Sport Experience Research Articles

The association between the years and modes of sports training and levels of moral competence across eleven sports

Background and Study Aim. Research on moral competency in sports is rare, and findings are inconsistent. These findings point to moral development as a multifaceted and complex process. This process is mediated by various life situations and dilemma choices. Sport can play a crucial role in this area with its often ‘role-taking’ experience and confrontations with personal moral standards. This study aimed to analyze the relationship of competency levels and sport experience across different sports. Material and Methods. A sample of university students in sport-related faculties (N = 947) was assessed with the use of Moral Competence test (MCT). The group was divided into 11 predetermined types of sports, training modes (amateur/professional), and indicated years of training practice. Results. The general moral competency level in the overall researched sample of students was low, but similar to their peer-age reference groups found in relevant literature. The findings indicated some differences in moral competency levels between amateurs and professionals. Amateurs showed a higher competency levels in five types of sports (non-invasion games, martial arts/fighting sports, aquatic boating sports). In contrast, professionals showed a higher competency level in dance sports. The only positive, moderate correlation between years of training and moral competency level was found with professional athletes in aquatic boating sports: the longer they trained, the higher their moral competency level was. Conclusions. These results offer new insight into the impact of sports on moral development and can act as a solid foundation for further in-depth research in this area.

From gamification to personalization: sports media, Web 3.0 and the desire for the ultimate fan experience

PurposeThe purpose of this essay is to explore the ramifications of Web 3.0 on sports media and the desire for the ultimate fan experience.Design/methodology/approachThe essay explains how Web 3.0 will influence (1) the social TV experience, (2) the drive for zero latency in sports streaming, (3) the desire for exclusive sports memorabilia and experiences, (4) artificial intelligence-driven content and (5) the potential decentralization of certain elements within the sports media ecosphere.FindingsThe core fan experience will still be recognizable, but AI, VR, blockchain and other elements will be infused within it.Originality/valueRamifications on sports media scholarships are offered.

Is passion contagious in coach-athlete dyads? A dyadic exploration of the association between passion, affective and need-based experiences in individual sports.

The Dualistic Model of Passion distinguishes between harmonious and obsessive passion, which are associated with athletes' and coaches' adjustments. Whereas prior research sampled either athletes or coaches, the present study used a dyadic approach to explore the bidirectional influence of passion on affective experiences in coaches and athletes. Using a cross-sectional dyadic design, 198 coach-athlete dyads involved in an individual sport at different competition levels, reported on their passion, need-based, and affective experiences. Both actor effects (i.e., intrapersonal dynamics within athletes or coaches) and partner effects (i.e., interpersonal dynamics from coach to athlete and vice versa) were examined. Furthermore, dyadic mediation models were used to investigate the potential mediating role of need-based experiences in the association between passion and affective experiences. Results unveiled compelling evidence for actor effects, indicating that one's own harmonious passion was positively related to one's own more adaptive outcomes and negatively to one's own more maladaptive outcomes, whereas obsessive passion was positively related to maladaptive outcomes. Further, very limited evidence for partner effects, in which coaches' passion affected athletes' outcomes or vice versa, was found. The dyadic mediation models underscored the role of need-based experiences in mediating the association between passion and affective experiences, but only at the intrapersonal level. As such, one's own passion experiences were related to one's own need-based experiences, which in turn were related to one's own affective experiences. The study provided no evidence for interpersonal mediation effects.

