Dissertations / Theses: 'Sport Science'

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Stone, Michael H., Brian D. Johnston, and R. J. Elbin. "American Football: Lessons Learned from Sport Science and Sports Medicine: Strength and Conditioning for American Football: A Brief Overview." Digital Commons @ East Tennessee State University, 2010. https://dc.etsu.edu/etsu-works/4534.

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Garrett, Richard. "Changing their game? : the institutional effects of Sport England's lottery fund on voluntary sports clubs." Thesis, University of Sheffield, 2003. http://etheses.whiterose.ac.uk/14755/.

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This thesis investigates the expectations placed on voluntary sports clubs (VSCs) in exchange for Lottery funding awarded by Sport England. the resulting effects of those pressures on VSCs' organisational structures and VSCs' responses to these pressures. Using institutional theory as a framework. it is argued that receipt of funding from Sport England's Lottery Fund exposes VSCs to the normative prescriptions of the sports policy sector to a greater extent than they ever were before applying to the Fund. These normative pressures are reinforced by Sport England through coercion and the provision of legitimate models for VSCs to mimic resulting in a more bureaucratic structure for VSCs in receipt of funding.· The research was conducted in three phases. Phase one constituted the identification of institutional pressures exerted by Sport England through its Lottery Fund on VSCs through semi-structured interviews with Sport England staff and analysis of Lottery Fund documents. A survey of VSCs in receipt of Lottery funding from Sport England was conducted in phase two to establish any change in the VSCs' structures since receiving funding. Finally. in phase three. six case studies of VSCs were selected from phase two. Pairs of VSCs from three sports were selected for qualitative investigation. One of the pair exhibited an increased level of structure while the other demonstrated no change or a reduction in its level of structure. The majority of VSCs surveyed in phase two experienced an increase in structure to some degree after receiving Lottery funding. However. the case studies in phase three demonstrate that the changes in VSCs' level of structure cannot be attributed only to receipt of Lottery funding from Sport England. Two of the six case studies also made resistant responses to the institutional pressures of Sport England's Lottery Fund.

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Stevenson, John Benjamin. "Long term impact of interactive science exhibits." Thesis, University College London (University of London), 1994. http://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/10019138/.

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In this study, the long-term impact on family groups of the interactive science exhibits in Launch Pad (Science Museum, London) has been investigated and described both qualitatively and quantitatively. Having reviewed the literature, and sought the views of professionals working in interactive science centres, a series of research questions was evolved. It is argued that it is reasonable to use visitors' recollections of their visits in order to assess this long-term impact. Altogether, 20 subjects were observed in Launch Pad, 396 were given an interview immediately after their visit, 208 responded to a follow-up questionnaire, and 79 were given an in-depth interview about 6 months later. Various indicators have been defined in order to quantify the differences that exist between interactive exhibits, and the concept of exhibit profiles has been introduced as a way of graphically representing these differences. The exhibits were found to hold the attention of visitors, and there was little evidence of museum fatigue. Subjects reported almost unanimously that they had enjoyed their visit and that Launch Pad had made a large positive impact the effects of which lasted for at least six months. Visitors were able to recall in vivid and clear detail their experiences in Launch Pad six months later. A new method of analysing their diverse and scattered recollections was evolved by the development of a network and coding strategies. Although 59% of the elaborated memory comments were found to be descriptive, there were nearly twice as many thoughts as feelings. Also, the data showed that visitors had reflected on their experiences and related them to existing knowledge or, for example, to programmes they saw on television. Evidence of subsequent cognitive processing suggests that a visitor embarks on a process of learning and understanding following an enjoyable, inspiring and thought-provoking visit.

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Reed, Jacob P. "Coach and Athlete Perceptions of an Athlete Monitoring and Strength and Conditioning Program." Digital Commons @ East Tennessee State University, 2014. https://dc.etsu.edu/etd/2399.

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Purpose: The purpose of this investigation was to assess athlete perceptions of an athlete monitoring program throughout an academic year and coach perceptions throughout a competitive season. The secondary purpose was to develop a questionnaire designed to assess coach and athlete perceptions of the monitoring program. Methods: Athletes and coaches participating in the athlete monitoring program at East Tennessee State University’s (ETSU) Sport Performance Enhancement Consortium (SPEC) were invited to participate. Reliability for the coach and athlete questionnaires and principle components analysis (PCA) of the athlete questionnaire was completed after initial development of the questionnaire (11 questions for athletes and 20 for coaches) in the spring of 2013. To analyze changes throughout the academic year, 4 additional questionnaires were administered at the beginning and end of the fall 2013 and spring 2014 semesters. Results: Both athlete and coach questionnaires were considered reliable (athletes = 0.842, coaches = 0.919). PCA revealed a 3 component model (KMO = 0.798, Bartlett’s test of Sphericity = p < 0.001) with eigenvalues over one explaining 68.88% of total variance. Statistical differences between the pre and all other time points were noted for athlete’s perceptions of the SPEC programs influence on overall performance, skill, strength, speed, power, and understanding of the SPEC monitoring protocols. Coachs’ perceptions were statistically different from pre-to postseason only for skill. Conclusion: The questionnaire was shown reliable and can be considered for future use. The first component of the PCA revealed that perceptions of overall performance are influenced by perceptions of strength, skill, and power and agreement that testing data reflects performance, while the second showed that aerobic and anaerobic endurance as well as speed are all highly correlated and, finally, the third revealed that athletes’ understanding of the SPEC program monitoring increased with return of data. Overall, perceptions of the SPEC programs ability to influence the components assessed by the questionnaire were positive ranging from no different to much better for coaches and athletes. In conclusion, the SPEC athlete monitoring program seems to be a beneficial model for enhancing athletes’ and coaches’ perceptions of certain aspects of performance.

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Baker, Catherine Elizabeth. "An ethnographic enquiry into the use of sports science and technologies in professional rugby." Thesis, Durham University, 2012. http://etheses.dur.ac.uk/4926/.

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Sports Science and Sports Medicine are becoming an inherent part of the landscape of high performance sports environments. Such is their visibility, that there are currently over 25,000 students training as sports scientists alone; a number greater than the other classical sciences combined. Through an ethnographic study of two professional rugby teams over the course of 12 months, it is shown that the ways in which these technologies and knowledge are deployed in the field differ substantially from their academic and philosophical basis. Drawing upon the work of Foucault, Goffman and Bourdieu, it is suggested that the use of science and technologies within the Medical and Strength and Conditioning departments alters in light of the physical location, the staff involved and the perceived attachment of these tools to higher order knowledge structures derived from beyond the immediate field of enquiry. Moreover, it is argued that the justification for the adoption of ‘science’ in these specific subcultural domains more often relates to social, political and operative means rather than the theoretical bases cited. A typology of use is presented in an effort to clarify the factors affecting the use of Sports Science and Sports Medicine in elite sport, and the implications that these have for the staff, athletes and serving knowledge bases. Notions of identity, surveillance and self governance are central in understanding the relative ease with which technologies of performance have managed to infiltrate the studied environments, and it is posited that similarities may exist in other cultures synonymous with elite sport. This is an ethnography of ‘science in action’.

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Stewart, Alex. "The boxer's point of view : an ethnography of cultural production and athletic development among amateur and professional boxers in England." Thesis, University of Bedfordshire, 2008. http://hdl.handle.net/10547/336227.

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Since the late nineteenth century boxing in England has been socially organised into two ideologically distinctive versions - amateur and professional boxing – that to this day are practiced in spatially segregated social universes. Nonetheless, both amateur and professional boxing-practitioners understandings and lived experiences in and through boxing are necessarily grounded in the wider social and cultural contexts through which they interpret meaning and construct worldviews and identity. Thus despite the institutional, ideological and spatial boundaries demarcating either code, on a rather more subtle yet incredibly powerful cultural level, amateur and professional boxing are both symbolically and practically deeply intertwined. Over a five year period, I conducted ‘insider’ ethnographic research among distinct cohorts of amateur and professional boxers based in Luton and London to investigate the lived experiences and socially constructed worldviews, values and identities developed by practitioners immersed in either code. The overriding aim of this research was to critically evaluate the limits and possibilities of boxing-practitioners association with and development through ‘boxing’ henceforth. The findings of this ethnography reveal that it was common for the amateur and professional boxing-practitioners studied to cultivate empowering identities through intersubjective and socially validating instances of purposefulness, expressivity, creativity, fellowship and aspiration. These lived dimensions were grounded in sensuous, symbolic and emotional attachments respective to the social organization defining the social practice of either code of boxing. Equally, the research reveals that under the veneer of collective passion for and consequent fellowship experienced through boxing, an undercurrent yet ever-present sense of dubiety, tension and intra-personal conflict was in evidence among both the amateur and professional boxing-practitioners studied. It is suggested, therefore, that as a consequence of an array of both micro and macro post-industrial societal reconfigurations defining the structural principles of amateurism and professionalism in the practice of ‘boxing’, contemporary boxers are increasingly predisposed to developing athletic identities predisposed towards patterns of meaning production “…dominated by market-mediated consumer choice and the power of individualism” (Jarvie 2006 p. 327). Thus through complex, historically dynamic and seemingly paradoxical social processes of cultural (re)production and transformation - dialectically fusing individualistic aspirations geared towards self-interested gain, acts of group and subcultural fellowship and social resistance to measures of institutionalised control - it is argued that the role of boxing as an agent for humanistic personal and social development in the contemporary late-modern era of structural reconfiguration is progressively rendered impotent.

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Wheaton, Kerry-Ann. "A psychological skills inventory for sport." Thesis, Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch, 1998. http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/16461.

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Thesis (M Sport Sc)-- Stellenbosch University, 1998. ENGLISH ABSTRACT:The purpose of this study was to develop a practical, reliable psychological skills inventory to assess the psychological skills of athletes. This primarily involved identifying the relevant psychological skills that affect sport performance. A variety of developmental procedures were applied in the construction of this inventory, including the consultation of sport psychology literature, identification of articles which characterise successful athletes, analysis of research articles pertaining to the psychological Skills, and review of available psychological tests. The initial inventory consisted of 82 items which evaluated six psychological skills: achievement motivation, goal setting, anxiety control, maintaining confidence, concentration and mental rehearsal. The inventory was completed by 304 students from the Department of Human Movement Science at the University of Stellenbosch. The respondents' data were divided into two groups depending on their achievement in sport. The results indicated that the inventory was able to differentiate between successful and less successful athletes on the psychological skills measured. Other aspects were statistically analysed, namely language, age, and gender differences, correlation between individual item and achievement level, and the contri,bution of each item to its psychological skill. The final inventory consists of 60 items, with ten items from each of the six psychological skills. Information obtained from the inventory can identify the strengths, weaknesses and deficiencies in the psychological skills of athletes, so that a psychological skills training programme can be developed. AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING:Die doel van hierdie studie was om 'n praktiese, betroubare sielkundige inventaris te ontwerp om die sielkundige vaardighede van sportlui vas te stel. Dit het hoofsaaklik bestaan uit die identifisering van relevante sielkundige vaardighede wat sportprestasie beinvloed. 'n Verskeidenheid van prosedures was toegepas in die konstruksie van die inventaris, insluitend konsultasie van sportsielkundeliteratuur, identifesering van artikels wat suksesvolle sportlui beskryf, ontleding van narvorsingsartikels met betrekking tot sielkundige vaardighede en 'n oorsigstudie van relevante sielkundige toetse. Die aanvanklike inventaris het bestaan uit 82 items, wat ses sielkundige vaardighede getoets het, naamlik prestasiemotivering, doelwitstelling, aktiveringsbeheer, handhawing van selfvertroue, konsentrasie en verstandelike oefening. Die inventaris is deur 304 studente van die Departement Menslike Bewegingskunde aan die Universiteit van Stellenbosch voltooi. Die respondente se data is in twee groepe, afhangende van hul prestasie in sport, verdeel. Die resultate het aangedui dat die inventaris tussen suksesvolle en minder suksesvolle atlete onderskei met betrekking tot die sielkundige vaardighede wat gemeet is. Ander aspekte is statisties ontleed, naamlik taal, ouderdom, geslag, korrelasie tussen afsonderlike items en prestasievlak, asook die bydrae van elke item tot sy sielkundige vaardigheid. Die finale inventaris behels 60 items, met tien items van elk van die sielkundige vaardighede. Inligting wat van die inventaris verkry word, kan die sterkpunte en tekortominge van atlete bepaal, wat as basis vir die ontwikkeling van 'n sielkundige program kan dien.

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Parkin, Beth Louise. "A behavioual and brain science perspective on decision making in sport." Thesis, University College London (University of London), 2017. http://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/10024636/.

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The elite athlete routinely performs impressive cognitive feats. Not only do they undertake complex decision-making seemingly intuitively, they do so under conditions of intense pressure, limited time and restricted resources. Decision-making refers to the cognitive processes that underpin the selection of one course of action from several alternatives (Reason, 1990); it is essential for high-quality performance in sport (Farrow & Raab, 2008; Jordet & Hartman, 2008; Paserman, 2007). Decision-making is the focus of the following thesis. In particular, undertaken in the Applied Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory at UCL, this thesis has the translational goal of understanding and increasing insight into the decision-making of elite athletes. It focuses on how psychological knowledge can be of use in the ‘real world’, as well as aiming to learn about behaviour outside of a laboratory; this is undertaken by focusing on two areas. Initially the utility of transcranial electrical stimulation (tES) as a tool for modifying decision-making is explored to assess the potential for use in decision-making training in sport. The thesis then moves on to examining the influence that physical and mental performance pressures have on decision-making across different developmental stages of elite athlete expertise.

