Each year the NBA draft helps determines the future success of the NBA team and during the 1990’s to 2000’s international players were being drafted at a high rate. Why was this happening and were international players more successful than domestic players throughout their careers? Through my study I wanted to examine what determines success for NBA players and whether certain statistical or award performances affects their career. Furthermore I wanted to see the effects that international players had on team attendance throughout their NBA career. Ultimately I wanted to see how NBA coaches, executives, and fans value international players. This study aims to provide insight regarding international players and their success in the NBA.

This study describes the biomechanics of the foot during an ice hockey tight turn. Pressure data were collected with flexible piezo-resistive sensors from 15 anatomical points on both left and right feet. Participants included 8 elite (86.82 Kg +/- 6.48Kg, 179.69 cm +/- 6.74cm) and 8 recreational level (82.10Kg, +/- 7.49Kg, 175.63cm +/- 6.37cm) hockey players, with the elite players being members of the McGill varsity team and the recreational players participating in recreational organized hockey of lower caliber. The data from three to four turns for both left and right tight turns were collected and normalized, with statistical measures taken for blade contact/turn initiation, peak pressure and peak pressure at push off. Two way ANOVAs showed numerous areas of statistical significance (p ≤ 0.05) between the elite and recreational participants. The tracking of center of pressure was also investigated leading to some speculations of advanced techniques for the successful execution of a tight turn. / Keywords. Hockey, feet, pressure, tight turns, biomechanics

Texte remanié de: Thesis Ph. D.--College Park--University of Maryland, 1998. / Bibliogr. p. 219-234.

Thesis (Ed. D.)--West Virginia University, 2002. / Title from document title page. Document formatted into pages; contains iv, 107 p. : ill. Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references.

The purpose of this study was to identify the sources of stress experienced by NCAA Division I female ice hockey players at one university. In-depth, open-ended interviews were carried out with six athletes. The data was inductively analyzed according to the guidelines set forth by Cote and colleagues (Cote et al., 1993; Cote et al., 1995). The results of the analysis identified three main categories of stress: (a) the educational demands included academic concerns and time concerns; (b) the hockey pressures included the advantages of playing Division I, hockey performance stressors, training concerns, and the transition to the NCAA; and (c) the relationship issues included family and significant-other relationships, "hockey family" relationships, and social concerns. The connection linking the categories centered on the time concerns and on achieving a successful balance among the educational, hockey, and social pressures. These findings are similar to stressors reported by researchers in a variety of sports.

Research on leadership in sport has primarily focused on the behaviors of coaches despite the claim that leadership behaviors of athletes are considered by many to be an important component of success. More precisely, ice hockey team captains are recognized as having a significant leadership role. The purpose of this study was to identify and examine the key leadership behaviors exhibited by athletes, specifically ice hockey team captains. Semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted with six former university male ice hockey team captains. Data were analysed inductively, following the guidelines of Cote, Salmela, and Russell (1995). Three main areas emerged from the data analysis which were called: (a) the interpersonal characteristics and experiences, (b) the social interactions, and (c) the task behaviors. These results identified the influence of background experiences of team captains, the types of behaviors displayed, how the behaviors were manifested, when and where the behaviors were exhibited, and the individuals involved in these behaviors.

The purpose of this paper was to characterize and compare pressure patterns in the skate boot of elite and recreational players during the forward crossover turn. In-skate pressure patterns of eight elite varsity level hockey players (mean +/- SD: height (m) = 1.80 +/- 0.07, weight (kg) = 87 +/- 0.06) and eight recreational hockey players (mean +/- SD: height = 1.76 (m) +/- 0.06, weight (kg) = 82 +/- 0.07) were measured using fifteen piezo-resistive sensors per foot during the forward crossover skating stride. Each participant performed three trials in both the clock-wise (CW) and counter clock-wise (CCW) directions. For each trial the pressure profiles of three strides were cut and averaged according to ability groups and turn directions. The results showed that the elite skaters performed the skill quicker than the recreational skaters (6.85 (sec) +/- 0.114 vs 7.62 (sec) +/- 0.125), respectively (p < 0.01). Other significant differences (p < 0.05) were found in peak pressures on the plantar, medial and lateral surfaces between groups. No significant differences were found when turn directions were compared. These results show that recreational skaters differ from elite skaters by displaying higher peak pressures on the plantar surface and lower peak pressures on the lateral and medial surfaces. Also, pressures on the plantar, medial and lateral surfaces appeared to be higher on the inside foot when compared to pressures on the outside foot for both groups.

