Female Student-athletes Research Articles

Jumping Performance of Elite NCAA Division 1 Student-athletes: The Effect of Basketball Shoe Design – Part I

Background: Assessment of basketball shoes as personal protection equipment (PPE) at the collegiate level is unique. Objective: The purpose of Part I in this pilot study was to examine the effect of shoe design on jump height in elite male and female National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division 1 basketball student-athletes. Method: Each team selected two pairs of AdidasTM branded shoes. The male student-athletes selected the AdidasTM Harden Vol. 3 and the AdidasTM SM Pro basketball shoes. The female student-athletes selected the AdidasTM Harden Vol. 3 and the AdidasTM Captain Marvel basketball shoes. A total of sixteen basketball student-athletes (six males, ten females) performed an acute series of four styled basketball jumps on two ForceDecksTM Force Platforms while trying to maximize jump height by tapping VertecTM Jump Vanes. Two trials were performed in each shoe and for each type of jump which included a countermovement jump, drop jump from 30cm, step and jump, and a series of plyometric jumps. Results: The results of this pilot study indicated a non-significant effect of basketball shoe design on jump height while performing an acute series of basketball style jumps for either the male or female basketball student-athletes. However, there were significant differences in jump height and peak power between the male and female basketball student-athletes (p = 0.001). Conclusion: In addition to the results, the use of quantitative performance testing on the effectiveness of basketball shoe designs as PPE may assist in the mitigation of non-contact ankle and lower limb injuries.

To Investigate Self-Efficacy Level of Sports and Non-Sports Students: (A Case Study on LCWU Students)

This study examined the association between self-efficacy, sports participation, and academic achievement among university level female students. Self-efficacy has been linked to both sports participation and academic achievement, but no study has examined all three variables together. A total number of 56 female students participated in the study and the age range was 20-23 years. There were 26 female students from the athlete's group and 26 female students were non-athletes. Their demographic information was collected followed by getting their rating of academic achievement by their teachers on a 10 point rating scale. The General Self-Efficacy scale was used to evaluate the level of self-belief of female athletes and non-athletes to deal with different difficult situations in life. Data were analyzed using SPSS (20.0). Other than descriptive statistics, One-Way ANOVA was performed to assess differences between students’ scores on self- efficacy. t-test was used to compare the means of self-efficacy of female athletes and non-athletes. Independent sample t-test indicated mean differences in self-efficacy (Mean=39.20) for athletes and (Mean=37.40) for non-athletes. Similarly, mean differences in education scores were also observed (Mean=33.66) for athletes and (Mean=37.40) for non-athletes. Results of ANOVA indicated a significant difference between an athlete and non-athlete students on self-efficacy (p<0.05). A positive relationship between self-efficacy and sports performance of athletes was observed at the 0.01 level and a negative relationship between academic achievement and sports performance was observed in the case of non-athlete students. Based on the findings, it was concluded that sports participation increases self-efficacy and the confidence level of female student-athletes.

Randomized Controlled Trial of a Novel Peer Concussion-Education Program for Collegiate Athletes.

The National Collegiate Athletic Association and US Department of Defense have called for educational programs to change the culture of concussion reporting, increase reporting behavior, and enhance the safety of players and service members. To evaluate the effects of a novel peer concussion-education program (PCEP) in changing knowledge, attitudes, and norms about concussion reporting among collegiate student-athletes and assess program implementation. Randomized controlled trial and qualitative analysis of interviews. National Collegiate Athletic Association athletic teams from randomly selected colleges or universities. A total of 1614 male and female student-athletes from 60 teams at 10 colleges and universities and 8 athletic trainers. The PCEP intervention trains 2 peer concussion educators to provide 2 education modules to their teammates. Knowledge, attitudes (oneself and teammates), and concussion occurrence or reporting were assessed at baseline, postintervention, and 1 month later. Eight athletic trainers were interviewed about program implementation. Compared with the control group, the intervention group showed greater increases occurred postintervention and at 1 month in concussion knowledge (F1,2648 = 51.3, P < .0001), intention to report (oneself, F2,2633 = 82.3, P < .0001; teammates, F2,2624 = 53.9, P < .0001), return-to-play protocol knowledge, (F2,2632 = 28.4, P < .0001), direct subjective norms (oneself, F2,2625 = 51.7, P < .0001; teammates, F2,2644 = 40.6, P < .0001), direct perceived behavioral control (oneself, F2,2628 = 53.7, P < .0001; teammates, F2,2615 = 68.2, P < .0001), and indirect attitudes (oneself, F2,2626 = 47.1, P < .001; teammates, F2,2623 = 40.9, P < .0001). Peer concussion-education program participants discussed concussion more often with a teammate (F1,1396 = 13.96, P < .0001) or athletic staff (F1,1396 = 6.62, P < .001). Qualitative program analysis revealed both positive aspects of the PCEP and areas for improvement. The PCEP showed promise in increasing concussion knowledge, intention to report concussion, reporting a teammate's concussion, and facilitating attitudinal changes that support reporting among student-athletes.

