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.

No description available.

Maximum physical performance tests appear to best reflect athletes’ training status and readiness to perform; however, it is unfeasible for practitioners to implement physical performance tests while trying to minimise the effects of fatigue during training. Subjective self-reported well-being measures have therefore been purported as a tool for monitoring athletes’ readiness to perform without exertion. The purpose of the current study was to establish the nature and strength of the relationship between changes in physical performance test scores and changes in well-being scores in student soccer players. For the purpose of this investigation, the physical performance test scores (jump height (JH), 10 m and 40 m sprint tests, 5-0-5 and YO-YO) and well-being scores (fatigue, energy, stress, motivation, soreness, sleep and total well-being score (TWS)) were collected for 48 male student soccer players at three time points (testing observation one: T1; testing observation two: T2; testing observation three: T3) over a period of two weeks in order to assess percentage change scores for physical performance test scores and well-being scores between T1 and T2, T2 and T3, and T1 and T3. Once percentage change scores (physical performance test scores and well-being scores) for each comparative pair of testing observations were calculated, Spearman’s rank order correlation coefficients (r) were calculated to evaluate the nature and strength of the relationships between changes in well-being scores and physical performance test scores. The principal findings of this study were that over two weeks of training, improved JH was associated with better motivation and worse fatigue, soreness and TWS. Faster 10 m and 40 m sprint times were associated with worse energy, stress, sleep and TWS. Faster 5-0-5 time was associated with worse fatigue, stress, sleep and TWS. Longer YO-YO distance was associated with worse motivation, stress, sleep and TWS. However, in many instances, correlations between physical performance test scores and well-being scores were small to trivial. Numerous contradicting correlations were also found across all comparative pairs of testing observations. The take-home message of this study is that subjective measures of well-being may not be purported as good measures for assessing athletes’ readiness to perform. Thus, physical performance tests are the ultimate indicator of athletes’ readiness to perform in this regard. Our findings suggest that during pre-season, worse well-being may be reported; however, athletes’ readiness to perform may not be negatively affected. Coaches and sport scientists should consider measuring both subjective self-reported measures of well-being and physical performance tests as these measures appear to be assessing two separate concepts. / Dissertation (MSc (Sport Science))--University of Pretoria, 2019. / Physiology / MSc (Sport Science) / Unrestricted

Magister Artium (Sport, Recreation and Exercise Science) - MA(SRES) / University student-athlete dropout continues to be a concern for many universities and has been the focus of many researchers globally. This qualitative study explored the factors that influenced students to dropout of a cricket and development programme at a university in the Western Cape metropole. Seven former student-athletes and two current administrators participated in this study. This study was guided by the Student Athlete Retention Model by Rivera (2004).

The purposes of this dissertation were to examine common athlete training and monitoring practices in men’s collegiate soccer and to report the programming strategies and monitoring outcomes for an NCAA Division I men’s collegiate soccer team whose coaching and sport science staff collaborated on a daily basis. The following are the major findings of the dissertation: Study 1 – Coaches from all divisions of play responded to a custom survey. A majority of coaches developed an in-season training plan that varied both daily and weekly volume and intensity. One-third of the coaches performed no athlete monitoring, and a number of coaches performed purely subjective monitoring of training load and fatigue. Common athlete monitoring tools included sport performance, self-report questionnaires, and physical performance tests. Most coaches believed their athletes did not change or improved in all aspects of performance, while injuries were a mix of new and recurrent. Study 2 – Statistical differences in training load were found between each phase of the season, and training load variation was found with respect to the number of days before a match. Phasic training loads were highest during the pre-season and non-conference portions of the season and decreased significantly during conference play and the post-season. The daily training load values reflected the player groups’ match involvement and therefore led to different loading strategies between the groups. Study 3 – No statistically significant decreases in squat jump height occurred across the season, although a moderate practical decline occurred following the pre-season. The correlation between training load and squat jump height were statistically non-significant, while the cross-correlation was significant. The athlete monitoring program was successful in managing the athletes’ neuromuscular fatigue across the season as evidenced by the maintenance of squat jump height and positive relationship between training load and changes in squat jump height. Coach education on the importance of athlete training load and fatigue monitoring is imperative. Collaboration between coaching and sport science staffs in conjunction with an athlete monitoring program can ensure variation in training load and can help manage athlete fatigue across a competitive season.

