This thesis is comprised of four studies. The first study aimed to examine the measurement invariance of the Coach-Athlete Relationship Questionnaire (11-item, athlete version CART-Q) employing a total of 1,363 athletes from Belgium (n =200), Britain (n =382), China (n =200), Greece (n =115), Spain (n =120), Sweden (n =169), and the United States of America (n =177). Multi-group mean and covariance structure (MACS) analyses supported the factorial validity of the CART-Q in a three-first order factor model across the seven countries. An examination of the latent mean differences of the CART-Q revealed that there are some variations in terms of the intensity athletes perceive in the quality of the relationship with their coach across the different countries. Overall, these results supply additional evidence of the psychometric properties of the CART-Q and highlight that it is a sound instrument that can be applied cross-culturally. The second study attempted to identify the cultural nuances that exist in Chinese coach-athlete relationships from an derived-emic perspective. Eight-hundred Chinese coaches and athletes completed the long and short versions of the CART-Qs. Results supported the reliability across the CART-Q versions examined, while confirmatory factor analyses only supported the factorial validity of the three-first order factor model of the 11-item CART-Q. The findings indicated that the corresponding aspect of complementarity may not best capture the Chinese coach-athlete behavioural interactions. Thus, it suggested that future research should consider conceptualising and measuring the coach-athlete reciprocal interactions in terms of coaches dominant behaviours and athletes submissive behaviours within Chinese sports context. The third study examined the nomological validity of the 11-item CART-Qs with 350 Chinese coach-athlete dyads. Big-Five personality traits and relationship satisfaction were employed as the criterion variables of coach-athlete relationships. Results revealed: (a) actor effects of personality traits, namely, conscientiousness, extroversion, and neuroticism, on both coaches and athletes perceptions of relationship quality and (b) partner effects of only athletes personality, namely, conscientiousness, extroversion, and neuroticism, on their coaches perceptions of relationship quality. The findings suggested that each relationship member s personality trait contributed independently to relationship quality, because no interaction effects of the coach s and the athlete s personality traits on relationship quality were found. In addition, the findings also supported both actor and partner effects of the coach s and the athlete s perceptions of relationship quality on their satisfaction with training. Based upon the relevant theory and findings generated from the previous three studies, the fourth and final study aimed to fill the gap in the relevant literatures by expanding the construct of complementarity to include coach-athlete reciprocal behaviours, namely the coach s dominant and the athlete s submissive behaviours. Study 4 included 4 phases reflecting the process undertaken to develop and validate the Dominant-Submissive Behaviours Scales. Phase 1 generated a pool of items based on the relevant literatures and feedback from the coaches and athletes; these items were then assessed by three panel groups including academic experts, coaches and athletes. In phase 2 and phase 3, confirmatory factor analysis was used to examine the construct validity, nomological validity, and internal reliability of the developed scales. As a result, the 10-item coach s dominant behaviour scale and the 10-item athlete s submissive behaviour scale were derived. Phase 4 employed athletes from five different countries to assess the cross-cultural validity of the submissive scale, and results supported the full structural invariance of the athlete s submissive behaviour scale across the five countries. Overall, results confirmed the dominant-submissive scale is a valid measure for assessing another dimension of complementarity in coach-athlete relationships. Collectively, this thesis has expanded the current knowledge of coach-athlete relationships to a broader social-cultural context by recruiting coaches and athletes from eight different countries across two continents. It is therefore plausible to conclude that the conceptualisation of the 3+1Cs model and the CART-Q seem to be universal across diverse cultures at a generic level. However, future research needs to continue discovering the universals as well as the variations of human behaviours in the content and the quality of coach-athlete relationships. Key Words: Chinese, dominant, submissive, coach-athlete, relationships, cross-cultural, CART-Q

