Search

Introduction: Predict running performances is very important for athletes and trainers. Sport researchers have therefore developed certain tools to predict running performances, but only in non-obstacle races. This study aimed to develop and test the validity and accuracy of an equation for predicting 3,000-m steeplechase performance (PerfSteeple). Methods: The official rankings of French runners for the 3,000-m track-running (Perf3000) and 3,000-m steeplechase events were examined. Age, height and body mass were collected. From 146 included athletes, two groups were randomly composed: one comprising 80% of the sample (n = 117) to develop a simple equation to predict PerfSteeple (i.e., development group) and the other comprising the remaining 20% (n = 29) to test the validity and accuracy of the developed prediction equation (i.e., cross-validation group). Results: The simple prediction equation included Perf3000 and age: PerfSteeple = −57, 165 + 1, 147 × Perf3000 + 0, 955 × age. No significant difference was noted between the actual and predicted performances. Predicted performances were significantly correlated with the actual ones, with a very high correlation coefficient (p < 0.001; r = 0.929). Bias and 95% limits of agreement were −5 ± 24 s, i.e., −0.8 ± 7.6%. In 95 of 100 new predictions, the difference between actual and predicted performance would be less or equal to—5 ± 24 s. Discussion: The study confirms the validity and accuracy of the equation for predicting PerfSteeple. Predictions using this simple equation may be used in training and competitions for athletes and coaches. PerfSteeple = −57,165 + 1,147 X Perf3000 + 0,955 X age. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The roles of 17β estradiol (E2) and progesterone (P4), the primary female sex hormones, are pivotal in regulating various aspects of metabolism. E2 influences food intake, energy expenditure, adipose tissue distribution, and insulin sensitivity across multiple tissues. Meanwhile, P4 impacts energy expenditure, electrolyte balance, amino acid oxidation, muscle protein synthesis, and glucose metabolism. The interactions between these hormones affect macronutrient utilization, both at rest and during exercise. Acknowledging the need to incorporate sex hormone perturbations in research, this paper explores the current landscape of study design and menstrual cycle tracking for female-specific sport research. It emphasizes the importance of standardization in terminology, hormone phases, reference values, and affordable hormone detection methods to advance our understanding of how the menstrual cycle influences female athletes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Data mining is the process of continuously optimizing the problem to the goal. It has to meet the needs of the user, which means it has to unearth content that is useful or interesting to the user. This paper analyzes the data mining of female sports behavior prediction based on FCM algorithm. We modified the standard speech frequencies of the data into high-level descriptions, used various data mining methods to determine speech rules, and obtained good experimental results. Data mining technology is used to mine valuable information and knowledge hidden in a large amount of test security data, and make the acquired expertise into understandable rules or patterns, and then use the rules or patterns that have been created to effectively detect Guidelines for any activity suspected of attacking network data. The simulation results show that the data mining system in this paper can effectively predict and analyze the data. The results show that there are many differences among working women in terms of average annual consumption of sports and leisure activities, participation and consumption of sports and leisure activities. In addition, based on the results of the study, we will take more effective and specific references and measures to expand the participation of professional women in sports and leisure activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, the authors drew from the epistemological and methodological considerations of neighboring social science fields (i.e., counseling psychology, education, sociology, and women's studies), which suggest a reevaluation of reflexive research practice(s). In discussing the implications this reevaluation may have for future sport management research, the authors contend that such dialogue may encourage scholars to understand that, while adopting a reflexive approach is good research practice, it may also mean taking a closer look at how our biases, epistemologies, identities, and values are shaped by whiteness and dominant ways of knowing and, in turn, serve to affect our research practice. Thus, this may allow all researchers, with explicit consideration for those in positions of conceptual, empirical, and methodological, as well as cultural and racial, power, to acknowledge and work toward a more meaningful point of consciousness in conducting sport management research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As researchers interested in social aspects of sport, we enmesh ourselves in the work of memory, (re)membering and forms of "capturing" sport and sport experiences. While nostalgia is at play in these social constructions of sport, for researchers, we contend that the concept of nostalgia can prove devious. In this article, we illustrate the social significance afforded to nostalgic experiences or events, and consider their representation in social sciences sport research. We develop and apply arguments concerning the senses, nostalgia, and language in line with the "abilities" view of concepts. The consequences of nostalgia can, we contend, be underplayed, taken for granted and/or ignored by sport researchers in ways that curtail more critical readings of sport phenomena. Our purpose is to interrogate the construction and a/effects of nostalgia as hidden/implicit/latent and heuristic. We advocate methodological critique that addresses the elusive, apparent, "capturable" and confusing nature of nostalgia within sport research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The essential purpose of this research study is to determine the impact of information technology related to motivation and performance in sports. This research study depends upon psychological perspective research based on the primary data analysis to determine the research study develop different questions related to information technology and motivation and the sport's performance. These questions fulfill by different participants who know information technology and motivation. Information technology is the main independent variable, motivation is the mediator variable, and the performance of sport is the main dependent variable. To determine the research study used SPSS software and generated informative results related to variables. The descriptive statistic analysis, the one-way ANOVA test analysis, the regression analysis, variance analysis also that present graphical analysis related to dependent and independent variables, the overall research found that information technology positively impacts motivation and performance in sports. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The primary goal of this research project is to identify the cognitive processes and information technologies associated with sports. This research study defined present trends and their future directions. For this purpose, research based on secondary data analysis was conducted, and many websites relevant to cognitive processes and information technology were utilized. E-views software was utilized to measure the research study and produce useful data related to the variables. The key independent variable is cognitive processes, while the dependent variable is information technology. The research study includes descriptive statistic analysis, unit root test analysis, and an explanation of the histogram and state analysis. The study found a strong and positive connection between cognitive processes and information technology in sports. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The essential purpose of this research study is to determine the role of information technology in enhancing psychological factors in sports performance. This research study is based on the primary research data to determine the research study used questions related to information technology and psychological factors in sports. Information technology is the main independent variable, and the psychological factor includes attention, perception, motivation, learning, and beliefs & benefits. These are all considered mediator variables. Sports performance is the main dependent variable. These questions were fulfilled by different research participants related to sports. For measuring, the research study used SPSS software and generated informative results, including descriptive, one-way ANOVA, the control chart, chi-squares, and variance analysis also explains the regression analysis between them. A successful sporting performance is the result of perseverance, talent, and the capacity to successfully combine all of these elements. In order to maximize performance, athletes, coaches, and support personnel collaborate. They are always looking to get better and push the envelope of what is possible for humans in the world of sports. The overall research found that information technology shows a positive and significant link for enhancing the psychological factors in sports performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In societies around the world, sports take up a major proportion of our interest and are a vital and integral part of the local, regional, and national economies. Daily, about 95% of the U.S. population engages in sports and leisure activities. Professionals, spectators, youth, and children participate in one way or another in sports. Published literature in sports is vast. Almost 100 academic journals cover the topic of sports with articles, interviews, reports, studies, and other strategies for conveying the cutting edge of research in this discipline. Yet, only some of these journals include book reviews. Publishing book reviews in sports journals can improve the overall quality of sports scholarship as well as the research profile of book reviewers. This article explores this state of affairs by examining the status of book reviews in some of the world's leading sports journals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: We investigated youth soccer players' perception of affordances for different types of kicks. Method: In the Power task, players judged the maximum distance they could kick the ball. In the Precision task, players judged how close to a designated target line they could kick the ball. Following judgments, players performed each task. Both judgments and performance were assessed immediately before and immediately after players competed in a regulation soccer match, thereby permitting us to assess possible effects of long-term experience on perceptual sensitivity to short-term changes in ability. We compared players from two league groups: U16 (mean age = 15.45 years, SD = 0.52 years) versus U18 (mean age = 17.55 years, SD = 0.52 years). Results: As expected, for the Power task actual kicking ability was greater for the U18 group (p <.05). In statistically significant interactions, we found that judgments of Power kicking ability differed before versus after match play, but only for the U16 group. We found no statistically significant effects for the Precision task. Conclusions: We identified interactions between long-term and short-term soccer experience which revealed that the effects of long-term experience on affordance perception were not general. Two additional years of playing experience (in the U18 group, relative to the U16 group) did not lead to an overall improvement in the perception of kicking-related affordances. Rather, variation in long-term experience was associated with changes in affordance perception which were situation-specific, being manifested only after playing a soccer match, and not before. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The South African Journal of Sports Medicine (SAJSM) and the South African Orthopaedic Journal (SAOJ) are two open access, peer-reviewed journals which provide ongoing education to the sports medicine community. Objectives: The purpose of this review was to appraise articles with a sports orthopaedic focus published in SAJSM and SAOJ. A secondary aim was to evaluate trends regarding the focus of the articles, levels of evidence, authors' affiliations, and country of origin. Methods: An electronic search of the SAJSM from 1982 to 2021 and SAOJ from 2008 to 2021 was conducted to identify relevant articles. The eligibility of the articles was determined according to the following inclusion criteria: SAJSM articles with reference to musculoskeletal anatomy and/or an injury in any sport, and SAOJ articles focusing specifically on sports, sports teams and low-velocity traumatic injuries in sports people. Results: This study included specific sports orthopaedic articles in SAJSM (n=161) and SAOJ (n=41). The articles originated from 67 institutions in 19 countries. In SAJSM, the majority of articles were published by local authors (n=44, 61%). There was a non-significant difference in the proportion of articles from local and international institutions in SAOJ. In SAJSM, the sports covered most frequently included rugby, cricket, running and soccer, whereas in SAOJ most articles referred to low-velocity injuries. With regard to trend analysis, a significant decline in articles with Level V evidence published by SAJSM was observed (p<0.001). Similarly, articles with Level V evidence published by SAOJ showed a decline, although it was non-significant. Conclusion: The focus of SAJSM in particular is relevant to sports played, injury patterns and the healthcare resources for sports people in South Africa. The level of evidence published by SAJSM has improved significantly over time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research partnerships between scholars and sport for development and peace (SDP) organizations are common, but firsthand accounts of the challenges and barriers faced by scholars when forming and sustaining partnerships are rare. