The objectives of this study concerning Swedish players’ transition from junior to senior football were to examine: (1) transition, perceived health, and athletic identity variables, as well as the relationship between them; (2) how transition, perceived health, and athletic identity variables contribute to: (a) healthy sport participation; (b) unhealthy sport participation; (c) quality of adjustment on the senior level of football; (d) life satisfaction. The theoretical frameworks included: the developmental model on transitions faced by athletes; the career transition model; the perceived health and sport/exercise participation model; the circle of health model. The participants (n = 126) were Swedish adolescent football players at local, national or international competitive levels. Three instruments were used in regard of the quantitative approach: the Transition Monitoring Survey; the Perceived Health and Sport Participation Profile; the Athletic Identity Measurement Scale. The transition variables were examined and several relationships were discovered between transition and perceived health variables, and athletic identity. Four multiple regression analyses showed that satisfaction with different spheres of life and coping strategies are significant positive predictors of healthy sport participation. Athletic identity, personal resources, and environmental pressure are significant positive predictors of unhealthy sport participation. In addition, environmental support was revealed to be a significant negative predictor of unhealthy sport participation. Importance of different aspects of sport and satisfaction with sport participation are significant positive predictors of the quality of adjustment on the senior level of sports, whereas importance of different spheres of life and athletic identity are significant negative predictors. Importance of different spheres of life and healthy sport participation are significant positive predictors of life satisfaction. The results are discussed in relation to theoretical frameworks and previous research. / Syftena med föreliggande studie angående svenska spelares övergång från junior till seniorfotboll var att undersöka: (1) övergångs-, upplevd hälsa- och idrottsidentitetsvariabler, såväl som förhållandet mellan dem; (2) hur övergångs-, upplevd hälsa- och idrottsidentitetsvariabler bidrar till: (a) ett hälsosamt idrottsdeltagande; (b) ett ohälsosamt idrottsdeltagande; (c) idrottarnas anpassning till seniornivån i fotboll; (d) livstillfredsställelse. De teoretiska referensramarna inkluderade: the developmental model on transitions faced by athletes; the career transition model; the perceived health and sport/exercise participation model; the circle of health model. Deltagarna (n = 126) bestod av svenska ungdomsfotbollsspelare på lokal, nationell och internationell tävlingsnivå. Tre mätinstrument användes med tanke på den kvantitativa utgångspunkten: Enkäten Karriärövergången från Junior till Senioridrott; Upplevd Hälsa & Idrottsdeltagande Profil; Athletic Identity Measurement Scale. Övergångsvariablerna undersöktes och flera samband upptäcktes mellan övergångs- och upplevd hälsavariabler och idrottsidentitet. Fyra multipla regressionsanalyser visade att tillfredsställelse med olika delar av livet och copingstrategier är positivt signifikanta faktorer som bidrar till ett hälsosamt idrottsdeltagande. Idrottsidentitet, personlighetsfaktorer och tidigare erfarenheter, samt press från omgivningen är positivt signifikanta faktorer som bidrar till ett ohälsosamt idrottsdeltagande. Dessutom så upptäcktes support från omgivningen att vara en negativt signifikant faktor som bidrar till ett ohälsosamt idrottsdeltagande. Hur viktiga olika delar av idrotten är och tillfredsställelsen med idrottsdeltagandet är positivt signifikanta faktorer som bidrar till idrottarens anpassning till seniornivån, då däremot hur viktiga olika delar av livet är och idrottsidentiteten är negativt signifikanta faktorer. Hur viktiga olika delar av livet är och ett hälsosamt idrottsdeltagande är positivt signifikanta faktorer som bidrar till livstillfredsställelse. Resultaten diskuteras i förhållande till de teoretiska referensramarna och tidigare forskning.

