Community Sport Research Articles

157 ’Finding Our Tribe’: Parental Experiences Navigating Sport and Physical Activity Opportunities for Neurodivergent Children and Young People

Abstract Purpose Neurodivergent children and young people (CYP) experience higher risk of poor physical and mental health. Many community programmes have been designed to provide young people with a physical activity (PA) outlet to improve health and wellness, however, neurodivergent CYP and their families continue to face stigmatising attitudes and exclusion when trying to access these opportunities. This study aimed to explore the experience of parents and caregivers of neurodivergent CYP, in the United Kingdom (UK), in finding, accessing, and engaging with inclusive community sport and physical activity opportunities and resources for their children. Methods An online qualitative survey explored the experience of parents and caregivers of neurodivergent CYP in the UK in finding and accessing community sport and PA opportunities. One-hundred and twelve parents and caregivers completed the survey from across all 4 devolved nations in the UK. Recruitment of participants occurred through collaboration with parent and advocacy groups for neurodivergent populations, charities providing services to these populations across the UK, as well as through social media platforms. Data collected was interpreted using inductive-thematic analysis, allowing for emergent themes to be identified using a constructivist framework. Results Qualitative data revealed an overarching theme: the ‘Constant Struggle’ parents of neurodivergent CYP face in trying to find, access, and support their children to participate in sport and physical activities. Four main themes emerged under this overarching theme including: 1) An awareness of inequity in the sport and physical opportunities available, 2) A need for flexibility and adaptability, 3) The importance of the coach, and 4) Empowering the parent through inclusion and support. Conclusion Parents and caregivers of neurodivergent CYP express the desire for more equitable provision and delivery of community sport and PA opportunities. It is recognised that there are currently challenges in identifying and accessing appropriate opportunities, however, solutions are offered that will support parents to feel more empowered to engage with sport and PA opportunities. Support/Funding Source Supported by Ulster University and the University of Birmingham.

Blended learning in physical education: application and motivation.

The aim of the research was to evaluate outdoor aerobic sport activities (OASA) in the physical education (PE) of university students using wearables and their potential to personalize the learning process and enhance motivation. In total, 368 university students participated. The OASA structure and the key points of application in PE were described. Descriptive statistics of the training units (n = 3,680) were processed. The students recorded their training data in the Strava app (10 sessions per semester), and the data were shared in the online sport community created on the Strava platform. Motivation was evaluated using a questionnaire. The focus was both on intrinsic motivation and extrinsic "ICT" motivation, based on Strava app features and tools. The most preferred outdoor aerobic sport activities were running (58%), cycling (13%), and walking (16%). The results provided insight into motivation and performance analysis. Students' motivation to participate in OASA was mainly in health concerns, such as staying in shape (94%), staying healthy (90%), and psychological concerns, such as having fun (88%), improving state of mind (88%), or relieving stress (83%). In achievement concerns, the motivation was a personal challenge (72%), while competing with others was ranked lowest (32%). The Strava app was a motivating tool for students to record, monitor, and analyze their individual activities and feel "connectedness" to the online sport community. 70% of students were motivated by the non-competitive character of PE, which gave them a personalized opportunity to train without being compared to others. The OASA management, with the use of blended learning methods and the Strava app, uses a motivational approach to create, support, and maintain students' healthy habits of physical activity through PE lessons. The need for students to be motivated to exercise can be confirmed in the analysis of the statistical descriptive parameters of running, cycling, and walking. There was a tendency for students to complete only the minimum required distance/time (not more). On the other hand, students enjoyed the training, and 99% of students confirmed that they would enroll again. That fact underlined the importance of motivating students with an effective learning strategy and giving support and guidance.

Translation, Cross-Cultural Adaptation, and Validation of the Croatian Version of the Athlete Psychological Strain Questionnaire (APSQ).

