M.Phil. (Sport Management) / This study is strengthened by several studies that have indicated that the dualist nature of student-athletes is problematic, as well as the management thereof. The study aimed to identify the sociological implications of the main aspects affecting the optimal sporting career development in athletics (throwers) at University of Johannesburg Sport, and offers recommendations for managing student-athletes. The methods utilized for this study included: i) self-designed questionnaires which incorporated information such as biographical data, performance level, satisfaction levels of support services and, ii) a qualitative case-study on the University of Johannesburg athletics club, where interviews were held with representatives selected as part of a purposive sample. Data was collected over a period of one year, with 15 current athletes, 5 retired athletes, and service providers within the University of Johannesburg. The research design allowed for input, throughput and output analyses. To determine the rationale of the input and throughput phases, qualitative and quantitative data were integrated for the identification of trends and major themes. Twelve of the 20 student-athletes participated internationally during their tertiary student-athlete years, whereas 14 out of the 20 student-athletes participated at regional level during their in primary school years, demonstrating a relatively lengthy and intense socialisation process. The qualitative research revealed that the main social agents during the primary and secondary school years are the parents, teacher-coach and peers, where the attention swifts to professional agents (including the coach) and fellow athletes during the tertiary phase. There is an increasing need for scientific and academic support at tertiary level with major issues around time, career and life style management. During the (often) final socialisation or specialization phase, most student-athletes face multiple career challenges without receiving adequate guidance or scientific support towards desocialisation.

The purpose of this Master’s research was to explore factors involved in youth athletes’ sport commitment decision following multiple concussions and persistent symptoms. Individual semi-structured interviews were conducted with 11 pre-adolescent and adolescent athletes (three males, eight females) between 12 and 18 years of age (M = 15.25). Participants were involved in a variety of sports including soccer (n = 3), hockey (n = 3), basketball (n = 1), cheerleading (n = 1), gymnastics (n = 1), jiu-jitsu (n = 1), and rugby (n = 1). Based on the data emanating from the interviews, two articles were written. In article one, the sport commitment model (SCM) (Scanlan, Chow, Sousa, Scanlan, & Knifsend, 2016) facilitated the exploration of the determinants of youth athletes’ sport commitment following multiple concussions and persistent (i.e., lasting beyond 28 days) symptoms. A further objective was to expand upon the current SCM by exploring other potential determinants specifically related to return to play after multiple concussions. Findings indicated that sport enjoyment, valuable opportunities, and the desire to excel were the most salient sources of sport commitment. Constructs pertaining to social influences were the least influential in athletes’ sport commitment. Findings also supported the addition of athletic identity as a new construct in the SCM. Article two uncovered the psychosocial challenges faced by youth athletes during recovery and return to play following multiple concussions and protracted symptoms. The findings revealed that athletes with concussions experience concerns about persistent symptoms, re-injury anxiety, a diminished perceived ability, lack of social support, and emotional turmoil and mental health problems. Finally, findings provided insight into the potential role concussions and ensuing psychosocial challenges may play in mental health and wellbeing. Collectively, this research improves the understanding of difficulties experienced by youth athletes following multiple concussions and supports the need to improve concussion education and foster a more supportive environment.

Approximately 45% of the points scored in international Rugby Union matches are the result of place kicks (Quarrie & Hopkins, 2015). However, the key technique characteristics underpinning this skill are not well understood. The aim of this thesis was therefore to investigate rugby place kicking technique and performance, and understand how these differ between successful and less successful place kickers. In order to objectively quantify place kick performance outcome from data collected in a laboratory environment, a novel performance measure representative of the maximum distance that any given place kick could be successful from was developed. This measure combined initial ball flight data with previously published aerodynamic forces and was shown to predict ball location with a mean error of 4.0%. Full body motion capture and ground reaction force data were then collected from 33 experienced (amateur to senior international level) kickers and three groups of kickers were identified based on their performance outcome: long, short, and wide-left kickers. Differences were observed in the initial ball flight characteristics between the three groups and specific aspects of technique were then analysed to understand how these different performance outcomes were achieved. The long and wide-left kickers used different strategies to achieve comparable forward kicking foot velocities and initial ball velocities. The wide-left kickers used a hip flexor strategy: greater positive hip flexor work which was facilitated by a stretch across the trunk at the top of the backswing, followed by longitudinal rotation throughout the downswing. In contrast, the long kickers used a knee extensor strategy: greater positive knee extensor work and a more consistent trunk orientation throughout the downswing. Although both strategies led to comparably high initial ball velocity magnitudes, the hip flexor strategy led to greater longitudinal ball spin and an initial ball velocity vector directed towards the left-hand-side. Kickers who achieve fast ball velocities but miss left could potentially benefit from technical interventions to address their trunk kinematics or development of their kicking knee extensor involvement. The long kickers achieved faster kicking foot and initial ball velocities than the short kickers. The long kickers took a more angled and faster approach to the ball compared with the short kickers. This enabled the pelvis to be less front-on at the top of the backswing, meaning that the kicking foot was further away from the ball at this point and subsequently travelled a longer path to initial ball contact. The long kickers also demonstrated greater horizontal whole-body CM deceleration between support foot contact and initial ball contact and performed greater hip flexor and knee extensor positive work than the short kickers during the downswing. Kickers who cannot generate fast ball velocities could potentially benefit from interventions to their approach direction and velocity, or from development of their kicking hip flexor and knee extensor involvement. This thesis has provided a comprehensive understanding of rugby place kicking technique and recommendations for both coaching practice and research.