Purpose: Examine if there is a connection between the athletic performance and the financial status in football clubs. Theoretical perspectives: This thesis is based on the theory that the modern football club is like every other company trying to maximize profit. The clubs should therefore use the same business strategies. Empirical foundation: The study is based on 25 observations over five years and five Allsvenska football clubs. The data is a compilation of the key ratios from the annual reports and the league table, years 2004 through 2008 in the clubs. Year 2009’s league table place is also included since tests have been done with one year’s displacement between the financial status and the league table. Conclusion: There is no correlation between solidity and the place in the league table in Allsvenska football clubs. There is no correlation between net profit and the place in the league table in Allsvenska football clubs. There is no correlation between equity and the place in the league table in Allsvenska football clubs.

Kultur gibt den Menschen eine Orientierung. Sie machen darin ganz spezifische Erfahrungen. Hieraus entwickeln sich auch motivationale Orientierungen. Dadurch werden andere Erfahrungen gemacht, die Sportler können andere Motivation und Volition entwickeln. Dabei sind mehr kollektivistische Kulturen eher vermeidungs-motiviert und mehr individualistische Kulturen mehr erfolgsorientiert. Beim Kollektivismus erscheint die Leistungsmotivation eher unter einem sozialen Aspekt, nämlich die Auseinandersetzung mit einem Gütemaßstab, der eher von außen vorgegeben wird und weniger einem ausschließlich eigenen Maßstab. Ägypten erweist sich im Vergleich zu Deutschland als eine eher kollektivistisch geprägte Kultur. Daraus ergeben sich folgende Unterschiede: Einen signifikanten Unterschied zwischen deutschen und ägyptischen Ringern gibt es in der Wettkampforientierung und bei der Sieg- bzw. Gewinn-Orientierung. Die ägyptischen Ringer habe eine höhere Ausprägung als die Deutschen. Sie weisen auch eine etwas höhere Zielorientierung auf als die Deutschen. Entgegen den Erwartungen zeigte sich, dass es keine signifikanten Unterschiede zwischen den ägyptischen und deutschen Ringern gibt in der Variable: Sieg- bzw. Gewinn-Orientierung. Die Furcht vor Misserfolg sowie auch die Hoffnung auf Erfolg liegen höher bei den Ägyptern als bei den Deutschen. Bezogen auf die Modi der Handlungskontrolle verfügen die Deutschen Ringer über eine höher Ausprägung auf allen drei Komponenten. Sie haben eine höhere Handlungsorientierung nach Misserfolg, eine höhere Handlungsplanung sowie eine höhere Handlungstätigkeitsausführung. Diese kulturell kontrastive Studie über die psychologischen Aspekte, im Bereich der Leistungsmotivation und der Handlungskontrolle, kann für die Sportart Ringen sehr nützlich werden, da sie sehr wichtig ist beim Erkennen der sportlichen Überlegenheits- und Schwächemerkmale. Sie wiederspiegelt auch die Hochstimmung in den entwickelten Staaten oder die Misere in den anderen Staaten. Aus den interkulturellen Unterschieden in der Motivation und Volition können somit verschiedene Maßnahmen zu sportpsychologischen Interventionen entwickelt werden. Es sollte unbedingt darauf wert gelegt werden, dass die kulturell bedingten Unterschiede im Trainingsalltag beachtet werden, bei Teams, die aus Personen aus unterschiedlichen Kulturkreisen stammen. / Culture gives people a guide. They make very specific experiences. So they develop motivational orientations. Because other experiences are made, the athlete can develop other motivation and volition. While more collectivist cultures have more avoidance motivation the individualistic cultures are more performance-oriented. In collectivism appears motivation rather from a social aspect, namely the examination of a quality standard that is more externally determined and less an exclusively own scale. Egypt proves to be compared to Germany as a more collectivist influenced culture. This has the following differences: There are significant differences between German and Egyptian wrestlers in the competition orientation and the victory or profit-orientation. The Egyptian wrestlers have higher levels than the Germans. They also have a slightly higher goal orientation than the Germans. Contrary to expectations, it was found that there were no significant differences between the Egyptian and German wrestlers in the variable: victory or profit-orientation. The fear of failure and the hope of success are higher among Egyptians than the Germans. Based on the modes of action control, the Germans have a higher expression of wrestlers on all three components. They have a higher action orientation after failure, a higher action planning and a higher activity of action execution. This culturally contrastive study of the psychological aspects in the field of achievement motivation and executive control, can be very useful for the sport of wrestling, as it is very important in recognizing the athletic superiority and weak features. It also reflects the high spirits in the developed countries or the misery in the other states. From the intercultural differences in the motivation and volition thus several measures to sport psychological interventions are developed. Care should be made not worth that culturally specific differences were observed in the daily training, in teams that come from people from different cultures.

