<p> The primary purpose of this study was to examine interscholastic athletic director&rsquo;s transformational leadership style and its impact on organizational effectiveness based on 14 legal and moral duties. Two survey instruments were used to collect the data necessary to examine the relationship between the leadership styles of interscholastic athletic directors, gender, and organizational effectiveness. Based on the 14 legal and moral duties specified by the National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association (NIAAA), the Multi-factor Leadership Questionnaire (MLQ 5X) rater version and a self-developed questionnaire based on the 14 legal and moral duties specified by the National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association (NIAAA) were used to measure the athletic directors&rsquo; organizational effectiveness as perceived by the head coaches. Three hundred forty three head coaches from the Illinois High School Association (IHSA) completed surveys. The research design was a quantitative approach that used Pearson&rsquo;s correlation, and a t-test to examine the impact of directors&rsquo; transformational leadership style and gender on organizational effectiveness. Quantitative results revealed a significant relationship between the five domains of transformational leadership and organizational effectiveness. Results of the <i>t</i>-test analysis revealed statistically significant differences between male and female head coaches in evaluating their athletic directors&rsquo; leadership style and that there are no significant differences between male and female head coaches in evaluating their athletic directors&rsquo; organizational effectiveness. Previous research supports the findings from this study, which identified the need for athletic directors to adapt the transformational leadership style in order to reach a higher level of carrying out their 14 legal and moral duties.</p>

<p> Little to no research has been conducted examining the factors contributing to athletic department competitive success in NCAA Division III intercollegiate athletics. Several studies have linked student-athlete institutional choice factors to academic factors, while Division III student-athletes have indicated that both athletic and academic programs are important in their college choice (Goss, Jubenville, &amp; Oregan, 2006; Konnert &amp; Giese, 1987; National Collegiate Athletic Association, 2008; National Collegiate Athletic Association Research, 2011; National Collegiate Athletic Association Research, 2016). The NCAA Division III philosophy states that student-athletes should be integrated into the whole of the institution, not treated differently than non-student-athletes, and that admissions standards should be the same for student-athletes as they are for non-student-athletes (Stubbeman &amp; Cooper, 2015). This research examined the relationship between institutional academic profile and athletic department competitive success. Academic profile was measured through institutional selectivity (acceptance rates), caliber of incoming students (ACT/SAT scores), four-year graduation rates, and retention rates (first to second year of enrollment). Athletic department competitive success was measured by the institution&rsquo;s placement in the Learfield Sports Directors Cup (LSDC). Spearman rank correlation was used to examine each independent variable against the institution&rsquo;s points earned in the LSDC. Positive relationships were found between each independent variable and points earned in the LSDC &ndash; ranging from -.306 to .563. These positive relationships present various implications and considerations for institutional administration and coaches to consider in recruiting student-athletes and setting expectations for competitive success.</p>

<p> Lower extremity injuries are common among collegiate female basketball players. Limited ankle dorsiflexion has been linked to multiple injuries of the lower extremity and is a common movement deficit among basketball players. Dynamic warm ups are known to increase general mobility and prepare athletes for subsequent activity; however, the effectiveness of dynamic warm up on increasing ADF ROM and decreasing injury is not known. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to examine the effects of a dynamic warm up on ADF ROM. A second purpose of this study is to monitor lower extremity injury occurrence over the course of one competitive season. There were 10 Division I female basketball players who participated in this study. Participants were measured for ADF ROM along with straight leg raise range of motion. The warm up intervention was incorporated at the midway point of the season and was completed before every practice and game for the remainder of the season. Upon completion of the season, participants&rsquo; ROM was re-measured. Two-way repeated measures ANOVA revealed a significant increase in passive ADF ROM (<i>p</i> =0.014). There were no lower extremity injury occurrences after the intervention was incorporated, compared to 3 injury occurrences prior to the start of the intervention.</p>