“Supporting my daughter, the best way I can”: Parental support in youth golf

Burgess et al. (2016) emphasized the importance of parental support in youth sports as they provide financial, informational, and emotional support to the youth-athlete. Parents also play a “significant role in shaping youth sport experiences” (Sheridan et al., 2014, p. 198). Research around parental support has been conducted in sports such as tennis, gymnastics, and football. The aim of the present study was to examine the parents’ perspective of parental support in female youth golf, exploring how they support their female youth golfers, and if the support changes through their child’s development. Twenty-two semi structured interviews were conducted with parents (14 fathers, 10 mothers) of high-performance female golfers in the specializing or investment stages of Côté’s (1999) DMSP. Participants were recruited from six countries (England, Ireland, Scotland, New Zealand, Australia, Canada). Using thematic analysis (Braun & Clarke, 2012) six higher order themes were identified, namely, parental support: emotional, practical, technical, financial, organizational, and reflective support. The results align with the grounded theory of parental support (Burke et al., 2023a) providing an insight into the parents’ perspective of providing support aligning with informational, emotional, and instrumental support of the theory. Furthermore, the current research presented novel findings regarding reflective support that parents provide. Findings highlighted that parental support changed depending on temporal differences (place in the golf season) and their daughter’s development. The present research reinforces the need to provide support programs for parents based on their needs, rather than programs designed from a governing body or coaches perspective.

Forced migration, resettlement, and sport: Lessons from the Kabul-Edmonton soccer team.

Forced migration is one of the most pressing crises of our lifetime. Of the millions forced to migrate, many come to know the brutality of state-managed migration that habitually denies asylum seekers and places substantive restrictions on refugees who have been resettled. Sociologists of sport and leisure have examined the sporting experiences of refugees through an intersectional lens, foregrounding how displacement and resettlement are differently lived and negotiated across overlapping power structures and markers of gender, sexuality, ethnicity, religion, and legal status. Through a participatory and collective photovoice project, this article explores the experiences of an all-Afghan soccer team that played in a social, co-ed soccer league in the spring of 2022, just after they arrived in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. In photovoice narratives and subsequent interviews, team members underlined many of the barriers they faced as they navigated the formal and informal rules and dominant norms of this seemingly inclusive sports landscape. In doing so, they revealed some of the limits of official discourses of Canadian multiculturism, which rarely accommodate more significant forms of difference, and which reproduce racial and ethnic hierarchies that powerfully discipline newcomers who are encouraged to embrace their precarious status as model minorities.

Sport and governance: peacebuilding in communities affected by the armed conflict in Colombia

Five decades of victimizing events have affected the lives of Colombians and exposed them to diverse forms of violence. The conflict’s consequences were evident in the weakening of the bonds between citizens because of limited cooperation and the loss of faith in country institutions. The limitation of the government is to guide the country amid great social conflicts in an exercise of territorial governance. The community improve their own mechanisms to contribute to local development under a peacebuilding approach to overcome social vulnerabilities. The research study focuses on highlighting the collective capabilities that a community sport experience promotes among members of communities affected by social conflicts for an effective contribution to promote positive change. The study used qualitative descriptive methods of inquiry and six in depth semi structured interviews. The study offers five public policy recommendations based on the results: the evidence to local governments and the national government in Colombia.

Properties of Gaze Strategies Based on Eye-Head Coordination in a Ball-Catching Task.

Visual motion information plays an important role in the control of movements in sports. Skilled ball players are thought to acquire accurate visual information by using an effective visual search strategy with eye and head movements. However, differences in catching ability and gaze movements due to sports experience and expertise have not been clarified. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine the characteristics of gaze strategies based on eye and head movements during a ball-catching task in athlete and novice groups. Participants were softball and tennis players and college students who were not experienced in ball sports (novice). They performed a one-handed catching task using a tennis ball-shooting machine, which was placed at 9 m in front of the participants, and two conditions were set depending on the height of the ball trajectory (high and low conditions). Their head and eye velocities were detected using a gyroscope and electrooculography (EOG) during the task. Our results showed that the upward head velocity and the downward eye velocity were lower in the softball group than in the tennis and novice groups. When the head was pitched upward, the downward eye velocity was induced from the vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR) during ball catching. Therefore, it is suggested that skilled ball players have relatively stable head and eye movements, which may lead to an effective gaze strategy. An advantage of the stationary gaze in the softball group could be to acquire visual information about the surroundings other than the ball.

Comparison of Audience Behavior between eSports and Authentic Sports Fans.