An Examination of Dating Violence Among College Student-Athletes.

College students are at increased risk for dating violence (DV) perpetration and victimization. One group of college students who may be at elevated risk is college student-athletes. While levels of athletic involvement range from National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I to Division III, there is currently a lack of information about the dating and relationship behaviors of male and female Division III student-athletes. This study identified the frequency of both minor and severe physical, psychological, and sexual DV perpetration and victimization in a sample of NCAA Division III college student-athletes. We also examined hazardous drinking and hostile sexism as risk factors for DV perpetration and victimization among male and female student-athletes. A total of 350 student-athletes from a Division III university participated in this study. In total, 57% of student-athletes reported perpetrating some form of DV in the past year, while 56% reported experiencing some form of DV victimization in the past year. Two negative binomial generalized linear models assessed if hazardous drinking and hostile sexism were associated with sexual assault perpetration and victimization among men and women. Both hostile sexism and hazardous drinking were predictive of DV perpetration and victimization. These findings serve as an important first step in identifying behaviors that contribute to DV among Division III student-athletes and can be used to inform future prevention interventions aimed at decreasing DV among student-athletes.

Prioritized Dietary Supplement Information Needs of 307 NCAA Division I Student Athletes

ObjectiveTo evaluate dietary supplement information needs among collegiate athletes. MethodsThree hundred seven (n = 154 male; n = 153 female) student athletes participating in a National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I team completed a dietary supplement survey. Qualitative coding addressed open-ended responses, and chi-square test of independence explored differences among athlete subgroups. ResultsFive themes representing athletes’ information needs included quality/composition (53.5%; n = 77), general information (31.9%; n = 46), nutrition information (30.6%; n = 44), performance (18.8%; n = 27), and body composition (13.2%; n = 19). Athletes with “no” or “minimal” (n = 63), vs “moderate” or “strong” (n = 195), perceived knowledge of supplement safety were more likely to list a question about supplement quality or composition (34.9% [n = 22/63] vs 21.5% [n= 42/195]; P = .03; chi-square = 4.6). Conclusions and ImplicationsFurther research is needed to corroborate findings to inform educational efforts and promote safe and effective use of dietary supplements by student athletes.

Spanish female student-athletes’ perception of key competencies for successful dual career adjustment

ABSTRACTResearch addressing dual career (DC) has recently become an important research focus in Europe. Following a DC pathway seems to differ depending on national policies and cultural factors affecting student-athletes. Therefore, this study aimed to examine Spanish female student-athletes’ perceptions of (a) generic DC competencies (in terms of importance, possession, and a need to develop); (b) difficult DC situations (i.e., challenging scenarios) they experienced and how successfully they coped; and (c) specific DC competencies related to successful coping with experienced DC scenarios. Seventy-two female student-athletes (Mage = 17.53; SD = 0.73) completed the Spanish versions of the Dual Career Competency Questionnaire for Athletes (DCCQ-A) and Dual Career Competency Questionnaire for Athletes with scenario extension (DCCQ-ASc). Results showed that participants perceived the need to better develop all their DC competencies (e.g., “Ability to resolve conflicts”; “Ability to use your time efficiently”). The two most frequently experienced DC scenarios were social life and missing significant days of study, and the two less experienced were the selection of a study plan and leaving home and family. Participants reported prioritising different competencies depending on the specific DC scenario they were coping with. No differences in the competencies prioritised for successful and less successful coping were observed. Discussion emphasises the need to continue developing career assistance programmes based on enhancing individual resources to manage different DC scenarios and the situation of discrimination in female sport.

