This thesis reports findings from a study that analyzed the sponsorship strategies, objectives, and benefits of the Canadian Hockey Association's women's ice hockey support program. There has been a notable increase in recent years in the number of women sport spectators and sport participants in ice hockey, which has increased the sport's potential for sponsorship. Women's ice hockey is Canada's fastest growing sport with approximately 40,000 females registered from coast to coast - an increase of over 400% in the last 10 years. (http://www. canadianhockey.ca). Although small in size compared to the men's program, (Women= 37,700, Men= 470,714) these numbers suggest that women's hockey is a good candidate for targeted sponsorship marketing approaches such as direct marketing and relationship marketing. Relationship and direct marketing are approaches to marketing and business communications that have emerged recently in the literature and can be used to enhance the benefits of sponsorship. Relationship marketing can be described as an integrated effort to identify, maintain, and build a network with individual customers and to continuously strengthen the network for the mutual benefit of all parties involved (McDonald and Milne, 1997). Direct marketing methods can be used to help identify, build and maintain relationships with customers and prospective customers using database technologies. According to Shani (1997), database marketing is a necessary tool to implement relationship marketing and involves the collection of information about past, current, and potential customers to build a customer database. The thesis study was designed to assess the marketing and sponsorship activities of thirteen major corporate partners involved in the women's program at the premier ($500,000+), broadcaster, or associate/program ($100,000+) levels. Eight corporate partners participated in the study. Interviews were conducted, in each case, in the offices of the respective corporations. Each interview was recorded and transcripts were prepared of the tape recordings. In addition to the audio recordings and transcripts, observations were made on-site and a wide range of sponsorship-related promotional materials were collected. The data were analyzed according to the corporate objectives, strategies and benefits obtained and the marketing & sponsorship methods that were utilized. Four major sponsorship objectives were found, ranging from traditional goals such as brand (and corporate) image & awareness and community involvement to more innovative objectives in sales and integrated promotions and advertising. Nine core corporate programs offered to the sponsors by the CHA are outlined in the thesis including: the Initiation Program; Skills Development Program; Experience a Dream; Fun Days; Medals of Achievement; Schools Program; PlayRight; the Coaching Certification, Development and Rewards Program; and Women in Coaching and Role Model Seminars. The research found a number of benefits of these core programs for the sponsors, including opportunities for relationship marketing, direct marketing, and niche marketing. Although for the most part CHA sponsors were very optimistic and supportive of the women's ice hockey program, there were a number of barriers and issues that concerned them. This research shows, however, that corporate partners for the most part were able to overcome these barriers and that they felt it was important to support the women's game of ice hockey in Canada.

No description available.

The purpose was to compare the blood lactate response and performance of varsity hockey players to recreational players, and to provide a shift by shift analysis of blood lactate accumulation in a simulated ice hockey task. Ten university, varsity players and ten recreational players performed a continuous aerobic treadmill test (VO2max), a 45 s Wingate test, and four trials of the Repeat Sprint Skate (RSS) test. Each RSS test consisted of four repetitions of a 91.4 m skate with repetitions initiated on 30 s intervals. To simulate game, competition, 5 min of recovery separated each RSS test. Results indicated: (1) performance of the varsity players was superior (p < 0.01) to that of the recreational players in the RSS test; (2) four shifts of the RSS test elicited similar peak blood lactate concentrations for the varsity and recreational groups; (3) change in blood lactate following 15 min of passive recovery was similar in the two groups, and (4) there was a significant relationship (&prop; = 0.05) between performance indices in the RSS test and corresponding variables measured in the 45 s Wingate test.

The purpose of this study was to measure the intensity and duration of ice hockey play for six university hockey players (three forwards and three defencemen) and to compare them with the results to a similar study published in 1976. Comparisons of heart rate output and time-motion characteristics between forwards and defencemen were examined as well as differences in intensity between practices and games. The players performed at significantly lower intensity, had less playing time per shift, and had less playing time per game than the players in the 1976 study. Both investigations had similar bench times between shifts. The forwards had significantly different time-motion characteristics from the defencemen but similar playing time intensity. The intensity of games was higher than practices in terms of on-ice intensity but similar in terms of total time above a threshold intensity ($ geq$ 70% of HRmax).

This study describes the biomechanics of the foot and ankle during the transitional and steady state skating strides using kinematic, kinetic, and myoelectric measures. A data set for five collegiate hockey players was completed (mean +/- SD: age = 21.8 +/- 1.9 years, height = 1.81 +/- 0.05 m, mass = 83.3 +/- 8.0 kg). Three acceleration strides and a constant velocity stride were examined on ice. An electrogoniometer at the ankle was used to measure angular displacement and velocity values. Myoelectric activation patterns were measured at the vastus medialis, tibialis anterior, peroneus longus, and medial gastrocnemius of the right lower limb. Kinetic pressure profiles were measured using piezo resistive fabric sensors providing accurate pressure measurement within the narrow confines of the skate boot-to-foot/ankle interface. Sixteen flexible piezo-resistive sensors (1.2 cm x 1.8 cm x 0.2 cm thick) were taped to discrete anatomical surfaces of the plantar, dorsal, medial and lateral surface of the foot, as well as to the posterior aspect of heel and leg. Repeated measures ANOVAs and Tukey post hoc tests found few significant differences among stride variables; however insights into the mechanics of ice hockey skating at the foot and ankle are given.

