures to provide various methods of stress relief (as well as opportunities for physical activity) during similar periods of lockdown (or exercise restrictions) for those who rely on exercise as their daily physical, mental and emotional outlet. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Overhead throwing by cricketers when fielding with different approaches has been described using two-dimensional analysis. Currently, the three-dimensional kinematic and kinetic characteristics of an overhead throw performed by cricketers following a run-up are unknown. Fifteen South African cricketers performed six overhead throws, from a stationary position and with a run-up over 15–20 m prior to fielding a ball, respectively. Kinematic data and ground reaction forces were collected throughout the throwing trials. Joint kinetics were calculated using inverse dynamics. An independent t-test or Mann–Whitney U-test was used to determine joint kinetic differences between throwing approaches. Differences between the kinematic waveforms for stationary and run-up throwing approaches were assessed using one-dimensional statistical parametric mapping ANOVA (P < 0.05). The shoulder, elbow and thoraco-lumbar joints displayed similar kinematics between throwing approaches. The run-up approach displayed increased hip flexion between 0–34% and 57–100% (F(1, 28) = 6.726; P = 0.01) of the throwing cycle; and lumbo-pelvic flexion between 57 and 65% (F(1, 28) = 6.823; P = 0.02) of the throwing cycle; greater shoulder compression (F(1, 28) = 1.036; P = 0.02) and posterior force (F(1, 28) = 1.052; P = 0.009) at maximum external rotation; yet less superior shoulder force (F(1, 28) = 1.744; P = 0.005) and elbow compression (F(1, 28) = 4.331; P = 0.03), superior (F(1, 28) = 1.212; P = 0.002) and medial (F(1, 28) = 1.370; P = 0.03) elbow forces at ball release, when compared to a stationary position. Cricketers maintain similar upper limb kinematics between overhead throwing approaches. However, throwing with a run-up approximately doubles the forces exerted on the shoulder at maximum external rotation, which is most likely caused by the greater dominant hip and lumbo-pelvic flexion noted. This may amplify the potential risk for shoulder injury when throwing. Highlights Throwing arm motion is similar irrespective of the approach used by cricketers to throw. Throwing with a run-up produced increased angles of lumbo-pelvic and dominant hip flexion in various phases of the throwing cycle. Throwing with a run-up resulted in greater shoulder compression and posterior force at maximum external rotation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper provides an overview of the HEAT (Healthy Environments for AthleTes) project, which aims to understand the impact of environmental conditions on athlete health and performance during major sporting events such as long-distance running, cycling, and triathlons. In collaboration with the SAFER (Strategies to reduce Adverse medical events For the ExerciseR) initiative, the HEAT project carried out a field campaign at the 2022 Comrades Marathon in the KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa. The measurement campaign deployed seven weather stations, seven PM 2.5 monitors and one spore trap along the 90 km route to capture spatially representative measurements of complex micro-climates, allergenic aerospora, and particulate matter exposure. The results indicate that runners were exposed to moderate risk heat stress conditions. Novel findings from this initial campaign shows elevated and potentially harmful PM 2.5 levels at spectator areas, possibly coinciding with small fire events around the race day festivities. Our findings show values PM 2.5 levels over the WHO 24-h guidelines at all stations, while 2000 µg/m 3 at two stations. However, the lack of an acute exposure standard means direct health impacts cannot be quantified in the context of a sport event. The HEAT project highlights important aspects of race day monitoring; regional scale climatology has an impact on the race day conditions, the microclimatic conditions (pollution and meteorology) are not necessarily captured by proximity instruments and direct environmental measurements are required to accurately capture conditions along the route., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Objective: To determine whether the lifetime prevalence and clinical characteristics of exercise-associated muscle cramping (EAMC) differ between runners entering a 21.1- versus 56-km road race. Design: Cross-sectional study Setting: The 2012 to 2015 Two Oceans Marathon races (21.1 and 56 km), South Africa. Participants: Participants were consenting race entrants (21.1 km = 44 458; 56 km = 26 962) who completed an online prerace medical screening questionnaire. Independent Variable: A history of EAMC. Main Outcome Measures: The main outcome variables were lifetime prevalence (%) and clinical characteristics (muscle groups affected, timing of occurrence, severity, frequency of serious EAMC, and self-reported treatment) of a history of EAMC. Differences between 56- and 21.1-km race entrants were explored (relative risk [RR]). Results: The lifetime prevalence of EAMC was 12.8%, which was higher in 56- (20.0%; 95% CI 19.5-20.6) versus 21.1-km race entrants (8.5%; 8.2-8.8) (P = 0.0001). In all entrants, the fourth quarter was the most common onset (46.4%), calf muscles were the most commonly affected (53.1%), and most EAMCs were of mild-to-moderate severity (95%). In 56- versus 21.1-km entrants, hamstring (RR = 1.7; 1.5-1.9) and quadriceps muscle groups (RR = 1.5; 1.3-1.7) were more frequently affected (P = 0.0001), the onset of EAMC during racing was less common in the first quarter (RR = 0.3; 0.2-0.4) (P = 0.0001), and serious EAMC was more frequent (RR = 1.6; 1.4-1.9) (P = 0.0001). Conclusions: In 56- versus 21.1-km runners, a history of EAMC is 2 times more frequent and muscle groups affected, onset in a race, and severity of EAMC differed. The lifetime prevalence was lower than previously reported in other events. Risk factors associated with EAMC may differ between entrants for different race distances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Western Province Senior School Sports Union had its genesis in smaller organizations that were deeply embedded in the context of the oppressed people of Cape Town. School athletics was a mirror of the social and political landscape of the broader city. Despite many constraints, both materially and in terms of human resources, the organization navigated the difficult socio-political environment, largely through the efforts of dedicated teachers and community based organizations. The final organization that emerged was able to successfully manage events and the administration and development of school athletics in difficult times. Prominent administrators of the organization were identified as well as outstanding athletes and participating schools. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Elite athletes and their entourage are exposed to intense stressors and commonly experience mental health symptoms and disorders. While there is limited literature on prevalence rates in a South African setting, initial data show that both current and retired athletes may experience these symptoms, but with low treatment rates. There is a need to improve mental health literacy and mental health care in athletes. Athletes may benefit from systematic mental health surveillance and additional screening during high-risk periods, such as injury or retirement. This commentary brings athlete mental health into focus and advocates for the inclusion of sport and exercise psychiatry into the athlete entourage and broader mental health team, in order to close the treatment gap. We provide seven recommendations for the initial way forward for sport and exercise psychiatry in South Africa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sports in South Africa have evolved into an arena for self-discovery, a place of self-revelation. Through sports, particularly athletics, heroes emerged who not only achieved for themselves and their communities, but also served as golden bulbs, flickering lights of hope, inspiration, and motivation to the community. Despite the heroic roles played by athletes, sporting memories of unique and gallant characters remain self-stored, exposed to all natural disasters such as loss, rapid deterioration, inaccessibility, thus turning into golden bulbs covered in a black cloth. This qualitative study adopted oral testimony triangulated with content analysis to explore the memories of undocumented athletics heroes in South Africa. Snowball sampling was adopted to help locate historically excluded athletics heroes and sheroes. The study revealed that athletes' houses have been transformed into museums encompassing all of their running memories, displayed all over their living rooms, with only a few athletes overseeing forgotten historical memories of most legendary runners and, in some cases, without specialised handling, compounded by the fact that these archival memories are only accessible to those fortunate enough to be close to these legendary runners. The study recommends that these memories be included in the national archival system so that they can be accessed by the public, as a large portion of athletes' historical memories are unaccounted for and thus inaccessible. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The use of sport supplements has increased for all types and levels of sport, with an estimated increase of 5.8% annually. Sport supplement usage and doping among high school athletes has increased over the years to meet the demands of the sports. Objective: This scoping review identifies the trends and gaps in current literature regarding sport supplement use among high school rugby players in South Africa. Methods: A search was conducted using six electronic databases, namely Oxford Academic, Emerald Publishing, ResearchGate, SABINET, PubMed and Google Scholar. The eligibility of the articles was determined by means of a PRISMA flow diagram with the following inclusion criteria: (1) research concerning supplement use among rugby players, (2) research concerning supplement use among high school rugby players. Five articles all comprising of cross-sectional study designs were included in this scoping review. Results: The prevalence of sport supplement use among adolescent rugby players ranged from 30% to 45%. Protein supplements (31% - 79%) were the most commonly identified supplement used among adolescent rugby players with the aim to improve sport performance as the most common reason for use. The internet (74%) and magazines (72%), followed by coaches comments (28% to 30%), were given as the most common sources of information. Conclusion: The use of sport supplements is increasing among high school athletes due to the belief that these substances will provide sporting performance benefits or enhance the competitive 'edge' of these athletes. Additional education regarding the safety of supplements is necessary to lower the incidences of doping among young athletes and avoid the adverse health effects that uncontrolled supplement use can cause. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Modern culture has stereotyped the female body as one that is continually getting thinner. Internalization of the 'thin' ideal is partly attributable to the inner ideal to be successful combined with the external pressure imposed by media and others. Many individuals attempt to achieve these ideals by behavior modification that imposes health risks. Purpose: To investigate disordered eating (DE) behavior and energy status in female student dancers. Methods: Volunteer dancers (n = 26) aged 19.0 (18.0; 21.0) years, matched by controls (n = 26) aged 20.0 (19.0; 21.0) years were recruited. Eating Disorder Inventory-3 (EDI-3) subscales, Three-factor Eating Questionnaire (TFEQ) Cognitive Dietary Restraint (CDR) subscale, and EDI-3 Referral Form behavioral questions assessed DE behavior. Energy status was assessed with a food record and Actiheart monitor. Results: Dancers achieved significantly higher scores than controls in all questionnaires, namely: EDI-3 Drive for Thinness [12.0 (3.0; 19.0) vs. 4.5 (2.0; 9.0), p = .023], EDI-3 Body Dissatisfaction [16.0 (10.0; 25.0) vs. 6.5 (3.0; 14.0), p = .004], and TFEQ-CDR [9.0 (2.0; 15.0) vs. 3.0 (3.0; 7.0), p = .032]; dancers used excessive exercise to lose weight (19.2% vs. 0%, c² = 5.53, p = .019), and had lower energy availability (24% vs. 8%, p < .05) than controls. The average energy balance (EB) was negative for both groups [dancers: EB = -3896 (-5236; -1222) vs. controls: EB = -2639 (-4744; -789) kJ/day]. Conclusion: Female dancers are at risk for DE behavior and many have suboptimal energy status which may be related to their quest to achieve a more desirable appearance; education on healthy weight management practices is needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The killing of George Floyd sparked mass protests worldwide and forced all facets of society, including sport, to re-examine race, racism and inequality. Given South Africa's post-apartheid transition from institutionalized racial segregation to a democracy in 1994, transformation has been prioritized. However, nearly 30 years post-apartheid South African sport is still struggling to transform. The Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement has given impetus to many prominent South African sportspersons to raise their voices. This paper, drawing on narrative inquiry aims to better understand the experiences of black cricketers in South Africa in the wake of BLM. Personal, radio and webinar interviews with leading players and administrators, media reports and social media forums were used to collect data. A thematic analysis was followed and four key themes emerged from the data were: critiques of a rainbow utopia; the timing of the critique; conundrums of quotas and breaking the system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To determine whether a submaximal cycling test could be used to monitor and prescribe high-intensity interval training (HIT). Methods: Two groups of male cyclists completed 4 HIT sessions over a 2-wk period. The structured-training group (SG; n = 8, VO2max = 58.4 ± 4.2 mL · min-1 · kg-1) followed a predetermined training program while the flexible-training group (FG; n = 7, VO2max = 53.9 ± 5.0 mL · min-1 · kg-1) had the timing of their HIT sessions prescribed based on the