ARCAA Contents & Abstracts Volume 22, 2007

ISBN 978-0-89641-446-4

  • purchase button
    Review button

    Effectiveness of Basketball Coaching Methods and Player Qualities—A National Survey of Men’s NCAA Division I Basketball Coaches William F. Stier, Jr, Robert C. Schneider — A 41 statement Likert scale national survey of all (N=315) men’s NCAA Division I basketball coaches was undertaken in order to determine the effectiveness of (a) coaching styles (methods), (b) instructional strategies, (c) coach/player relations (types of coaching behavior), and (d) desirable qualities of athletes. Found by the coaches to be effective was a democratic approach to coaching, a non-militant teaching atmosphere allowing for “give and take” between the coach and players, and a positive atmosphere and talk with their players. Scolding players was specifically looked down upon as a coaching style (method). The general implications of these findings are that an effort should be made by coaches to create a friendly teaching atmosphere between coach and player. (1-22)

  • Is There a Hold for Me? Reflections and Experiences Surrounding the Sport of Rock Wall Climbing Brent Wolfe The purpose of this work was to explore a climbing wall culture within a campus recreation setting. Information addressing three questions was sought: (a) what cultures exist at this wall? (b) how is space controlled in this location? and (c) how can understanding the cultural nature of this setting benefit understanding of this sport? Using ethnographic methods of data collection, four physical (chalk, footwear, body composition, and skill) and four social markers (social interactions, relaxation and comfort, commitment to the activity, and rationale for climbing) were identified. Findings demonstrated that cultural markers were used to distinguish between members and non-members. (23-49)

  • Managing Team Conflict in Professional Sports in Greece Athanasios Laios, George Tzetzis — Coaches as leaders of sport teams should identify the causes of conflict between their athletes and handle conflict effectively. The aim of this study was to examine the methods and ways coaches use to handle conflict in professional teams in Greece. The sample consisted of 42 professional football-soccer, basketball and volleyball coaches, which were surveyed using questionnaires. Using the descriptive statistics and the one-way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA), it was found that: a) all coaches agreed that the most effective styles that can resolve team conflicts are the collaborating style, the compromising style and the avoiding style and the least effective styles from those suggested are the competing style and the accommodating style b) there was a significant difference on agreement that competing is an effective style of conflict resolution for coaches from different sports and the Sheffe post-hoc analysis revealed that soccer coaches believe more strongly than basketball and volleyball coaches that the competing style is more effective for conflict resolution and c) basketball and volleyball coaches believe more strongly than soccer coaches that the compromising style is more effective for conflict resolution. (50-64)

  • Comparison of Grip Strengthening Methods with Dyna-Flex Power Ball? Gregory J. Soukup, Robert B. Pankey, John L. Walker, Susan Hart — The Dyna-Flex Power Ball exerciser claims to strengthen hands, wrists, forearms, biceps, triceps, and to improve grip strength without strenuous exercise. Athletes in sports like weight-training, tennis, racquetball, golf, and baseball could benefit from a product achieving these claims. This study compared improvement in grip strength among subjects training with the Dyna-Flex Power Ball exerciser versus weight-training and racquetball. It was hypothesized a significant improvement in grip strength measures would result after participating in a twelve week training program with the Dyna-Flex Power Ball exerciser. Training twice a week for twelve weeks with the Dyna-Flex Power Ball exerciser did not produce greater improvements in grip strength than weight-training or participation in racquetball. The Dyna-Flex Power Ball did significantly improve grip strength, but was not more effective at improving grip strength than weight-training or regular racquetball play. (65-76)

  • Effects of Short Term Application of Prophylactic Knee Braces on Balance for Athletes with Uninjured KneesTing Liu, Ann M. Swank, Daniel C. Funk, Brian K. Farr — This study examined the effect of a prophylactic knee brace (PKB) on balance in athletes with uninjured knees. PKB is designed to stabilize the knee during rotational and anterior-posterior forces as well as provide protection, support, compression, immobilization and restriction of movement. While the impact of PKB on injury prevention appears minimal, the effect of bracing on functional measures such as balance has not been studied extensively. Twenty-four athletes (age, height, weight = 22 ± 1.6 years, 1.8 ± .1 m, and 89.1 ± 19.4 kg, respectively) with no previous knee injuries participated in this study. Three tests, modified Clinical Test for the Sensory Interaction on Balance (mCTSIB), unilateral stance, and weight bearing/squat, were performed and bracing and non-bracing conditions were compared. A 2 x 2 x 2 repeated measures ANOVA indicated that significant interactions (p < .05) were found under mCTSIB condition. Post-hoc pair-wise comparisons indicated that athletes showed increased balance while wearing the brace in comparison to the non-braced condition during the unstable surface with eyes closed condition. No significant differences (p > 0.05) were found for the unilateral stance and weight bearing/squat conditions. Results indicate that PKB is beneficial in improving balance for athletes with uninjured knees in an unstable condition. (77-96)