The aim of this study is to translate, cross-culturally adapt, and validate the Croatian Athlete Psychological Strain Questionnaire (APSQ-Cro) as part of the Sport Mental Health Assessment Tool 1 (SMHAT-1) validation. We assessed the reliability and applicability of the APSQ-Cro among Croatian athletes. The international sports community is increasingly focused on mental health issues in athletes, highlighting the need for early detection tools like the Athlete Psychological Strain Questionnaire (APSQ) and SMHAT-1. We included 869 Croatian competing athletes across 54 sports who received a link to access the WEB-based questionnaire. The Croatian Olympic Board helped in distributing the questionnaires, aiming to reach as many and as diverse a group of registered competing athletes in Croatia as possible. Results showed a Cronbach's alpha of 0.75 for the entire questionnaire, indicating acceptable reliability. An exploratory strategy of factor analysis was used to determine the underlying structure of the APSQ-Cro. For this purpose, the Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin (KMO) test and Bartlett's test for sphericity were performed to ensure the suitability of the data. The KMO test ensured sampling adequacy, with a measure of 0.77 indicating suitability for factor analysis, while Bartlett's test confirmed significant correlations among variables (χ2 = 2779.155, df = 45, p < 0.001), validating the dataset's appropriateness for data reduction techniques. The factor analysis, together with the Cattell scree test and varimax rotation, resulted in a two-factor structure for the APSQ-Cro. Factor 1 included items related to internal psychological struggles, while Factor 2 included items related to external pressures from the athletic environment. These two factors explained 53% of the variability, with Cronbach's alphas of 0.75 and 0.88 for the respective factors. The APSQ-Cro is a valid and reliable tool for assessing distress in Croatian athletes. Croatian athletes' sporting experience will be improved with the broad adoption of the APSQ-Cro, which can help detect early signs of psychological distress and subsequently improve mental health outcomes.

Using mid-upper arm circumference z -score measurement to support youth malnutrition screening as part of a global sports and wellness program and improve access to nutrition care.

Historically, mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) has been instrumental to identifying malnutrition in children under 5 years living in resource restricted settings. Less attention is directed to at-risk, school-aged youth. Updated and validated pediatric age- and gender-specific MUAC growth curves expand malnutrition screening opportunities (2 months-18 years) including overweight/obesity. An innovative partnership was created to integrate MUAC z-score measurement trainings and screenings in the Real Madrid Foundation's (RMF) Social Sports Schools (S3) program, which provide sports and wellness programming to under-resourced communities. This work aimed to investigate the feasibility of leveraging non-healthcare professionals (non-HCPs) to identify malnutrition risk as part of RMF S3. This global, two-part program on malnutrition risk identification included training adult facilitators and screening children attending RMF S3. RMF facilitators were trained with didactic lectures on malnutrition, and practical hands-on learning of proper MUAC z-score tape measurement. Aggregate data on facilitators and the number of times to correctly administer the MUAC z-tape were recorded. Aggregate data on child malnutrition risk screenings were collected. Nine countries participated representing Europe, Pacific Asia, Africa, Latin America, and North America. In total, 143 RMF facilitators were trained, and 318 children were screened across 11 sites. More than half of facilitators were male (56%, n = 80), and majority were coaches (41.3%, n = 59), followed by staff (25.2%, n = 36), and volunteers (16.1%, n = 23). Facilitator attempts ranged from 1 to 4 times for proper MUAC z-score administration with mean 2.12 (± 0.86). There were no significant differences for attempts among RMF facilitator types (p = 0.10). Sixteen percent (n = 51) of children screened were recommended for HCP referral, with concentrations in Pacific Asia (68%, n = 35), Latin America (24%, n = 12), and Africa (8%, n = 4). Findings from our sample demonstrate that integration of MUAC z-score based malnutrition risk screening within community sports and wellness programming among non-HCPs is feasible, and that some regions with less frequent access to routine health care may experience greater benefit from these programs. Equipping non-HCP facilitators in community sports and wellness programs with training on malnutrition screening provides a means to meet under-resourced families where they live to begin conversations around malnutrition risk with the hope of establishing additional pathways to care.

