Critiquing the Social Media Scholarship in Sport Studies: Social Media and Athlete Welfare

While the topic of athlete welfare has gained significant attention in academic literature, to date there has been a primacy placed on physical settings and their ability to augment or thwart the welfare of athletes. The discourse has therefore neglected the advent of social media spaces and their potential to have a significant impact on athlete welfare. Social media platforms are now a vital component in the lives of athletes who are increasingly reliant on maintain an online presence and following. In this commentary we consider the scope of social media and its potential impact upon the welfare of athletes, particularly female athletes. In doing so, we identify and discuss some of the positive health and wellbeing outcomes associated with increased online communication and self-representation in social media spaces. We examine the scholarship concerning the threats posed by social media spaces, consider power in virtual environments and its impact on welfare and finally suggest some future directions for scholarship in this field

Sexual diversity : inclusiveness in women's club level sport

Safe and supportive spaces are important for women as they explore and affirm diverse and non-conventional discourses and practices of gender and sexuality. Sport, however, does not readily provide such spaces. Historically, many women athletes and women‘s team sports have been stigmatised by a lesbian label and by the discrimination that regularly accompanies this label. Also, there are many sporting teams and club environments where lesbians are invisible and silent. This research examined the lived experiences of women hockey players from three clubs in suburban Melbourne, in relation to their understandings of gender and sexuality, and policy and practice in the club context. This research project utilised a qualitative multiple case study approach and employed interview and content analysis methods. It was found that all three hockey clubs had not implemented a member protection or anti-discrimination policy at the club level. Additionally, the two clubs that had a mixed-gender membership had a culture where males dominated the governance of the club and adhered more readily to traditional ideas about gender and sexuality resulting in a culture of male domination and heterosexism. In such clubs, women often played a subordinate role and sexual diversity in general, and visibility of lesbians in particular, was minimal. In contrast, the club which was established by lesbian feminists, and had an exclusively female membership, had developed by necessity and design, a culture of governance of women by women, a more open attitude to the sexuality of members and a highly visible lesbian presence. This research concluded that the current communication processes in place between the state sporting association and the hockey clubs was inadequate, as evidenced by the invisibility of policy at each of the hockey clubs. In addition, irrespective of politics, gender and sexuality diversity, the lesbian label, in all cases, had a negative impact on the research participants by defining, controlling and constricting their self identity and self image

Effectiveness of Yoga as a Therapeutic Intervention

Over the past century, Yoga has become increasingly popular in the United States. Today\u27s yoga goes beyond that of meditation; it encompasses multiple practices which include physical exercise, breath regulation and meditation. It is a practice that promotes the connection of the mind and body and promotes physical, emotional, and psychological health. This study will examine,in a therapeutic recreation setting, the effectiveness of yoga practices with individuals who have had a stroke. Functional outcomes that are explored include balance, mobility, depression and quality of life