No description available.

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.

Anthropometric measures, physiological variables and skills tests were performed on subjects selected from the provincial KwaZulu Natai Junior Hockey teams in South Africa. The main purpose of this study was to establish a data base of norms for boy and girls in the UB, U14, U16, UI8 and the U2I age groups. The tests were done at the beginning and at the end of season. The anthropometric measures included height, weight, percentage body fat and lean body mass; physiological variables included sit-ups, push-ups, sit-and-reach (flexibility), broad jump, winder and bleep tests , and the skills tests comprised a wide range of ball skill tests. As expected, anthropometric changes were observed across the age groups, due to growth. Amongst the older age groups the girls had reached height and weight values comparable to elite female players , but only the boys in the U2I had reached their adult height and were slightly taller than the elite male players. There was no significant difference in the profile between the attack and defence players in the boys, but amongst the girls the defence players tended to be heavier and taller than the attack players. In the physiological and skills tests there was no difference between positional players. In the comparison between pre and end season to determine the effectiveness of the training programmes, there was a change in the anthropometric characteristics because of growth. However, the physiological and skill tests revealed no consistent pattern of improvement in the test results from pre season to end season. This study provides the first set of norms for male and female junior hockey players in South Africa. Further studies are required to expand upon and update the data in the current study. / Thesis (M.Med.Sc.)-University of Natal, Durban, 1997.

Darbo tikslas:teoriškai ir empiriškai išanalizuoti sportininko įvaizdžio reikšmę, sportininkui sudarant kontraktą su ledo ritulio klubu. Uždaviniai: 1. Aptarti ledo ritulininkams keliamus reikalavimus dėl įvaizdžio; 2. Išanalizuoti įvaizdį įtakojančius veiksnius; 3. Atskleisti su įvaizdžiu susijusių veiksnių reikšmę ledo ritulininko kontraktui. Tiriamieji klausimai 1. Kokia įvaizdžio vieta šiuolaikiniame sporte? 2. Kokie įvaizdžio aspektai svarbūs šiuolaikiniame ledo ritulyje? 3. Kokie įvaizdžio aspektai yra svarbūs sudarant kontraktus profesionaliame ledo ritulyje? Išvados 1. Galima išskirti šiuos ledo ritulininkams keliamus reikalavimus dėl viešojo įvaizdžio: draudžiami vieši pasisakymai ir interviu be klubo vadovybės žinios, yra reikalaujama dėvėti klubo aprangą (ypatingai esant išvykoje), kontraktuose yra punktas draudžiantis viešai skelbti vidines klubo problemas,yra reikalaujama laikytis etiketo normų. Taip pat dalis respondentų atsisakė nurodyti kontraktuose esančius viešojo įvaizdžio reikalavimus (greičiausiai tai siejama su kontrakto konfidencialumu). 2. Sportininko įvaizdį labiausiai įtakoja šie veiksniai: elgesys laisvalaikio metu, žiniasklaida, santykiai su treneriu, dalyvavimas socialinėse akcijose, asmeninis meistriškumas, klubas, kuriam atstovaujama, rūkalų bei svaigalų vartojimas, dažni konfliktai rungtynių metu, tautybė, pilietybė, šeimyninė padėtis, dažna klubų kaita. 3. Svarbiausi sportininko įvaizdžio aspektai, darantys didžiausią įtaką jo kontrakto... [toliau žr. visą tekstą] / The aim of the research: to analise theoretically and empirically the meaning of the image of a sportsman signing the contract with anice hockey club. Organization of the research. The aim of this diploma paper is to find out the influence of the image of a sportsman (a hockey player) on his contract. This study is required in order to make the sportsman aware of the possible behavior to maximize the usefulness of the contract. Moreover, this research will be helpful for the professional ice hockey clubs when it comes to adjusting a contract. Human resources will be used for the proper investigation. The target group consists of the most titled Lithuanian clubs players. Survey forms for collecting the necessary information are prepared. The analysis will make it possible to conclude about the determinant factors meaningful to the sportsman image formation and their influence on the successful contract. Ice hockey players were given the questionnaire including 26 questions about various aspects of forming the image of a sportsman. 29 respondents were questioned in total including the sportsmen from different clubs in Lithuania and abroad. After questioning, the findings were analised by making graphs illustrating the frequency of response distributions. Conclusions. The personal image of a sportsman is becoming more and more important in all fields of Lithuanian sporting life, including ice-hockey, in recent years. The image of a sportsman is quite a new and little studied... [to full text]

The purpose of-this investigation was to determine the effects of cognitive anxiety and physiological arousal on performance on a pre-determined motor task, and the application of the catastrophe model of anxiety and performance to women's field hockey. There were six subjects (three in group 1 and three in group 2). Cognitive and somatic anxiety values were measured before and after a one day competition using the Competitive State Anxiety Inventory2. Performance was evaluated before and after the one day competition using the motor task: shooting on goal. The data were analyzed using the ANOVA-Repeated Measures and thedifference among treatment conditions. It was apparent that physiological arousal, and the associated somatic anxiety, were not detrimental to performance on the pre-determined motor task when cognitive anxiety was low. However, when cognitive anxiety was high, performance on the pre-determined motor task was associated with catastrophic effects. / School of Physical Education