4095 research outputs found
Sort by
Visual exploratory activity in elite women’s soccer: An analysis of the UEFA Women’s European Championship 2022
Get PDFRecent research has developed understanding of the technical and tactical determinants of success in elite women’s soccer, however a lack of research exists on analysing how elite female players visually explore their environment to support skilled soccer performance. This study aimed to describe the visual exploratory activity (VEA) of elite female central midfield players and understand the relationships between VEA, performance with the ball and specific contextual and situational factors. Thirty female central midfield players (M age = 26.7 years, SD = 3.8) from the eight teams who competed in the knock-out stages of UEFA Women’s European Championship 2022 were analysed. Television broadcast and UEFA tactical footage were combined to analyse players across the seven knock-out stage matches, totalling 1,038 individual ball possessions. The mean scan frequency before receiving the ball was 0.35 scans/second. Results showed pitch location when receiving the ball to be the main predictor of scan frequency, which in turn predicted action result (p = 0.003) and turn with the ball (p = 0.003). Scan frequencies were lower compared to men’s elite and academy players. This study sets a platform for experimental research to further our understanding of VEA and performance with the ball in women’s soccer
Interplay of muscle architecture, morphology, and quality in influencing human sprint cycling performance: A systematic review
Get PDFBackground: This systematic review aimed to discern the relationships between muscle morphology, architecture, and quality with sprint cycling performance while considering the multifaceted nature of these relationships across diverse studies. Methods: Employing the PRISMA guidelines, an exhaustive search was performed across four primary databases: MEDLINE/PubMed, Web of Science, CINAHL Complete, and SPORTDiscus. The Methodological Index For Non-Randomised Studies (MINORS) was used to assess the methodological quality of the included studies. Out of 3971 initially identified records, only 10 studies met the eligibility criteria. Results: These investigations underscored the robust relationship of quadriceps muscle volume with peak power output (R2 from 0.65 to 0.82), suggesting its pivotal role in force production. In muscle architecture, the pennation angle and fascicle length showed varied associations with performance. Furthermore, muscle quality, as denoted by echo intensity, showed preliminary evidence of a potential inverse relationship with performance. The methodological quality assessment revealed varied scores, with the most consistent reporting on the aim, endpoints, and inclusion of consecutive patients. However, limitations were observed in the prospective calculation of study size and unbiased assessment of study endpoints. Conclusion: Our findings indicate that muscle volume is a major determinant of sprint cycling performance. Muscle architecture and quality also impact performance, although in a more intricate way. The review calls for standardised methodologies in future research for a more comprehensive understanding and comparability of results. PROSPERO registration number: CRD42023432824 (https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/display_record.php?RecordID=432824)
The Impact of a Regional Business School on its Communities: A Holistic Perspective
No full textThe work of small business schools often goes unnoticed, overshadowed
by their bigger neighbours that often pride themselves on their international
reach and reputation. Our project has been to shine a light on one
small business school that is deeply ingrained within its local communities
and economy
The prevalence of mental ill health in elite Counter-Strike athletes
Get PDFThe present study provides a unique contribution to the literature by offering the first study to examine the prevalence of mental ill health and mental wellbeing of professional Counter-Strike athletes. The sample consisted of 51 current Counter-Strike professionals (Mage = 23.22, SD = 4.7 years; Male = 48, Female = 3) representing 17.1% of all registered Counter-Strike professionals. An online questionnaire battery was administered via Qualtrics. We found that one quarter of our sample reported moderately severe (15.7%) and severe (9.8%) symptoms of depression using the PHQ-9, over three quarters (82.4%) reported symptoms of anxiety/depression using the GHQ-12, over half (54.9%) reported psychological distress using the distress screener, and nearly three quarters (72.5%) reported low mental wellbeing using the SWEMWBS. Our findings suggest that greater importance should be placed on screening and intervention support by both performance and clinical practitioners to facilitate mental health within the esports ecosystem
Axioms of libidinal economy
Get PDFThe problem of libidinal economy can be summarised in two axioms:
1. Every economy is libidinal
2. Every libido is economic
If both these axioms are accepted then we accept libidinal economy. In fact, as this essay traces, the tendency is to choose or modify one or other axiom to produce a less scandalous form of libidinal economy. In this case, we witness a moralism of libidinal economy, either for or against, rather than a thinking of libidinal economy. This is ironic as the thinking of libidinal economy often claims to be beyond moralism, beyond good and evil. By tracing the permutations of acceptance and rejection of either or both of these axioms we can reconstruct the history of libidinal economy as a mode of thought. This history is a history of resistance to the acceptance of both axioms, which gives us libidinal economy but also seems to collapse any critical distance as our libido is identified with the economy. Therefore, the axioms of libidinal economy allow us to grasp both the persistence of morality within this thinking and the difficulty of maintaining a position of critique in the wake of libidinal economy. This working through is aimed at reconstructing the possibility of an ethical culture of libidinal economy, which would engage with morality while not unconsciously reproducing a moralism
Due North
No full textA short story about an encounter on a train between an able-bodied woman and a young visually impaired man with learning difficulties
Investigating psychological disparities across gamers: a genre-based study