Effect of Team Sports on Social Integration in Immigrant Communities in Turkey

Purpose: The aim of the study was to analyze the effect of team sports on social integration in immigrant communities in Turkey. Methodology: This study adopted a desk methodology. A desk study research design is commonly known as secondary data collection. This is basically collecting data from existing resources preferably because of its low cost advantage as compared to a field research. Our current study looked into already published studies and reports as the data was easily accessed through online journals and libraries. Findings: Participation in team sports significantly enhances social integration in immigrant communities in Turkey by fostering connections with both fellow immigrants and local residents. These activities facilitate cultural exchange and adaptation, helping immigrants integrate while sharing their traditions. Team sports also improve psychological well-being by reducing isolation and providing a sense of belonging. They strengthen internal community ties and boost civic participation, leading to greater inclusion in broader social and political processes. Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy: Activity theory, self-determination theory (SDT) &amp; socioemotional selectivity theory (SST) may be used to anchor future studies on effect of team sports on social integration in immigrant communities in Turkey. Community organizations and sports clubs should design and implement team sports programs tailored to the needs of immigrant communities. Policymakers should develop and support policies that encourage the integration of team sports into community-building initiatives for immigrant populations.

Transgender Athlete Participation in Sport: Misplaced Fear and the Harms of Exclusion.

As physical therapists and exercise professionals, we have an obligation to promote health and well-being through participation in sport and recreational/physical activity. We play an active role in facilitating and encouraging movement for a large percentage of the population, including our transgender patients/clients. It is integral that we include transgender individuals in supportive and inclusive atmospheres of play, and it is critical for us to lead the conversation around the inclusion of the transgender community in recreational activities and sport. This commentary provides evidence for the physical therapy community to support, advocate for, and include all populations as we promote healthy habits through sport.

Detection of thyroid hormones in urine by liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry.

Recently, the trend of thyroid hormones (TH) consumption in the sports community has been published. It is known the capacity of the exogenously administered TH to enhance metabolism, being an attractive feature for athletes, who search for weight control and increased caloric expenditure. This paper aimed the validation of a method to measure TH and related compounds in urine by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). The method was applied to urine samples collected before and after the administration of a diiodothyronine (3,5-T2) supplement. A method to detect nine TH included an enzymatic hydrolysis, liquid-liquid extraction, and solid-phase extraction. The extracts were analyzed by LC-MS/MS. Validated parameters showed good results for accuracy (85%-104%), precision (3%-16%), LOD (10-40 pg/mL, except for thyronacetic acids that was 200 pg/mL), and the combined uncertainty (2.2%-22%). Maximum concentration of 3,5-T2 in pre-administration samples was 0.71 ng/mL, and after 30 h of the last administration, concentrations returned to pre-administration values. Maximum values of ratios between the analyte and thyronine, T3, and T4 were 0.09, 0.19, and 0.12, respectively, and after 30 h of the last administration, the ratios reached back the basal values. Acidic or basic metabolites were not found in urine at least at the method LOD. A proposed method to assess TH in urine was validated, and as a proof of concept, its efficacy was demonstrated with an excretion study of 3,5-diiodothyronine. The consumption of 3,5-T2 was detected in urine measuring the analyte concentration and ratios between the analyte and thyronine, T3, and T4.

Community Sports Program in a Vocational College in Jiangxi Province, China

This study aimed to assess Jiangxi Science and Technology Vocational College students' perceptions of community sports programs with a view to developing improved community sports programs. The study found that students generally rated the program as excellent in terms of accessibility, sustainability, effectiveness and satisfaction, demonstrating its success in addressing barriers to participation, using environmentally friendly, inclusive and flexible strategies, and responding to student feedback responded positively. Although there were differences in terms of gender, age, course, and grade level, these factors had no significant impact on students' evaluations of community sports programs. Through the evaluation of existing programs and suggestions for improvement, this study hopes to provide a valuable reference for the development of sports programs in vocational colleges.