Gender Differences in Athletic and Academic Cultures on a University Campus

Abstract: In order to explore the differences between a student’s academic life and a scholar-athlete’s sports life, we investigated the organizational cultures of a university’s academic departments and sports teams by surveying 259 students and 230 student-athletes. We found the academic cultures to be more clannish (family oriented) and the sports cultures more market (performance and results) driven. For the female athletes, we found a negative relationship between clan culture and satisfaction with their sports team, while for everyone else (male and female students and male athletes) clan culture was positively related to satisfaction with academic department or sports team. Relatedly, for the female athletes, the relationship between market culture and satisfaction with their sports team was positive, while for everyone else (male and female students and male athletes) market culture was negatively related to satisfaction with academic department or sports team. This suggests that there are important differences between the experiences of male and female student-athletes. We also found the participants in the business school to be less clannish than those in the other schools and colleges. We discuss the practical implications of these results for coaches of male and female athletes and for campus leaders of academic departments.

Are Women Coached by Women More Likely to Become Sport Coaches? Head Coach Gender and Female Collegiate Athletes’ Entry into the Coaching Profession

A plethora of research on barriers facing women in the coaching profession exists, but less attention has been devoted to female student-athletes’ transition into coaching. Some research suggests that female athletes who are coached by women are more likely to become coaches. In the present study, existing research is extended by examining the relationship between collegiate female basketball players’ post-playing career behavior and the gender of their collegiate head coach. Two research questions are addressed: (1) Are female collegiate Division-I basketball players who are coached by female head coaches more likely to enter the coaching profession than athletes who are coached by men? And; (2) If female basketball players do enter coaching, are those who were coached by women more likely to persist in coaching? Collegiate head coach gender did not emerge as a significant predictor of athletes’ likelihood to enter coaching, but logistic regression indicated that athletes who did enter coaching were 4.1-times more likely to stay in coaching if they had a female head coach. This study extends the scarce and outdated body of research on the potential salience of same-sex coaching role models for female athletes and provides baseline data on collegiate athletes’ entry rate into coaching, lending support to advocacy aimed at reversing the current stagnation of women in the sport coaching profession.

Development and Assessment of a Novel Peer Concussion Education Program for College Athletes

ObjectiveTo evaluate the effectiveness of a novel peer concussion education program designed to increase knowledge of concussions, reporting of concussive events, and attitudes for both teammates and individuals in high concussive sports.BackgroundOver 460,000 student-athletes compete in 24 NCAA sports every year. Concussions are estimated to occur between 0.43—0.57 per 1000 athletic events for student-athletes (Covassin, et al., 2016; Daneshvar et al., 2011) but these rates rely in part on self-report, which is likely affected by factors including the culture surrounding athletics (IOM, 2013). The Institute of Medicine, NCAA, Department of Defense, and the CDC have all called for educational interventions to change the culture of competitive athletics pertaining to concussion so that reporting of concussion becomes the norm.Design/MethodsA multi-site randomized controlled trial was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of the program. Measures of concussion knowledge, knowledge of the return to play protocol, intention to report concussions, direct subjective norms, direct perceived behavioral control, and indirect perceived behavioral control were assessed at baseline, post-intervention, and at a one-month follow-up with the last four measuring perspectives for both self and teammate.Results1614 male and female student-athletes from 60 teams (30 experimental, 30 control) belonging to 10 colleges/universities across all 3 NCAA Divisions completed the study. Results indicated that student-athletes who participated in the program demonstrated greater increases in concussion knowledge, intention to report concussion, understanding of the return to play protocol, direct subjective norms, direct perceived behavioral control, and indirect perceived behavioral control for both self and teammate compared to controls post-intervention and at the one-month follow-up.ConclusionsThe novel peer-mediated approach to concussion education shows promise in increasing concussion knowledge, intention to report concussion, and for facilitating attitudinal changes that support reporting among student-athletes and in changing the norms of concussion reporting on a team.

