Dissertation submitted in partial compliance with the requirements for the Master’s Degree in Technology: Chiropractic at the Durban University of Technology, 2009 / Objectives: When we consider the body position of a field hockey player, the lumbar spine is always in a flexed position, which combined with rotational movements during various hitting and pushing techniques, increases the strain upon the spine and surrounding muscles, thus leading to low back pain. To determine the relationship between core strength and trunk extensor endurance relating to the incidence of acute low back pain in field hockey players. Project Design: The research project was in the form of a quantitative cross-sectional study, using human subjects. Setting: The research project occurred during the field hockey season (2008) with players who had acute low back pain. The players were clinically assessed and subdivided into necessary groups at the Chiropractic Day Clinic at the Durban Institute of Technology. Subjects: Adult, male patients, aged between 18 and 30 years of age, playing premier field hockey. Out of the thirty players, 12 players have played in the National u/21 squad, 7 players have played in a Junior National team and 11 players have played senior provincial field hockey. Outcome measure: This included three tests. Firstly, the absolute difference of pressure from the reference value of 70mmHg (prone) and 40mmHg (supine) was used as the outcome measure on a Pressure Biofeedback Unit and length of time (in seconds), a correct contraction of the core stability muscles was maintained. Secondly, the length of time (in seconds) for Trunk Extensor Endurance. Thirdly, repeated measures for NRS-101 and Quebec Back Pain Disability Scale for the duration of the research period. v Results: It was found that there was no statistical evidence or convincing trend to show that the training programmes (core stability and trunk extensor endurance) increased the subjects’ core strength or trunk extensor endurance in the time allocated, although there seemed to be a placebo effect in the Trunk Extensor Group, which showed improvement in some of the core stability outcomes. There was statistical evidence that the intervention (training programmes) reduced pain, according to the Quebec Back Pain Disability Scale (Quebec) score over time, and a non-significant trend suggested this according to the Numerical Rating Scale-101 (NRS). Since both groups’ NRS and Quebec scores were not significantly different at baseline, the difference can be attributed to the effect of the intervention. Conclusions: The results of this study found that the Trunk Extensor Endurance Group, that performed the trunk extensor endurance training programme, yielded better results in core stability and trunk extensor endurance. However, the Core Stability Group, that performed the core stability training programme, showed a quicker reduction in pain levels during the three week intervention period. Therefore, by combining both training programmes, future rehabilitation of athletes suffering from acute low back pain will be more successful. Sport performance of the athletes (field hockey players), through the proponents of swiss ball training, will also improve.

En l’absence de mesure précise et unique de l’efficience pour les joueurs de hockey, la présente étude a pour objectifs d’évaluer l’efficience des joueurs dans la Ligue Nationale de Hockey (LNH) et de montrer comment celle-ci peut affecter la décision de racheter le contrat d’un joueur. Pour ce faire, les statistiques individuelles des joueurs de la LNH pour les saisons 2007-2008 à 2010-2011 sont utilisées. Pour estimer l’efficience, la méthode de l’enveloppement de données (DEA) avec bootstrap est utilisée. Les inputs incluent le salaire et le nombre de minutes de jeu, alors que les outputs incluent la contribution défensive et offensive de chaque joueur. Pour estimer l’association entre l’efficience individuelle et la probabilité d’un rachat de contrat, une régression logistique est utilisée. L’analyse des données montre que parmi 3 159 observations, l’efficience moyenne est de 0,635. L’efficience moyenne est similaire pour toutes les positions et toutes les saisons. Un lien positif et fort est trouvé entre le nombre de points au classement général d’une équipe et l’efficience moyenne des joueurs qui la compose (coefficient de corrélation=0,43, valeur-p<0,01). Les joueurs avec une efficience plus élevée ont une probabilité plus faible de voir leur contrat racheté (rapport des chances=0,01, valeur-p<0,01). La présente étude conclut donc que la plupart des joueurs de hockey dans la LNH ont un degré d’inefficience non négligeable, qu’une efficience plus élevée est associée à une meilleure performance au niveau de l’équipe et que les joueurs efficients ont une probabilité plus faible de voir leur contrat racheté.

