Ultimate is the fastest growing field sport in America. Created in 1968, forty-five years later the sport was still on the periphery of the mainstream but reached new heights in 2013 – two professional leagues, over 800 college teams and a broadcasting deal with ESPN – and the discussions throughout the sports’ history have never been as relevant. Self-officiation and the Spirit of the Game are the main tenets that make up the ethos of the sport and its community. These unique aspects differentiate Ultimate’s predominate culture from that of mainstream sports culture. This study shows the countercultural ties and survival of the ethos during the adolescent period of Ultimate’s evolution (1987-2010). It examines the progression of the community’s established grassroots culture and the governing body of the sport alongside the influx of young players with mainstream sports attitudes who bolstered certain organizers’ attempts to alter Ultimate in the hopes of gaining “legitimacy” through adding third-party officials, commercialization and corporate sponsorship.

The aim of this study was to examine which norms are applicable and how they are reproduced in two sports organisations. More specifically the aim was to find out how the leaders worked with gender roles and what message the organisations give out to young people. And at the same time, find out if there are similarities and differences between two different organisations, regarding norms and gender roles.  The study was based on observations and interviews. The observations were made during and after training in an ice hockey team and two gymnastic teams for girls nine to thirteen years old. The interviews were conducted with seven leaders and one senior ice-hockey player. The results have been presented and analyzed based on four key theoretical points, gender theory, gender stereotypes, the other sex, and deviate from the norm. The results showed the presence of existing gender norms and values. And both similarities and differences between the organisations. The leaders and the organisation's work with gender roles have also been presented as a part of the result. The results also show that the leaders and the organisations aren’t working with gender roles in sport.

Jonas, Buhr & David Nordin. (2011). Uppfattningar om futsal – En studie om futsal och etablering av idrott (Opinions on futsal – A study on futsal and establishing of sport) Bachelor Essay in Swedish. Umea: Umea university, Department of Education. Abstract The study is based on an assignment from Vasterbotten Football Association that because of poor participation in futsal activities wants to find out what clubs, the coaches and players in Vasterbotten think of futsal. The aim is to find out the opinions on futsal and what these opinions are based on. In addition, a literature survey to examine how sports grows and becomes established. Data were collected through interviews in major cities and its surrounding areas in Vasterbotten. The coaches and clubs opinions of futsal does not differ very much they both find that futsal is a fast, fun sport but in the end still just a complement to football. The players in the study believed that it was the same as indoor football and that they would have liked to have played futsal more than they do now. It did not differ significantly between the opinions of the interviewees. To establish a sport there are certain elements that may affect the development of a sport to different degrees. It is still sports culture which is the most important piece, because the prevailing culture in Sweden right now believes that futsal is a complement to football this cultural must change for futsal to successfully establish itself.

I Sverige finns en allmän uppfattning om att idrotten är god och har en positiv inverkan på såväl individ som samhälle. Däremot är idrottens roll komplex och forskningen på huruvida det finns en korrelation mellan idrottsdeltagande och upplevd självkänsla är mer delad. Denna kandidatuppsats syftar till att undersöka hur idrottare upplever att deras självkänsla har påverkats av den kultur och de normer som dominerar den idrottsliga miljön samt hur denna upplevelse eventuellt skiljer sig mellan kvinnor och män. Uppsatsens teoretiska ramverk utgår från socialpsykologiska teorier om självkänsla och hur sociala miljöer påverkar individen. Teorierna behandlar generell självkänsla, prestationsbaserad självkänsla, fysisk självkänsla, självkoncept och social identitet. Uppsatsen tillämpar en kvalitativ metod med semistrukturerade intervjuer med totalt sex respondenter. Givet uppsatsens genusperspektiv har intervjuerna fördelats på tre kvinnor och tre män. Resultatet visar inget tydligt mönster mellan idrottsdeltagande och generell självkänsla. Samtliga respondenter upplever att prestation och jämförelse är det som påverkat självkänslan i störst utsträckning. Den största skillnaden mellan de kvinnliga och manliga respondenterna gäller den fysiska självkänslan där kvinnorna påverkats mer av kroppsideal inom idrotten. Det mest utmärkande i uppsatsens resultat är den delvis normaliserade tystnadskulturen som finns inom idrotten. / In Sweden there is a general perception that sport is good and has a positive impact on both individuals and society. In contrast, the role of sport is complex and the research on whether there is a correlation between sport participation and perceived self-esteem is more divided. This bachelor thesis aims to examine how athletes experience that their self-esteem has been affected by the culture and norms that dominate the sporting environment. In addition, investigate how this experience possibly differs between women and men. The thesis theoretical framework is based on social psychological theories about self-esteem and how social environments affect the individual. The theories explain general self-esteem, performance-based self-esteem, physical self-esteem, self-concept and social identity. The thesis applies a qualitative method with semi-structured interviews with a total of six respondents. Given the gender perspective, the interviews have been divided between three women and three men. The results show no clear pattern between sports participation and general self-esteem. All respondents experience that performance and comparison are the factors that affect self-esteem the most. The biggest difference between the female and male respondents concerns physical self-esteem, which shows that women are more influenced by body ideals in sports. The most distinctive founding in the result is the, partially normalized, culture of silence that exists within sports.

