This study examined the validity and reliability of the Extended Version of the Multidimensional Sportspersonship Orientation Scale (EMSOS; Stornes & Bru, 2002; Vallerand, Briere, Blanchard, & Provencher, 1997) for use among college athletes. The problem addressed by this study was the need for a well substantiated tool which demonstrates reliable and valid assessments of sportspersonship attitudes among U.S. collegiate athletes. Measuring tendencies towards good sporting behavior is valuable and necessary for the on-going study of the phenomenon of sportspersonship. There was a gap in the literature, however, as no instrument specific to the measurement of sportspersonship tendencies among U.S. college athletes had been validated for use among that population. This was a case study involving a Catholic, liberal arts, residential, NCAA Division II college in New England, with an enrollment of approximately 2,000 students and a student-athlete population of 352. The survey was administered at team meetings by a research assistant not affiliated with the athletics program. The participants were assured of the anonymity and confidentiality of their responses and their ability to terminate participation at any time and for any reason without repercussion. Results indicated that the EMSOS demonstrated acceptable validity and reliability among most subscales and as an overall instrument. The exception included one subscale, that of the “negative approach”. This subscale relates to participating in sport for extrinsic reasons, making excuses for poor performance, and being a poor sport. The negative approach subscale had unacceptable reliability and very weak correlation to the corresponding subscale, indicating weak construct validity. In addition, it appears that the addition of the sixth subscale (instrumental aggression) to the original version of the tool (the MSOS), improved the psychometrics of the instrument. Sportspersonship factors that emerged from the principal component analysis included “social convention & respect for rules/officials”, “instrumental aggression”, and “respect for opponents”. Relationships between demographic variables and the global sportspersonship index were examined both with the EMSOS intact as well as with the “negative approach” subscale removed. These results, both with and without the “negative approach” subscale, suggested that male athletes, contact sport athletes, team athletes, and athletes with 15 or more years of involvement in competitive sports are more likely to have a negative sportspersonship orientation. The data also indicated that class year, age, and scholarship status did not necessarily result in different sportspersonship orientations. This current study supports a modification of the EMSOS to exclude the “negative approach” subscale. This recommendation is made based on the problematic reliability and validity findings of that subscale. This study should provide researchers and practitioners with the knowledge that the revised EMOS appears to be a valid and reliable instrument that can be used to assess the sportspersonship orientations of U.S. collegiate athletes. The complexities and paradoxes surrounding the evaluation of sportspersonship are discussed in detail. Suggestions for future research to further explore sportspersonship in the collegiate setting are also provided.

The outcome of this research has been to gain insight into the processes of bidding for New Zealand hosted sports events with a particular focus on understanding the factors that make a successful bid. It investigated the perceptions of the two parties associated with an event bid: the event bidders and the event owners. The research has also compared and contrasted the international findings with the New Zealand findings and a model of the event bidding process (Targeted Model), from the perspective of the local government event bidder, has been developed.Of the international research that had been done on event bidding the majority had been focused towards identifying the success factors when bidding for high-profile mega-events such as the Olympic Games. At the local level, the literature review identified that no such research had been conducted on event bidding within New Zealand. This lack of research presented the opportunity to gain an insight into the event bidding process within New Zealand. Due to the competitive nature of event bidding, New Zealand event bidders tend to work in isolation and there is no collective understanding of those factors that secure a bid. This research has overcome this isolation and presented a collective understanding of the success factors.Using the grounded theory methodology, common success factors and a model of the event bidding process emerged from the data. Common success factors that were frequently mentioned by event owners and event bidders included the need for government support, providing adequate event infrastructure, previous event management experience and providing quality information. The event owners tended to focus on those factors that ensured the successful delivery of the event. In addition, the event bidders mentioned common success factors that enhanced the bid: previous bidding experience; partnerships and relationships; bid leadership; research; providing quality information; using figureheads; making an emotional connection with the decision makers.The Targeted Model identifies the critical stages in the bidding process from the perspective of the New Zealand local government event bidder. An important step in event bidding is the "Bid Development Stage" where the event bidders are attempting to fulfil, and in most cases, exceed the criteria presented by the event owners. Event bidders who achieve the state of "Best Fit" - the desired outcome of the bid process where the event owners' conscious needs and unconscious desires are best met by an event bid - will succeed in winning the bid.The significance of this research is that it is the first of its kind in New Zealand, from which further research on event bidding will be able to compare and evolve from. One of the outcomes of the grounded theory methodology is that the findings are useful for the participants. It is envisaged that the results from this research will have practical applications for the events industry as it provides useful insights to the factors that win a bid and clearly models the bidding process.

