Sporting Bodies Research Articles

Learning to Fail: Adolescent Resistance in Extreme Sports

Employing dysfunctional or arrested development, extreme sports tricksters cultivate diverse strategies of sporting identity. Through parody, satire, and mockery, adolescent performances and representations resist hegemonic ideologies of mainstream sports masculinity. This work interrogates the representational and performative texts, events, and bodies of extreme sports using queer theories and psychoanalytic approaches. To assess failure as a potentially strategic and radical mode of counter-hegemonic resistance, I trace the origins of extreme sports cultures through icons such as Evel Knievel and the Dangerous Sports Club. I also look at a modern heir apparent—action sporting collective Nitro Circus. In failing at mainstream sporting masculinities, these athletes create different ways of being and doing sport through commoditization, adolescence, gender, Whiteness, corporeality, and death.

The militarisation of Israeli sport management in the 1950s and 1960s

ABSTRACT This article discusses the involvement of active service IDF officers in managing central Israeli sport institutions during the early years of the State of Israel. The IDF officers’ activity in sport bodies encouraged the types of sports that served army interests and developed the construction of sport facilities and their maintenance. The involvement of army officers in managing sport institutions in Israel will be explained as part of the military sphere’s penetration to Israel’s managerial sphere in its formative years and as a reflection of the importance given to the IDF as a unifying factor, placed above political considerations.

International consensus definitions of video signs of concussion in professional sports

BackgroundThe use of video to assist professional sporting bodies with the diagnosis of sport-related concussion (SRC) has been well established; however, there has been little consistency across sporting codes with...

Fields of battle: UK government and public attitudes to sport in the second world war

ABSTRACTThe Second World War, according to a British Government report, applied a ‘knockout blow’ to sport. This, the same Home Intelligence correspondent wrote, was due to lack of preparation by sports bodies for the conflict – an extraordinary example of buck passing in January 1940 considering the military fiascos that were looming. This paper will look at Government and public attitudes to sport between 1939 and 1945 by examining Cabinet papers and the Mass Observation and Home Intelligence files at the University of Sussex. These trace the journey from where sport was halted in the earliest days of the war – sometimes at the behest of governing bodies, on other occasions due to lack of resources such as blackout material – to it becoming an ‘essential ingredient in bolstering domestic morale’.

The role of sport participation and body mass index in predicting motor competence of school-age children

Purpose: Our goal was to investigate the association between sport participation (SP) and motor competence (MC), and to assess the mediation role of body mass index (BMI) on this association. Method: 707 children (332 boys, 375 girls) aged between 6- to 10 years participated in the study. MC was assessed using the BOT-2. Parents were asked about organized SP, and BMI was calculated based on the child’s height and weight. Results: Our findings showed that SP was associated with MC, and BMI was not an important factor in these relationships. However, a small mediation of BMI was found, but only for obese children. Conclusion: In summary, that sport participation plays a relevant role in the development of motor competence in school-age children, and that association is, in general, not mediated by weight status.

Mechanisms of Institutional Maintenance in Minor Hockey

Responding to a pressure to increase athlete enjoyment and improve athlete development, governing bodies in sport have sought to adapt policies and programs. This study describes a governing association’s failed attempt at selling an optional change to some local associations. Data were collected through semistructured interviews with coaches and board members within two local minor hockey associations and executive decision makers in a provincial governing association (Ontario Minor Hockey Association) in Ontario, Canada. The Ontario Minor Hockey Association sought to maintain the institution by influencing local associations to change the way minor hockey was played (i.e., adopting cross-ice play). They attempted to influence local associations through education, local change champions, and the success of other hockey associations that underwent the change. The two local associations in this study ultimately resisted a shift to cross-ice play, citing history and tradition, constrained organizational res...

Challenges for third sector organisations in cutback management: a sporting case study of the implications of publicness

ABSTRACTCutback management is a key theme for public services in an era of austerity, but the responsibilities for implementing public funding cutbacks do not always fall upon managers employed in the public sector. This article focuses on the cutbacks at third sector organisations (TSOs) – three national governing bodies (NGBs) of sport – which were affected by UK Sport’s ‘No Compromise’ policy following the 2012 Olympics. The article introduces the public funding cutback decision hierarchy as a novel framework which is used alongside existing theory to assess the implications of the severity and immediacy of cutback.

Conference Report: 8th Conference of the German Society of Sport Science’s Committee for Martial Arts Studies: Experiencing, Training and Thinking the Body in Martial Arts and Martial Sports

Conference Report: 8th Conference of the German Society of Sport Science’s Committee for Martial Arts Studies: Experiencing, Training and Thinking the Body in Martial Arts and Martial Sports

Good Intentions, Vague Policies: A Thematic Analysis of Recommendations by the United Nations, the European Commission and the OECD on Sporting Events and Human Rights

In order to preserve their status as legitimate governing bodies of sport, International Sports Associations (ISAs) are to an increasing degree expected by actors in the international community to use their influence to make societal improvements. But how and where should the traditionally neutral ISAs intervene? In considering the question, this paper explores the recommendations offered by the United Nations (UN), the OECD, and the European Commission (EC) to the ISAs on the relation between sporting events and human rights. By conducting a textual analysis of the recommendatory documents the paper concludes that while their intentions are good, the unwillingness among the document authors to engage with the term “human rights” in particular and to suggest ways to enforce them creates a serious obstacle to the implementation of those recommendations.

