Abstract: This study aimed to investigate the relationship between sports motivation and several sports psychological variables (Perceived Motivational Climate, Coping Perceptions and Anxiety). The data were collected from Hungarian ice hockey players (n = 293) playing in the Hungarian hockey academy system, using the Perceived Motivational Climate in Sport Questionnaire-2 (PMCSQ-2) and the Athletic Coping Skill Inventory-28 (ACSI-28) of Smith et al. (1995) and the Competitive State Anxiety Inventory-2 (CSAI-2) of Martens et al. (1990). The analysis revealed four significantly different individual sports motivation profiles, and these differed significantly in terms of athletes’ anxiety, coping, and perceived motivational climate. In addition, the research highlighted the importance of diagnosing and addressing amotivation to improve overall sports performance, self-confidence, and coping skills when facing adversity. Limitations and further research directions are also considered. PubDate: Mon, 15 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT
Abstract: The purpose of the current study was to examine the challenges of distance learning (DL) teacher education (TE) experienced by decision makers, lecturers, and pedagogical instructors at PE teacher training colleges during the COVID-19 pandemic, and explore how these challenges were dealt with. In-depth interviews were conducted with 24 participants from five colleges of education in Israel where physical education teacher training is taught. A trifold process characterizes the investigated institutions: Frustration and a sense of helplessness, high self-satisfaction regarding the online instruction, and frustration combined with hope that the era of distance teaching will soon end. Most decisions regarding the changes and transitions were made by the teaching staff. Our findings can help those involved in teacher education in understanding how organizational and pedagogical decisions were made under conditions of uncertainty and crisis, and how these training programs were adapted to the new circumstances. Our findings may also serve as a basis for future discussion on long-distance teacher education. PubDate: Fri, 12 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT
Abstract: Occupational therapy has been practised for several decades across various medical entities. However, it was only since 2012 that opportunities for professional development in this area began to be created. It can be considered that with the establishment of higher education training in occupational therapy, the perception of this profession has changed and is becoming increasingly important among professionals and the Polish society. Various measures are being taken to regulate the profession (including a law on certain health professions currently under procedure in the Sejm), but the topic of professionalisation and autonomy is still not sufficiently explored and addressed in Polish literature. The aim of this article is to present occupational therapists’ opinions on the professionalisation and autonomy of their profession. A questionnaire was used to survey 188 middle-aged people (35.18±9.72 years). The results show a need to regulate the occupational therapist profession, to guarantee assistance for therapists in improving their qualifications and to increase their remuneration. According to a significant number of respondents, therapists are undervalued and treated unequally in their work environment. The prestige of the occupational therapist profession was rated at a low level. The main conclusion of the study indicates that in the process of professionalisation and autonomy of the profession in Poland, more attention should be paid to the promotion of the contemporary model of occupational therapy in order to increase its recognition and raise awareness of the essence and importance of the role of an occupational therapist in both the medical (therapeutic team) and social environment. PubDate: Tue, 09 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT
Abstract: This study sets out to determine those factors that may increase the risk of occupational burnout among physiotherapists. Fifty-six physiotherapists (39 women and 14 men aged 25-69) with various specializations (paediatric, adult, or both), work models (individual, team, or both), and workplaces (public or private) completed the Oldenburg Burnout Inventory (OLBI) to assess their burnout levels and the Resilience Scale (SPP-25) in order to have their psychological resilience evaluated. Pearson correlation coefficients showed a significant inverse relationship between psychological resilience and the risk of burnout. Among environmental factors, private clinical practice had a protective effect against burnout. Regression analysis revealed that tolerance for failure and viewing life as a challenge (a subscale of SPP-25) were key predictors of burnout. Higher tolerance for failure and viewing life as a challenge corresponded with lower scores on the exhaustion and disengagement scales. The study showed that the higher the psychological resilience, regardless of specialization, work model, or workplace, the lower the risk of burnout. This indicates the need for greater attention to employees’ personality traits, which can significantly impact work quality. PubDate: Tue, 09 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT
Abstract: During the 20th century, authoritarian regimes willingly embraced sport as a vivid arena for demonstrating their superiority. Prior research on postage stamps issued by such regimes revealed certain patterns associated with periods of aggressive internal and external rhetoric, whereby postage stamps served as a channel for government propaganda. In the current study, we looked at sports, military, and national identity stamps. Applying the social-semiotic method, we first examined the messages sports stamps have conveyed in Soviet Union and Russia. Then, the quantitative paradigm was employed to evaluate the trends in the issuance of propagandistic stamps by post-WW2 USSR and Russia. Finally, we expanded the scope by looking at stamp issuance in Germany, Italy, and USSR in pre-WW2 and WW2 years. This heavily militaristic “landscape” was used mainly as a basis for comparison with the issuance policy of Putin’s Russia. The results shed light on some striking similarities across the different countries and periods. These findings are discussed in the context of the recent geopolitical situation. PubDate: Tue, 09 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT
Abstract: This research examines United Arab Emirates (UAE) university students’ electronic sports habits and motivations using the theory of uses and rewards and the motivation scale for sports consumption (MSSC). A deliberate sample of 172 participants was surveyed using an electronic questionnaire to give their perspectives on various electronic sports-related topics. Most respondents considered e-sports a serious sport and valued it as a social practice. They practiced e-sports for two to four hours daily, preferring multiplayer games, confirming the collective tendency. Live-streaming services have helped electronic sports to become mainstream. Considering the UAE’s enthusiasm, most respondents played e-sports professionally. Finally, indirect realization, aesthetics, and escapism motivated e-sports players. These findings shed light on the perspectives and experiences of UAE residents who participate in electronic sports and may be used to guide efforts to legitimize and mainstream the activity. PubDate: Thu, 27 Jun 2024 00:00:00 GMT
Abstract: Soccer academies are responsible for the comprehensive development of young athletes, including formal education, living, and preparation for tournaments. Research on soccer youth development from the perspectives of coaches and parents of sports academy students has been limited. This study aimed to discover their perspectives on the key internal and external factors that influence the development of young soccer talents. Questionnaire data were collected from 79 coaches and 326 parents of U15 to U19 soccer players across eight soccer academies across four Central and Eastern European countries. The questionnaires presented 33 Likert-scale type questions organized around four dimensions to include internal factors, professional/sports factors, family/school factors, and other external factors.Independent sample t-tests were used to demonstrate the differences between sub-samples, and a stepwise discriminant analysis to highlight the major influential factors.The results indicate that both coaches and parents emphasize the importance of internal, professional/sports, and other external factors in soccer talent development. Coaches ranked cognitive (t=2.450, p=0.015), psychological (t=3.082, p=0.002), pedagogical (t=2.663, p=0.008) and moral role modeling (t=3.382, p=0.001) factors higher than parents. Parents gave higher priorities to the importance of the team’s results in the championship (t=-4.827, p=0.000), school results (t=-4.028, p=0.000), and financial support from family (t=-6.836, p=0.000). Overall, coaches’ beliefs focus upon professional conduct, expectations of the profession and the academy, while parents focus on supporting their children’s school and sports successes.Ongoing cooperation between parents and coaches is critical to bring positive changes in the development and long-term successes of young players. PubDate: Thu, 27 Jun 2024 00:00:00 GMT
Abstract: The aim of this research is to assess the existence or absence of differences in brand perceptions of users of an esports mobile app according to gender. In addition, it intends to discover the explanatory capacity of brand variables for the prediction of user loyalty, to understand how these variables influence perceptions according to gender, and to contribute to the creation of strategies more aligned with the interests and needs of each target audience.The study involved 1,668 users of an esports tournament mobile app. An online questionnaire created for this purpose was used to discover users’ perceptions of brand awareness, corporate image, perceived quality, and loyalty. The data were analyzed by creating structural equation models according to gender.The study shows the absence of significant gender differences in the values of the brand variables, with higher means in the case of men. In addition, the important role of brand awareness, corporate image and perceived quality in understanding the loyalty of users of an esports app is confirmed for both genders, with differential aspects in the explanatory weight of some variables according to gender.This study analyses brand perception in mobile sports apps and its relationship to user loyalty, a context that has been little analyzed so far at the brand level. In addition, it does so from a gender perspective, contributing to elimination of existing barriers and stereotypes in the context of esports events by discovering possible differences that allow managers to address each target audience more effectively. PubDate: Sat, 22 Jun 2024 00:00:00 GMT
