<p>The overall aim of the study was to determine the opportunities and challenges NGOs encounter when using sport as a vehicle for development within the education system, in post-apartheid South Africa. A case study design has been chosen since it will offer real insight, showing how specific sports programmes work in specific contexts. Two NGOs, Grassroot Soccer (GRS) and the Extra-Mural Education Project (EMEP) constitute the cases, with an in-depth exploration of their work and the challenges they face. The study population includes employees of GRS, EMEP, target groups of the organisations and officials in the Department of Education. Key informants, including the head of research, managing directors, coaching/training staff at each organisation, officials in the Department of Education and community leaders were purposively selected to participate in the study. Data was collected by means of in-depth interviews, document reviews and observations. In-depth interviews were conducted with the head of research, managing directors, coaching and training staff at each organisation, principals and teachers of selected schools and community leaders. The analysis of the interviews started with the transcription of information from audio-tape recordings. Both pre-determined and emerging themes were noted. The results illustrated that although certain challenges were common to both organisations, others are unique.</p>

The purpose of this study was to compare health-related physical fitness of high school students in two schools that have different physical education programs. Argyle Academy has physical education 6 classes out of 7 days, and Riverside Park Academy has 3 classes out of 7 days. These two high schools are similar (e.g., size, geographical location, common feeder schools, and social economic status) and affiliated with the same school board. Students in the seventh, eighth, and tenth grade physical education classes were selected for testing in each school. Data from 102 students from Argyle Academy and 96 students from Riverside Park Academy were collected during an eight week period. Health-related physical fitness was assessed using the following test battery: sum of five skinfolds, waist to hip ratio, 20 m shuttle run, curl-ups, 90 degree push-ups, back saver sit and reach, and trunk lift. School group, gender, and grade comparisons were performed using a MANOVA procedure. The students from Argyle Academy demonstrated significantly better scores for the 20 m shuttle run and trunk lift, while those from Riverside Park Academy demonstrated significantly better scores for the curl-ups and 90 degree push-ups. There was no significant difference in the sum of five skinfolds, waist to hip ratio, and back saver sit and reach. This preliminary study has described and analyzed health-related physical fitness of students at two high schools. Recommendations for determining fitness levels of high school students are provided.

The purpose of this study was to enrich our understanding of gender equity issues in coeducational and single-sex physical education classes. Student and teacher perceptions were examined through interviews, written descriptions of critical incidents, field observations and document analysis. The participants included 65 students in coeducational grade eight classes, 84 students in single-sex grade nine classes, and the physical education teacher from a suburban high school. Through inductive analysis and constant comparison, themes emerged regarding the teacher's equity strategies, advantages and disadvantages of coeducational and single-sex classes, and students' roles in perpetuating and rejecting gender stereotypes. Aware of gender issues, the teacher generally maintained an equitable atmosphere, but he also played a role in perpetuating gender stereotypes. Students identified peer interaction, increased competition, and challenge as positive aspects of coeducational classes. Girls often favored the atmosphere of girls' classes, and high ability boys preferred the competition in boys' classes. Classes were seen as based on a male norm, and boys often dominated. Student beliefs and behaviors indicated that they both rejected and perpetuated gender stereotypes. Ability levels appeared to play an important role in student perceptions. This research illustrates the need for a continued emphasis on gender sensitive physical education programs to enhance both girls' and boys' experiences.

Girls' participation in physical education, sport and other physical activity was examined relative to their levels of Perceived Sport Competence, Body Attractiveness, Physical Self Worth and Social Physique Anxiety. Two hundred and thirteen grade 11 girls from two co-educational and two single sex Toronto high schools completed questionnaires designed to assess physical activity participation and these psychological attributes. T-tests verified that there were no differences on the psychological measures between the two types of schools. On the basis of the girls' responses, they were divided into non, low, medium and high participant groups. The relationships between physical activity participation and the selected psychological measures were analyzed by Pearson correlations. Analysis of Variance's (participant groups x psychological construct) determined where differences existed among participant groups. The results revealed that high level participants had greater Perceived Sport Competence, Body Attractiveness, Physical Self Worth levels than the participants at the lower levels. Social Physique Anxiety was unrelated to physical activity participation. Perceived Sport Competence was the best predictor of participation.