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to examine them, and to uncover strategies to overcome these challenges across different partnership contexts. Eight prominent SDP scholars were interviewed. Guided by collaboration theory and the partnership literature, findings revealed challenges included navigating the political and organizational landscape; securing commitments from organizations with limited resources; negotiating divergent goals, objectives, and understandings; and conducting long-term evaluations and research. Strategies to address these issues involved developing strategic partnerships, cultivating mutual understanding, building trust, starting small, finding the cause champion, and developing a track record of success. Key theoretical and practical implications are drawn forth, as well as intriguing future research directions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There are circumstances in which we want to predict a series of interrelated events. Faced with such a prediction task, it is natural to consider logically inconsistent predictions to be irrational. However, it is possible to find cases where an inconsistent prediction has higher expected accuracy than any consistent prediction. Predicting tournaments in sports provides a striking example of such a case and I argue that logical consistency should not be a norm of rational predictions in these situations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to provide an international panoramic of fair play and sporting competition; identifying, categorising and analysing the scientific articles about this topic. Using a systematic search in the Scopus and Web of Science databases, relevant studies were identified that met previously established inclusion criteria. The guidelines laid out in the PRISMA Statement were followed in order to ensure the quality of the review process. The search yielded 367 published articles, from which articles whose content was not related to sporting competition and fair play were eliminated. The final sample was 163 articles. The articles were and classified according to their thematic categories. The process of categorisation was carried out following in-depth reading of each article, through an inductive procedure. Analyses were initially carried out by two researchers, with a third researcher resolving any disagreements. Articles are grouped according to three main research topics: the theoretical-philosophical conceptualisation of fair play (13.49%), fair play in relation to equal opportunities (36.81%) and fair play from a psychosocial perspective (49.69%). The theoretical-philosophical conceptualisation of fair play highlights that there is no univocal way of understanding this concept. In relation to fair play and equal opportunities, two lines of research are identified. The first is related with rule breaking and financial inequality of sports clubs and, the second is linked to inequality in classification systems (for questions of gender, diversity and the planning of competition schedules). With respect to the consideration of fair play from a psychosocial perspective, examination of goal orientation, motivational climate and intrinsic motivation relating to sportspersonship, stands out. Studies were also identified that were related to sociodemographic aspects of sportspersonship, sportspersonship measurement scales and the analysis of sportspersonship interventions. The present review reveals that the role of fair play extends beyond the field of play. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Masters sport participation is continually increasing, and although much research has uncovered masters participation motives, it has been noted that an understanding of community among masters athletes was also necessary. Online communities of sport participants have been examined only minimally, with research uncovering correlations between new-media use and sport-participation frequency. Using uses and gratifications theory, this study sought to examine masters gymnastics participants to develop a better understanding of athletes' use of online communities in relation to their sport participation and examine differences in online community use based on demographics. Online survey results from 164 international participants revealed they used new media primarily for fanship, information, and technical knowledge, and online masters gymnastics communities were most often extensions of in-person training groups and communities. These findings and their implications are discussed in the article. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Responding to a series of articles in sport management literature calling for more diversity in terms of areas of interest or methods, this study warns against the danger of excessively fragmenting this field of research. The works of T. Kuhn (1962) and J. Pfeffer (1993) are taken as the basis of an argument connecting convergence with scientific strength. However, being aware of the large number of counterarguments directed at this line of reasoning, a new model of convergence, which focuses on clusters of research contributions with similar areas of interest, methods, and concepts, is proposed. The existence of these clusters is determined with the help of a bibliometric analysis of publications in three sport management journals. This analysis determines that there are justified reasons to be concerned about the level of convergence in the field, pointing to a reduced ability to create large clusters of contributions in similar areas of interest. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This article introduces a new approach to understanding peak performance and dysfunctional performance in sport, correction theory. Correction theory, based within a control theory and dynamical systems perspective, assumes that dynamic balance (a state in which a robust complex system will self-correct in response to imbalance) underwrites individual functioning. The central thesis presented in this article is that an interdependent relationship exists between peak performance and dysfunctional performance in sport. Peak performance is, in part, a (corrective) response to dysfunctional performance and vice versa. An overview of correction theory is presented, based on two propositions relating to balance. Implications of correction theory for understanding sporting performance are briefly considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent research indicates that sports fanship decreases with age. Socioemotional selectivity theory (SST) posits that older adults, with time limited, shift their focus on positive experiences. Entertainment media choices reflect this proactive emotion regulation strategy. This study applied that perspective to mediated sports content, itself characterized by emotional intensity and unknown outcomes. Using an online survey containing an experimental condition (N = 433), the current study investigated whether the unpredictability and emotional intensity of sports contribute to older people disengaging from viewing it. The results are mixed: Older adults consume less sports media than younger adults and value the outcome less but are equally likely to be sports fans or watch highly exciting sports contests. It seems that fanship may contribute to happiness for some and thus reflect an active choice. Future research should investigate individual differences among older sports fans and nonfans to expand knowledge on their (emotional) viewing experiences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sport-based interventions are often highly systematic and follow rigorous procedures. While these components provide value for researchers hoping to advance knowledge, practitioners may find it difficult to replicate or implement such interventions in the real world. Many published intervention studies either under-report or provide overly complex methodology, and thus, intervention researchers may be inadvertently widening the research-to-practice gap in sport psychology. Using a recent applied imagery intervention as an exemplar, methodological components that were either under-reported or overly complex are discussed and re-presented as practical recommendations for practitioners. Future recommendations are also provided with the hope of narrowing the research-to-practice gap. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sociological studies of sport have established their subject matter as significant to a wide range of sociocultural concerns. Despite a broad consensus about its global importance, however, the reasons for the particular, even ‘extraordinary’, societal importance of sport today remain deeply contested. Most studies account for it by highlighting its entanglement within a range of secular phenomena including state building, rationalization, biopolitical regulation, and the ‘controlled-decontrolling’ of bodies and affects. Occupying a more marginal position within the discipline, others focus on the religious or quasi-religious characteristics of sport. Our paper suggests that neither of these positions, on their own, is best placed to capture the nature and implications of sport’s particular centrality to social life. Proposing a new theoretical approach to the subject that places competing conceptions of what we refer to as the ‘sporting sacred’ at the center of discussion, we outline, via a reconceptualization of the writings of two major classical theorists, Durkheim and Weber, a number of contrasting modalities through which sport is prized within contemporary society. These modalities, which embrace both secular and religious phenomena, can, we suggest, provide new insight into the divergent paths along which sports are being ‘pulled’ and steered in the modern era. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper provides a commentary on research on models-based practice within physical education and presents a tutorial that aims to guide the reporting of future research using pedagogical models. Three key elements are presented that could be considered as essential for inclusion in any methods section in order for readers to gain an accurate and complete understanding of the results of studies. These are (a) rich description of the curricular elements of the unit, (b) a detailed validation of model implementation, and (c) a detailed description of the program context that includes the previous experiences of the teacher and students with the model or with models-based practice. Examples of why these are particularly prudent are provided by reference to papers reporting the outcomes of several currently used models (e.g., Sport Education, Teaching Games for Understanding, and Cooperative Learning). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this paper is to consider some of the philosophical problems on gender in sport in terms of practical philosophy by examining previous studies on sports and gender in Japan. The previous studies of the Journal of Sport and Gender Studies, an institutional journal of the Japan Society for Sport and Gender Studies (JSGS), and were reviewed to explain the characteristics and the limits of previous sports-gender studies in Japan to establish the parameters for a philosophical discussion of sport-gender studies. A philosophical examination of the issues of affirmative actions, which is the least discussed topic among those listed in ‘JSGS’, is presented. By revealing fundamental problems in research on sports and gender in Japan, this study may potentially contribute to the resolution of multiple issues surrounding women in sports in Japan. Also, by exposing general and omnipresent problems, the study transcends the limited framework of sports in Japan, and can point to those common and overarching gender issues that need to be resolved around the world. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The author discusses the impact of sexual body politics on data collection and analysis in research, focusing on researcher reflexivity in ethnographic studies involving sport. Topics include the history of embodied reflexivity in sport ethnography, erotic subjectivity, and the author's experiences performing an ethnographic study of cricket players from the Caribbean in Canada. The author describes her personal encounters with research subjects, focusing on her experiences dancing and eating with them.

