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Introduction: Coaches, practitioners, and leadership in amateur female sport must navigate many obstacles in the pursuit of athlete availability and optimal performance. The present study aims to evaluate opportunities and challenges to both injury prevention and management in amateur female sport, as experienced by mixed-gender coaches, allied healthcare professionals, and general practitioners. Methods: Semi-structured virtual interviews of coaches, allied healthcare professionals, and general practitioners (N = 25), recruited via convenience snowball sample. Data transcribed verbatim with reflexive thematic analysis through a critical realism framework. Results: Female-specific issues, education, and resource capital were challenges to the implementation of injury prevention and management in amateur female sport, thus negatively impacting on performance, prevention, and rehabilitation. Opportunities for improved care for female athletes were developing communication and relationships, outsourcing responsibility, and providing greater education, in response to desires for such, and lastly exposure to elite sport and national governing bodies' protocols. Discussion: In amateur female sport, developing communication pathways and relationships, along with upskilling coaches, can help better support female athletes, coaches, and healthcare professionals. Leaders and stakeholders must advocate for and support greater education, resourcing, and an understanding of female-specific issues in amateur female sport. It is intended that these findings will provide evidence and opportunities for discourse between stakeholders in amateur female sport to improve standard of supports for female athletes, coaches, and healthcare professionals. These findings may also help practitioners better exploit opportunities and circumvent challenges to improve the welfare and performance of amateur female athletes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The current study aims to explore the experiences of athletes transitioning from amateur to professional sports. Methods and Materials: A qualitative research design was employed, utilizing a grounded theory approach. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with 22 athletes residing in Ontario, Canada, who had transitioned to professional sports within the past three years. Participants were selected using purposive sampling to ensure diverse representation across sports disciplines. Interviews were conducted in person or via video conferencing, lasting between 60 to 90 minutes, and were audio-recorded with consent. Data analysis involved open, axial, and selective coding to identify themes and develop a substantive theory. Findings: The study identified four main themes: transition challenges, support systems, personal growth, and external influences. Athletes reported significant psychological adjustments, including identity crises and performance anxiety. Financial struggles due to lack of sponsorship and high living costs were prevalent. Social life changes, such as isolation from family and friends, and increased physical demands were notable challenges. Effective support systems involving family, coaches, peers, and institutions were crucial for navigating these challenges. The transition also facilitated personal growth in skill development, mental toughness, and career management. External factors, including media scrutiny and cultural influences, significantly impacted athletes' experiences. Conclusion: The transition from amateur to professional sports involves multifaceted challenges that require comprehensive support systems. Psychological, financial, social, and physical adjustments are significant, and robust support from family, coaches, peers, and institutions is essential. Addressing these challenges through tailored interventions and support mechanisms can enhance athletes' well-being and success in professional sports. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 1977, the Canadian men's national hockey team returned to international competition, marking the end of a controversial boycott launched in 1970 by Canadian ice hockey officials in protest of the International Ice Hockey Federation's refusal to allow professionals to participate in international tournaments. However, Canada's much-heralded presence at the 1977 World Championships in Vienna, Austria, was memorable for mostly the wrong reasons. The hastily assembled team of professionals finished fourth, out of medal contention, and engaged in repeated acts of brutality against its opponents. The team's poor performance and unsportsmanlike conduct subsequently prompted Iona Campagnolo, the minister of state for Fitness and Amateur Sport, to commission a study on Canada's role in international hockey. Drawing from archival diplomatic communications, this article explores the changing political and economic dynamics that shaped the series of negotiations and compromises that culminated in Canada's return to international competition in 1977 and the fallout from its performance there. It argues that Canada's return to the International Ice Hockey Federation's World Championships in 1977 with a team of professionals marked a pivotal moment in the history of international hockey, further propelling the sport into a new era of commodification and accentuating the decline of the traditional amateur ideal—developments that consolidated the power of the National Hockey League in international hockey and over the Canadian men's national team. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Over 75% of American adults are not meeting aerobic and muscular physical activity recommendations, with the majority being females. Equestrian activities are a potential avenue to increase physical activity, especially in females who account for approximately 90% of sport participants. This study describes perceptions of equestrian activities and establishes the patterns of self-reported equestrian, barn work, and nonequestrian physical activity engagement to understand participation in activities that may sustain physical activity across the lifespan. Methods: American equestrians (n = 2551) completed an anonymous online survey with questions about perceptions and benefits of equestrian activities, demographics, and engagement in equestrian activities, barn work, and nonequestrian activities. Results: There were 2039 completed responses, (95.6% female), with representation from all regions of the United States. Professionals (20.6%), amateurs (39.1%), and recreational (40.3%) comprised participation status. Significantly fewer recreational participants perceived equestrian as physical activity and as a sport than amateurs (P <.05) and professionals (P <.05). Engagement in equestrian and barn work physical activity was significantly higher in professionals (P <.0001), followed by amateurs (P <.0001), with the lowest in recreational equestrians (P =.001). Professional and amateur equestrians engaged in significantly more nonequestrian physical activity than recreational participants (P <.05). Conclusions: Equestrian physical activity engagement is dependent on the status of participation. Equestrian, barn work, and nonequestrian physical activity do meet physical activity aerobic and muscular recommendations and should be encouraged as a physical activity for females across the lifespan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The primary objective of this research endeavor outlined in the thesis was to evaluate the impact of the individual dimensions of Customer-Based Brand Equity (CBBE) – brand awareness, brand association, perceived quality and brand loyalty – on the overall brand capital of the researched amateur football club Talent Warszawa. The author sought to discern which among the individual dimensions of CBBE exerted the most significant influence on fostering the overall brand capital of the club under examination. A questionnaire was distributed amongst the constituents of Talent Warszawa, including players, parents and guardians, players' families, and supporters of amateur football. The survey garnered responses from a total of 102 stakeholders affiliated with the club. The reliability of the measurement scale was validated through Cronbach's Alpha analysis. The findings of the study evince a positive correlation among all variables under scrutiny, encompassing brand awareness, brand association, perceived quality, brand loyalty, and the overarching construct of CBBE. Notably, perceived quality emerged as the factor showing the highest positive correlation (0.88), thus indicating the most robust positive association with CBBE. However, despite the observed positive relationship, brand awareness manifested the lowest correlation with the overall consumer-based brand equity (0.70), relative to the other investigated factors. Using the insights from this study, amateur sports clubs can strategically manage brand elements to foster brand equity, emphasizing the importance of brand awareness as an initial step in building a positive brand image and fostering fan engagement and loyalty. Overall, the findings provide valuable insights into effective brand management strategies for amateur sports clubs to enhance their brand equity and foster enduring relationships with fans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is imperative to comprehend the determinants shaping entrepreneurial intent, especially during pivotal junctures when individuals are navigating career decisions. This research endeavors to scrutinize the entrepreneurial intent of university students, with a specific focus on the sports domain, and examine the potential impact of their involvement in sports activities on said entrepreneurial intent. The participants comprised 415 students from the academic sports domain in four cities in Romania (Pitesti, Alba-Iulia, Cluj-Napoca, and Sibiu). They were administered a 35-item questionnaire and subsequently categorized into four groups based on their sports background: individuals and team sports participants with a competitive history, amateur athletes, and non-practitioners. The questionnaire demonstrated strong internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha coefficient = 0.755). A test of homogeneity across criteria such as competitive sports involvement, type of competitive sports, and engagement in amateur sports revealed significant differences in five out of 45 comparisons. Furthermore, this study employs an explanatory approach to elucidate the distinctions among athletes, amateur, and non-athlete students in academic sports programs regarding: comfort and security in workplace stability, embracing risk-taking for gains, proactive problem-solving, expectations from superiors, work ethic and goal orientation, workload and productivity relationship, task completion and challenge acceptance, work avoidance and problem management, work-life balance prioritization, openness to personal development, parallels between sports and business strategies, taking initiative and responsibility, entrepreneurial determination, comfort zone preference and adaptation after sports career. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since December 2019, few issues have garnered as much global attention as severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-19). The imposed lockdowns in 2020/21, which led to the closure of all gyms, barred people from participating in their favourite sports activities. This study explores athletes' self-evaluations of their performance levels upon return to training facilities post-reopening. Data were collected in May 2021, after the end of the second lockdown, using a national online questionnaire. The study recorded 20 demographic and training-specific parameters to discern the factors influencing self-perceived performance upon resuming gym activities after the 2020/2021 lockdown. A total of 1378 respondents participated in the study. Of the total number of participants, 27.5% (365) reported regaining 100% of their original performance level after reopening their studios, a proportion that comprised 212 males, 150 females, and 3 individuals of unspecified gender. Additionally, 35.7% (474) estimated their