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Nimphius, Sophia. "Performance characteristics of elite softball players: Changes and determinants of performance related to the lower body." Thesis, Edith Cowan University, Research Online, Perth, Western Australia, 2009. https://ro.ecu.edu.au/theses/2091.

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Study 1: Relationship between ground reaction force and ball velocity during windmill softball pitching The purpose of this research was to (1) determine the reliability of measuring ground reaction force (GRF) in multiple pitching trials and (2) investigate the relationship between ground reaction forces and pitch velocity in elite fastpitch softball pitchers. Seven female softball pitchers (19.6 ± 3.9 years; 167.4 ± 7.2 cm; 77.3 ± 7.6 kg) from the state, national and international level pitched six fastballs for maximal velocity and the fastest three pitches were used for analysis. Vertical peak forces (Fz1, Fz2), anterior-posterior peak forces (FAP1, FAP2), resultant peak forces (FR1, FR2) and maximal pitch velocity (PV) were measured using a force plate (Type 9287BA, Kistler) and a JUGS radar gun. Intraclass correlation (ICC) and coefficient of variance (CV) was determined for all variables and the relationship between PV and GRF was evaluated by Pearson product-moment correlation coefficient. Statistical significance was set at α level of p < 0.05. The ICC for all GRF variables (0.922-0.985) and PV (0.914) were high. CV for GRF variables ranged from 2.2% to 4.9% and 2.4% for PV. Fz2 and PV were significantly correlated (r = 0.89; p < 0.01). Fz2 relative to bodyweight (Fz2/BW) was also significantly correlated to PV (r = .801, p < 0.05). No other GRF measures were significantly correlated to PV. A high ICC and low CV across the variables support the reliability of GRF and PV over multiple trials. The strong correlation between Fz2 and PV provides evidence that a transfer of force to the lower body has a large contribution to windmill pitching performance. This supports prescription of lower body strength exercises to improve the ability of pitchers to effectively transmit forces through the lower body for improved PV. Study 2: Relationship between strength, power, speed and change of direction performance of female softball players The purpose of this study was to investigate (1) the cross-sectional relationship of strength, power, and performance variables in trained female athletes and (2) determine if the relationship between these variables changes over the course of a season. Ten female softball players (age = 18.1 ± 1.6 years, height = 166.5 ± 8.9 cm, weight = 72.4 ± 10.8 kg) from a state Australian Institute of Sport softball team were tested for maximal lower body strength (1RM), peak force (PF), peak velocity (PV), and peak power (PP) during jump squats unloaded and loaded, unloaded countermovement vertical jump height (VJH) one base (1B) and two base (2B) sprint performance and change of direction performance on dominant (505 D) and non-dominant sides (505 ND). The testing sessions occurred pre, mid and post a 20 week pre/in-season training period. Relationship between body weight (BW), relative strength (1RM/BW), VJH, relative PP, relative PF, PV, speed and change of direction variables were assessed by Pearson product-moment correlation coefficient at each testing session. Significant relationships were found across all time points with BW, speed and change of direction measures (r = 0.70 to 0.93) and relative strength and measures of speed and change of direction ability (r = -0.73 to -0.85). There were no significant relationships between VJH and any measure of performance at any time point. In conclusion, body weight and relative strength have strong to very strong correlations with speed and change of direction ability and these correlations remain consistent over the course of the season. However, it seems as if many relationships vary with time and their relationships should therefore be investigated longitudinally to better determine if these cross-sectional relationships truly reflect a deterministic relationship. Study 3: Changes in muscle architecture and performance during a competitive season in female softball players The purpose of this research was to (1) examine the performance changes that occur in elite female softball players during 20 weeks of concurrent softball training and (2) examine the relationship between percentage change in muscle architecture variables and percentage change in strength, speed and change of direction performance. Ten female softball players (age = 18.1 ± 1.6 years, height = 166.5 ± 8.9 cm, weight = 72.4 ± 10.8 kg) from a state Australian Institute of Sport softball team were tested for maximal lower body strength (1RM), peak force (PF), peak velocity (PV), and peak power (PP) during jump squats unloaded and loaded, one base (1B) and two base (2B) sprint performance, change of direction (505) on dominant (D) and non-dominant (ND) sides, aerobic capacity and vastus lateralis (VL) muscle architecture characteristics including muscle thickness (MT), fascicle length (FL) and pennation angle (θp). The testing sessions occurred pre, mid and post a 20 week pre/in-season training period. Changes over time were analyzed by repeated measures ANOVA. Relationship between percentage (%) change in muscle architecture variables and strength, speed and change of direction variables from pre to post were assessed by PPM correlation coefficient. Significant improvements in PV and PP occurred at all JS loads pre-mid and pre-post. Significant increases occurred pre-post in absolute 1RM, relative 1RM, 505 ND and 2B sprint. The strongest relationships were found between % change in VL MT and 1B sprint (r = -0.800, p = 0.06), % change in VL FL and 2B sprint (r = -0.835, p = 0.02), and % change in relative 1RM and 505 D (r = -0.702, p = 0.04). In conclusion, gains in strength, power and performance can occur through the season in elite softball players and are correlated to changes in muscle architecture.

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Markwick, William. "Training load quantification in professional Australian basketball and the use of the reactive strength index as a monitoring tool." Thesis, Edith Cowan University, Research Online, Perth, Western Australia, 2015. https://ro.ecu.edu.au/theses/1709.

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Study 1: The intraday reliability of the reactive strength index (RSI) calculated from a drop jump in professional men’s basketball. Purpose: To evaluate the reliability of the reactive strength index (RSI) and jump height (JH) performance from multiple drop heights with elite basketball players. Methods: Thirteen professional basketball players (mean ±SD: age 25.8 ± 3.5 y, height 1.96 ± 0.07 m, mass 94.8 ± 8.2 kg) completed 3 maximal drop jump attempts on to a jump mat at 4 randomly assigned box heights and 3 counter movement jump (CMJ) trials. Results: No statistical difference was observed between three trials for both the RSI and JH variable at all the tested drop heights. The RSI for drop jump heights from 20 cm resulted in a coefficient of variation (CV) = 3.1% and an intraclass correlation (ICCα) =0.96, 40 cm resulted in a CV = 3.0% and an ICCα = 0.95, 50 cm resulted in a CV = 2.1% and an ICCα = 0.99. The JH variable at the 40 cm drop jump height resulted in the highest reliability CV = 2.8% and an ICCα = 0.98. Conclusion: When assessing the RSI the 20, 40 and 50 cm drop heights are recommended with this population. When assessing large groups it appears that only one tria Study 2: Does session RPE relate with reactive strength qualities? A case study investigation within the National Basketball League This investigation aimed to establish the relationship between training loads derived from the sessional rating of perceived exertion (sRPE) and the reactive strength index (RSI) over a 27-week competitive season in elite basketball players. Fourteen professional male basketball players (26 ± 3.6 years; 95.8 ± 9.0 kg; 197.3 ± 7.3 cm) participated in this study. Training load data were modeled against the RSI over a 27-week competitive season with the use of a linear mixed model. The relationship between RSI and training load was only significantly different from baseline (Week 1) at Week 24 (p < 0.05) and Week 26 (p < 0.01). These primarily findings suggest that sRPE and RSI have a weak relationship, whilst the RSI does not appear to accurately reflect the changes in training load that occur during an in-season periodized training program in professional male basketball.

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Cohen, Rhonda. "The relationship between personality, sensation seeking, reaction time and sport participation : evidence from drag racers, sport science students and archers." Thesis, Middlesex University, 2012. http://eprints.mdx.ac.uk/9871/.

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This thesis examined for the first time psychological variables namely, personality traits and reaction time amongst elite and amateur drag racers, archers and a sample of university sport science students. In study 1, using Eysenck and Eysenck’s Personality Inventory (1982) 144 drag racers (mean age 31, SD =12.27) 108 male, 36 female were compared with a control group of 82 university sport science students (mean age 22.9, SD = 2.99) 44 male, 38 female. There was a significant difference between the participants on neuroticism only. Drag racers scored lower on this scale than students who scored higher on neuroticism. In study 2, using Sensation Seeking Scale (SSS-V) (Zuckerman, 1994) data from the above 144 drag racers were compared with a control group of 82 university sport Science students. The results indicated that there were no significant differences between drag racers and university sport science students on measures of sensation seeking. Level of performance (elite versus amateur) did not distinguished drag racers from the comparison group. A significant difference in gender was found only on the subscale of disinhibition (DIS). Study 3 included archers as an appropriate group involved in a non-extreme sport. Forty-five archers (mean age 37.2, SD = 11.68) 30 male and 15 female were included in this study. The results on personality tests (EPI and SSS), whilst employing controls for age, gender and level of performance indicated that there was a significant difference between the 3 sporting groups (as well as in comparison to university sport science students) in sensation seeking, thrill and adventure seeking and disinhibition. Level of performance was shown to be a significant variable on sensation seeking and thrill and adventure seeking. Gender was a highly significant variable only on a measure of neuroticism. In study 4, an experiment was conducted on the relationship between personality traits and reaction times as a function of sporting performance. There were 29 male drag racers (mean age = 45.82, SD = 8.56), 11 female drag racers mean age (42.72, SD = 8.33), 26 male archers (mean age 35.53, SD = 11.93), 13 female archers (mean age 38.92 , SD = 11.68), 34 male students (mean age = 22.82, SD = 2.62) and 25 female students (mean age = 23.08, SD = 3.36). The issue examined was whether drag racers, archers and students differ on tests of simple (non sport specific i.e. dots on a screen) and task specific (sport related- series of lights) reaction time. These tests were designed on SuperLab specifically for drag racers. The results demonstrated that there was a significant difference between the participants (i.e. drag racers and students) in accuracy. Overall, there was a significant correlation between extraversion and accuracy on a sport specific task. With archers, there was a relationship between extraversion and accuracy and for both elite and amateurs, which was highly significant for female archers. With amateur drag racers there was an inverse relationship between sensation seeking measures and accuracy. This demonstrates the importance of level of performance as a moderating factor. The implications of these findings are discussed.

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Medved, Maria Inge. "Remembering exhibits at museums of art, science, and sport, a longitudinal study." Thesis, National Library of Canada = Bibliothèque nationale du Canada, 1998. http://www.collectionscanada.ca/obj/s4/f2/dsk3/ftp04/nq41473.pdf.

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Mullineaux, David Ross. "Issues in the application of statistical techniques in sport and exercise science." Thesis, Sheffield Hallam University, 2002. http://shura.shu.ac.uk/20766/.

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The aim of this research is to demonstrate the benefits and limitations of selected techniques used to analyse data derived from , sport and exercise science research. Although statistical techniques are easy to access through software packages, supporting literature about their appropriate application is less common. Many researchers are unaware of the full benefits or potential pitfalls when using these techniques. An understanding of the appropriate use of statistics will benefit the researcher by maximising the potential for analysing, interpreting and applying data correctly. Furthermore, it will minimise wasted effort or dissemination of inaccurate information through incorrect analyses. In this thesis examples are derived from fifteen published articles based on five topics that illustrate the appropriate use of particular statistical techniques. Firstly, the use of 'agreement' and 'least-products-regression' as appropriate techniques for comparing repeated measures are demonstrated (e.g. Mullineaux et al., 1999). Both techniques revealed that over two separate days the peak-torque-extension of the knee of healthy females is unreliable. Secondly, the use of 'allometric' scaling of body size differences that should allow for meaningful comparisons between participants' measurements is explored (e.g. Batterham, George and Mullineaux, 1997). Results showed that left ventricular mass is related to fat free mass to the power of 1.07 (0.92 to 1.22; 95% Cl). Thirdly, mathematical modelling is used to explore a theory that would be difficult to test empirically (e.g. Payton, Hay and Mullineaux, 1997). Results revealed that body roll contributes substantially to the propulsive force in front crawl swimming. Fourthly, logistic regression is used to predict group membership from the combined effect of several independent variables (e.g. Mullineaux et al., 2001a). It was found that the likelihood of participation in adequate physical activity to promote health can be strongly predicted from six variables. Lastly, in an invited review paper, key features in the application of research methods and statistics in biomechanics and motor control are highlighted (e.g. Mullineaux et al., 2001b). These published papers form a body of work that will facilitate a greater and more appropriate use of selected statistical techniques in sport and exercise science.

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Duraivelan, Shreenivasan. "Group Trajectory Analysis in Sport Videos." University of Dayton / OhioLINK, 2021. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=dayton1619636056814278.

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Dosumu, Adekunle A. "The environmental impacts and wellbeing benefits of sport : assessing spectator and participant dominated sports in England." Thesis, University of Essex, 2016. http://repository.essex.ac.uk/16441/.

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Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from waste and transportation are of environmental concern. Globally, every year, waste contributes an estimated 5% and transport approximately 23% of the total anthropogenic GHG emissions. Sport contributes to GHG emissions by spectators and participants travelling to/from sporting venues and generating waste. Whilst a small reduction in an individual’s travel and waste may be perceived as having negligible impact, if these are aggregated over a population, the resultant GHG emissions can be significant. Although there is scientific evidence of the environmental impact of major sporting events there is limited research on it at the grassroots level. In addition watching and participating in sport results in wellbeing benefits such as improved self-esteem and mood. This research quantitatively examined both the environmental impacts and wellbeing benefits of sport at the grassroots level focusing on both spectator-dominated and participant-dominated sports in England. Three studies were conducted examining spectator-dominated sport: 1) GHG emissions relating to travel to and from football games; 2) GHG emissions relating to waste at football games and 3) the effects of watching football on mental wellbeing. Two further studies were also conducted assessing participant-dominated sport: 4) GHG emissions from travel to and from running location; and the effects of sport (running) on mental wellbeing and connection with nature and 5) the effects of running outdoors on mental wellbeing (pre and post study). The research showed that both spectators and participants’ sport considerably generated GHG emissions from travel and waste when extrapolated nationally. However, engaging in spectator-dominated or participant-dominated sports resulted in wellbeing benefits. Watching football resulted in better mental wellbeing, while running particularly outdoors resulted in improvements in wellbeing such as improved mood and increase in self-esteem after participating in sport. This research suggests that participating in sport can initiate a positive change in a person’s relationship with the natural world. These findings on the environmental impact and wellbeing benefits of both spectator-dominated and participant-dominated sports have implications for individuals, private sectors, sporting organisations, policy makers and government authorities.

