5105 research outputs found
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The Impact of Team Culture on Team Performance and Athlete Fulfillment
No full textMuch has been written and discussed about the importance of team culture and its positive impact on team performance. This study sought to go beyond the abundance of anecdotal evidence and measure the impact of team culture on team performance with tools designed to produce quantitative data. It also sought to analyze the impact of team culture on athlete fulfillment. The tools developed to measure team culture and player fulfillment used comprehensive scales to produce summary scores. Team performance was measured with the team’s win-loss record and the athlete’s opinion about the degree to which the team reached its potential. Coaches and others associated with team sports can use the results of this study to analyze the impact of team culture on team performance and player fulfillment. They can also use the tools developed for this study to analyze the strengths and weaknesses of their own team culture and determine how they can most effectively lead their teams
The effect of athletes having the “look good, feel good, play good” mentality on performance
No full textThe study explored the relationship between body/self-image, clothing, and the use of energy drinks in athletic performance. It found that confidence in one’s body and self-image plays a significant role in allowing athletes to perform with greater ease. Clothing, particularly the fit, material, and aesthetic appeal of uniforms, was shown to influence performance, with athletes often performing better when they felt they looked good. The role of energy drinks was examined, and while some athletes reported benefits, the overall findings were inconclusive or leaned toward negative effects on performance. The popular mindset of “look good, feel good, play good” was analyzed to understand why it holds importance among athletes. Although research involving both male and female participants across different age groups was limited, the studies concluded that there is validity to this mentality. These insights suggest that coaches and professionals should consider the psychological components of performance preparation, not just the physical aspects
Supporting Students and Staff with Social Development, Escalated Behaviors, and Burnout after the COVID-19 Pandemic in an Educational Setting
No full textThis study will investigate the post-COVID-19 pandemic problem areas within an educational setting and where the administration can support staff in student behavioral management and burnout within staff. This study will investigate why students are not self-regulating their emotions and are becoming more erratic with their behaviors, why social development skills are not being developed more frequently in students, and why staff in an educational setting are feeling more burnt out than before. This study was conducted with surveys and focus groups, which were used to collect data. Open-ended surveys were emailed to participants and split into focus groups with similar answers. Administration assistance was mentioned as a focal point of focus to serve staff in the problematic areas that arise from these issues. The conclusion drawn from the data is that staff in an educational setting will continue to be burned out if erratic behaviors continue and social development is still not an emphasis in the curriculum provided
Perceptions of Character and Leadership Development in High School Athletes
Full text linkThe impact of sports on American society cannot be understated. High school athletics is considered a unique representation of the school and, often, the community. High school sports have long been used to serve several purposes. In addition to promoting physical health and competitive spirit, one purpose of sports is to develop the overall character of the athletes who participate, including leadership. With over 8.5 million students (National Federation of High Schools [NFHS], 2023) participating annually, there exists opportunities within an ideal environment in which to develop leadership. Coaches are tasked not only with teaching the fundamentals of their particular sport but also developing character and leadership. While the benefits of positive youth development have been studied and the responsibilities of coaches regarding leadership development have been established, a gap in the literature exists as to how leadership development is implemented and what experiences coaches and athletes find most beneficial to athlete leadership growth. This qualitative study sought to understand what coaches and athletes believe have been the most beneficial experiences to develop character and leadership. Interviews with coaches and athletes revealed parallel narratives and common themes emerged between the coaches and athletes regarding the purpose of high school sports, the philosophy of coaches and the culture created on the sports team, how leadership was developed, and how leadership development has impacted the athletes. This study adds to the current literature on leadership development in adolescents and provides recommendations to assist coaches, administrators, and athletic governing bodies to provide better leadership development as part of the high school athletic experience
Evaluating the Use of the Ottobock C-Brace® for Restoration of Gait in Adrenomyeloneuropathy
No full textAdrenomyeloneuropathy (AMN) is an X-linked neurodegenerative disorder that results in progressive axonal demyelination and disturbances to gait and mobility. This proposal aims to investigate the effectiveness of the Ottobock C-Brace as an intervention for improving mobility and restoring natural gait patterns in individuals with advanced AMN. A comprehensive methodology will be proposed involving the collection of kinematic gait data using the Vicon motion capture system, along with performance-based and patient-reported outcome measures. Proposed participants include individuals with confirmed AMN diagnosis and an Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) score of 4.0 to 6.5. The study will employ a pre-post intervention design, with participants undergoing a six-week training period followed by six weeks of independent use of bilateral C-Braces. Data analysis will compare pre- and post-intervention outcomes, with practical applications including refinement of treatment protocols, advancement of research, and advocacy for increased resources and insurance coverage. Regardless of the outcomes if this study were to be conducted, this proposal provides valuable insights into alternative interventions and highlights the need for further research to address the complex needs of AMN patients
