A Comparison of Optimism Levels and Life Stress Levels among NCAA Division I Athletes and Non Athletes

Researchers suggest that optimistic individuals approach life situations with the belief that outcomes will be favorable, and are more likely to exhibit better coping mechanisms when dealing with adversity and stress (Carver, & Scheier, 1987; Karadeaus, Karvelis, Argyropoulou, 2007). Moreover, the cognitive adaptation theory suggests that optimistic individuals are more likely to make appropriate cognitive adaptations to stressful situations (Lightsey, 1994; Alloy & Clements, 1992). Results concerning collegiate athletic status, gender, optimism, and stress are mixed. The purpose of this study was to compare collegiate athletes and non athletes and gender on optimism and life stress. The present study utilized the Life Orientation Test-Revised to optimism and the Undergraduate Stress Questionnaire to measure life stress. Results from this study support the hypotheses that 1) high-level optimistic athletes would experience significantly lower levels of life stress than low-level optimistic athletes; 2) high-level optimistic athletes would experience significantly lower levels of life stress than high-level optimistic non-athletes; and 3) high-level optimistic men would experience significantly lower levels of life stress than high-level optimistic women within the sample Future research about optimism and stress levels, athletic status, and gender is included within the discussion

Deter Juvenile Delinquency Utilizing Interscholastic Sports

The relationship between interscholastic sport and juvenile delinquency has been a topic of discussion for many years. One reason cited by educators, sociologists, and parents for including sports programs in educational and community settings is their potential for diminishing delinquency (Donnelly, 1981). However, several sociologists have presented an alternative view. For example, Tappan (1949) has stated that sport is no deterrent to delinquency, providing evidence that if a child is prone to law violations, it will probably take more than sport to effectively stop the pattern of law violations. The purpose of this presentation is to examine both the positive and negative effects of interscholastic sport on juvenile delinquency, with the notion of further discussion for new ideas and mindsets

Hoops with Heroes: Lessons Learned from a Law Enforcement and Middle School Youth Collaboration

This program builds positive relationships between middle school youth-at-risk and local law enforcement while reinforcing important life skills though basketball and relationship building activities. In the program, the kids learn about the importance of being a H.E.R.O.: Honest, Enthusiastic, Responsible and Optimistic, learn about careers in law enforcement, and get to play basketball with local law enforcement officers, Georgia Southern student-athletes, and other student volunteers

To App or Not to App: The Impact of Technology Infused Basketballs Generating Immediate, Auditory Feedback on Free Throw Performance

Technological advances in sport analysis technology products provide administrators, coaches, and athletes with a dizzying array of potential resources intended to improve performance. Yet stakeholders must evaluate if the products are effective, and if they provide an acceptable return on their investment of time and money. In basketball, free throws are a prime candidate for technological analysis. The free throw is a discrete skill with a defined beginning and end point within a short time period, and is also a closed skill with a stable performance environment 36 National Coaching Conference, June 21-23, 2016 (Wrisberg, 2007). In addition, free throws are considered an important aspect of winning basketball games (LopezGutierrez & Jimenez-Torres (2013), which explains why free throws have been studied by a variety of subdisciplines of kinesiology and other fields of study for over 60 years. The purpose of this study was to measure the effectiveness of audio feedback from technology-infused basketballs on free throw performance and shot release angle variability among college-age basketball players. These technologyinfused basketballs have an internally embedded computer chip that sends real-time data to an application which notes and announces shot release angle, commonly called shot arc. Wrisberg (2007) noted that coaches should focus on one cue at a time, such as shot arc, and emphasize consistency of movement production, such as consistent shot arc, in discrete, closed skills like free throws. Previous research has shown that there are optimal shot arc angles for different heights of shooters, but to our knowledge this has not been measured with contemporary technology. It was our hypothesis that the experimental groups that received the auditory feedback on their shot arc would show greater improvements in free throw accuracy and have smaller shot arc variability than the control group who did not receive feedback. Results and implications for stakeholders will be discussed in this session

Connecting with at-Risk Youth through Sport Participation: Strategies from Rural Coaches in Georgia

Sport is often used as a mechanism to develop character, teach life lessons, and cultivate social and emotional skills. The researchers surveyed sport coaches in rural areas of Georgia and results will highlight to what extent, the challenges, and the strategies coaches use to connect with At-Risk Youth

The Game is on the Line: The Future of Coaching Education in Higher Education

This presentation was given during the National Association for Kinesiology in Higher Education Conference

Violence Prevention for At-Risk Youth through Risk Management

This presentation addresses ways to assist youth program administrators, in any context including sports programs, in achieving violence prevention through risk management goals and structured processes that incorporate: risk analysis, risk management pre-program administration, developing and utilizing policies and procedures, providing a standard of care, providing proper supervision, ensuring safe environmental conditions, and program assessment and revision

Coaching Education at Georgia Southern University

This presentation was given during the National Coaching Conference on Coaching, Coach Education, and Technology

Sport Specialization Trends in High School Coaches: The Case of the GHSA

This presentation was given during the National Coaching Conference on Coaching, Coach Education, and Technology

Love in Sport: Leveraging Sport to Build Leaderships Skills in At-Risk Youth

The purpose of this poster presentation is to illuminate Transformational Mentorship through sports. The target audience is generally sport coaches but can certainly be applied to any mentoring of young people