performance level to be up to 75%, followed by 30% (398) recording their performance level at 50%, and a minority of 6.8% (90) determining their performance level to be up to 25%. Exercise intensity prior to lockdown, training experience, sex, and concurrent practice of another sport significantly influenced the athletes' self-assessment of their current fitness levels (p > 0.001, p > 0.001, p > 0.001, and 0.006, respectively). We need to understand the factors that shape self-perception, especially in case of another lockdown, in order to provide preventive assistance concerning mental and physical well-being. Positive influences on self-perception include prior athletic experience, intensive training before the lockdown, and continued participation in sports throughout the lockdown. Younger age is also favourable, but this may not necessarily reflect the benefits of youth; rather, it could indicate the current lack of accessible online sports activities for older individuals. Women, however, might have a less favourable perception of their own athletic performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Exercise, health, and the gut microbiota (GM) are strongly correlated. Research indicates that professional athletes, especially ultramarathon runners, have unique GM characteristics. However, more research has focused on elite athletes, with little attention given to amateur sports enthusiasts, especially those in the middle-aged population. Therefore, this study focuses on the impact of long-term running on the composition and potential functions of the GM in middle-aged individuals. Methods: We compared the GM of 25 middle-aged serious runnerswith 22 sedentary healthy controls who had minimal exercise habitsusing 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Additionally, we assessed dietary habits using a food frequency questionnaire. Results and Discussion: Statistical analysis indicates that there is no significant difference in dietary patterns between the control group and serious runners. Diversity analysis results indicate that there is no significant difference in α diversity between the two groups of GM, but there is a significant difference in β diversity. Analysis of the composition of GM reveals that Ruminococcus and Coprococcus are significantly enriched in serious runners, whereas Bacteroides, Lachnoclostridium, and Lachnospira are enriched in the control group. Differential analysis of functional pathway prediction results reveals significant differences in the functional metabolism levels of GM between serious runners and the control group. Further correlation analysis results indicate that this difference may be closely related to variations in GM. In conclusion, our results suggest that long-term exercise can lead to changes in the composition of the GM. These changes have the potential to impact the overall health of the individual by influencing metabolic regulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study measured the relationship between head-injury exposure and later-in-life cognitive and emotional symptoms in aging collegiate football players who participated in the College Level Aging Athlete Study. Linear regressions examined the relationship between various head-injury exposure variables (head-injury exposure estimate [HIEE], number of diagnosed concussions, and symptomatic hits to the head) and subjective cognitive function, objective cognitive function, and emotional/mood symptoms. Additional regressions evaluated the impact of emotional symptoms on subjective cognitive decline and objective cognitive function. Participants (n = 216) were 50–87 years old (M = 63.4 [8.5]), 91% White, and well-educated (bachelor's/graduate degree = 92%). HIEE did not predict scores on cognitive or emotional/mood symptom measures (p's >.169). Diagnosed concussions had a small effect on depression symptoms (p =.002, b = 0.501, R2 =.052) and subjective cognitive symptoms (p =.002, b = 0.383, R2 =.051). An emotional symptom index had a stronger relationship (p <.001, b = 0.693, R2 =.362) with subjective cognitive functioning but no significant relationship with objective cognitive function (p =.052, b = −0.211, R2 =.020). Controlling for emotional symptoms, the relationship between concussions and subjective cognitive symptoms was attenuated (p =.078, R2 =.011). Findings suggested that head-injury exposure was not significantly related to cognitive or emotional/mood outcomes in former collegiate football players and highlighted the importance of current emotional/mood symptoms on subjective cognitive function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the study of the policy diffusion process, scholars have found that states adopt policies to remain competitive with one another over economic resources. But the rapid spread of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) policies, which treat college athletes as professionals, is not readily explained by economic competition nor other diffusion mechanisms. The NIL phenomenon points to a new dimension of competition between the states, which is more closely tied to states protecting or enhancing their reputations than it is to directly accruing economic resources. To test if NIL spread as the result of athletic reputation competition, we model the adoption of NIL legislation as a function of internal characteristics (i.e. number, value, and ranking of college football programs) and interstate dynamics (i.e. actions of football, conference, and Power 5 competitors). We test the effect of these measures alongside traditional diffusion indicators, finding that both internal and interstate indicators of athletic competition drive states to adopt and implement NIL. NIL is important to study as it has changed the landscape of amateur sports, as well as our scholarly understanding of policy diffusion in the American federal system, specifically broadening our conceptualization of the competition mechanism and developing customized measures of it. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To determine the prevalence and intensity of pain due to a football-related injury during activities of daily living and during training and/or match play in both male and female and youth and adult amateur players. A prospective cohort study involving amateur football players. Players (n = 502, median age 18 years, range 14–46) responded to weekly questionnaires during one season, including the Oslo Sports Trauma Research Center Overuse Injury Questionnaire. Weekly pain prevalence and pain intensity (measured on the numeric rating scale [range 0–10]) during activities of daily living and while playing football were determined. A total of 6601 weekly questionnaires were collected (response rate 63.7 %). Average weekly pain prevalence during activities of daily living was 17.2 % for all players, and 15.7 % among players who participated in training and/or match play. Pain prevalence during training and/or match play was 18.3 % with an average pain intensity of 4.0. In 21.3 % of cases the recorded pain intensity was > 5. Sex, age, and mode of injury onset (sudden or gradual) were not significant predictors of pain intensity. At a given week, one in six football players experiences pain during activities of daily living from a football-related injury. Almost one in five players reports pain while playing football, of whom > 20 % report a pain intensity above 5. Oftentimes, injury-related pain present while playing football transcends to activities of daily living. This warrants further monitoring and adequate management of pain within amateur football. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Midfoot- (MFS) and forefoot-striking (FFS) runners usually switch to rearfoot-striking (RFS) during marathons. However, world-class runners might resist modifications during shorter races. The purpose of this study was to analyse footstrike patterns, ground contact times and running speeds in a World Championship men's 10,000 m final. Footstrike patterns and contact times of the top 12 finishing men (24 ± 5 years) were recorded (150 Hz) during laps 1, 5, 11, 15, 20 and 25. Split times for each 100-m segment were obtained. No RFS patterns were observed; there was no difference between the number of FFS and MFS athletes at any distance (p ≥ 0.581) and no change in the proportions of FFS and MFS occurred (p = 0.383). No link between race performance and footstrike pattern appeared given the similar number who used FFS or MFS and their similar finishing times. Despite slower running speeds and longer contact times in the middle of the race (p ≤ 0.024), no effect on footstrike patterns occurred. The prevalence of anterior footstrike patterns in this world-class race reflects the capability of maintaining fast paces (>22 km/h). Changes in footstrike pattern might accompany the physiological and neuromuscular effects of fatigue over longer distances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Little is known about the prevalent nationalities among the best-placed athletes participating in “Ironman Hawaii.” Moreover, the age at which athletes achieve their best performances remains unclear. The present study aimed to compare the prevalent nationalities among the athletes, their respective placement among the top five, and the performance difference between the different age groups in ‘Ironman Hawaii’ from 2003 to 2019. A total of 30 354 amateur triathletes were selected from the Obsessed Triathlete (OBSTRI) website. A “TOP 5” division filter was applied for further analysis, resulting in 1 851 athletes being included in this study. Among the male runners, Americans participated the most in Ironman events (39%), followed by Germans (10%). Among female runners, Americans participated the most (54%), followed by Australian runners (8%). Male Americans also featured most among the top five (30%), followed by Germans (16%). Female Americans were the most prevalent among the top five (47%), followed by Australian Americans (10%). There were no significant performance differences (p > 0.05) between the 25–29 and 40–44 age groups for either sex. The 45–49 age group presented significantly worse performance than the 35–39 age group for both sexes (p < 0.001). North Americans were the most performant and frequent participants in “Ironman Hawaii.” The expected performance decline due to aging was observed after 45 years in both sexes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hamstring injuries are the most common muscle injuries in team sports. The aims of this study were to describe the epidemiology of hamstring muscle injuries in the professional and amateur sport sections of a multi-sport club Football Club Barcelona (FCB) and to determine any potential correlation between return-to-play (RTP) and injury location, severity of connective tissue damage, age, sex, and athlete's level of competition. This descriptive epidemiological study with data collected from September 2007 to September 2017 stored in the FCB database. The study included non-contact hamstring injuries sustained during training or competition. A total of 538 hamstring injuries were reported in the club's database, of which 240 were structurally verified by imaging as hamstring injuries. The overall incidence for the 17 sports studied was 1.29 structurally verified hamstring injuries per 100 athletes per year. The muscle most commonly involved in hamstring injuries was the biceps femoris, and the connective tissue most frequently involved was the myofascial. There was no evidence of a statistically significant association between age and RTP after injury, and no statistically significant difference between sex and RTP. However, the time loss by professionals was shorter than for amateurs, and proximal hamstring injuries took longer RTP than distal ones. In the 17 sports practiced at multi-sport club, the incidence of hamstring injury was 1.29 per 100 athletes per year. Players from sports in which high-speed sprinting and kicking are necessary, and amateurs, were at higher risk of suffering a hamstring injury. In addition, proximally located hamstring injuries involving tendinous connective tissue showed the longest RTP time. Age did not seem to have any influence on RTP. Documenting location and the exact tissue