American Press: Applied Research in Coaching and Athletics Annual #12 (1997)

ARCAA Contents & Abstracts Volume 12, 1997

ISBN 978-0-89641-305-4

NCAA Division 1-A Athletic Director’s and Senior Woman Administrators Attitudes Toward Student-Athlete Welfare Issues — R. Brian Crow, Dennis R. Phillips — A recent study of NCAA Division I-A athletic directors and senior woman administrators was conducted to determine if differences existed between them on issues of student-athlete welfare. Forty five percent of athletic directors and seventy one percent of senior women administrators submitted usable responses. Results indicated agreement toward allowing freshmen eligibility for varsity practice and competition, initial eligibility standards and satisfactory progress requirements, student-athletes graduating at or above the institution’s graduation rate, not paying student-athletes a stipend for competing, not allowing student-athletes to obtain outside employment, and feeling that a longer football season would not be detrimental to student-athlete welfare. (1-11)

Coaching a Soccer Style Kicker, White Type? — Steve Snowden — Arguably, one of the greatest changes seen in football in the last 30 years has been the inception of the soccer style kicker. For decades all kickers approached the ball in a “straight on” fashion. The influx of European soccer players as kickers in the National Football League brought about an emulation of this style by kickers at every level. However research conducted in the last 20 years has shown that a third style has developed. Statistical analysis of more than 20 kickers of both styles show that the two styles are uniquely different. (12-18)

Observing and Analyzing a Fictional Coach’s Behaviors: Implications for Coaching Education — David Kahan, Mensah Kuutame — Popular film is an underutilized medium for studying coaching effectiveness. Unlike real coaches, fictional coaches portrayed in sport film reach a wider audience yet still wield real power by delivering subtle messages about how coaches ought to behave. Based on the contention that movies can affect coaching beliefs and practice, the present study analyzed the coaching behavior of a fictional coach as portrayed in the hockey film Mighty Ducks. Quantitative analysis using the Arizona State University Observation Instrument (ASUOI) revealed a behavioral profile unlike any encountered in the literature and one counter-productive to effective pedagogical practice. Qualitative analysis revealed a coach whose off-ice life explained his coaching behaviors and his metamorphosis from poor to satisfactory coach. Discussion of how to study fictional coaches and how their study may help coaching education is provided. (19-34)

Women Coaches: Does When Dictate Why They Leave — Carla Lowry, Dorothy Lovett — The present study was undertaken to determine the reasons women have left coaching and to determine if there are significant differences in the reasons based on when the coaches left the profession. In addition, the reasons were characterized in terms of individual traits and/or in terms of social conditions. Survey data were collected from 929 former female interscholastic and intercollegiate coaches. A MANOVA was used to analyze a set of dependent variables designated as the most important reasons for leaving coaching with the independent variables of time frame in which the individual left. Scheffe post-hoc analyses identified the significant differences in the means of the three time frames. Of the most important reasons for leaving, six reasons were not significantly different by time frame while the former coaches rated five reasons differently based on the time frame in which they left coaching. The most important reasons for leaving coaching were characterized as being derived from social conditions rather than individual traits. (35-53)

Coaches’ Perceptions of the NCAA Smokeless Tobacco Policy and Athletes Who Use Smokeless Tobacco: Implications for Continuing Education — Carla J. Chakravorty, Robert J. Buchanan, Robert Osfeldt — Smokeless tobacco (ST) use increases the risk of developing oral cancers. Up to 54% of male college athletes use ST. In 1994 the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) enacted a policy to regulate athletes ST use. The purpose of this study was to examine coaches’ beliefs about ST, athletes’ ST use, and the NCAA’s ST policy. We surveyed coaches at 56 randomly selected schools with a response rate of 85% (N = 140). Among the coaches, 67% believe athletes who use ST need help to quit; but 68% say there is no help or they are unsure if help is available at their schools. Compared to non‑users, ST users are more likely to feel the NCAA’s policy shouldn’t be enforced. Findings suggest that most coaches hold positive attitudes towards the NCAA’s policy and agree with the policy’s aims. However, coaches need more information on the nature of nicotine addiction and the need for different types of substance use policies in college sports. Coaches must become more aware of ST cessation resources and provide opportunities for athletic team staff to be trained in ST cessation counseling. Staff who use ST should also be encouraged to quit. (54-71)