This study describes the biomechanics of the foot during an ice hockey tight tum.Pressure data were collected with flexible piezo-resistive sensors from 15 anatomicalpoints on both left and right feet. Participants inc1uded 8 elite (86.82 Kg +/- 6.48Kg,179.69 cm +/-6.74cm) and 8 recreationallevel (82.10Kg, +/-7.49Kg, 175.63cm +/-6.37cm) hockey players, with the elite players being members ofthe McGill varsity teamand the recreational players participating in recreational organized hockey of 10wercaliber. The data from three to four tums for both left and right tight tums were collectedand normalized, with statistical measures taken for blade contact/tum initiation, peakpressure and peak pressure at push off. Two way ANOV As showed numerous areas ofstatistical significance (p ≤ 0.05) between the elite and recreational participants. Thetracking of center of pressure was also investigated leading to sorne speculations ofadvanced techniques for the successful execution of a tight tum. / Cette étude décrit les pressions du pied en dedans du patin pendant un viragebrisque. Des collections de données de pression ont été collectionnées avecdes détecteurs piezo résistifs à 15 endroits anatomiques sur les deux pieds. Les groupescomprenaient 8 joueurs de hockey élites (86.82 Kg +/- 6.48Kg, 179.69 cm +/-6.74cm) et8 joueurs de hockey de niveau récréatif(82.10Kg, +/- 7.49Kg, 175.63cm +/- 6.37cm).Les joueurs élites étaient tous membres de l'équipe de première catégorie de l'Universitéde McGill et les joueurs récréatifs participaient tous dans des ligues de hockey organiséesmais d'un niveau plus bas. Les données de trois à quatre virages sur le côté droit et côtégauche ont été collectionnées et normalisées. Les variables retirées de cette analysecomprenaient le contact de lame/initiation de virage, pression maximale et « peak pushoff ». Une analyse statistique (2 way ANOV A) a démontrée plusieurs différences (p ≤ 0.05) entre les sujets élites et les joueurs récréatifs. Le centre de pression a été tracé etétudié. Cette analyse a servi comme source de réflexion sur les techniques avancées pourexécution idéale d'un virage brisque.

The study examined the peak pressures and pressure patterns in the skate boot of hockey players during the backward cross-over stride. Fifteen flexible piezo-resistive pressure sensors (1.2 x 1.1 x 0.2cm thick) were placed on the plantar, dorsal, medial, and lateral surfaces of each foot for eight varsity level hockey players (mean +/- SD: height (m) = 1.80 +/- 0.07, weight (kg) = 87 +/- 0.06) and eight recreational hockey players (mean +/- SD: height = 1.76 (m) +/- 0.06, weight (kg) = 82 +/- 0.07). The strides were cut and the data was processed according to ability group and cross-over direction. The results demonstrated significant differences between groups in average speed, and in peak pressures on the medial and lateral surfaces of the foot (p≤0.05). The results also indicated a significant difference on the plantar surface of the foot when comparing cross-over directions (p≤0.05).

Purpose. This study quantified fit of ice hockey skate boots by measuring the pressure (MP) at the foot/ankle-to-boot interface using three skate sizes. The relationship between perceived pressure (PP), perceived comfort (PC) and measured pressures (MP) also were documented. Methods . 18 male subjects participated. Thirty piezo-resistive sensors recorded MPs from seven areas with the foot/ankle in various positions. A Visual Analogue Scale was used for subjective assessment of PP and PC. Results. Overall fit MP was estimated at 34.2 KPa though significant mixed interactions (p<0.05) occurred between areas, foot/ankle positions and sizes. MP correlations with PP, PC, and foot/ankle dimensions were low though a strong inverse relationship was identified between PP and PC (r = -0.63). Conclusions. The technology and protocol adopted was effective in discriminating "fit" between regional pressure differences as well as responsive to foot/ankle positions. Further examination of other footwear products and different populations is feasible and warranted.