South African Athletes Research Articles

Strategies used by South African non-elite athletes to cope with the environmental stressors associated with endurance events

The aim of this study was to determine the coping strategies that non-elite athletes use to overcome environmental factors during endurance events. A sample of 53 nonelite endurance athletes completed a questionnaire and interviews were conducted. The research focused on exploring individual experiences as well as identifying themes and patterns of behaviour during endurance events. The results indicated that endurance athletes used basically three coping strategies (responses) that were identified in the literature. The most frequently used strategy was to remove the source of the stress followed by strategies that change the athlete's perception of the stressor and lastly strategies that deal with the symptoms of the stressor. Most of the endurance athletes perceive problems and challenges to be a positive experience. The majority of endurance athletes have a positive perception of their own abilities and regularly place themselves in situations of danger or extreme stress to test this ability. This ability must, however, constantly be tested by participation in endurance sport or other stressful situations. Previous successful participation in endurance events or other stressful situations leads to an increase in positive self-perception of own abilities, as well as an increase in performance in endurance events. Keywords: Endurance events; Stress; Environmental stressors; Coping strategies South African Journal for Research in Sport, Physical Education and Recreation Vol. 29 (2) 2007: pp. 99-108

Influences on the socialisation of South African elite athletes

Within the different phases of being socialised into the formation of an athletic identity, socialisation agents (including the ‘self\') make significant contributions. A self-constructed questionnaire was completed by 123 South African elite athletes who competed in the 8th All Africa Games in Abuja (2003). They represented 17 different sports codes, the majority (n=74, 60%) of which competed in team sports and 49 (40%) competed in individual sports. The gender composition of the sample consists of 69 (56%) men and 54 (44%) women. The findings reflect the shifting nature and dominant role of significant others as socialising agents, the influence of environmental factors, and socio-cultural and economic aspects. The social worlds and career paths of elite athletes is further constructed through ideological and subjective schemes, which translate into needs and perceptions that should be understood and addressed in the development of elite athletes in the South African context. Keywords : elite athlete, socialization, sport, South Africa South African Journal for Research in Sport, Physical Education and Recreation Vol. 27(1) 2005: 21-34

The rationale for the multifaceted development of the athlete-student in the African context

In the high profile competitive world of global sport, the athlete is from a relatively young age under exorbitant pressure to excel, compete successfully in the international arena and develop as a person and professionally. The South African athlete faces unique challenges in this regard and requires special nurturing and development to achieve personal, professional and sports-related success. This paper explores the unique social and competitive world of the athlete by analyzing data obtained from a survey conducted among elite athletes who participated in the 7th All Africa Games in 1999. The data focuses on the social profile of the athletes and was obtained through 103 interviews (8 heads of missions, 11 managers, 17 coaches and 67 athletes) and questionnaires that were completed by 343 athletes (160 men and 113 women). They represented 20 different sporting codes, were from 97 different urban and/or rural communities and represented a wide socio-economic, ethnic, age and educational spectrum. The findings informed the proposed rationale for a multi-level and -faceted development programme for the athlete-students. Educational institutions, national sports agencies, companies and athletes may tap into these research findings and this rationale to address the development of South African athletes and sport meaningfully, ethically and responsibly. Keywords: Elite athlete, African athlete, Career phases, Retirement South African Journal for Research in Sport, Physical Education and Recreation Vol.25(2) 2003: 15-26

The stellenbosch mood scale: A dual‐language measure of mood

The present study developed and provided initial validation statistics for the Stellenbosch Mood Scale (STEMS), a dual‐language (Afrikaans and English) version of the Profile of Mood States‐Adolescents (POMS‐A: Terry, Lane, Lane, & Keohane, 1999). Following translation of the POMS‐A into Afrikaans using the translation‐back translation method, the STEMS was administered to 463 South African athletes (224 males, 239 females; age range = 18–36 yr. M = 20.3 yr., SD = 1.8 yr.) Confirmatory factor analysis provided support for a 24‐item, six‐factor measurement model using both independent and multi‐sample analyses. The measurement model remained invariant across language groups. Gender differences in mood responses were found. Females reported higher tension and fatigue and lower anger than males. The STEMS showed promising psychometric properties and may have several applications among both Afrikaans‐ and English‐speaking groups in South Africa.