This study analyzed how the behavioral patterns of esports and authentic sports viewers differ, adopting user and gratification theory and media transportation theory. In particular, it was investigated whether there was a difference in behavioral patterns according to the experience of playing the sport even among authentic sports viewers. As a result of analyzing the relationship between viewers' motivation and media transportation outcomes through structural equation modeling and multigroup structural equation modeling, it was observed that cognitive motivation was more important for esports viewers than for authentic sports viewers. A second analysis of comparisons among fans of authentic sports showed that viewers with sports experience had greater cognitive needs. This result shows that there is a difference between the viewer behaviors of esports and traditional sports, but it is concluded that the presence or absence of sports participation experience rather than content is the factor that separates the difference.

A Systematic Review with a Meta-Analysis of the Motivational Climate and Hedonic Well-Being Constructs: The Importance of the Athlete Level.

Motivational climate is known to relate to individual behaviors, emotions, and thoughts. Hedonic or subjective well-being includes self-assessed positive affect (i.e., pleasant affect, moods, and emotions), negative affect (i.e., unpleasant affect, moods, and emotions), and life or domain-specific satisfaction. The aim of this review was to quantify the relationships between task and ego motivational climate scales and measures representing hedonic well-being with sports participants. Potential moderators of the motivational climate and hedonic well-being were examined. This review followed the PRISMA guidelines (PROSPERO ID CRD42023470462, registered 28 October 2023). From five relevant databases, one relevant review, and hand searching, 82 articles totaling 26,378 participants (46.3% female) met the inclusion criteria. The articles spanned publication dates from 1993 to 2023, representing 18 countries, various team and individual sports, and athletes competing in elite (e.g., Olympic) to grassroot (e.g., club sport) competitions. To meta-analyze the motivational climate and hedonic well-being relationships, the random-effects model was used. For the moderation analyses, the mixed-effects model was used. The task or mastery climate relationships were medium in magnitude with positive affect and satisfaction and small with negative affect. The ego or performance climate relationships were small in magnitude for positive affect, negative affect, and satisfaction. Evidence of bias existed in the motivational climate and hedonic well-being relationships. For moderation analyses, athlete level (i.e., elite vs. non-elite) moderated (p < 0.05) the task (elite, r = 0.23; non-elite, r = 0.34) and ego motivational climate (elite, r = -0.02; non-elite, r = -0.13) and positive affect and satisfaction combined relationships. In conclusion, the motivational climate and hedonic well-being relationships were stronger for the task climate than for the ego climate. The finding that elite athlete correlations appeared dampened is important for future research. Even with the damped relationships, practitioners, from the Olympics to local clubs, should ensure the promotion of the task climate to maximize positive affect and satisfactions in and around the sport experience.

A Cross-Sectional Study of Sports Food Consumption Patterns, Experiences, and Perceptions amongst Non-Athletes in Australia.

Sports foods are designed for athletes, yet their availability, type, and sales have increased over the past decade, likely driven by non-athlete use. This could lead to detrimental health outcomes via over/misuse or unwanted side effects. The aim of this study was to describe sports food consumption patterns and associated drivers, consumption reasons, perception of risks, and side effects experienced amongst non-athletes in Australia. In 2022, n = 307 non-athlete Australian adults (18-65 years) completed an online cross-sectional survey including closed-ended (consumption patterns, factors, and exercise participation) and open-ended questions (reasons for consumption, risk perception, and side effects experienced). Descriptive statistics (frequency and percent) described the sample. Ordinal logistic regression was used for univariate associations and a multivariate model was used to determine relationships between sports food consumption proxy and significant univariate associations. The themes were analysed via inductive thematic analysis using NVivo 14. Females consumed sports foods most frequently, 65% of participants consumed three or more sports foods, and participants with higher sports food consumption/frequency were less likely to perceive risks or experience side effects. The main reason for consumption was protein intake, digestion/stomach issues were the main perceived risks, and the main side effect was bloating. Despite understanding the risks and side effects, non-athlete consumers continue to use numerous sports foods, which appear to be influenced by sociodemographic factors and packaging labels. Tighter regulation of packaging-label information would ensure safer and more informed consumption.