Abstract: Background: Negative body image in female adolescents is a sign of the times, but it is also a current global issue due to its implications for the onset of health-compromising behaviours and the increasing power of appearance-based social media. The aim of this study is to investigate the protective role of a life-skills based intervention during PE classes in adolescent girls against increasing body dissatisfaction resulting from body composition changes and to assess the impact of intervention on the skill of setting goals.Method: The study involved 81 female students aged 12–14 years and used a pre-test/post-test control group design. Students participating in a 15-lesson programme (experimental group) were compared to those who had regular PE lessons (control group). Students completed self-reported measures of the analysed life skills. Anthropometric and body composition measurements were also taken.Results: Despite more rapid biological changes during the programme (significantly higher waist circumference, waist-to-height ratio, BMI at post-test compared to the control group, not observed at baseline) the experimental group stayed at the same level of body dissatisfaction as at baseline (“mild concern”). In goal setting, lack of participation in the programme produced a negative change in the performance-avoid goal orientation (PAGO) dimension (p=0.005) in the control group.Conclusions: The study suggests that a preventive intervention targeting life skills can be successfully implemented in PE settings and have a probable mitigating effect on body image dissatisfaction, even in situations when subjects experience intensive biological changes. PubDate: Sat, 22 Jun 2024 00:00:00 GMT
Abstract: Esports and high-performance human-computer interaction are at the forefront of implementing new hardware and software technologies Despite that, there is a paucity of research on how championship-level esports professionals approach aspects of their preparation.To begin addressing this gap, we conducted, transcribed, and analyzed interviews with top-level tournament players, coaches, and managers in the period 2015–2019. The interviews focused on mental, physical, and nutritional aspects of esports preparation. Initial processing included transcription and manual verification. Furthermore, where applicable, interview responses were rated and quantified by a panel of experts.Physical training was most often mentioned as a relevant or consistent activity, while nutrition was indicated as relatively unimportant. Qualitative analysis indicated that consistency and resilience are key factors for upcoming esports competitors to focus on. Interviewees also emphasized balancing their gameplay time with other activities. Lastly, we identified important areas critical for a deeper understanding of the mental and physical demands of professional esports players. PubDate: Tue, 18 Jun 2024 00:00:00 GMT
Abstract: Only a few studies on large sports tourism explore motorsport events such as the Moto Grand Prix. The present study addresses this gap by examining the factors influencing visitors’ satisfaction and intention to revisit related to the large sports event of MotoGP, Indonesia. The data were collected from visitors who had attended the MotoGP event in Indonesia using an online questionnaire with purposive sampling. The partial Least Square-Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) analysis was applied in this study to analyze the data. The findings indicate that hospitality, accessibility, and attraction significantly influenced visitor satisfaction at the MotoGP sports event in Mandalika, Indonesia. However, the factors of hospitality, infrastructure, accessibility, and attraction are insignificant where it concerns visitors’ intention to revisit. Moreover, satisfaction successfully influences visitors to revisit the MotoGP event in Indonesia. This study contributes to research on sports event management in large sports events by examining the factors that influence satisfaction and intention to revisit in the context of the MotoGP sports event, and contributes both theoretically and practically to research on sports events and tourism. PubDate: Tue, 18 Jun 2024 00:00:00 GMT
Abstract: The primary objective of this research endeavor outlined in the thesis was to evaluate the impact of the individual dimensions of Customer-Based Brand Equity (CBBE) – brand awareness, brand association, perceived quality and brand loyalty – on the overall brand capital of the researched amateur football club Talent Warszawa. The author sought to discern which among the individual dimensions of CBBE exerted the most significant influence on fostering the overall brand capital of the club under examination. A questionnaire was distributed amongst the constituents of Talent Warszawa, including players, parents and guardians, players’ families, and supporters of amateur football. The survey garnered responses from a total of 102 stakeholders affiliated with the club. The reliability of the measurement scale was validated through Cronbach’s Alpha analysis.The findings of the study evince a positive correlation among all variables under scrutiny, encompassing brand awareness, brand association, perceived quality, brand loyalty, and the overarching construct of CBBE. Notably, perceived quality emerged as the factor showing the highest positive correlation (0.88), thus indicating the most robust positive association with CBBE. However, despite the observed positive relationship, brand awareness manifested the lowest correlation with the overall consumer-based brand equity (0.70), relative to the other investigated factors.Using the insights from this study, amateur sports clubs can strategically manage brand elements to foster brand equity, emphasizing the importance of brand awareness as an initial step in building a positive brand image and fostering fan engagement and loyalty. Overall, the findings provide valuable insights into effective brand management strategies for amateur sports clubs to enhance their brand equity and foster enduring relationships with fans. PubDate: Wed, 08 May 2024 00:00:00 GMT