involved in hamstring injuries may be beneficial for determining the prognosis and RTP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Tendons adapt to loads applied to them, by changing their own mechanical properties. The purpose of the study was to examine the influence of practicing sport in the form of weightlifting/strength training by individuals of various age groups upon the mechanical properties of the patellar tendon. Methods: 200 people participated in the study. Group 1 (n = 109) comprised individuals training strength sports as amateurs, group 2 (n = 91) consisted of people who were not physically active. The patellar tendon was examined in various positions of the knee joint: 0, 30, 60, 90, 120° respectively. The following mechanical parameters were measured with the use of a device for myotonometric measurements, MyotonPRO: frequency [Hz], stiffness [N/m], decrement [log], relaxation time [ms] and creep [De]. The results were compared as regards physical activity, training history, BMI value, and gender. Results: Stiffness and tone increased while elasticity decreased with patellar tendon stretching degree. In the group of individuals in training, greater stiffness and tone and lower elasticity were noted. Moreover, stiffness and tone appeared to be higher in elderly people and individuals with longer training experience. Conclusions: Mechanical loads connected with strength training result in development of adaptive changes in the patellar tendon, in the form of higher stiffness and tone, as well as lower elasticity. The MyotonPRO device is useful for quantitative assessment of the mechanical properties of patellar tendon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Regular exercise elicits adaptive changes in several organs and physiological processes, including erythrocyte properties. Methods: In a group of 79 subjects (62 men and 17 women; mean age 31.37 ± 10.19 years) who trained several times a week as they practiced amateur sports, we evaluated the elongation index, markers of erythrocyte deformability, red blood cell distribution width (RDW), indicators of erythrocyte anisocytosis, hematocrit, hemoglobin, and the main erythrocyte indices (MCV, MCH, MCHC) in basal conditions. Results: In comparison with a group of healthy, but not training, volunteers, the values of the elongation index, and not the RDW, are increased, and this datum is accompanied by an increase in MCV and MCHC, likely related to an increased presence of circulating young erythrocytes in training subjects. We also divided the same group according to the median of the VO2max, observing that the subgroup above the median shows both an increase in the elongation index values and a decrease in MCH and MCHC. Conclusions: In trained subjects, there is no correlation between the values of the elongation index and the RDW, while the interrelations among the elongation index, RDW, and main erythrocyte indices appear to be of particular interest and of a certain complexity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Retos: Nuevas Perspectivas de Educación Física, Deporte y Recreación is the property of Federacion Espanola de Asociaciones de Docentes de Educacion Fisica and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The study of interorganizational relationships in amateur sport has developed significantly over the past 30 years alongside rising expectations for multisector integration between sport organizations and other partners. This stems from sport organizations seeking innovative ways to achieve their mission and neoliberal government policies adding institutional pressure for interorganizational cooperation. This review paper discusses the wider cultural and political forces that shape the drive for legitimacy through partnerships across sector boundaries and outlines the theoretical influences on interorganizational relationship research in amateur sport between economic and behavioral paradigms. In addition to considering how prevailing frameworks and findings inform the current body of knowledge in sport management, we critically reflect on implicit assumptions underpinning this work given that partnerships now saturate the discourse of sport management policy and practice. Our review questions whether reality lines up with our "great expectations," and explores what limitations and opportunities remain for future interorganizational relationships research in amateur sport. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Andrew Zimbalist, in Chapter 22, states that the NCAA should rethink the structure in college sports, touching on subjects such as student athlete well-being, facilities, salaries, and financial reforms. The economic setup of the NCAA basketball tournament sends the message that the NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament is less worthy as tournament shares are not distributed to member institutions. In his latest book, I Whither College Sports: Amateurism, Athlete Safety, and Academic Integrity i , Zimbalist takes an in-depth look at college athletics in the United States. Edited by Andrew Zimbalist. [Extracted from the article]

Context: Knowing the possible association between the isometric strength of the shoulder rotators, scapular muscles, and the Y-balance test upper quarter (YBT-UQ) performance could help identify which indicators of shoulder stability should be considered in this field test. This study aimed to determine whether the isometric strength of the shoulder rotators and scapular muscles is associated with the YBT-UQ performance of the dominant upper limb in amateur volleyball players. Design: Cross-sectional study. Methods: A convenience sample of 22 male and 18 female volleyball players (≥12 h of training/week) between 18 and 26 years of age. The isometric strength of the middle trapezius, lower trapezius, serratus anterior, internal, and external rotator muscles was assessed with a handheld dynamometer. Participants performed the YBT-UQ in the superolateral, medial, and inferolateral directions. The absolute isometric peak force (in Newtons) was normalized to body weight (in Newtons per kilogram) for each muscle test. For each YBT-UQ direction, the distance (in centimeters) was normalized for upper limb length (in percentage). A backward multiple linear regression analysis was used to determine the associations between variables. Results: The analysis revealed that the isometric strength of the lower trapezius (β = 26.82; 95% confidence interval, 21.24-32.40) is associated with inferolateral YBT-UQ performance (adjusted R² = .706; P < .001). This factor explains 70% of the variability of the YBT-UQ in the inferolateral direction. Conclusions: Lower trapezius isometric strength is associated with inferolateral YBT-UQ performance of the dominant upper limb in amateur volleyball players. These findings could help in the development of more specific training programs and rehabilitation goals according to the performance of the athletes in the test. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