An introduction to the issue is presented in which the author discusses reflexivity and autoethnography in sports scholarship and research, referring to articles within the issue on topics such as sexual body politics, the social trends of basketball in the 1990s, and identity formation.

Sports provide one of the most prominent fields in which one can study the interaction between globalization and glocalization processes. Drawing on recent theoretical developments in globalization theory and on both primary and secondary data, the present article examines the case of Israeli basketball. This case demonstrates the tension between grobal and glocal processes, also evident in other Middle-Eastern and East-Asian countries. We first discuss the process by which American basketball practices, ideology, language, culture, and players came to dominate Israeli basketball. We then move to examine the glocal responses to this process, which combine adoption and acceptance with local resistance to the increasing domination of American players and culture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Knowledge and awareness of sport concussion has been forwarded by research modeled on the neuropsychological testing paradigm associated with Barth's "sport as laboratory" assessment model. The purpose of this paper is to elucidate lessons learned from that research. Key considerations for planning and implementing large-scale studies of concussion in sport while making adequate provision for the clinical needs of concussed athletes are reviewed. Toward that end, logistical, methodological, and ethical considerations are discussed within the context of research conducted in a university setting. Topics addressed include culture of sport and risk; research planning and design; communication with strategic partners; defining injury; choosing a test battery; data management, outcomes, and analyses; dissemination of results; and finally, clinical and ethical implications that may arise during the research enterprise. The paper concludes with a of the main lessons leamed and directions for future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Since the 1990s, the notion of intervention has expanded with growing interest in the analysis of practices in Francophone country. French-speaking research community considers intervention sciences as a specific field of research in sport and PE. The aim of this literature review was to characterize the penetration of Francophone research in the English-language literature in physical education and sport concerned with intervention since 2010 in the category 'Education & Educational Research' of the Journal Citation Reports (2017). This research was in line with the analysis of the papers presented during six Francophone congresses from 2000 to 2010 of the Association for Research on Intervention in Sport (Musard and Poggi 2015). Methods: The selection of articles was carried out in three stages: selection of journals, selection of articles manually, the second level of selection. The selection of journals is do in this category "Education & Educational Research" (JCR, 2017) focusing primarily on sport and physical education. Six journals met these criteria: Physical Education and Sport Pedagogy, European Physical Education Review, Journal of Teaching in Physical Education, Sport Education and society, Quest, Journal of Hospitality Leisure Sport & Tourism Education. Then, the selection of articles was manually analyzing all the publications of each journal since 2010 (almost 2000 articles) according to inclusion criteria "sport or physical education", "francophone authors", and "intervention". Each 46 articles selected was classified according to its theoretical framework. The last stage of selection corresponded to an analyze and an extension of the literature review by a French-speaking specialist in each theoretical framework. Results: The results show that French-language research on/in/for intervention is in close connection with the international tradition. Some approaches such as didactique, a technological approach, and course of action, have a Francophone specificity based on various international theoretical anchors; others such as motor learning, social psychology, ecological approach come from non-French-speaking international theoretical frameworks. Discussion and conclusion: These findings raise the question of the Francophone specificity of intervention sciences. Beyond particular French-speaking theoretical frameworks, concepts and concerns join Anglophone traditions. As in the international fields of 'sport pedagogy' or 'praxis', the Francophone intervention sciences are composed of a diversity of theoretical approaches and are focused towards an epistemology of action. These two communities can enrich each other and deserve more interaction and exchange. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The goal of this study was twofold: the first goal was focused on identifying how the expectations of both firstyear students from the Sport Science programmes and their teachers differ regarding student research, while the second goal was focused on identifying how teachers' expectations differ based on stages of their proficiency, from novice to expert. A survey of 194 first-year undergraduate students (31% female/69% male) and 38 professors from the University of Novi Sad, Serbia was conducted. Data collection involved two standardized surveys: Student Expectations of the Research Process and Faculty Expectations of Student Research, which were modified to satisfy the requirements of sport science students and teachers. The gulf between student and teacher research expectations was found to be considerable, while the gulf among the different stages of teachers' proficiency was recognized in the area of the responsibility for first-year students learning the skills necessary to succeed at carrying out university-level research. In conclusion, it is noteworthy that a gulf between student and teacher research expectations was found and needed to