A sample of 98 student-athletes at one southern Arizona high school completed a survey that examined their personal characteristics, athletic goals, knowledge about the college recruiting process, and the role of the school counselor in that process. Results revealed that the majority of student-athletes were not well informed about the college going process. However, there was a significant increase in recruiting knowledge of students who definitely want to participate or possibly want to participate in college athletics between 9th and 11th grade and between 9th and 12th grade. The majority of participants felt "slightly comfortable" or "very comfortable" coming to their school counselor to discuss this information. However, they would feel more comfortable if the counselor were knowledgeable about college athletics. Results show that high school counselors need to be better prepared to assist student-athletes with the college going process.

The purpose of this study was to investigate coaches’ perspectives on the personal development of student-athletes through interuniversity sport participation. More specifically, the ways in which coaches understand and facilitate athletes’ personal development were explored. Eight semi-structured interviews were conducted with male and female head coaches of Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) programs. A qualitative approach, utilizing an inductive analysis of the data revealed: coaches’ difficulty in defining personal development and articulating the ways in which they facilitate opportunities for athletes’ personal development through sport; a lack of clarity of the methods used to measure athletes’ personal development; and the ensuing ramifications of university sport model reviews which are moving towards a high performance model of sport on athletes’ personal development. Findings from this study contribute knowledge and understanding of a previously little studied phenomenon – the personal development of student-athletes – and the perspectives from a relatively un-explored population, university head coaches.

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PURPOSE: To establish the reliability of anthropometric and dual energy X-ray absorptiometry(DXA) techniques used to assess percent body fat (% BF)in female athletes; to establish limits for detecting the smallest real change in % BF associated with anthropometric and DXA testing;to evaluate the validity of commonly used % BF prediction equations recommended by national certification programs along with equations derived from Multicompartment (MC), and DXA, in female athletes; and to create a new DXA based regression equation for elite female athletes. METHODS:Female athletes aged 17-31 were recruited into the study and participated in the establishment of anthropometric reliability (N=20), DXA reliability (N=32), and /or skinfold validity (N=95) testing. Anthropometric testing consisted of measurements of skinfolds,circumferences, and breadths. DXA measurements were conducted using a GE Lunar Prodigy DXA which served as the criterion measure (% BF DXA). RESULTS: Excellent reliability for both anthropometric sum5 skinfolds (ICC= .997, %TEM=0.9 %) and DXA (ICC =.996, CV =1.13% BF) techniques allows for detection of smallest real differences of 2.2 mm and 721g in summed skinfolds (sum5) and fat mass respectively. The DXA based equation of Ball et al.(2004) displayed the greatest validity of existing equations R=.874, total error (TE) 2.9% BF, and Bland Altman Limits of Agreement -4.7to 6.5 % BF. The newly created regression equation demonstrated a non-linear characteristic and displayed similar predictive ability R= .840, TE 3.0%BF, and Bland Altman Limits of Agreement of -6.1to 6.1 % BF. CONCLUSIONS: Anthropometric equations derived from various criteria yielded dissimilar results. Long utilized popular equations advocated in national accreditation schemes (ACSM, CSEP) show considerable bias compared to modern values obtained by current DXA technology. A new regression equation was created for female Canadian athletes 17-31yrs of age using skinfolds taught in the Canadian national professional certification program (CSEP).

The purpose of this study was to investigate coaches’ perspectives on the personal development of student-athletes through interuniversity sport participation. More specifically, the ways in which coaches understand and facilitate athletes’ personal development were explored. Eight semi-structured interviews were conducted with male and female head coaches of Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) programs. A qualitative approach, utilizing an inductive analysis of the data revealed: coaches’ difficulty in defining personal development and articulating the ways in which they facilitate opportunities for athletes’ personal development through sport; a lack of clarity of the methods used to measure athletes’ personal development; and the ensuing ramifications of university sport model reviews which are moving towards a high performance model of sport on athletes’ personal development. Findings from this study contribute knowledge and understanding of a previously little studied phenomenon – the personal development of student-athletes – and the perspectives from a relatively un-explored population, university head coaches.