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Hill, Andrew P. "Multidimensional perfectionism and motivation in sport : potential mediating and moderating variables." Thesis, University of Bedfordshire, 2009. http://hdl.handle.net/10547/131898.

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Recent research has found that self-oriented and socially prescribed perfectionism have distinct consequences for athletes. The purpose of the thesis was to extend this research by further examining their motivational consequences for athletes and identifying the psychological mechanisms that explain their divergent consequences. The first two studies suggested that the positive relationship between socially prescribed perfectionism and athlete burnout was mediated by the tendency to engage in validation-seeking and utilise avoidant coping, whereas the inverse relationship between self-oriented perfectionism and athlete burnout was mediated by the tendency to utilise problem-focused coping and eschew avoidant coping. Because these initial studies provided little evidence to suggest that self-oriented perfectionism has negative psychological consequences for athletes, the nature of self-oriented perfectionism and its consequences were examined more closely in two subsequent studies. A comparative study examining similarities and differences in the correlates of selforiented perfectionism and conscientious achievement striving found that while both include a commitment to high standards, self-oriented perfectionism also includes a concern over mistakes, fear of failure and negative reactions to imperfection. An experimental study examining the response of student-athletes II higher in this dimension of perfectionism to successive failures further suggested that, in comparison to those with lower levels of self-oriented perfectionism, those with higher levels of self-oriented perfectionism experienced a more pronounced increase in threat following an initial failure and reported withdrawing effort from the subsequent performance. The final two studies suggest that the divergent consequences of these two dimensions of perfectionism may also be explained by differences in the controllability of sources of self-worth and evaluative standards. In addition, in some instances, perceptions of the achievement climate may influence the self-criticism experienced by perfectionists. Collectively, this series of studies suggest that socially prescribed perfectionism will invariably lead to motivational and psychological difficulties for athletes. In contrast, such difficulties may not be inevitable for those with higher levels of self-oriented perfectionism; however, it may render athletes vulnerable to psychological difficulties when personal standards are not meet.

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Carroll, Kevin M., John P. Wagle, Kimitake Sato, Brad H. DeWeese, Satoshi Mizuguchi, and Michael H. Stone. "Reliability of a Commercially Available and Algorithm-Based Kinetic Analysis Software Compared to Manual-Based Software." Digital Commons @ East Tennessee State University, 2017. https://dc.etsu.edu/etsu-works/4654.

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There is a need for reliable analysis techniques for kinetic data for coaches and sport scientists who employ athlete monitoring practices. The purpose of the study was: (1) to determine intra- and inter-rater reliability within a manual-based kinetic analysis program; and (2) to determine test-retest reliability of an algorithm-based kinetic analysis program. Five independent raters used a manual analysis program to analyse 100 isometric mid-thigh pull (IMTP) trials obtained from previously collected data. Each trial was analysed three times. The same IMTP trials were analysed using an algorithm-based analysis software. Variables measured were peak force, rate of force development from 0 to 50 ms (RFD50) and RFD from 0 to 200 ms (RFD200). Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) and coefficient of variation (CV) were used to assess intra- and inter-rater reliability. Nearly perfect reliability was observed for the manual-based (ICC > 0.92). However, poor intra- and inter-rater CV was observed for RFD (CV > 16.25% and CV > 32.27%, respectively). The algorithm-based method resulted in perfect reliability in all measurements (ICC = 1.0, CV = 0%). While manual methods of kinetic analysis may provide sufficient reliability, the perfect reliability observed within the algorithm-based method in the current study suggest it is a superior method for use in athlete monitoring programs.

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Engelbrecht, Warren Peter. "Performance Aaalysis of penalty area entrances of a South African men's professional football team." Thesis, Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch, 2010. http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/4349.

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Thesis (M Sport Sc (Sport Science))--University of Stellenbosch, 2010. ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The purpose of the study was to analyse the penalty area entrances of a team competing in the Premier Soccer League (PSL) in South Africa. Ten home matches of the team were analysed making use of a category set designed for the study. The main areas of analysis included the point of final action before the ball entered the penalty area, the part of the penalty area at which the entrance occurred, the method of entrance, the number of completed passes within the area, and the outcome of the entrance as well as the reason for the outcome. The results revealed that the team entered the penalty area on average 59.4 times per match and scored a goal on every 37.4 penalty area entrances. The ball being taken away by the opponents was the outcome that occurred most frequently within the penalty area (42.1% of all entries), and was largely due to interceptions by the defending team (20.7%). The next most commonly occurring event was the ball being given away by the attacking team (22.4% of all entries) and was largely as a result of the poor passing (20%). The results revealed that in order for the team to improve their ability to convert their attacking opportunities into goals, improvement of technical execution in particular passing and shooting within the critical areas of the field must be established. The results have implications for the use of performance analysis for professional teams as support for the coaching process. AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die doel van die studie was om „n prestasie-profiel te ontwikkel wat die strafarea-toegang beskryf van „n professionele span wat aan die Premier Sokker Liga (PSL) in Suid-Afrika deelneem. Tien tuiswedstryde van die span is geanaliseer, gebaseer op „n kategorie wat vir die studie ontwerp is. Die vlakke van analise was eerstens die punt van finale aksie voordat die bal die strafarea binnegaan, die plek in die strafarea waar toegang plaasgevind het, die metode van toegang, die hoeveelheid afgehandelde aangee-aksies in die area en laastens die uitkoms van die toegang asook die rede vir die uitkoms. Die resultate het aangedui dat die span die strafarea ongeveer 59.4 keer per wedstryd betree en elke 37.4 „n doel aanteken deur toegang tot die strafarea te verkry. Die afneem van die bal deur „n span (42.1% van toegang) het die meeste plaasgevind nadat die bal die strafarea binne gegaan het. Dit is grotendeels te wyte aan onderskepping deur die verdedigende span (20.7%). Die weggee van die bal deur die aanvallende span (22.4% van toegang) was hoofsaaklik as gevolg van swak aangee-aksies (20%) en het ook dikwels voorgekom. Die prestasie-profiel het aangedui dat indien die span hulle vermoë wil verbeter om aanvallende geleenthede te laat eindig in „n doel, verbetering nodig is met tegniese uitvoering, veral met vaardighede ten opsigte van „n bal-aangee en doelskop. Hierdie studie is „n voorbeeld van hoe prestasie-analise aangewend kan word in professionele sokker om ondersteuning aan die afrigtingsproses te bied.

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Bruintjies, Dianthea. "The application of sport psychology principles in the work place." Thesis, Link to the online version, 2007. http://hdl.handle.net/10019/987.

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Gentles, Jeremy. "Cell Free DNA as a Monitoring Tool in a Long-Term Athlete Monitoring Program." Digital Commons @ East Tennessee State University, 2013. https://dc.etsu.edu/etd/1192.

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The objectives of this dissertation were to investigate the utility of cf-DNA as a marker of systemic inflammation, fatigue, and training status in a long-term athlete monitoring program (LTAMP). In study one, cf-DNA, other biochemical markers, volume load, and training intensity were measured in weightlifters over 20 weeks. The changes and relationships between these variables were investigated in order to determine which variables may be indicative of an athlete’s training status. In study two, cf-DNA, other biochemical markers, and session rating of perceived exertion (sRPE) were measured over the course of a 15-week soccer season in order investigate the utility of cf-DNA as an indicator of systemic inflammation and fatigue. In study one, CK was statistically greater T2 than T4, T5, and T6 at p = 0.015, 0.025, and 0.030 respectively. cf-DNA %Δ was correlated with CRP percent change and BF% (r = 0.86 and r = 0.91 respectively). The correlation between cf-DNA and CRP suggests that cf-DNA may be a valuable indicator of inflammation. Upon further visual inspection, cf-DNA and CRP also appeared to rise and fall with changes in volume load with displacement (VLwD). In study 2, G1, cf-DNA (P = 0.001), CRP (P = 0.000), CK (P = 0.003), cf-DNA %Δ (P = 0.002), CRP %Δ (P = 0.002), and CK %Δ (P = 0.002) were all significantly higher than T1 at T2 and T3. In G2, CRP (P = 0.057) and CRP %Δ (P = 0.039) were significantly higher at T2 than T1. Despite the lack of statistically significant differences across all 3 testing times, cf-DNA %Δ, CRP %Δ, and CK %Δ increased throughout the season in G1. In G2, cf-DNA %Δ, CRP %Δ, and CK %Δ were all higher at T2 and T3 than T1 but fewer significant differences were present, potentially a result of the lower sRPE values in G2 versus G1.These results suggest that cf-DNA may a useful marker to reflect accumulated training and competitive stressors. The correlation between cf-DNA and CRP in study 1 suggests that cf-DNA may be a valuable indicator of inflammation.

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Ferreira, Suzane. "The preparation of athletes with cerebral palsy for elite competition." Thesis, Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch, 2006. http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/1459.

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Thesis (PhD (Sport Science))—University of Stellenbosch, 2006. Sport performance management has emerged as a specialization in sport science that is focused on providing the athlete and coach with optimal information about training programmes and the support services needed in order to pursue excellence. As a more professional approach to disability sport has grown with the international status of the Paralympics, sport performance management dealing specifically with athletes with disabilities requires development. The purpose of this study was to focus on documenting the delivery of sport science support for three cyclists with cerebral palsy training for the Athens Paralympics. A case study approach was taken in this research that provided sport science support to three cyclists. Documentation of the training experience of each cyclist over 18 months of training leading up to the Games, was accomplished by quantification of daily training as well as periodic laboratory testing. A comprehensive picture was drawn of training intensities, modalities and frequencies for each cyclist during each macro-cycle, with special attention to the following three variables. Power output and lactate Power output and VO2 max Peak and mean sprint power output (Wingate test) Two of the three cyclists perceived the support they received to have been critical to the success of their preparation. The investigator concluded that sport management has an important role to play in the development of disability sport at the elite level, and that a lot more hard training is possible for cyclists with cerebral palsy, than some coaches may have previously believed, especially in terms of intensity and duration.

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Venter, Louis P. "Die gebruik van sielkundige intervensies onder junior tennisspelers." Thesis, Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2001. http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/52201.

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Thesis (MScSportSc)--University of Stellenbosch, 2001. ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The purpose of this study is to investigate the role of sport psychology injunior tennis and to determine: • whether coaches make use of psychological interventions, • whether coaches consider psychological interventions in junior tennis to be important, • what kind of psychological interventions coaches make use of, and • what kind of problems coaches encounter while teaching psychological interventions to junior tennis players. Questionnaires were mailed off to all professional tennis coaches who are registered with Tennis South Africa. The questionnaire which the coaches voluntarily answered, was an abbreviated, revised version of the questionnaire used by Gould et al. (1999a) for their study. \ The results of this study show that coaches: • regard the teaching of psychological interventions to junior tennis players as very important. • perceived the following as the most important psychological dimensions for junior tennis players: motivation, concentration, enjoyment, self-confidence and goal setting. • find the teaching process of psychological interventions to junior tennis players difficult. • encounter practical problems in the teaching of psychological interventions to junior tennis players. Lack of time is mentioned most often. Based on these outcomes, it is concluded that sport psychology has an important role to play in junior tennis. More research is needed to develop techniques and methods to effectively teach psychological interventions to junior tennis players. AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die doel van die studie is om die rol van sportsielkunde in junior tennis te ondersoek deur die volgende te bepaal: • of afrigters van sielkundige intervensies gebruik maak, • of afrigters dink dat sielkundige intervensies belangrik is in junior tennis, • van watter sielkundige intervensies afrigters gebruik maak, en • watter probleme afrigters ondervind gedurende die onderrig van sielkundige intervensies aan junior tennisspelers. Vraelyste is gestuur aan aIle professionele tennisafrigters wat by Tennis Suid-Afrika geregistreer is. Die vraelys wat die afrigters vrywillig beantwoord het, was 'n verkorte, hersiene weergawe van die vraelys wat deur Gould et al. (1999a) in hulle studie gebruik is. Die resultate van die studie toon dat afrigters: • die onderrig van sielkundige intervensies aan junior tennisspelers as belangrik beskou. • die volgende sielkundige dimensies in junior tennis as die belangrikste beskou: motivering, konsentrasie, genot, selfvertroue en doelwitstelling. • die onderrigproses verbonde aan sielkundige intervensies moeilik vind. • praktiese probleme ondervind met die onderrig van sielkundige intervensies aan junior tennisspelers. 'n Gebrek aan tyd is uitgesonder as die probleem wat die meeste voorkom. Gebaseer op die resuitate, is daar tot die gevolgtrekking gekom dat sportsieikunde 'n belangrike rol te speel het in junior tennis. Verdere navorsing word benodig am tegnieke en metodes daar te stel om die sieikundige intervensies effektief aan junior tennisspelers te onderrig .