This thesis aimed to extend knowledge of athletes’ career transitions through examining athletes’ retirement decision-making process and influence of cultural diversity and organisational culture on the process of career transition. The purpose of Study 1 was to identify the current status of knowledge in the study area through providing a systematic review of the athlete career transition studies. The findings provided up to date knowledge in the study area and suggested potential future research directions. Study 2 aimed to understand Korean tennis players’ career transition out of sport experiences via longitudinal qualitative research. The results indicated that athletes perceived making the retirement decision was difficult process for them and revealed that participants’ experiences were influenced by cultural aspects and sport contexts of Korea. Study 3 focused on exploring the athletes’ retirement decision-making process among Korean tennis players. Results showed that athletes’ leaving from sport decision-making is a complex and multidimensional process, and the transtheoretical model was helpful in explaining athletes’ retirement from sport decision-making. The objective of Study 4 was to explore the processes involved in the development of an athletes’ career transition programme. Results revealed that the organisation might have influence on athletes’ retirement decision and the quality of career transition. Overall, the findings from the current thesis provide advanced useful knowledge on the athlete career transition process, and such knowledge may assist attempts to enhance athletes’ well-being and welfare for during and post-sport life.

短片《黑夜來臨》述說鄭宇勝－三民高中的王牌投手，正侃侃而談他得到勝利與小聯盟合約的喜悅，這讓他可以逃離充滿恐懼的生活。但其實勝利並不是屬於他的，生涯早已報銷的鄭宇勝，將自己投射在別人的勝利中，逃避現實的威脅，在這場設計成「記者採訪」的心理治療裡，鄭宇勝被迫在幻想中看到矛盾之處，道出一場夢靨與真實的自己，而這又是何其殘酷… 　　《黑夜來臨》以黑色電影手法，從選手心理的角度切入台灣棒球的教育問題，探究選手對其選手生命的心理過程，帶觀眾去經歷這樣的過程，藉由一個極端的遭遇，隱喻當代台灣每一個高中選手面對職涯選擇時，受全球選手交易與高中教育不見全的影想。 　　本創作論述報告包含創作動機、電影表現形式手法、相關心理學研究及高中棒球環境的田野調查報告，亦包含從前製、攝製期與後製期的工作紀錄，並說明本片在試映後的觀眾反應及修改方向。 / In psychiatrist's room, CHENG Yusheng, the ace pitcher from Shan Min Senior High School, was eloquently talking about the wining of the game and the joy of signing his minor league's contract. This is not only a childhood dream but, more important, an escape from a lifelong fear, his mother. But in reality, this victory never belongs to Cheng, his career has ended log time ago. He imagined a victory not his own in order to runaway from the threat of real world. In the process of psychotherapy, Cheng was forced to face the contradictions in his hallucination, and told the story of nightmare and truth. And soon the Darkness is a short film about a Taiwanese high school baseball player’s struggle. The film is produced by skills of film noir, and we look at this situation from the angle of sports psychology, focus on the moment when Taiwanese high school players face their future. The director’s report demonstrates the production background of the story, presents the perspective to make this film, and records the process of the production and screening.