The role of preventative management strategies in the development of discipline in the gymnasium and the classroom has been well established (Doyle, 1986; Siedentop, 1991). However, little research has specifically investigated the complete range of discipline techniques used by teachers to prevent misbehavior and to regulate it after its occurrence. / This study described the discipline techniques used by secondary physical education teachers and compared them to Henkel's (1991) Physical Education Pupil Inventory (PEPCI) developed for elementary teachers. Eight high school physical educators were observed for four lessons each and were interviewed following the observations. Discipline techniques observed and presented in interviews were analyzed by deduction into Henkel's PEPCI categories. The techniques that did not fit into Henkel's categories were inductively analyzed to identify any new categories emerging from the observation or interview data. / The results revealed that secondary physical education teachers used a repertoire of 32 discipline techniques including 21 techniques from Henkel's (1991) PEPCI. The only PEPCI technique that was not employed by secondary teachers was "physically reprimanding". The discipline techniques were divided into three major classifications: anticipatory, tutoring, and punitive (Henkel, 1991).

Eight years after the passage of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (PL 105-17), there still appears to be gaps in the efforts to ensure that students with disabilities are given a free and appropriate public education. While the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 aims to create school environments where teachers and paraprofessionals are highly qualified for all students, the issue of having adequately trained paraprofessionals assisting in physical education continues to be ignored. The purpose of this study was to determine the basic profiles of paraprofessionals assigned to physical education and to conduct a needs assessment for training. Participants (N=76) were comprised of paraprofessionals from city and county public schools grades Pre K -12 in Northwest and East Central Indiana, and Northwest Ohio. A twopart questionnaire was given to paraprofessionals in the classrooms to assess current responsibilities in physical education as well as identify training needs they might have in physical education. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics, frequency counts, and measures of central tendency (means) to answer all research questions. Results indicated that paraprofessionals who assisted in physical education perceived themselves to be adequately trained despite not having much professional training. Paraprofessional responsibilities in physical education remained vague and unclear; however, results showed paraprofessionals were willing to receive training depending on training length of time and training topics offered. / School of Physical Education

As teachers and society become more comfortable with various technologies, it is likely that technology will be implemented in all areas of the educational curriculum as well as physical education. The purpose of this study was to determine the extent to which individual physical education teachers in public schools were using technology as a tool for their students' education. Individuals who were currently teaching physical education in public schools in Indiana completed the Computer Usage Survey on the web (N = 400). To determine types of technology used, potential uses for technology, difference in the implementation of technology by gender and teaching experience, usage of the Internet, and physical educators' attitudes toward technology, statistics including descriptive statistics, Chi-square (X ), and One-way ANOVA were used (p < .05). The results of this study show that physical educators were more likely to use PC computers (both desktop and laptop) over Apple computers. Participant responses demonstrated a high usage of hardware devices such as Printers, hard drives, and CD drives, however, 5.25 floppy drives, external hard drives, Hand-held computers (i.e. Pocket PC or Companion PC), Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs), and smart boards were rarely used by physical educators. A significant positive relationship resulted between use of technology at school and at home. Significant differences were observed between male and female physical educators in types of technology used and purposes for using technology. Use of technology was significantly lower in the experienced physical educators group. Most of the physical educators use the Internet and they usually use it for research and teaching/assessment ideas. Physical educators in Indiana believed that technology has an important role and can enhance their teaching with implementation of technology. The findings of the present study demonstrated that use of technology among physical educators in Indiana has been changed dramatically within 10 years; however, the result emphasized importance of technology training programs for pre-service and in-service physical educators. / School of Physical Education, Sport, and Exercise Science

There are many choices of specialists to be utilized in a sport medicine support staff. The effectiveness of any athletic training program depends on the organization and utilization of these specialists. The purpose of this investigation was to review current practices of accessibility, utilization, and compensation of sports medicine support staff at NCAA Division I, II, and III institutions. A random sample of 225 NCAA institutions equally stratified by level (Division I, II, 111) was obtained from the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) directory. A questionnaire was sent to 75 head athletic trainers in each of three NCAA divisions levels. Of the 225 questionnaires mailed, 178 were returned representing a 79% response rate.The accessibility and utilization of support staff was equally distributed with respect to gender and sports at all division levels. When examining the support staff, Division I had consistently higher accessibility and utilization rates than Division II and Ill. This study may assist athletic trainers to evaluate or update their program by reviewing current practices of accessibility utilization, and compensation of support staff. / School of Physical Education

