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The purpose of this study was to explore elite coaches' perspectives on the athlete-centred approach to coaching. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with ten (five male and five female) current coaches of female athletes on Canadian national team sports. The data were analyzed qualitatively using inductive and deductive analyses. Data revealed that coaches attached divergent meanings to the term "athlete-centred" sport. They referred to a holistic philosophy of the athlete, coaching practices that involve athletes within the coach-athlete partnership, specific values as essential components of athlete-centred coaching, and a philosophy of success that extends beyond athletic performance. The coaches also identified barriers to implementing athlete-centred coaching behaviours. The findings of this study have implications for our understanding of athlete-centred coaching and holistic athlete development, as well as policy revisions, coach education, and future coaching research.

The purpose of this study was to explore elite coaches' perspectives on the athlete-centred approach to coaching. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with ten (five male and five female) current coaches of female athletes on Canadian national team sports. The data were analyzed qualitatively using inductive and deductive analyses. Data revealed that coaches attached divergent meanings to the term "athlete-centred" sport. They referred to a holistic philosophy of the athlete, coaching practices that involve athletes within the coach-athlete partnership, specific values as essential components of athlete-centred coaching, and a philosophy of success that extends beyond athletic performance. The coaches also identified barriers to implementing athlete-centred coaching behaviours. The findings of this study have implications for our understanding of athlete-centred coaching and holistic athlete development, as well as policy revisions, coach education, and future coaching research.

Background: The American College of Sports Medicine defines the female athlete triad (FAT) as interrelated components of energy availability, menstrual function, and bone mineral density. High school athletes have likely not experienced a lengthy duration of exposure to disordered eating, amenorrhea, and low bone density compared to older athletes because of their young age; the purpose for screening and creating awareness is to educate before negative consequences reach full effect later in life and running career. Purpose: The purpose of this study is to screen high school distance runners for awareness and baseline knowledge of the components of FAT. Methods: Four surveys submitted to high school female athletes assessing FAT knowledge, a questionnaire assessing triad risk factors, calcium intake, and demographic information. Results: Significant findings include faster 5k times with a body mass index (BMI) under 18.5 mg/kg², increased calcium intake correlated with positive awareness to the FAT, and a higher FAT knowledge score correlating with triad awareness. Conclusion: The results from this study did not show a relationship between BMI and menstrual history, 5k time and menstrual history, and BMI and calcium intake. All of the athletes' responses indicated having one or more components of the triad. Education of the components of the triad is needed in high schools, and screening should be incorporated into preparticipation health physicals so as to ensure athletes minimize their risks for stress fractures and impaired bone health.

Vitamin D deficiency has been linked with many health problems. Early research demonstrated the importance of vitamin D for bone health, but it may also play a larger role than first reported in muscle health and function. Specifically, low vitamin D may hinder athletic performance, as such evaluation of serum vitamin D levels in high volume training athletes has merit. The purpose of this study was to evaluate serum levels of 25(OH)D in college athletes to determine how many had levels below the recommended values. Data from student-athletes who were attending a large university in the south included: serum vitamin D levels, demographics information, and injury reports. Mean serum vitamin D level for the group was 34.17 ng/mL ± 0.88. Average injury for the group was 1.3± 0.14. The mean value of serum vitamin D for Caucasian players was 38.3 ng/mL ± 1.33 with a range of 23-59 ng/mL. The mean value of serum vitamin D for African American players was 31.16 ng/mL ± 1.08 with a range of 16-52 ng/mL. African American players had significantly lower serum vitamin D levels (p<0.01) than Caucasian players. Players with one or more injury had significantly lower serum vitamin D values (p<0.05) than players who had zero injuries. Forty-eight players (44.4%) had insufficient levels of vitamin D (20-31.9ng/ml). 60 players (55.6%) had values within normal limits (>32 ng/ml). Players with one or more musculoskeletal injury or fracture had significantly lower serum vitamin D levels (p<0.05) compared to players that had zero injuries. African American players had significantly lower serum vitamin D levels (p<0.01) compared to Caucasian players. It is important for athletes to monitor serum vitamin D levels and adhere to a supplementation protocol when levels are insufficient. / text

discontinued 3/4/11 / Protein needs for athletes vary depending upon their body weight and the frequency, intensity, duration and types of their activities.