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Uys, Stefanie M. (Stefanie Margaretha). "The use of computerised games analysis to identify critical indicators of success in elite level netball." Thesis, Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2001. http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/52585.

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Thesis (MScSportSc)--Stellenbosch University, 2001. ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Netball is a fast and skilful team sport in which players need to be "quickthinking", because they are required to make fast and accurate decisions in ever-changing situations. Netball is a highly tactical game. Therefore the game has to be analysed on all levels of play. During every game or training session the coach has to look for those factors that influence performance and determine success. Methods of games analysis have been improved through the development of video and computer technology, in order to help coaches gather critical data. This study will utilise games analysis as a method for gaining insight into what kinds of "critical incidents" on a netball court lead a team to either score a goal, or to allow the opponent to score against them. Four expert coaches analysed game play from three top-level international netball matches in order to identify the reasons for success/failure during game play. A computer-based games analysis system was used to identify the reasons for losing ball possession during the same games analysed by the experts. The results of computer-based games analysis was compared to the analysis provided by elite coaches in order to determine the value of the technology in providing relevant information. These identified key performance indicators were then ranked according to frequency. Additional games statistics were generated, using games analysis. This knowledge will not only contribute to an understanding of how technology can support coaching, but it will also expand our understanding of the tactics of netball and thus contribute to coaches' efforts to teach players how to make "good decisions". An important by-product of this study was the identification of the key performance indicators that influence success/failure in netball. This knowledge should help coaches determine what kinds of tactical learning situations are important to include in practice sessions. It is the coach's responsibility to develop thinking players. On court - during a game - it is the players' responsibility to read the game and make instant decisions. Also during the game - during time outs and half time- it is the coach's responsibility to give the players feedback on their decision-making and to make suggestions for improvements. Both roles require effective analysis of the game. Keywords: netball; games analysis; technology AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Netbal is 'n vinnige vaardigheidspel. Spelers moet oor die vermoe beskik om in aanhoudende veranderde situasies en spel vinnige, akkurate besluite te neem. Dit is 'n uiters taktiese spel en daarom moet dit op alle vlakke geanaliseer word. Gedurende elke oefensessie en wedstryd moet die aftigter fokus op faktore wat die sukses en prestasie van 'n speier of span kan beinvloed. Met behulp van die verbeterde rekenaar- en videotegnologie is verskillende metodes van wedstrydanalises ontwikkel - met die doel om afrigters te fasiliteer om kritiese informasie te versamel. Die doel van hierdie studie is om wedstrydanalise as 'n metode te beskryf om kritiese situasies te identifiseer wat tot gevolg het dat 'n span 'n doel wen of afstaan. Vier topvlak afrigters het drie internasionale wedstryde geanaliseer om sodoende die redes vir sukses of rnislukte pogings in die wedstryd te identifiseer. In dieselfde drie wedstryde is 'n rekenaar wedstrydanalise stelsel gebruik om die redes vir balbesit of -verlies te identifiseer. Die resultate van die rekanaar-gebaseerde spelanalises en die vier afrigters is vergelyk om die waarde van die verskil in informasie te vergelyk en te bepaal. Die kern prestasiefaktore wat deur bogenoemde geidentifiseer is, is volgens rangorde geplaas op grond van die frekwensie waarop dit voorgekom het. Hierdie inligting sal as 'n bydrae dien tot die wyse waartoe tegnologie afrigting kan ondersteun. Dit brei ook die verstaanbaarheid van taktiek in netbal uit en bevorder besluitnerning meer spesifiek. 'n Belangrike resultaat van die studie is die identifikasie van die kern prestasiefaktore. Hierdie inligting kan afrigters in verskeie taktiese leer-situasies ondersteun. Die ideaal is dat elke afrigter sy verantwoordelikheid sal besef om onafhanklike, selfdenkende spelers te ontwikkel. Op die baan is dit gevolglik die speier se eie verantwoordelikheid om die wedstryd te lees en besluite te neem. Gedurende halftyd en na die wedstryd is dit die afrigter se verantwoordelikheid om aan spelers terugvoering te gee, asook aanbevelings te maak ten opsigte van besluitneming. Beide rolle, as afrigter of speier, vereis effektiewe wedstrydanalise. Sleutelwoorde: netbal; wedstrydanalise; tegnologie jfl201407

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Schut, Pierre-Olaf. "L'exploration du monde souterrain entre science, tourisme et sport : une histoire culturelle de la spéléologie." Lyon 1, 2005. http://faraway.parisnanterre.fr/login?url=https://www.harmatheque.com/ebook/l-exploration-souterraine-une-histoire-culturelle-de-la-speleologie.

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Cette histoire de la spéléologie, monographie traitant d'une pratique physique particulière, apporte un éclairage singulier à l'histoire des sports. La complexité de l'objet a donné lieu à une analyse de l'évolution des différentes formes de pratiques de la spéléologie entre le XIXe siècle et la fin du XXe siècle. Le but de cette thèse est de comprendre si l'évolution de la science des cavernes vers une pratique sportive est due à une transformation interne de la pratique ou à son investissement par un groupe qui aurait projeté sur elle sa propre conception de l'activité. En effet, les pionniers, concentrés sur une activité scientifique, sont progressivement dépassés par l'arrivée d'infatigables explorateurs. Néanmoins, l'admiration que ces derniers éprouvent pour les arcanes du sous-sol les incite d'une part, à entretenir une démarche compréhensive du milieu et, d'autre part, à partager ses secrets avec le plus grand nombre en développant un tourisme souterrain de plus en plus accessible. L'engagement pluriel du spéléologue est une constante dans son histoire, ce qui maintient la spéléologie dans une position à la fois riche et ambiguë : entre science, tourisme et sport

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De, Villiers Nico. "Optimal training load for the hang clean and squat jump in u-21 rugby players." Thesis, Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2011. http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/17976.

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Thesis (M Sport Sc)--Stellenbosch University, 2011. ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This study investigated the optimal training load required for peak-power production in two types of exercises, namely an Olympic-type and a ballistic exercise. The hang clean and the squat jump were selected to represent these two types of exercise. It was ascertained whether a change in strength levels and training status will have an effect on the optimal loads for peak-power production of rugby players. In addition, the influence that different playing positions have on power production was also investigated. Fifty-nine under-21 male rugby players (Mean Age 19.3yrs; SD ± 0.7yr) from two rugby academies, performed a maximal-strength test in the hang clean and squat, followed by a power test in the hang clean and squat jump with loads ranging from 30 to 90% of maximal strength (1RM). Testing was conducted in the pre-season phase and repeated during the inseason phase. Peak power for the hang clean was achieved at 90% 1RM in the pre-season and at 80% 1RM during the in-season. Peak power for the squat jump was achieved at 90% 1RM in the pre-season. However, this location of the optimal loading was not significantly higher than that of the other loadings (60, 70 and 80% 1RM). During the in-season, peak power for the squat jump was reached at 90% 1RM. Here again, the optimal-loading location was not significantly higher than that of the other loadings (50, 60, 70 and 80% 1RM). It was concluded that the optimal load for power production is 90% 1RM for the hang clean and 60-90% for the squat jump. It was found that an improvement in strength levels of the subjects affected both peak-power production and the optimal load in both exercises. During the in-season peak power in the hang clean was reached at 80% 1RM, and at 50% 1RM for the squat jump. There were no significant differences in the performances of subjects from different playing positions (forwards versus backline players). In the hang clean, peak-power production seems to be reliant on increased strength and results in peak-power output at high loads. The squat jump, on the other hand, is more reliant on velocity due to its ballistic nature and is possibly better suited to developing power at lighter loadings. Because it produces peak power at a lower percentage load than the hang clean, the squat jump could be more effective in power development for players who are inexperienced in power training. Long-term exercise periodisation in power training can therefore be employed progressively from simpler exercises (e.g., squat jump) using only the legs, to more complex exercises (e.g., Olympic-lifting) that involve the whole body. This study confirmed that the specific requirements of different sport codes should be considered meticulously before selecting and prescribing exercises and loads for power-training programmes. AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die hooffokus van hierdie studie was op die optimale oefenlading wat vereis word vir die produsering van piek-profkrag tydens die uitvoering van twee tipes oefening, naamlik ’n Olimpiese- en ’n ballistiese oefening. Die hang clean en die squat jump is geselekteer om bogenoemde twee tipes oefening te verteenwoordig. Daar is bepaal of ’n verbetering van die krag-vlakke en oefenstatus van rugbyspelers ’n invloed het op die optimale ladings vir piek-plofkrag ontwikkeling. Verder is die moontlike rol van verskillende speelposisies ondersoek. Nege-en-vyftig onder-21 mans-rugbyspelers (M-ouderdom 19.3jr; SD ± 0.7jr) vanuit twee rugbyakademies het ’n maksimale-krag toets in die hang clean en squat uitgevoer. Dit is opgevolg deur ’n plofkrag-toets in die hang clean en squat jump met ladings wat gewissel het van tussen 30 en 90% van maksimale werkverrigting (1RM). Toetsing het plaasgevind in die voor-seisoen fase en is herhaal tydens die daaropvolgende speelseisoen. Piek-plofkrag vir die hang clean is bereik tydens ’n oefenlading van 90% 1RM in die voor-seisoen en by 80% 1RM later in die speelseisoen. Piek-plofkrag vir die squat jump is behaal by 90% 1RM in die voor-seisoen fase. Hierdie optimale lading-lokasie was egter nie beduidend hoër as by die ander ladings van 60, 70 en 80% 1RM nie. Tydens die speelseisoen is piek-plofkrag bereik in die squat jump by 90% 1RM. Die optimale lading-lokasie was weereens nie beduidend hoër as by die ander ladings van 50, 60, 70 en 80% 1RM nie. Daar is tot die gevolgtrekking gekom dat die optimale oefenlading vir die ontwikkeling van piek-plofkrag vir die hang clean 90% 1RM is, en 60% vir die squat jump. Daar is ook gevind dat ’n verbetering in kragvlakke van die toetslinge, beide piek-plofkrag-produksie en die optimale oefenbelading in albei oefeninge beïnvloed. Tydens die speelseisoen is piek-plofkrag behaal in die hang clean by 80% 1RM, en by 50% 1RM in die squat jump. Geen beduidende verskille in werkverrigting is gevind tussen toetslinge uit verskillende speelposisies (voorspelers versus agterlyn-spelers) nie. Dit blyk dat in die hang clean, die produksie van plofkrag beïnvloed word deur ’n verbetering in krag en dat dit tot hoër optimale ladings vir piek-plofkrag produksie lei. Die squat jump, in teenstelling, is meer afhanklik van snelheid en is moontlik beter geskik vir die produsering van plofkrag teen ligter oefenladings. Omdat die squat jump piek-plofkrag genereer teen laer ladings as die hang clean, kan dit meer effektief wees vir spelers met gebrekkige ervaring in krag-oefening. Lang-termyn oefen-periodisering in plofkrag-oefening kan gevolglik progressief aangewend word vanaf eenvoudiger oefeninge (bv. squat jump), waar slegs die bene gebruik word, tot meer komplekse oefeninge (bv. Olimpiese-gewigoptel) waar die hele liggaam betrek word. Hierdie studie bevestig dat die spesifieke vereistes van verskillende sportkodes deeglik oorweeg moet word alvorens oefeninge en ladings geselekteer en voorgeskryf word vir plofkrag-programme.

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Asamoah, Benjamin. "The role of mental toughness, psychological skills and team cohesion in soccer performance." Thesis, Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2013. http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/85729.

