Finding stability between sports ministry and sports ministry management. A church-based review.

The field of sports has multiple segments including youth, recreational, college, and professional sport. Research in these areas have produced an abundance of inquiries discussing several managerial function and capacity topics such as finance, marketing, organizational effectiveness, and leadership. While these topics have been applied to many segments of the sport world, the niche segment of sports ministry has not seen these applications. Sports ministers have challenges in that they manage all aspects of the sports programs they provide to the community, but they also supply the resources and support toward the ministry within these programs. The current research fills a gap in existing literature by enhancing the understanding of several managerial functions and capacities of sports ministry managers. In-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted with 21 sports ministers throughout the United States to gain perspectives on their managerial duties with their sports ministry programs. Results and implications for sports ministers indicated that strengths were found in leadership philosophies and evaluating programming, however, role difficulties were clear in planning, managing volunteers, lack of support from upper administration and the feeling of burnout due to poor financial and human resources

“You need to allow yourself to grieve that loss and that identity.” College Athletes’ Transition to Life After College Sport.”

Only a small percentage of collegiate athletes compete at the professional level of sport after they graduate, leaving most athletes to transition out of a life involved in sport. Research reviewing life after competitive sport for college athletes and the consequences associated with such a transition is plentiful, however, additional research also argues that life transition research is necessary to maximize the understanding of such a phenomenon. A case study approach used Schlossberg’s Theory of Transition (2011) to research recently retired collegiate college athletes and their time transitioning away from competitive college sports. Several themes emerged from the qualitative results including, the stress of transition, athletics unites hardworking individuals, freedom after college, physical change, college athlete identity, and a sense of loss in transition. The current study reviewed results to offer new insights into retired college athlete transition as well as how athletic departments and coaches can better prepare their athletes for this transition. Based on the research, those that prepare for such a transition should consider a grieving process as a part of the transition

Educational Administrative Competency for Multicultural Populations

Traditional preparation for educational administration is no longer adequate

Active v. Passive Recovery: The Most Effective Level Relative to Swimming Performance

To examine the effects of active recovery at two levels of intensity, as compared to passive recovery, on subsequent performance. Four male (height, 174.4 ± 8.1 cm; body mass, 73.5 ± 5.6 kg) and five female (height, 164.1 ± 7.9 cm; body mass, 65.0 ± 4.9 kg) members of a collegiate swim team participated in this study. All participants completed three randomly assigned experimental sessions that consisted of a 100-yd maximal-effort swim (TT1) followed by a 10 min recovery period at a specified intensity, and a subsequent 100-yard maximal effort swim (TT2). The PAS recovery condition involved passively resting on the side of the pool, while ACT50 and ACT65 involved freestyle swimming at intensities corresponding to 50% and 65% of each individual’s average velocity for a 100-yd sprint, respectively. Heart rate and RPE were also recorded after both TT1 and TT2. Performance time, heart rate, and RPE were analyzed using a one-way repeated measure ANOVA to evaluate for change between maximal effort trials. There was a significant difference among the means in change in performance time from TT1 to TT2 (F(2,16) = 5.34, p = 0.02), with the intensity of recovery accounting for 40% (η2 = 0.40) of this change (Table 1). Mean change in performance time was 1.18 s higher in the PAS recovery condition than in the ACT65 condition (p\u3c0.05), while only 0.49 s higher than the ACT50 condition (NS). While the majority of the participants added time in TT2 across conditions, they added less time after the ACT65 recovery condition. Mean change in heart rate and RPE were not significantly different across conditions. An active recovery intensity corresponding to 65% of an individual’s average velocity for a 100-yd sprint may be more beneficial to subsequent performance, as compared to passive recovery

Effects of Impaired Peripheral Vision on Running

The extent to which peripheral vision is used in the control of gait is not well understood. PURPOSE: To investigate the effect of impairing peripheral vision on gait characteristics and running economy. METHODS: Twelve college students (20.3±1.2yrs, 73.5±13.1kg, 177.6±13cm) able to complete a 5K in 31 min or faster were asked to participate in this study. After providing informed consent, participants ran on a treadmill at 6 mph until steady state VO2 was achieved for a minimum of two minutes. During the final minute of running, VO2, heart rate and heel contact times were recorded. This test was completed under two vision conditions, no impairment and impaired peripheral vision (through the use of modified eyewear). During a subsequent session, participants completed a 600 m run at preferred speed on a 200m track under both visual conditions during which lap times were recorded. Paired t-tests were used to compare data between vision conditions. RESULTS: Steady state VO2 decreased by 2% (t(11)= -1.81, p =.097) when peripheral vision was impaired (32.6 ±2.2 ml/kg/min) compared to no vision impairment (33.2 ±2.5 ml/kg/min). This difference was characterized by a moderate effect size. Vision impairment had little effect on heart rate or stride rate variability. Furthermore, when participants were allowed to run at their preferred speed, vision impairment had little effect. CONCLUSION: Impairing peripheral vision minimally altered running gait suggesting that motor control of running gait must rely more on focal vision and other proprioceptive input

Effect of Four Week Medicine Ball Training on a Peak Ground Reaction Force & Peak Moments in Collegiate Lacrosse Players