I did not have the field of sports in my mind but was picked as a sports journalist in the beginning of my journalist career, which has led me up to now. Currently, for sources of income, newspaper companies have to put sponsoring companies on their papers for their advertisements or to be paid to write interview articles to promote the companies. I The Kyunghyang Shinmun i ( I Kyunghyang i ), founded on October 6, 1946, is a Korean daily morning newspaper based in Seoul. At I Kyunghyang i , Kim has worked in a variety of fields ranging from the international department and the industrial team to the sports department. [Extracted from the article]

Purpose: To demonstrate return to play (RTP) rates, the level of RTP and time taken to RTP in different sports after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACL-R) and compare the differences between football and rugby. The secondary aims were to compare the differences in intra articular injuries and their treatments and reoperation rates between these sports. Methods: A retrospective review of a consecutive series of all primary ACL-R undertaken by the senior author between 2005 and 2019 was undertaken. Patients were included if they were elite athletes and were a minimum of 2 year post-primary autograft ACL-R. The outcomes measured were RTP (defined as participation in a professional match or in national/international-level competition in amateur sports), time to RTP after surgery and RTP level (Tegner score). Results: Three hundred and ninety-four elite athletes, with 420 ACL-Rs were included. 235 (55.9%) were in footballers and 125 (29.8%) were in rugby players. 399 (95.0%) of all elite athletes returned to competition at an average of 10.3 months after ACL-R. 386 (90.2% played at the same or higher level post-surgery. Although there was no difference in RTP rates between different sports, rugby players RTP significantly faster than footballers (9.6 vs 10.6 months, (p = 0.027). Footballers were more likely to rupture their ACL during jumping/landing manoeuvres and to receive a PT graft than rugby players. There were no other significant differences between football and rugby players regarding patient characteristics, intraoperative findings, re-rupture and re-operation rates. Conclusions: Over 95% of all elite athletes RTP after primary ACL-R with 90% able to play at the same level. Rugby players RTP significantly faster than footballers. Level of evience: Level IV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Thrombotic storm is a series of acute to subacute thrombotic events that evolve over a few days to weeks and result in progressive thromboses at multiple sites. There is often a predisposing event to thromboses, such as trauma or infections. Prompt initiation of anti-coagulation can prove life-saving in such patients. Case report: We describe a previously healthy young male who developed thromboses of the right axillary, brachial, radial, and ulnar arteries while bowling in a cricket match. A few hours later, he developed a stroke involving the right anterior and middle cerebral arteries. His thrombophilia workup was significant for elevated homocysteine levels. Although he had a delayed presentation to our hospital, he was treated with anticoagulation and given a trial of thromboembolectomy, which failed and he had to ultimately undergo a right below-elbow guillotine amputation. Conclusion: Thrombotic storm should be recognized promptly in the Emergency Department and timely anticoagulation should be initiated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Professional and amateur sport throughout the world experienced an industry-wide disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The initial stage of the pandemic required the postponement of leagues and games, until athletic events were resumed without fans. This disruption required the sport industry to adapt and supply substitute products to engage users without the access to the primary product, live sport. In this study, we compare how a North American league (National Basketball Association) and a European league (English Premier League) adapted to these changes using social media to engage with fans. We examine changes in the volume of Tweets and engagements with official team Twitter posts. Our data contain categorical control variables accounting for different stages of the pandemic. This includes when games were canceled for health and safety reasons, when play was resumed in a bubble format, in-season periods, and offseason periods. Examining social media engagement during these periods is a unique opportunity to compare team (supply) strategies and fan reactions (demand) to a disruption, and to explore the longer-term implications such as expanded engagement after the disruption has ended or when its effects have lessened. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The author points that the U.S. Congress should create uniform legislation to protect collegiate athletes with regards to name, image and likeness (NIL) deals and mentions topics including the conflict between student athletes and the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) regarding NIL deals, the amateurism concept and the court case NCAA v. Alston.

