The main purpose of this study was to determine: * If there is a relationship between certain personality traits and participation in sport. * Whether cricket players possess certain personality traits in general and with regard to levels of play, playing positions and age. The literature study indicated that the study of personality tend to be complex and showed a relationship between personality traits and participation in sport. Furthermore the literature study showed that personality is not static, but dependant on acquired traits and responses. The empirical study revealed that certain personality traits in cricket players figure stronger than others regarding levels of play, playing positions and age, for example cricket players on club level tend to have more self control than school players and bowlers tend to show a larger tendency to disregard social rules and tend to be more enthusiastic, and greater risk-takers than batsmen and wicketkeepers. / Educational Studies / M.Ed. (Guidance and Counselling)

Dissertation (MScSportSc)--University of Stellenbosch, 2000. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Over the years the Maties have made an invaluable contribution to both Western Province and Boland cricket. The purpose of this study is to document the origin, formation and experiences of the Matie Cricket Club. The nucleus of this study therefore documents the development of the Matie Cricket Club. The history of the club dates back to 1865, perhaps the end of 1864, and an attempt has been made to reconstruct all gathered information as accurately and thoroughly as possible. Although there is much popular writing on sport in South Africa, very little scientific documented information is available. Studies such as these are thus hampered by the unavailability of primary information. Since this study is sporthistorically orientated, the historic-scientific method has been implemented. Preference has been given to primary sources of information. These sources include minutes of the Matie Cricket Club, Stellenbosch Municipality, University Council, Sports Committee, Colours Committee and the Stellenbosch College Athletic Club, as well as University of Stellenbosch publications, such as the Stellenbosch College Ramkie, Stellenbosch College Times, Stellenbosch Students' Annual, Stellenbosch Students' Quarterly, Stellebosse Oud-Student, Stellenbosse Student and the Stellenbosse Universiteitsblad, interviews with those involved in the club and photos. Secondary sources of information include books and newspapers. The introductory section gives a broad outline of the history of Western Province cricket from as early as 1808. The first chapter has been devoted to the aim and statement of the problem, scope of the study, method of research and the evaluation of the resources. The growth of the club is discussed in detail under the following headings: Cricket during the 1800s, cricket before the First World War (1900-1913), cricket between and during the World wars (1914-1945), and cricket after the Second World War (1945-200). The progress and achievements of the club over 135 years are outlined. The club played in the Western Province since its formation in 1865, whereafter they moved to the Boland in 1901 and competed there for the following 60 years. However, there were, a couple of years in between when the first side competed in the Western Province, but only on a friendly basis and against sides in lower leagues, while the junior sides still competed in the Boland leagues. During the 1960/61 season, the first side was allowed to compete on a friendly basis against sides in the first league of the Western Province; at the end of 1963 the club moved all four of its teams to compete in the Western Province league. The sports fields of the University and especially the various venues of the cricket club are dealt with. At first games were played at the "Braak", from where they moved to the "Vlakteveld", Pavillion field and the famous Coetzenburg fields. The Matie Cricket Club also contributed to the success of the South African Universities' tournament. A brief history of the Matie Cricket Club since 1947 when the tournament was first played and their success in the national club championships are outlined. The role of the Stellenbosch College Athletic Club during the early history of the cricket club is also briefly discussed. Since the formation of the Victoria-College Cricket Club in 1912, only students were allowed to play in the matches against the South African College and the last of these matches were played in 1917. After the formation of the University of Stellenbosch in 1918, these matches were played between Stellenbosch and the University of Cape Town. These Intervarsity matches are discussed until the late 1960s whereafter it came to an end. Due to the fact that the University goes to the South African Universities tournament in December they do not undertake a lot of tours. Some tours preceded the tournaments and they are only briefly discussed. Coaching deserves its own section to show the progress made in this field. The efforts of various coaches contributed to the success of the club and the fact that so many players were included in representative sides. This section is followed by those people who made a major contribution to the club over the years. The Matie Cricket Club has 12 Springboks in its history, namely Nico Theunissen, Izak Buys, Eddie Barlow, Mike Procter, Michael Melle, Peter Kirsten, Garth Ie Roux, Denys Hobson, Adrian Kuiper, Darryl Cullinan, Kepler Wessels and Dave Rundle. A player profile of each is given as well as a list of Matie players in the various representative sides, as well as the players who regularly played in the first side of the Maties. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Oor die jare het die Maties 'n groot bydrae tot die Westelike Provinsie en Bolandkrieket gelewer. Die doel van hierdie studie was om die oorsprong, stigting en gebeure van die Matie-krieketklub na te vors en te dokumenteer. Die kern van hierdie studie gaan oor die ontwikkeling van die Matie-krieketklub. Die klub se geskiedenis strek vanaf 1865, moontlik einde 1864, tot op hede en alle inligting wat bekom is, is so deeglik en akkuraat moontlik weergegee. Die doel was dus om die oorspronklike gebeure te rekonstrueer. Hoewel daar baie oor sport geskryf is, is die meeste inligting nie wetenskaplik bewaar of gedokumenteer nie. Aangesien hierdie studie sport-histories van aard is, is die histories-wetenskaplike metode van navorsing soos toegepas in Menslike Bewegingskunde gevolg. Dit behels die versameling van inligting uit veral primêre bronne. Onder hierdie bronne tel die notules van die Matiekrieketklub, voorsitters- en bestuursverslae, jaarverslae, Universiteitspublikasies, onderhoude met ooggetuies en foto's. Sekondêre inligting is uit boeke en koerante verkry. Die studie word ingelei deur 'n algemene oorsig oor die ontwikkeling en geskiedenis van krieket in die Westelike Provinsie (WP) wat reeds so vroeg as 1808 gespeel is. Die eerste deel word aan die metodologie gewy. Daar word onder andere na die doel en probleemstelling, afbakening van die studieterrein, metode van ondersoek en die evaluering van bronne gekyk. Daarna word die ontwikkeling van die Matie-krieketklub uiteengesit. Daar word na krieket in die 1800's, krieket voor die Eerste Wêreldoorlog (1900-1913), tussen en tydens die Wêreldoorloë (1914-1945), en krieket ná die Tweede Wêreldoorlog (1945-2000) gekyk. Aandag word aan die groei van Matie-krieket tot 'n volwaardige sport bestee. Daar word na die prestasies van die klub oor ongeveer 135 jaar gekyk. Die klub het vanaf sy stigting tot 1901 in die WP gekompeteer, waarna hulle vir die daaropvolgende 60 jaar in die Boland deelgeneem het. Daar was jare tussenin wat die eerstespan in die WP gespeel het, maar al die wedstryde was op In vriendskaplike basis beslis en meestal teen spanne in die laer ligas. Die junior spanne het egter steeds in die Boland gekompeteer. Gedurende die 1961/62-seisoen is die eerstespan vir In proeftydperk in die WP se eersteliga opgeneem en het die klub met vier spanne sedert die einde van 1963 op In permanente basis in die WP gespeel. Hierna word die verskillende terreine waar krieket gespeel is, behandel, by name die Braak, Vlakteveld, Pawiljoenveld en Coetzenburg. In hierdie hoofstuk word die geskiedenis en die gebruik van die velde uiteengesit. Matie-krieket het ook In bydrae gelewer tot die sukses van die Suid-Afrikaanse universiteite-toernooi en In kort geskiedenis hiervan word uiteengesit. Die sukses wat Maties in hierdie toernooi behaal het, word vanaf 1947 bespreek. Daar word ook na die klub se deelname aan die nasionale klubkampioenskappe verwys. Die rol wat die Stellenbosch College Athletic Club in die vroeë geskiedenis van Matie-krieket gespeel het, word ook bespreek. Sedert 1912 toe die Victoriakollege krieketklub gestig is, was die inter-kollege wedstryde tussen Victoriakollege en die South African College In suiwer kollege aangeleentheid en die laaste wedstryd tussen dié twee instansies is in 1917 gespeel. Met die stigting van die Universiteit van Stellenbosch in 1918 is dié wedstryde teen die Universiteit van Kaapstad gespeel. Hierdie Intervarsity-wedstryde word tot en met die laat 1960's bespreek toe die wedstryde doodgeloop het. Omdat die klub jaarliks in Desember na die Suid-Afrikaanse universiteite-toernooi gegaan het, is daar nie baie toere onderneem nie. Daar word net kortliks na dié toere verwys wat wel deur die klub op pad na die toernooie ingepas is. Afrigting wat 'n baie groot rol in enige klub se sukses speel, geniet ook aandag. Die harde werk van verskeie afrigters het onder andere daartoe bygedra dat Matie-krieket 'n aantal nasionale en provinsiale spelers opgelewer het. Dié afdeling word opgevolg deur ander persone wat ook 'n groot rol in die sukses van die klub gehad het. Die Matie-krieketklub het tot op hede 12 Springbokke, naamlik Nico Theunissen, Izak Buys, Eddie Barlow, Mike Procter, Michael Melle, Peter Kirsten, Garth Ie Roux, Denys Hobson, Adrian Kuiper, Darryl Cullinan, Kepler Wessels en Dave Rundle opgelewer. 'n Sportprofiel word van elkeen gegee. 'n Lys van die Maties in verteenwoordigende spanne, asook Maties wat vir die eerstespan op 'n gereelde basis gespeel het, is saamgestel.