TACSM Abstract Effect of four week medicine ball training on a peak ground reaction force & peak moments in collegiate lacrosse players. DAKOTA B SKINNER, SCOTT MCLEAN, & JIMMY SMITH Department of Kinesiology; Southwestern University; Georgetown, TX Category: Undergraduate Advisor / Mentor: McLean, Scott ([email protected]) ABSTRACT Background: Medicine ball training has been shown to improve performance in baseball batting (Szymanski et al., 2007), and handball-throwing (Raeder, Fernandez, & Ferrauti, 2015). Given the similarity of the kinetic link dynamics of these activities with those of a lacrosse shot, a medicine ball training program may offer a similar performance benefit for a lacrosse shot. Purpose: The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effect of medicine ball training on peak ground reaction force (GRF) and peak GRF moments generated by collegiate level lacrosse players performing a overhand lacrosse shot. Methods: Sixteen collegiate lacrosse players volunteered to participate in this study. The control group (n = 8) and treatment group (n = 8) both participated in the same four-week lacrosse offseason program. This consisted of lacrosse practice 4 days a week as well as lifting 3 days a week. In addition, the treatment group participated in medicine ball training 3 days a week for 4 weeks. Medicine ball training consisted of 4-6 medicine ball exercises lasting 10-12minutes per session. Overhand lacrosse shot consisted of an approach such that their lead foot landed on a force plate. Force plate was sampled at 200 Hz, vertical GRF, and GRF moments about the X, Y, and Z axes were recorded at peak value for each kinetic measure. Medicine ball throw consisted of lead foot perpendicular to the length of the football field with trail foot shoulder width apart. Participants squatted with arms extended, and released the ball with maximal effort. Analyses of covariance were used to analyze peak GRF in the Z direction, peak moments in the X, Y, and Z directions, as well as distance achieved by a maximal effort medicine ball throw. Results: Average peak vertical GRF was similar before and after training for both the control group (1188 + 173 N and 1172 + 199 N, respectively) and treatment group (1206 + 130 N and 1172 + 199 N, respectively) (F1= .043, p = .84). Average peak moment in the X direction was similar before and after training for both the control group (67 + 57Nm and 92 + 28Nm, respectively) and treatment group (75 + 37Nm and 67 + 25Nm, respectively) (F1 = 3.07, p = .10). Average peak moment in the Y direction was similar before and after training for both the control group (63 + 23Nm and 87 + 39Nm, respectively) and treatment group (66 + 37Nm and 76 + 40Nm, respectively) (F1 = .273, p = .61). Average peak moment in the Z direction was similar before and after training for both the control group (25 + 10Nm and 30 + 6Nm, respectively) and treatment group (24 + 9Nm and 25 + 12Nm) (F1 = 1.41, p =.26). Average medicine ball throw distance was similar before and after training for the control group (12.75 + 0.76m and 12.60 + 1.06m, respectively) but the treatment increased their throw by nearly 1.0 m after training (12.96 + 1.31m and 13.69 + 1.22m, respectively) (F1 = 4.392, p = .056, η2 = .253). Conclusion: Despite a mild improvement in medicine ball throw, a four-week medicine ball training program had little effect on an overhand lacrosse shot

Chemical hazards database and detection system for Microgravity and Materials Processing Facility (MMPF)

The ability to identify contaminants associated with experiments and facilities is directly related to the safety of the Space Station. A means of identifying these contaminants has been developed through this contracting effort. The delivered system provides a listing of the materials and/or chemicals associated with each facility, information as to the contaminant's physical state, a list of the quantity and/or volume of each suspected contaminant, a database of the toxicological hazards associated with each contaminant, a recommended means of rapid identification of the contaminants under operational conditions, a method of identifying possible failure modes and effects analysis associated with each facility, and a fault tree-type analysis that will provide a means of identifying potential hazardous conditions related to future planned missions

The Effects of Heading on Neurocognitive Function in Female Collegiate Soccer Players During an Entire Soccer Season

Recently, much debate has occurred regarding the effects of repeated heading by soccer players on their neurocognitive function. PURPOSE: To determine the effects of heading on neurocognitive function in female collegiate soccer players during an entire soccer season. METHODS: Twenty-four members of the 2012 Southwestern University Women’s Soccer team completed the ImPACT test during preseason and postseason, and self-reported the number of headers for the week immediately prior to each testing session. Amount of playing time for each player was determined from records obtained from the Southwestern University Athletics Department. The six composite scores and the cognitive efficiency index from the ImPACT test were measured in each session. Paired t tests were used to evaluate neurocognitive performance at each of the testing periods. Multiple regressions were run to compare the independent variables of playing time and number of headers to the seven ImPACT test composite scores from the preseason and postseason testing periods. RESULTS: There was an increase in visual motor speed, a decrease in reaction time, and an increase in cognitive efficiency from preseason to postseason (t(23) = -4.63, p \u3c 0.001), (t(23) = 2.17, p = 0.041), and (t(23) = -2.45, p = 0.022), respectively. During preseason, number of headers performed significantly predicted reaction time (F(1,22) = 5.37, p = 0.03), and explained approximately 20% of the variance in reaction time (r2 = 0.196). Number of headers performed significantly predicted cognitive efficiency (F(1,22) = 5.56, p = 0.03), and explained approximately 20% of the variance in cognitive efficiency (r2 = 0.202). During postseason, number of minutes played significantly predicted visual memory (F(1,22) = 4.71, p = 0.04), and explained approximately 18% of the variance in visual memory (r2 = 0.176). CONCLUSION: The changes in these neurocognitive variables from preseason to postseason indicated that athletes performed better postseason. The number of headers and the total playing time across one season appear to have had no negative effects on neurocognitive function in these soccer players