Access to abstract permanently restricted to Ball State community only. / Access to thesis permanently restricted to Ball State community only. / School of Physical Education, Sport, and Exercise Science

PURPOSE: To establish the reliability of anthropometric and dual energy X-ray absorptiometry(DXA) techniques used to assess percent body fat (% BF)in female athletes; to establish limits for detecting the smallest real change in % BF associated with anthropometric and DXA testing;to evaluate the validity of commonly used % BF prediction equations recommended by national certification programs along with equations derived from Multicompartment (MC), and DXA, in female athletes; and to create a new DXA based regression equation for elite female athletes. METHODS:Female athletes aged 17-31 were recruited into the study and participated in the establishment of anthropometric reliability (N=20), DXA reliability (N=32), and /or skinfold validity (N=95) testing. Anthropometric testing consisted of measurements of skinfolds,circumferences, and breadths. DXA measurements were conducted using a GE Lunar Prodigy DXA which served as the criterion measure (% BF DXA). RESULTS: Excellent reliability for both anthropometric sum5 skinfolds (ICC= .997, %TEM=0.9 %) and DXA (ICC =.996, CV =1.13% BF) techniques allows for detection of smallest real differences of 2.2 mm and 721g in summed skinfolds (sum5) and fat mass respectively. The DXA based equation of Ball et al.(2004) displayed the greatest validity of existing equations R=.874, total error (TE) 2.9% BF, and Bland Altman Limits of Agreement -4.7to 6.5 % BF. The newly created regression equation demonstrated a non-linear characteristic and displayed similar predictive ability R= .840, TE 3.0%BF, and Bland Altman Limits of Agreement of -6.1to 6.1 % BF. CONCLUSIONS: Anthropometric equations derived from various criteria yielded dissimilar results. Long utilized popular equations advocated in national accreditation schemes (ACSM, CSEP) show considerable bias compared to modern values obtained by current DXA technology. A new regression equation was created for female Canadian athletes 17-31yrs of age using skinfolds taught in the Canadian national professional certification program (CSEP).

This qualitative case study explored the philosophy of servant-leadership in the context of sport, specifically from the perspective of an athletic leader, or servant-athlete. The primary purpose of the research was to identify traits of a servant-athlete—who for the purpose of this case study was Canadian professional basketball player Steve Nash—with the secondary purpose being to look at some formative childhood experiences, which may have shaped the servant-athlete’s leadership style. The primary method of data collection was an academic interview, with other sources of media being used to triangulate the findings. Findings suggested that the servant-athlete would be a team player, who leads by building relationships, practicing compassion, empathy, and self-awareness, and ultimately serving the needs of his teammates. It was found that childhood experiences with service—particularly related to the parents—played a large role in influencing the servant-athlete’s leadership philosophy. Rich commentary from the academic interview spoke to the themes identified, and provided evidence of servant-leadership being a viable leadership philosophy in sport. / Graduate / 0515 / 0534 / 0575 / 0384 / airritch@hotmail.com

This study examined the relationship between perfectionism and parenting styles among 194 male youth soccer players (M age = 13.64 years). Participants completed the Sport Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale-2 (Sport-MPS-2: Gotwals & Dunn, 2009) and the Parenting Style Inventory-2 (PSI-2: Darling & Toyokawa, 1997). Factor analyses conducted on PSI-2 data resulted in a single factor that represented positive aspects of parenting and was labeled child-centered parenting (cf. Maccoby & Martin, 1983). Correlational results revealed significant and theoretically meaningful relationships between various perfectionism dimensions and child-centered parenting. Cluster analyses supported the existence of three groups of perfectionists: adaptive-, maladaptive-, and non-perfectionists. Significant between-cluster differences on perceptions of child-centered parenting were obtained (ps < .001), with maladaptive perfectionists perceiving their parents as being less child-centered than both adaptive- and non-perfectionists. Results are discussed surrounding the potential impact that parenting styles may have on the development of perfectionism in youth athletes.

This autoethnographic study investigates the emotional and social dimensions of a coaching relationship from the athlete�s perspective. Autoethnography is an approach that draws on highly personalised biographical accounts in which authors tell stories about their lived experiences (Ellis & Bochner, 2000; Richardson, 2000) in order to place the "self within a social context" (Reed-Danahay, 1997, p. 9). Consequently, through the analysis of my memories and ethnographic notes, I analyse my experiences as an Olympic marathon runner and, in particular, the challenges I faced with my coach. In the process of investigating the emotional and social dimensions of the coaching process (which I have divided into three phases), I focus specifically on the creation of (1) my 'athletic identity', (2) the power relationship that developed between my coach and myself and, (3) my early retirement from running. In order to make sense of my experiences, I draw upon theories of identity (e.g. Bradley, 1996), Foucauldian concepts on 'power' (e.g. Foucault, 1980), and the literature addressing 'premature retirement' (e.g. Sparkes 1996; 2000). Finally, a conclusion summarises the main points made in addition to outlining their implications for further coaching research and practice.