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Thesis (MScSportSc)-- Stellenbosch University, 2013. ENGLISH ABSTRACT: There is a relative lack of information in sport psychology research literature about the role of psychological dimensions in team sport – especially in soccer (Reilly et al., 2000). It is consequently not surprising that research on applied strategies in soccer has concentrated mainly on technical, tactical and physiological aspects. This defies anecdotal evidence and literature reports alluding to the importance of psychological and team factors in achieving sport excellence. This study examined the role of mental toughness, psychological skills and team cohesion in soccer performance. It also considered differences between individuals from different playing positions regarding these modalities. A total of 263 male soccer players aged between 17 and 32 years from 16 South African tertiary institutions participated in the study. A cross-sectional study design was used to determine the players’ mental toughness, psychological skills and team cohesion by means of the Sports Mental Toughness Questionnaire (SMTQ); the Athletic Coping Skills Inventory-28 (ACSI-28); and the Group Environmental Questionnaire (GEQ). The final log standings at the 2012 University Sport South Africa (USSA) Soccer Championship were used as an indication of team performance. The results yielded differences between successful and less successful teams with regard to age, previous tournament experience, and the time players had been part of their respective teams. There were no significant differences between the teams for any of the mental toughness and psychological skills scores. However, group cohesion did play a role in team performance. The more successful teams scored better than their less successful counterparts in the following subscales of the GEQ: Individual attraction to group-social and individual attraction to group-task. However, the less successful teams scored better than their more successful counterparts regarding group integration-task, and group integration-social. Practical significant differences of moderate magnitude were observed for five of the 96 player positional comparisons. Midfielders scored higher than the defenders and forwards on the control subscale of the SMTQ. The forwards recorded higher scores than midfielders with regard to the GEQ subscale of group integration-task, whereas goalkeepers yielded higher scores than midfielders on the group integration-task subscale. There was a difference between the scores on the constancy subscale of the SMTQ where the defenders outscored the midfielders. No positional differences were recorded for any of the psychological skills. The overall results revealed that at the developmental level of the study sample, team cohesion and other moderating variables might be the key to enhanced performance of soccer teams. In addition, the results supported the general assumption that a relationship exists between playing positions in team sports and various psychological variables. AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Daar is ’n relatiewe gebrek aan navorsingsliteratuur in sportsielkunde oor die rol van sielkundige dimensies in spansoorte – veral in sokker (Reilly et al., 2000). Dit is gevolglik logies dat navorsing oor toegepaste strategieë in sokker hoofsaaklik fokus op tegniese, taktiese en fisiologiese aspekte. Dit druis in teen anekdotiese getuienis en opvattings wat dui op die belangrikheid van sielkundige en spanfaktore in die bereiking van sportuitnemendheid. Hierdie studie ondersoek die rol van geestelike taaiheid, sielkundige vaardighede en spankohesie in sokkerprestasie. Dit bestudeer ook die verskille tussen individue van verskillende speelposisies met betrekking tot hierdie modaliteite. ’n Totaal van 263 manlike sokkerspelers tussen die ouderdom van 17 en 32 jaar, van 16 Suid-Afrikaanse tersiêre inrigtings, het aan hierdie ondersoek deelgeneem. ’n Dwarsdeursnitstudie-ontwerp is gebruik om spelers se geestelike taaiheid, sielkundige vaardighede en spankohesie te bepaal deur middel van die Sports Mental Toughness Questionnaire (SMTQ); die Athletic Coping Skills Inventory-28 (ACSI-28); en die Group Environmental Questionnaire (GEQ). Die finale posisies van spanne op die punteleer na afloop van die 2012 Universiteit Sport Suid-Afrika (USSA) sokkertoernooi is gebruik as aanduiding van hul prestasie. Die resultate het verskille opgelewer tussen suksesvolle-en minder-suksesvolle spanne met betrekking tot ouderdom, vorige toernooi-ervaring, en die tydperk wat spelers lede van hul onderskeie spanne was. Daar was geen beduidende tellingverskille tussen spanne rakende enige van die geestelike taaiheid en sielkundige vaardighede nie. Groepkohesie het egter ’n rol in spanprestasie gespeel. Die meer-suksesvolle spanne het beter gevaar as die minder-suksesvolle spanne in die volgende subskale van die GEQ: Individuele aantreklikheid van die groep-sosiaal; Individuele aantreklikheid van die groep-taak. Die minder-suksevolle spanne het egter beter gevaar as die meer-suksesvolle spanne met betrekking tot: Groepintegrasie-taak, en Groepintegrasie-sosiaal. Prakties beduidende verskille is waargeneem vir vyf van die 96 speelposisie-vergelykings. Middelveldspelers het hoër tellings behaal as verdedigers en voorspelers op die beheer-subskaal van die SMTQ. Voorspelers het beter tellings aangeteken as middelveldspelers op die GEQ subskaal groepintegrasie-taak; terwyl doelwagters hoër tellings as middelveldspelers op die subskaal groepintegrasie-taak aangeteken het. Daar was ’n verskil in die konstantheid-subskaal van die SMTQ waar verdedigers beter as middelveldspelers gevaar het. Daar was geen beduidende verskille tussen speelposisies rakend enige van die sielkundige vaardighede nie. Die oorkoepelende bevindinge dui daarop dat op die ontwikkelingsvlak van die studiesteekproef, spankohesie, en ander prestasiedimensies moontlik die sleutel bevat vir verhoogde prestasie-uitkomste van sokkerspanne. Verder ondersteun die resultate die algemene aanname dat daar ’n verband bestaan tussen speelposisies in spansportsoorte en verskeie sielkundige veranderlikes.

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Adams, Warren Grant. "An analysis of the skills and tactics of wheelchair rugby." Thesis, Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2007. http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/50677.

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Thesis (MScSportSc)--Stellenbosch University, 2007. ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The purpose of this study was to determine what skills and tactics distinguish local level competition from top level competition in wheelchair rugby, through the use of games analysis. Eighteen games were filmed and analysed at three different levels of competition (local club level, regional level and international level). A five-level category set was developed to generate statistics related to successful and unsuccessful performance .. Results revealed that games play at local club and regional level in South Africa were dominated by turnovers and poor ball handling skills. Wheelchair mobility also was a factor in unsuccessful play. Basic tactical play, especially on defense, was also a major cause for concern at these levels. The difference between the South African national team and three other top international teams was not the distribution of reasons for success, but rather the frequency of success rate. South Africa was successful only 45% of the time in their performance of skills while international teams were successful 77% of the time. lt was evident in this study that the standard of play in the local club and regional level in South Africa reflects on their international performance. Ball possession is frequently lost to poor passing and poor wheelchair mobility. Turnovers are more often the result of poor passing by the opponents, rather than good defense. Successful goal inbounds and side inbounds plays are too often the result of poor defense rather than good offensive play. This study demonstrates that games analysis can be a helpful tool in determining the reasons for success and lack of success during wheelchair rugby. AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die doel van die studie was om deur middel van die ontleding van rolstoelrugbywedstryde te bepaal watter taktieke en vaardighede in klub- en topvlakkompetisie onderskei kan word. Agtien wedstryde is op drie verskillende kompetisievlakke (klub-, streek- en internasionale vlak) verfilm en ontleed. 'n Vyfvlak kategoriestelsel is ontwerp om die suksesvlak, al dan nie, statisties in al drie kompetisievlakke aan te dui. Die resultate dui dat wedstryde op klub- en streeksvlak deur swak balhantering en verlies van balbesit (turnovers) gekenmerk word. Onvoldoende vaardigheid in rolstoelmobiliteit en tekorkominge in die taktiek van basies verdedigende spel was ook bydraende faktore. Die verskil tussen die Suid-Afrikaanse rolstoelrugbyspan en drie ander top internasionale spanne, was nie soseer verskillende oorsake vir onsuksesvolle spel nie, maar eerder die mate (hoeveelheid) sukses wat behaal is deur vaardige en taktiese spel. Die Suid-Afrikaans span was slegs 45% suksesvol in hul vaardighedsuitvoering, terwyl die internasionale spanne 'n 77% suksessyfer behaal het. Die studie dui verder aan dat die spelstandaarde wat op klub- en streeksvlak gehandhaaf word, neerslag vind in die Suid-Afrikaanse nasionale span. Hier word balbesit dikwels verloor as gevolg van swak aangee en swak rolstoelbeweeglikheid. Die verkryging van balbesit (turnovers) is meer dikwels as gevolg van swakbalhantering (aangee) deur die opponenete as goeie verdediging deur die Suid-Afrikaanse span. Suksesvolle afgooie na die aanteken van 'n doel, asook suksesvolle kant-ingooie, is eerder die resultaat van swak verdediging deur die opponente as goeie aanvallende spel. Die studie bewys dat die verfilming en ontleding van wedstryde, 'n waardevolle hulpmiddel kan wees vir bepaling van redes vir sukses, aldan nie, in rolstoelrugby.

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Paterson, Gareth. "Visual-motor response times in athletes and non-athletes." Thesis, Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch, 2010. http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/4346.

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Thesis (M Sport Sc (Sport Science))--University of Stellenbosch, 2010 ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The purpose of this study was to determine if there was a difference in mean VMRT between top-level men and women participating in selected ball sports compared to either a normative sample or to a non-athlete sample. VMRT was measured using a new 40-light protocol on the Sport Vision Trainer (SVT). The SVT is a board consisting 80 circular lights controlled by a computer program. The SVT is designed to test visual-motor response time in participants. Data from top-level ball sport players were collected for both men (rugby and cricket) and women (netball and hockey). No significant differences in VMRT were found between the rugby players (n=24) and either the normal sample (n=81) or the non-athlete men (n=24). No significant difference in VMRT were found between the cricket players (n=10) and the non-athlete men. However, the cricket players were found to have significantly slower VMRT than the normal sample of men (n=81). No significant differences in VMRT were found between the netball players (n=19), the hockey players (n=14) and either the normal sample of women (n=84) or the non-athlete women (n=26). The conclusions drawn from this study support the position that VMRT may not be a key performance indicator in top-level ball sport performance and that the expert advantage may be located in other variables, such as anticipation and visual search. AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die doel van die studie was om the ondesoek of daar verkille was in die gemiddelde visuele-motoriese reaksie tyd (VMRT) tussen top-vlak bal sport atlete en òf „n normale steekproef òf „n steekproef van nie-atlete. VMRT was gemeet met „ nuwe 40-lig protokol op die Sport Vision Trainer. Inligting van die top-vlak bal sport atlete was ingesamel vir beide mans (rugby en krieket) en dames (netabl en hokkkie) Geen statisties beduidende verskille was gevind vir VMRT tussen die rugby spelers (n=24) en beide van die normale (n=81) of nie-atleet mans steekproef (n=24). Geen statisties beduidende verskille was gevind tussen die krieket spelers (n=10) en die nie-atleet mans nie. Alhoewel die krieket spelers het „n statistie beduidende stadiger VMRT as die normale steekproef mans gehad (n=81). Geen beduidende verskille in VMRT was gevind tussen die netbal spelers (n=19), die hokkie spelers (n=14) en beide van die normale steekproef dames (n=84) of die nie-atletiese dames nie (n=26). Die gevolgtrekking wat gemaak kan word uit die studie ondersteun die standpunt dat VMRT nie „n sleutel prestasie voorspeller in top-vlak bal sportsport prestasie is nie en dat die topvlak speler voordeel deur ander visuele veranderlikes soos antispiasie en “visual search” ondersoek kan word.

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35

Spiegl, Ondrej. "The effects of different figure skating boots on the human body during the landing impact. : A comparison between two figure skating boots, Edea and Graf." Thesis, Gymnastik- och idrottshögskolan, GIH, Institutionen för idrotts- och hälsovetenskap, 2016. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:gih:diva-4586.

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Aim: The purpose of this research was to investigate the effects of different figure skating boots on kinetic and kinematic properties of the landing impact. The focus was on the vertical ground reaction force (VGRF) and kinematic differences between the examined boots duringthe landing impact as well as the material and construction design differences between the boots. The hypothesis was that different figure skating boots (Graf Edmonton and Edea Concerto) differently affect the VGRF and kinematics during the landing impact so some figure skating boots may reduce the impact at landing and could therefore possibly prevent injuries. Method: Six subjects each simulated figure skating landings wearing two different types ofskates from two different heights, on artificial ice. Differences were investigated between the boots in angular position of individual body segments and in the VGRF that acts between the skate and a force platform underneath a plastic ice surface, as well as the force which acts between the skate and the foot. The landings were examined with a Pedar-X in-shoe pressure measuring system, a Kistler force plate and a Qualysis motion capture system. The obtained values of each variable were statistically compared between the boots using SPSS. Results: Statistically significant (p≤0.05) differences between the boots were seen in the degree of right ankle and knee joint flexion during the initial landing impact, in the degree of right ankle joint peak flexion, as well as in the force magnitude experienced by the right foot during the landing impacts as well as for the area under the max force-time curve. Furthermore, differences were seen in the construction design, materials, sizes of the outsole and in the stiffness. Conclusions: This research suggests there are differences in lower extremity VGRF and kinematic effects of landing impact when using different boots. It also suggests that some figure skating boots reduce the loading on the human body during the landing impacts more than others and therefore could help in preventing injuries.

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Rossi, A. "PREDICTIVE MODELS IN SPORT SCIENCE: MULTI-DIMENSIONAL ANALYSIS OF FOOTBALL TRAINING AND INJURY PREDICTION." Doctoral thesis, Università degli Studi di Milano, 2017. http://hdl.handle.net/2434/495229.

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Due to the fact that team sports such as football have a complex multidirectional and intermittent nature, an accurate planning of the training workload is needed in order to maximise the athletes’ performance during the matches and reduce their risk of injury. Despite the evaluation of external workloads during trainings and matches has become more and more easier thanks to the advent of the tracking system technologies such as Global Position System (GPS), the planning of the best training workloads aimed to obtain the higher performance during the matches and a lower risk of injury during sport stimuli, is still a very difficult challenge for sport scientists, athletic trainers and coaches. The application of machine learning approaches on sport sciences aims to solve this crucial issue. Hence, the combination between data and sport scientists’ peculiarities could maximize the information that can be obtained from the football training and match analysis. Thus, the aim of this thesis is to provide examples of the application of the machine learning approach on sport science. In particular, two studies are provided with the aim of detecting a pattern during in-season football training weeks and predicting injuries. For these studies, 23 elite football players were monitored in eighty in-season trainings by using a portable non-differential 10 Hz global position system (GPS) integrated with 100 Hz 3-D accelerometer, a 3-D gyroscope, and a 3-D digital, Northern Ireland compass (STATSports Viper). Information about non-traumatic injuries were also recorded by the club’s medical staff. In order to detect a pattern during the in-season training weeks and the injuries, Extra Tree Random Forest (ETRFC) and Decision Tree (DT) Classifier were computed, respectively. In the first study it was found that the in-season football trainings follow a sinusoidal model (i.e. zig-zag shape found in autocorrelation analysis) because their periodization is characterized by repeated short-term cycles which are constituted by two parts: the first one (i.e. trainings long before the match) is constituted by high training loads, and the second one (i.e. trainings close to the match) by low ones. This short-term structure appears to be a strategy useful both to facilitate the decay of accumulated fatigue from high training loads performed at the beginning of the cycle and to promote readiness for the following performance. As a matter of fact, a patter was detected through the in-season football training weeks by ETRFC. This machine learning process can accurately define the training loads to be performed in each training day to maintain higher performance throughout the season. Moreover, it was found that the most important features able to discriminate short-term training days are the distance covered above 20 W·kg-1, the acceleration above 2 m·s-2, the total distance and the distance covered above 25.5 W·Kg-1 and below 19.8Km·h-1. Thus, in accordance with the results found in this study, athletic trainers and coaches may use machine learning processes to define training loads with the aim of obtaining the best performance during all the season matches. Players’ training loads discrepancy in comparison with the ones defined by athletic trainers and coaches as the best ones to obtain enhancement in match performance, might be considered an index of individuals’ physical issue, which could induce injuries. As a matter of fact, in the second study presented in this thesis, it was found that it is possible to correctly predict 60.9% of the injuries by using the rules defined by DT classifier assessing training loads in a predictive window of 6-days. In particular, it was found that the number of injuries that the player suffered through the season, the total number of Acceleration above 2 m·s-2 and 3 m·s-2, and the distance in meters when the Metabolic Power (Energy Consumption per Kilogramme per second) is above the value of 25.5 W/Kg per minute, are the most important features able to predict injuries. Moreover, the football team analysed in this thesis should keep under control the discrepancy of these features when players return to the regular training because of the numerous fall-backs into injuries that have been recorded. Thus, this machine learning approach enables football teams to identify when their players should pay more attention during both trainings and matches in order to reduce the injury risk, while improving team strategy. In conclusion, Machine Learning processes could help athletic trainers and coaches with the coaching process. In particular, they could define which training loads could be useful to obtain enhancement in sport performance and to predict injuries. The diversities of coaching processes and physical characteristics of the football players in each team do not permit to make inferences on the football players’ population. Hence, these models should be built in each team in order to improve the accuracy of the machine learning processes.