Beyond the scoreboard: school-based sport experiences and high school student-athlete well-being

ABSTRACT With an estimated seven million high school student-athletes in the United States participating in school-based sports each year, opportunities exist to examine how recent changes in education and sport are affecting this generation of student-athletes. The COVID-19 pandemic, school cancelations, and emergent trends related to recruiting, name, image, and likeness policies, sport specialization, academic pressures, and adolescent mental health concerns are current factors influencing school-based sports. To examine associations between the United States education and sport environment and student-athlete well-being, this qualitative study sought to understand the experiences of high school student-athletes in this era of sport. Seven focus groups were conducted with 50 high school student-athletes in diverse school districts in one large Midwestern state. Emergent themes indicated structural, contextual, and psychosocial factors are shaping student-athlete experiences and affecting multiple domains of their well-being. Notably, student-athletes overwhelmingly wanted to perform at high levels as they returned to school and sport as COVID-19 restrictions were lifting, yet felt they were struggling to meet these demands. Findings contribute to an important conversation about the needs of high school student-athletes in the United States and can inform future interventions, coach training programs, and school policies.

NEGATIVE THOUGHTS AND SELF-CONFIDENCE AMONG ATHLETES WITH DIFFERENT SPORTS EXPERIENCES: A META-ANALYSIS

An athlete’s sporting experience is a factor associated with better-coping strategies and emotional regulation, especially concerning competitive anxiety and its symptoms. To verify whether more experienced athletes have lower rates of negativism and higher levels of self-confidence, we compared the means of these two variables between athletes with more and less experience. A meta-analysis was performed, following the PRISMA model. Seven articles were selected that measured, through the Competitive State Anxiety Inventory – 2 (CSAI-2 or its shortened version, CSAI-2R), the levels of self-confidence and negativism of high-performance athletes with different sports experiences. Significant statistical differences were found regarding the levels of negativism between athletes with more and less experience (p &lt; .001). The same occurred with the levels of self-confidence between athletes with more and less sports experience (&lt; .001). The results align with our initial hypothesis, formulated by Martens et al. (1990), that athletes with more experience would have higher self-confidence and lower negativism averages. One of the reasons may be using more effective coping strategies that are improved during the career years.

A scoping review of coach-parent interactions and relationships across youth sport settings

ABSTRACT To foster positive sporting experiences and enable young people to reach their sporting potential, parents and coaches need to have positive relationships. Correspondingly, literature exploring parent-coach relationships is expanding. However, previous studies have yet to be considered as a collective body to identify what characterizes effective and ineffective parent--coach relationships across youth sport settings and potential lines of inquiry for future research in the field. Consequently, this scoping review sought to (1) review published studies about coach-parent interactions and relationships within the context of youth sport; (2) systematically consider and identify the characteristics of effective and ineffective coach-parent relationships; and (3) highlight the existent gaps in the literature as they pertain to coach-parent relationships, and identify future research directions. Ten studies were reviewed. Findings highlighted that previous studies have provided valuable insights about coach--parent relationships, but missed important opportunities to understand context, cultural and relational dynamics across socio-cultural contexts. More research is needed on coach-parent interactions and relationships; particularly studies that can help parents and coaches come together to increase their children’s development and performance.

Divergent Gut Microbiota: Archaeal and Bacterial Signatures Unveil Unique Patterns in Colombian Cyclists Compared to Weightlifters and Non-Athletes.

Engagement in physical activity, across various sports, promotes a diverse microbiota in active individuals. This study examines the gut microbiota of Colombian athletes, specifically weightlifters (n = 16) and road cyclists (n = 13), compared to non-athletes (n = 15). Using Kruskal-Wallis tests, the physical activity level of a group of non-athletic individuals and the sports experience of a group of professional athletes is analyzed. The median age of participants is 24 years, comprising 25 men and 19 women. The microbiota is collected using fecal samples. Participants provided these samples during their pre-competitive stage, specifically during the concentration phase occurring two weeks prior to national competitions. This timing is chosen to capture the microbial composition during a period of heightened physical preparation. Questionnaire responses and microbial composition assessments identify disparities among groups. Microbial composition analysis explores core microbiome, abundance, and taxonomy using Pavian, MicrobiomeAnalyst 2.0, and GraPhlAn. ANCOM-BC2 reveals differentially abundant species. Road cyclists exhibit decreased Bacteria and increased Archaea abundance. Phylum-level variations included Planctomycetes, Acidobacteria, and Proteobacteria, while Bacteroidetes prevailed. Key families influencing gut microbiota are Bacteroidaceae, Muribaculaceae, and Selenomonadaceae. Weightlifters exhibit unique viral and archaeal community connections, while cyclists showed specialized microbial interplay influenced by endurance exercise. Correlation network analysis emphasizes distinctive microbial interactions within athlete groups, shedding light on the impact of physical activities on gut microbiota and athlete health.

