American Press: Applied Receational Research and Programming Annual #2 (2012)

ARRPA Contents & Abstracts, Volume 2, 2012

ISBN 978-0-89641-515-7

Factors Affecting Job Satisfaction of Public Park and Recreation Employees — Craig M. Ross, Sarah J. Young, Kyoung T. Kim Jill R. Sturts — The purpose of this study was to examine the factors impacting the job satisfaction of park and recreation professionals employed by local government agencies. The results of the EFA revealed that 28 of 34 variables loaded on four factors. An overwhelming majority of respondents reported being satisfied with the security of their jobs and with the interesting and challenging work they performed. Financial rewards were recognized as very important by the respondents. On the whole, the data from this exploratory study supported the supposition that public employees in parks and recreation experience a high level of overall job satisfaction. (1-31)

The Effect of Strategty Use in Practice on Performance of a Psychomotor Skill in Non-Elite Competitive Youth Swimmers — Rebecca C. Trenz— This study investigated the effects of a strategy intervention during practice on performance of a psychomotor skill in a competitive setting. Participants were non-elite youth swimmers randomly assigned to one of two groups during a practice session: a strategy group (stroke count) and a no-strategy group (control). Assessment of distance per stroke and time occurred in a pre and post-test time trial. Swimmers in the strategy group improved their distance per stroke significantly more than the no-strategy group. There was no significant improvement in time between groups; however, increased, swimmers time increased from the pre to post-test time trial. (32-48)

Selection of Music for Optimal Individual Exercise Performance — Chad H. Herring— The purpose of this manuscript was to help coaches, fitness instructors, and any other individual involved in exercise select music that is optimal for their training goals. This article is a practical guide, drawing from numerous research articles in order to make the best comprehensive music selection guidelines as possible. This article can help those individuals involved in the selection of music, but may also help others realize the significant impact that music selection while training can have on exercise performance. Included in this manuscript is a practical guide that sums up the major points of this article. (49-59)

Acute Effects of Passive Static and Dynamic Stretching on Vertical Jump Force Production — Andy Mooneyhan, Allyn Byars, Waarren K. Simpson, Steve Snowden, Mike Greenwood — Current research has demonstrated that passive static stretching prior to high intensity activities may be detrimental to performance. The purpose of this study was to determine the acute effects of passive static and dynamic stretching on force production during a vertical jump test. Seventeen male (n=9) and female (n=8) collegiate athletes ages 17-22 years (20.18 ± 1.33) participated in this study. Prior to measuring force production during a vertical jump test, each participant completed a five minute warm-up on a bicycle ergometer followed by a passive static stretching, dynamic stretching, or a non-stretching protocol. The participants were tested over the period of three consecutive days with the order of each stretching protocol randomized. Each participant completed three successive counter-movement vertical jumps at which force production was measured. No significant mean differences in peak force production were found between the no-stretching (911.11 ± 134.68), dynamic (929.38 ± 155.57), and passive static (894.76 ± 131.12) protocols (p = .457). There were also no significant interaction effects between gender and peak force production for each stretching protocol (p > 0.05). Overall the results indicated that vertical jump performance, specifically peak force production in trained athletes, may not be significantly affected by either dynamic or passive static stretching. However, mean peak power was greatest using dynamic stretching in comparison to the other stretching protocols which support the results of past investigations and therefore, may have practical value. In addition, the results of this study can also be applied to active individuals since many types of recreational activities (i.e., resistance training, basketball, etc.) employ high intensity force production. (60-77)

A Model for Career Development in Recreational Sports — Howard Gauthier— The Sports-Related Job Search Model was developed using research from career development as it applied to college athletics and recreational sports. The model is an excerpt from the book Getting Hired in College Sports. The Sports-Related Job Search Model presents two distinct phases of a comprehensive job search–the Discovery Phase and the Search Phase. The Discovery Phase is comprised of both self-assessment activities and career tests that a person completes in order to gain an understanding of their strengths, skills, and abilities. Once a person has completed the Discovery Phase of the process, they enter the Search Phase of the model. This phase is a continual loop of preparing personal marketing materials, connecting with potential employers, interviewing for a job, and strategically following-up after the interview. The model was designed to enhance the body of knowledge for career development within the scope of college athletics and recreational sports. (78-90)

Women's Intramural Sports Participation at Crisis Level — Peter Titlebaum, Abigail Whaley, Jeanette Vaszuez — According to the U.S. Department of Education, female students now represent 57% of the nation’s college enrollment. With this rapidly growing student population of women comes a challenge for the curricular and extracurricular programs in higher education. Most intramural leagues have a small female population participating in these programs. A methodical approach was developed to assess the participation of this underserved group, as well as to understand the factors contributing to their lack of involvement in intramural sports. In order to decrease the barriers these females face, intramural directors must implement updated marketing strategies that entice this particular target market to participate. Included in this study are collegiate intramural sports programs. (91-105)

SPECIAL FEATURE: PROGRAMMING EXCHANGE

Trivia Programs as Recreation — Tim Willett, Warren K. Simpson (106-110)

BOOK REVIEWS

Student-Designed Games — by Peter Hastie, reviewed by Warren K. Simpson (111-113)

Training and Conditioning Presents: "The Nutrition Edge" by Susen Kundrat, reviewed by Allyn Byars (114-117)

Fitness (2nd edition) by Karen S. Mazzzeo and Lauren M. Mangili, reviewed by Tara Niemann (118-119)

Summer Camp Counseling (8th edition) by Karla A. Henderson and Joel F. Meier, reviewed by Jonna Russell (120-122)

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