Abstract: Global mental health rates are staggering. Youth mental health in sport is a topic with increasing research attention. To date, most youth sport research examines mental health from isolated events as opposed to a cumulative-assets framework. Our main research question examined sport participation group differences regarding four mental health domains; emotional competence, belief-in-others, belief-in-self, and engaged living, and the composite covitality meta-indicator. To answer our research questions, 1965 Lithuanian youths (60.10% female) ranging in age from 11 to 17 (M = 13.62, SD = 1.96) from urban and rural school districts completed our survey. Our results indicated many significant differences (p < 0.001) emerged for participant sex, age grouping, and sport participation (competitive, leisure, or none). Only for the sport participation were the MANOVA and ANOVA effect size values at least small in magnitude. In the follow-up analyses (all p’s < 0.001), the competitive group differed from the no sport group (effect sizes medium-to-large) and to the leisure participant group (effect sizes small) in all four mental health domains and the meta-indicator covitality. Small-to-medium effect size values resulted between the leisure and no sport groups. Sport participation, even for leisure, is related to improved self-reported social and emotional health in our large sample. The practical implication is clear that all governments and such bodies should provide accessible and affordable sport participation opportunities, whether competitive or recreational. Longitudinal research, as a future direction in sport contexts, will help to best understand and move forward with youth mental health. PubDate: Tue, 09 Apr 2024 00:00:00 GMT
Abstract: Ice hockey is considered one of the most competitive sports, and it requires physical and mental preparation to perform appropriately under the pressure of a competitive environment. The present study aims to investigate the impact of competitive sports on executive functions such as emotion regulation, inhibitory control, working memory, and competitive attitudes among near-elite ice hockey players. Near-elite athletes have been gathered (N = 67) from the four Hungarian Ice-Hockey Academies. Our results indicated a small positive association between Canadian points and maladaptive emotion regulation and a slight positive correlation between maladaptive cognitive emotion regulation and false alarms of the N-back task. The result revealed a significant difference between National and Non-National Team members in maladaptive cognitive emotion regulation regarding hypercompetitive attitude. The result of linear regression revealed that maladaptive cognitive emotion regulation significantly predicts false alarms, indicating that the maladaptive cognitive emotion regulation explains 10% of the variance. In conclusion, we highlight the role of the environment, which affects executive functions and competitive attitudes alongside sports performance. Although the findings were mainly correlational, we can conclude that the nature of competitive ice hockey expects certain behavior for the players indifferent of the situation that could lead to emotion suppression, rumi-nation and other maladaptive emotion regulation strategies. We can also conclude that inadequate emotion regulation might be related to the overstimulation of players, characterized by a hypersensitive state to stimuli. We suggest that practitioners ensure the development of adequate competitive attitudes of players to enable long-term physical and psychological benefits. PubDate: Sun, 17 Mar 2024 00:00:00 GMT
Abstract: This study is based on an investigation into the Brazilian anti-doping policy, with a specific focus on the establishment and operational mechanisms of the Brazilian Doping Control Authority (ABCD), under the auspices of the Ministry of Sport (ME). The objective was to describe how Brazilian national policy (general political decisions, interests of parties or particular politicians/agents) affects the fight against doping and, vice versa, how the harmonization process controlled by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) affects national sports policy. A multi-sited ethnographic study was undertaken, involving field diary practices, interviews and document analysis. Adopting the perspective of pragmatic sociology, this study delves into the descriptions of three key periods in the recent history of anti-doping in Brazil: the creation of ABCD and the dissolution of ANAD (National Anti-Doping Agency), the realization of the first 100 anti-doping tests by the ABCD (critical period for its members who managed to keep away ex-officers from ANAD) and the impeachment of the Brazilian president in 2016 (ex-officers from ANAD took over the direction of the ABCD). Our analysis allowed us to conclude that ‘diverting others from decision-making spheres’ comprised a political strategy to occupy spaces of power or to stabilize itself in them, which, in this case, allowed the control of anti-doping actions in the country. Local protagonists tried to make use of international injunctions and pressure or local political events to achieve these goals. PubDate: Sun, 17 Mar 2024 00:00:00 GMT
Abstract: Anxiety is one of the most widespread mental health disorders worldwide. It is prevalent throughout the life cycle and appears in multiple contexts, such as sports.In line with the idea of sport as a means of promoting integral health, the Andalusian Olympic Foundation promotes Olympic values through the “Olympism in School” programme. This programme, developed in two phases – theoretical and practical (including a “Mini Olympics”) – aims to improve the psychological development of participants through sporting competition. In order to demonstrate whether the management of factors such as competitive anxiety was achieved through this programme, 153 children aged 10-13 completed a socio-demographic data questionnaire and the SAS-2 questionnaire after participating in sporting events. The results showed that the participants endured intermediate levels of competitive anxiety (with greater weight given to the worry factor) and that the anxiety was greater in children not used to competition or who did not usually enjoy it. These findings indicate that competition is a factor related to anxiety in children and that strategies for managing the impact of the competitive context are necessary to enable enjoyment and healthy participation. PubDate: Tue, 05 Mar 2024 00:00:00 GMT
