Experiences Of Athletes Research Articles

Wearable sensor-based real time monitoring system for physical education teaching and training

The comprehensive progress of mental and physical quality is majorly influenced by the college physical education, which is considered a part of the educational system. Developing a scientific and efficient evaluation index is significant to compute physical education teaching quality. The traditional methods of assessing performance in physical education often rely on subjective evaluations or delayed feedback from manual data collection. To overcome these challenges, a design based on a real-time monitoring system is introduced that leverages wearable biosensor technology to improve physical education teaching and training. Initially, some physiological indicators, namely heart rate, respiration rate, body temperature, and motion activity, were recorded and analysed to provide individualized insights into physical performance. Data pre-processing is performed using a median filter to reduce noise and Z-score normalization to standardize the input dataset. Key features are extracted using Fast Fourier Transform (FFT), enabling the identification of critical performance metrics. A Rat Swarm Optimized Efficient Random Forest (RSO-ERF) algorithm was introduced to enhance classification accuracy and optimize system performance. Experimental results demonstrate the proposed system’s effectiveness in providing real-time feedback, identifying individual fitness levels, and supporting adaptive teaching strategies. The increased system’s analysis tendency allows for customized training regimens, ongoing feedback, and improved physical health metrics monitoring. It also gives educators the ability to make data-driven decisions, encourage safety, and improve the educational experience for athletes and students. The findings underscore the potential of wearable biosensor technology combined with advanced algorithms in transforming physical education methodologies for improved engagement and performance outcomes.

Minority in a minority: exploring marginalisation in wheelchair rugby in the USA

ABSTRACT This study explores the experiences of wheelchair rugby athletes who are also members of gender, racial and sexual minority communities and reflects the diversity, equity and inclusion of the marginalised adaptive sport community. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 22 minority and 19 non-minority athletes to fully capture both aims. Three themes occurred and were discussed with a thematic analysis approach: full acceptance and strong sense of community; divisive inclusion; and minority perceptions. Along with the prevalent strong sense of community and evolving inclusion, this white male-dominated, extremely physical, co-ed sport carried its sport habitus and resulted in complex experiences for minorities, including discrimination, microaggression and stereotypes. The glimpse into the marginalised layered experiences forms an intersection lens that evinces the hegemonic culture and intrinsic paradox of sport.

The experience of Italian student athletes enrolled in a dual career university program: the challenges of employability

The experience of Italian student athletes enrolled in a dual career university program: the challenges of employability

An ecological momentary assessment of the stress and coping experiences of dual-career badminton athletes

A dual-career that combines academic and sporting pursuits can be stressful, as such, it is of importance to explore how dual-career athletes appraise and cope with stress. Existing dual-career literature is limited by retrospective methodologies. In seeking to address these limitations, this study utilized ecological momentary assessment three days a week for four consecutive weeks to explore the stress and coping experiences of six highly trained dual-career student badminton athletes aged between 18 and 26 years (Mage =20.75, SD = 2.4). Deductive thematic analysis of EMA diaries highlights that dual-career athletes experience various competitive, organizational, and personal stressors. Situational characteristics underpinning identified stressors were novelty, ambiguity, imminence, duration, and timing, which aligned predominantly with threat and harm appraisals and occasionally with challenge appraisals. The applied implications of study findings are discussed, particularly regarding EMA methodology for future dual-career research and coping interventions for dual-career student-athletes.

The Prevalence of and Factors Associated with Disordered Eating Among Adult Athletes in Italy and Lebanon.

Disordered eating (DE) is a wide-spectrum condition, represented by altered eating patterns, behaviors, and attitudes aimed at controlling food intake, body weight, and shape, which does not necessarily satisfy the diagnostic criteria for an eating disorder of clinical severity. DE is frequently reported among athletes, but its prevalence and associated factors have not been fully elucidated. In this study, we intended to assess the prevalence of DE among adult athletes from different sports disciplines in Italy and Lebanon and to identify the factors associated with DE. A validated questionnaire (Eating Attitude Test [EAT-26]) was administered to determine the prevalence of DE, which was indicated by a score ≥ 17. Sport-related information, such as the type of sport, level of competition, training volume, and years of athletic experience, was also collected. Among the total sample of 881 athletes, 78 were identified as having DE, with a prevalence of 6.1% (7.8% of females and 4.9% of males) in Italian athletes and 21.3% (27.3% of females and 17.0% of males) in Lebanese athletes. In addition, among male athletes, the risk of having DE was more than threefold in those practicing weightlifting or bodybuilding (odds ratio [OR] = 3.23; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.03-10.08, and p < 0.05), while females with more athletic experience had almost 10% less risk of having DE (OR = 0.92; 95%CI = 0.86-0.98, and p < 0.05). DE is a prevalent condition among athletes. Therefore, it is crucial that sports federations and committees consider adopting standardized practical guidelines that focus on routinely screening for the early identification of DE in this population and implementing strategies for its timely management. In the future, longitudinal studies are also needed to clarify the impact of DE on athletes' clinical condition as well as their physical fitness and sports performance.