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Grobler, Lara. "The effect of graduated compression socks on calf muscle oxygenation of endurance athletes." Thesis, Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2012. http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/71677.

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Thesis (M Sport Sc)--Stellenbosch University, 2012. ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Compression socks (CS) are used as an ergogenic aid during and after exercise by many athletes of elite and recreational status. The exact mechanism whereby CS affect performance and postexercise recovery is not yet elucidated. Some research ascribes the beneficial effects to improved lactate removal rates with CS. One hypothesis is that CS improve venous return and thereby remove the lactate from the tissue to other tissues such as the liver, and the second hypothesis is that the CS cause retention of the lactate within the muscle and therefore improve the oxidation of the lactate within the muscle (Berry & McMurray, 1987). The current study endeavoured to test the hypothesis set by Berry and McMurray (1987) by measuring the effect of CS as well as flight socks (FS) on muscle oxygenation during exercise and recovery in endurance trained runners and triathletes. Eleven male endurance trained runners and triathletes (age = 34.8 ± 3.8 years, VO2max = 52.4 ± 7.1 mL.kg-1.min-1) participated in the study. They completed an incremental exercise test to exhaustion to determine their maximal aerobic capacity (VO2max) and peak treadmill velocity (PTV). Then they completed two 10 km treadmill running tests at 80 % of their PTV. During these two trials participants wore either CS or FS; the order of treatment was randomly selected. A subset of the study sample (n = 5) also completed a control test wearing only their ankle length sport socks (NS). After these trials, participants completed a 60 minute passive recovery period in the seated position while muscle oxygenation was measured. Compression under the socks was measured at several anatomically determined measurement points prior to the commencement of the exercise test, along with the determination of blood haemoglobin concentration ([Hb]). During the exercise trials, blood lactate concentration ([BLa]), skin temperature (ST),oxygen consumption (VO2), carbon dioxide production (VCO2), heart rate (HR), and muscle oxygenation variables (oxy-haemoglobin (O2Hb), deoxy-haemoglobin (HHb), tissue oxygenation index (TOI) and total haemoglobin index (nTHI)) was measured . During the 60minute passive recovery period, [BLa], ST, O2Hb, HHb, TOI, and nTHI measurements were continued. The results showed that there were differences in the pressure exerted between the two pressure condition (CS and FS) at the posterior ankle, and under the elastic of the sock as well as on the anterior calf at the level of greatest calf circumference. Differences in ST between the CS and NS and the FS and NS conditions were found between the first four 2 km intervals of the exercise protocol, but not during recovery. No differences were found in [BLa] between the three different compression conditions during either the exercise (p = 0.19) or recovery period (p = 0.63), as well as no differences in the cardiorespiratory variables during exercise between the three different compression conditions (VO2, p = 0.06; VCO2, p = 0.12; HR, p = 0.36). With regard to the muscle oxygenation variables, no differences were found between the three compression conditions during exercise, however there was a trend for lower oxygen utilization (HHb) during exercise in the NS condition (p = 0.57, medium to large practical significance). There were also no differences in these variables (O2Hb, p = 0.65; HHb, p = 0.57; TOI, p = 0.39; nTHI, p = 0.22) during recovery, although oxygen utilization (HHb) showed a faster recovery rate with increasing external pressure. From the results obtained, it seems that external compression caused a decrease in the blood flow velocity within the muscle, thereby increasing oxygen diffusion rate. During exercise this did not facilitate differences in [BLa], however, after the first 10 minutes of the recovery period, large practical differences were found between the NS and both sock conditions, suggesting that the increase in oxygen diffusion improved lactate clearance. This could support the hypothesis set by Berry and McMurray (1987). AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Kompressie sokkies (CS) word gereeld deur beide rekreasie- en elite atlete gebruik as ‘n ergogeniese hulpmiddlel tydens oefening en herstel. Die presiese meganisme waardeur CS prestasie en post-oefening herstel beïnvloed is nog nie volledig verklaar nie. Sommige navorsing skryf die voordelige effekte toe aan die vinniger herstel van laktaat in die sirkulasie. Daar is tans twee hipoteses vir die meganisme waardeur CS laktaat verwydering verbeter. Die eerste hipotese is dat CS die veneuse terugvoer verbeter en daardeur die laktaat van die weefsel verwyder en na ander weefsels soos die lewer vervoer vir verwydering. Die tweede hipotese is dat CS veroorsaak dat die laktaat in die spierweefsel teruggehou word wat dan tot gevolg het dat die laktaat in die spier self deur middel van oksidasie verwyder word (Berry & McMurray, 1987). Hierdie studie poog om Berry en McMurray (1987) se hipotese te toets deur die effek wat CS sowel as vlugsokkies (FS) op spieroksigenasie het gedurende oefening en herstel in geoefende uithouvermoë hardlopers en driekamp atlete vas te stel. Elf ingeoefende langafstand hardlopers en driekampatlete (mans) (ouderdom = 34.8 ± 3.8 jaar; VO2maks = 52.4 ± 7.1 mL.kg-1.min-1) het aan hierdie studie deel geneem. Die deelnemers het ‘n inkrementele toets tot die punt van uitputting voltooi om hul maksimale aërobiese kapasiteit (VO2maks) en piek trapmeul snelheid (PTV) vas te stel. Die elf deelnemers het ook twee 10 km hardlooptoetse teen 80 % van hul PTV voltooi. Gedurende hierdie twee toetse het die deelnemers óf CS óf FS gedra; die volgorde van die intervensie was lukraak aan hulle toegeken. ‘n Subgroep van die steekproef (n = 5) het ook ‘n kontrole toets voltooi waartydens hulle hul eie enkelhoogte sport sokkies (NS) gedra het. Aan die einde van die hardloop protokol het die deelnemers ‘n 60 minuut passiewe herstel periode in die sittende posisie voltooi terwyl spieroksigenasie gemeet is. Kompressie onder die sokkies is voor die aanvang van die hardloop protokol by verskeie anatomies gedefinieerde punte gemeet. Verder was die bloed hemoglobien konsentrasie ([Hb]) ook gemeet voor die hardloop protokol. Tydens die oefeningtoets is bloedlaktaat konsentrasie ([Hb]), veltemperatuur (ST), suurstof verbruik (VO2), koolstofdioksied produksie (VCO2), harttempo (HR), sowel as spieroksigenasie veranderlikes (oksi-hemoglobien (O2Hb), deoksi-hemoglobien (HHb), weefsel oksigenasie indeks (TOI), en totale hemoglobien indeks (nTHI)) gemeet. Gedurende die 60 minuut passiewe hersteltydperk is [BLa], ST, O2Hb, HHb, TOI en nTHI metings geneem. Die resultate toon dat daar ‘n verskil is in die druk wat uitgeoefen word in die onderskeie druktoestande (CS en FS) op die been by die posterior enkel en onder die rek van die sokkie, sowel as op die anterior kuit waar die kuit die grootste omtrek het. Verdere verskille tussen die CS en NS en die FS en NS toestande is in ST gevind in the eerste vier 2 km intervalle van die oefeningtoets, alhoewel geen verskille tydens die herstelperiode gevind is nie. Tydens beide die oefening (p = 0.19) en herstel (p = 0.63) protokol is geen verskille tussen die drie kompressie toestande met betrekking tot [BLa] gevind nie. En so ook is daar geen verskille tussen die onderskeie kompressie toestande in kardiorespiratoriese veranderlikes (VO2, p = 0.06; VCO2, p = 0.12; HR, p = 0.36) tydens oefening gevind nie. Met betrekking tot spieroksigenasie veranderlikes was daar geen verskil gevind tussen die drie kompressietoestande gedurende oefening nie, alhoewel daar ‘n tendens was vir die NS toestand om tydens oefening minder suurstofverbruik (HHb) (p = 0.57, medium tot groot praktiese effek) te lewer. So ook gedurende herstel is daar geen verskil in hierdie veranderlikes (O2Hb, p = 0.65; HHb, p = 0.57; TOI, p = 0.39; nTHI, p = 0.22) gevind nie, alhoewel die suurstofverbruik (HHb) vinniger na die basislyn herstel het met ‘n toename in druk. Die resultate toon dat eksterne kompressie ‘n afname in die bloedvloei tempo in die spier veroorsaak wat dan ‘n verlengde suurstof diffusie tyd veroorsaak. Hierdie verlengde suurstof diffusie tyd het geen effek op [BLa] tydens oefening gehad nie, alhoewel daar na die eerste 10 minute van die herstelperiode ‘n groot praktiese verskil tussen die NS en sokkie toestande gevind was in [BLa]. Hierdie verskil kan daarop dui dat die toename in suurstof diffusie verbeterde laktaat verwydering tot gevolg het, wat dan die hipotese van Berry en McMurray (1987) ondersteun.

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Gerstner, Ludwig. "The effect of plyometric training on the performance of cyclists." Thesis, Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2007. http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/21662.

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Thesis (MSpor)--University of Stellenbosch, 2007. ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of plyometric exercise training on the aerobic and anaerobic capacities of well-trained cyclists. Twenty male competitive cyclists (age: 24 ± SD 5 years, height: 180 ± SD 6 cm and body mass: 77 ± SD 6 kg), including 12 mountain bikers and eight road cyclists were randomly divided into an experimental (n = 13) and a control group (n = 7). Testing included kinanthropometric measurements, vertical jump test, bench pull test, maximal aerobic capacity test, indoor 5-kilometer time trial (TT), anaerobic capacity test (30-second Wingate test) and an outdoor 4.4-kilometer time trial (field test). The plyometric training program had no statistically significant effect on the maximal aerobic capacity, anaerobic capacity, time trial performance (laboratory and field) and vertical jump performance of the experimental group. Selected outcome variables, i.e. VO2max, PPO and MP during the Wingate test and time to complete the laboratory TT, bordered on statistical significance. The experimental group significantly improved their upper body strength. There was also a strong correlation between the outdoor TT and upper body strength (r = 0.72). Although the plyometric training program did not significantly improve the performance of the cyclists, indications were that the experimental group improved their anaerobic power and upper body strength. One previous study in the literature suggested that the effects of a plyometric training program may only become evident a few weeks after completion of the program. It is therefore possible that the cyclists in this study would have experienced the benefits of plyometric training only later, i.e. closer to the competition season when the aim of their training program is to improve power and speed. AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die doel van die studie was om te bepaal wat die effek van pliometriese oefeninge is op die aërobiese en anaërobiese vermoëns van goed ingeoefende fietsryers. Twintig kompeterende mans fietsryers, (ouderdom: 24 ± SD 5 jaar, lengte: 180 ± SD 6 cm en gewig: 77 ± SD 6 kg), was ewekansig ingedeel in of ‘n eksperimentele (n = 13) of ‘n kontrole groep (n = 7). Die groep sluit twaalf bergfietsryers en agt padfietsryers in. Kinantropometriese metings, vertikale spronghoogte, ‘n bolyf kragtoets (“bench pull test”), ‘n maksimale aërobiese uithouvermoë toets, ‘n binneshuise 5-kilometer tydtoets (TT), ‘n anaërobiese kapasiteit toets (30-sekonde Wingate toets) en ‘n buitemuurse 4.4-kilometer tydtoets (veldtoets) was voltooi gedurende die toetsperiode. Die pliometriese oefenprogram het geen statisties betenisvolle effek op maksimale aërobiese kapasiteit, anaërobiese kapasiteit, tydtoets prestasie (laboratorium en veld) of op vertikale spronghoogte van die eksperimentele groep gehad nie. Spesifieke uitkomsveranderlikes, soos VO2maks, piek en gemiddelde kraguitset gedurende die Wingate toets, en die tyd wat dit geneem het om die laboratorium tydtoets te voltooi, het gegrens aan ‘n statistiese betekenisvolle verbetering in die eksperimentele groep. Die eksperimentele groep het ‘n betekenisvolle verbetering getoon in hul bolyfkrag na die intervensie. Daar was ook ‘n sterk verband tussen die veld tydtoets en die bolyfkrag in die eksperimentele groep (r = 0.72). Hoewel die pliometriese oefenprogram nie die prestasie van die fietsryers betekenisvol verbeter het nie, het dit tekens van verbetering in die eksperimentele groep se anaërobiese en bolyfkrag getoon. ‘n Vorige studie het voorgestel dat ‘n pliometriese inoefeningsprogram slegs na ‘n paar weke na die intervensie ‘n effek sal toon in prestasie. Daarom is dit moontlik dat die fietsryers in die studie die voordele van pliometriese oefeninge eers later ervaar het, nader aan die kompetisiefase wanneer die doel van die oefenprogram is om spoed en krag te verbeter.

