This study examined the effects of social-ecological intervention on physical activity (PA) knowledge level and behaviors of rural middle school students. A pre-test post-test control group design was constructed. In addition, qualitative data was collected by focus group discussions after the post-test in experimental group. Two schools from similar rural settings were identified as experimental and control schools. In total 62 students from 6, 7, 8 grades of these schools participated in this study. Experimental school PA environment was changed based on the social-ecological model (SEM) with a focus on intrapersonal, interpersonal, community level, organizational factors, and public policies related with PA. Turkish version of health related fitness (HRF) knowledge test, v pedometer, exercise stages of change, PA self-efficacy, social support, and PA enjoyment questionnaires were used to gather information for the dependent variables for the present study. A focus group discussion was implemented in experimental school. Repeated Measures ANOVA was used for the numerical data analysis. Focus group transcriptions were analyzed by content analysis method. According to HRF knowledge and PA analysis, experimental school students significantly improved their HRF knowledge scores, PA levels, social support compared to the control group students (p&lt / 0.05). Focus groups results supported the quantitative findings. In conclusion, this study indicated the value of SEM in improving the health related fitness knowledge, PA level and social support of students in rural context. Improving the rural school context for PA promotion by SEM is strongly recommended.

This dissertation is one added piece to the puzzle in how environmental factors can contribute to a positive affect to and development within a sport by looking at how environmental models can be used in an amateur format for the first time. The purpose of this thesis to adapt both the ATDE and ESF working models to an amateur environment in soccer, and if necessary, perform an intervention which might improve the positive effect the environment could have on its athletes.  Results showed many of the features and factors found within elite ATDEs could be replicated at an amateur soccer club. Moreover, an intervention based upon previous ecological studies involved connecting the academy and senior-level players through multiple channels. Results showed positive experiences from both sides of the intervention, as youth players began to understand how they could still play at the adult level - balancing an education or job with their sport. In summary, the results demonstrate three key concepts: 1) both ATDE and ESF models can be adapted an applied by practitioners and researchers to the amateur environment, 2) a successful  ecological interventional can be as simple as providing the room and space for interaction between senior and junior-level athletes, and 3) future research into ATDEs and ESF of amateur environments could help many young female athletes stay active into their adult years.:Statement of Authentication 3 Dissertation-Related Publications and Presentations 4 Table of Contents 5 English summary of the dissertation 7 Deutsche Zusammenfassung der Dissertation 8 Chapter 1: Introduction 10 1.1 The role of amateur sport 10 1.2 Soccer as a world sport 11 Chapter 2: Talent Detection, Identification, and Development 14 2.1 Traditional model of talent development 15 2.2 Talent detection and Identification 17 2.3 Criticisms of talent identification 20 2.4 Talent development models 23 2.5 Summary of talent identification and developmental models 27 Chapter 3: Ecological Approach and Models of Development 28 3.1 Bronfenbrenner’s Bioecologocal Model 29 3.1 A call for the ecological approach 31 3.2 Henriksen’s ecological studies 32 3.3. Ecological intervention and a successful ATDE in soccer 47 3.4. Other ATDE Studies 52 3.5 Summary and future directions 53 Chapter 4: Purpose of Dissertation 55 4.1 Dissertation objectives 55 Chapter 5: Study I - A description of the ATDE and ESF 57 5.1 General methodology 57 5.2 Study I - Selection of the club and participants 59 5.3 Study I - Research methods and instruments 60 5.4 Study I - Procedure 63 5.5 Study I - Results 66 5.6 Study I - Description of the environment 68 5.7 Study I - Factors influencing the success of the environment 76 5.8 Study I - Discussion 82 Chapter 6: Study II - An ecological intervention 102 6.1 Introduction 102 6.2 Study II - Description of the Intervention 102 6.3 Study II - Research methods and instruments 104 6.4 Study II - Analysis and interpretation 105 6.5 Study II - Results 105 6.6 Study II - Discussion 108 Chapter 7: Reflections and applications for practitioners 115 Literature Cited 124 Appendices 137 Appendix 1: Interview guidelines for players, staff, and coaches in study I 137 Appendix 2: Interview guidelines for parents in study I 138 Appendix 3: Interview guidelines for Players and coaches in study II 139 Appendix 4: Node trees developed from analysis of interviews and observations 140