The focus of this study is injured female netball players‟ motivation when they return to their sport from serious injuries. The purpose of the study is to provide a rich description of the motivation which allows these players to return to their sport and continue in their chosen field. Motivation is a vital component in injury rehabilitation, as it provides the drive that allows rehabilitation to occur. Two theories of motivation are examined in this study, namely the achievement goal theory of motivation and the theory of intrinsic motivation, extrinsic motivation and amotivation. These theories highlight the argument that motivation occupies a continuum between being internally or externally determined. A qualitative phenomenological perspective was used to investigate the motivation of injured netball players. This made it possible to explore individual players‟ experiences of their injury. A semi-structured interview was conducted with each player to allow each player‟s experiences to be heard. The interviews were then transcribed. Thematic content analysis of the transcribed interviews revealed two main themes: the inevitable return and identity. The analysis showed that, for these netball players, their motivation to return to playing netball was based on an internal drive to regain an inherent part of their identity. Copyright / Dissertation (MA)--University of Pretoria, 2010. / Psychology / unrestricted

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Aim: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship between weightlifting performance (snatch, clean and jerk, and total) and variables obtained from the isometric mid-thigh pull (IMTP). Methods: Twelve weightlifters, ranging from novice to advanced, performed the IMTP 10 days after a competition. Correlations were used to evaluate relationships between variables of the IMTP and absolute and scaled competition results. Results: Unscaled competition results correlated strongly with IRFD (0-200ms: r=0.567-0.645, 0-250ms: r=0.722-0.781) while results correlated weakly with Peak IRFD (5ms window, r=0.360-0.426). Absolute peak force values correlated very strongly with absolute values for the competition performance (r=0.830-0.838). Force at 100ms, 150ms, 200ms and 250ms also correlated strongly with competition results (r=0.643-0.647, r=0.605-0.636, r=0.714-0.732, r=0.801-0.804). Similar findings were noted for allometrically scaled values. Conclusion: Measures of average IRFD probably represent a more relevant variable to dynamic performance than does Peak IRFD (5ms). Maximum isometric strength also is likely to have a strong role in weightlifting performance.

The aim of the study was to compare allometrically scaled peak force and the force at 250 ms between six U.S. collegiate sport teams using isometric mid-thigh pull. Ninety subjects performed maximum effort of isometric mid-thigh pull to measure force output. The data were averaged within the teams, and statistically compared between teams using one-way ANOVA (p=.01). Significant difference was found that men’s soccer and baseball produced higher allometrically scaled peak force, and men’s soccer, tennis, and baseball produced higher allometrically scaled force at 250 ms. The data indicates that not all sports possess similar strength characteristics because of the nature of the sports, and observed separation between gender. Teams such as volleyball and baseball showed higher coefficient of variation due to the various positions within their sports.

Mental preparation is an important component in athletic performance. Mental preparation often involves imagery of the actual execution of the physical act. Imagery may be either "external" or "internal." External imagery occurs when people view themselves performing an act from the perspective of an external observer. Internal imagery requires that the person feel those sensations that are involved while participating in a physical act. The assumption that internal imagery will be more likely to improve athletic performance was tested using intermediate league bowlers for a period of ten weeks.

The purpose of this study was to explore the interdepartmental integration between athletic trainers and strength and conditioning coaches in relation to relationship, communication, collaboration, and education. Forty participants from the NCAA Division I Southern Conference, twenty-eight athletic trainers and twelve strength and conditioning coaches, completed an electronic survey during a two-week period. Collected data were analyzed by descriptive and thematic coding analyses. The results suggested participated athletic trainers and strength and conditioning coaches were interactive and collaborative. Open-ended responses identified key concepts when athletic trainers and strength and conditioning coaches communicated and collaborated. A high interaction and collaboration model may be ideal to optimize athletes through rehabilitation while considering injury management, athlete monitoring, training program modifications, and athletic movement correction.

Athletic field rootzones are often sand-based for improved drainage. Sand-based rootzones may have stability issues if turfgrass is not fully established. Our objective was to use organic amendments to improve the stability of sand-based fields during the turfgrass establishment period and avoid overuse of inorganic materials, which have negative effects. We tested coconut coir, peat and wheat straw at 1% organic material, peat at 2% organic material, and an inorganic stabilizing fiber, StaLok, in the top 10 cm of the rootzone. Surface hardness, volumetric water content, traction, penetration resistance and visual quality were measured 2 to 4 months after construction of the plots. Surface hardness was greatest in the inorganic stabilizer and the wheat straw treatments. The kinetic penetration had no differences between the wheat straw (33.78-51.10 kPa) and the StaLok fibers (34.99-56.23 kPa). Wheat straw could be used to stabilize sand-based fields as an organic alternative to inorganic fibers.