Substantial research on the functionality of athletic apparel has been conducted; however little consideration has been given to the plus size figure. Societal messages suggest that overweight women are lazy and therefore would not be interested in athletic apparel. The purpose of this study was to determine overweight adult women's experience with athletic clothing. The sample consisted of 14 women, ages 30 to 65 who wore size 1X to 3X. They were each supplied with a Nike brand athletic outfit and participated in two in depth interviews. Data collection methods included qualitative interviews, quantitative surveys and guided journaling. The major findings suggest that overweight women have difficulty shopping for clothing. Difficulty and frustration was experienced on a number of levels including; limited stores, limited selection and styles, fitting issues, over-priced items and less color options compared to smaller sizes. The findings suggest overweight women experience emotional anxiety when trying on clothing for the first time. Dissatisfaction with clothing fit was attributed to the belief their body is unsuitable and needs to change. Satisfaction with clothing fit was attributed to the ability of the apparel designer. Many negative experiences have left this sample feeling disappointed and marginalized. Some participant's experienced increased desire to participate in physical activity while others felt exercise was a necessity regardless of the clothing available. By trying on the Nike brand clothing, it gave the women in this study an alternative way of dressing themselves which has enabled several women to feel differently about their size and their body in athletic clothing. The current sample showed behaviors of internalization by using dehumanizing terms to describe body parts. The sample felt discriminated against in the media and wanted to see larger women modeling clothing. Apparel companies should include a wider variety of sizes in their brick and mortar stores as to not alienate a population. Apparel companies should incorporate diverse models into advertisement to include the plus-size population. Proving high quality athletic apparel to plus size women provided an opportunity for them to experience their bodies in a new perspective. Future studies should develop new pattern making, grading and sizing techniques in order to provide better fitting athletic apparel for large size bodies. Studies expanding on fit and comfort of athletic apparel for large bodies should be explored. This paper provides an initial indication of how plus size women experience athletic apparel. Further understanding of clothing, fit and exercise behavior are needed. / Graduation date: 2013 / Access restricted to the OSU Community at author's request from July 18, 2012 - January 18, 2013

Can you imagine a world where no-one goes outside? Our world is under threat from human activities, from what we do, and the way we do it. This will have a huge impact on our future lives, and we need to think about how we protect places and the people, animals and plants found there. Whilst, there is a widely-recognised need to address this threat, there is a specific focus on how we can involve young people in this process. Within this, there is additional concern about how little time children and young people spend outside. My qualitative study responds to these concerns by exploring young people’s relationship with nature, and how this may be developed through the projects we offer them. The participating projects have been spread across England, from south-east to north-west, including rural, coastal and urban environments. The young people, aged between 11 and 25, were from diverse backgrounds, with a wide range of individual needs. This transdisciplinary research has used an innovative blended methodology, combining hermeneutics, (auto)ethnography and action research (HEAR) to explore the topic. I have been creative in my approach, preferring everyday language and making use of stories. I have listened to and observed people’s stories, and created new stories based on these experiences. My work emphasises the importance of communication, how we talk to and with people, and how we talk about the natural environment. Contributions to practice include the development of a new toolkit providing guidance for practitioners on how to work effectively outdoors, with young people identified as having special educational needs and/or disabilities. Contributions to knowledge include a new conceptualisation of the different forms of story, and a new methodological approach (HEAR) to explore outdoor learning experiences. These outcomes are founded in young peoples’ perspectives and grounded in practice.

Summaries in Afrikaans and English / Die doel van hierdie ondersoek was om te bepaal watler faktore die grootste bydrae tot sportprestasie lewer. Met die literatuurstudie is die verskillende faktore wat sportprestasie beinvloed, geidentifiseer en verder ondersoek en beskryf. Daar is gevind dat 'n wye verskeidenheid faktore bestaan wat atletelsportdeelnemers se prestasie positief of negatief kan beinvloed. 'n Empiriese ondersoek is uitgevoer waarby 'n aantal atlete/sportdeelnemers, wat aan verskeie sportsoorte deelneem, betrek is. Die afrigters van hierdie atlete/sportdeelnemers is oak by die ondersoek betrek. Eerstens is bepaal watter faktore, volgens die atlete/sportdeelnemers, die grootste bydrae tot hul sportprestasie lewer. Daama is hierdie geidenlifiseerde faktore aan 'n regressieanalise onderwerp om te bepaal walter faktor/e die grootste en belangrikste bydrae tot sportprestasie lewer. Die resultate het getoon dat hierdie faktore soos volg is: motivering, afrigter, kommunikasie, selfvertroue, aanleg en dieet / The purpose of this study was to determine which factors contribute significantly to sports achievement. In the literature study, different factors with an underlying effect on sports achievement were identified, explained and further investigated. A wide variety of factors bearing positive as well as negative effect on athletes'/sport participants' achievement were found. An empirical study was carried out in which a number of athletes/sport participators were involved. The coaches of these athletes/sport participants were also included. The factors that play a major contributing role in these athletes/sport participants' sports achievement were primarily determined. Thereafter the identified factors were further investigated through the use of a regression analysis to ascertain which ones contribute the most to sports achievement. The results indicated that these factors are as follows: motivation, coach, communication, self-confidence, talent and diet. / Educational Studies / M.Ed. (met spesialisering in Voorligting)