<p> The success of women as athletic administrators in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) has not been able to be researched because very few women have held positions in athletic departments in the NCAA Division I, II and III schools. Women in athletic administration have been a major topic, but more importantly the career development of women into the position of athletic administration has limited research applied towards it. The inequitable amount of females in NCAA Division I, II and III school&rsquo;s athletic departments has continued to be an issue. The problem is that there is not an equitable amount of female athletic directors at NCAA Division I, II and III schools. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to explore the perceptions and observations of school administrators regarding the hiring practices since women have been underrepresented in athletic administrator positions at NCAA Division I, II and III schools. A multiple-case study was considered appropriate because the benefits derived from more than one case were considerable. To gain insight into why there has been an inequitable amount of female athletic administrators at NCAA Division I, II and III schools, 10 athletic administrators from three southern states in the United States have consented to be interviewed. Interviewing was continued until data saturation was reached. Now add key findings to abstract and recommendations. The findings included: (a) the preparation to become an AD was strongly consistent among all participants including their sports backgrounds, educational achievements, and work experiences (b) the knowledge, skills, and ability to serve as AD were possible due to the preparation through education and being confident with their own decision making, and (c) participants emphasized self-confidence as important when they referenced their ability to approach confidently different scenarios while serving as AD and was part of what was needed to be successful. A future qualitative study may be required to study a complete athletic conference concerning the perceptions of female ADs on hiring practices in intercollegiate athletics.</p>

No description available.

The purpose of the study was fourfold. The first purpose was to determine the degree to which Indiana high school athletic directors consider work to be a central life interest. The second purpose of the study was to determine if there is a significant difference between the proportions of athletic directors of small and large high schools determined to be work oriented as measured by the Central Life Interest Inventory. The third purpose of the study was to determine if there is a significant difference in the leadership effectiveness of athletic directors who are highly interested in their work as compared to athletic directors who are least interested in their work as a central life interest. The fourth purpose of the study was to determine if there is a significant difference between the leadership effectiveness of athletic directors who are intensely interested in being athletic director in either small or large high schools.The Central Life Interest Inventory and the Leader Behavior Description Questionnaire – Form XII were utilized to gather data. Three null hypotheses were tested using the Multivariate Analysis of Variance. The .05 level of significance was established as the critical probability level for the non-acceptance of hypotheses.Conclusions1.Thirty-one, or 24%, of the one-hundred and thirty-one athletic directors participating in the study consider their work as a central life interest.2.A statistical analysis showed that there is no statistically significant difference in the central life interest between the proportions of work oriented athletic directors from the small and large high schools.3.A statistical analysis showed that there is no statistically significant difference between the average ratings of Group I (highly interested in work) and Group II (least interested in work) when rated by subordinate head coaches relative to the twelve factors of leadership.4.A statistical analysis showed that there is a statistically significant difference between the average ratings of small and large high school athletic directors by subordinate head coaches relative to the twelve factors of leadership. However, the difference was not interpretable using the Univariate Analysis of Variance statistics.

<p> The purpose of this study is to investigate the impact of smart device's interactivity on customer value co-creation in the sports industry through bridging social capital and collective efficacy. A total of 262 students participated in the study, and a structural equation modeling (SEM) was carried out to measures the relationship between variables in the conceptual model. The results revealed that interactivity consisting of user control, responsiveness, and synchronicity had a significant impact on bridging social capital. In addition, both technological interactivity and bridging social capital were positively associated with collective efficacy. Lastly, collective efficacy had a positive influence on co-creation value, but bridging social capital did not appear to directly affect co-creation value. Based on these results, this study suggests the need to take advantage of new platforms that can build value co-creation with customers in the rapidly changing marketing environment. </p>

