A pesquisa analisou os significados culturais que vem sendo atribuídos aos atletas com deficiência física que utilizam como prótese a cadeira de rodas, tentando perceber de que forma potencializam seus usos. O material empírico foi coletado, no período de dezembro de 2004 a janeiro de 2006, em eventos esportivos, nas rotinas de treinamento desses atletas e, também, em alguns encontros sociais com os dirigentes de três instituições que desenvolvem ações de apoio e incentivo ao esporte adaptado na cidade de Porto Alegre, locais onde garimpei informações através da observação participante. O estudo, que se caracteriza metodologicamente como uma análise qualitativa que utiliza estratégias de captação etnográfica, consiste em descrever e analisar alguns acontecimentos carregados de enunciados que atravessam o corpo desses atletas. Para desenvolvê-lo, utilizo-me da perspectiva teórica dos Estudos Culturais e Sócio-históricos do corpo e de autores e autoras que têm problematizado a noção de corpo no pósmodernismo a partir de pressupostos teóricos pós-estruturalistas. Com base nesse procedimento aponto, a partir da relação corpo-tecnologia, possibilidades de perceber esses corpos como híbridos, ciborgues, potencializados tecnologicamente, destacando, ao final, possíveis rupturas nos significados hegemônicos que os interpelam culturalmente. / This search analyzed the cultural meaning that has been attributed to the athletes with physical deficiency that use wheel chair as prosthesis, trying to notice that forms potentiate their use. The empiric material was collected in the routines of those athletes’ training and, also, in some social encounters with the leaders of three institutions that develop support actions and incentive to the sport adapted in the city of Porto Alegre, Brazil, places where I prospected informations through the participant observation. The study that methodologically is characterized as a qualitative analysis that it uses strategies of reception ethnographic, it consists of describe and to analyze some events loaded of statements that cross the athletes’ body. To develop it I use of the theoretical perspective of the Cultural and Partner-historical studies of the body and of authors that have been problematizing the body notion in the powder-modernism from presupposed theoretical powder-structualist. With base in that procedure, I appear starting from the relationship body-technologically, highlighting, at the end, possible ruptures in the hegemonic meanings that they question them culturally.

This dissertation is comprised of three main sections. The first chapter is a historical overview of the coach-athlete relationships literature within sport. The review was conducted to consider as much empirical evidence as possible concerning coach-athlete relationships. This chapter examines and provides a comprehensive overview of past and current literature examining the coach-athlete relationship. Historical origins, contemporary models, other influences on the relationship, and coach-athlete interactive behaviours were examined. The second chapter is a qualitative study, guided by a phenomenological method of research. Semi-structured interviews were conducted and recorded with 10 of the most successful team sport coaches within Canadian Inter-university Sport (CIS) from 2002-2012. Following in depth coach interviews, interpretive research and bracketing and themes were used to identify key components from the interviews. A final thematic structure disclosing five major dimensions contributed to common factors the role relationships play in coach-athlete success, identified as: recruitment, communication, caring, culture, and trust. Findings resulted in the creation of a tool that assists in visualizing the reciprocal relationships between revealed dimensions and themes within a coach-athlete relationship (R-CART; Reciprocating Coach-Athlete Relationship Tool). Finally a qualitative longitudinal case study was conducted examine the evolution of the CAR over a season and to assess the impact of a visual tool to help guide coaches in enhancing the CAR. Two post-secondary teams and head coaches were chosen, one female and one male. The process of the study included an initial modification process of the R-CART, initiating the R-CART through a multiple qualitative case study, data analysis of case studies and further amendment of the R-CART. Team athletes were provided with an 11-item Coach-Athlete Relationship Questionnaire (CART-Q) and additional comments to evaluate the coach-athlete relationship. Results from the CART-Q were considered and cross-referenced with the R-CART, coach interviews and interventions ensued based on the student-athlete feedback. The findings suggested subtle amendments to the model and the R-CART potentially is a trustworthy tool for coaches developing, maintaining, and repairing the coach-athlete relationship. Collectively, this dissertation has expanded the current knowledge of coach-athlete relationships, providing coaches with a prospective tool for advancement in the area of coach-athlete relationships. Future research should aim to examine the role coach-athlete relationships in different context, such as grassroots sport, and look at the potential impact of the R-CART in those areas. / Graduate / 2017-04-21

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The purpose of this study was to compare the torque generating capabilities and fatigue responses of female power athletes, female endurance athletes, and age-matched female non-athletic controls.

