This study investigated the factors that were influential in the college selection process of NCAA Division I, II and III softball players. It also investigated the differences between the influential factors for student-athletes at Division I small institutions, medium institutions, and large institutions. The participants in this study consisted of 21 teams or 323 female collegiate softball student-athletes and the instrument used was the Influential Factors Survey for Student-Athletes. The top five influential factors were the school offers specific major of interest, academic reputation of college, coach's personality/style, academic facilities (library, computer labs, etc.), and the opportunity to play early in career. The academics section of the survey was deemed most influential by the softball student-athletes in this study. Differences were found within the college selection process of softball student-athletes at Division I, Division II, and Division III institutions (p < .05). Division I student-athletes viewed athletics as more influential than Division II student-athletes. Division II student-athletes viewed academics as more influential than both Division I student-athletes and Division III student-athletes. Division II student-athletes viewed social atmosphere as more influential than Division I student-athletes and also revealed that Division III student-athletes viewed social atmosphere as more influential than Division II student-athletes. Division I student-athletes viewed coaching staff as more influential than Division II student-athletes and Division III student-athletes. Division II student-athletes viewed financial aid as more influential than Division I student-athletes and Division III student-athletes. Differences were also found within the college selection process of softball student-athletes at NCAA Division I small, medium, and large conferences (p < .05). Division I, large school student-athletes viewed athletics as more influential than Division I, medium school student-athletes and Division I, small school student-athletes. Division I, small school student-athletes viewed financial aid as more influential than Division I, large school student-athletes. It can be concluded form the current study that softball student-athletes feel academic factors are the most influential in selecting a college or university to attend. / School of Physical Education, Sport, and Exercise Science

There is little research specifically examining fast-pitch softball pitchers. However of the few studies completed, pitchers have been reported to exhibit a high incidence of injury. How and why these pitchers are suffering from injuries has not been elucidated.The purpose of this study was to investigate the injuries occurring to collegiate softball pitchers and factors that may influence these injuries such as demographic, pitching, training, and injury information.A cross-sectional survey of collegiate softball pitchers from Divisions I, II, and III was conducted using InQsit, a web-based survey system. Instructions on how to complete a web-based survey was sent and completed over a two-week period, by 181 Division I, II, and III collegiate softball pitchers. The survey was composed of questions addressing: 1) demographic information, 2) pitching and game data, 3) training program information, and 4) injury reporting.The results showed that demographic information, pitching and game data, and training were not statistically significant (p<0.05) in relation to injury. Among the 131 reported injuries, 36 were acute, 92 chronic, and 3 unspecified. Of the 92 chronic/overuse injuries, 10 were Grade I, 30 Grade II, 39 Grade III, and 13 Grade IV. Of the total injuries, 80 were a direct result from pitching, with 36 relating to the shoulder and 17 to the lower back. Among the injured pitchers, 109 took Non-Steroidal AntiInflammatory Drugs, 140 used modalities, 11 received surgeries, and 95 saw additional specialists. This study revealed that a high percentage (72.8%) of collegiate pitchers are suffering injuries across the nation and more research focused on this area is needed. In addition, coaches need to continue to be informed of ways they can improve the health and training programs of their pitchers. / School of Physical Education

Thesis (M.S.)--Eastern Illinois University, 2004. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 72-81). Also available online (PDF file) by a subscription to the set or by purchasing the individual file.

Thesis (M.S.)--Eastern Illinois University, 2004. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 72-81).

No description available.

Participation in athletics is a popular pastime and form of entertainment. Children often begin to specialize in one sport at a young age in an effort to excel, which increases physical stress and the potential for injuries. Athletes participating in overhead sports are at increased risk of upper body chronic injuries, in part because the shoulder is an unstable hypermobile joint. Posture may also be affected in these athletes because of the demands placed on the upper body. The purpose of this study was to measure the upper body posture in a sample of Division I collegiate volleyball and softball athletes to investigate the prevalence of postural abnormalities and their relationship to pain or injury. Twenty-one Division I collegiate female athletes (seven volleyball; fourteen softball) who participated in their sport during the fall 2014 to spring 2015 seasons were studied. Athletes completed a pain and injury questionnaire, after which individual upper body posture measurements were made. Measurements included resting bilateral scapula position, head position, and shoulder position. An iPad mini camera was used with a commercial application (PostureCo, Inc.) to perform a photographic plumb line posture assessment with photographs taken in anterior, posterior, and lateral views. Posture analysis revealed a high prevalence (85.7 %) of forward head posture in this sample. Forward shoulder was noted in 42.9 % of the athletes and abnormal horizontal scapula position appeared to occur more frequently in the dominant arm (71.4 %) than in the non-dominant arm (47.6 %). Chi square tests determined that there was no statistically significant relationship between posture abnormalities and self-reported pain in this group of athletes. Results of this study -- although preliminary -- should be used to inform future research to investigate potential relationships between posture and pain/injury in overhead athletes.