Although there have been many studies examining the factors involved in children’s risk of injury, there has been a dearth of research that examines specific individual parental factors in children’s risk of injury. This thesis examined how the attitudes, values, and beliefs of 119 Canadian minor hockey parents of children (aged 9 to 12 years) with respect to their decision-making regarding their children’s safe participation in hockey. Two studies are reported. The first study describes: (a) the development of a questionnaire that quantifies the constructs of perceived control, probabilities, values, risk propensity, competitiveness, and assertiveness expectancies; and (b) a sample of hockey parents in terms of their demographic characteristics and their attitudes, values, and beliefs regarding their children’s participation in minor hockey. The second study examined the relationships between these attitudes, values, and beliefs and a measure of their risk decision-making. Overall, results showed that (a) this sample of hockey parents tended to be well educated, and did not see themselves as being generally over-competitive or aggressive; (b) hockey parents’ attitudes, values, and beliefs regarding their children’s risk of concussion had very little predictive value or reliable connection with respect to their risk decision-making on behalf of their children; and (c) the most significant factors in parents’ risk decision-making were the opinions of their children, and the opinions of the doctors. The implications of these findings for future research and practice are discussed. / Thesis (Master, Education) -- Queen's University, 2012-12-21 16:12:00.221

A lot of young athletes have great dreams but only a few reaches the stars. Which ways make it possible for the dreams to come true? This study has made a small research on the Swedish NHL professionals have made their way to the NHL by looking at data about their choices during his career, and tried to see if there is any connection between their paths to every hockey player's dream, the NHL. Results of the study show that there is a anatla different ways to go, but some are more common than others.

This thesis seeks to understand how and if the popular claims that hockey is an integral part of the culture in Toronto and Montreal are referenced, oriented to, and/or negotiated in everyday life. Taking the cases of the moves of the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Montreal Canadiens from Maple Leaf Gardens and the Montreal Forum, respectively, the thesis asks: What can these similar cases tell us about the culture of the cities in which they occurred and, if it is possible, in what ways can the culture of the cities (as a shaping force) be made recognizable in the discourse generated in, around, and by the moves? The perspective taken is a 'radical interpretive' approach, involving a critical blend of interpretive theories and methodologies - including semiology, phenomenology, hermeneutics, and dialectical analysis - that aim to reflexively question the themes that the cases themselves bring to light. The thesis thus concerns itself with issues of cosmopolitanism, globalization, and modernity as well as the concomitant questions of identify, commitment to place, and practical social action in the modern city.

The aim of this research was to discuss about event management theory and how the Liiga (the major ice hockey league in Finland) team organisations could use this theory to improve their home game events. This topic has been divided into two research questions from which the first discusses the current situation and the other gives suggestions for future improvements for the Liiga team organisations. This research is conducted as a master’s theses and it has been conducted in years 2014 to 2016. In order to understand the research topic the general theory of event management has been told from the sporting event point of view. This theory has been divided into two different sections which are the five stages of event management and the operational strategies of event management. Answers for the research questions have been search with a qualitative research and its methods of interview and questionnaire, observation and content analysis. These methods and the way these have been used in this research are introduced after the event management theory. The data collected with the selected qualitative research methods has been introduced as empirical findings. These empirical findings are introduced a research method at a time and in a same order as the data has been collected. After introducing the collected data it has been carefully analysed. The analysis have also been divided into two section from which the first answers to the first research question concerning the current situation and the other the second questions concerning the future improvement that could be done. The first part of analysis has been made in a same chronological order as the event management theory has been written in order it to be easy to compere these two to each other. In the end the conclusions of this research and its research questions are introduced. Also the knowledge which this research is offering for the tourism industry and for its readers have been discussed. This are also a lot of different ways how this research could be continued and made further and these ways have been discussed as well. Last but not least the research has been viewed critically and the quality of it has been questioned.