  • Investigating the Coverage Provided to Males and Females in a Comparable Sport: A Content Analysis of the Written and Photographic Attention Given to Interscholastic Athletics by the Print Media Paul M. Pederson, Kimberly S. Milsch, Larry Fielding, Galen Claves — Basketball and Indiana have often been viewed as synonyms. After decades of dominance by interscholastic male basketball participants, the state has witnessed a surge in the participation and interest in female high school basketball over the past few years. Basketball—because of its accessibility—exemplifies gender equality (Mandelbaum, 2004) and is thus appropriate for a comparative analysis of gendered media attention. Using the content analytic method, this study examined the coverage devoted to boys and girls high school basketball by newspapers in Indiana. The girls, even when compared to independent standards, were consistently under-represented while the boys received better positioning and photographic accompaniment. The study also investigated coverage distributions based on type, personnel, and circulation. Implications of such coverage of interscholastic sports are noted and explained. (97-125)

  • Performance Enhancers: Use in College Age Men and Women Martha Bass, Clinton Gallagher, Gary Oden, Roseanne Keathley — The purpose of this study is 1) to assess the prevalence of performance enhancer use among college students, 2) to investigate the sources of education about performance enhancers, and 3) to ascertain where college students are obtaining these performance enhancers. Four hundred and seventeen students enrolled at a regional University were surveyed. Gender and athletic status were significant regarding awareness of ergogenic aids for improvement of sports performance. Males and athletes were more likely to be users of performance enhancers. Coaches were not the primary source of information regarding performance enhancer use among participants. The student athletes surveyed did not cite coaches as the primary outlet for obtaining performance-enhancing supplements. A majority of the performance enhancer users obtained their supplements from a retail health food or nutrition store. Further research to include more student athletes as well as additional performance enchancers is recommended. Knowledge and perception of side effects of ergogenic use should also be studied. (126-148)

  • Skills of Expert Basketball Coaches: An Investigative Study Nicholas C. Austin, William A. Sparrow, Cheyne A. Sherman — The aim of this study was to investigate the memory recall and decision making processes of basketball coaches with different expertise levels. Using an interview process, 28 basketball coaches with experience at either High School level, Australian Basketball Association (A.B.A.), and National Basketball League (N.B.L.) were used in the study. Coaches were asked to assess three videotaped displays of game situations and recall players movements after each viewing. A fouth video display was observed for their opinions on whether a substitution or time-out should be called. Quantitative measures included the accuracy of coaches to recall player movement from the pre-recorded visual displays. Memory recall data showed significant differences (p<0.01) between all three coach group levels. This information was also shown to be significantly more difficult (p<0.01) when the defensive team were in a structured set-up (i.e., full court press and/or zone). Expert coaches tended to be slower and more conservative when asked to decide on an effective opportunity to call a time-out. Also, findings indicate that more experienced coaches’ decisions are not based purely upon information present on the court. Overall results indicate that N.B.L. coaches have greater ability than A.B.A. coaches who in turn had greater ability than School coaches did in their amount of recalled game information. (149-173)

  • Perceived Factors of Poor Sportsmanship Behavior in Division I Men’s College Basketball Stephen Kampf — This study examined the perceptions of Division I men’s college basketball officials on the subject of sportsmanship. Division I men’s college basketball officials from Conference X took part in this study by completing a Sportsmanship Perceptions Survey. The main purpose of this study was to identify the factors that influence poor sportsmanship in men’s college basketball based on the opinions of Division I men’s college basketball officials. The study found that coaches, television/media, and spectators were the three most significant factors influencing poor sportsmanship behaviors in Division I men’s college basketball. The results of this study suggested that the age of an official, years of experience, and average number of games officiated in a given season did not have an influence on their opinions of sportsmanship behaviors. (174-197)