The public health is detected to become worse and a lot can be connected to social issues among the population. Sports is believed to be a positive place and a measure to prevent different sorts of social issues such as social isolation. Should social politics consider the sports arena as a solution for problems like social isolation? Previous research depicts in high degree that the answer is yes in that question but the topic is discussed through different aspects. Some say that these are old anecdotes and praises while others say that a lot of research does not have trueworthy results. This is the main reason why we want to investigate social relationships in sport communities. This study has restricted the selection against men since research and statistics demonstrate that they are more lonely in higher degrees than women.The chosen method for this study is of qualitative approach and includes semi-structured interviews with eight men with sports backgrounds. We interviewed men with sports backgrounds to gain detailed answers from men that are familiar with and knows how it works in reality. The result shows that the old anecdotes and praises are mostly correct. Although there are some negative aspects in the result. For example we are talking about macho culture that will not allow men to talk freely about feelings. Another negative aspect is if you are not good at the sport it will be more difficult to create social relationships in sports communities. Even though there are some negative understandings from the results, the positive effects on social relationships in sports are much more. In sports communities both shallow and deep connections can be made, the trainer can be decisive when it comes to learning social skills from the sports world and gain skills that are valuable also when you left the sports.

Syftet med studien var att öka förståelsen för svensk elitidrottskultur och dess betydelse för elitidrottarnas upplevda psykiska hälsa. Detta genom frågeställningen "Hur ser elitidrottskulturer ut i olika lagmiljöer och vilken betydelse har den för mäns upplevda psykiska hälsa?". Teorier som använts var maskuliniteter av Connells, Bourdieus handlingsteori och sociala band av Scheff. Vi har använt en kvalitativ metod med hermeneutiken som metodansats följt av kvalitativa intervjuer med åtta elitidrottsutövande män. Resultatet visade att elitidrottskultur präglas av maskulina normer. Spelarna blir socialiserade in i kulturen där bötessystem, hierarkier och sociala positioner anses vara djuptrotade och påverkar spelarna både positivt och negativt. Analysen visar hur elitidrottskulturer kan förstås som ett fält av konkurrens som präglas av hegemonisk maskulinitet och hierarkier, vilket påverkar spelarna. Socialisering formar beteenden utan djupare reflektion och att bryta mot normer kan leda till skam. Analysen visar också att starka sociala band kan fungera som en skyddsfaktor för spelarnas psykiska hälsa. / The purpose of this study was to increase understanding of Swedish elite sports culture and its meaning for elite athletes perceived mental health. This was done through the research question "What does elite sports culture look like in different team environments and what meaning does it have for men's perceived mental health?". Theories used include Connell's theory of masculinities, Bourdieu's theory of practice, and Scheff's theory of social bonds. We employed a qualitative method with hermeneutics as a methodological approach, followed by qualitative interviews with eight elite male athletes. The results showed that elite sports culture is characterized by masculine norms. Players are socialized into the culture where fining systems, hierarchies and social positions are considered deeply rooted and affect players both positively and negatively. The analysis demonstrates how elite sports cultures can be understood as a field of competition characterized by hegemonic masculinity and hierarchies, which affects the players. Socialization shapes behaviors without deeper reflection and not following norms can lead to shame. The analysis also shows that strong social bonds can serve as a protective factor for players' mental health.

Магистерская диссертация состоит из введения, трех глав, заключения, списка литературы и приложения. В работе рассмотрены теоретические основы, отечественный опыт строящихся спортивных комплексов, новые направления концепций оздоровительных комплексов. Проанализирован район и микрорайон расположения планируемого физкультурно-оздоровительного комплекса. Определен источник финансирования, сформирован бюджет проекта, рассчитаны показатели экономической эффективности проекта. В заключении сформулированы основные выводы и обобщены результаты исследования. / The master's thesis consists of an introduction, three chapters, conclusion, list of references and Appendix. The article discusses the theoretical foundations, domestic experience in the construction of sports complexes, as well as new directions for the development of concepts of health complexes. The district and microdistrict of the planned sports and recreation complex are analyzed. The source of funding was determined, the project budget was formed, and the project's economic efficiency indicators were calculated. In conclusion, the main conclusions are formulated and the results of the study are summarized.