Copyright of Retos: Nuevas Perspectivas de Educación Física, Deporte y Recreación is the property of Federacion Espanola de Asociaciones de Docentes de Educacion Fisica and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

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

This paper on the social and economic history of triathlon restores the past that has been overshadowed by the International Triathlon Union and the World Triathlon Corporation narratives. It is based on documents from the 1970s and 1980s. Focusing on the USA, the paper explains how two processes shaped triathlon. The first was democratization which formed mass-participation sports. Triathlon, with its inclusive features, was born out of the fitness, running, swimming, and masters sports movement of the 1970s. Key ideas of this mass-sports originated from 'left-wing' sports movements of the 1930s. The second process was the commercialization and commodification of endurance sports in the 1980s. It was connected with the elimination of the Amateur Athletic Union's governing role in amateur sports. The commercialization of triathlon was started thanks to interests of Kona-Kahaua tourism, and mostly American Budweiser Light advertising. It gave support to two leading for-profit organizers, which instigated the commodification of triathlon as a whole. A five-fold increase in entry fees over five years has led to the morphing of a classless triathlon into a sport only for the wealthy. The root cause is the loss of amateurism in sports governance, that was provoked by the rise of neoliberalism in economic policy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article studies the amateur elite National Soccer League in the Fiji Islands from 1980 to 1992 and the Fiji national team's landmark 1–0 win over Australia in 1988. The authors use the theoretical idea of "gesturing elsewhere," taken from the work of popular music scholar Emma Baulch, to explain how the local Fiji soccer community receives its meaning and identity largely as the local-outpost or chapter of the global soccer scene. Therefore, a victory over the sporting powerhouse Australia boosts the self-image of the Fiji soccer world by temporarily upturning the established hierarchies. The shock 1988 win saw Fiji assigned extra credibility in the global context. The authors also look at the Indo-Fijian (Fijians of Indian decent) emigrant communities of the West and argue that, through their ongoing love of Fiji soccer, they play a role akin to offshore memory or offshore library, cataloging past history and revering past stars and classic contests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

* BACKGROUND: Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries are common in youth soccer players. ACL injury prevention programs (ACL-IPP) demonstrate strong efficacy in clinical trials but may have poor effectiveness in the real world due to low levels of implementation. * CASE PRESENTATION: Four coaches representing 7 teams, totaling 91 soccer players (66 female), who had no prior utilization of ACL-IPP, agreed to undergo a knowledge translation intervention to facilitate implementation of an ACL-IPP. Barriers and facilitators were identified, and a novel ACL-IPP was created based on established clinical practice guidelines to adhere to the local context. * OUTCOME AND FOLLOW-UP: All coaches reported an increase in usage of an ACL-IPP, with 2/4 coaches reporting a usage of 2x/week or greater. Coaches reported that the repeated on-the-field training sessions were most helpful to facilitate implementation. * DISCUSSION: Inclusion and continual engagement of coaches or other relevant stakeholders may lead toward increased implementation across amateur youth sports, thereby reducing the overall burden of ACL injuries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current study examines the congruence, or lack thereof, of the relationships as identified in two earlier studies: one that addressed sports-based sponsorship and the other that focused on sports gambling. Study one identified a general model of the sports sponsorship environment based upon an array of benefits derived by four categories of beneficiaries that are directly impacted by the sponsorship of a sports entity (i.e., team, athlete, sports venue, and so on). The four categories of beneficiaries were identified as sponsors, sports, spectators, and society-at-large. The original model further examined the interactions among the four categories of beneficiaries while delineating 12 directional linkages and 159 potential benefits. The second study focused on the results emanating from a recent Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) ruling that declared the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) to be unconstitutional. That ruling allowed American gambling organizations to become more involved in sports betting, and consequently, they have become engaged in the sponsorship of a variety of sports entities. A similar analysis to the one used in traditional sports sponsorship documented 14 groups of beneficiaries and 201 benefits. The current study, which delineated 215 benefits, extends the previous research by integrating these complementary streams within an overarching sponsorship model. Results demonstrate that the sponsorship environment is more complex than previous research has shown, and several contributions that are both theoretical and managerial in scope are articulated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since December 2019, few issues have garnered as much global attention as severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-19). The imposed lockdowns in 2020/21, which led to the closure of all