Background Estimates of 1.6 million to 3.8 million concussions or mild traumatic brain injuries (mTBI) occur annually in adolescent athletes participating in contact sports (Daneshvar et al., 2011). Current clinical guidelines call for interventions to include education, assessment, screening, and long term management of injury by the adolescent's primary care provider (PCP) (Giza et al., 2013). Without proper knowledge of the injury's physiological process and progression, providers are possibly increasing the risk of continued brain injury in this population (Reddy & Collins, 2009). Purpose This doctorate of nursing practice project aimed to determine if a gap existed between provider knowledge about the current guidelines for management of mTBI in adolescent athletes of Arizona. Knowledge obtained from this survey could be further used to drive practice change. Methods A quantitative needs assessments study was conducted via data collection obtained through PCP's participation in an anonymous electronic survey using the survey software Qualtrics. Survey links were sent to potential participant's email addresses throughout Yuma County, AZ. An additional survey link was posted to the Arizona Nurses Association e-newsletter. The survey consists of 28 questions divided into three categories of demographics, knowledge, and practice questions. Outcomes Survey results were limited due to only 21 providers responding to the request for participation. From this sampling, it was determined that participant's clinical knowledge and practice related to screening, assessment, long term management, and continuity of care between the ED provider and follow up care with the primary provider were not congruent with current practice guidelines.

4 pp. / discontinued 3/4/11 / Carbohydrate is the main fuel for the body's muscles and brain. Adequate carbohydrate intake is important for supplying fuel in an athlete's diet.

A Thesis submitted to The University of Arizona College of Medicine - Phoenix in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Medicine. / Background and Significance: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the Barrow Brainbook (BBB) concussion education program as a tool to increase concussion knowledge among Arizona high school athletes and to modify attitudes and behaviors regarding concussion. Methods: This was a cross sectional study of Arizona high school athletes utilizing a 31 question multiple‐choice de‐identified survey. Attitude, knowledge, and behavior questions, as well as sport and level of participation were analyzed using the Wilcoxon Rank Sum test. Means between groups were analyzed using a two‐way ANOVA. Linear regression was used to determine if there was a relationship between number of years since completing BBB and concussion knowledge. Results: Surveys were distributed to 382 student athletes with 363 of those being completed. 224 students participated in BBB (62%). Knowledge and behaviors regarding concussion were not statistically significant when comparing students who had and had not participated in BBB. Those who participated in BBB scored more poorly on questions regarding attitudes about concussion than those who had not (p=0.033). Subsequent two‐way ANOVA testing showed that students who sustained a concussion scored worse (p<0.01) while completing BBB did not significantly affect attitude (p=0.399) when history of a concussion was brought in to the analysis. 90 students (25%) reported sustaining a concussion. Football and varsity level participation were significant for a higher mean number of concussions (p<0.05, p<0.05). There was no relationship between time since taking BBB and concussion knowledge (R2 was 0.007). Conclusions: In this study, there was no evidence to show that participating in the BBB program improved concussion knowledge, attitudes, or behaviors. Number of years since taking BBB was not a good predictor of concussion knowledge. Students who played football and participated at a varsity level were significantly more likely to sustain a concussion. Sustaining a concussion was associated with a higher attitude risk sum score. This is an evaluation of an educational tool specifically designed for adolescents that demonstrated no statistically significant change in increasing knowledge or modifying attitudes and behaviors in a population of high school athletes in Arizona.

