Cognitive behavioural strategies and anxiety in elite orienteers

The primary purpose of this exploratory field study was to examine the use of cognitive behavioural strategies by highly skilled orienteers prior to and during competition. A secondary purpose of the study was to investigate whether differences in the level of qualification in orienteering is related to state anxiety. The subjects were divided into three classes with respect to their international and national records. The first two classes (A and B) were composed of international and national level athletes. The third class (C) included orienteers with unknown international records. Examination of the use of behavioural cognitive strategies during competition indicated that all orienteers reported a moderate use of mental imagery, above moderate use of inner talk and a focus of attention on present action rather than past or future. The other major findings were that prior to competition, superior orienteers reported use of higher self‐efficacy, more positive outcome expectations and more task demand orientation than their less successful counterparts. Top orienteers coped more successfully with pre‐competition anxiety by lowering their anxiety to a more moderate level prior to the actual performance.     

Altitude and wind effects on long jump performance with particular reference to the world record established by Bob Beamon

An analysis of long jump performance, including both the approach and aerial phases, is applied to Bob Beamon's legendary leap at the Mexico City Olympic Games of 1968. It is shown that the combined effects of altitude and wind assistance yielded an increment in the length of the jump of about 31 cm, compared to a corresponding jump at sea level under still air conditions. The main factor is shown to be the increased sprinting speed attained under favourable conditions of wind and altitude.     

Iron status in Winter Olympic sports

Iron status was surveyed amongst 92 Winter Olympic sport athletes from Nordic and Alpine skiing, figure and speed skating and ice hockey. Haemoglobin and serum ferritin values were obtained by physicians as part of a monitoring programme, since iron deficiency would have an adverse effect on maximal performance. Four (7%) of 56 men were anaemic (Hb < 14.0 gdl^‐1) and three (8%) of 36 women had haemoglobin values less than 12.0 gdl^‐1. Nine men (16%) and 14 women (39%) had prelatent iron deficiency (serum ferritin < 30 ng ml^‐1). Ice hockey had the lowest while Nordic skiing had the highest incidence of sub‐optimal iron status. A total of 50% of Nordic women skiers had prelatent iron deficiency and 7% were anaemic. An equal percentage of women speed skaters were low in serum ferritin as well. Only one of 20 male ice hockey players was low in serum ferritin. These results suggest there would be value in instituting screening procedures for iron status in Winter Olympic Sports.     

Influence of a critically oriented methods course and early field experience on preservice teachers' conceptions of teaching

In recent years there has been a growing interest in arming physical education teachers with critical pedagogies. The purpose of this study was to determine the influence of a critically oriented methods course and early field experience (EFE) on 20 preservice teachers' (PTs) conceptions of the teaching–learning process. Data were collected using the critical incident technique and a reflective questionnaire. They were analyzed by employing the analytic induction method. Results indicated that the inward focus of the methods course and EFE on the analysis of teaching had a considerable influence on the PTs. Conversely, the outward focus on curriculum studies as well as four permeating themes (elitism, racism, classism, and sexism) appeared to have virtually no impact on them at all. Possible reasons for and implications of these findings are discussed.     

Moral thinking,sports rules and education1

The purpose of this study is to resolve ‘moral conflict’ in sport and to present a better approach with respect to right actions for sports participants. While acknowledging that there are many positive values or principles (e.g. Olympism) in sport, some ‘moral conflict’ in sport might still arise and therefore cannot be easily resolved. By introducing Hare's two levels of moral thinking (i.e. intuitive level and critical level), I first clarify the question ‘Why do moral conflicts appear?’ That moral conflicts may arise normally is because people or philosophers tend to think that moral principles ought to be simple and general. In the general situation, it would be fine to follow these kinds of principles when there is no conflicting situation. But in a particular context, there might be a problem. It would be impossible to resolve a conflicting problem if we do not think critically. Second, I suggest that ‘keep the rules’ can be seen as a prima facie principle or duty for sports participants. However, this prima facie principle may not be sufficient or appropriate to resolve the problem of conflict by using the intuitive thinking, since one might face a conflict between ‘keep the rules’ and ‘not to keep the rules’ and s/he cannot select in between. Thus, critical thinking is needed. Third, I try to differentiate critical thinking from intuitive thinking. Critical thinking aims not only to select the best set of prima facie principles for use in intuitive thinking, but also to resolve conflicts between them. So, if we are able to think critically, a prima facie duty sometimes can be overridden by other more important duties (sound and ethical) in a particular situation. However, as not all sports participants are capable enough to think critically, moral education regarding how to develop athletes' ‘critical thinking’ in sport is needed. It may be recommended that virtue ethics play an important role in sport not just through initiating participants into rule‐following but also in cultivating certain dispositions and educating their desires. As it is, what we also need is a good sports education system which can enlighten people toward a better understanding of sport and its values.     

体育教师实践性知识研究

方法：采用自编的《体育教师有效教学行为》问卷对120名中小学体育教师施测,再结合访谈法和观察法,对中小学体育教师实践知识的特性、形成及影响因素等加以研究。目的：通过对体育教师实践知识的现状、影响因素的考察,增强教师的自尊和自信,促进教师的专业发展。结论：不同性别,职称、地域的教师的实践性知识有一定的差异性;教师实践性知识可通过自我反思和理论提升两种途径获得,教师实践性知识可通过建立学习共同体的方式加以传承;教育理念、自我的认识、教学策略以及反思是影响体育教师实践知识形成的因素。     

浅谈中国传统哲学与运动员心理训练的联系

文化的意蕴在人们的心理和行为上一直扮演着一个重要的角色,生活在不同文化规范下的人所具有的心理特征往往根植于当地的传统文化之中。中国文化的核心是传统中国哲学,文章通过借鉴学界人士对中国哲学的研究经验及结果,从哲学的角度浅析中国哲学与现代运动员心理训练的联系,从心理训练的内容、方法以及手段方面论证中国传统哲学对现代运动员心理训练有者深远的影响,其心理训练应该从分析中国哲学对国人的影响加以研究。     

民族体育校本课程教学评价体系的构建

文章运用文献资料研究方法,首先从当前校本课程实施的背景入手,分析了构建民族体育校本课程教学评价体系的必要性,并分析了构建民族体育校本课程教学评价体系的主要依据,最后从评价主体、评价对象、评价指标、评价方法四个方面构建起合理的民族体育校本课程教学评价体系。     

高校排球课教学中引进竞争机制

在排球课中引进竞争机制,并将排球技能与竞争手段相连接,目的在于培养学生顽强、拼搏和积极进取的精神,活跃课堂气氛,提高教学质量。