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Williams, Stephen John, and n/a. "A case study of the relationship between sports science research practice and elite coaches' perceived needs." University of Canberra. Health Sciences, 2005. http://erl.canberra.edu.au./public/adt-AUC20060530.101909.

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Elite coaches consider aspects of sports science when preparing athletes for competition. Sports scientists conduct applied research and a fundamental purpose of sports science research is to produce knowledge that helps improve the performance of elite athletes. In view of the considerable resources being directed toward research and coaching at the elite level, there is a need to conduct research to identify the relationship between research and coaching practice at the elite level. Australia has an institute of sport or academy of sport in each state and territory dedicated to the development of team and individual sports, both Olympic and non- Olympic. In the area of elite athlete performance, the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) has gained an international reputation for excellence, and the AIS Research Centre has achieved international recognition for the quality of research projects directed toward the performance of elite athletes. Sports scientists at Australian universities also undertake research related to elite coaching, some of which has occurred in partnership with researchers at Australian institutes of sport. The purpose of the study was to identify the relationship between sports science research at Australian institutes of sport and post-graduate sports science research in Australian universities, and how elite coaches in Australia perceive sports science research practice meeting the needs of elite coaching. A case study method was selected for this thesis, which involved the following data gathering instruments: a survey of 225 elite coaches and 125 sports science researchers, follow-up interviews of elite coaches and sports science researchers, and document analysis of 725 research projects conducted at Australian institutes of sport and postgraduate theses at Master and Doctoral level at Australian universities. An analysis was also conducted to assess the sports science content contained in the National Coaching Accreditation Scheme's Level Three course material. A schedule was developed for the document analysis called the "Williams Sports Science Research Schedule". Interviews were conducted with elite key informants to validate a model that was developed fiom the study. Results of the study revealed a degree of congruence between the perceptions of elite coaches and sports science researchers regarding the research needs of elite coaches and the research activity of sports science researchers. A model, called the "Elite Sports Research Model" was developed to describe that relationship. The Elite Sports Research Model contains four components, namely: coach knowledge, information seeking/dissemination strategies, qualities valued in an elite coach and a sports science researcher, and application of research. Within the model, particular perspectives of elite coaches and particular perspectives of sports science researchers were identified. Some differences were found between elite coaches of team sports and elite coaches of individual sports, as well as some differences between researchers at institutes of sports and researchers at universities. At the elite level in Australia a relationship was found between sports science research activity and the research needs of elite coaches. With the increase in support for elite coaching and sports science research in Australia and internationally, the results of this study should help to inform improvement in sports science research programs that support elite coaching practice.

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Andrews, Barry. "Sprint analysis of athletes with intellectual impairments." Thesis, Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2008. http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/2199.

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Thesis (M Sport Sc (Sport Science))--Stellenbosch University, 2008. Intellectually impaired (II) athletes are not allowed to participate at the Paralympic Games because there is no accepted classification system for these athletes. The rationale for this study was to see if there are any physical differences existing in the sprint performance of II and non-II athletes and to see if there is a way to incorporate these differences into a new (accepted) classification system. The objective of this study was to identify any physical sources for the differences between II and non-II, with regard to the acceleration phase, the first 30m of the 60m sprint race, which could then be used in conjunction with other tests in the classification of II athletes. This new classification system might then allow II athletes to participate in the Paralympic Games again. 32 II athletes (22 male and 10 females) and 14 non-II athletes (10 males and 4 females) were used in this study. The sprint performance was analysed and compared of each athlete using the DartFish ProSuite software programme. The data collected from these analysis was then compared using the unpaired t-test, looking for any significant differences between the groups (p<0.05). From this analysis, it was concluded that stride length was the reason for the poorer performance of the II group when compared to the non-II group. Further research is required before definite conclusions can be made on the possible reasons for this difference.

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Anthony, Matthew Hayden. ""Surgical And Rigorous (Yet Always Fun)": Science, Sport, And Community In American Birding, 1950-1980." W&M ScholarWorks, 2020. https://scholarworks.wm.edu/etd/1593091764.

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This dissertation examines how birders in the mid-20th century created an institutional culture and national community autonomous from ornithology, working to define birding as an activity which blended practices and ideas from science and sport. The negotiations over the relative prominence of science and sport inform contemporary dialogues about citizen science and how to involve recreationists/amateurs in scientific work. While this story is often told from the perspective of scientists, the reality is that birders borrowed from science but also pursued their own goals and practices. Birding, which sits at the crossroads of science and sport, presents a unique case because as birders worked to define their activity and build an institutional culture they were beset by debates not merely about best practices, but about the fundamental nature of birding. Was it science, or sport? And if it was a mix of the two, what was the appropriate ratio and which element should be dominant? These were the questions that birders in the mid-20th century struggled to answer, and the debates about how to answer them defined birding culture and practice in ways that continue to reverberate through not just birding, but ornithology, bird conservation, and citizen science.

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Appleton, Paul Richard. "Examining perfectionism in elite junior athletes : measurement and development issues." Thesis, University of Bedfordshire, 2009. http://hdl.handle.net/10547/133570.

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The major theme of the current thesis was the definition, measurement, and development of perfectionism in elite junior sport. The first purpose was to examine the psychometric properties associated with Hewitt and Flett’s (1991) Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale (MPS-HF) when complete by a sample of elite junior athletes. In study one, a confirmatory factor analysis failed to support the original structure of 45-item MPS-HF. Subsequent exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses revealed a more parsimonious 15-item factor structure representing self-oriented (SOP), socially prescribed (SPP), and other-oriented perfectionism (OOP). Having established a reconstituted version of the MPS-HF, a second purpose of the research programme was to consider the origins of perfectionism in elite junior athletes using a cross-sectional design. Initially, in study two a social learning model was supported, with 18%-26% of variance in athletes’ perfectionism predicted by parents’ perfectionism. Building upon this finding in study three, a structural equation model revealed that parenting styles, including empathy and psychological control, mediated the parent-athletic child SPP relationship. In study four, a significant pathway emerged between parents’ achievement goals and athletes’ dispositional perfectionism, offering support for a social expectations model of perfectionism development. Specifically, parents’ task and ego orientations were positively associated with athletes’ SOP. In contrast, athletes’ SPP was predicted by parents’ ego orientation. Study four also demonstrated the nature and form of motivational regulation associated with athletes’ SOP and SPP. That is, a pathway emerged between athletes’ SPP and controlled forms of regulation, while athletes’ SOP was correlated with self-determined and controlled motivation. Finally, in study five, the coach-created motivational climate accounted for approximately 19% of variance in athletes’ perfectionistic cognitions, highlighting the role of additional social agents in the development of athletes’ perfectionism. The results of this research programme contribute to existing knowledge of perfectionism by forwarding reliable measures of SOP and SPP for employment in sport, and revealing a complex array of pathways that underpin the development of perfectionism in elite junior athletes. Ultimately, by preventing the occurrence of such pathways, athletic children may be protected from the perils of perfectionism.

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Thurlow, F. "The acute demands and physical adaptations of repeated-sprint training." Phd thesis, Australian Catholic University, 2024. https://doi.org/10.26199/acu.9105v.

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Repeated-sprint training (RST) is a common training method used to prepare athletes for the intermittent, high-intensity demands of sports competition. However, there are many different RST programs applied in research and practice, leading to diverse acute and chronic effects. The overall aims of this thesis were to, 1) evaluate and summarise the acute demands and physical adaptations of RST, and 2) investigate the effects of manipulating programming variables on the acute demands and physical adaptations of RST. Studies 1 and 2 were systematic reviews and meta-analyses, which included data from 5470 athletes. Study 3 was a randomised, crossover study involving 14 trained athletes, and Study 4 was a parallel, two-group, training intervention that was performed by 24 rugby league players. Study 1 established that the acute physiological, neuromuscular, perceptual, and performance demands of RST are substantial, with these demands most influenced by sprint distance, rest time, and rest modality. Study 2 showed that RST improves a range of physical qualities and performing three sets of 6 x 30 m sprints, twice per week for six weeks is a highly effective training program. Study 3 demonstrated how larger session volumes increase the acute demands of RST, but by manipulating volume, sprint distance, and the number of repetitions, practitioners can alter the acute stimulus. Finally, in Study 4, after a six-week training intervention, both the RST and short high-intensity interval training (HIIT) groups increased hamstring fascicle length, but RST was more effective at improving hamstring strength and linear speed, while short-bout HIIT was more effective at improving aerobic fitness. These findings support the application of RST as a time-efficient conditioning method that elicits a considerable physiological stimulus and enhances an array of distinct physical qualities, which are important to sports performance. Furthermore, through the manipulation of programming variables, coaches can use the findings from this thesis to design RST programs that achieve specific aims.

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Bohlke, Nikolai. "Benchmarking of elite sport systems." Thesis, Loughborough University, 2006. https://dspace.lboro.ac.uk/2134/12193.

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The organisation of elite sport systems has been the focus of a great variety of different investigations over the past ten years. In particular, many studies have compared the structure and organisation of different national elite sport systems on the macro and meso levels. A result of the existing investigations is a clear convergence of the service portfolio different elite sport systems offer their athletes and coaches. Despite this current trend to a homogeneous elite sport system design, medal tables of major sport events suggest that some nations are still more successful than others in specific sports. This suggests that more successful sport systems might have found better ways to implement the otherwise similar and conventional support portfolio. However, there is a lack of studies that focus on what practices successful elite sport systems apply in the actual delivery of the support services to their athletes and coaches; in how far these practices are related to the ,success of the sport systems; if these practices look similar across different successful sport systems; and if these practices provide useful lessons for other systems to learn from. The management tool benchmarking appears to be a useful framework to guide such comparisons at the operational level. Thus, this thesis evaluated the applicability of this management concept for furthering understanding of elite sport system management. In order to conduct this evaluation it was decided to analyse the operational processes and structures two successful elite sport systems apply for the delivery of five elements of the elite sport support portfolio. In specific, the investigation focused on the comparison of the design of the squad system, the hierarchy of coaches within the squad system, the organisation of the coach education, as well as the provision of sport science and lifestyle support, which were the Benchmarking Objects of this study. The Swedish athletics and the Norwegian cross-country skiing national team, and the general elite sport support institutions they cooperate with, were chosen as the Benchmarking Subjects, i.e. the comparison partners, for this investigation. This research was based on a series of semi-structured interviews which were conducted with about 50 key pOSition holders such as coaches, athletes, lifestyle support managers, or performance diagnosticians during two study visits to Norway and Sweden. This study concluded that benchmarking can lead to insights into the operational management of successful elite sport systems. It must however also be stressed that benchmarking is not a universal remedy for the problems managers of elite sport systems face today. As this research showed, the two Benchmarking Subjects applied unexpected solutions for the delivery of some of the chosen Benchmarking Objects - and some of these practices appeared to be heavily linked to the organisational and cultural context of the investigated sport systems. Thus, it must be carefully evaluated for each process or structure, which is identified during a bench marking exercise, if it constitutes a transferable best practice which is applicable outside the organisational context of the respective Benchmarking Subject.

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Rumbold, Penny. "Energy intake and appetite following sport-specific exercise in adolescent girls." Thesis, Northumbria University, 2011. http://nrl.northumbria.ac.uk/3404/.

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Wilcox, Christopher Richard James. "The development and implementation of a hip injury screening protocol within elite ice hockey." Thesis, University of Hull, 2015. http://hydra.hull.ac.uk/resources/hull:13607.