Bakgrund/problemformulering: Tankar och känslor kring träning och kost bland elitidrottande ungdomar är något som tidigare undersökts i begränsad utsträckning. Därför finns det anledning att ta reda på ungdomarnas egna uppfattningar och erfarenheter inom området. Syfte: Att undersöka hur idrottsaktiva ungdomar som tränar eller tävlar på elitnivå, eller för att nå elitnivå, tänker och känner kring träning och träningsvanor samt kring kost och kostvanor. Metod och design: För denna studie användes kvalitativ metod med deskriptiv design. Data insamlades genom semi-strukturerade intervjuer med fem elitidrottande ungdomar. Kvalitativ innehållsanalys tillämpades. Resultatsammanfattning: Träning var en central del i livet. Starka motivationsfaktorer var den inre drivkraften och träningskompisarna. Skador, sjukdom och andra motgångar påverkade idrottarna negativt. Idrottarna planerade sina måltider för att maximera prestationen. Medvetenheten kring kostens påverkan var hög, likaså kunskapen kring livsmedlen. Mat väckte både positiva och negativa känslor. Omgivningen visades ha betydande roll för idrottarna. Slutsats: Deltagarna i studien var motiverade, målinriktade samt medvetna om sina tränings- och kostvanor. Flera uppgav att det var svårt att lyssna på kroppen, framförallt vid skada eller sjukdom. Vidare forskning, i större skala, är nödvändigt för ökad kunskap inom området. / Background: What elite athlete adolescents think and feel about exercise and nutrition is vaguely examined, why there is reason to investigate the experiences and perceptions among these individuals. Purpose: To investigate the thoughts and feelings about exercise and nutrition among a group of elite athlete adolescents. Methods and design: A qualitative descriptive design was used for this study. Through semi-structured interviews with five elite athlete adolescents, data was obtained. A qualitative content analysis was used. Results: Exercise was central in the athletes’ lives. The biggest driving force was the motivation that came from themselves and their team-mates. Injuries, illness and other obstacles affected the athletes negatively. The athletes planned their meals to maximize the performance. The awareness of the importance of nutrition for performance was high, also the knowledge. Both positive and negative feelings were associated with food. The surroundings played an important role for the athletes. Conclusion: The participants of this study were motivated, determined and aware of their training habits and diet. It was hard to listen to the body, especially when injured or sick. More studies, in larger scale, are necessary to gain further knowledge in the field.

Sexual attraction (SA), as well as sexual (SBVs) and nonsexual boundary violations (NSBVs), have been identified as matters of ethical concern, being viewed as harmful within mental health or counseling relationships. Much of the literature in the area of SA and SBVs has focused on the counselor-client relationship, but it has been investigated only minimally in the field of sport psychology and specifically with regard to sport psychology professionals (SPPs). Because SA, SBVs, and NSBVs between SPPs and their client-athletes seem to be potentially problematic concerns in need of empirical investigation and practical scrutiny, the aim of this study was to examine: (a) the incidence of SBV and NSBV beliefs and behaviors among SPPs; (b) SPPs' feelings regarding SA for and from client-athletes; and (c) SPPs' willingness to seek supervision to manage their SA beliefs and behaviors towards client-athletes. SPPs (n = 365) completed the Survey of Applied Sport Psychologists (SASP) via e-mail or regular mail. As expected, SPPs experienced SA (40.6%) and generally did not experience strong feelings as a result of the SA. However, of the SPPs experiencing SA, 13.5% of males and 13.8% of females engaged in a SBV with a client-athlete. NSBV behaviors and beliefs are also reported. Chi-squared analyses revealed male SPPs engaged in nonsexual touching with their client-athletes more frequently than female SPPs. T-tests suggested ethically trained SPPs were more likely to seek supervision as a result of SA and view certain NSBVs as good professional behavior in comparison to non-ethically trained SPPs. Appropriate supervision and ethical training for SPPs experiencing SA could be helpful in the management of potential future SBV or NSBV behaviors. Implications for SPPs working with athletes, limitations of the present study, and recommendations for future research are discussed.