Turning the Spyglass of Anthropology to Tackle Football

Drawing on almost a decade of immersive research with Black college football players, I argue that an anthropological and ethnographic approach to tackle football can complement studies in kinesiology by acknowledging the humanity, personhood, and lived experiences of athletes. In this article, I turn Zora Neale Hurston’s spyglass of Black feminist anthropology to football and center my disciplinary training to explain anthropology’s utility when studying this sport at the college level and the experiences of its Black participants. In particular, I highlight how my own positionality as a scholar mattered during my research experiences and how Black feminist anthropology provided me with the lens to consider care in football beyond just medical care performed to support the physical body. I make the case for how, through the spyglass of anthropological and ethnographic examination, the structural and the experiential of tackle football can be observed in tandem.

Exercise addiction in individuals who exercise regularly

Background and Study Aim. Addiction has significant effects on individuals who exercise regularly, influenced by factors such as age and gender. This study aimed to measure the exercise addiction levels among university students who regularly engage in fitness activities. Material and Methods. The Exercise Addiction Scale was used to determine the participants' levels of exercise addiction. This scale was administered to 198 voluntary participants (students), including 101 women and 97 men. A demographic information form was used to collect data regarding participants' gender, age, years of training, and levels of national athleticism. To compare differences between two independent groups, independent t-tests and One-Way ANOVA multiple comparison tests were applied to identify differences between variables. Results. Results revealed significant differences in the tolerance development and passion subscales based on gender, with results favoring women. No statistically significant difference was found in the subdimension of excessive focus and mood changes based on years of athletic experience. In contrast, individuals with 1-3 years of experience had significantly higher scores in the postponement of individual-social needs compared to those with 4-6 years of experience. In the subdimension of tolerance development and passion, individuals with 1-3 years of experience scored significantly higher than those with 4-6 years and those with 11 or more years of experience. However, no significant differences in exercise addiction scores were observed based on age or national athlete status. Conclusions. Results suggest that the risk of exercise addiction may be mitigated by fostering a balanced approach to sports participation. Emphasizing both health and social engagement, rather than solely performance, may help individuals maintain a healthier relationship with exercise.

Between active and passive: a phenomenological discovery of sports sensation experiences

ABSTRACT This research centers on an empirical exploration of the athlete’s experience grounded in Merleau-Ponty’s Body Phenomenology. Employing a phenomenological analysis, the study illuminates the agency of the body-subject and the profound significance of world-construction through embodiment in athletic situations. By delving into the lived experiences of athletes, this investigation unveils the dynamic interplay between the athlete’s body, subjective agency and the perceptual construction of the sporting environment. The recognition of the agency of the body-subject and the active role of the body schema provides a nuanced perspective on the phenomenology of athletic performance. Insights gleaned from this study contribute to a deeper understanding of the intricate relationship between the athlete, their embodied experiences and the constructed world of sports. The implications extend to sports training methodologies, emphasizing the importance of holistic approaches that consider the athlete as an embodied and perceiving subject. And the same time, this research enhances our comprehension of the philosophical foundations underlying the athlete’s engagement with the sporting world.

“I’m the Kind of Trans They Don’t Care About”: Experiences of Trans-Masculine Athletes in the National Collegiate Athletic Association

In 2022, transgender swimmer Lia Thomas reignited longstanding debates about fairness in sport, and by August 2023, 23 states had enacted legislation restricting transgender athletic participation. While trans-feminine athletes are often seen as a “threat” to women’s sports, the experiences of trans-masculine athletes are often overlooked. Based on interviews with 13 trans-masculine athletes in the National Collegiate Athletic Association, I explore how they navigate gender identity while participating in gendered, competitive sport. I find that their (trans)gender identities and identities as athletes became inseparable and were mutually constituted. Additionally, I argue that their experiences in sport are contingent on their trans-masculine identities. While not the primary targets of antitrans policy, their experiences were impacted by broader, antitrans rhetoric and legislative efforts to restrict transgender participation.

Gendered environmental pathways to sports injury: insights from retired athletes in the UK high-performance context

ObjectiveWomen remain at increased risk for some sports injuries, such as anterior cruciate ligament rupture and concussion. This study applied a gendered environmental approach to identify modifiable features of women’s...