Dead or Alive: How Amateurism Shaped Marathons in Norway, 1896–1906

The marathon in the Olympic Games in 1896 immediately inspired the sporting community both in Europe and in the United States. Some organizers sought to surpass the record set in Athens and awarded their marathon winners generously. In Norway, the main sports federation wanted to control the competition, and how it would be perceived. According to the Secretary of the Federation, the military Captain F.G. Seeberg, no participant should finish a long race in bad style, or even worse, dead. His organization managed, to some extent, to impose this partly aesthetic ideal on the many marathons during the following years. This restricted the striving for records, largely due to the shared ideology of amateurism among sportswriters and athletes. The story of marathons’ development in Norway and the rest of Scandinavia from 1896 to 1906 illuminates early cooperation and standardization in international sports, as well as national divergencies. More crucially, it details how the broader ideology of sports amateurism shaped a new long-distance running event due to its intensified attention to style.

The vulnerability of community sport organizations to criminal interference

The vulnerability of community sport organizations to criminal interference

Dual career in sport and non-sport work: Exploring experiences of North American professional female ice hockey players

Grounded in role strain theory, this study explored the dual career experiences of North American female ice hockey players who were also involved in full-time non-sporting work, focusing on factors that produced and reduced their role strain. We interviewed ten professional ice hockey players who held full-time non-sport jobs at the time of their interview. Our reflexive thematic analysis revealed that the multitude of factors leading to role strain among professional female working-athletes were notably significant, spanning societal expectations and environmental complexities. The imposition of the superwoman persona, demanding excellence in both hockey and work roles, combined with inconsistent expectations from professional and athletic supervisors intensified stress and undermined well-being. The study’s findings emphasize the need for robust support systems and adaptive strategies, such as effective communication, careful planning, and proactive self-care, which can mitigate these pressures. Furthermore, the athletes’ narratives revealed a pressing call for empathy and flexibility from coaches, employers, and the broader sports community, suggesting that improvements in these areas could enhance the professional and personal experiences of these working-athletes. The findings provide valuable insights into the challenges faced by dual career female athletes, as well as current strategies aimed at supporting and enhancing their experiences. Furthermore, these results deepen our understanding of how professional female athletes in North America can achieve greater well-being by addressing the factors that produce and reduce role strain factors.

Investigating the Challenges of Managing Natural Turfgrass and Synthetic Turf on Community Sports Fields

Both natural turfgrass and synthetic turf fields have distinct advantages and disadvantages and present unique challenges. The challenges evolve over time because of climate change, players’ ever-changing needs, and the development of technologies. It is imperative to identify these challenges and devise effective solutions to overcome them. We conducted a survey of 97 administrators and managers from various organizations in the United States who were responsible for managing community sports fields. Our findings identified budget constraints as the biggest challenge for natural turfgrass field management, followed by issues related to use/scheduling and weather/climate. For synthetic turf field management, the top three challenges included budget constraints, use/scheduling, and other challenges (mainly safety issues). Additionally, administrators and managers consistently indicated increased funding as a solution for addressing challenges of both natural turfgrass and synthetic turf field management. We discuss the implications of these findings and provide potential ways to address these challenges.

Using Mid-Upper Arm Circumference z-score Tapes in Pediatric Community Sports and Wellness Programming Equips Non-Healthcare Professionals to Identify Malnutrition Risk

Using Mid-Upper Arm Circumference z-score Tapes in Pediatric Community Sports and Wellness Programming Equips Non-Healthcare Professionals to Identify Malnutrition Risk

Radical socialization? Analysis of the secondary socialization process in the table tennis environment

