Thesis (M.S.)--Georgia Southern University, 2009. / "A thesis submitted to the Graduate Faculty of Georgia Southern University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree Master of Science." Directed by Jonathan N. Metzler. ETD. Includes bibliographical references (p. 43-48) and appendices.

This Diploma Thesis deal with the age of the top performance of athletes and its development in the World Championships, the Europe Championships and Olympic Games in the 1970 {--} 2007 period. Essential source for this Diploma Thesis was existing data of the birth of athletes, who took medal positions in the competitions. Microsoft Excel was used for processing and evaluating the resulting data. The final output is represented by a series of clearly arranged synoptic tables and charts in which would clearly manifests the progress of the age structure of athletes in the process of reaching the maximal achievements. The results of this research can serve not only for the statistic purposes but mainly for assisting the sport trainers with building their training units.

Summaries in Afrikaans and English / Die doel van hierdie ondersoek was om te bepaal watler faktore die grootste bydrae tot sportprestasie lewer. Met die literatuurstudie is die verskillende faktore wat sportprestasie beinvloed, geidentifiseer en verder ondersoek en beskryf. Daar is gevind dat 'n wye verskeidenheid faktore bestaan wat atletelsportdeelnemers se prestasie positief of negatief kan beinvloed. 'n Empiriese ondersoek is uitgevoer waarby 'n aantal atlete/sportdeelnemers, wat aan verskeie sportsoorte deelneem, betrek is. Die afrigters van hierdie atlete/sportdeelnemers is oak by die ondersoek betrek. Eerstens is bepaal watter faktore, volgens die atlete/sportdeelnemers, die grootste bydrae tot hul sportprestasie lewer. Daama is hierdie geidenlifiseerde faktore aan 'n regressieanalise onderwerp om te bepaal walter faktor/e die grootste en belangrikste bydrae tot sportprestasie lewer. Die resultate het getoon dat hierdie faktore soos volg is: motivering, afrigter, kommunikasie, selfvertroue, aanleg en dieet / The purpose of this study was to determine which factors contribute significantly to sports achievement. In the literature study, different factors with an underlying effect on sports achievement were identified, explained and further investigated. A wide variety of factors bearing positive as well as negative effect on athletes'/sport participants' achievement were found. An empirical study was carried out in which a number of athletes/sport participators were involved. The coaches of these athletes/sport participants were also included. The factors that play a major contributing role in these athletes/sport participants' sports achievement were primarily determined. Thereafter the identified factors were further investigated through the use of a regression analysis to ascertain which ones contribute the most to sports achievement. The results indicated that these factors are as follows: motivation, coach, communication, self-confidence, talent and diet. / Educational Studies / M.Ed. (met spesialisering in Voorligting)

Summaries in Afrikaans and English / Die doel van hierdie ondersoek was om te bepaal watler faktore die grootste bydrae tot sportprestasie lewer. Met die literatuurstudie is die verskillende faktore wat sportprestasie beinvloed, geidentifiseer en verder ondersoek en beskryf. Daar is gevind dat 'n wye verskeidenheid faktore bestaan wat atletelsportdeelnemers se prestasie positief of negatief kan beinvloed. 'n Empiriese ondersoek is uitgevoer waarby 'n aantal atlete/sportdeelnemers, wat aan verskeie sportsoorte deelneem, betrek is. Die afrigters van hierdie atlete/sportdeelnemers is oak by die ondersoek betrek. Eerstens is bepaal watter faktore, volgens die atlete/sportdeelnemers, die grootste bydrae tot hul sportprestasie lewer. Daama is hierdie geidenlifiseerde faktore aan 'n regressieanalise onderwerp om te bepaal walter faktor/e die grootste en belangrikste bydrae tot sportprestasie lewer. Die resultate het getoon dat hierdie faktore soos volg is: motivering, afrigter, kommunikasie, selfvertroue, aanleg en dieet / The purpose of this study was to determine which factors contribute significantly to sports achievement. In the literature study, different factors with an underlying effect on sports achievement were identified, explained and further investigated. A wide variety of factors bearing positive as well as negative effect on athletes'/sport participants' achievement were found. An empirical study was carried out in which a number of athletes/sport participators were involved. The coaches of these athletes/sport participants were also included. The factors that play a major contributing role in these athletes/sport participants' sports achievement were primarily determined. Thereafter the identified factors were further investigated through the use of a regression analysis to ascertain which ones contribute the most to sports achievement. The results indicated that these factors are as follows: motivation, coach, communication, self-confidence, talent and diet. / Educational Studies / M.Ed. (met spesialisering in Voorligting)