The purpose of this study was to assess the effectiveness of an intentional, formal peer education program on the performance of psychomotor skills of 22 undergraduate students enrolled in an upper extremity assessment course. Using a randomized pretest-posttest control group design, student performance on a practical exam of psychomotor skills related to the orthopedic assessment of the wrist and hand was evaluated. Both the peer teacher and Approved Clinical Instructor (ACI) groups received an instructor-led introduction and practice of psychomotor skills in the traditional laboratory classroom setting. Participants in the peer teachers groups attended two one-hour review sessions over the course of two weeks that were staffed by upper division peer teachers, while participants in the ACI group attended similar sessions that were staffed by an ACI. There were no differences between the groups on the pretest scores as indicated by a t-test (p>.05). A repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) revealed a significant difference (p<.05) in the scores of participants of both groups on all tasks from the pretest to the posttest. ANOVA measures indicated no significant differences (p>.05) between the groups on any of the posttest tasks related to wrist and hand assessment. The Athletic Training Peer Education Assessment Survey revealed that most (n=8, 66.7%) of the students in the peer teachers group indicated that they felt less anxious when performing laboratory skills in the presence of peer teachers as compared to performing them in front of the classroom instructor, and most (n=7, 58.3%) felt more self-confident when practicing laboratory skills with a peer teacher. Over half (n=8, 66.7%) of the students also responded that being taught laboratory skills by peer teachers increased their interaction and collaboration with other students more than being taught by the classroom instructor. Peer education appears to be a valid teaching-learning method that may be incorporated into an athletic training education program as a means to foster the learning and performing of athletic training psychomotor skills, encourage collaboration among students, and decrease anxiety of novice learners. / Department of Educational Leadership

Anecdotal evidence suggests that caffeine ingestion (mostly in the forms of coffee and tea consumption) is prevalent amongst firefighters and yet there is no data on whether this behaviour should be identified, measured, or monitored. PURPOSE: The purpose of this experiment was to determine the physiological and psychophysical effects of caffeine ingestion during repeated bouts of simulated firefighter work. In a randomized, double blind, crossover design, ten healthy males (age 36 ± 9.8 yr, body mass 88.3 ± 5.7 kg, height 182.78 ± 3.9 cm, approximate caffeine use 492.8 ± 318.2 mg/day) completed three 10 min work bouts (WB) at an intensity one work load below ventilatory threshold wearing full Firefighter personal protective equipment (PPE) and breathing through a self contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) on two different occasions. One hour before exercise each subject ingested either a 6 mg•kg-1 of caffeine (CAFF) or dextrose placebo (PLA), as well as, 500 ml of water. During the work trials, expired gases were sampled for oxygen consumption ( O2), carbon dioxide production ( CO2), respiratory exchange ratio (RER), minute ventilation ( E), respiratory rate (RR), tidal volume (Vt), and total air consumed (AcVE). Core temperature (Tc), heart rate (HR), oxyhemoglobin saturation (% O2 sat), capillarized blood lactate (BLa), rating of perceived exertion (RPE) (10pt Borg), perceived thermal distress (PTD), and sweat loss were also measured. Physiological strain index (PSI) was calculated from HR and Tc values. Tc was significantly higher in all CAFF WB compared to PLA (37.83 ± 0.08 oC vs. 37.61 ±0.12 oC) (p ≤ 0.05). E and Vt were also significantly increased in CAFF whereas, RPE was significantly decreased (p ≤ 0.05). The elevated Tc values caused an increase in calculated PSI in the CAFF condition during exercise (p ≤ 0.01). CAFF increases in E and Vt also increased AcVE. In conclusion, a caffeine induced elevation in Tc caused increased strain as indicated by calculated PSI during repeated work bouts during exercise below ventilatory threshold wearing full PPE and breathing through an SCBA. Elevated Tc in the CAFF condition likely caused increases in E, Vt and AcVE. Thus, caffeine ingestion may have to be monitored in firefighters during work days.