Females have a Higher Post-Concussion Subsequent Injury Rate than Male Collegiate Athletes

ObjectiveThe purpose of this study is to compare post-concussion lower extremity musculoskeletal (MSK) injury between sexes.BackgroundEmerging evidence suggests that there is an elevated risk of lower extremity MSK injury in the year following concussion. Indeed, we have previously reported a 1.6 –2.9 times elevated risk of lower extremity injury across a diverse population of collegiate student athletes at the conclusion of their athletic careers. However, there are recent and important calls to investigate the role of gender in concussion research and collegiate female student-athletes have elevated risks of specific injuries.Design/MethodsWe recruited 335 student-athletes (62.1% female, mean age, 21.2 ± 1.4 years old) across 13 sports from 17 NCAA member institutions. Participants self-reported concussions under three categories: 1) selfreported concussions, 2) acknowledged unreported concussions (e.g., “hidden”), 3) unrecognized concussions (e.g., memory loss following a head impact). The lower extremity MSK injuries were self-reported 1) lateral ankle sprains, 2) knee sprains, or 3) lower extremity muscle strain. Chi-square analyses identified the association between each of the concussion variables and lower extremity MSK between self-reported sexes.ResultsFor females, there was a significant association between 1) reported concussions and knee injuries (p = 0.018, OR = 2.22, 95% CI: 1.18 – 4.21), 2) unreported concussions and knee injuries (p = 0.005, OR = 3.73, 95% CI: 1.51 – 9.22), 3) unrecognized concussions and lateral ankle sprains (p = 0.007, OR = 2.61, 95% CI: 1.32 – 5.15). For males, there was only a significant association between unrecognized concussions and muscle strains (p = 0.020, odds ratio = 2.39, 95% CI: 1.16 – 4.92).ConclusionsThe results of this study suggest females are at higher risk of post-concussion subsequent MSK injury over the course of their collegiate athletic career. Consistent with recent concussion related findings, these results may highlight a gender difference in concussion response and suggests future studies continue to differentiate gender during analysis.

Parental Support, Sibling Influences and Family Dynamics across the Development of Canadian Interuniversity Student-Athletes

A vast body of research focuses on the role of parents in athlete development; however, little is known about developmental influences of siblings. In general, family dynamics (i.e., patterns of relating or interacting among family members) have yet to be investigated in youth sport contexts. This study examines how family dynamics and the individual roles of parents and siblings influence the development of Canadian interuniversity student-athletes over time. Participants included four male and six female student-athletes. Each participant took part in a qualitative retrospective timeline interview. All data was subjected to a thematic analysis. Results indicate that siblings and parents play separate yet intricately connected roles in athlete development throughout childhood and adolescence. Overall, participants described a cohesive family unit built on shared values and joint participation in sport activities. They described stable and dynamic forms of support from their parents over time, and positive and negative sibling influences. These findings offer valuable insight into the dynamic nature of parent and sibling relationships with athletes in youth sport and beyond, as well as how these relationships operate in the broader family environment to optimize (and, at times, hinder) athletic development.

Aggie Play: A Gender-Relevant Physical Activity Program for Girls

A majority of U.S. children age 6-17 years do not meet the recommended 60 min of moderate to vigorous physical activity per day. Girls are less likely to meet these daily physical activity guidelines than boys. Following a call for greater gender-relevant physical activity programming, Aggie Play, an after-school physical activity program, engaged female student athletes to serve as active role models who lead girls through high-energy activities twice a week over a school year. The purpose of this study was to explore how Aggie Play affected girls' self-efficacy and expected enjoyment for physical activity, time spent in various physical activity intensities during free play, and fitness, relative to a control group. Results revealed that the girls participating in Aggie Play increased ratings of physical activity self-efficacy and enjoyment compared with girls at a control site. Aggie Play girls also demonstrated greater improvements on the muscle-endurance test than girls at a control site. Results are consistent with prior gender-relevant physical activity and physical education research. This study extends prior results by documenting the benefits of gender-relevant physical activity programming when led by active female role models.