The outcome of this research has been to gain insight into the processes of bidding for New Zealand hosted sports events with a particular focus on understanding the factors that make a successful bid. It investigated the perceptions of the two parties associated with an event bid: the event bidders and the event owners. The research has also compared and contrasted the international findings with the New Zealand findings and a model of the event bidding process (Targeted Model), from the perspective of the local government event bidder, has been developed.Of the international research that had been done on event bidding the majority had been focused towards identifying the success factors when bidding for high-profile mega-events such as the Olympic Games. At the local level, the literature review identified that no such research had been conducted on event bidding within New Zealand. This lack of research presented the opportunity to gain an insight into the event bidding process within New Zealand. Due to the competitive nature of event bidding, New Zealand event bidders tend to work in isolation and there is no collective understanding of those factors that secure a bid. This research has overcome this isolation and presented a collective understanding of the success factors.Using the grounded theory methodology, common success factors and a model of the event bidding process emerged from the data. Common success factors that were frequently mentioned by event owners and event bidders included the need for government support, providing adequate event infrastructure, previous event management experience and providing quality information. The event owners tended to focus on those factors that ensured the successful delivery of the event. In addition, the event bidders mentioned common success factors that enhanced the bid: previous bidding experience; partnerships and relationships; bid leadership; research; providing quality information; using figureheads; making an emotional connection with the decision makers.The Targeted Model identifies the critical stages in the bidding process from the perspective of the New Zealand local government event bidder. An important step in event bidding is the "Bid Development Stage" where the event bidders are attempting to fulfil, and in most cases, exceed the criteria presented by the event owners. Event bidders who achieve the state of "Best Fit" - the desired outcome of the bid process where the event owners' conscious needs and unconscious desires are best met by an event bid - will succeed in winning the bid.The significance of this research is that it is the first of its kind in New Zealand, from which further research on event bidding will be able to compare and evolve from. One of the outcomes of the grounded theory methodology is that the findings are useful for the participants. It is envisaged that the results from this research will have practical applications for the events industry as it provides useful insights to the factors that win a bid and clearly models the bidding process.

Thesis (M.S. in mechanical engineering)--Washington State University. / Includes bibliographical references.

Inaug.-Diss.--Rostock. / Lebenslauf. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.S. in mechanical engineering)--Washington State University, August 2010. / Title from PDF title page (viewed on July 30, 2010). "Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering." Includes bibliographical references (p. 105-108).

