Thesis (Ed.D.)--Boston University / PLEASE NOTE: Boston University Libraries did not receive an Authorization To Manage form for this thesis or dissertation. It is therefore not openly accessible, though it may be available by request. If you are the author or principal advisor of this work and would like to request open access for it, please contact us at open-help@bu.edu. Thank you. / The purpose of this study was to explore parents' motivations for encouraging their children to participate in youth sport and to develop a scale to measure the aforementioned motivators. The study was conducted in three phases. The first phase consisted of the development of items for the initial Parents' Motivations for Children's Participation in Sport Scale (PMCPSS). The second phase encompassed administeting the PMCPSS to parents from a range of sports and analyzing that data through factor and item analyses. The third phase consisted of qualitative analysis and using the PMCPSS to examine differences in parental motivations. The sample consisted of 405 parents with children participating in the following youth sports: ice hockey, soccer, baseball, basketball, figure skating, volleyball, swimming, and lacrosse. Exploratory factor analysis and item analyses revealed 8 factors labeled as: Life skills; Identification with the child/sport experience; Leam to perform and compete; Child Self-Acceptance; Physical and social development; Enjoyment and family bonding; Achievement and rewards; and Interpersonal skill development. In addition to the reliability coefficients for each factor, a coefficient alpha estimate was conducted to examine the entire scale's reliability. Based on the factor and item analysis, 65 items were retained and the PMCPSS had an overall alpha of .954 and the 8 factors accounted for 49.1% of the variance. Moreover, qualitative analysis of the open-ended responses supported the eight-factor structure of the PMCPSS. Independent-samples t tests were then run utilizing the 65 item PMCPSS to evaluate parental differences (mothers and fathers) on each of the eight factors. This study builds upon previous research in youth sport with four significant contributions. First, it represents an initial step toward understanding why parents encourage their children to participate in youth sport. Second, the results indicate that parents' motivations for encouraging their children to participate in youth sport are multidimensional. Third, it led to the development of an instrument (the PMCPSS) that measures parents' motivations for encouraging their children to participate in youth sport that can be used for future research . Fourth, it demonstrates how the PMCPSS can be used in future research. / 2999-01-01

Thesis (Ed.D.)--Boston University / PLEASE NOTE: Boston University Libraries did not receive an Authorization To Manage form for this thesis or dissertation. It is therefore not openly accessible, though it may be available by request. If you are the author or principal advisor of this work and would like to request open access for it, please contact us at open-help@bu.edu. Thank you. / The motivation to volunteer and the satisfaction associated with volunteering were investigated through the responses of volunteer youth coaches (n = 100). Two surveys and follow-up interview questions were created and adapted from previous research in the area of volunteerism to determine reasons why adults volunteer to coach and to explore the factors that contribute to the satisfaction levels of youth coaches. Statistical analyses of variance were conducted to determine the relationship between each of the motivation and satisfaction variables with the gender of the volunteer coaches, the gender of the team coached (male, female, or both), and the completion of a coaching education program. The highest ranked motives for volunteering according to the sample included: to give back to the community, enjoyment associating with youth, and to teach and lead others. Overall the respondents were highly satisfied with their role as a youth coach, the organization of games and practices, and the recognition received for volunteering. Through the interview process (n = 20) various themes emerged from the responses of the volunteer coaches. The reasons for volunteering, according to the interviewed coaches, were that most people volunteer because their child is involved in the program, no other adult would coach, to contribute to society, and their lack of trust in other coaches. / 2999-01-01

The motivational climate, as created by coaches, and athletes’ goal orientations are key constructs in understanding children’s experiences with sport. In this study, the relationship between the perceived motivational climates, male adolescents’ goal orientation, and their experiences of self-esteem, sport competence, enjoyment, and ultimately, intention to continue participating in sport was examined. Participants were 405 male adolescents (Sample A: n = 200; Sample B: n = 205) aged 13-15 years old. Structural equation modeling indicated an overall good fit to the structural model for both data sets. A task goal orientation was predicted by higher levels of coach-created task climate. Participants with higher task goal orientation had greater sport competence, self-esteem, and more enjoyment in sport; enjoyment was the only significant predictor of their intention to continue playing the sport they believe is most important over the next three years.

Dropout among youth players is a problem in Swedish icehockey. Leaders in youth hockey teams work closely with players on an almost everyday basis during season and have a big influence on players and their activities. This study aims to identify possible reasons for dropouts by interviewing coaches and leaders in icehockey clubs. A total of eight coaches and leaders in different ice hockey clubs were interviewed. Results show that the coaches highlight three reasons for early dropout; focus on competition, results and too much training in younger ages.

Youth sports today often mimic professional versions of the sport. Combined with the competitive nature of society, youth sports have become a place where there are few winners and numerous losers. Additionally, many youth sport programs lack the fun, playful elements that used to be prevalent in informal sports. This study uses conjoint analysis to examine parents’ and children’s preferences for coaching methods (intervals, stroke drills, relays, and challenges), hedonic social activities (fun games, parties, and social events), and extrinsic rewards (best time ribbons, place ribbons, and participation ribbons) in a youth swim team program. The conjoint analysis offers insight about which coaching methods, hedonic social activities, and extrinsic rewards are preferred and acceptable to parents and children. Parents and children had similar preferences with their main desire being for the child to learn how to swim. Results indicate that parents and children are socialized into a belief of what sports programs should encompass and that current youth swim team programs are not serving all children. / text