The article is devoted to the analysis of the secondary socialization process in the table tennis environment. Sports communities represent a specific case study in this context because the secondary socialization processes occurring in them seem more radical. The sports environment is characterized by highly specific features and values conveyed, and interest in this phenomenon may be heightened because sports are a relatively less studied area in terms of their socialization impact on individuals. The main goal of the text is to analyse the specificity of the table tennis environment as a secondary socialization environment. More specific goals include issues related to the specific bonds and relationships formed in such an environment, the specific communication system (slang and characteristic meanings), and the impact of the sports environment on the relations of table tennis players with the world outside of sports. The qualitative analysis allowed for discovering unique patterns that characterize the socialization process in the sports environment. Among these patterns is the blurring of boundaries between values acquired in the sports environment and the external world, as the respondents transferred sports principles to everyday life practices. The totality of socialization in the sports environment also influences the formation of a specific “socialization bubble” and problems in establishing relationships with people not belonging to the sports world: the sports environment became, for many respondents, a reality in itself, generating bonds, rules, and communication patterns for its participants.

The Relationship Between Diet Patterns and Physical Activity with Coronary Heart Disease Among Badminton Player Communities

This study aims to investigate the relationship between diet patterns and physical activity with coronary heart disease among badminton player communities. The research involves analyzing the impact of these factors on the heart health of badminton players, with the primary goal of identifying effective prevention strategies. Research methods include surveys on dietary habits and levels of physical activity, along with statistical analysis to identify significant patterns of association. The findings are expected to provide new insights into efforts to prevent coronary heart disease within the specific context of sports communities, particularly badminton.

Education through sport with the principle of fair play in pre-war Łódź – a city of cultural differences

The educational aspects of sports were recognized during the development of sports along with its educational values, character formation, including the adherence to the fair play principle, primarily in English schools. Pierre de Coubertin, the founder of the modern Olympic Games, based his philosophy of Olympism on them, aiming for the development of athletes from different nations. Łódź, a multicultural place – a "small center of games" at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries, was such a place. Sport and various forms of physical activity were the foundation for bringing together people from different social, cultural, and religious backgrounds in this rapidly growing industrial city.The Western European genealogy of fair play contains elements of medieval chivalric ethos, ethical virtues of Renaissance courtiers, and the moral ideals of a 19th-century English gentleman. The supplement to the fair play idea also includes the ethical sports contexts present in the histories of local sports communities. The overview of selected documents presented in this article testifies to the significant role of sport, along with the fair play principle, in the creation of a common, multicultural, industrial city. It also encourages a brief presentation of pioneering actions aimed at popularizing sports with the fair play principle during the development of Łódź.

School-based physical activity during the COVID-19 pandemic

School closures and restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic changed opportunities for youth physical activity (PA). We sought to identify school and other contextual conditions associated with youth PA during the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants were 500 parents of children ages 6-10 years old and 500 parent-child dyads with children and adolescents ages 11-17 years old who completed a web-based questionnaire. Quotas and demographic matching were used to generate a sample that was representative of United States adults on key demographic characteristics. Multivariable linear regression was used to assess the association between days per week of at least 60 minutes of PA with school, family, and neighborhood characteristics, controlling for child age and gender. Youth engaged in more days per week of PA when they attended school in person (B=0.75, SE=0.22, p&lt;0.001), participated in school physical education (PE) (B=0.83, SE=0.23, p&lt;0.001), school sports (B=0.98, SE=0.25, p&lt;0.001), and community sports (B=0.68, SE=0.23, p=0.003), and had parents that engaged in high versus low levels of PA, (B=1.22, SE=0.21, p&lt;0.001). The COVID-19 pandemic negatively impacted youth PA, in part, due to restriction of school-based PA opportunities. During future pandemics or conditions that necessitate remote learning, attention to opportunities for PA outside of PE class may be important for equitable PA promotion.