Self-compassion and Pre-competition Anxiety in Martial Arts Student Athletes

Introduction: The present study aimed to investigate the relationship between Self-compassion and precompetitive anxiety among female athlete students. Methods: This was a descriptive correlational study. Two hundred and fifty-three female students (140 taekwondo &amp; 113 karate) were selected among athletes present at the 14th Student Cultural Sports Olympiad. Self-compassion Scale and Competitive State Anxiety–2 were used in this study before competing in games to measure the aforementioned theoretical constructs. Results: The obtained results revealed a significant relationship between pre-competitive anxiety and Self-compassion. Moreover, the components of this characteristic positively predicted self-confidence variance; however, this prediction reversed with somatic and cognitive anxiety. Conclusion: Based on the current study results, Self-compassion plays a moderating role in the pre-competitive anxiety of female martial arts athletes. Therefore, improving this characteristic should be considered to promote self-confidence and reduce the pre-competitive anxiety in these athletes.

Decision Support System for Mitigating Athletic Injuries

Abstract The purpose of the present study was to demonstrate an inductive approach for dynamically modelling sport-related injuries with a probabilistic graphical model. Dynamic Bayesian Network (DBN), a well-known machine learning method, was employed to illustrate how sport practitioners could utilize a simulatory environment to augment the training management process. 23 University of Iowa female student-athletes (from 3 undisclosed teams) were regularly monitored with common athlete monitoring technologies, throughout the 2016 competitive season, as a part of their routine health and well-being surveillance. The presented work investigated the ability of these technologies to model injury occurrences in a dynamic, temporal dimension. To verify validity, DBN model accuracy was compared with the performance of its static counterpart. After 3 rounds of 5-fold cross-validation, resultant DBN mean accuracy surpassed naïve baseline threshold whereas static Bayesian network did not achieve baseline accuracy. Conclusive DBN suggested subjectively-reported stress two days prior, subjective internal perceived exertions one day prior, direct current potential and sympathetic tone the day of, as the most impactful towards injury manifestation.

Comparison of knee valgus motion in African American male and female collegiate athletes

Knee joint valgus is often implicated as a hazardous position for the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and has been linked to ACL injury risk. Although several groups have previously examined racially diverse cohorts to determine if there are predispositions for injury, there is little evidence found that explore sex differences in valgus angles in African American athletes. The purpose of this study was to identify the difference of the knee valgus angles between African American male (AAM) and female (AAF) student-athletes. Eighty-five National Collegiate Athletic Association, Division II African American male (n=36) and female (n=49) student-athletes participated in this study. Subjects dropped directly down off a box and immediately performed a maximum vertical jump. Valgus and flexion angles were analyzed and calculated based on the relationship of the tangent for each image. Knee valgus angles were significantly different between AAM and AAF athletes both at initial contact and maximum valgus displacement (p&lt;.05). Significant differences in knee flexion angle was observed with the AAM having greater Initial Contact knee flexion (p&lt;.05). The current data indicates that sex differences, specifically increased knee valgus angles, exist during jumping and landing. Neuromuscular training programs should be designed to specifically address excessive valgus knee motion and improve landing knee flexion among these athletes.

Hydration Status and Fluid Needs of Division I Female Collegiate Athletes Exercising Indoors and Outdoors.