Globalisation and inequalities in a third world sport context

The complex reality of the globalization process is explored through analyses of the discourse that since the nineties there has increasingly been debated in the field of sport sociology. Most prominent theoretical perspectives including modernism, post-modernism, broad Marxist traditions and the figurational approach served to explain the manifestations of globalization in a ‘post-colonial' third world context. Global influences are embodied in internationally sponsored projects that were implemented in the late nineties and illustrate the dynamics of first world sports development initiatives in South Africa. Data from different studies and media debates were utilized to substantiate the discussion of local sport-related manifestations relating to the effect of major events (Olympic Games), the media and development initiatives. Micro-level research conducted at the 1999 All Africa Games, in which 273 (62%) South African athletes representing 17 different sport codes completed questionnaires, mediated the experiences, perceptions and social worlds of these national athletes. Local manifestations of globally informed ideology, structures and power relations are discussed against the backdrop of national and political priorities, the context of poverty and hierarchical social structures. The inequalities of South African sporting practices are contextualized as they find expression in the lack of resources, class inequalities, ethnocentric frameworks and political controversies. In search of a national identity, elite sports participation becomes a double-edged sword in challenging and perpetuating socio-cultural realities and creating new inequalities. Key words: Globalization, third world, inequality, South Africa, athletes. (Af. J. Physical, Health Education, Recreation and Dance: 2002 8(1): 176-188)

Lessons from the Olympics : participants' perceptions of the 2000 games

The purpose of this study was to investigate the experiences of South African athletes at the Olympic Games and to identify the possible factors that could have affected their performances. A sample of 44 participants at the 2000 Olympic Games completed a post-Olympic questionnaire. Although most athletes believed that they were adequately prepared, a large proportion (58%) did not meet their pre-Olympic expectations. A variety of factors such as team selection, the media, village life, distractions, and coaching behaviours were identified as possible factors that influenced performance. Suggestions based on these data are proposed for future Olympic teams. (S. African J. for Research in Sport, Physical Ed. and Recreation: 2001 23 (1): 51-64)

Superior fatigue resistance of elite black South African distance runners

Black athletes currently dominate long-distance running events in South Africa. In an attempt to explain an apparently superior running ability of black South African athletes at distances > 3 km, we compared physiological measurements in the fastest 9 white and 11 black South African middle-to long-distance runners. Whereas both groups ran at a similar percentage of maximal O2 uptake (%VO2max) over 1.65-5 km, the %VO2max sustained by black athletes was greater than that of white athletes at distances > 5 km (P < 0.001). Although both groups had similar training volumes, black athletes reported that they completed more exercise at > 80% VO2max (36 +/- 18 vs. 14 +/- 7%: P < 0.005). When corrections were made for the black athletes' smaller body mass, their superior ability to sustain a high %VO2max could not be explained by any differences in VO2max, maximal ventilation, or submaximal running economy. Superior distance running performance of the black athletes was not due to a greater (+/- 50%) percentage of type I fibers but was associated with lower blood lactate concentrations during exercise. Time to fatigue during repetitive isometric muscle contractions was also longer in black runners (169 +/- 65 vs. 97 +/- 69 s; P < 0.05), but whether this observation explains the superior endurance or was due to the lower peak muscle strength (46.3 +/- 10.3 vs. 67.5 +/- 18.0 Nm/l lean thigh volume; P < 0.01) remains to be established.

The Campaign against Sport in South Africa

Apartheid South Africa has long been the pariah of international sport. South Africans have not competed in the Olympic Games since i960, and they lost the opportunity to compete in the Commonwealth Games in 1961. The governing bodies of these events the International Olympic Committee (10c) and the Commonwealth Games Federation (cgf) have effectively barred South Africans from other major competitions in the sports under their jurisdiction and actively discourage other contacts. Many of the international federations in the Olympic sports have expelled South Africa from membership altogether and penalize those who attempt to further contacts (see table 1). The ioc and the cgf have also contributed significantly to the cessation of contacts in sports beyond their jurisdiction, notably cricket and rugby, white South Africa's favourites. There has not been a major cricket tour of South Africa since 1970, a rugby tour since 1985. Governments have extended and reinforced these prohibitions. Many bar entry to South African athletes and officials and require their own athletes and sports associations to boycott all sporting contact with South Africa as a condition of public support. Under the United Nations Convention Against Apartheid in Sports, twenty-seven countries have also agreed to bar entry to athletes from other countries who have played in South Africa.1