be further analysed in the following stage of our research, while the gap between the different stages of teachers' proficiency is not considerable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined the extent to which 2 x 2 achievement goal constructs (Elliot, 1999) were associated with key relational perceptions (i.e., relationship commitment, relationship satisfaction) for members of athlete-athlete dyads. Both members from 82 regional-level partnerships (mean age = 22.72, SD = 3.83) were recruited from a variety of dyadic sports (e.g., tennis, badminton, rowing). Actor-partner interdependence model analyses revealed that greater dissimilarity between partners on mastery-approach and performance-approach goals was associated with lower commitment and satisfaction. Mastery goals displayed positive actor effects with respect to both relationship perceptions, whereas performance-avoidance goals were negatively related to commitment (i.e., actor and partner effects) and satisfaction (i.e., partner effect). These results indicate that achievement goal constructs may align with important interpersonal perceptions in athlete dyads. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study's purpose was to examine the potential impact of a sportsmanship education program on behaviors of students who participated in collegiate intramural sports. In an effort to decrease unsportsmanlike incidents and as a mandatory component for participation in the university's intramural sports program, all intramural athletes were required to complete a sportsmanship education program. Data were collected from intramural sports program incident reports over two academic years. Descriptive statistics indicated the total number of unsportsmanlike behaviors decreased over the two academic periods. However, an independent t test revealed no significant differences existed in the perceived severity of unsportsmanlike incidents during this time. Although the study yielded non-significant findings, further research should continue in the area of sportsmanship among collegiate intramural programs. Specifically, research design should be prioritized in an effort to gather more revealing data. Ultimately, such information can be used to implement systems that focus on curbing unsportsmanlike behaviors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Destinations use sport events to attract participants and spectators, who then hold perceptions of both the sport event and destination. This research aimed to a) understand how active sport tourists perceive the meaning of a sport event experience and b) develop a scale for that meaning. Both aims are studied in a post trip context as evaluative research. Two focus groups were used to understand the meaning of the sport event experience among active sport tourists. Results from the focus groups suggest participants attribute meanings related to organizational, environmental, physical, social, and emotional aspects of the sport event experience. Next, semantic differential items were developed to measure the meaning of a sport event experience in the post trip phase. The items were tested with two different sport event participant samples using surveys. A uni-dimensionsal scale of 11 semantic differential items emerged. These items provide a measure for the evaluative meaning of a sport event experience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article aims to make a contribution to comparative sport research and details a method for comparing nations' elite sport systems less descriptively by measuring and comparing determinants of national competitiveness quantitatively. A mixed methods exploratory sequential design is used, consisting of two distinct phases. After qualitative exploration, a conceptual model was developed, revealing that there are nine sport policy dimensions or 'pillars' that are important for international sporting success. This article focuses on a second quantitative phase, where the model was tested in a pilot study with six sample nations to develop a scoring system. Data from each nation were collected through an overall sport policy questionnaire completed in each country, and through a survey with the main stakeholders in elite sport, namely athletes (n = 1090), coaches (n = 253), and performance directors (n = 71). Reflecting recognized principles of economic competitiveness measurement, this article demonstrates how 103 critical success factors containing quantitative and qualitative data can be aggregated into a final percentage score for the sample nations on each pillar. The findings suggest that the method is a useful way for objective comparison of nations, but it should not be isolated from qualitative descriptions and from a broader understanding of elite sport systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study examines Foucault's (1977) concept of normalization as it applies to the emotions of female elite amateur rowers. Specifically, this study sought to understand how beliefs about emotion, developed through the normalization process, may coerce athletes to continue to train even when physically unhealthy. Interviews were conducted with 11 retired elite amateur female rowers who suffered health problems while training but continued training despite these health problems. Interpretation of the data suggests that the rowers suppressed emotions to avoid appearing mentally weak, negative, or irrational, despite needing to express their concerns about training volumes and health issues to minimize deleterious effects that continued training eventually had on their health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the creation of a team from the U.S. National Research Institute that will focus on research and assessment of the recreational sports profession. It outlines their research priorities and offers information for authors on submitting manuscripts related to this for a special issue of the "Recreational Sports Journal." A list of potential research topics related to recreational sports is provided.