The thesis elaborates on relations between PE or sports in general, and mathematics. The author focuses on a practical application of numbers on sports such football, swimming, track and field, downhill skiing and Olympic games. Moreover, the mentioned numerical methods are further used for writing a workbook of model exercises for grammar schools. The thesis is divided into two main chapters ? theoretical and practical. The theoretical part consists of selected sports which are expressed and described by numbers and formulas. In the practical part, a reader can find the workbook of model exercises which has been completed using all the mathematical sources discussed in the theoretical part. There are also correct solutions exercises available for self-studying students.

O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar o comportamento eletroquímico e do distúrbio ácido-básico em atletas de alto rendimento durante o campeonato mundial de Karatê realizado pela WKO (World Karate Organization) em 2014. A amostra foi composta por 19 atletas do gênero masculino, com idade média de 34 ± 8 anos. Todos eles eram faixas pretas, e tinham mais de 5 anos de prática na modalidade. Foram realizadas coletas de sangue capilar da polpa digital dos dedos da mão em três momentos: repouso, 5 minutos após o combate e 10 minutos após combate (kumite). A amostra foi analisada utilizando o aparelho de gasometria GEM Premier 3000, utilizando os parâmetros pH, Na+, K+, Ca2+, lactato e HCO3−. Os valores relacionados ao distúrbio ácido-básico apresentaram diferenças estatísticas (p<0,05) na maioria dos momentos coletados. Os valores de lactato encontrados foram de 2,77 ± 0,97 mmol/L no repouso, 6,57 ± 2,1 para 5 minutos após e de 4,06 ± 1,55 para 10 minutos após o combate. Os dados coletados relativos aos marcadores eletrolíticos não apresentaram diferenças estatísticas em seus valores (p<0,05). Através dos dados levantados, conjecturamos que a modalidade pode ser caracterizada como exercício de alta intensidade e com predominância do sistema glicolítico. A análise do distúrbio ácido-básico é uma medida eficiente para auxiliar no controle das cargas de treinamento. / The objective of this study was to analyze the electrochemical and acid-base disorders in high performance athletes during the World Karate Championship hosted by the WKO (World Karate Organization) in 2014. In this study 19 male athletes were analyzed (age 34 ± 8), black belts and with over 5 years of experience in the sport. Capillary blood samples from the digital pulp of the finger were collected in three stages: rest, 5 minutes after and 10 minutes after fighting (kumite). The sample was analyzed using blood gas analyzer GEM Premier 3000, using the parameters pH, Na+, K+, Ca2+, lactate e HCO3−. The values related to acid-base disturbance presented statistical differences (p <0.05) in most of the collected moments. The lactate levels found were 2.77 ± 0.97mmol / L in rest, 6.57 ± 2.1 for 5 minutes after and 4.06 ± 1.55 for 10 minutes after combat. The samples collected for the electrolytic markers showed no statistical differences in their values (p <0.05). Through the data collected, we conjecture that the sport can be characterized as a high-intensity exercise and with a predominance of the glycolytic system. The analysis of acid-base disturbance is an efficient method to assist in the control of training loads.