Satisfaction with The Life and Self-Esteem of Portuguese Disabilities Elite Athletes of Boccia and Adapted Athletics

This study is to compare the degree of satisfaction with life and self-esteem of Portuguese elite athletes of adapted sport according to the modality practiced, gender and sport experience. The sample consisted of 30 Portuguese elite athletes, 15 of adapted Athletics and 15 of Boccia, aged between 17 and 54 years (31.03 ± 10.26). The sports experience of these athletes was 13.33 (± 9.0) years of practice, in which 20 were male and 10 were female and all these athletes have disabilities. A questionnaire on biographical data, Satisfaction with Life Scale (Diener et al., 1985), the Self-Anchoring Rating Scale (Cantril, 1965) and the Self-Esteem Scale (Rosenberg, 1965) translated and adapted by (Bandeira et al., 2005) were applied. The questionnaire to assess subjective well-being (Translate adapted by (Fortes-Ferreira et al., 2006). The t-test was used to compare levels of satisfaction with life and self-esteem according to modality, sex, and years of practice. The results of this study allow us to conclude that Portuguese adapted athletes (8,83±4,71) and bocce (5,53±4,52) present there are statistically significant differences (0.050) in self-esteem between. The lower functional capacity, as well as the severity of Boccia athletes' deficiency, which requires the use of ancillary means, may be a reason to justify the fact that they present lower values of self-esteem than athletes. The same reason may justify a lower level of satisfaction with the lives of athletes with any less more sporting experience (25,47±4,33) than more sporting experience (28,85±4,63) since they are also older athletes.

Public service broadcasting and gender equal coverage: reflections on research and practice in Ireland and Sweden

This paper makes three important contributions: to research on media and gender equality, specifically through the lens of gender equal sports coverage; to understanding the lived experiences of women in public service sports broadcasting, and to gender-sensitive public discourse and policy debates concerning the relationship between media and sport. In it, we examine industry attempts to achieve gender equal coverage in public service broadcasting (PSB) in Ireland and Sweden. The paper draws on a three-way dialogic exchange between the authors who, together, have sizeable professional and personal experiences of public service sports broadcasting, sports participation (from amateur to elite levels), and of voluntary sports coaching and administration. This novel exchange also responds to calls for greater insights into women’s engagements with media. The paper concludes by considering current issues for PSBs in relation to gender equal coverage and suggesting potential future lines of enquiry.

Introduction to the special issue—sport, the media and Ireland: intersections of gender, class and geography

The seven articles in this special issue of Sport in Society explore constructions and intersections of gender, class and geography in Irish sport media. Drawing on theoretical and methodological approaches from a variety of disciplines, ranging from sport sociology to film and cultural studies, the articles encompass both established ‘mainstream’ print and broadcast media, and alternative media platforms. They examine the cultural politics of sport media institutions, forms of representation, and media production and sharing, tracing how hegemonic intersections and hierarchies are both reproduced and negotiated in this national context. Although focused principally on the Republic of Ireland, the issue will be of interest to international readers as the articles variously identify the role of media and cultural contexts in the shaping of popular understandings and experiences of transnational sports; or have an internationally comparative dimension; or deal with transnationally circulating ‘Irish’ sport media texts within international networks.