gyms, barred people from participating in their favourite sports activities. This study explores athletes’ self-evaluations of their performance levels upon return to training facilities post-reopening. Data were collected in May 2021, after the end of the second lockdown, using a national online questionnaire. The study recorded 20 demographic and training-specific parameters to discern the factors influencing self-perceived performance upon resuming gym activities after the 2020/2021 lockdown. A total of 1378 respondents participated in the study. Of the total number of participants, 27.5% (365) reported regaining 100% of their original performance level after reopening their studios, a proportion that comprised 212 males, 150 females, and 3 individuals of unspecified gender. Additionally, 35.7% (474) estimated their performance level to be up to 75%, followed by 30% (398) recording their performance level at 50%, and a minority of 6.8% (90) determining their performance level to be up to 25%. Exercise intensity prior to lockdown, training experience, sex, and concurrent practice of another sport significantly influenced the athletes’ self-assessment of their current fitness levels (p > 0.001, p > 0.001, p > 0.001, and 0.006, respectively). We need to understand the factors that shape self-perception, especially in case of another lockdown, in order to provide preventive assistance concerning mental and physical well-being. Positive influences on self-perception include prior athletic experience, intensive training before the lockdown, and continued participation in sports throughout the lockdown. Younger age is also favourable, but this may not necessarily reflect the benefits of youth; rather, it could indicate the current lack of accessible online sports activities for older individuals. Women, however, might have a less favourable perception of their own athletic performance.

Beginning in early March 2020, sport in the United States entered an unprecedented period of hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The postponement, suspension, and cancellation of live sporting events impacted every professional and amateur sport organization, from the National Basketball Association to the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing, high school sports to college football, and even esports leagues. Although the abrupt cancellation of live sporting events was disruptive, it did create opportunities for the production of new media and consumption opportunities for sport leagues, teams, and their fans through different types of sport media broadcasts. This commentary examines how the U.S. sport industry developed media content strategies using new, mixed, and rebroadcasted content, across multiple broadcast and streaming platforms, to provide sport consumption opportunities to fans who were largely quarantined at home. This research contributes to the existing scholarship on live and rebroadcasted mediated content, while providing guidance to content owners and rights holders facing uncertainty in the marketplace. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although inadequate immunization is a significant public health problem, as covid-19 is an urgent reminder, it has been largely ignored in amateur youth sports. By comparison, safety issues such as concussions have drawn extensive concern. This article examines the case for immunizing athletes who participate in amateur sports for youth. It begins with risks of transmission and current gaps in addressing immunization of amateur athletes. It then considers arguments for immunization, along with objections to immunization requirements for participation. The article concludes that amateur youth sports organizations must pay far more attention to immunization than they currently do, have published policies about immunization, inform participants of these policies, and educate athletes, coaches, and officials about contagion risks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Academic endeavors and societal demands have propelled the growth of sport management as a field of study. Although internationally renowned sport management-related journals provide a broad range of study topics, the lists of papers featured in these publications are not exhaustive in terms of geographic coverage. Determining the evolution of sport management research necessitates an evaluation of research trends in each region. Method: To reach our objective, we conducted a fiveyear bibliometric evaluation of Japanese sport management-related periodicals. Five major Japanese sport management-related magazines have published a total of 115 articles over the past five years. Results: The majority of research was classified under the marketing category, followed by the management, sport for development, and sport development categories. These results indicate that each of the five journals has a concentration on sport management research, but also has specialized areas that distinguish it from the others. By cross-tabulating the categories and settings of published publications, we discovered that the vast majority of research on professional and elite sport as well as sport events was undertaken in the marketing realm. There are numerous professional and amateur sport leagues in Japan, as well as two mega-sporting events that have taken place in the last three years: the Rugby World Cup and the Olympic and Paralympic Games. This has led to a large number of studies in the marketing domain focusing on the professional sport and sport event category. Conclusions: In conclusion, three potential research directions for sport management have been identified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]