Bakgrund Viktklassidrotter och deras kulturella kontext har genom tidigare forskning påvisats utgöra en risk för ätstörda beteenden, något som beskrivits kunna förorsakas av idrottsliga villkor. Styrkelyft och tyngdlyftning är viktklassidrotter där viktminskningsstrategier nyttjas för en ökad konkurrenskraftighet. Coacher besitter en nyckelroll i att uppmärksamma och motverka ätstörda beteenden hos sina atleter, men det saknas ett djupgående perspektiv avseende hur de förhåller sig till viktminskningsregimernas påverkan på kvinnliga atleter. Syfte Studien avser att utforska coachers erfarenheter av och förhållningssätt till etablerade viktminskningsregimer och viktkontroll inom kraftsporten. Fokus ligger på coachers erfarenheter av att ha tränat damatleter inom de, historiskt sett, mansdominerade kraftsporterna tyngdlyftning och styrkelyft. Metod Semistrukturerade intervjuer genomfördes med nio kraftsportscoacher. Intervjuerna spelades in, transkriberades ordagrant och analyserades med kvalitativ innehållsanalys. Resultat Analysen resulterade i fem kategorier: - Viktminskningskulturen är ett normaliserat fenomen inom kraftsporten, - Kraftsportens villkor kräver användandet av viktminskningsmetoder, - Risk för att ätstörda beteenden utvecklas, maskeras och/eller undgår ifrågasättande, - Identitet och samhällets kroppsideal – bromsklossar för idrottslig utveckling samt - Coacherna saknar stöd och riktlinjer – lämnas ensamma i ansvarsfrågan. Fokus på vikt och viktminskning ansågs allmänt vedertaget inom kraftsporten, vilket medförde att ätstörda beteenden kunde maskeras och förbises. Konkurrenskraftighet beskrevs ligga till grund för viktminskningsstrategierna, berättigat både inom idrotten och utanför, där samhällets utseendenormer därtill försvårade idrottslig utveckling. Coacherna eftersökte interventioner för ökad kunskap i ämnet samt åtgärdsplaner för agerande när en atlet behöver professionellt stöd. Slutsats Kraftsportsatleter existerar i en miljö som ökar risken för dysfunktionella ät- och viktkontrollerande beteenden, och bedöms vara farlig för individer med sårbarhet för att utveckla ätstörda beteenden och ätstörningar. Interventioner behövs om inte kraftsporten ska riskera att bli en miljö där ätstörningar tillåts florera fritt. / Background Previous research has found weight-class athletes to be at risk of developing disordered eating, something that could be induced by the demands of the sport. Powerlifting and weightlifting are examples of weight-class sports where weight loss strategies are utilized for increased competitiveness. Coaches have a key role in recognizing and counteract disordered eating behaviors in their athletes, but an in-depth perspective on how they address the impact of weight loss strategies in female athletes is lacking. Objective The aim of the study is to explore coaches’ experiences of and approaches to established weight loss regimes and weight control within weightlifting and powerlifting. The focus is on coaches’ experiences of having trained female athletes in the historically male-dominated sports of weightlifting and powerlifting.  Method Semi-structured interviews were conducted with nine coaches. The interviews were recorded, transcribed verbatim and analyzed using qualitative content analysis.  Results The analysis resulted in five categories: - Weight loss culture as a normalized phenomenon within the sports, - The conditions of the sports require the use of weight loss methods, - Risk of developing, disguising and/or escape questioning of disordered eating, - Athletic development is held back by identity and society’s body ideals and - Coaches lacking support and guidelines – left alone in the matter of responsibility. The focus on weight and weight loss was considered widely accepted in the sports, which meant that disordered eating could be disguised and overlooked. Competitiveness was described as the basis for the weight loss strategies, justified both within the sport and in society, where society’s body-ideals also interfered with athletic development. The coaches requested interventions for increased knowledge on the subject and action plans for when an athlete needs professional support.  Conclusion Athletes in powerlifting and weightlifting exist within an environment that increases the risk of dysfunctional eating and weight control behaviors and is deemed dangerous for individuals with susceptibility to develop disordered eating behaviors and eating disorders. To avoid a setting where eating disorders flourish freely, interventions will be needed within the sports.