[Abstract]: Research has shown that a significant percentage of sporting injuries can be attributed to the sporting surface. The most serious of these injuries require surgery, for example, to correct knee ligament damage, a condition which involves expensive procedures and lengthy post-operative rehabilitation. The responsibility for meeting the costs of these injuries is not restricted to the player or the team; there is an unnecessary burden on society in terms of overtaxing an already encumbered health system.A correlation between knee injuries and the traction properties of the sporting surface has been identified by Dr John Orchard, a recognised expert in Australia for sporting injuries. Turf traction referred to in this thesis is a term relating to the shoe and sporting surface interface and reflects the maximum amount of torque a studded sporting shoe can impart on the surface before the integrity of the surface is compromised. Current equipment to measure turf traction properties has limited accuracy and repeatability. This thesis reports the development of a device which measures turf traction with improved accuracy, repeatability and operator safety in comparison with existing commercially-available equipment.The design described in this thesis comprises a rotating ground-engaging ‘foot’ driven by a DC motor to provide the required torque for traction measurement, and this torque is continuously monitored using a load cell via an idler sprocket in the drive train. A digital load indicator displays and transmits torque data, and a programmable controller automates the test sequence. A permanently-installed laptop computer analyses, displays and records the traction data. The mechanical design includes a chassis which provides convenient movement across a playing surface and also convenient transport between sporting surfaces.The design automates only those measurement processes that require a high degree of accuracy and repeatability. Non-critical actions are operated manually to maximise simplicity and minimise development costs. Commercially available technology is used wherever possible within the design to eliminate specialist maintenance skills or knowledge. Software was developed to analyse, display and record the traction data and produce a traction profile which is unique for this type of equipment. A full patent has been granted on the device (encompassing function, design and performance) to facilitate commercial development by the Queensland Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries.An evaluation of the accuracy and repeatability of this machine is described and several experiments were undertaken to analyse its ability to compare and differentiate turf species from the traction results. For torque measurements within the expected operating range of 50 to 100 Nm a maximum error of ±1.28% has been established.It is demonstrated that the device meets the design objectives of accuracy, repeatability and operational safety. It has been used within a national Horticulture Australia project to determine best practices for sustainable and safe playing surface of Australian Football League sports fields.

Thesis (M.S.)--State University of New York, Brockport, 2002. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 45-49).

The purpose of this study was to determine how predicting ability in a ball catching task changes with age, and, to explore the predicting abilities of children with the developmental coordination disorder (DCD). / There were 157 children between the ages of 5 and 12 participating in the first portion of the study. Of these children, 46 were 5 to 7 years of age and served as controls, in the second portion of the study, for 40 5 to 7-year old children with DCD. / Predicting ability was tested by having the children watch a video of a boy throwing a ball to three locations around them. Each location was seen at four different viewing times for a total of 60 trials. / Results for both ANOVAs revealed that as more visual information became available, predictions were more accurate. It was also evident that at the early viewing times younger children did not predict ball flight as well as older groups. Similarly, children with DCD predicted more poorly at most viewing times compared to their non-DCD peers. / Similar results were found for gender in the analysis comparing DCD and non-DCD children. At the early time periods males predict more effectively than females. / Thus the data point to the instances where experience is a crucial factor in predicting ball flight.

The purpose of this project was to explore the injury experiences of female amateur British rowers located within a symbolic interactionist framework. The study intended to ascertain the major injury-risk factors and inform future practice. This follows the logic of previous researchers who have identified a culture of risk in sporting subcultures (Nixon, 1992) and have presented evidence of injuries related to participation in rowing (Bernstein, 1995; Edgar, 1999). A typology is presented identifying the key risk factors in rowing. A questionnaire was administered to rowers during the 1997 regatta season. The themes identified from this questionnaire were explored further through a period of participant observation in two rowing clubs, and semi-structured interviews conducted with members of both clubs and their coaches. The findings identified that it jury should be considered as part of a broader experience of illness in sport. The participants in the study had limited recognition of their vulnerability to illness and injury as a result of their involvement in rowing. The major risk factors appeared to be the high level of commitment expected of the rowers, pressures from significant others within the subculture (in particular the coaches), and inadequate medical support for amateur athletes. Illness and injury are considered to be embodied and emotional experiences, affecting the athlete's body project (Shilling, 1993). The stigma of such fatal flaws (Goffman, 1969; Sparkes, 1996) has the potential to disrupt the individual's sense of self as athlete andlor as female, which occasionally led to compensatory behaviour. It is suggested that coaching practice needs to be more humanistic than performanceoriented Furthermore, non-orthodox, complementary health care is recommended to offer women a more supportive environment for taking control of their own medical practice. Finally, it is believed that there is a need for greater dialogue between sociologists of sport and other sport scientists and medical professionals in order to develop a more holistic approach to working with sports participants.