The Relationship Between Fear Avoidance Beliefs and Low Back Pain in CrossFit Participants
Full text linkThis study aimed to examine the relationships between fear avoidance, low back pain (LBP), and disability in CrossFit (CF) participants in the greater Twin Cities area in Minnesota with correlations between the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), the Roland Morris Disability Questionnaire (RMDQ), and Fear Avoidance Belief Questionnaire for physical activity (FABQpa). 151 CF participants voluntarily completed the survey, including demographic information, LBP characteristics, the ODI, the RMDQ, and the FABQpa. Results showed that for CF participants with current LBP, duration had a large effect on fear avoidance (ɲ = .519 and ɲ2 = .269), and for those who reported a history of LBP, duration also had a large positive effect on fear avoidance (ɲ = .576 and ɲ2 = .332). There was also a statistically significant positive correlation between ODI and RMDQ (r = 0.84, P \u3c .001), RMDQ and the FABQpa (r = 0.62, P \u3c .001), and ODI and FABQpa (r = 0.65, P \u3c .001). Results show that ODI, RMDQ, and FABQpa scores have a positive correlation in CF participants who either have LBP, a history of LBP, or both currently and a history of LBP. The duration and history of LBP significantly affect fear avoidance, as determined by the FABQpa. A statistically significant positive correlation existed between the ODI, RMDQ, and FABQpa (P \u3c .001). CF participants in this study showed similar correlations between the ODI, RMDQ, and FABQ compared to the general population but demonstrated lower overall scores in each category. The present study further supports previous research, showing physical activity holds an inverse relationship with LBP and disability, while fear avoidance beliefs are positively correlated with LBP. Training history was not found to have a significant impact
Language Program Models for Recently Arrived English Learners
Full text linkMany schools in the United States have been responding to the growing number of Recently Arrived English Learners (RAELs) and the academic needs when adjusting to mainstream classrooms. These students can have long periods of interrupted schooling, traumatic immigration experiences, and unique acculturation processes that require specific needs apart from other English Language Learners (Sugarman, 2023). This literature review examined the ways K-12 schools can support RAELs academically and socially-emotionally during the transition to becoming accustomed to the educational models used in the United States of America by analyzing current research on the effectiveness of various English Language Program Models. The studies reviewed were a mix of qualitative, quantitative, and mixed method approaches in elementary, middle, and high schools in the United States. Research indicated that newcomer programs help students adjust to the U.S. school system and prepare them for the academic rigor in the mainstream classrooms (Perry& Parker, 2023). However, newcomer programs commonly lack adequate social-emotional supports for students (Hos, 2016; Newcomer et al., 2020; Li & Qin, 2022). For schools to address every need of RAELs, they must take a comprehensive approach (Martin & Suárez-Orozco, 2018). Full-service community schools offer an example of how a school with a comprehensive approach can best support RAELs (Meloche et al., 2020; Bajaj, 2018; Provinzano et al., 2020). This paper concludes that schools can determine their preferred newcomer program model, but must plan beyond to take a comprehensive approach in supporting RAELs
Triathlete’s Preferences for Adding Strength Training to Triathlon Training Programming
Full text linkThis dissertation examined triathletes’ preferences and behaviors related to strength training integration within triathlon training programs, and despite growing evidence supporting the benefits of resistance training for injury prevention and performance enhancement, many endurance athletes remain hesitant to adopt strength training. The purpose of this study was to expand the current understanding of how age, gender, and experience influence strength training decisions and to translate those insights into practical strategies for coaching and athletic programming. A total of 210 triathletes completed an online survey assessing training behaviors, preferred strength modalities, session frequency, and load estimation methods. Quantitative data were analyzed using chi-square tests, Mann–Whitney U tests, and ordinal logistic regression. Results showed that while over 90% of participants were likely to include strength training, women were more likely than men to train twice per week (p = .002), and older athletes preferred isolation exercises and structured load prescriptions based on one repetition maximum testing methods. Younger athletes favored auto-regulated methods such as RPE. Qualitative responses emphasized injury prevention, time management, and the need for individualized programming. Findings suggest that triathletes are generally receptive to resistance training, but their preferences vary by demographic factors. Coaches should use flexible, time-efficient strategies to improve program adherence and outcomes. This study contributes to the field of endurance sport science by linking evidence to action and providing practitioners with targeted recommendations for integrating strength training into multisport practice