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The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between task cohesion and social cohesion and performance of women's intercollegiate Division I field hockey teams. Twenty-six teams (n=26) from the 1989 season participated in this study, representing 32% of the total number of NCAA Division I teams. Specifically, team task cohesion and social cohesion measures from mid-season were compared to performance measures at the end of the season. The Group Environment Questionnaire (GEQ) developed by Widmeyer, Brawley, and Carron (1985) was used to measure cohesion. Performance was measured by percentage of games won, and also by a power rating developed by the NCAA field hockey committee. The GEQ consists of four cohesion constructs, two task and two social. Each of the four scales was compared to each of the performance measures, as well as both task scales combined and both social scales combined. Median values for each teams' cohesion measures were correlated with performance measures using the Pearson Product Moment coefficient of correlation. The results indicated that task cohesion was significantly related to team performance. Social cohesion variables when compared to power rating, and the Group Integration-Social construct when compared to win/loss percentage were significantly related to performance. Although significant, the social cohesion results were considerably lower than the task cohesion results.

The primary purpose of this study was to examine the relationship among levels of trait and state anxiety, self-confidence, arousal and performance of athletes throughout a competition. A secondary purpose was to examine the usefulness of a variety of instruments used to obtain levels of anxiety, self-confidence, arousal, and performance. Trait anxiety was measured by the Sport Competition Anxiety Test (SCAT) (Martens, 1990) and levels of state anxiety and selfconfidence were measured using the Competitive State Anxiety Inventory-2 (CSAI-2) (Martens, 1990). Pre-game and game arousal levels were distinguished by monitoring heart rates via heart rate monitors. Performance of each athlete was evaluated by the head coach. An overall rating or score was determined through the use of a Performance Rating Inventory which was developed specifically for this study.Thirteen members of the Ball State Field Hockey Team, ranging in ages from 18-22 years, agreed to participate in this study. Data was collected for 19 competitions from their regular season schedule. The SCAT was administered to the athletes in a non-competitive environment_ to determine trait anxiety levels. Levels of state anxiety (cognitive and somatic), self-confidence, arousal, and performance were obtained for every competition played.Pearson Product-Moment Correlation was used to determine the relationship among levels of trait and state anxiety and arousal to playing performance. Overall, there was no statistically significant relationships found among these levels. A follow-up analysis examined the data by the three most competitive and three least competitive games of the season. Group means were graphed according to pre-game and game arousal and no significant difference was shown between the two levels of competitiveness. Group means of the three subscales of the CSAI-2 (cognitive, somatic and self-confidence) were also graphed. Cognitive and somatic state anxiety levels were at its highest and self-confidence was at its lowest for the more competitive games and cognitive and somatic state anxiety were at its lowest and self-confidence was at its highest for the least competitive games. As a result of these findings, physiologically the athletes approached both types of games similarly. The difference was in the mental approach which ultimately could of been the difference in a win or a loss. / School of Physical Education

Submitted in partial compliance with the requirements for the Masters Degree in Technology: Chiropractic, Durban University of Technology, Durban, South Africa, 2016. / Background In sport, competitive athletes are required to perform to the best of their ability, with some athletes seeking the use of chiropractic treatment to improve performance. For example, hockey players are required to perform at peak physical function whilst executing a drag flick. The action of a drag flick involves a player hunched over low down in front of the ball and the hook of the hockey stick makes contact with the ball, which is then ball is pushed along the ground with the ball moving slightly up the shaft of the stick. The player then performs ‘slinging’ action, which means they ‘flick’ the ball towards the goal posts. The drag flick is an explosive sequential movement involving the player’s pelvis, trunk and upper limbs, requiring the use of the spine to generate the speed of the stick and ball. As a result any decreased spinal movement could reduce performance. Therefore this study attempted to assess the use of spinal manipulative therapy (SMT) in improving the drag flicking performance of hockey players. SMT has been shown to be a safe and effective way of increasing spinal joint mobility Objectives To determine and compare the effect of placebo and spinal manipulative therapy in terms of subjective and objective measurements on drag flicking performance of premier league field hockey players. Methods A comparative, experimental study of forty asymptomatic premier league hockey drag flickers were divided into two groups of twenty each. Group A received SMT of fixated joints of the spine (cervical, thoracic and lumbar) as determined by motion palpation by an experienced qualified chiropractor. Group B received sham manipulation. Pre and post intervention ROM of the spine and drag flicking speed where measured using CROM, Inclinometer, BROM II and Speed TracX Speed Sport Radar. The subject’s perception of a change in drag flicking speed post intervention was also recorded. SPSS version 21 was used to analyse the data. A p value of 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results Significant differences in ROM were noticed in the inter-group analysis in cervical: extension; LLF; RR PA, thoracic: extension; LLF, RLF, lumbar: extension, LLF, RLF. There was a significant increase in drag flicking speed post SMT, but between the SMT and sham manipulation groups were not significantly different. A significant correlation was seen between subjects’ perception of change in drag flicking speed post intervention and the objective results obtained. Conclusion The immediate effect of SMT on drag flicking performance of hockey players was inconclusive. The outcomes of this study suggests that SMT results in an increase in the average speed of drag flicking, however further larger studies are required to confirm this. / M

Submitted in partial compliance with the requirements for the Master’s Degree in Technology: Chiropractic,Durban University of Technology, 2014. / Background The Functional Movement Screen (FMSTM) is a pre-participation screen consisting of seven tests that rate a player’s functional movement. The screen may be used as an indicator for injury susceptibility in sports people. This may be implemented for preventative measures and improving or sustaining performance in sport. Objectives This research aimed to identify normative values on the FMSTM for female premier league hockey players and assess the association between FMSTM scores and incidence of seasonal injuries. Secondary to this, the research also undertook to assess dependence of the FMSTM on other risk factors identified in the study such as age, number of years playing hockey, height, weight, BMI and position. These risk measures were also tested for association to injury susceptibility. Method The research evaluated the FMSTM score in female premier league hockey players in KwaZulu-Natal prior to the commencement of the competitive season and then tracked the incidence, frequency and distribution of injuries that were sustained during the season. All nine teams in the KwaZulu-Natal female premier hockey league were approached and the players voluntarily participated provided that they fitted the inclusion criteria. In total 74 players between the ages of 18 and 35 were assessed. SPSS version 20 was used in the data analysis to test for statistical significance of the results. Results and conclusions The research sample revealed a mean FMSTM score of 14.39 with a standard deviation of 2.4. The difference in average FMSTM score between the 18 players who sustained non-contact injuries during the course of the season and the 56 players who did not was shown to not be statistically significant at a 95% confidence level. Therefore, this research shows that no association can be made between a low score on the Functional Movement ScreenTM and injury susceptibility. The FMSTM score was shown to be an independent metric when compared to the other injury risk measures identified in the study and the other risk measures were also found to not reliably indicate injury susceptibility. Having said this, the association of weight, FMSTM and BMI with injury susceptibility warrants further investigation as these measures indicated a degree of association. / M