Thesis (D. Phil.(Biokinetics, Sport and Leisure Sciences))--University of Pretoria, 2007. / Summary in English and Afrikaans. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ed.D.)--Boston University / PLEASE NOTE: Boston University Libraries did not receive an Authorization To Manage form for this thesis or dissertation. It is therefore not openly accessible, though it may be available by request. If you are the author or principal advisor of this work and would like to request open access for it, please contact us at open-help@bu.edu. Thank you. / It has been estimated that 37 million children play nonschool youth sports in the United States. Each child likely will have some contact with a volunteer nonschool youth sport coach during their sports experience. This study was developed as a means of determining the nature of volunteerism as it applies to volunteer coaches. As well the study examines the traits and skills that volunteer coaches believe to be appropriate for this coaching activity. Preliminary research was conducted to identify the most significant beliefs that influenced adults to volunteer as coaches. Based upon the findings of the preliminary research, further systematic research was needed in order to construct and administer a questionnaire instrument to volunteer coaches. In order to assess the reliability of the questionnaire, a principal axis factor analysis with varimax rotation was performed. The analysis resulted in a six-factor solution for eighteen items. An examination of the clustered items revealed a shared theme within each cluster. An independent samples t-test and zero order correlation coefficient analysis were performed for three dependent variables. Research was conducted with the cooperation of USA Hockey at a number of Intermediate-level coaching clinics held in the state of Massachusetts. Results indicate that volunteers are influenced by altruism, a love of the sport of ice hockey, and self-interest -- as many volunteer coaches have children on the teams they coached. Volunteer coaches appear to follow the positive coaching mandates of USA Hockey with a focus on developing the skills of the players and placing little emphasis on winning. Weaknesses appear to be a lack of a consistent curriculum for coaches to utilize and a lack of skilled coaches to teach the intricacies of the game of ice hockey. / 2999-01-01

This PhD research explored how neoliberal governmentality influenced the UK charity SportHelp and its youth sport programmes. Despite charities being significant providers of non-formal education for young people in the UK, there has been limited work exploring how the neoliberal landscape shapes these organisations and their programmes in practice. Therefore, this thesis addresses this gap in knowledge by a) furthering the limited literature on charities and their operation, b) providing an empirical illustration of how neoliberal governmentality functions, and c) contributing to the ongoing debate about the purpose of non-formal education in the neoliberal marketplace. This case study research focused on a single charity – SportHelp – whose remit is to improve socio-economically disadvantaged young people’s lives through the provision of sport. Over a 9-month period, data were collected through semi-structured interviews with a selection of SportHelp’s managers, coaches, and young people. Furthermore, participant observations of three coaching sessions (featuring previously interviewed coaches and young people) were undertaken to complement the interviews. The data were subsequently analysed using thematic analysis. Findings suggest the neoliberal landscape shaped SportHelp and its youth sport programmes profoundly. To maximise its chances of economic survival, SportHelp re-configured itself into a ‘quasi-market’. In doing so, it adopted a deficit-reduction approach towards improving young people’s lives: the charity assumed socio-economically disadvantaged young people were inherently ‘deficient’ (because of their lower socio-economic status) and required ‘fixing’. Using sport, SportHelp coaches ‘fixed’ young people’s personhood by instilling the neoliberal values of individual responsibility, discipline, and life skills. These values were readily internalised by young people because SportHelp operates in the realm of non-formal education; a space where coaches could foster passion, relationships, and a sense of belonging.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Ohio University, August, 2007. / Title from PDF t.p. Includes bibliographical references.

This thesis is an investigation into the makings of a successful youth baseball facility. Youth sports is a multi-billion dollar industry in the United States, and much of the competition follows a tournament, or "travel league" format. This is especially true in youth baseball. Despite this growing trend towards travel play, facilities that host these tournaments were designed and constructed in an age where the primary format was not tournament play, but rather a recreational structure where single games were played individually. These facilities do not meet the needs of the typical park user: players and their families. The parts of the following investigation are the Author's research, including a literature review and four case studies of facilities that are representational of a larger sample. This is followed by the identification of a list of universial challenges faced by many facilities which led to a development of a list of design criteria to correct the issue of under-performing parks, identification of a fundamental design question, and specific goals and objectives. Finally, identification of a site to be studied is introduced and analyzed, and the development of the Author's concept for a new design is reported and then analyzed. The Master Plan is then presented and discussed in detail. The master plan for the new Rockville School Park has been developed based on the list of design criteria developed by the Author, based largely on field research. A large effort was made to identify literature directly regarding the questions presented in this thesis. The literature used has been included within the references section at the end of this document. / Master of Landscape Architecture / This thesis is an investigation into the makings of a successful youth baseball facility. Youth sports is a multi-billion dollar industry in the United States, and much of the competition follows a tournament, or "travel league" format. This is especially true in youth baseball. Despite this growing trend towards travel play, facilities that host these tournaments were designed and constructed in an age where the primary format was not tournament play, but rather a recreational structure where single games were played individually. These facilities do not meet the needs of the typical park user: players and their families. The parts of the following investigation are the Author's research, including a literature review and four case studies of facilities that are representational of a larger sample. This is followed by the identification of a list of universial challenges faced by many facilities which led to a development of a list of design criteria to correct the issue of under-performing parks, identification of a fundamental design question, and specific goals and objectives. Finally, identification of a site to be studied is introduced and analyzed, and the development of the Author's concept for a new design is reported and then analyzed. The Master Plan is then presented and discussed in detail. The master plan for the new Rockville School Park has been developed based on the list of design criteria developed by the Author, based largely on field research. A large effort was made to identify literature directly regarding the questions presented in this thesis. The literature used has been included within the references section at the end of this document.