data of the Lamberts and Lambert Submaximal Cycle Test (LSCT). Results: Effect-size calculations showed large differences in the improvements in 40-km time-trial performance after the HIT training between SG (8 ± 45 s) and FG (48 ± 42 s). Heart-rate recovery, monitored during the study, tended to increase in FG and remain unchanged in SG. Conclusions: The results of the current study suggest that the LSCT may be a useful tool for coaches to monitor and prescribe HIT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Runners in under-resourced communities in parts of South Africa present with a high prevalence of patellofemoral pain (PFP), which affects their level of participation in sporting activities. Therefore, a specific rehabilitation approach is necessary to manage the PFP-related needs of these runners within their means and reach. Objective: To develop a community-based rehabilitation (CBR) implementation framework for PFP amongst runners in under-resourced communities. Method: Our study used the Delphi technique to develop an appropriate rehabilitation implementation framework for PFP in community-based settings. Sport medicine experts, involved in the treatment and rehabilitation of PFP, were recruited to participate. The Delphi process consisted of three rounds to attain consensus amongst the experts on the components and elements that could be contained in a rehabilitation implementation framework for the management of PFP. Experts rated the framework items using a five-point Likert scale. Results: A total of 19 experts participated in our study: 10 were females and 9 were males of whom 13 were aged between 36 and 55 years. Most were local experts (15) with 11–20 years of clinical experience. Four core rehabilitation implementation items were identified through the Delphi process. These were: (1) the establishment of transdisciplinary rehabilitation teams, (2) upskilling of available clinicians, their assistants and trainers, (3) implementation of a CBR programme at low-level or no-cost and (4) referral of cases to secondary or tertiary institutions for further management. Conclusion: Consensus was reached for a comprehensive CBR implementation framework aimed at addressing the specific needs of runners with PFP in under-resourced communities. Clinical implications: A further study to test the feasibility of the agreed-upon intervention is recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Anterior knee pain (AKP) is a common knee injury resulting from overuse, and impact negatively on the quality of life of many runners. Runners with AKP in underresourced poor communities present with poor health outcomes. Aim: To determine the experiences and rehabilitation needs of runners in under-resourced communities in Ekurhuleni, South Africa. Methods: The study was qualitative, based on the focus group interview method. Interviews were conducted with 12 runners. They were aged from 18 to 45 years and had a history of AKP. Permission was obtained from club managers and consent from each participant. An interview schedule with predetermined questions was used to collect the data. Two researchers conducted the interview, a facilitator and moderator. The interview session lasted for 80 minutes. Audio recordings of the interview session were made, transcribed verbatim and notes taken, with the final result provided in a written report. The data approach was thematic and deductive in nature. Results: All 12 recruited participants participated. The participants were comprised of six females and six males, eight youths and four adults; seven had =5 years of running experience and five had 10 years. The following themes and subthemes emerged: 1) The negative impact of AKP on health (physical, emotional and social); 2) Limited rehabilitation services (availability, accessibility, affordability, adequacy and appropriateness); 3) Rehabilitation needs (knowledge and professional intervention). Conclusion: The study showed the negative impact of AKP on health and the problem of the paucity of rehabilitation services. A community based rehabilitation programme is therefore recommended for runners. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines shifting race relations within one of South Africa's most popular and fastest growing sports--women's netball. Drawing on political opportunity and collective identity theories as articulated by social movement scholars, this article develops an analytical strategy to elucidate how athletes and sport administrators can serve as agents of social change. This analysis relies on interview, survey, and archival data collected during 1999 and 2000. The findings show that netball athletes and administrators are contributing to nation building in post-apartheid South Africa by constructing new collective identities across historical racial boundaries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The United Kingdom-South Africa Sports Initiative was launched in 1994 to contribute to a sustainable and equitable sports development system in South Africa. The initiative was implemented in two phases. Phase I entailed planning and developing a national sports administration curriculum. In Phase II, planning was finalized and resources were provided for the development of a sports delivery system. and the program was monitored to identify (a) problems, constraints, and challenges: (b) solutions: and (c) an implementation plan. Coordinators (n = 5), lead facilitators (n = 2), facilitators (n = 10), and sports leaders (n = 9) were interviewed, and statistics were compiled on their race and gender. The conclusion of Phase II entailed monitoring different aspects of the sports leaders' course. The main trends identified through that process include the context, aims and objectives, style of presentation, and content of courses at different levels. Perceptions about ownership, management, and the possible impact of the initiative are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Various factors predispose athletes to anterior knee pain (AKP), making a holistic assessment with rehabilitation inevitable. Due to minimal rehabilitation services in under-resourced communities, runners are less likely to report this injury to medical professionals compared to runners in better resourced communities. Objective: The purpose of this study was to report on the prevalence of AKP among runners in under-resourced communities and to determine the extrinsic risk factors for this injury. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study of 347 runners in total. Convenience sampling was used to recruit 183 participants aged between 13 and 55 years with no previous history of knee surgeries, traumatic or degenerative knee conditions. Questionnaires were used to collect data on the prevalence of AKP and extrinsic risk factors. The SPSS (version 25) was used to analyse the data. Data were presented as frequencies and percentages and the results from chi-square and logistic regression tests were provided. Results: Forty percent (40%) of participants presented with AKP, particularly males (n=106, 58%), young runners (n=94, 51%) and those with 3--5 years of running experience (n=57, 31%). Anterior knee pain was associated with age (X2=6.484, p=0.039) and running experience (X2=8.39, p=0.04). The following extrinsic risk factors contributed to AKP significantly: training load (p=0.04, odds ratio [OR]=1.23), warm-up (p=0.04, OR=1.57)' running shoe condition (p=0.04, OR=0.14) and running surface (p=0.05, OR=1.2). Conclusion: A substantial presence of AKP and its extrinsic risk factors were found among all participants. These outcomes suggest that extrinsic risk factors should also be considered when managing AKP among runners. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/aim: Rugby union ('rugby') presents an above-average risk of injury to participants. BokSmart is a South African nationwide intervention that aims to reduce rugby-related injuries in players. This is achieved by educating coaches and referees to improve injury behaviour of players. Thus, the aim of this study was to assess if the receipt of injury-prevention education was associated with player behaviour.Methods: Junior (n=2279) and senior (n=1642) players, who attended merit-based South African Rugby tournaments (2008-2012), completed an anonymous questionnaire. Logistic regressions investigated if player injury-prevention behaviours were associated with the receipt of education on the same topic. Additionally, players' preferred sources of education were explored through frequency and χ2 analyses.Results: Of the 16 injury-prevention behaviours, 12 (75%) were associated with receiving education on that topic. The four behaviours not associated with education were: warming-up (before training and matches), and avoiding heat and massage post injury. Of the seven possible sources of this education, the majority of players chose either coaches or physiotherapists as their preferred media. In comparison with junior players, more senior players chose physiotherapists instead of coaches for warming-up and cooling-down education.Conclusions: The results of this study support, to a large degree, the strategy of BokSmart-influence of player behaviour through coach education. However, these findings also suggest that BokSmart could target team physiotherapists in addition to coaches and referees with their safety education. Also, players might have different preferences for this education depending on their age. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective was to investigate the relationship betweenCatechol-O-methyltransferase(COMT)rs4680 and serotonin-transporter-linked polymorphic region (5-HTTLPR) genotypes with concussion history and personality traits. Rugby players (“all levels”: n = 303), from high schools (“junior”, n = 137), senior amateur, and professional teams (“senior”, n = 166), completed a self-reported concussion history questionnaire, Cloninger’s Tridimensional Personality Questionnaire, and donated a DNA sample. Participants were allocated into control (non-concussed, n = 140), case (all) (previous suspected or diagnosed concussions, n = 163), or case (diagnosed only) (previous diagnosed concussion, n = 140) groups.COMTrs4680 Val/Val genotypes were over-represented in controls in all levels (P = 0.013, OR:2.00, 95% CI:1.15–3.57) and in juniors (P = 0.003, OR:3.57, 95% CI:1.45–9.09). Junior Val/Val participants displayed increased “anticipatory worry” (P = 0.023). The 5-HTTLPR low expressing group was under-represented in controls when all levels were considered (P = 0.032; OR:2.02, 95% CI:1.05–3.90) and in juniors (P = 0.021; OR:3.36, 95% CI:1.16–9.72). Junior 5-HTTLPR low and intermediate expressing groups displayed decreased “harm avoidance” (P = 0.009), “anticipatory worry” (P = 0.041), and “fear of uncertainty” (P < 0.001). This study provides preliminary indications that personality associated genetic variants can influence concussion in rugby. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The critical speed (CS) concept helps characterize the aerobic and anaerobic fitness of an athlete. Rugby players should, hypothetically, have modest CS values but extremely high curvature constant (D') values, yet, normative data are currently unavailable. To develop normative data of CS and D' for high-level male rugby players, a total of 30 male rugby players were recruited from the Eastern Cape of South Africa. All subjects performed the running 3-minute all-out exercise test (3 MT) using global positioning system (GPS) technology to determine CS and D'. The GPS data were used to determine the total distance and velocities performed, and to examine for pacing effects. Summary statistics of mean ± SD are provided. High total running speeds for the initial 150 seconds (S150s = 5.79 ± 0.59 m•s-1), and total distance (3 MT distance = 871.5 ± 71.9 m) were observed. A total of 13 of 30 subjects surpassed the 300 m D' value (mean D' = 288.2 ± 49.1 m). The CS of the total group was 3.87 ± 0.55 m•s-1. All 3 MT-derived data were categorized using standard nine (stanine) tables that allowed for the generation of normative data with which future performances, performances across similar sporting domains, and more accurate contrasts across the literature can be compared. Skewing of CS and D' was observed between forwards and backs, therefore, between-group differences in neither CS nor D' were observed (p > 0.05). Comparisons with previous literature indicate that male rugby players have higher CS values than female rugby players. When compared with Olympic distance runners, male rugby players have markedly higher D' values and markedly lower CS values. The 3 MT provides a useful procedure for assessing and prescribing high-intensity interval training for rugby athletes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Strength-based interventions have proven effective in the sport and athletic environment in a number of studies. However, few studies have investigated the effect of an integrated strength-based approach on positive athlete outcomes. This study investigated the effect of team-strength use and individual strength use on athlete engagement. Participants were 235 semi-professional athletes from South Africa's major sports, football and rugby. A cross-sectional, quantitative and exploratory research design was implemented. Structural equation modelling was used to determine the empirical validity of the relationship between the variables. Statistical analyses revealed individual strength use as a predictor of athlete engagement, and team-strength use as an enabler of individual strength use. Individual strength use further mediated the relationship between team-strength use and athlete engagement. These findings provide valuable knowledge content in terms of the development of athletes through a strength-based approach. The authors discuss the practical implications of the results and make recommendations for interventions and future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study quantified and compared the collision and non-collision match characteristics across age categories (i.e. U12, U14, U16, U18, Senior) for both amateur and elite playing standards from Tier 1 rugby union nations (i.e. England, South Africa, New Zealand). Two-hundred and one male matches (5911 min ball-in-play) were coded using computerised notational analysis, including 193,708 match characteristics (e.g. 83,688 collisions, 33,052 tackles, 13,299 rucks, 1006 mauls, 2681 scrums, 2923 