Adolescence is a time of increased control over food choices and dietary practices. Participating in high school sports or attending college presents unique nutritional concerns and health risks. Some female high school athletes have low energy availability (consuming inadequate calories to compensate for exercise energy expenditure), which can result in menstrual dysfunction, bone loss, and injury, also known as the female athlete triad (Triad). College students who consume diets low in fruits and vegetables and high in fast food are at increased risk for weight gain, chronic disease, and some cancers. Nutrition education interventions that were tailored to the participants' unique nutritional concerns yielded positive results such as increased Triad knowledge among female high school athletes and increased self-efficacy and readiness to change dietary behaviors among college students. Peer-led education was preferred by college students, but not by high school students.

Bobsled is an Olympic sport that has progressed from rudimentary in the 1800’s to highly technological replete with biomechanical analyses and investment in engineering from the world’s top engineers. Little to no investigation has been carried out on all the tracks and the interrelationship between various measures of starts and sled-travel down-track. Further, little quality research has been produced in the athletic characteristics required for high-level competition in bobsled. The present manuscript investigates the reliability of, and interrelationship between, start time, start velocity, split times, and finish times in World Cup 2- and 4-man bobsled competition. A strong relationship between the three variables is found, but further research is needed to elucidate the actual effects of the push start on the sled’s travel down-track because of several confounding variables. The present manuscript also investigates the tests commonly performed by the USA Bobsled and Skeleton federation as a means of talent identification and athlete monitoring. Strength and power tests may have more validity for discriminating between higher-level push athletes, so long as a sufficient threshold of running speed is present. Speed tests only discriminate well between lower level push athletes. Recommendations are made for modifying the current testing battery in such a way as to better identify talent and better monitor traveling athletes and informing coaching decisions about athlete preparedness for fast bobsled push starts.

The study was aimed to (1) explore how coaches and youth golfers perceive a healthy coach-athlete relationship and (2) what they do to facilitate such a relationship. This was made by doing a qualitative small-q study, interviewing coaches and youth-golfers using semi-structured interview guides. Two interview guides were formed to give the study both coach and athlete perspectives; the number of interviews was 10, with 5 coaches and 5 athletes participating. The coaches had between 20 to 37 years of experience coaching golfers and the athletes had been competing between 5 to 15 years nationally and internationally. The interviews resulted in two main themes reflecting the two objectives, (1) defining a healthy coach-athlete relationship and (2) strategies to facilitate such a relationship.  As the study hade both perspectives the conclusion could be made resulting with a definition of healthy coach-athlete relationship. The definition was as follows, A healthy coach-athlete relationship is the relationship that is coach-athlete centered, characterized by open and honest communication, mutual trust and respect, work-fun balance and caring altogether ensuring positive influences on athletes’ and coaches’ mental health and wellbeing, professional/athletic and personal development. There were nine strategies, such as, commit by doing what is agreed, dialogues contribute to learning and relationship, and skilfully balance serious work and fun. Both main themes reflected the 4C framework (Jowett & Shanmugam, 2016), which proves a connection between healthy and effective coach-athlete relationship. The discussion connects and compares the result to former research, such as the 4C-framwork and discuss, method, future research, implications, and sums it with a conclusion.

This study examined the engagement of male, college basketball players within the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). The literature review shows a connection between engaging in educationally purposeful activities and student retention. Because some student athletes, male collegiate basketball players in particular, struggle to graduate at the same rate as their fellow student athletes, student engagement offers one lens to examine the educational experiences of basketball players. The National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE) was used to collect levels of engagement along four identified variables. These four variables, part of Chickering and Gamson’s Seven Principles for Good Undergraduate Education, were relevant to the study as they were factors student athletes could control. These factors included: active learning, cooperation among students, interaction with faculty, and time on task. Student athlete responses were analyzed by three factors including NCAA athletic division, race, and highest level of parental education. This study found no significant difference in levels of engagement among the NCAA’s three athletic divisions. Additionally, no significant differences in engagement were found based on the highest level of education reached by the student athlete’s parents. Last, ethnic background presented only one significant difference within the active learning variable. The other three variables showed no significant difference based on race. The lack of statistical differences is iv meaningful as it signifies the strength of the basketball culture. The culture of this sport permeates all divisions of college basketball and transcends the background of its players. Thus, players who should display different levels of engagement based on institutional or background characteristics display similar levels of engagement

Wearable tech has become increasingly popular with elite level sports organizations. The limiting factor to the value of the wearables is the use cases for the data they provide. This study introduces a technique to be used in tandem with this data to better inform training decisions. K-means clustering was used to group athletes from two seasons worth of data from an NCAA Division 1 American Football team. This data provided average game demands of each student-athlete, which was then used to create training groups. The resultant groupings showed results that were similar to traditional groupings used for training in American football, thus validating the results, while also offering insights on individuals that may need to consider training in a non-traditional group. In conclusion, this technique can be brought to athletic training and be useful in any organization that is dealing with training multitudes of athletes.

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