Body Image Experiences in Retired Olympians: Losing the Embodied Self

Athlete body dissatisfaction is prevalent across sports and can lead to disordered eating, negative affect, and poor mental health. Whether body image concerns persist into athletic retirement is a focus of research, predominately involving survey-based data in usually sub-elite athletic samples. This study is the first to focus on the meanings elite athletes ascribe to their bodies in retirement. We recruited 31 retired elite athletes, including 23 former Olympians, to participate in a semi-structured interview. More than 25 hours of interview data was transcribed verbatim and subject to a reflexive thematic analysis. We constructed 4 major themes to describe athlete experiences: 1) A legacy of body-conscious culture 2) The struggle for “normal”, 3) Loss of body as loss of self, 4) Towards new meanings and identities. Athletes explained how the body surveillance culture of elite sport echoed into their post-sport lives. An Olympian identity was considered an embodied identity, so body changes represented a loss of the self. Adjusting to regular eating and exercise routines was deemed challenging, with minimal access to guidance and support. Accepting the inevitability of physical changes in retirement and finding new meanings and identities, were deemed effective coping strategies. Athletes’ insights can support sport psychologists and elite sport organisations to devise strategies and policies to facilitate adaptation to body changes post-retirement from sport.

A018: Dual-Process Advantages of Ball Players in Sport-Related Domains

Background: Based on a dual-process framework, two qualitatively different modes of processing guide human behaviour. Type 1 processes refer to automatic, unconscious processing that can be responsible for Task 1, while Type 2 processes refer to controlled, conscious processing required by Task 2. Although many existing sport psychology studies emphasize that the dual-process model can be applied to the sports domain, this application has shortcomings. The first debate of this application is whether dual-process advantages in athletes are limited to sport-specific realms. Furthermore, although the dual-process framework pays more attention to automatic processes (Type 1 processes), it loses sight of subliminal processes, as well as the combination between subliminal processes (Type 1 processes) and working memory processes (Type 2 processes), which is more associated with real competitive game situations. The second controversy is the relationship between the two processing types. Therefore, the present article aimed to answer two questions: (1) whether athletes show better performance in the dual-process situation when the stimuli are not related or related to their expertise domain, and (2) whether dual processes compete for cognitive resources, that is, whether working memory load influences subliminal priming. Methods: The study used a mixed factorial design of 2 (subjects: athletes vs. non-athletes) x 2 (load: low vs. high) x 2 (consistency: consistent vs. inconsistent). A novel dual-process paradigm was developed, where participants performed a subliminal priming task while completing a working memory task. The memory materials were digits and the subliminal stimuli were either unrelated to (Experiment 1) or related to (Experiment 2) specialized athletic experience. Electroencephalography was employed in this study. Sixty aged-matched competitive table tennis players and 60 non-athletes participated. Results: The results showed that there was no significant difference between athletes and non-athletes in the performance of subliminal processing under working memory load in Experiment 1; however, in Experiment 2, athletes were significantly better than non-athletes. Additionally, subliminal priming remained unaffected with increasing working memory load among both athletes and non-athletes. Cross-experiment analyses revealed a significant four-way interaction effect of experiment x group x load x consistency. Conclusions: These results suggest that athletes show better performance in the dual-process situation when the stimuli are related to their expertise domain. In addition, dual processes compete for cognitive resources, that is, working memory load influences subliminal priming.

“A Kind of Therapy”: Wheelchair Sport Athletes and Health-Related Quality of Life

ABSTRACT The purpose of this study was to understand the meaning physically impaired1 wheelchair sport athletes attributed to wheelchair basketball participation as well as potential physical, psychological, and social health-related quality of life (HRQOL) benefits. Specifically, the experiences of wheelchair sport athletes from low- and middle-income countries (LMIC) affected by ongoing or recent conflict were examined. Focus group participants for this study included 108 wheelchair basketball athletes (77 men and 31 women) from seven men’s and three women’s national teams at an international wheelchair basketball tournament held in India. All teams were from LMICs in Africa and Asia that were served by the International Committee of the Red Cross due to recent or ongoing armed conflict. Data analysis produced three interrelated themes related to HRQOL: (1) improvements to physical health, (2) psychological impact of sport participation, and (3) social well-being. Physical benefits included improvements to physical functional capacity and decreases in medical complications. Psychological benefits included freedom and respite from inaccessibility and improved self-beliefs and feelings of capability on and off the court. Social well-being benefits included camaraderie in the team setting and positive interpersonal interactions with members of the broader community. Overall, the findings indicated that wheelchair sport is indicated as positively impacting numerous HRQOL indicators for disabled participants in LMIC and is a valuable rehabilitative option and meaningful endeavor for disabled persons.