U.S. youth sports participation: analyzing the implications of generation, gender, race/ethnicity, socioeconomic status, and family and community sport cultures

ABSTRACT Using data from the National Sports and Society Survey (N = 3,993), this study described and analyzed U.S. adults’ reports of their youth sports experiences. We considered patterns in ever having played a sport regularly while growing up, ever having played an organized sport, and then relative likelihoods of having never played an organized sport, played and dropped out of organized sports, or played an organized sport continually while growing up. We used binary and multinomial logistic regressions to assess the relevance of generational, gender, racial/ethnic, socioeconomic status, and family and community sport culture contexts for youth sports participation experiences. Overall, the findings highlight general increases in ever playing organized sports and ever playing organized sports and dropping out across generations. Increasing levels of female sports participation, emerging disparities by socioeconomic statuses, and the continual salience of family and community cultures of sport for participation are also striking.

Promoting Youth Participation in Sports: An Analysis of Home-School-Community Approach

Young people are the future of the country and the hope of the nation. The physical health of adolescents plays a vital role in their growth. Regular sports participation can effectively improve the physical health of teenagers, while also helping to improve mental health and promote emotional regulation, thereby helping teenagers thrive and achieve the educational purpose of all-round development. The purpose of this study is to promote youth sports participation. Based on the ecological system theory, overlapping influence domain theory, and synergy theory, three environments, namely family, school, and community, which are closely related to the healthy growth of teenagers, are selected to analyze the impact of youth sports participation. factor. By summarizing the literature and expert guidance, 11 factors were identified at three levels that affect youth sports participation: the family level includes parental cognition, parental support, and parent involvement; the school level includes leadership support, teacher ability and cognition, campus facility funds, Physical health courses, campus sports atmosphere; community level includes organizational management, sports resources, publicity and education. This study adopted a random sampling method and selected 390 students from 10,242 students in 3 middle schools in Zhanjiang City as survey subjects. The researchers collected data through questionnaires that included participants' demographic profiles, sports participation, family factors, school factors, and community factors. Data were interpreted and analyzed using frequencies, percentages, weighted averages, Likert scales, Pearson correlation analysis, and linear regression analysis. Research shows that there are significant differences in youth sports participation by gender and grade. Boys' sports participation is better than that of girls. The sports participation status of junior middle school students is better than that of high school students. Among the effects of family factors on youth sports participation, "parental cognition", "parental support" and "parental participation" can all have a significant positive impact on youth sports participation. It shows that family entities can promote adolescents' sports participation behavior from three aspects: improving "parental awareness", focusing on "parental support", and focusing on "parental participation". In the impact of school factors on youth sports participation, in addition to "leadership support", the other four dimensions in the school factor scale are "teacher ability and cognition", "school facility funding", "physical education and health curriculum" and "school "Sports atmosphere" can significantly and positively affect youth sports participation, indicating that schools need to optimize hardware facilities, introduce outstanding sports talents, design sports and health courses, and create a good sports atmosphere in schools as the main ways to promote youth sports participation. Among the effects of community factors on youth sports participation, "sports resources" and "publicity and education" can both significantly and positively affect youth sports participation. However, "organizational management" cannot directly affect youth sports participation. Therefore, we can focus on absorbing and receiving more community sports resources, vigorously promoting sports-related information, creating a good sports atmosphere, and attracting more young people to participate in sports.

Scenarios and Promotion Ideas of Intelligent Sports Application in China

Intelligent sports is not only a tool support of sports superstructure, but also a core engine to drive the overall development of sports. Based on the interpretation of the connotation of intelligent sports, this paper analyzes the scene patterns and promotion ideas of intelligent sports application in China by means of literature and logical analysis. The research holds that the application scenarios of intelligent sports in China are intelligent sports training and competition in competitive sports, intelligent sports teaching and skill mastery in school sports and intelligent sports exercise in mass sports. The promotion ideas are as follows: on the cognitive level, people-oriented, physical exercise as the basic means and physical and mental health as the center, premise and mission of intelligent sports application respectively; On the action level, cultivating smart sports communities and villages, developing smart sports urban and rural areas and building smart sports ecosystem are regarded as the basic unit, powerful driving force and strategic goal of smart sports application respectively.