The aim of this thesis is to produce a substantive grounded theory of junior-to-senior transition and as a result of this work, to provide knowledge and guidance for coaches, sport psychologists and other personnel supporting young aspirant athletes. Underpinned by a social constructionist philosophy, the research programme was designed to capture and interpret the social world of the participants and to interpret the perceptions derived from their own lived experience of the transition. The thesis consists of three studies which, in a concatenated programme of research, are predicated one upon another. In order that understanding in social research can be advanced, the development of theory requires several rounds of fieldwork, analysis and publication (Stebbins, 1992,2006). Thus the building of theory took place over the initial two studies, the first of which involved the in-depth interviewing of nine participants from individual sports (M age = 24.5 years, S. D. = 4.3 years). As a consequence of this exercise, rich data were collected, depicting the participants' experiences of the juniorsenior transition. Grounded in these data, a preliminary model of junior-to-senior transition was constructed using Strauss and Corbin's (1998) guidelines for grounded theory analysis. More specifically, the resultant model revealed a cyclical process: of learning, identity development and progress at transition. Inception of the process is characterised by immersion in the post-transition environment during the pre-transition phase, in which significant observational learning occurs via the use of more senior role models. This process leads to the identification of discrepancies between the actual (or junior) and ideal (or senior) self. This promotes a period of adjustment in which the behaviours relevant to senior status are incorporated within the self, bringing about a sense of readiness, or ability to cope with the transition. In essence, the athletes had sought to structure their pre-transition environment to represent that which they would encounter post-transition, thereby generating stability for their self-identity. The modification of identity, through the adjustment of behaviours and roles, predicted a competitive breakthrough, at which point the athletes began to think about the subsequent step at senior level, and hence the cycle of immersion, learning and adjustment continued. (Continues...).

In Sweden athlete schools, where students are attending in terms of optimizing their athletic careers in correlation with their studies, are a widely spread phenomena over the country and the system is included within the ordinary school system. This study aims to examine how the subject Physical Education and Health (PEH) is taught at athlete schools in comparison to how it is taught in classes with ordinary upper secondary school students. This study is based on interviews with eight teachers from two different Swedish schools. The results show that teachers do adjust their teaching in order to achieve quality teaching to give the athletic students optimized possibilities to improve. The results show different teacher perspectives about what knowledge that is prioritized. Admittedly, the teachers confess having problems with whether they assess these students on their previous skills or if they actually learn new skills during their PEH. Hence, this study serves the purpose of revealing the importance of developing new and individualized strategies on how to form an optimized educational environment and quality teaching for those students.

Few areas of modern sport are as misunderstood in popular and academic literature as that of retired professional and elite athletes. While the subject has been studied, the case of the retiring athlete has yet to be fully explored in a detailed, qualitative, and interdisciplinary study focusing on nuanced contexts affecting the quality of an athlete's exit from sport. Utilizing 3 participant groups--29 elite athletes (16 sports, 18 males, 11 females), 9 professional sport administrators, and 8 sport media journalists--over an 18-month period, extensive semi-structured interviews resulted in 1,436 raw data themes that constituted 13 direct, 3 indirect, and 3 emerging philosophical contexts. Significant direct contexts emerged including health, social support/influence, and preretirement counseling. Unexplored indirect contexts include athlete's relationship with media narratives, corporate sport structures, and consumers. Emerging philosophical contexts included issues of fear, mortality, bodily awareness, and shifting identities. Positive ideology, appreciation, and predisposed conditions such as having realistic perspective, and a knowledge of self were noted. Participant group responses and all 19 contexts were noted for their interdependency. Hypotheses included that socially-constructed and cultural ideas exist about retired athletes and are embedded in perceptions of fame and fortune associated with the role of professional athlete. Results indicated that considerations of micro and macro social processes of athlete commodification (especially immediacy in production/consumption by the corporate sport and media/fan nexus) contributed to the quality of their transition. Cultural narratives and mythologies about athletes-as-heroes--including ways in which the athletes themselves internalize these popular ideas--produce a system in which elite athletes are often unprepared for life after sport. Analysis of the data suggested that role residue and mortality themes were present. A longitudinal portion confirmed the significant affecting contexts and corroborated self-identity factors. However, identity-as-project was aligned with extended transitions and eventual return to emotional satisfaction. Suggestions for reconsideration of retired elite athlete's sociocultural and economic roles were included as ambiguity in responsibility remained prevalent. Significant contributions of the study include application of data that offers behavioral, social, and cultural scientist insight to the transcendent challenges that constitute fluid and emerging human conditions when individuals move from one life condition to another. Additional contributions suggest social costs for disposing of transitioning athletes.

Background: The incidence of eating psychopathology in athletes is considerably higher than in the general population. Facilitating the early identification and successful management of eating problems in this group is therefore essential. Objectives: The thesis aimed to improve our empirical understanding of the identification and management of eating problems in athletes. Three areas were investigated. First, a measure of compulsive exercise was evaluated as a method of identification of eating psychopathology in athletes. Second, the thesis explored coach methods of identification and management of eating problems among their athletes. Finally, athlete experiences of disclosing and seeking treatment for eating disorders were explored. Main findings: The Compulsive Exercise Test was found to be a useful measure in screening for eating psychopathology in athletes. Track and field coaches relied heavily on the physical symptoms of disordered eating when identifying potential eating problems in athletes. Coaches described difficulties in identifying eating psychopathology in athletes, and in signposting athletes to appropriate support. Individual differences in the perceived value of disclosing an eating disorder were discovered among athletes currently seeking treatment. Lastly, athletes described struggling to engage with their eating disorder treatment programme, particularly where exercise was restricted or reduced. Implications: The findings suggest a need for greater support, education and resources for coaches and sports professionals in identifying and facilitating treatment access among their athletes. The Compulsive Exercise Test may be one way to assist sports professionals in identifying athletes with elevated levels of eating psychopathology. Athletes may be more willing to engage with treatment programmes when they are closely involved in goal setting and their exercise and sporting commitments are incorporated where possible.