lineouts, 44,879 passes, 5568 kicks). Generalised linear mixed models with post-hoc comparisons and cluster analysis compared the match characteristics by age category and playing standard. Overall significant differences ( p  < 0.001) between age category and playing standard were found for the frequency of match characteristics, and tackle and ruck activity. The frequency of characteristics increased with age category and playing standard except for scrums and tries that were the lowest at the senior level. For the tackle, the percentage of successful tackles, frequency of active shoulder, sequential and simultaneous tackles increased with age and playing standard. For ruck activity, the number of attackers and defenders were lower in U18 and senior than younger age categories. Cluster analysis demonstrated clear differences in all and collision match characteristics and activity by age category and playing standard. These findings provide the most comprehensive quantification and comparison of collision and non-collision activity in rugby union demonstrating increased frequency and type of collision activity with increasing age and playing standard. These findings have implications for policy to ensure the safe development of rugby union players throughout the world.

Background: The 56km Two Oceans ultra-marathon (TOM), in Cape Town, South Africa, was cancelled in 2020 and 2021 because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Since most other road running events were also cancelled during this period, we hypothesized that most athletes who entered TOM 2022 would be inadequately trained, which would negatively affect performance. However, many world records were broken post-lockdown, and therefore the performance, specifically of the elite athletes, during TOM might actually improve. The aim of this analysis was to evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on performance in TOM 2022 compared to the 2018 event., Methods: Performance data during the two events, as well as the 2021 Cape Town marathon, was extracted from public databases., Results: Fewer athletes entered TOM 2022 (N.=4741) compared to TOM 2018 (N.=11,702), of which more were male (2022: 74.5% vs. 2018: 70.4%, P<0.05) and in the 40+ age-group categories. Compared to 2018 (11.3%), fewer athletes did not finish TOM 2022 (3.1%). Only 10.2% of the finishers completed the 2022 race during the last 15-minutes prior to the cut-off, compared to 18.3% in 2018. There were no differences in the average 2022 finishing time of the subset of 290 athletes whose times were compared to their 2018 performance. There was no difference in the TOM 2022 performance of athletes who had completed the 2021 Cape Town marathon, 6-months earlier, when compared to those who had not entered the marathon., Conclusions: Although there were fewer entrants, most athletes who entered knew that they were adequately trained to complete TOM 2022, with the top runners breaking course records. There was therefore no impact of the pandemic on performance during TOM 2022.

Psychologists can play an important role in supporting learner-athletes who opt to pursue dual careers by rendering services that are relevant to both the careers of learner-athletes. This study explored the usefulness of facilitating narrative career counselling with learner-athletes in a South African sport school as opposed to traditional career counselling, as the latter has shortcomings in addressing the needs of adolescents within a diverse South African context. Three participants from previously disadvantaged backgrounds were purposively selected for this study. Narrative career counselling by means of the Career Interest Profile (CIP) (Version 4) was used to facilitate the process. The usefulness of narrative career counselling was illustrated in meeting the career counselling goals of these learner-athletes. Furthermore, it was found that the CIP can deconstruct role engulfment, where either the learner-career or the athlete-career is accentuated at the cost of the other. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The FitTrack Index is a web-based programme developed in South Africa and widely used by athletes to indicate their fitness. A need exists for a self-managed, noninvasive tool to evaluate and categorise health-related fitness in different population groups. The aim of this study was to compare the FitTrack Index with a reliable measure of cardio-respiratory fitness as indicated by maximal oxygen uptake (direct VO2max). Methods & results: During a 12-week cross-sectional, descriptive pilot study the direct laboratory tested VO2max indicated a moderate to strong correlation with the FitTrack Index (Spearman's rho = 0.439, p = 0.089 at baseline; Spearman's rho = 0.853, p < 0.001 after 12 weeks). Conclusions: These results suggest that the web-based FitTrack Index may be considered an appropriate tool to evaluate exercise capacity and cardiovascular fitness in healthy individuals following an aerobic training programme. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to compile a sport psychological skills profile of track and field athletes and to compare the psychological skill levels of successful and less successful track athletes during the 2011 University Sport South Africa Athletics Championships. The participants included 143 athletes (age= 21.6±2.32 years). Their perceived importance and need for psychological skills training, as well as their perceived ability to be mentally prepared for training sessions and competitions were investigated. Practical significant differences were observed between the top (n=21) and bottom (n=21) sprinters for Peak Performance Profile (PPP) total and stress control, Psychological Skills Inventory (PSI) total and achievement motivation, as well as between the top (n=21) and average (n=20) sprinters for PPP total, concentration, stress control, PSI total, achievement motivation, maintaining self-confidence and concentration. The successful (n=21) middle- and long-distance athletes recorded significantly higher achievement motivation values than their less successful (n=21) counterparts. Collectively, these results confirm a relationship between psychological skills and track and field success. The effect of psychological skills training programmes on psychological skills development and performance enhancement requires further empirical studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Kenya has been very successful at middle and long distance races in international competitions for the last five decades. However, Kenyan world record beaters have denounced the motherland flag by switching nationality, sought training in alien bases under foreign managers, been living under deplorable conditions after athletic career, or they have been the victim of neglect-induced death at a prime career age. There is extensive research available on the success of Kenyan athletes, but no study to the knowledge of the researchers has linked the management of Kenyan athletes to that success. As a foundation for further research, the current exploratory study was designed to determine whether elite athletes, their coaches, and administrative officials (Athletics Kenya [AK] officials) differed on the effectiveness of the sampled managerial practices (personnel, equipment/facilities, motivation, patriotism, team selection, and training programs) in facilitating the success of Kenyan elite runners. The study further details the effect of nationality change and the role of foreign managers towards the success of Kenyans in distance running. The study took place in Nairobi, Kenya. The sample comprised 185 elite athletes, 49 coaches, and 34 AK officials. The Chi-square (χ2) test for independence (α = .05.) analysis was used to determine a consistent and predictable relationship between the variables. The pairwise comparisons showed that athletes differed significantly with coaches and AK officials on the sampled managerial practices while coaches did not differ significantly with AK officials. Suggestions for further research are given. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses a study on the physical changes and body characteristics of rugby players from South Africa over 13 year period. Topics discussed include growth in body mass and muscle endurance, determining physical profile of players for high intensity sports, and the practical applications to improve performance.

Objective: The objective was to explore eating behaviour, body image and energy status in female university team sport athletes. Design: This was a cross-sectional, descriptive study design. Setting: The setting was North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa. Subjects: Subjects were top university female field hockey and netball player volunteers, aged 18-30 years (n = 22), and recruited during their sport season. Outcome measures: Athletes completed demographic, health and sport, and body weight questionnaires. The Eating Disorder Inventory and the Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire’s cognitive dietary restraint subscale were used to measure disordered eating behaviour. Body composition was measured with dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Estimated energy availability (estEA) was determined from a three-day diet and exercise record. Results: Fifteen (68%) athletes were identified with an increased risk of disordered eating. Sixteen (73%) were dieting. A low estEA (24 ± 12 kcal/kg fat-free mass/day) was found in 59% of the athletes, of whom 85% (11/13) had increased risk of disordered eating. A significantly positive (p-value < 0.05) association was found between cognitive dietary restraint and drive for thinness (r = 0.4) and body weight (r = 0.5). A negative association was found between desired weight loss (r = −0.5), energy intake (r = −0.5) and estEA (r = −0.7). Conclusion: Nonlean build athletes who diet in season are at increased risk of disordered eating behaviour and low energy availability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Psychological skills related to positional play are evident in sport. It is believed that specific demands associated with playing position or role within a team sport require a unique set of psychological skills. This study examined the relationship between psychological skills and specialised role amongst 127 South African cricket players. The subjects were divided into 4 primary role groupings namely batsman (n=30), bowler (n=32), all-rounder (n=61) and wicket keeper (n=4). The wicket keeper group's results were excluded from the analysis due to an underrepresentation of wicketkeepers in the sample. Psychological skills were assessed by means of the Athletic Coping Skills Inventory-28 (Smith et al., 1995) and Bull's Mental Skills Questionnaire (Bull et al., 1996). One-way analysis of variance (one-way ANOVA) indicated no significant differences between the psychological skills of the various role groupings. However, there were tendencies for all-rounders to be more psychologically skilled than bowlers and batsmen. It was concluded that there is no distinctive psychological profile for classifying cricket players into performing specialised roles in the sport. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The majority of research examining the interplay between athlete hostility, anger verbal aggression and physical aggression in competitive sporting environments has focused on Western populations and only on selected sporting codes (e.g. Rugby; ice hockey). Research involving African, particularly South African athletes is sparse. Thus, this study examines the prevalence of athletes' hostility, anger, verbal aggression and physical aggression in South African sport. A total of 233 athletes in Gauteng province, South Africa, were selected. Descriptive statistics as well as Smart PLS software for structural equation modelling (SEM) technique were applied. The results indicated that the relationship between athletes' hostility and anger, verbal aggression and physical aggression were significantly positive; while insignificantly positive association was obsereved between athletes' hostility and verbal aggression. The results also suggest that the experience of hostility, angry emotions, verbal aggressive behaviours and physical aggression of South African athletes are similar to Western populations, but that sport psychology practitioners should be aware of some potentially important differences, such as the general tendency of South African athletes to disapprove of aggressive behaviour. The research paper concludes by discussing both academic and managerial implications of the results, and future research directions are suggested. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Dietary practices of the University of Limpopo soccer team athletes have been reported. However, the practices of those engaging in soccer for general fitness from different non-competitive teams remain unknown. To respond to this gap, the researchers investigated the energy, macronutrient intake, and BMI status and further correlated the two variables of the fitness non-competitive soccer athletes registered at the University of Limpopo in South Africa., Method: A quantitative study design was undertaken to conveniently sample 60 out of 90 fitness soccer athletes from the four non-competitive soccer teams at the University of Limpopo sports grounds. Ethics approval was obtained from the University of Limpopo Research and Ethics Committee, and permission was given by the university sports management and team coaches. Athletes signed the informed consent form before participating in the study. Data were collected at the soccer fields during the afternoons before the start of training. Macronutrient intake data were collected using multiple (two) 24-h recall questionnaires on different days, which were validated by the food frequency questionnaire. Weight and height were measured using a digital scale (Seca 813 electronic flat scale) and stadiometer (Seca 213 portable stadiometer) for BMI calculations, respectively. The average energy and macronutrient intakes were calculated through the SAMRC FoodFinder software (3.0). The nutrient averages, together with the BMI results, were loaded into SPSS (26.0) for further analysis. Descriptive statistics were used to report the energy, macronutrient intake, and BMI statuses of athletes using percentages, means, and standard deviations (±SD). A one-way ANOVA test was used to determine the association between the latter variables. A p -value of ≤ 0.05 was the criterion used to correlate the variables., Results: All (100%) athletes were males, most of whom played soccer for 2-3 years while at the university. Almost half (48%) of athletes consumed energy (39.6 kcal/kg) below the recommendations. About 92% and 53% of athletes consumed carbohydrates (5.0 g/kg) and fat (1.2 g/kg) below the recommended values; while 43% consumed protein (1.4 g/kg) optimally. The majority (>80%) had a normal BMI (21.6 ± 2.6 kg/m 2 ) status. However, there were no relationships between the energy ( p = 0.383), CHO ( p = 0.261), protein ( p = 0.543), and fat ( p = 0179) intake and the BMI status of athletes., Conclusion: The macronutrient intake of fitness soccer athletes at the University of Limpopo is, on the whole, suboptimal. However, the athletes had normal body weights. There was no association between both the energy and macronutrient intake and the anthropometric (BMI) status of soccer athletes.