<p> Government funding shortages are changing the financial landscape of collegiate athletic programs. Athletic administrators struggling to discover alternative financial sources have frequently focused their efforts on increasing home game attendance, which leads to increased concession and licensing revenues. The problem is that schools sporting programs will continue to lose funds if schools do not attract and maintain a larger fan base at athletic events. The purpose of this multiple case study is to identify and explore the factors that motivate fans attendance at NCAA Division II football games using both a survey and interviews at four universities within the Great American Conference, the Lone Star Conference, and the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association. The research study that is employed is based on multiple case study and triangulated data collected from a small sample group at four universities: Northeastern State, Southeastern Oklahoma State, Southwestern Oklahoma State, and West Texas A &amp; M. Data collection methods included the administration of a Sport Fan Motivation Scale survey to fans at a home game for each university, individual interviews of the sample group athletic directors, and review of online sources. Key results of the study yielded significant insight into optimal methodologies athletic administrators can employ to increase program revenues by increasing home game attendance. The findings were evaluated based upon the data collected utilizing four research questions. Economic factors were most likely to affect motivation of fans to attend home football games. Game attractiveness factors have a positive effect on fans at home football games. Demographic factors affect the motivation of fans to attend home football games. Residual factors affect the motivation of fans to attend football games. Many commonalities were found in the collected data that helped to identify themes and connect this information to previous research described in the literature review. A review of economic, team oriented, demographic, and ancillary factors yielded results indicating that integration of promotional activities, ensuring ample parking space for non-tailgaters, and a feeling of commitment or identification with the team are means to increase attendance. </p>

<p> This study purposely examined the types of extrinsic rewards in male youth soccer programs and measures those that are most preferred by players to influence their participation motivation. It also checked if young soccer players skew towards programs that provide more reward opportunities. For this reason, 1000 teenage soccer players were randomized in an online survey administered by a community-based organization. 800 chose programs that provided extrinsic rewards and identified fame, trophies, travel, scholarship, exposure opportunities and money as the six main rewards that influenced their decision to join soccer programs.</p><p> A Participation Motivation Questionnaire (PMQ) was then modified using the identified factors and issued to 400 participants between ages 14-18 years, randomly selected from 20 Las Vegas soccer clubs in another survey to rank extrinsic rewards according to importance. Data was collected and entered into the SPSS 17.0 software for analysis. Descriptive statistics were used to calculate frequencies, percentages, mean, and standard deviation. Cronbach alpha was applied to measure internal consistencies based on the demographics and attitudes towards participation motivation. One way ANOVA sought to determine the extent to which the identified extrinsic rewards affected participation motivation, and regression analysis examined the relationships across all factors.</p><p> Results from data analysis revealed that, exposure opportunities constituted the most important extrinsic reward that influenced young male soccer players' decision to join soccer programs. Scholarship, travel, fame, money and trophies followed suit. One-way ANOVA showed that race had a significant effect on scholarship, exposure opportunities, and fame. Multivariate regressions revealed that young players that are more motivated by scholarship, fame and travel tended to have higher ability levels. These effects were held even after adjusting for grade and age.</p><p> Results from the online survey also concluded that more young players tend to be attracted to soccer programs that provide extrinsic reward opportunities. Thus, extrinsic rewards should be considered and included in programs to enhance motivation.</p>

<p> The purpose of this study was to evaluate factors that influence parents in selecting post-workout team snacks for children playing in an organized basketball program. Additionally, this study investigated parental perception of the current snack environment and explored how parents define &ldquo;healthy snack.&rdquo; Parents of children participating in the Orange Coast Optimist&rsquo;s youth basketball organization were eligible to participate. A survey containing closed and open-ended questions was created to answer research questions. Parents were recruited on site the day of their child&rsquo;s practice. A total of 99 survey responses were obtained. Commonly identified drivers for snack selectin included: health, convenience, child&rsquo;s snack preference, and cost. A majority of parents did not wish to see changes made to current team snacks. Parents often stated fruit was an acceptable snack, whereas snacks high in added sugar and/or contained common allergens should never be given. </p><p>