Title: Public Relations tools and activities of ice-hockey team HKM Zvolen Goals: The objective is to analyze and appraise Public Relations tools and activities of ice- hockey club HKM Zvolen which are aimed at target group of fans. As a follow-up to the executed analysis and appraisal other possible solutions of effective communication with fans, that would lead to improvement of club's name, increasing its popularity among the public and mainly enlargement of fans basement connected with higher fans attendance of home games, will be suggested. Methods: The determinated objective is achieved by using analysis of documents and texts followed by descriptive analysis which were the base for creating summary of Public Relations tools and activities towards fans basement of ice-hockey club HKM Zvolen. To gain more detail information, which is not accessible to the public, cooperation with club's management in form of interview was very helpful. Results: The result of this paper is elaborated analysis and summary of PR communication of ice-hockey club HKM Zvolen with its fans during the previous season 2013/2014. On the basis of findings fan relations plan for long-term part of league for coming season 2014/2015 has been created. Fan relations plan was presented in front of management of ice-hockey...

Title: Importance of parental support in long-term sports training for children (chosen sports industry as an example) Objectives: Main goal of this work is to find out how much and how active parents are when it comes to sports training of their children and secondly, how much are they invested in overal development and education of their children. Methods: Empiric research is applied and for purpose of this work, mixed method of quantitative and qualitative research will be used. Currently, mixed research is understood as design research, where at least one quantitive aspect is combined with at least one qualitative approach, data collection or data analysis. Basic assumption is, that qualitative and quantitative approach combined allows better understanding of research problem, than only one of them (compare. Creswell a Plano Clark, 2007). Statistic methods will be used for data. Results: Interviews were done with parents of children (years 2010 - 2006). That means the oldest children were mome at the time. In these categories, parents are still very invested in many aspects. The parents visit matches of their children very often if not all the matches, they can come to Almost all the parents monitor the equipment their child uses and make sure the child has everything he/she needs for the...

THE COMPARATION OF SOLID AND UNSTABLE SURFACE EXERCICE ON 13YEARS OLD ICE-HOCKEY PLAYERS BY MYOTEST Objectives: Compare the effect of the course and exercises by using unstable surfaces with and without field accelerometer (Myotest). Methods: The exercise of a similar movement pattern was performed qualitative and quantitative comparison of the stress field parameters using the accelerometer. Quantitative stress parameters were evaluated for individual movements as mean values from a larger number of repetitions for intra- individual assessments. For comparison exercises were probands adapted from ongoing training process. Results: The results obtained during by testing shows that the measured power and performance weren't always exactly according to the hypotheses. The hypotheses were in some cases completely confirmed (eg VR lunge at the knees in the value of the force on the mat 994.4 N and Bosu 1154 N. The difference is 159,6 N, which is about 16%), in others completely rejected (eg KŠ kneeled in lunge was power value on the mat 730 W and on the Bosu 1172 W. Difference is 442 W, which is about 60%). Occasionally a situation where it was not possible hypothesis neither confirm nor reject (eg H2: the squat were measured performance values on the mat for the three probands negative (JP -70 W, VR...

Title: Ice Hockey Injuries in the Professional Ice Hockey leagues in Czech Republic Objective: The aim of this thesis is to investigate the incidence, types, severity and mechanisms of injury in Czech ice hockey players at the highest competition level during the season 2010/2011. Methods: Data were collected by the non-standardized six-side questionnair from 11 teams in the highest ice hockey league in Czech Republic for season 2010/2011. Findings: There were a total of 559 injuries, 18,4% injuries occured during praktice, 75% during games. The overall game injury rate was 57,4 per 1000 games. The most common injury was laceration in the face. Collision with an oponent, with the boards or fall on ice caused nearly 38% of injuries. As for severity, 45,1% injuries were classified as minor and 14,3% as major injuries. Of the 419 game injuries, 65,2 % occured in forwards, 28,1% in defensemen and 6,7% in goalkeepers. Keywords: ice hockey, injury rate, questionnair