Background. The South African Rugby Union (SARU) has had a continual challenge to make the game representative of players of all ethnic groups at all levels of play. In response to this challenge SARU has implemented several programmes designed to accelerate the development of players from previously disadvantaged areas with the goal of making the game more representative. However, the success of these programmes to transform the player profile at different levels of rugby cannot be evaluated because the players representing different ethnic groups have not been quantified in a systematic way. Objectives. To quantify the number and playing time of South African professional players (Vodacom, Currie Cup, Super Rugby and Springboks) from different ethnic groups from 2007 to 2011 to determine whether there are any changes in the profile of the players over this period. Methods. Playing time was recorded for all players in sanctioned matches. Players were divided into the ethnic classifications used by SARU (i.e. white, coloured and black). Results. At all levels of competition there were proportionally more white players, followed by coloured players and then black players. This pattern did not change from 2007 to 2011. Based on the ratio of number of players v. playing time, the white players played more time than expected at the Springbok level, whereas the black players played less than expected for the number of players from 2007 to 2011. At the Vodacom level the white players played more than expected in 2007 and 2008 and played less than expected in 2010 and 2011, whereas the black players played more than expected in 2010 and the coloured players played more than expected at the 2011 tournament. The Super Rugby tournament had the most consistency between players and expected playing time for the different ethnic groups. Conclusions. Despite the effort to support players from disadvantaged backgrounds since 1998 with facilitative programmes and selection targets, the professional game is still dominated by white players at all levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Eating disorders among athletes is an alarming issue, much deserving of the interest it has enthused among researchers. Therefore this study was conducted to contribute to the understanding and awareness of eating disorders among university student-athletes. A purposive sample of university student-athletes at two universities in the Gauteng province of South Africa was drawn. The Eating Attitudes Test (EAT-26), the SCOFF questionnaire together with a biographical questionnaire was distributed among the university student-athletes. The EAT-26 proved to be reliable in this study. Low scores were evident on the EAT-26, indicative of a low prevalence of eating problems among the student-athletes. The majority of the student-athletes scored high on the SCOFF questionnaire suggesting they have issues with food or body image, or eating disorders. Notable from this study was that the majority of the student-athletes felt that they did not receive any pressure from their coaches to lose weight. Healthy relationships between student-athletes and coaches, family, friends and teammates may lessen the risk of eating disorders among the student-athletes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT South Africa plays host to a number of major sporting events that takes place annually such as the Two Oceans Marathon, the Argus Cycle Tour and the Midmar open water mile. This research aims to identify the socio-economic differences of participants in the events and to determine the key drivers of their spending. Three surveys were conducted at the events during 2008 and 2010. The data analyses include a factor and a regression analyses. The analyses identified the different motives why participation takes place, the socio-demographic differences between participants and the impact thereof on spending. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A substantial body of literature refers to coaches as leaders. Currently in football, the terms 'coach' and 'manager' are used interchangeably. Similarly, many researchers in sport settings use the terms 'coach' and 'leader' interchangeably reinforcing the presupposition that coaches are leaders. Success in sport coaching depends, largely, on the leadership style of the coach. It is expected of the coach to try to ensure that there is congruency between the required, actual and preferred leadership behaviour. This may require the coach to display flexibility in adapting his/her leadership style to suit specific leadership situations so that all stakeholders (i.e. coach, athletes and management) are satisfied. Coaches wield strong influence over their athletes, therefore their leadership skills forms a vital element of their coaching. The purpose of the study is therefore to identify athletes' preference of coach leadership style and to determine whether there are any differences in the leadership preferences of male and female athletes. A convenient sample of 400 student-athletes at two universities in the Gauteng Province of South Africa comprised the participants in this study. An adapted version of the Leadership Scale for Sports (LSS) (Chelladurai & Saleh, 1978) to suit the South African context was administered by trained fieldworkers. Descriptive statistics were used to report on the data. Mean scores, standard deviations and effect sizes were used in describing the data. Effect sizes were used determine differences between male and female athletes. The use of effect sizes enabled conclusions to be drawn based entirely on descriptive measures of the data. To determine whether the differences in the means of any two groups were significant, the t-test using a significance level of 0.05 was utilised. The results reflected the most preferred coaching behaviours were training and instruction (mean=1.98) and positive feedback (mean=1.98) while the least preferred behavior was autocratic behaviours. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is well established in literature that aggressive behaviour continues to be prevalent in many sporting activities despite the potential positive contribution that sport has made to athletes, society, universities and economies. The main aim of this study was to assess the application of an adapted version of the original Aggression Questionnaire (BPAQ) to measure aggression and its four factors (physical aggression, verbal aggression, anger and hostility) amongst South African university athletes. The sample consisted of 300 athletes from three South African universities to whom the aggression questionnaire (herein called the AQ-SA) was administered. The results of the study supported the Buss and Perry four-factor structure, indicating that the AQ-SA can be useful for the measurement of aggression in a South African setting. The results showed that most athletes expressed moderate to low physical aggression, verbal aggression and hostility; and exhibited low levels of anger during sporting events. There is a need to devise ways to preserve the positive athletic-behaviour of South African university competitors. Research limitations and implications are reported and further research suggested. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Higher education institutions provide students with a relatively well-resourced and specialised environment for recreation and high performance sport participation. The relatively short duration of an athletic career contributes to role conflict of being a student and athlete with parallel sets of influences towards professional socialisation. The student-athlete as a unique population and their organisational management is faced with many issues, including the issue of inclusion, ethnic diversity, gender disenfranchisement and risk behaviours. The participation figures of sixteen universities obtained through two questionnaires, six interviews and nineteen focus groups reveal high success rates in league competitions, ranging between 62.1 per cent and 86.6 per cent for finishing in the first three positions. With an adaptation to the exact figure of 7 552, an estimated 10 000 students participated in league competitions in 2008. Three clusters based on number of participants emerged. Overall league participants represented a gender bias of 5 857 males (58.5%), 3 343 females (41.5%), and 606 athletes playing in mixed teams. The sports of the six universities with the highest numbers include rugby (n=1 270), hockey (n=1 248), cricket (n=748), football (n=537), netball (n=420), athletics (n=388), basketball (n=168), tennis (n=126) and volleyball (n=120). Issues of inclusion and gender equality should be addressed, as the majority of sports uphold the ethos of masculinity. Other social issues that warranted research and action include sporadic binge drinking, risk behaviour and role-conflict of being a student and athlete often experiencing contradictory and unreasonable expectations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Athletes competing at the highest level, should optimally balance training and competition stress with adequate recovery. However, athletes are not always aware of the available recovery options. This study investigated the recovery modalities currently used by elite South African sports persons. Research questions focused on types and frequency of recovery strategies used by players from four different sport codes (hockey, netball, rugby and soccer), as well as from different levels of participation. A total of 890 elite South African team sport players (507 males; 383 females) completed a questionnaire, specifically designed for the study. Results showed that recovery modalities are used to varying degrees by players from the four different sport codes, as well as from different levels of participation. The post-match recovery modality used the most by hockey, netball and soccer players was an active cool-down. Rugby players used a strategy for rehydration the most. The frequency of using an active cool-down and rehydration was not affected by level of participation. There seems to be an increased need for player and coach education regarding recovery modalities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article the authors trace the development of mega sports events as big business and the growing awareness of unions and civil society of the threat such events present to working conditions and social and union rights. The authors argue that the high profile and economic importance of mega sports events, such as the Olympics and the Football World Cup, also provide unions with opportunities to build organisational strength and to influence the ever-more globalised world of work. After a brief outline of the role of unions in the Atlanta and Sydney Olympics, the authors compare unions' attempts to influence the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany and the upcoming 2010 World Cup in South Africa. In providing an overview of the political and organisational contexts of union movements in each country, the article identifies areas of union activities with the potential to achieve sustainable gains regarding working conditions and long-term organisational strength. The degree to which unions in both countries managed to take advantage of such opportunities is additionally assessed. The authors find that attempts by German unions to use the World Cup for long-term strategic gains were exceptional, with specifically notable gains being made in the security and sportswear industries. While unions in South Africa have taken a more strategic approach, with significant achievements in the construction and security sectors, they are still a long way from achieving a „unionised“ World Cup. The article highlights some exciting new developments in relation to the role of union learning, broad coalition building, global networking and an increasing role for the Global Union Federations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The brutal history of racially based segregation in Johannesburg, as in other post-apartheid cities, would appear to condemn its inhabitants to live in perpetual fear of violence based on perceptions of racial and national difference. Yet urban pickup soccer recreates spaces in which that history can be suspended, if not forgotten. In creating evanescent form out of spontaneous play, such games may be understood as artful conversations among bodies-in-motion. Players have the freedom to engage in charismatic self-fashioning, inventing a fantasy persona on the field that is larger than the life they live at other times and places in the city. In this way, participants project themselves into a social future beyond race that they might not otherwise be able to imagine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents the comparative incidence of the reported concussions presenting for follow-up management for school, university, club and provincial level Rugby Union players in South Africa. It presents the retrospective statistical analysis of the number of reported concussions documented annually for groups of Rugby Union players as proportion to those who received preseason neurocognitive assessment. It reveals that there was a wide inequality in the manner in which concussion follow-up was managed by various organizations. It suggests that concussion goes unrecognized and therefore incorrectly managed in a number of instances. The recommendations for optimal identification of concussed athletes for follow-up management are presented.