Effect of Casual Verbal Messages on Mood and Accuracy — Sharon Huddleston, Mick G. Mack, Joseph K. Mintah, Nancy P Hamilton, Randall J. Wee, Karla A. Sipple, Jennifer J. Sandvold — A within subjects repeated measures design with random assignment of treatments was employed to explore the effect of a positive or negative casual message on mood states and performance on a target task. The 48 college-age volunteers (18 females and 30 males) were exposed to a baseline and a treatment session in which mood and performance were assessed. MANOVA results on mood demonstrated no significant main effects (p >.05) for message, gender, or the interaction. MANOVA performance results indicated no significant main effects (p >.05) for message or the interaction, however, there was a significant gender difference (p <.01) for the baseline performance task. Finally, within group comparisons showed that the positive message group’s performance in the post‑treatment trial was significantly better (p <.01) than the baseline performance trial. No significant differences (p >.05) in performance were observed within the negative message treatment group. Results indicated that mood states were not altered with a casual message. The improved performance results of the positive message group are discussed in relation to self‑efficacy and motivation. (72-84)

Monitoring Athlete Mood Using the Profile of Mood States: A Case Study — Arnold LeUnes — A case study demonstrating the efficacy of using the Profile of Mood States (POMS) as a means of monitoring athlete mood is presented. At the same time, the utility of performance enhancement techniques in improving track performance is supported. A female collegiate 10,000-meters runner sought assistance with a mental block which she felt was inhibiting her performance. For seven consecutive weeks during the track season, the POMS was administered and she received performance enhancement intervention (i.e., attentional focus, hypnosis, relaxation techniques) from a counseling psychologist experienced at working with athletes. Analyses of the weekly administration of the POMS indicated a noticeable deterioration in mood during the second week of testing, a change attributable to death of a loved one. Other nuances of the assessment and/or treatment are discussed and recommendations are made for using the POMS to monitor mood and, ultimately, to enhance athletic performance. (85-90)

Kinesiological Analysis of Roping — Michael C. Meyers, Jerry R. Elledge — There are voluminous amounts of literature defining, analyzing, and applying kinematic principles of the overhand motion in sports, including baseball, tennis, swimming, golf, and track and field. No previous studies, however, have been directed analytically toward the kinesiological understanding of non-traditional sports such as rodeo, and in particular, the roping events. Theses events (calf, team roping) consist of a human attempting to catch livestock with the use of a rope while astride a horse during timed competition. Multiplicative conditions unique to this sport include 1) maintaining optimal plane of motion in relation to a nonstationary bovine target, 2) overcoming inertia during completion of the throw while traveling on horseback up to speeds of 55 km/h, 3) maintaining trajectory, direction, and acceleration of a non aerodynamic projectile in the absence of gyroscopic action, and 4) adjusting to the influence and instability of equine footing. Quantitative assessment utilizing three‑dimensional (3D) computer analyses may unlock further kinesiological techniques not visibly apparent with traditional deductive methods, and coupled with EMG response, should provide better kinematic understanding necessary for optimal task performance in this sport. (91-108)

Communication in Coaching and Athletics: Guidelines to Promote Successful Interactions — Greg A. Shelley, Clay P. Sherman — Practical guidelines for understanding and improving coach-athlete communication are presented and discussed in relation to the coaching position. Strategies are presented for enhancing listening effectiveness and verbal expression. Special attention is given to overcoming potential communication barriers. Suggestions are made as to how coaches can assist their athletes in defining and accepting specific roles by effectively communicating their coaching goals and expectations. The reader is encouraged to analyze their current communication styles and techniques in terms of maximizing the communication process. (109-129)

COACHES CORNER

Three Poems to Hail the Opening of Baseball Season — Robert A. Fink— No Abstract (130-132)

BOOK REVIEWS

Tennis Tactics: Winning Patterns of Play by United States Tennis Association, reviewed by Guy E. Shaul (133-134)

Training for Young Distance Runners by Laurence S. Greene and Russell R. Pate, reviewed by Holli L. Goddard (135-136)

Youth Soccer Drills by Jim Garland, reviewed by Rena Richardson (136-137)

Mental Skills for Competitive Swimmers by John M. Hogg, reviewed by Scott Haner (137-138)

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