This study investigated the relationships between student identity, athlete identity, and career development among National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I college athletes. In Study 1, participants completed measures of student identity, athlete identity, career self-efficacy, and demographic information including race, sex, and sport played. Results indicated that student identity of the college athletes in Study 1 was a significant predictor of career decision-making selfefficacy (β=.33, t=3.86, p<.001). Study 2 included in-depth individual interviews with twelve college athletes. The goal of Study 2 was to better understand the conflict of student and athlete identities and how this conflict affected career planning for college athletes. Several themes emerged from the interviews, including adjustments the athletes undertook to cope with the conflicting roles. A conceptual model was developed to illustrate the complex and fluid nature of the role conflict and the athlete’s management strategies. The results from both studies provide insight into the nature of the relationships between these identities and career development. Suggestions for future research on influences to career development for college athletes are included.

The purpose of the investigation was to determine if goal setting has an effect on physical performance in a realistic, natural, and competitive athletic environment. Results revealed no significant differences between the goal-setting group and the "do your best" group when performing lacrosse skills. However, results from the questionnaire indicated significant main effect difficulty of the tasks. These results imply that athletes in the goal-setting group felt that their goals were not realistic and that it was increasingly difficult to reach their goals as the season progressed. Because the athlete does not have control over some factors which influence game situations, he or she may be hindered in reaching his or her goals, whether specified or individually chosen. Therefore, a research methodology that manipulates and attempts to control types of goal setting may not be appropriate or realistic when applied to the natural field environment of a highly organized competitive sport.

Concussions have reached epidemic levels. There is no cure for concussions. Measures taken to reduce concussions have not been effective. The majority of research is focused on concussion causation and concussion management after the fact. The research continues but the number of concussions in athletics increases each year. No methodical approach to producing a specific protocol to strengthen the head and neck muscles exists and no systematic study of increase in neck musculature attributed to such a protocol is documented. Thus, this study will produce a standardized methodology for the reduction of concussive and subconcussive forces, laying the foundation for further research in this area. The research participants were healthy male and female college students, age range 18-24. There were 30 participants. Of the 30 subjects used for this study, 18 participants were randomly assigned to the experimental group and 12 participants in the control group. The participants followed a protocol consisting of 13 movements designed to sequentially train the musculature of the head, neck and upper back. The duration of the study was 8 weeks. The strength increases were significant in the active participant group. The hypertrophy of the head and neck muscles was equally as significant and even more impressive in the male group. The females exhibited minimal muscle hypertrophy. Every active participant experienced strength increases during the eight week study; likewise each active male participant exhibited neck circumference increases. The control group experienced negligible strength or hypertrophy increases. / Ph. D.

Injury can be a very stressful experience for an elite athlete. To facilitate recovery, it is important to understand the psychological dynamics involved in the injury state. The purpose of this study was to explore the influence of the coach-athlete relationship on injury reporting decisions. Six varsity swimmers from a Canadian university were interviewed about their experiences of athletic injury and the coach-athlete relationship. The data also revealed additional salient factors in the athletes’ disclosure decisions. Interview transcripts were analyzed using a grounded theory approach and several key factors were found: identity, pain, frustration, coping, power, trust, caring/openness, investment, isolation, and atmosphere. These factors were organized into three categories: individual, coach-athlete, and team. The PI-AIR (Psychosocial Influences on Athletic Injury Reporting) model was developed to organize the categories into a single framework. The model is discussed in relation to current theory along with limitations of the study and future directions.