M.Phil. (Sport Management) / The purpose of this study was to investigate the management of cricket coaching programmes at u/19 level in the Gauteng Province. Specifically, this study attempted to determine the current situation regarding management of coaching programmes and the delivery of in-school driven programmes in the province. Data was collected from schools offering cricket as a sport from both the Gauteng Lions and Northerns Cricket Union franchises. There were 10 schools in the Northerns franchise and 14 first-team players from these schools were selected as respondents. There were 10 schools in the Gauteng Lions franchise and 14 first-team players from these schools were selected as respondents. The managers and coaches were selected to respond to a questionnaire as their portfolios make them the foremost sources of information regarding programmes, and they could locate records containing relevant information. Executive committee members from the boards of Gauteng Lions and Northerns Cricket Union were also questionnaire respondents as their primary role is the implementation of policies. Chairpersons of the high schools committees were also respondents and an official from Cricket South Africa (CSA) participated. A total of 324 (n=324) questionnaires were distributed 162 (n=162) to the Gauteng Lions franchise and 162 (n=162) to the Northerns franchise. One questionnaire was sent to CSA, making a grand total of 325 (n=325) questionnaires. From the 162 questionnaires submitted to Northerns, only 111 (n=111) respondents returned their questionnaires; these 111 participants comprised of white (n=70), black (n=25), coloured (n=10), indians (n=2) and chinese (n=4). From the 162 questionnaires submitted to the Gauteng Lions franchise (162), the 96 respondents who returned their questionnaires were white (n=44), black (n=30), coloured (n=12), indians (n=9) and 1 chinese (n=1). The results revealed that the majority of players involved in u/19 programmes come from the white population group. The results revealed that the Gauteng Lions participate in inter-provincial weeks with a very small number of players that have caps at u/19 level (5.2%) and this reduces their chances of being selected to represent the SA u/19 team. Both franchises indicated financial challenges, but the Gauteng Lions have even bigger challenges ...

Thesis (M Sport Sc (Sport Science))--University of Stellenbosch, 2007. / The ability to execute a powerful throw is an essential skill for netball and cricket players. Numerous accurate, powerful throws are being made during the course of a match. It is thus necessary to focus on the development of excellent technique, as well as the development of the physical aspects that might contribute to the effectiveness and efficiency of the throwing action. The aim of the study was to determine which specific physical factors play a significant role in the distance that netball and cricket players can throw a ball. The distance of the thrown ball was also seen as an indirect measure of the power with which the throw was executed, with a greater distance implying more power. A group of volunteer subjects was drawn from the local netball and cricket clubs from the Stellenbosch area. Thirty nine injury-free, club level subjects participated in the study, of whom twelve (n=12) were male and twenty four (n=24) were female. Various physical factors were selected that give an indication of its contribution to a powerful throw for distance. Range of motion assessments involved the range of the shoulder joint, as well as the elbow joint, wrist joint and the back. The strength of the internal rotators was compared to the strength of the external rotators in the shoulder joint. Core stability was assessed by doing two different tests, with one involving shoulder stability as well. The relationship between upper-limb length and the throwing distance was assessed. Various anthropometric measurements were done, including height, weight, skinfolds, and the “wing span”. Throwing for distance was measured while the subjects remained seated on a chair. This throwing position was chosen in an attempt to eliminate the contribution of the kinetic chain that generates momentum in the lower extremities which get transferred to the upper extremities. It was thus an attempt to only focus on the involvement of the upper extremities. This seated throwing position is also often used as a test for throwing ability in athletes. Throwing for distance was also done with the subject strapped onto the chair to exclude the involvement of the core in the transfer or generation of energy. Results from this study showed that there were very few physical factors that had significant correlations in both groups. In the cricket players, factors from the isokinetic testing played a significant roll, but not in the netball players. There was a significant correlation which was positive with the average peak torque concentric/concentric 180 degrees/second with external rotation seated on the chair (r=0.46; p=0.03). There is also a tendency towards a significant correlation when the subject was seated in average peak torque concentric/concentric at 90 degrees/second both with internal (r=0.52; p=0.06) and external rotation (r=0.62; p=0.05). The peak torque concentric/concentric at 90 degrees/second during external rotation (r=0.61; p=0.06) and the peak torque concentric/concentric at 90 degrees/second during internal rotation (r=0.49; p=0.06). Both tended to a correlation but were not significant. There was found to be a few positive and statistical significant factors the average power concentric/concentric contractions at 90 degrees/second during external rotation when seated on the chair (r=0.64 and p=0.03) and average power concentric/concentric contractions at 180 degrees/second during external rotation when seated on chair (r=0.58; p=0.04) as well as strapped in on chair (r=0.06; p=0.03). It cannot be concluded there are any specific physical factors that would influence the distance thrown in both the netball and the cricket players. It can thus be assumed that a number of other factors might play a more important role in the execution of a powerful throw for distance, such as the involvement of the total well-coordinated kinetic chain, and the throwing techniques.

