Les pratiques sportives alternatives connaissent une croissance importante. Jadis considérées marginales, ces pratiques sportives, telles que la planche à neige, le skateboard ou encore le vélo de montagne, s'institutionnalisent. Le but de cette thèse etait de proposer une explication du processus d'institutionnalisation de l'une de ces pratiques sportives, soit la planche à neige, dans un contexte déterminé, soit le contexte canadien. Le concept de champ développé par Pierre Bourdieu fut mis à contribution pour tenter de (re)construire le champ de ce sport à plusieurs époques différentes afin de voir comment la dynamique d'intéraction entre les différents agents et les différentes institutions a contribue à l'institutionnalisation de la pratique sportive. À ce titre, nous avons remarqué que le processus d'institutionnalisation de la planche à neige au Canada peut être divisé en deux phases: la décennie '80 et la décennie '90. L'opposition entre les skieurs et les planchistes couplée au contexte de pratique particulier de la planche à neige sont les deux vecteurs qui contribuent à former les premières institutions au cours des années '80. Nous les avons appelées les contre-institutions. Pendant les années '90, la croissance du nombre de participants, l'acceptation généralisée des planchistes dans les centres de ski, la création des premières institutions pancanadiennes et l'acceptation du sport aux Olympiques engendrent une augmentation du capital symbolique des institutions et agents reliés à la planche à neige à l'intérieur du champ plus large des sports de glisse canadiens. En retour, cette hausse significative mène, au tournant du siècle, a une institutionnalisation relativement complète de cette pratique sportive. En réaction à ces résultats et pour faire écho aux recherches de Lamprecht et Stamm (2001), nous proposons, en dernier lieu, une discussion critique du terme 'sport alternatif' qui débouche sur la création d'un modèle pour la compréhension de l'institutionnalisation des pratiques sportives en général.

This dissertation addresses the role of broad-based consultation processes in sport policy formulation using a primarily neo-institutional framework. Specifically, I examine the three factors influencing participation: contextual, institutional and structural forces on consultation. The contextual factors encourage the State to develop institutional mechanisms, such as consultation. Despite these pressures to be more inclusive, the State retains control of the structural factors and the institutional factors to a lesser extent. In the case of the formulation of the Canadian sport policy, the role of these factors led to a consultation process that had a real but limited impact. This thesis contributes to the literature on two levels: theoretical and empirical. Theoretically, it develops a framework to determine the role of broad-based consultation. Empirically, it generates new knowledge of these processes and sport policy formulation in general. It demonstrates how the governance framework is useful in explaining the contextual factors encouraging the development of consultation processes. In combination with the neo-institutional literature, it outlines additional factors influencing sport policy formulation (intergovernmental relations, institutionalized relations and ideas). The research argues that these have the capacity to constrain/enable participation. Finally, it also argues that while the State is influenced by the contextual forces and institutional factors flowing through policy formation; it retains control of a number of structural factors (such as information, interaction/dialogue, stage in the policy process, and the list of participants) at its disposal enhancing its capacity to influence the process. The research findings indicate that broad-based consultation processes influence sport policy formulation, albeit very incrementally. This led to a real but limited impact. It demonstrates how the federal government was able to use consultation as a tool to obtain buy-in from governmental and non-governmental stakeholders in the sport policy sector. Even though the impact was limited, it was real nonetheless. It also provided a unique opportunity for participants to interact in a setting which included an interesting mix of participants which was quite novel for the sport policy sector.

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The purpose of this research study was to provide a rich and thick description of what it means to be a NASCAR (National Association of Stock Car Racing) fan. Specifically, the researcher examined how NASCAR fans create their sport fan identity, how being a NASCAR fan influences their overall identity, and the social and cultural aspects associated with being a NASCAR fan. The participants consisted of 12 (10 male & 2 female) self-identified NASCAR fans in attendance at one of three races (Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, FL; Samsung/RadioShack 500 at Texas Motor Speedway in Justin, TX; or the Richmond 400 at the Richmond International Raceway (RIR) in Richmond, VA) during the 2006 NASCAR Nextel Cup Series season. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and analyzed, yielding four major themes. The themes that emerged included: (a) entry into NASCAR, (b) being A NASCAR Fan, (c) "ya'll NASCAR fans": fan camaraderie, and (d) win on Sunday...sell on Monday. In general, the participants expressed that their entrance into the sport of NASCAR had been facilitated by close friends and family. Whether they grew up going to the racetrack with their family or were persuaded by a close friend to attend a race, the experience of attending a NASCAR Sprint Cup event propelled them on a lifelong journey following the sport. All of the participants articulated their affinity for fellow NASCAR fans and spending time with other fans at the track, serving as a way of enhancing their sport fan identity. The NASCAR fans in this study also expressed that the amount of sponsorship within the sport was something that they viewed as having an impact on their behavior as a consumer, with many having noted they try to exclusively purchase NASCAR sponsor brands. Recommendations for researchers based on the interviews are also discussed. / Kinesiology

The general problem in this study was to investigate the perceptions of the faculty representative to athletics with regard to intercollegiate athletics. This national study included the faculty representatives at all NCAA Division IA institutions in the United States. The return rate was 69% (N = 95). Particular concern was given to these specific areas of intercollegiate athletics: (a) the role of intercollegiate athletics, (b) funding of intercollegiate athletics, (c) recruitment of athletes, and (d) governance of intercollegiate athletics. A questionnaire was utilized to gather the responses. Based on this investigation, it was concluded that the faculty representative should have a more active leadership role in assisting the president on matters related to the governance of athletics. Furthermore, contrary to current beliefs, the faculty representative views intercollegiate athletics as an integral part of higher education. Also, the representatives believe that the athletic departments of their respective universities encourage an athlete to pursue his academic work. / Ed. D.