The career planning, athletic identity, and student role identity of intercollegiate student athletes

The purpose of this study was to examine the career planning of university student athletes and relationships between their career planning and athletic and student role identities. Two retrospective in-depth interviews were held with four male and four female university student athletes. Participants entered university with vague or nonexistent career objectives and invested heavily in their athletic roles. In the latter years of their college career, the participants discarded their sport career ambitions and allowed the student role to become more prominent in their identity hierarchies. The current findings support Brown and Hartley's (1998) suggestion that student athletes may invest in both the athlete and student role identities simultaneously and that investing in the latter may permit the exploration of nonsport career options.     

残疾大学生运动员的运动同一性与运动定向的关系研究

通过对31名残疾大学生运动员和31名大学生运动员的问卷调查,发现残疾大学生运动员的运动同一性和运动定向的各个指标之间都存在显著相关,这点与大学生运动员不同。研究还发现,男女残疾大学生运动员在运动同一性和运动定向上的特点不同;残疾大学生运动员和大学生运动员相比,在运动同一性上也存在不同特点;残疾大学生运动员在社会同一性上的强度低于大学生运动员。研究结果证实了提出的两个假设,即社会同一性和自我同一性与运动定向之间存在显著正相关,在排他同一性得分高的运动员在消极情感上得分也高。     

“But a champion comes out much,much later”: A sport development case study of the 1968 U.S. Olympic team

Increasing attention has been given to the effective development of elite athletes. In this inquiry, the authors used a historical case study to ascertain the ways elite athletes were developed in a different era of sport in the United States. Using the attraction, retention, and transition frameworks, the factors that fostered the development of athletes from the 1968 Summer Olympics were drawn out through oral history interviews. In total, interviews with 59 U.S. Olympians were conducted. The results reveal how the athletes experienced supportive recruitment and retention environments, were able to manage the difficulty of developing elite talent, and encountered both challenges and opportunities transitioning through and out of elite sport. This analysis demonstrates how sport development principles are diverse in their temporal relevance and reinforce the practical implications meant to serve the modern athlete. Further, at least some sport development principles could remain constant regardless of how context and elite athlete experiences evolve in the future.     

Female athlete endorsers: Determinants of effectiveness

In drawing from social role theory and the match-up hypothesis, the purpose of this study was to determine influential variables regarding the effectiveness of female athlete endorsers. A 2 (gender appropriate/gender inappropriate) × 2 (sport related product/non-sport related product) experiment was conducted with 296 participants from four different universities throughout the United States. Results indicated that type of sport had little effect on credibility measures. Further, the athlete's sport had no effect on athlete-product fit. The most important aspect relative to purchase intentions was the product being endorsed, not the sport in which the athlete competed. Results are discussed in terms of practical implications and theoretical considerations.     

Identity regulation in the North American field of men’s professional ice hockey: An examination of organizational control and preparation for athletic career retirement

Quality of adjustment to athletic career retirement is dependent, in part, on athletic identity salience, or the degree to which one defines themself in the athlete role. Researchers, however, have seldom explored how athlete identities are shaped and reshaped by organizations and managers prior to retirement. Consequently, the purpose of this study was to examine identity regulation in the North American field of men's professional ice hockey. Results from the study indicate that managers regulated a bipartite athletic identity, defined by performance excellence and beneficence; a largely self-directed, non-sporting alternative; and a nascent merger between the two. Further, regulation was found to limit individual development and, in turn, preparation for athletic career retirement. In an effort to assist athletes in developing identities that are more conducive to retirement and individual long-term well-being, the author suggests that organizations and managers in professional ice hockey challenge and reform extant practices and modes of regulation.     

Soccer

Female athletes are at least twice as likely to sustain an anterior cruciate ligament injury than male athletes. The underlying cause of ACL injury is multifactorial. However, several researchers have identified knee joint laxity as a possible contributing factor. The purpose of this study was to provide a comparison of knee joint laxity between male and female collegiate soccer players and male and female non‐athletes. Thirty‐nine (19 male, 20 female) apparently healthy, collegiate athletes from the University of Texas at El Paso's 2001‐2002 women's intercollegiate soccer team and men's club soccer team, and forty (20 male, 20 female) non‐athletic students volunteered to participate. All participants were tested bilaterally using the KT‐1000 MEDmetric knee joint ligament arthrometer. Three tests were used to determine anterior laxity: passive displacement, active displacement, and the Lachman test. The mean passive displacement, mean active displacement, and Lachman (only for the left leg) were significantly lower for the athletic group than for the non‐athletic group. There were no significant differences found between males and females for the passive and active drawer tests. However, females had significantly more laxity than males in the Lachman test. These findings suggest that strength and conditioning may play a more significant role in knee joint laxity than the sex of the individual.     

