American Press, Applied Recreational Research and Programming Annual #1 (2011)

ARRPA Contents & Abstracts, Volume 1, 2011

ISBN 978-0-89641-500-3

Participation in Recreational Activities: A Study of Motivation, Constraints, and Internalization — Daniel C. Funk, Jeff James,Konstantinos Alexandris, Ceridwyn King — The present study investigates internal and external factors that influence participation in recreational activities. The relationship between motivation, constraint negotiation, and behavioral involvement was examined using the concept of internalization. Data was collected from volleyball and aerobic dance class participants (N=169) using a survey. Analysis reveals the level of motivation provides the push to participate but continued involvement depends upon negotiating perceived constraints. Internalization was observed to mediate both motivation and constrain negotiation. The results illustrate the theoretical and practical value of studying constraints and internalization to increase adoption and adherence to physical activity and exercise. (1-23)

Hands-On or Hands-Off?: Municipal Recreation Agencies’ Role and Influence in Youth Sports Coach-Parent Training — Robert J. Barcelona, Sarah J. Young — Because of the support they provide for youth sports in their communities, municipal recreation agencies are often viewed as a key nexus in the youth sports delivery process. However, few municipal recreation agencies require training for all volunteer coaches utilizing their facilities, or provide behavioral standards and guidelines for sport parents. This study examined the youth sport context in which municipal recreation agencies operate, and how these contexts create opportunities and challenges for implementing youth sport coach and parent training programs. Analysis of open-ended comments provided by municipal recreation directors yielded three primary themes related to their agencies’ role in youth sports delivery: 1) agency as “hands-on”, 2) agency as “hands-off”, and 3) bridging the gap. The implications of each for youth sports coach and parent training and overall program administration are discussed. (24-54)

Consumer Satisfaction and Service Quality for a Resort — D.Floyd Jones, Jennifer Y. Mak — The purpose of this study was to evaluate the consumer satisfaction and service quality of a resort in Mid-Atlantic area. Stratified random sampling and survey methodology were adopted for data collection. Data were collected from 99 customers in the Mid-Atlantic Resort. Descriptive statistics and ANOVA was used for data analysis. Result showed that the majority of the respondents (93.9%) were from the United States, (79.8%) currently married (76.8%), (37.4%) with an age ranged between 35-44, lived within 5 hours driving distances from the Resort and (49.0%) with an annual household income between $60,000-$84,000. The majority of the respondents stayed in the house (67.3%), followed by staying in the cabin (15.3%), cottage (11.2%) and lodge room (6.1%) for their visits respectively. Regarding to service quality and consumer satisfaction, married couple had higher satisfaction than non-married couple in staff service (t=2.117, p<.05) in cleanness (t=2.610, p<.05) and facility (t=2.113, p<.05) but not in safety issue (t=-.036, p>.05). In conclusion, this study findings support the notion that with a high satisfaction of service quality will lead to a high chance for returned customer. (55-68)

Knowledge Acquisition of a Novice Wheelchair Basketball Coach — Stephanie L. Wheeler, Brent Hardin, Scott DouglasThe purpose of this study was to augment previous research on disability sport coaching by documenting how a novice wheelchair basketball coach acquired knowledge of coaching. The researchers spent part of a season with a novice wheelchair basketball coach observing and documenting her preparation and planning for practices and games, her coaching techniques, and questioning her on how she acquired the knowledge to become a wheelchair basketball coach. The researchers completed field observations at eight practice sessions and three regular-season games, and completed four interviews, which included two Q-Sort interviews, one completed at the beginning of the observations and one at the end, a semi-structured interview, and a stimulated recall interview. The data from the interviews and field notes were analyzed to establish relevant themes and categories. There were three significant themes that emerged from the data. The findings provide insight into what the novice coach in this study valued as the most important sources of knowledge for a wheelchair basketball coach. (69-90)

Adaptive Tai Chi: A Proposed Teaching Model Wellness— Duane Crider, William R. Klinger, Andrew L. ShimAs the population in America continues to age it is imperative of fitness and physical activity specialists to provide opportunities for older Americans to improve and enjoy quality of life (CDC Update, 2007). Current recreational and fitness programs target young healthy individuals, specializing on improving sports performance rather than focusing on the functional movement and improving overall health for all age groups. While there is merit towards developing new therapeutic interventions for improving overall movement functionality, Tai Chi has been a therapeutic model and adaptive fitness exercise for several decades. Tai Chi has numerous demonstrated benefits that can be made readily available to older adults. Peterson and Gunn’s Therapeutic Recreation Service Model (TRSM) provides a practical visualization for the purpose of therapeutic interventions for the needs of the client. In applying this modified framework (Crider & Klinger, 2001), the activity specialists will be able to promote three specific stages in their development, implementation, and evaluation of specific activity programs that can be effective for older adults who partake in Tai Chi for therapeutic intervention. (91-108)

Discovering the Type of Recreation Job That Best Fits your Strengths and Interests — Howard Gauthier— The purpose of this paper is to present a self-assessment instrument for people who are interested in pursuing a career in an area within the field of recreation. The Recreation-Related Occupational Values Assessment is adapted from the Sports-Related Occupational Values Assessment (Gauthier, 2009) incorporates 14 areas of recreation and 31 career or activity values. (109-120)

Positive Rewards for Positive Behavior Would a Rewards System Work? — Peter Titlebaum, Eric Beadle, Stacey Ferranti, Corrine M. Daprano Drinking in college has always been a major issue on campuses. Students leave home for the first time and are thrust into a social scene where drinking is viewed as the only way to have fun. Survey results from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism in 2005 show that 1,700 college students die from alcohol related injuries each year and an additional 25% of college students suffer from declining grades due to alcohol consumption. Based on data collected at a private university in the Midwest, this study explores student willingness to consider a program designed to reward students for engaging in non-alcohol related activities. A Rewards System is worth implementing, based on what the survey and data has revealed. However, college leadership needs to develop more solutions than just Recreational Department programming as the primary alternative program available. The National Intramural Recreational Sports Association (NIRSA) institutions have invested more than $18.9 billion on new or renovated facilities across the country (2004). This financial investment shows that schools are putting funds towards the problem, but more can be done. (121-132)

SPECIAL FEATURE

Two Perspectives on Perceptions of Physical Disability — Gerard G. Lyons, Warren K. Simpson— Presented in this manuscript are personal commentaries and insights by two “physically challenged” persons. Both men interviewed were injured during their military careers. They candidly answer questions by expressing their views on the changes that have occurred over the years in relation to improving individuals’ ability for active participation in recreation and sport activities. By reading the comments one can see the evolution of each of these men from their post-injury participatory transition stage, to their engagement in a full variety of activities participation, through their accomplishments as active individuals. (133-147)

BOOK REVIEWS

Campus Recreation: Essentials for the Professional edited by National Intramural Recreation Sports Association (NIRSA), reviewed by Warren. K. Simpson (148-150)

Research in Recreation, Parks, Sport, and Tourism by Carol Cutler Riddick and Ruth V.Russell, reviewed by Allyn Byars (151-153)

Recreation Programming: Designing Leisure Experiences by J. Robert Rossmann and Barbara Elwood Schlatter, reviewed by Warren K. Simpson (154-155)

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