The purpose was to determine differences in acute and chronic hydration status in female student-athletes (n = 40) practicing in moderate, dry conditions (17–25 °C, 30–57% humidity) indoors and outdoors. Body weight and urine samples were recorded before and after exercise as well as fluid intake. Sweat rates expressed as median and interquartile range did not differ, but fluid intake was significantly higher during indoor (0.64 [0.50, 0.83] L/h) vs. outdoor conditions (0.51 [0.43, 0.63] L/h), p = 0.001. Fluid intake compensated for indoor sweat rate but not outdoors. When exercising indoors, 49% of the student-athletes reported urine specific gravity (USG) values >1.020, and 24% of the day after morning samples were scored ≥4 on the color chart rating. The percentages increased to 58% and 31%, respectively, when exercising outdoors (p > 0.05). Thus, fluid intake was higher indoors vs. outdoors but sweat rate did not differ among athletes. Yet, chronic hydration status was impaired in more than 50% of the student-athletes with a discrepancy between USG scores and urine color scores identifying underhydration. This suggest that 24-h fluid intake should be taken into account and that hydration protocols may need to be tailored individually based on urine USG values. Practice location (indoors vs. outdoors) may further complicate hydration protocols.

The effect of ischemic preconditioning on the of anaerobic performance in female student's athletes

هدف: پیش آماده سازی ایسکمی، ممکن است اثرات مثبت بر عملکرد افراد داشته باشد که منجر به افزایش ظرفیت اجرادر ورزش شود. لذا هدف از این پژوهش، بررسی اثر پیش آماده سازی ایسکمی بر عملکرد بی هوازی دختران ورزشکار بود.روش ها: شانزده دختر )میانگین سن 60 / 0± 78 / 20 سال و وزن 03 / 10 ± 94 / 55 کیلوگرم( در یک طرح متقاطع تصادفیدر دو گروه تجربی )پیش آماده سازی شامل چهار دور پنج دقیقهای انسداد با پنج دقیقه جریان مجدد، سپس اجرای دوآزمون وینگیت( و کنترل )پیش آماده سازی نمایشی شامل چهار دور پنج دقیقهای بستن کاف بدون اعمال فشار، سپساجرای دو آزمون وینگیت( قرار گرفتند. میزان درک فشار، بلافاصله پس از آخرین مرحله ایسکمی و هر آزمون وینگیتاندازه گیری شد. دادهها با استفاده از آزمون تحل ل وار انس با اندازه گ ریهای مکرر و آزمون تعقیبی LSD در سطح معنی ی ی یداری 05 / p>0 تحلیل شد.نتایج: نتایج نشان داد که توان اوج در گروه تجربی نسبت به کنترل در آزمون دوم وینگیت به طور غیرمعنی دار بیشتربود ) 05 / p>0 (. بین شاخصهای میانگین و حداقل توان و ضربان قلب تمرین، بین دو گروه مختلف کنترل و تجربی تفاوتمعنی داری وجود نداشت ) 05 / p<0 (. درک فشار در گروه تجربی، به طور معنی داری نسبت به گروه کنترل کمتر بود.)p>0/05(نتیجه گیری: بر اساس نتایج این پژوهش، اجرای پیش آماده سازی ایسکمی، با شدت و مدت اعمال شده در این پژوهش،تأثیری بر برونده توان بی هوازی در دختران ورزشکار نداشت. به نظر میرسد که پیش آماده سازی ایسکمی، قبل ازحرکات توانی در دانشجویان دختر ورزشکار باید با شدت و مدت بیشتر و در اندامهای با حجم عضلانی بزرگتر اعمال شود،تا اثرات بیشتری به دنبال داشته باشد.