Get PDFObjective: While video games have become a widespread form of entertainment, the exploration of their relationship with psychological factors remains relatively limited. The primary objective of this study was to investigate potential disparities in levels of everyday stress, perceived stress, and positive mental health among individuals engaged in three distinct video game genres: horror, competitive shooters, and sandbox. We hypothesized that significant differences would emerge between genres. Method: A total of 54 participants were recruited, queried about their primarily favoured video game genre, and then asked to complete an online survey consisting of three questionnaires, each corresponding to one of the dependent variables. Results: Three 1x3 between subjects ANOVA analyses indicated that levels of everyday and perceived stress were notably higher in the competitive shooter gamers, with sandbox gamers having the lowest levels. No significant differences were observed for levels of positive mental health. Conclusion: It is possible that competitive shooters either elevate everyday and perceived stress levels in individuals, or that already-stressed gamers are drawn to this genre. Finally, the absence of significant variations in levels of positive mental health across genres suggests that individuals may simply choose to play whichever game aligns with their personal sources of enjoyment
Pulse oximetry for the prediction of acute mountain sickness: A systematic review
Get PDFAcute mountain sickness (AMS) causes serious illness for many individuals ascending to high altitude (HA), although preventable with appropriate acclimatisation. AMS is a clinical diagnosis, with symptom severity evaluated using the Lake Louise Score (LLS). Reliable methods of predicting which individuals will develop AMS have not been developed. This systematic review evaluates whether a predictive relationship exists between oxygen saturation and subsequent development of AMS. PubMed, PubMed Central, MEDLINE, Semantic Scholar, Cochrane Library, University of Birmingham Library and clinicaltrials.gov databases were systematically searched from inception to 15 June 2023. Human studies involving collection of peripheral blood oxygen saturation ( S p O 2 ) from healthy lowlanders during ascent to HA that evaluated any relationship between S p O 2 and AMS severity were considered for eligibility. Risk of bias was assessed using a modified Newcastle–Ottawa Tool for cohort studies (PROPSPERO CRD42023423542). Seven of 980 total identified studies were ultimately included for data extraction. These studies evaluated S p O 2 and AMS (via LLS) in 1406 individuals during ascent to HA (3952–6300 m). Risk of bias was ‘low’ for six and ‘moderate’ for one of the included studies. Ascent profiles and S p O 2 measurement methodology varied widely, as did the statistical methods for AMS prediction. Decreasing oxygen saturation measured with pulse oximetry during ascent shows a positive predictive relationship for individuals who develop AMS. Studies have high heterogeneity in ascent profile and oximetry measurement protocols. Further studies with homogeneous methodology are required to enable statistical analysis for more definitive evaluation of AMS predictability by pulse oximetry
Handbook of teaching & learning in higher education sport
Get PDFIntroduction
Critical pedagogy reflects on and challenges the neutrality of teaching and learning
(T&L) across levels and contexts. This philosophical approach examines the structural
matrices involved in T&L that are linked to power, privilege, and experiences. The term
critical pedagogy is most associated with the writing of Paulo Freire (1972) who
emphasised that education should be a social critique that enables people to identify
injustice to strengthen democratic change. This handbook provides a viewing point to
understand how our classrooms and educational offers facilitate and consolidate
potential areas of imbalance or injustice. Specifically, this handbook offers practical
examples of how education (in and outside of the classroom) can be delivered to
engage students, aid deep-learning and create opportunities to flourish.
This edition of the handbook specifically focuses on student engagement and
critical pedagogies in higher education (HE). Student engagement has moved on from
a focus on purely ‘disengaged’ students and instead is viewed as important for all
learners (Parsons and Taylor, 2011). Meaningful student engagement can be fostered
through the adoption of critical pedagogical approaches to learning (McMahon, 2003)
and the practice of ‘critical pedagogy of engagement’ has already received scholarly
attention (McInerney, 2009; Zepke, 2017). The practical case studies in this handbook
relate to student engagement, critical pedagogies and/or the relationship between the
two within sports HE.
Research in HE sport curriculum has not been extensive, but some literature
suggests there is a limited engagement with issues of social justice and equity. For
example, Ličen and Jedlicka’s (2022) analysis of sport management programmes in
the United States argued that there has been an unwillingness to adapt and respond
to areas of social justice that are needed to transform sport more radically in the future.
The broader scholarship on subject areas such as sports business is also dominated
by certain privileged voices (Knoppers and McLachlan, 2018) which has an adverse
effect on resourcing and supporting teaching and learning. A more critical analysis of
what is taught and how it is taught is needed to transform existing inequalities in sport,
within and beyond the classroom. HE institutes have a duty to ensure students develop
practical knowledge and skills, as well as the critical consciousness required to
challenge inequalities of power in sport.
6
Sport, as a subject on HE courses, is reflective of wider social, economic and
climate injustices prevalent across society. Sport courses draw on a range of
disciplines making it a unique subject. The way in which sport is taught across degree
programmes and the content covered is of value and significance to critical pedagogy
scholars.
The globalisation of sport and the wealth and privilege afforded to some sports
and individuals provides a useful framework to understand justice and equity more
broadly. The critical way sports-based disciplines are taught and researched has
pertinence to wider issues faced by the sport sector and by society. By investigating,
examining, and reflecting upon the T&L practices within sports education there will be
valuable learning opportunities for student development and for the associated
literature and sector