This study discuss the possibility to extend the concept of humanitarian intervention/interference to the ecological intervention/interference by the UN (United Nations Organization) and the possible risks originated from it regarding the signatories of the Organization of the Amazon Cooperation Treaty; organization created, among other goals, to assure the sovereignty of the members over its respective Amazon territories. Concerning the international historic interest in the Amazon richness, the economic globalization process, demographic growth, increasing demand for natural resources and militarization of the environmental issues; the importance of this region in the following decades tends to boost. In this context, the research objective is to question whether the Right of Ecological Intervention might represent a stratagem which would have the purpose to legitimize the natural resources of the Amazon region, using on that behalf a speech of environmental concern and human rights defense. Divided into two parts, the research presents firstly i) the main criticisms observed in the literature of the Amazon Cooperation Treaty (ACT), especially during its elaboration phase and the terms in which these criticisms may be considered; ii) the objectives; iii) the Principles; and the iv) juridical nature of the Treaty, as well as the specific agencies responsible for its implementation. The second part discourses on v) the territorial dimensions problematic of the region from the analysis of the article XIX of the Treaty. Afterwards, it is done a report on the vi) international historic pressures on the region, making a brief overview from the sixteenth century up to the current days. From this contextualization the theme is approached vii) intervention, its applications and evolution in the UN context; and only then tracing, in a nutshell, some viii) considerations for the sovereignty topic, and presenting the conclusions. Methodologically, the study is based on a bibliographic research with books, essays, theses, official documents, laws and other texts. The research infers in an economical globalization conjuncture - with changing effects in the power relations - the militarization of the environmental subject, the elaboration of the Ecological Intervention notion - in the molds it is being designed - requires profound reflection, particularly for those who are at the periphery of the global power relations. / O presente trabalho trata da possibilidade de ampliação do conceito de intervenção/ingerência humanitária para a intervenção/ingerência ecológica pela ONU (Organização das Nações Unidas) e dos possíveis riscos daí originados sobre os signatários da Organização do Tratado de Cooperação Amazônica, Organização criada, entre outros objetivos, para assegurar a soberania dos membros sobre seus respectivos territórios amazônicos. Em função do histórico interesse internacional pelas riquezas da Amazônia, do processo de globalização da economia, crescimento demográfico, aumento da demanda por recursos naturais e militarização da questão ambiental, a importância da região para as próximas décadas tende a se elevar. Nesse contexto, o objetivo da pesquisa é questionar se o Direito de Intervenção Ecológica pode representar um estratagema que teria por desígnio legitimar a apropriação dos recursos naturais da região amazônica, utilizando para isso um discurso de preocupação ambiental e proteção dos direitos humanos. Dividida em dois momentos, a pesquisa apresenta primeiramente i) as principais críticas observadas na literatura acerca do Tratado de Cooperação Amazônica (TCA), principalmente durante sua fase de elaboração e os termos sob os quais tais críticas podem ser consideradas, ii) os objetivos, iii) a Principiologia, e a iv) natureza jurídica do Tratado, assim como os órgãos especiais responsáveis por sua implementação. A segunda etapa versa a respeito v) da problemática das dimensões territoriais da região à partir da análise do artigo XIX do Tratado. Em seguida é feito um relato do vi) histórico das pressões internacionais sobre a região, fazendo um breve apanhado desde o século XVI até a atualidade. A partir dessa contextualização aborda-se tema vii) intervenção, suas aplicações e evolução no contexto da ONU. Para somente então traçar, resumidamente, algumas viii) considerações sobre o tema soberania, e apresentar as conclusões. Metodologicamente, o trabalho baseia-se em pesquisa bibliográfica, servindo-se de livros, dissertações, teses, documentos oficiais, leis e demais textos. A pesquisa infere que em uma conjuntura de globalização econômica - com efeitos na mudança das relações de poder - e militarização da questão ambiental, a elaboração da noção de Intervenção Ecológica - nos moldes como está sendo arquitetada - necessita de profunda reflexão, não somente pelos países signatários da OTCA, mas pelos demais países que se encontram na periferia das relações de poder global.