Sports officials’ intention to continue

With governments in many western countries implementing sport policy programmes directed at increasing levels of participation, stress is being placed on the capacity of sport systems to provide sufficient numbers of appropriately accredited officials. However, with declining numbers of officials, particularly early career officials, sport organisations are also facing management problems in relation to the retention of existing officials. Using a quasi-experimental 2 × 2 field-based research design this study explored the efficacy of organisational support aimed at increasing retention of early career sports officials. The research addressed two questions: (1) Do stressors of officiating, commitment and organisational support predict the intention of early career officials to continue officiating? and (2) What is the efficacy of organisational support in increasing the intention of early career officials to continue officiating? The results support previous research that stressors and commitment explain intention to continue. Intention to continue was found to be a stable construct that was not influenced by an organisational support programme. Despite significant zero-order relationships between organisational support and intentions to continue, organisational support explained no additional or unique variance above that explained by commitment and stressors of officiating. The results provide the basis for further research as well as insights for developing organisational support and retention strategies for sports officials.     

Collegiate athletes and career identity

Given the unique experiences of collegiate athletes and the need to facilitate their transition as they complete postsecondary education and join the workforce, the present study sought to evaluate a group-administered career development program at a US university focused on preparing students for the transition into professional life upon graduation. Utilizing the quantitative portion of the Life After Sport Scale, we surveyed National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I student athletes to examine the relationship between attending the career intervention sessions and career-athlete identity. Results suggested that attending one or more program session workshops was not significantly related to career-athlete identity, while student gender had the strongest association with this potentially important construct in student athlete career development. Research and practice implications of these findings are discussed.     

A “leaky pipeline”?: Factors affecting the career development of senior-level female administrators in NCAA Division I athletic departments

National governing bodies, international sport federations, and national Olympic committees continue to struggle to attain minimal levels of female representation. Sport organizations in the United States are no exception. Despite the fact that more women work in intercollegiate athletics than ever before, the number of female assistant and associate athletic directors is declining. As such, fewer women are in the “pipeline” to achieve the position of Athletic Director. The purpose of this study was to identify factors that may influence women's career development in intercollegiate athletic administration. Twenty assistant and associate athletic directors were interviewed about their career paths, experiences, and goals. Results suggest strong interpersonal relationships with supervisors and mentors and access to professional development activities aided in participants’ career advancement. Factors attributed to perceptions of gender and professional value incongruence affected women's career choices and opportunities for advancement. Theoretical and practical implications are also discussed.     

“It's Cheesy When They Smile

Building on previous research in which we provided an opportunity for female college athletes to construct their own photographic portrayals, this study explored young female athletes' perceptions of the college athlete photographs. Fifty-two girls participated in focus group interviews where they viewed and discussed the images. The young athletes particularly liked images they perceived to show authentic athletes (e.g., in athletic settings, with appropriate sport attire), images they could relate to due to personal experiences, and images that reflected competent and passionate sportswomen. Images perceived as revealing a lack of motivation, poor sporting attitudes, and nonathletic poses generally were disliked. Images depicting multiple social identities (e.g., an athlete in a dress) were controversial and generated much discussion.     

Differences in Attitude Toward the Concepts “Male,” “Female,” “Male Athlete,” and “Female Athlete”

Abstract

Attitudes of seventh-grade, tenth-grade, and university male and female students (N = 264) were assessed, using a semantic differential technique, toward the concepts “male,” “female,” “male athlete,” and “female athlete.” Factor analysis of variance (nested design), with repeated measures over the four concepts of the evaluative dimension, revealed that the subjects were more positive in attitude toward those concepts identified as athletic and female. Multifactor analysis of variance indicated a hierarchy of approval which placed the concept of the female athlete in the most favored position, followed by female, male athlete, and male. Post-hoc analysis (using Scheffé α = .001) showed significant differences between all four concepts with these exceptions: between female athlete and female and between female and male athlete. Perceptions of activity-potency established the male athlete as most active-potent, followed by male, female athlete, and female.     

"It's cheesy when they smile:" what girl athletes prefer in images of female college athletes

Building on previous research in which we provided an opportunity for female college athletes to construct their own photographic portrayals, this study explored young female athletes' perceptions of the college athlete photographs. Fifty-two girls participated in focus group interviews where they viewed and discussed the images. The young athletes particularly liked images they perceived to show authentic athletes (e.g, in athletic settings, with appropriate sport attire), images they could relate to due to personal experiences, and images that reflected competent and passionate sportswomen. Images perceived as revealing a lack of motivation, poor sporting attitudes, and nonathletic poses generally were disliked. Images depicting multiple social identities (e.g., an athlete in a dress) were controversial and generated much discussion.     

Female athletes,women's sport,and the sport media commercial complex: Have we really “come a long way,baby”?

The 2012 London Olympic Games were heralded as the “Year of the Woman” as every delegation sent a female athlete to compete in the games, and nearly 45% of all athletes were women. Indeed, sport participation amongst girls and women is currently at an all-time high, and these sportswomen deliver remarkable athletic performances. However, female athletes and women's sport still receive starkly disparate treatment by the sport media commercial complex compared to male athletes and men's sport. This review documents these qualitative and quantitative differences and discusses the negative impact this differential coverage has on consumer perceptions of women's sport and female athletes. Additionally, the author examines explanations for these differences. The review concludes with suggestions for future research and strategies for change.     