Adversity and Resiliency: Athlete Experiences within U.S. College Sport

Research regarding the benefits and detriments of the U.S. collegiate sport governance structure are mixed. Guided by Richardson’s Resiliency Theory (2002), former athletes (n = 215) revealed specific themes of adversity experienced during college with the most prevalent including injury, time demands, and coach-athlete tension. Through interview, athletes noted adversity promoted their resiliency, facilitated grit/perseverance, enhanced teamwork and time management skills, and led to other forms of growth. This study extends our understanding of the long-term impacts of competitive sport participation in this context. This understanding is important for administrators seeking to maximize participant experiences and emulate, enhance, or reform the U.S. College Sport governance model.

Do we need a guideline for all: a qualitative study on the experiences of male athletes following anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction

BackgroundConsidering the low rate of qualitative studies on athletes with anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR), aiming to access in-depth data, we thought that the utilization of the qualitative method would allow us to collect the appropriate and sufficient data to yield novel findings and achieve sound conclusions. The study’s aim was to investigate anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury experience processes in athletes who had undergone isolated ACLR, reveal the clinically related milestones, and highlight the necessary gaps.MethodsSemi-structured interview techniques, in-depth follow-up questions, and thematic analysis were used to explore the experiences of participants with isolated ACL injuries 1–3 years after surgical treatment. The study was conducted in the Orthopaedics and Traumatology outpatient clinic of the Adana City Training and Research Hospital and included 14 male athletes who had undergone isolated primary ACLR. The study group’s demographic and qualitative data were collected in the first week of September 2023. The member checking process was completed in the third following week. A thematic analysis checklist was used to ensure the reliability of the thematic analysis. The Consolidated Criteria for Reporting of Qualitative Research (COREQ) guidelines were followed.ResultsThe experiences of 14 patients (22.78 ± 3.76 years, all males) were summarized into four themes that emerged from the data analysis process: ‘The Distinctions in the Participants’ Experiences Regarding the Moment of Injury,’ ‘Gathering Information about the ACL Injury,’ ‘Factors That Facilitate The Treatment Process and Reinforce Positive Experiences,’ and ‘Desperate Plight: Main Points of Patients’ Negative Experiences.’ Based on the main themes, there were 14 subthemes.ConclusionsOur study revealed that varying perceptions of ACL injury presented by the participants, which were caused by all stakeholders, including themselves, the professional environment, family members, social network, and the healthcare staff, showed that the physical and psychological impacts of the injury were observed in different severity levels at each stage of the process. We believe that an extensive guide for athletes with ACL injuries that includes all components of well-being and displays the required details for the sports club/coach, family/companion, and physician.

Pacing analysis and comparison of TOP-10 and NOT TOP-10 Ultra Trail Cape Town 100-km finishers.

Pacing strategies during endurance efforts vary depending on athlete experience, race length, and terrain. In ultramarathon trail running the specific race route profile can have a significant impact on optimal pacing strategy. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between uphill, downhill and level running with overall performance and to compare the difference in pacing strategies between top 10 (TOP-10) and non-top 10 (NOT TOP-10) finishers of a 100-km ultra-trail marathon with +5000-m elevation gain. Fifty male finishers (TOP-10: N.=6, NOT TOP-10, N.=44) and forty-six individual segments (1.5±1.2 km) were analyzed based on 2021 100-km UTCT STRAVA data. Relative segment speed and CV% were used to identify pacing strategies. Spearman Rank and Mann Whitney-U tests were used to analyze the data. Significance was set at P<0.05. Uphill running had the strongest relationship with overall performance (r=0.826, P<0.01). Substantially weaker relationships between overall running performance and level (r=0.402, P<0.01) and downhill (r=-0.382, P<0.01) running performance were found. The CV% was significantly lower in TOP-10 (32.10±1.81) than NOT TOP-10 (35.39±4.43) (U=24, r=0.46, P<0.01). Uphill running performance remains a valuable measure of overall trail running performance as it represents a higher percentage of overall running demand. TOP-10 runners have diminished decay in initial running speed than NOT TOP-10 runners, despite a generally high variation in pace and net positive split in ultra-trail running.

Identifying future research priorities in the field of interpersonal violence (IV) towards athletes in sport: a Delphi study

ObjectiveOur aim was to define the priorities for future research in safeguarding athletes from interpersonal violence (IV) in sport through a Delphi consensus study of researchers in the field.MethodsAn internet-based...