Understanding the role of gaze behaviour and coaching experience in the assessment of youth soccer teams

ABSTRACT This study aimed to explore the perceptual-cognitive characteristics of coaches as they assessed team performance in youth soccer. The primary focus was to investigate the alignment between coaches’ subjective analyses of team behaviour and objective analyses, while also examining the relationship between coaches’ gaze behaviour and their levels of coaching experience, particularly considering the potential differences that may exist among coaches with varying levels of experience. Sixty-five male and female adults with various soccer coaching experience (experienced, novice, other team sport experience, and non-team sport experience) watched five 4-minute videos and assessed team behaviour. These subjective evaluations were compared to objective data obtained from video analysis and GPS, which included measures of completed skills, spatiotemporal characteristics, and passing networks. The participants’ fixation duration and frequency were measured for each video clip, and the area around the ball specifically. The study found no significant differences between groups regarding the number of times participants’ subjective analysis aligned with the objective data (p = 0.059, ɳ2 = 0.07). However, coaches with soccer coaching experience demonstrated a higher fixation frequency and more revisits to the ball area when compared to participants without soccer experience (p = <.001, ɳ2 = 0.09). The current study offers a unique approach to uncovering soccer coaching expertise by combining objective and subjective evaluations of team performance. In summary, the study reveals that coaching experience did not impact how often coaches subjective analyses matched objective data. However, soccer coaches had distinctive gaze behaviour patterns where they revisited the area around the ball more often.

Assessing concussion knowledge among students with varying levels of sports involvement

Abstract: Introduction/Purpose: Many medical and physical therapy students indicate that their source of concussion knowledge stems from previous involvement in sports; they also expressed that their education may not prepare them to manage patients with concussions. This study aims to examine how involvement in sports informs concussion knowledge, and to identify gaps in knowledge. Methods: A 17-question Qualtrics survey was distributed to allopathic and osteopathic medical and physical therapy students. Participants were asked to self-report their concussion history, rank their confidence regarding concussion knowledge, answer objective knowledge questions, and assess the degree to which concussion education was taught and its relevance to their field. ANOVA and Chi-square tests were used for analysis. Results: Students with sports participation at the college and professional level demonstrated higher self-ranked concussion knowledge and higher performance on concussion knowledge questions. Our study also showed that deficits in concussion management exist. Conclusion: Students with college or professional sports involvement consistently performed better on survey questions due to their higher rates of personal experience, though the majority of students surveyed did not have this level of sports experience and its accompanying exposure to concussion. Effect sizes for significant results were relatively small, suggesting that practical applications may be limited. Therefore, involvement in sports should not be recognized as an adequate source of concussion education for future clinicians. Based on our results, it can be suggested that all medical and physical therapy students, regardless of sports involvement, will benefit from having a structured curriculum focused on concussion education.

Physiological and metabolic effects of using interval training loads by athletes specializing in race walking in different training periods

Purpose: to evaluate the efficiency of using interval training loads by athletes specializing in race walking in different training periods using biochemical and physiological indicators.&#x0D; Material and methods. The study included 22 athletes specializing in race walking aged 19-30 years with 6-15 years of sports experience and qualifications of Master of Sports (MS) and International Master of Sports (ICMS). The athletes performed physical tests - 500m x 20 times and 1000m x 12 times. The study was conducted both at rest and during the recovery period after performing the physical tests. Physiological and biochemical control with the determination of lactate content in the blood, heart rate, and sports performance was used to assess the direction and effectiveness of the training process in different periods of athletes' training.&#x0D; Results. Used interval loads confirm the correct choice of the training load program, which has shown its effectiveness in the competitive period of training compared to the preparatory period: it contributed to the improvement of test results, speed capabilities and high-speed endurance of athletes. It has been established that the use of interval training, accompanied by the accumulation of lactate up to 12 mmol·l-1 in the blood and an increase in heart rate over 180 min-1, leads to an improvement in sports performance.&#x0D; Conclusions. The used interval training loads contributed to the improvement of sports result in the competitive period in comparison with the preparatory period when overcoming series of 500 m distance by 2,08s, and 1000 m distance - by 6,56s, that testifies to the improvement of motor qualities - speed and high-speed endurance of sportsmen in the competitive period in comparison with the preparatory period.