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Fifty adolescent ice-hockey players, ranging from 13 to 15 years of age, were studied in order to determine whether high performance players differed from non-high performance players on measures of social cognition in the sport context. Two Divisions of Bantam hockey players were studied: (1) Division A or high performance players, and (2) Division B or non-high performance players. Participants were examined for differences on a measure which assessed level of Case's neo-Piagetian Central Social Conceptual Structure (CCS; Case, 1992) and for differences on three measures of elaborations on the basic structure. No differences were found between groups in a Multivariate Analysis of Variance, with participant's weight and Division of play as independent variables, on the four dependent variables. A Hotellings T2 analysis revealed no differences between high and non-high performance players of the same chronological age on Case's CCS. Univariate ANOVAs following the main analysis revealed no differences between the two groups of players in Concentration which is the ability to detect advance cues which would predict opponent's actions. High performance players demonstrated higher levels than non-high performance players in Flexibility, which is the ability to provide adequate solutions to social game problems. High performance players also demonstrated a greater orientation toward Intensity which is an orientation toward achieving Mastery goals (Dweck, 1992) than non-high performance players. Seven factors were obtained in an oblique Principal Components analysis of the Concentration scale. An ANOVA of Division of play on the first principal component revealed no significant differences between high and non-high performers. Number of words used in responding to the problem set assessing CCS were correlated with Structural Level (.56, p <.01) and Flexibility (.47, p <.01). The findings have the following implications for theory and practice in the area of high performance: (1) structural level, which is largely maturational, does not account for differences between high and non-high performers, (2) encapsulated abilities, which appear to have a high learning component, explain differences between high and non-high performers, (3) significant increases in performance will most likely occur as a result of efforts to develop the encapsulated component of development rather than the structural component.

There was a time in South Africa’s history when the majority of its citizens was deprived of their basic human rights and experienced extreme racial divisiveness. Today the South African society has transformed from a highly stratified society to one that is united in its diversity. It is against this context that this study explores how learners who come from diverse racial, socio-economic and cultural backgrounds are achieving sporting excellence in this transforming society. This study reviewed data generated from three sets of participants: learners, provincial coaches and significant others. In-depth interviews were conducted with fifteen learners from the KwaZulu-Natal provincial sports teams, who were from differing and diverse backgrounds and represented the most common codes of sport, played in KwaZulu-Natal schools. Their stories were told in the form of narratives as they journeyed towards sporting excellence, providing detailed background of their life circumstances and experiences. Analysis of these narratives yielded five themes: self and identity; social context; schooling and the curriculum; team spirit and talent search; and race, class and culture, which emphasised the psychological and sociological perspectives of sporting excellence. Further, using the data generated from the provincial coaches and the significant others, the notions of the resolute self, reliance on people, the white school magnets and migration, unwavering nation building and social and racial diversity emerged from the themes. In tracking sporting excellence the focus is shifted to the learners’ journey within a transforming society, to theorise the social spaces which have been navigated by them to ensure sporting prowess. From the analysis of the data I put forward a thesis predicted on three concepts; the spatial movements, the spatial displacements and the spatial upheavals which the learners had to manage and navigate by travelling long distances, overcoming obstacles and making connections respectively. I argue that in a transforming society it is the filtration process of sporting excellence that has only benefitted a select few learners and has uniquely contributed to the achievement of sporting excellence. Achieving sporting excellence in a transforming society

The purpose of this thesis is to determine the significance of sport in society and its influence on the urban fabric and architecture. The project investigates the relationship between the built form and sport in the design of an urban framework and High Performance Centre for Kings Park, Durban. More specifically, the investigation has three primary objectives, ranging from the macro to the micro context or from the broad to the more specific, (Social, Urban and Architectural). The first aim will explore the social aspects of sport and its influence on culture, specifically with regard to nation building in South Africa. Secondly the focus narrows to the use of the sports event as a means of generating an urban intervention which uplifts an area of ‘lost space’ within the Kings Park Precinct. The final point focuses on creating a relevant and meaningful architectural response, which is responsive to both its users and the surrounding context. The design of the proposed urban and architectural intervention will be facilitated through the investigation of recent literature, theories, precedent and case studies, and personally conducted interviews with informed professionals. This research will determine a relevant architectural typology which is responsible and appropriate to its context. The design process becomes a reaction to defined internal and external stimuli with inherent restraints and opportunities, in which the end result becomes a synthesis of multiple inputs, generating a unique hybrid architecture. / Thesis (M.Arch.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2010.

M.Ed. (Physical Training) / Please refer to full text to view abstract

Kein anderer als Schiller bringt mit seinen Worten das tiefe Empfinden fur das Spiel so vernehmlich zum Ausdruck und die unternommene Studie der Sport- Soziologie so greifbar nahe. Den der Mensch im Spiel und in seinem menschlichen Verhalten durch das Spiel fugt die beabsichtigte Studie zum neuen Konzept des modernen Sportes zussammen und begründet das fundamentale Suchen menschlicher Bedürfnisse des Erlebens durch den Sport - manifestiert weiterhin durch die Worte von Caillois: "Sage mir, was Du spielst - und ich will Dir sagen, wer Du bist" Intro., p. 1.