Pathoanatomy of Shoulder Instability in Collegiate Female Athletes

Background: Shoulder instability has been well described in young men; however, few studies have specifically evaluated the pathoanatomy and unique spectrum of injuries in women with shoulder instability. Purpose: To describe the pathoanatomy of operative shoulder instability in a collegiate female cohort. Study Design: Case series; Level of evidence, 4. Methods: The authors performed a retrospective analysis of a consecutive series of female students at a National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I military service academy treated operatively for shoulder instability by a single surgeon between September 2008 and September 2014. Preoperative data collected included patient age, sport, mechanism of injury, number and frequency of dislocations, direction of instability, and co-occurring surgical abnormalities at the time of arthroscopy. Outcome variables included recurrent instability after surgery and need for revision. Results: Thirty-six female student athletes with an average age of 20 years (range, 18-22 years) were included. The majority of instability events were traumatic in nature (69%), and 61% of the total events were subluxations. Rugby was the most common sport for experiencing instability (7 patients), followed by obstacle course training (6 patients). Thirty-two patients (89%) reported multiple instability events, averaging 4 per shoulder. The primary direction of instability was anterior in 26, combined anterior and posterior in 7, and 3 met criteria for multidirectional instability. At the time of surgery, 26 patients (72%) had a Bankart tear, 9 (25%) had a posterior labral tear, and 5 (14%) had superior labrum anterior to posterior tears. Nine patients (25%) were found to have humeral avulsion of the glenohumeral ligament (HAGL) lesions, 7 (19%) had partial-thickness articular-sided rotator cuff tears, and only 1 patient (3%) had evidence of true attritional glenoid bone loss. Hill-Sachs lesions were found in 16 patients (44%). Recurrent instability occurred in 9 patients (25%) following arthroscopic stabilization, and revision surgery was performed in 6 (17%). Conclusion: Shoulder instability in female athletes presents commonly as multiple subluxation events. While soft tissue Bankart lesions were found in numbers equal to those in previous studies include both sexes, bony Bankart lesions were less common in women. Finally, the presence of combined anterior and posterior labral tears and HAGLs in women was more common than previously reported.

국내 엘리트 학생 운동선수의 한약복용 실태와 도핑에 대한 인식 조사

The purpose of this study was to investigate how the oriental medicine was supplemented by male and female Korean elite student athletes and perception of doping. Data were obtained from 2,136 middle school, high school, and collegiate elite student athletes by the questionnaire and frequency analysis. Main results of the present study were as follows: 1) Many athletes have taken or are taking the oriental medicines for the purpose of improving health, recovering fatigue, and enhancing athletic performance, and so on. However, despite the fact that it should be prescribed in consideration of individual characteristics due to the characteristics of oriental medicine, the proportion of taking oriental medicine without prescription by oriental medical doctors was high, and relatively many athletes were taking animal and vegetable preparations privately manufactured. Most cases were taken without knowing the ingredients. In addition, there was less experience of doping education related to oriental medicine, and it was found that the understanding of the anti-doping ingredients in oriental medicine was relatively low. In conclusion, although many student athletes were taking oriental medicine, the knowledge and understanding of the risk of doping was low. Therefore, a thorough analysis of the anti-doping ingredients in the oriental medicine and systematic doping education are warranted.

The Coach’s Journal: Experiences of Black Female Assistant Coaches in NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball

In NCAA Division I women’s basketball, Black female coaches make up only a small percentage of the total number of coaches (i.e., 26%; NCAA, 2016) even though the majority of student-athletes are Black (i.e., 51%). Although these discrepancies have recently been recognized in sport studies literature (Borland &amp; Bruening, 2010; LaVoi &amp; Dutove, 2012), sport psychology researchers have yet to explore the underlying structural and psychological issues that lead to the underrepresentation of Black female coaches in NCAA Division I women’s basketball. To this end, we utilized narrative inquiry (Smith &amp; Sparkes, 2009a) in the current study to explore the stories of eight NCAA Division I women’s basketball assistant coaches who identify as Black females. During face-to-face interviews, participants described the roles they are asked to fill and the ways they cope with the multiple oppressions they experience as Black women in coaching. The first and second authors co-constructed four themes, (a) Pregame: Learning to coach; (b) First half: Experiences from the first 10 years; (c) Second half: Experiences from the last five years; and (d) Overtime: Thinking about the future, throughout their thematic analysis of these narratives (Braun &amp; Clark, 2006). It is hoped that these findings will lead to the development of interventions that can empower NCAA Division I Black female coaches as well as challenge current structural ideologies that disadvantage Black female coaches in this context. Further, creating a more inclusive environment at NCAA Division I institutions could enhance the experiences and coaching career aspirations of Black female student-athletes by allowing them to see empowered Black female role models in coaching positions. Implications for certified mental performance consultants (CMPCs) working within NCAA Division I women’s basketball, who are well positioned to contribute to these efforts, are also discussed.