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The primary aim of this project was to both investigate injury epidemiology and create methods to potentially reduce injuries within elite ice hockey athletes. Chapter Four assessed the injury problem within ice hockey by retrospectively collecting data from two National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) division III teams across a four year period investigating the prevalence, location, severity and type of injuries sustained. Findings showed that contact injuries were more prevalent (58%) than non-contact injuries (42%), with the knee (15%), shoulder (12%) and hip (13%) being the most frequently injured locations when both contact and non-contact injuries were combined. When investigating only non- contact injuries the hip complex (hip, groin and thigh) (50%) was by far the most injured location with similar frequencies, in terms of injury severity, observed. Chapter Five analysed intrinsic risk factors of the ice hockey athlete by investigating differences of hip range of motion (ROM), strength and functional tests between ice hockey athletes, soccer athletes and control participants. Results demonstrated that ice hockey athletes had significantly weaker hip adduction (p = 0.023) and flexion in sitting (p = 0.001) strength compared to soccer athletes and less external rotation strength compared to control participants (p = 0.010). Ice hockey athletes also displayed greater strength than control participants in flexion in sitting (p = 0.005). Ice hockey athletes exhibited greater ROM in abduction (p = 0.001) than control participants and greater adduction than both soccer athletes (p = 0.003) and control participants (p = 0.004). Ice hockey athletes exhibited less hip flexion in lying (p = 0.001) and external rotation (p < 0.001) when compared to control participants. Ice hockey athletes also presented with an increased number of positive flexion, abduction and external rotation (FABER) tests compared to both soccer athletes and control participants. Chapter Six investigated the effectiveness of the newly created hip screen by comparing ice hockey athletes with and without a previous non-contact hip injury and their performance during the hip screen. Findings demonstrated that athletes who had no previous hip injury had greater internal (p = 0.004) and external rotation ROM (p = 0.022) on the dominant (Dom) limb and greater flexion in sitting (p = 0.031) and internal rotation ROM (p = 0.050) on the non-dominant (Ndom) limb. Although non-significant, previously injured athletes also displayed less ROM in all hip movements compared to previously uninjured athletes. Similar trends were found in strength measures with previously uninjured athletes showing significantly stronger abduction (p = 0.012) on the Dom limb and flexion in lying on both the Dom (p = 0.008) and Ndom limb (p < 0.001). Previously injured athletes displayed more positive FABER (Dom; 13% vs. 0%, Ndom; 13% vs. 5%), Trendelenburg (Dom; 75% vs. 58%, Ndom; 50% vs. 5%) and Ober’s (Dom; 13% vs. 5%, Ndom; 75% vs. 68%) tests with higher scores on the overall screen than uninjured athletes. Chapter Seven investigated the intra and inter-tester reliability of the hip screen finding that intra-class correlation coefficients (ICC) of intra-tester reliability of the ROM (0.49), strength (0.80) and overall screen (0.76) was moderate to near perfect. Inter-tester reliability again showed very large ICCs for ROM (0.71), strength (0.77) and overall screen scores (0.81). The minimum criterion change (MCC) (3.78 points) was also found to be small for the screen score change needed to be viewed as clinically worthwhile. These findings demonstrate that the screening procedure developed is useful, reliable and repeatable when assessing the ice hockey athlete’s hip. Chapter Eight demonstrated that all participants regardless of group improved their ROM and strength measures following the intervention period. However, it was demonstrated that the ice hockey intervention (IHI) group saw a decrease in the amount of positive FABER tests following the intervention compared to ice hockey control (IHC) and intervention control (IC) group (IHI: pre 15 vs. post 6; IHC: pre 15 vs. post 14; IC: pre 10 vs. post 9). It was also demonstrated that the IHI group improved above the MCC value presented within Chapter Seven with regards to the overall hip injury screen score (pre 48 vs. post 52) indicating that ice hockey athletes who participated in the intervention programme may be at a decreased risk of sustaining a non-contact hip injury due to the intervention exercises targeting weaknesses highlighted in the hip injury screen. In summary, the current project achieved the stated aims by demonstrating that the hip complex was the most common location for injuries of a non-contact nature and the creation of a reliable and repeatable hip injury screen that allows clinicians to potentially highlight athletes considered as ‘at risk’. To complete the injury prevention sequence, future work would be necessary to track athletes who scored low on the hip injury screen over time either following the intervention or as a control to assess if they were more or less likely to sustain a non-contact hip injury. Future work should also continue to optimise the intervention strategy to further develop and enhance its effectiveness in the prevention of non-contact hip injuries. This could be achieved either through a longer protocol that is incorporated into routine training or individualisation of the programme and as such provide a valuable tool for clinicians and medical teams wishing to reduce the risk of ice hockey athletes sustaining a non-contact hip injury.

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Murphy, Marie Harriet. "The effects of different patterns of brisk walking on aspects of fitness, cardiovascular risk and psychological well-being." Thesis, Loughborough University, 1999. https://dspace.lboro.ac.uk/2134/27067.

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The use of a pattern of accumulated bouts of exercise has become enshrined in recent public health recommendations. Although there is epidemiological evidence to support this, the experimental evidence for such recommendations is limited. The four studies described in this thesis investigated the effects of different patterns of exercise on fitness, cardiovascular risk and selected psychological parameters.

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Moore, Laura Jayne Suzanne. "The effects of the glycaemic index of carbohydrate meals on metabolism, recovery and endurance performance." Thesis, University of Hull, 2009. http://hydra.hull.ac.uk/resources/hull:5822.

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The aim of this thesis was to investigate the effect that consuming pre- and post exercise meals, varying in GI, would have on physiological responses and subsequent endurance performance. Study 1 investigated the effects of consuming either a low or high GI meal 45 min prior to exercise on cycling TT performance. It was observed that consuming a low GI meal 45 minutes prior to performing a 40k TT, resulted in a significantly improved performance (p = 0.009) compared to the ingestion of an isocaloric high GI pre- exercise meal (93 ± 8 min vs. 96 ±7 min for low and high GI, respectively). The results suggested that the ingestion of the low GI food led to an increase in the availability of CHO and greater CHO oxidation throughout the exercise period and subsequently spared limited muscle and liver glycogen stores. Study 2 investigated the effects of low and high GI 24 h diets, following glycogen depleting exercise, on TT performance the following day. No difference was observed in TT performance following low (90.7 ±11.1 min) and high (93.5 ± 9.29 min) GI, 24 h recovery diets (p = 0.35). This study concluded that provided the amount of CHO consumed during the recovery period is sufficient enough to replenish depleted muscle glycogen stores, the GI of the recovery diet offers no further benefit to performance. Study 3 investigated the effects of high and low GI recovery meals on TT performance following a short term recovery period from a glycogen depleting exercise. No significant difference was observed in TT performance between the low (90.7 ± 11.1 min) and high GI (93.5 ± 9.3 min) trials (t = 1.1; p = 0.35). This study concluded that if the following exercise bout is of short duration, and not long enough to challenge glycogen stores, provided the amount of CHO is sufficient during the recovery period, the GI of short- term recovery diets has no influence on subsequent exercise performance. In conclusion, the findings presented in this thesis should contribute to and support previous research within this area and help to contribute to the body of knowledge through greater ecological validity.

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Borkoles, Erika. "Evaluation of a one year long, non-dieting, physical activity based lifestyle intervention programme for clinically obese women." Thesis, University of Hull, 2010. http://hydra.hull.ac.uk/resources/hull:4793.

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Obesity is a heterogeneous, complex, and chronic condition with large individual differences. Lifestyle modification has been widely acknowledged as the primary treatment for obesity. Objective – This PhD examined the effects of a non-dieting exercise-based lifestyle intervention programme (e.g. no calorie-restriction) using the tenets of the self-determination theory (SDT; Deci & Ryan, 1985b) to inform intervention decisions and identify individual differences (e.g. SDT was used to identify self-regulatory profiles), on physical and metabolic fitness, and psychological well-being among premenopausal, clinically obese women. The programme titled WHEEL focused on health outcomes rather than weight loss. Design – A randomised, delayed start RCT feasibility study. This longitudinal study ran for one year in two phases: a) 12 weeks of intensive intervention and b) a 40-week maintenance phase. Setting – Free living, general community setting. Participants – 62 predominantly white Caucasian (97%), clinically obese (BMI ≥30kg/m2), pre-menopausal women with a mean age of 40.2 years, free of obesity-related diseases and fit to for exercise were randomly assigned to a non-dieting lifestyle intervention group (n = 31) or waiting list control (n = 31). Intervention – Exercise: four hours of exercise per week chosen from the following options: Tai Chi, Circuit classes x 2; and Aqua aerobics. Participants were required to complete two sessions in a WHEEL class, but were encouraged to do all four. If this was not possible they had to agree the exercise of their choice with EB who checked their plan against the FITT principle of exercise. The tenets of SDT, namely autonomy, competence building, and relatedness were used to inform the design of exercise sessions. Autonomy: participants chose their own exercise programme structure. Flexibility within exercise sessions allowed for matching activities to participants’ current state of fitness. Those with high functional limitations were given alternative, seated exercises. Relatedness was fostered in different ways: 1) Outside of WHEEL:participants were encouraged to share their weight related experiences with each other. Routes to exercise venues were planned and they were encouraged to have a car-sharing scheme; and participants organised various charity walks for the group on their own accord. 2) Within WHEEL: participants generally worked in pairs whilst exercising in a group setting. After the initial 12-week intervention phase they were also allowed to invite a female friend or family member to join them in the classes. Competence building: participants were taught exercise skills; including naming and executing each exercise routine correctly, with a view of them joining ‘regular’ classes in the future. Furthermore, they were taught to take their own pulse and monitor their heart rate throughout sessions. The psycho-educational classes targeting dieting behaviours and eating regulation using Brief Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) techniques: a two one-hour session per week for three weeks, delivered in the 12-week intervention phase, challenging maladaptive eating behaviours, whilst educating participants about food labels and food choices. Educational Sessions: one per week for 12 weeks on physiological and psychological mechanisms of exercise and dieting (e.g. dangers of weight cycling due to dieting). Social Support: follow-up phone calls if two weeks of exercise sessions were missed. Adherence: attrition and attendance were monitored. Data Analysis – Mixed Method: sequential QUAN-QUAL data analyses. QUAN: intention to treat analysis, repeated measures analysis of variance, regression, and correlations. QUAL: analytic induction analysis using the QSR*NVivo qualitative data analysis software. Outcome measures at baseline, 12 weeks, and 52 weeks. QUAN Psychological Instruments: General Causality Orientation Scale (GCOS; Deci & Ryan, 1985b), General Well-Being Schedule (GWB; Dupuy, 1977 & 1978), Perceived Stress Scale (PSS; Cohen, Kamarck, & Mermelstein, 1983), Self-Perception Profile (SPP; Messer & Harter, 1986), State Self-Esteem Scale (SSES; Heatherton & Polivy, 1991), Multidimensional Health Locus of Control Scales (Form C) (MHLC; Wallston,Wallston, & DeVellis, 1978), and Social Support for Exercise Scale (SSSE; Fox & Dirkin, 1992). QUAN Physiology measures: metabolic and cardio-respiratory fitness. QUAL: 62 weight history interviews at baseline with 36 follow-up interviews, including 12 drop-outs. The semi-structured interviews explored participants’ history and prevalence of self-reported dieting and eating behaviours, assessed weight cycling prevalence and development of weight status up to baseline, investigated previous exercise history and skills, perceived health status and difficulties with physical activity including barriers, and examined motivation, goals, and expectation for WHEEL from the personal point of view and from the programme’s. The follow-up interviews at 52 weeks explored difficulties with exercise behaviour change, and quality of life. Results – Baseline: participants showed high levels of psychopathology indexed by high levels of stress, low levels of general well-being (81.8% in severely distressed category of the General Well-Being Schedule) and self-perceptions (e.g. self-esteem, body image), low autonomy and high impersonal orientation, and problems with emotional eating (78%) and dieting (86%). Also, participants had poor fitness levels (< 10% percentile for women) and metabolic profile with 50% of the participants meeting the metabolic syndrome criteria. Participants had unrealistic expectations (35% expected weight loss) and low exercise self-efficacy, low confidence in their ability to achieve, and a number of problems associated with their excess body weight. Finally, participants experienced societal prejudice in various aspects of their lives (e.g. healthcare, work). RCT phase: significant improvements in psychological functioning indexed by significant improvement in well-being (29.9% improvement in total score of GWB Schedule and all its subscales), self-perceptions (athletic, appearance, global self-worth scales of the SPP), and perceived received social support (reducing significantly the discrepancy between need for support and received support). In addition, cardiorespiratory fitness improved significantly in the intervention group (9.3% increase adjusted VO2, ml-kg- 1 min-1; 7.8% absoluteVO2, ml-min-1) as compared to controls (4% reduction adjusted VO2, ml-kg-1 min-1 & 3.2% absoluteVO2, ml-min-1). All these changes took place despite the absence of significant weight loss. Maintenance: those who continued the programme showed improved psychological functioning at 12. The participants showed significant improvements in general well-being: the average value at this stage was 74.4 (±16.6) bringing the group as a whole into the positive well-being category. Most subscales of the SPP showed significant improvements from baseline to 12 months and the discrepancy between needed and perceived provided social support for listening, information, and challenge support for exercise narrowed significantly. In support of SDT, participants felt more autonomous and more in control of their own destiny. Conclusion - Although there was a significant dropout in the study (60%) the present intervention was successful in bringing about behavioural change in those who stayed in the programme. Both the QUAN and QUAL results provided strong support for the improved psychological profile of participants in the absence of significant weight changes. Reasons for dropout included: research design, facilities, and personal. Although the study was not without limitations the underlying philosophy adopted was rarely questioned and would provide a basis for definitive RCT trail.

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Nicholls, Adam R. "Stress and coping among high-level adolescent golfers." Thesis, University of Hull, 2005. http://hydra.hull.ac.uk/resources/hull:6708.

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Abstract:

The overall purpose of this research programme was to examine how international adolescent golfers cope with performance related stressors. As such, three interrelated studies were designed to pursue this purpose. The purpose of Study 1 was to examine instances when international adolescent golfers' coped effectively and ineffectively with performance-related stressors during competition. Strategies associated with effective coping were rationalizing, re-appraising, blocking, positive self-talk, following a routine, breathing exercises, physical relaxation, and seeking on-course social support. Alternatively, different types of coping responses (trying too hard, speeding up, routine changes, negative thoughts, lack of coping) were associated with ineffective coping. The purpose of Study 2 was to examine stressors, coping strategies, and perceived coping effectiveness among elite adolescent golfers longitudinally over 31 days. Overall, most frequently-cited stressors were making a physical error and making a mental error. Coping strategies that served a problem-focused coping function were cited more often than those which served an emotion-focused or avoidance function. Although mean coping effectiveness remained stable over time, considerable fluctuations in the effectiveness of coping strategies used to manage specific stressors were observed. The purpose of study 3 was to identify and examine adolescent golfers' stress appraisals and coping attempts during golf performance. Stress appraisals appeared to be related to the participants' performance goals, and an array of different coping attempts was deployed to manage apparently similar stressor-appraisals The findings presented in this research programme suggest that adolescent golfers use a plethora of different coping strategies during golf to cope with performance related stressors. The types of coping strategies utilised by the participants were very similar throughout all three of the studies ranging from blocking to positive appraisal.

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Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Sport Science'

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