ARRPA Contents & Abstracts, Volume 3, 2013

ISBN 978-0-89641-529-4

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    Motivational Factors Influencing Exercise Identity — Katie Flanagan, Hyun-Woo Lee — The present study investigates motivations of exercisers. Motivational factors based on self-determination theory (fitness, appearance, competence/challenge, social, and enjoyment) were evaluated among individuals with high levels of “exercise identity” (Anderson & Cychosz, 1994). Data were collected from individuals at two fitness centers (n = 309) using a paper-and-pencil questionnaire. Differences among demographic groups were examined. Though significant differences were not found across groups, the authors did find that individuals who are motivated by the enjoyment and social elements of working out, exercised more often and for longer periods of time per session. This finding suggests implications for member retention in fitness centers, following past research providing evidence that the more often a member visits a fitness center, the more likely he/she will renew his/her membership. Therefore, fostering exercise identity through the implementation of social motivations may lead to a higher member retention rate in a fitness center. (1-30)

  • Coping Styles, Hardiness, and Aerobic Performance of Competitive Male Cyclists — Josh Gordon, Michael C. Meyers, Adam Parker — A competitive mindset is advantageous in sports competition, but studies considering the mind-body relationship of cyclists are limited. Therefore, this study was conducted to quantify the relationship between competitive mindset and aerobic performance among cyclists. 38 competitive male cyclists (32.1 ± 7.1 yrs) completed the Athletic Coping Skills Inventory (ACSI), the Sports Inventory for Pain (SIP), and the Dispositional Resilience scale (DR-S), prior to completing a VO2peak cycling test. Subjects were analyzed by skill levels/aerobic performance based on VO2peak. Multivariate analysis indicated a significant main effect between skill levels (p = .039). Subsequent analyses indicated that cyclists with high to Olympic level aerobic capacity scored significantly higher in cognitive and total coping response, and significantly lower in goal setting/mental preparation and confidence than cyclists exhibiting only fair to good aerobic fitness. The hypothesis that better trained cyclists would exhibit more positive coping skills than less trained cyclists was partially supported. (31-58)

  • Three Stages of the Job Interview Process within the Recreation Industry — Howard Gauthier — Opportunities for jobs in the recreation industry are increasing but so is the competition for these positions. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that between the years 2010 and 2020 the number of jobs in the recreation field will increase by 19%. Despite this rise, competition for full-time employment in the recreation sector will be extremely competitive because many of these projected job opportunities will be part-time and seasonal positions. In addition, the exponential growth of sports and recreation management degree programs over the past three decades has significantly increased the number of formally trained professionals who are available to fill these full-time positions. The purpose of this article is to review the job search process within the recreation industry and to present three stages associated with the job interview process. These three stages include the pre-interview stage, the interview stage, and the post-interview stage. Elements within each of these stages are also introduced and discussed. This information is designed to enhance the body of knowledge for the job search process within the recreation industry. (59-66)

  • Youth Voices in Recreational Youth Sport — Jordan A. Daniel — The growing need to engage youth in their own development has led to many different paths. One way to address this issue is by empowering youth to have a voice, agency, and power in their recreational sport activities. This article poses youth voice as an active and positive process that benefits all those who are involved as it can support youth athlete’s experience and serves as a mode of engagement that may limit the existence of “youth sport coaches as dictators.” Additionally, the author seeks to give, but not limited to, examples that may help coaches and parents understand and empower youth voice. (676-80)

  • Collaboration and “Face Time” Assignments Are Key to Enhanced Personal Selling Skills — Amy Sandt, Duane S. Crider, Cara Cotellese — Careers in sports management often require young professionals to know how to sell products and services, as well as understand the importance of video interviewing. Such high impact assignments provide real world skills that are essential to student learning; however, budgetary cuts and decreased staffing have made staff collaboration the only option available to provide students with the professional development opportunities necessary to prepare them for the modern workplace. The purpose of this two-year project was to provide a professional development assignment designed to equip students with personal selling skills and “Face Time” experience--skills needed to prepare them for the demands of the sport management field. As resources become more scarce, professionals, both faculty and administration, must consider the potential of collaborations in order to provide students with the skills needed to meet the demands of the changing face of business and the economy. (81-95)

    • SPECIAL FEATURE: PROGRAMMING EXCHANGE

  • The Wheelchair Workout: Reflections on Six Key Elements — Gerard G. Lyons (96-101)

  • Dive-in to the College Scavenger Hunt — Melissa A. Strain — Dive-in to college scavenger hunt is a thematic event that can be planned for the final day of freshman orientation. The freshmen going through orientation have the opportunity to work with other new students living in their dorm on a campus wide scavenger hunt. The event gives the students the opportunity to test their knowledge of what they learned about their new college campus during the previous days of orientation. The event culminates with a pool party luau where winning teams are announced. (102-106)

    • BOOK REVIEW

  • Handbook of College Athletics and Recreation Administration by George S. McClellan, Chris King, and Donald L. Rockey, Jr., reviewed by Warren K. Simpson (107-109)

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