Abstract: Physical literacy (PL) is a lifelong process of developing the motivation, confidence, physical competence, knowledge and understanding to value and take responsibility for engaging in physical activity throughout life. It is also an important concept for understanding and promoting physical activity in children and adolescents and is becoming a theoretical basis for analysing physical education in schools. One of the best known, well-operationalised assessments of PL is the Canadian Assessment of Physical Literacy – CAPL-2. The aim of the study was to translate and culturally adapt the CAPL-2 questionnaires in two EU languages, German and Polish. Data from Poland and Germany were combined for this study, with a total sample size of N=802, consisting of 58.6% Polish and 41.4% German students. We used the TRAPD (the Translation, Review, Adjudication, Pre-test and Documentation) approach to translate the CAPL-2 questionnaires. The main results of this study show that the proposed Polish and German versions of the CAPL-2 questionnaires are satisfactory for use in research or for teachers to assess PL in physical education. Our results also indicate better predictive characteristics of the CAPL-2 questionnaires for children who are very close to or who meet the moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) recommendations for health as defined by the WHO. We recommend that adaptations be made that are consistent with the original Canadian version, but which are deeply embedded in the language and culture of the country in question, especially in their wording and terminology. PubDate: Tue, 27 Feb 2024 00:00:00 GMT
Abstract: The aim of this article is to describe and explain changes in people’s recreational behaviours caused by the shift to remote work (RW) or work from home (WFH) due to lockdowns during the Covid-19 pandemic. A literature review revealed a cognitive, methodological and applicative gap in this area. This relationship has not been analysed so far, particularly among Poles.The authors developed an electronic questionnaire using a framework designed to study RPA behaviours. A survey based on the questionnaire was conducted from 20 May to 31 Oct. 2020 and included 533 respondents, with 371 people experiencing changes at work, 280 of whom shifted to RW/WFH. A combination of quantitative and qualitative data analysis methods (descriptive statistics and content analysis techniques, affinity diagram, relationship diagram) was used to analyse the survey results. The results of the qualitative analysis allowed a description of changes in the respondents’ lifestyles induced by the transition to RW/WFH. The results of the quantitative data analysis showed unequivocally that taking up RW/WFH had a negative impact on RPA behaviours. The frequency and duration of workouts decreased.The novelty lies in demonstrating the relationship between remote working/work from home and RPA and the inventive methodological approach. The results are universal and can be used to design work-life balance programmes for remote employees. PubDate: Tue, 26 Dec 2023 00:00:00 GMT
Abstract: This study aims to understand the club-fan relationship from the standpoint of club owners, CEOs, and head coaches (i.e., managers). Eight in-depth interviews were conducted with prominent figures from professional football and basketball in Israel. The current findings indicate that while clubs need the support of their fans, they often find themselves struggling with their aggressive behavior and demands to influence the club’s decision-making processes. First, this qualitative research provides an important insight into the unique experience of pivotal decision-makers in professional sports. Second, we apply the complexity lens to discuss the challenges faced by such stakeholders when trying to manage fans’ disruptive interventions. PubDate: Fri, 22 Dec 2023 00:00:00 GMT
Abstract: European sports policies have focused on the implementation of public instruments and policy measures, aiming to encourage EU member states to promote and improve sports habits, while simultaneously tackling high levels of sedentary lifestyle among Europeans. Despite these efforts, data concerning the various measures is quite limited, making it impossible to assess the real impact on the population, particularly in the case of the European Cities of Sport. This award has been held since 2007 and has already distinguished 193 cities; however, current knowledge does not allow researchers to theorise about its multiple impacts as a strategic policy instrument for the local development of sport in Europe, thus constituting a gap within sports management research. In order to further this knowledge, we explored European reality over a decade (2013–2022), analysing nine awards of Portuguese cities. We employed qualitative methods for documentary analysis of public information and descriptive statistics for data analysis. The results show that over 2 600 multidisciplinary events were organised, among which 402 had an international character (15%), an average of 50 sports disciplines per edition, 359 events related to culture and education, and involved over 1 000 000 participants, with an overall investment of over €39 million. This research now allows a theoretical-scientific and operational referential pattern of key indicators to be established for future European ECS applications, while demonstrating an encouraging relationship, from a sports perspective and economically, between public investment made and estimated return, thus contributing to better political decisions and to the positive implications of increasing public investment in sport. PubDate: Fri, 22 Dec 2023 00:00:00 GMT
Open Access journal