大学生职业决策困难问卷在运动员群体中的应用——以内蒙古自治区运动员为例

为检验《大学生职业决策困难问卷》在运动员群体中的适用性,以内蒙古优秀运动队7个运动项目177名在役运动员为对象进行调查分析。结果发现,对项目4反向计分、删除项目28后该问卷具有良好的信度和效度,达到测量学要求,可以作为运动员职业决策困难问卷。结果还表明,内蒙古自治区优秀运动员总体上存在较多职业决策困难;男运动员比女运动员面临更大职业决策困难,具体表现为职业规划缺乏,职业信息、自我信息及社会环境信息不足,情绪不适。     

An Examination of Psychosocial Correlates of Eating Disorders Among Female Collegiate Athletes

With female collegiate athletes, we examined the relationship of eating pathology to body image concerns, weight pressures, sociocultural internalization, and mood state. Multivariate analyses revealed that the symptomatic and eating disorder groups were similar on seven of eight weight pressures, three of four mood states, on internalization, and on five of six body image measures; in all instances, these two groups reported more pathological scores than the asymptomatic athletes. Except for pressures from coaches, the psychosocial variables differentiated the groups, correctly classifying 79% of the cases. These findings suggest that athletes symptomatic of eating disorders report similarly high levels of disturbance across a wide range of psychosocial risk factors, and both groups warrant prevention and treatment efforts.     

运动性心律失常研究现状与前景

运动心脏作为运动员所特有的＂高功能,高储备,大心脏＂一直被认为是运动员良好体能状态的重要保障,但在运动训练监控中我们发现一些运动员或多或少存在某些心脏结构改变和心律失常现象,往往影响运动员的系统训练和竞技水平的提高,常常困扰着运动员和教练员。运动医学研究也显示,在大运动量训练与反复大强度运动后运动心脏细胞与亚细胞的形态结构与功能代谢发生了某些失代偿性改变,引起运动性心肌微损伤,而且,右心房、右心室及内膜下心肌组织是运动心脏对大运动量训练与反复大强度运动的敏感区域,又称易损部位。尽管目前运动性心肌微损伤现象已为人所知,且运动性心律失常发生也与运动性心肌微损伤有关,但其病因、病理及发病机制尚不十分明了,运动员心肌微损伤与运动性心脏意外的发生很难早期诊断、预测和防治。针对优秀运动员潜在心脏隐患的调研也证实优秀运动员存在较高的心律失常风险,且专项训练年限长的运动员更为常见,一些运动员因此而退赛,甚至退役。运动性心律失常已经成为影响运动员体能、健康以及正常训练比赛的重要原因之一,制约了部分优秀运动员竞技水平和比赛成绩的提高。部分退役运动员留下了永久性的心律失常。本文主要针对运动性心律失常的常见类型以及病理变化与发生机制进行了综述与探讨,并对未来研究前景进行了展望,希望开展运动性心律失常电生和分子病理的研究,规避运动场上心血管意外的发生,保障运动员健康、延长运动寿命。     

比较与启示：中美竞技体育发展保障研究——以运动员、资金、科技保障为例

本文主要采用文献资料、专家访谈、实地调查等方法，对中美竞技体育运动员服务保障、项目资金保障、科技保障三方面进行比较。结合我国竞技体育发展规律和实际，认为我国竞技体育发展可借鉴美国成功经验，包括：树立“以人为本”理念，完善运动员服务保障体系；优化项目资金来源渠道与分配机制，扩大资金产出效益；加强跨区域交流合作，提升科技研发能力；等等。     

Untangling the Links among Athletic Involvement, Gender, Race, and Adolescent Academic Outcomes

Although previous research has established that high school sports participation may be associated with positive academic outcomes, the parameters of the relationship remain unclear. Using a longitudinal sample of nearly 600 Western New York adolescents, this study examined gender- and race-specific differences in the impact of two dimensions of adolescent athletic involvement ("jock" identity and athlete status) on changes in school grades and school misconduct over a two-year interval. Female and black adolescents who identified themselves as "jocks" reported lower grades than those who did not, whereas female athletes reported higher grades than female nonathletes. Jocks also reported significantly more misconduct (including skipping school, cutting classes, having someone from home called to the school for disciplinary purposes, and being sent to the principal's office) than nonjocks. Gender moderated the relationship between athlete status and school misconduct; athletic participation had a less salutary effect on misconduct for girls than for boys.     

Trends in the Selection of Coaches for Female Athletes: A Demographic Inquiry

Abstract

Data were collected from 335 collegiate female athletic directors utilizing a questionnaire designed to assess trends in selecting coaches for female athletes between 1974 and 1979. These demographic results revealed: (a) a 37% increase in the number of coaches for female athletes, (b) a greater increase at the assistant (229%) rather than head (8%) coach level, (c) a substantial increase in male coaches (724) in comparison to their female counterparts (44), (d) a significant decline (294) in female head coaches, and (e) a large increase in the number of male head coaches (437). As the bases for this present investigation, current practices and affirmative action strategies were discussed (i.e., gender employment trends, de facto discrimination, federal civil rights legislation). Possible explanations of these findings were offered.