“Change needs to start at home”: A reflexive thematic analysis of girl athletes' and coaches’ experiences of body image in New Delhi, India

Despite the physical, psychological, and social health benefits of sport participation, multiple barriers keep girls and women on the margins of sport in India. Further, body image concerns are implicated globally as a hindrance to sports engagement among adolescents but are rarely acknowledged in India. Due to a lack of research, the unique restrictions to sport participation faced by girls in India are yet to be understood. Drawing on the Sociocultural Theory of Body Image, this study explored the intersection of body image and sports from the perspectives of Indian athletes and coaches. Twelve athletes (girls aged 11–17 years; football n = 6, netball n = 6) and six coaches (football n = 3, netball n = 3) from New Delhi, India, participated in semi-structured focus groups. Reflexive thematic analysis was used and we formulated three themes: 1) “To Do What We Love, We Must Struggle”; 2) “What Will People Say?”; and 3) “Hold On To Your Power, Be You”. The themes provide a nuanced understanding of the experiences of athletes and coaches on and off the playing field. The findings shed light on several individual and systemic factors, such as harassment, societal norms, feelings of empowerment, and internalising appearance ideals, that impact girls’ engagement with sport in New Delhi, India. Methods to improve sports engagement, discrepancies between athlete and coach perspectives, and recommendations for sports organisations to combat body image concerns and improve sports uptake among girls in an Indian setting are discussed.

The role of coach-athlete relationship on motivation and sports engagement

Background and Study Aim. The relationship between coach and athlete may significantly influence an athlete's experience in sports. Elements such as closeness, commitment, and complementarity are key aspects of this relationship. The current study aimed to examine the association between motivation and athletes' engagement in sports, as mediated by the coach-athlete relationship. Material and Methods. A sample of 408 student-athletes from various universities in Iligan City participated in the study. They completed a set of questionnaires assessing motivation, the coach-athlete relationship, and athlete engagement. The participants were between 18 and 25 years old. The measures used in the study included the Coach-Athlete Relationship Questionnaire (CARTQ), the Sports Motivation Scale (SMS), and the Athletic Engagement Questionnaire (AEQ). Ethical approval was obtained from all participants. Results. The results showed that coach-athlete relationships were characterized by closeness, commitment, and complementarity. These relationships significantly mediated the link between intrinsic and extrinsic motivation and athlete engagement in sports. Strong connections between coaches and athletes enhance the positive effect of motivation on engagement. This occurs by fulfilling athletes' psychological needs for autonomy, competence, and relatedness. Conversely, amotivation was negatively associated with engagement through the dimensions of the coach-athlete relationship. Athletes with high levels of amotivation are more likely to disengage. This highlights the need for coaches to foster a supportive environment that reduces negative motivational states. Conclusions. The evidence supports the utilization of Self-Determination Theory (SDT) to better understand the importance of relationship factors in enhancing motivation. This approach leads to long-term engagement in sports. These results offer a more comprehensive view of the delicate dynamics of the coach-athlete relationship and its consequences for motivation and athletic engagement in sports.

Adopting dual-tasks in small-sided games training in youth soccer: The influence of experience level on tactical performance

This study assessed the influence of experience level on the cost of tactical performance due to a secondary task in soccer players during Small-Sided Games (SSG). The study involved 36 less experienced soccer athletes (under-13 category) and 36 more experienced athletes (under-17 category), totaling 72 male players from two soccer teams. Participants performed, in a randomized and balanced order, four experimental conditions composed of the following protocols: (1) Single-Task (ST) the 3 vs. 3 SSG, (2) Motor Dual-Task (MDT): SSG while balancing a basketball with a small cone, (3) Cognitive Dual-Task 1 (CDT1): SSG while performing mathematical operations, (4) Cognitive Dual-Task 2 (CDT2): SSG while counting opponent's passes. The SSGs were filmed for players’ tactical assessment using the Football Tactical Assessment System. The task cost was analyzed using two-way mixed ANOVA and Bonferroni post-hoc tests. The comparison between categories indicated that the under-17 category showed a lower cost in the tactical principles of penetration (p = 0.007) and concentration (p = 0.025). In comparison, the under-13 category showed a lower cost in the tactical principles of width and length without the ball (p = 0.007), delay (p = 0.001), and defensive balance (p = 0.025). In comparing protocols, MDT showed a higher cost in the tactical principle of width and length without the ball (p = 0.002). There was no significant difference between CDT1 and CDT2 protocols (p &gt; 0.05). The results suggest that experience level reduces the cost of the secondary task involving actions in progression with the ball, and the MDT, CDT1, and CDT2 protocols appear to generate similar costs to performance.