Mental toughness is accepted to be an important component of sporting performance, especially so in the domain of cricket. It has been called many names, such as Big Match Temperament, bottle, and mettle and it is widely believed that it plays a role in how successful a cricketer may be, although very difficult to define and explain. James Loehr described it as one’s ability to consistently perform to the upper limit of your talent and skill and numerous researchers have since tried to define the construct based on more empirical research. This research project consists of three articles on mental toughness. The first focuses on the consideration of extra-personal influences on the development and implementation of mental toughness programmes. The second focuses on examining the psychometric properties of the paper-and-pencil versions of the Sports Mental Toughness Questionnaire (SMTQ) and the Psychological Performance Inventory-Alternative (PPI-A). The third examines the differences in the demographic characteristics of a sample of cricketers on the online versions of the SMTQ and the PPI-A. The results suggest that extra-personal influences are exceptionally important in the development and implementation of mental toughness programmes for school level cricketers, especially motivational climate and social support. While the PPI-A and the SMTQ displayed some promising psychometric properties in the current study, researchers should apply these mental toughness inventories with circumspection, taking into account questions regarding dimensionality, item formulation and variation in sample characteristics (e.g., age and sporting code), until more research can be conducted using these inventories with larger and more varied samples and the understanding of the mental toughness construct improves. The examination of the demographic differences on scores of the SMTQ and PPI-A revealed inconclusive results on age, sex, and ethnicity, while competitive level was the only distinguishing characteristic in which respondents at high levels produced higher mental toughness scores. The three studies comprising this “by articles” format PHD dissertation will be referred to as Article 1, Article 2, and Article 3 and can be found in Chapters, 2, 3, and 4 respectively. / Psychology / D.Phil. (Psychology)

Modern research being conducted on Mental Toughness is now shifting away from efforts aimed at developing definitions for the construct and instead moving toward efforts at understanding its development. This particular research study focuses on the development and implementation of a Mental Toughness programme designed specifically for, and tailored exclusively to, the needs of schoolboy cricket at Kingswood College in Grahamstown, Eastern Cape. The programme development was an intricate process and the research procedure was guided by the Organisational Development Process model. Data from a focus group as well as various individual interviews were integrated with currently existing Mental Toughness literature and theory to devise this particular Mental Toughness programme. The programme entails educating the athletes on six specific mental skills and incorporates elements of practical application as well as awareness of the importance and influence of Mental Toughness and mental training in a sporting sphere. The programme took the form of mental skills workshops held over a three week period. An analysis was conducted post-programme to document the experience of the athletes as a result of exposure to the programme. Results drawn from the array of analysis procedures were used to help identify the level of success of the Mental Toughness intervention as well as help validify current Mental Toughness models. In addition to highlighting the benefits as a result of the programme experience, various recommendations were drawn in order to shed light on the programme limitations and assist future researchers with understanding the intricacies behind better and more efficient programme implementation.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Technology, Sydney, 2000. / Sportsmen: Tarpot, Tom Wills, Mullagh, King Cole, Jellico, Peter, Red Cap, Harry Rose, Bullocky, Johnny Cuzens, Dick-a-Dick, Charley Dumas, Jim Crow, Sundown, Mosquito, Tiger and Twopenny. Bibliography: p. 431-485.