This article reviews the major physiological and performance effects of aerobic highintensity and speed-endurance training in football, and provides insight on implementation of individual game-related physical training. Analysis and physiological measurements have revealed that modern football is highly energetically demanding, and the ability to perform repeated high-intensity work is of importance for the players. Furthermore, the most successful teams perform more high-intensity activities during a game when in possession of the ball. Hence, footballers need a high fitness level to cope with the physical demands of the game. Studies on football players have shown that 8 to 12 wk of aerobic high-intensity running training (>85% HRmax) leads to VO2max enhancement (5% to 11%), increased running economy (3% to 7%), and lower blood lactate accumulation during submaximal exercise, as well as improvements in the yo-yo intermittent recovery (YYIR) test performance (13%). Similar adaptations are observed when performing aerobic high-intensity training with smallsided games. Speed-endurance training has a positive effect on football-specific endurance, as shown by the marked improvements in the YYIR test (22% to 28%) and the ability to perform repeated sprints (∼2%). In conclusion, both aerobic and speedendurance training can be used during the season to improve high-intensity intermittent exercise performance. The type and amount of training should be game related and specific to the technical, tactical, and physical demands imposed on each player. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study investigated the effects of acute paddling on performance in a typical decision-making task. It was aimed at assessing whether the effects of moderate exercise can be replicated using the feet as response effectors when physical exercise essentially solicits upper-body muscles. Twelve national-level paddling athletes performed a Simon task while paddling at a moderate (75% of maximal heart rate, HRmax) and at very light (40% of HRmax) intensities. The results showed that the effects of moderate exercise can be generalized to exercises involving different response effectors and upper-body muscle groups. They suggest (1) that the activation- suppression hypothesis (Ridderinkhof, 2002) holds when the task is performed with the feet, and (2) that moderate exercise speeds up reaction time and impairs the suppression of direct response activation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to gain understanding of adolescents' positive and negative developmental experiences in sport. Twenty-two purposefully sampled adolescent competitive swimmers participated in a semistructured qualitative interview. Content analysis led to the organization of meaning units into themes and categories (Patton, 2002). Athletes suggested their sport involvement facilitated many positive developmental experiences (i.e., related to challenge, meaningful adult and peer relationships, a sense of community, and other life experiences) and some negative developmental experiences (i.e., related to poor coach relationships, negative peer influences, parent pressure, and the challenging psychological environment of competitive sport). Findings underline the important roles of sport programmers, clubs, coaches, and parents in facilitating youths' positive developmental experiences in sport, while highlighting numerous important directions for future research. Implications for coach training and practice are outlined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article identifies obstacles to intercollegiate sports research. The discussion encompasses the difficulty and risk of challenging traditional beliefs, inaccessibility of intercollegiate sports data, lack of attention given by academia to sports as a research topic and too much emphasis given by influential people in the sports business to the ability of coaches to effectively control athletes regardless of their inclination to research. The article also recommends strategies to address these constraints.

The author responds to an article by Jay Coakley which suggests ways to address factors that impede college sports research. The author disagrees with Coakley on the importance of studying the negative experience of intercollegiate sports researchers. However, the author reiterates the need for research grants and systemic dissemination of research data in order to promote more college sports research as suggested by Coakley.

Modified children's sport programs are intended to increase opportunities for participation, skill acquisition, satisfaction, and enjoyment. Unfortunately, teams in modified programs sometimes consist of more players than can participate at any one time. Barker and Gump's (1964) manning theory is used to analyze the effects of a modified children's soccer program that excludes children from game participation by relegating them to the role of substitutes. Participant observation and interviews with coaches, parents, and players were conducted over 2 seasons. Findings are consistent with propositions from manning theory. Children's teams provide a better social climate, more skill development, and greater enjoyment and satisfaction when teams are not allocated substitutes. These advantages are not reduced, and are sometimes elevated, when teams must sometimes play short handed. Administrative concerns about the potential risks of fielding teams without substitutes are found to be unwarranted, and the presence of substitutes restricts opportunities for youth-sport organizations to attract and retain members. These findings suggest a framework for the design and maintenance of modified children's sport. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Past research concerning the effects of college athletics has concentrated on examining the effects of on-field success on increased donations to the university and increased enrollment applications. This research examines the effects of a university's move to NCAA Division I-A football membership on marketing variables, such as attitudes toward the university, perceptions of the university, and behavioral intentions regarding attendance at sporting events and donating money. Members of three important stakeholder groups (students, alumni, and area residents) responded to questions dealing with a university's recent move to Division I-A football. With respect to overall perceptions of I-A football and reactions to the University's recent move to I-A, students, alumni, and the general public believe that I-A football is more prestigious than I-AA football. Further, I-A football status can create a positive image for a university, can attract students to attend the university, is the best sport for fostering alumni involvement with the university, and it enhances school spirit. These results suggest that the positive perceptions associated with I-A can create the solid foundation