Fifty adolescent ice-hockey players, ranging from 13 to 15 years of age, were studied in order to determine whether high performance players differed from non-high performance players on measures of social cognition in the sport context. Two Divisions of Bantam hockey players were studied: (1) Division A or high performance players, and (2) Division B or non-high performance players. Participants were examined for differences on a measure which assessed level of Case's neo-Piagetian Central Social Conceptual Structure (CCS; Case, 1992) and for differences on three measures of elaborations on the basic structure. No differences were found between groups in a Multivariate Analysis of Variance, with participant's weight and Division of play as independent variables, on the four dependent variables. A Hotellings T2 analysis revealed no differences between high and non-high performance players of the same chronological age on Case's CCS. Univariate ANOVAs following the main analysis revealed no differences between the two groups of players in Concentration which is the ability to detect advance cues which would predict opponent's actions. High performance players demonstrated higher levels than non-high performance players in Flexibility, which is the ability to provide adequate solutions to social game problems. High performance players also demonstrated a greater orientation toward Intensity which is an orientation toward achieving Mastery goals (Dweck, 1992) than non-high performance players. Seven factors were obtained in an oblique Principal Components analysis of the Concentration scale. An ANOVA of Division of play on the first principal component revealed no significant differences between high and non-high performers. Number of words used in responding to the problem set assessing CCS were correlated with Structural Level (.56, p <.01) and Flexibility (.47, p <.01). The findings have the following implications for theory and practice in the area of high performance: (1) structural level, which is largely maturational, does not account for differences between high and non-high performers, (2) encapsulated abilities, which appear to have a high learning component, explain differences between high and non-high performers, (3) significant increases in performance will most likely occur as a result of efforts to develop the encapsulated component of development rather than the structural component. / Education, Faculty of / Educational and Counselling Psychology, and Special Education (ECPS), Department of / Graduate

The study examined the ability to learn values while watching sports programming on television. Sports are seen as a huge influence in our lives and helping to spread that influence and bring the games right to our living rooms is television. A total of 360 surveys were collected from three universities, one in the West, one in the Midwest, and one in the South. What was found was there is a direct connection between the exposures to the values seen in sports to the evaluation of those values in our society, which led to individual acceptance of the values personally. It was found that almost half of the viewing by respondents of television was watching sports. By watching these events, respondents were able to see these values first-hand and then personally accept them into their own values.

The leading cause of death for 15-20 year olds in the United States is unintentional injury. For this population, these injuries are often caused by motor vehicle accidents, alcohol and/or drug use, or a combination thereof. Sensation seeking is an internal drive to seek exciting and novel experiences. Congruous with normative developmental processes, adolescents are more likely to have a higher psycho-physiological drive towards sensation seeking than are younger children or adults. High sensation seeking is one of the risk factors for alcohol, tobacco, and other drug (ATOD) use. Other risk factors include: lack of adult-supervised time, high negative affect, and favorable attitudes and subjective norms regarding ATOD use. Sport participation addresses many of these risk factors. Sport and extracurricular activity participation have been examined in relation to ATOD use. However, the relationship between sport and ATOD use remains somewhat equivocal. This study aimed to determine the direction of the relationship between sport participation and ATOD use, and to elucidate putative, psychosocial mediators and moderators. Students in health classes (n=239, average age 16.06)) from three high schools in one suburban, Central Texas school district were given an anonymous survey regarding ATOD use, extracurricular activities, affect, attitudes, sensation seeking, social support, and subjective norms. Regression, ANOVA, and path analysis were the statistical methods employed. Consistent with previous research, favorable attitudes and subjective norms towards ATODs had a strong, positive effect on ATOD use. Sport participation was examined as moderator in the relationship between sensation seeking and ATOD use. An interaction between sport and ATOD use with sensation seeking was supported by the data. However, mean sensation seeking on the Arnett Sensation Seeking Scale was low for this sample, compared with that of other adolescent samples. Mean ATOD use was lower for sport participants compared with all other students, but not compared with extracurricular activity participants. / text

The relationship of family environment and children's goals in sport is not a well established area of research and although findings to date are equivocal, links between various dimensions do appear to exist. The aim of this study was to explore the relationship between family environment, particularly the perception of achievement orientation within the family, and the youth participants' goal orientation in hockey. The sample consisted of fifty-five female senior school hockey players, as well as their parents, that attended independent girls' schools in the Pietermartizburg and Durban areas. No significant relationship was found between the perception of achievement orientation in the family and the youth participants' goal orientation in sport. There were however, indications that other aspects of social climate within family environment, as perceived by the participants, influence youth goal orientation in sport. Findings also revealed links between positive parental involvement and intrinsic motivation, and perceived parental pressure and pressure experienced by the hockey players. The results are discussed in terms of the literature reviewed, and the implication and the limitations of the study are discussed, concluding with recommendations for future research. / Thesis (M.A.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2004.