  • “Two Steps Forward:” The Effectiveness of Task Pertinent Learning Strategies on an Externally Paced TaskRonnie Lidor — Three task-pertinent learning strategies — awareness (to consciously attend to the act), nonawareness (to perform the task without conscious attention), and the Five-Step Approach (5-SA; to systematically ready oneself, form an image of the act, focus attention on a cue, execute without thought, and evaluate the act), were introduced to learners and compared to a control condition (no strategy). The learners performed four blocks of 16 trials (total = 56 trials) with an externally-paced gross motor task. Reaction times and movement times were measured. The data analyses revealed that the participants in the nonawareness group achieved the fastest movement times in two blocks out of four compared with the participants in the 5-SA, awareness, and control groups. In addition, the 5-SA participants were faster than the awareness participants in two out of four blocks, and faster than the control participants in one block. Partial support was found for the use of task-pertinent learning strategies in learning externally-paced tasks. (198-214)

  • Coaches and Female Athletes Need to Talk about Menstruation Paul Manfre, Amber Peterink, Peter Titlebaum, Kedrin E. Van Steenwyk, Janine T. Baer — Misinformation and lack of knowledge related to menstruation issues can lead to training misconceptions between coaches and athletes. Additionally, preexisting negative connotations and/or embarrassment related to discussing menstruation issues further limit opportunities for such conversations between coaches and athletes. Coaches and athletes need accurate information from easily obtainable reference resources to bridge the barriers to communication related to the menstrual cycle so that research related to menstruation’ effect on physical performance, mental stress, and health risks associated with amenorrhea can be addressed. Most coaches do not specifically address or develop condition workouts to align with an athlete’s menstrual cycle, yet research has also shown this to be of value as part of an athlete’s training regimen. We share guidelines for facilitating communication and recommend related reference resources to communicate menstrual issues with your coach or athlete. (215-225)

  • Sports Nutrition: Comparing Two Sports Drinks On Aerobic PerformanceAllyn Byars, Kelly D. Schneider, Mandy C. Hesseltine, Warren K. Simpson, Michael Greenwood — This study was to compare the effects of a pre-exercise drink (PRX1) called EM∙PACT® to Gatorade® (PRX2) on VO2max performance. A previous study had indicated that ingestion of PRX1 significantly enhanced aerobic performance when compared to a water placebo. Twenty-two males (n=13) and females (n=9) ages 20-36 years (23.68 + 3.91), volunteered as subjects. Each subject performed two VO2max treadmill tests within two weeks of each other. Administration of the trials was double-blinded and randomized with half of the participants ingesting a PRX1 during the first trial and PRX2 during their second trial with the product order being reversed for the other subjects performing both exercise trials. In this crossover design, each subject ingested the PRX1 or PRX2 exactly 20 minutes before each exercise bout. VO2max, maximal heart rate (HR), time to exhaustion (Time), respiratory exchange ratio (RER), fat substrate utilization, and maximal MET level during graded exercise testing were evaluated. Using repeated measures ANOVA, results indicate that aerobic performance, specifically VO2max, maximal MET percent fat utilization, and RER levels may be significantly affected by ingestion of PRX1 20 minutes prior to exercise testing (p<.05). Differences in overall time to exhaustion as well as gender specific values for each variable were not significantly different between the two exercise trials, however; during aerobic exercise bouts, the combined results of this investigation may provide meaningful practical applications for coaches and athletes alike regarding ergogenic hydration options. (226-240)

  • COACHES’ CORNER

  • Diamonds in the Wheat: The Kansas State League’s Inaugural Season—1905 Michael J. Hickey — The game of baseball has always played an important role in community life. In the 1900’s the national pastime was more than just entertainment as it offered a respite from the toils of rural life. At that time, for most Americans, the game of baseball did not consist of teams like the New York Giants or the Chicago Cubs or players like Honus Wagner and Christy Mathewson. Instead the tapestry that made up the national pastime was woven from area teams and local heroes. In 1905, a few central Kansas communities made a foray into professional baseball. This article utilizes community newspapers in an attempt to capture the enthusiasm that accompanied the Kansas State League’s inaugural season. (241-267)
E-mail americanpress@flash.net to order PDFs of any article.