upon which additional (future) positive experiences and associations can build, leading to greater financial gains in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although sport management is now well established in higher education and is an increasingly popular major for students, there are a number of critical issues that face the discipline. The purpose of this lecture is to identify some of these critical issues and what can be done to address each of them. The primary issue for sport management is a lack of qualified faculty to (a) teach the increasing number of students enrolling in sport management programs and (b) conduct the research necessary to build a distinct body of knowledge. In addition, sport management faculty also need to work together to make a better case for the contributions of their programs to their respective universities to avoid being a very low priority in their home units. The lecture focuses on the need for sport management faculty to work together to address each of these issues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This focus group study examined the sources of enjoyment and nonenjoyment among younger and older English children in the sampling years of sport participation (ages 7-12). Concurrent inductive and deductive content analysis revealed that, consistent with previous research, younger and older children reported sources of enjoyment such as perceived competence, social involvement and friendships, psychosocial support, and a mastery-oriented learning environment. Nonenjoyment sources included inappropriate psychosocial support, increasing competitive orientation, negative feedback and reinforcement, injuries, pain, and demonstrating a lack of competence. Differences between younger and older children's sources of enjoyment and nonenjoyment also emerged. Younger children reported movement sensations as a source of enjoyment and punishment for skill errors and low informational support as nonenjoyment sources. Older children reported social recognition of competence, encouragement, excitement, and challenge as sources of enjoyment with rivalry, overtraining, and high standards as sources of nonenjoyment. These differences underscore the importance of tailoring youth sport in the sampling years to the needs of the child. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently there has been considerable interest and research into the functional significance of postactivation potentiation (PAP) on sport performance. The interest has evolved around the potential for enhancing acute performance or the long-term training effect, typically in the form of complex training. Complex training usually involves performing a weight-training exercise with high loads before executing a plyometric exercise with similar biomechanical demands. Despite a considerable amount of research in the past 10 years it would seem there is still much research to be done to fully determine whether PAP has a functional role and, if so, how to best exploit it. It is clear from the research that there are many factors that need to be considered when attempting to apply PAP to an athlete. It is possible that a well-conceived sport-specific warm-up might be as or more effective in enhancing acute performance and easier to apply in a practical setting. In addition, despite its current popularity, there has not been 1 study that has effectively examined the efficacy of complex training and whether it has any advantage over other forms of training that combine weight training and plyometrics but not in the same training session. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The parameters of the shot's trajectory were reported for male and female gold medalists (classes F52, F53, F54, and F55) who competed at the 2000 Paralympic Games and the 2002 International Paralympic Committee (IPC) World Championships. The specific objective was to determine the magnitude of differences in these parameters across classes and genders. The release velocity of the shot increased with the performance and the classification for both males (8.30 m/s - 9.96 m/s) and females (4.58 m/s - 8.50 m/s). The measured angle of the shot's trajectory at release also increased with the performance and the classification for both males (27.54° - 32.47°) and females (9.02° - 34.52°). The position of the shot from a fixed reference point at release revealed a similar trend for both males (2.01 m - 2.68 m) and females (1.16 m - 1.98 m), although it was weaker. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Guided by Self-Determination Theory (SDT), the present study examined the sport motivation and coping skills of male and female wheelchair basketball players with and without disability (N = 72). In line with SDT, results showed that intrinsic and extrinsic motivation as well as amotivation was found to be present in this sample of wheelchair basketball players. Results also demonstrated that the participants surveyed in the present study scored higher on self-determined types of motivation than non self-determined types of motivation, thus replicating past research with athletes without disability. Furthermore, wheelchair basketball players with and without disability did not differ significantly with respect to sport motivation and coping skills, suggesting that they are more alike than dissimilar. Finally, results revealed that self-determined motivation is associated with enhanced psychological functioning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article reports on the research and rehabilitation treatment for patellar tendinopathy, which is an injury due to jumping in athletics. A discussion of eccentric muscle-use based on the clinical definition and the therapeutic value is included. Basketball and volleyball players sometimes experience this type of anterior knee pain.

The relationships between sport sciences and sports are complex and changeable, and it is not clear how they reciprocally influence each other. By looking at the relationship between sport sciences and the "new" (∼30-year-old) sport of triathlon, together with changes in scientific fields or topics that have occurred between 1984 and 2006 (278 publications), one observes that the change in the sport itself (eg, distance of the events, wetsuit, and drafting) can influence the specific focus of investigation. The sport-scientific fraternity has successfully used triathlon as a model of prolonged strenuous competition to investigate acute physiological adaptations and trauma, as support for better understanding cross-training effects, and, more recently, as a competitive sport with specific demands and physiological features. This commentary discusses the evolution of the scientific study of triathlon and how the development of the sport has affected the nature of scientific investigation directly related to triathlon and endurance sport in general. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]