v anglickém jazyce (abstract in English) This thesis discusses the very topical issue of the status of professional athletes. The answer to the question whether the exercise of a professional sporting activity falls within the definition of dependent work in accordance with the Labor Code is currently still unresolved. Although there are strong arguments in favor of the subordination of at least part of the legal relations in professional sports under the labor legislation, the current situation is exactly the opposite. The vast majority of athletes today carry out their activities as self-employed persons. In this respect, the practice in the Czech Republic differs from the majority of other, not only European, countries where athletes normally have the status of an employee and possess the corresponding rights. This practice was recently explicitly allowed by the Supreme Administrative Court, stating that despite all the similarities, such activity is so specific that it defies the notion of dependent work. Czech law does not currently include any regulation of this issue, whilst it is evident that the current wording of the Labor Code is in fact inapplicable to the specific relationships in professional sports. It is therefore no wonder that the Czech sport clubs take advantage of the option not...

Thema works: Comparison of the annual training cycle in the selected Czech elite women in sprinting Student: Pavlína Vostatková Supervisor: Dr. Aleš Kaplan, Ph.D. Aims: The aim of this study was to analyze the annual training cycle (RTC) in selected Czech elite women sprinters, in which the maximal performance in 100 m run was reached, and to compare the uniform training system and recommendations for sprinters of comparable level of performance with the reality of the training program of selected sprinters. The analysis focused on methodological procedure, application of selected special training indicators (STU), their volume and intensification in various stages of sports training. Methodology: The content analysis of training diary was used as a method of the thesis, in particular the annual training cycle, in which the sprinters achieved personal maxima in 100 m run. Thus RTC 1996/1997 and 1992/1993 in sprinter P. V. and H. B. were analyzed, respectively. In the training diaries selected general training indicators (OTU) and STU for sprinters in athletics were obtained and reviewed. Model values for the age category of 21-23 sprinters (Moravec, Hlína a kol., 1984) were used in the comparison of selected OTU and STU of the selected sprinters. The model values for the 19-year-old sprinter H. B....

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Master of Science / Department of Special Education, Counseling and Student Affairs / Fred Bradley / The purpose of this report is to review available literature that identifies various psychological issues collegiate student-athletes may face and how medical professionals, specifically certified athletic trainers (ATCs), are prepared to manage these psychological issues. Considering ATCs are in constant interaction with student-athletes in comparison to other medical professionals it is crucial that research is being completed to make sure athletic trainers are properly caring for student-athlete and acting quickly and appropriately to psychological issues. This report will review research on psychological aspects encountered by athletic trainers in contact with student-athletes, and; furthermore, the ATCs sense of comfort and competence in working with these issues. Questions may arise such as how well the ATC is able to assess the psychological issues and know when to assist or refer these matters, issues which may include training, competence, expectations, and ethical practice. Finally, the review of the research and literature in this area will lead to suggestions and implications for further research and continued understanding of the ATCs role in the psychological aspects of their work with student athletes.

The objectives in this study were to investigate dual career transitions experiences and the overall perception of the transition process of university student-athletes in a Swedish dual career program. Twenty-one interviews were conducted with student-athletes between 19-29 years (M=22.14, SD=2.52) at the end of their first study year, based on the holistic developmental model and the athletic career transition model. The interviews were analyzed based on the athletic career transition model (perceived demands, resources, barriers, coping strategies) as well as the overall perception, outcomes and personal meaning of the dual career transition of the first year. The results revealed that the student-athletes experienced simultaneous demands within the dimensions of life, and the biggest perceived demands  were the search of a dual career balance. The most mentioned resource was social support, and the student-athletes experienced the most barriers within the academic dimension. The most common coping strategy was coping with the athletic dimension. The overall perception resulted in perceived benefits, perceived challenges and lessons learned from their first year. The results for this study can be a part of the Swedish dual career research which can provide information in the development of Swedish guidelines on dual careers.