‘Yes we are inclusive’: Examining provision for young people with disabilities in community sport clubs

The last two decades within Australia have witnessed a range of policies and strategies seeking to promote the inclusion of young people with disabilities within mainstream community sport clubs. Whilst research at an institutional level has highlighted the problems with mainstreaming agendas, few studies have examined how grassroots clubs, as key components of the supply side of inclusive provision seek to respond to such policy imperatives. In this paper, therefore, the authors provide a critical analysis of the ways in which clubs engage with inclusion policies in practice. Theoretically, the authors draw on the concept of policy enactment and educational inclusivity. Through analysis of semi-structured interviews with club volunteers, the findings illustrate three key areas. Firstly, the importance of individual volunteers in establishing and developing provision within clubs; secondly, the largely separatist nature of disability provision within clubs; and thirdly, that policies tend to encourage club to focus on narrow forms of participation that lead to competitive pathways and mirror the structure of mainstream sport. In the conclusion, the authors problematize the notion of inclusion presented in policy and practice, suggesting such imperatives do not encourage a holistic approach.     

Reliability and validity of a modified 3-minute all-out swimming test in elite swimmers

Critical speed (CS) testing is useful in monitoring training in swimmers, however, completing a series of time trials (TTs) regularly is time-consuming. The 3-minute test may be a solution with positive initial findings. This investigation examined whether a modified 3-minute test (12?×?25?m) could assess CS and supra-CS distance capacity (D’) in swimmers. A series of 12?×?25?m intervals were completed unpaced at maximal effort, interspersed with 5?s rest periods. The model speed?=?a e^{b t}?+?c was fitted to the data and integrated to calculate D’. The slowest two of the last four efforts were averaged to calculate CS. To assess reliability, 15 highly trained swimmers (9 females, 6 males) completed the 12?×?25?m twice within 72?h. Four measures were deemed reliable: peak velocity (0.01?m?s^?1; 0.5%, typical error and % coefficient of variation), CS (0.02?m?s^?1; 1.2%), D’ (1.22?m; 5.7%) and drop off % (0.70% points; 4.5%). To assess criterion validity, 21 swimmers (9 from reliability, 12 other) completed two competition races within 2 weeks of a 12?×?25?m in the same stroke. Traditional CS and D’ measures were calculated from competition performances (TT method). TT CS and 12?×?25?m CS were highly correlated (adj. R²?=?0.92, p?D’ values were moderately correlated (adj. R²?=?0.60, p?D’ accurately. The 12?×?25?m all-out swimming test is a reliable method for assessing CS and D’ in swimmers, however, the validity of D’ requires further investigation.