Brief ideas on Legal Issue of Infringements on Body in Sports

Brief ideas on Legal Issue of Infringements on Body in Sports

Pre-participation Evaluation for Screening of Health Risks in Leisure and Young Competitive Athletes

There seems to be a lack of consensus among medical associations, professional sports bodies and medical professionals about when pre-participation evaluations (PPE) are indicated and how they should be designed. Although it is generally accepted that the primary purpose of the PPE is the identification of cardiovascular disease and risk factors for sudden cardiac death in competitive athletes, there is an ongoing debate on which methods are most apt in the screening process. Furthermore, the need of PPE has been questioned all together in leisure or hobby athletes. Nevertheless, many recreational sportsmen or leisure athletes will seek advice from their medical providers before engaging in an exercise program, and competitive athletes may be required to undergo screening for underlying medical conditions and risk of sudden cardiac death before each sports season (depending on the sports association and country of origin). It is therefore important for clinicians – and for sports doctors in particular – to be aware of current guidelines for identifying high-risk individuals who may require a more thorough evaluation before beginning an exercise program or before the game season. Hence, the objective is to review guidelines regarding PPE as a method for screening health risks, especially sudden cardiovascular death, prior to participation in exercise and sports. For an in-depth description and the SGSM Consensus refer to SSEM 2/2019.

Representation of sports and physical education in Czechoslovak documentary film (1945–1959)

In the early stages of the film (pre-cinematography), during the technological development of the kinescope (1865), or the moving photos, and later the flash photography (1873), the first attempts to record motion (biomechanics) appeared. The flash photography of the later period (protofilm) was replaced by the synthesis of motion (1878) when the social-cultural background also appeared on the moving photos, mainly focusing on selected themes reflecting the sports body and physicality in relation to the contemporary social atmosphere. The presented text selectively describes the development of body and body imaging in a limited period influenced by political-ideological mechanisms. However, it also functions as a factor that can influence society and bring about change. The documentary film cannot be unambiguously described as propaganda. The sport was not depicted solely from the perspective of the ideology of that time. But above all, mass exercises demonstrated the national community and state ideology.

Аналіз сучасного стану реалізації кадрової політики фітнес-клубів

Oleksandr Aghyppo & Galina Putiatina The article analyzes the current state of implementation of the personnel policy of fitness clubs in Kharkov. The directions of reforming the system of recreational and motor activity are proposed. Purpose: to reveal the main provisions of the mechanism for the implementation of personnel policy in the system of recreational motor activity (for example, fitness clubs). Material & Methods: method of analysis of scientific literature and documentary sources, analysis of advanced domestic experience, method of system analysis, method of sociological survey, methods of mathematical statistics. The survey was conducted in order to analyze the state and prospects of development of the system of health and recreational motor activity of the population at the regional level (in particular, aspects of the implementation of personnel policy by fitness clubs). 53 respondents took part in the survey, among them 10 were representatives of the management of the physical culture and sport bodies and the “Sport for All” system, 12 were scientific and pedagogical workers, 31 were representatives of fitness clubs in Kharkiv . Results: evealed the mechanism for implementing personnel policy by fitness clubs, analyzed the state and prospects of this area of work in the field of fitness. Conclusion: as a result of the study, the functions that are performed by a competent fitness club specialist are summarized. A mechanism for the implementation of personnel policy by the subjects of the fitness industry has been formed and the principles for its implementation have been substantiated. Established priority measures to reform the fitness industry in the context of the implementation of personnel policy.

Association Between Sport Participation, Body Composition, Physical Fitness, and Social Correlates Among Adolescents: The PAHL Study.

Background: Evidence suggests that social support impacts on participation in sport or physical activity (PA), and is associated with health benefits, although the link is complex and not well understood. The study aim was to examine whether participation in organized sports is related to body composition, physical fitness, and social correlates for PA. Methods: Cross-sectional data on 238 adolescents (90 boys and 148 girls), mean age 14.9 ± 0.8 years, who were participants in the Physical Activity and Health Longitudinal Study, were collected. The participants were divided into two groups: sport participation (SP) and non-sport participation (NSP). Height, weight, and triceps and subscapular skinfolds were assessed according to standard procedures. Weight (kg) and height (m2) were used to calculate body mass index (BMI), and skinfolds were used to calculate body fat percentage. The European Test of Physical Fitness (EUROFIT) battery of tests was used to assess physical fitness. The standardized International Physical Activity Questionnaire Short Form and Social Support for PA questionnaires were used to obtain information on PA and social correlates for PA, respectively. Participants were asked to choose between participation and non-participation in sport. Results: The SP group had lower BMI component values (p = 0.011, d = 0.52 for percentage body fat (%BF); p = 0.011, d = 0.53 for sum of skinfolds (∑SKF) obtained higher physical fitness scores in selected items (p = 0.003, d = 0.64 for sit ups (SUP); p < 0.000, d = 0.96 for maximal oxygen consumption VO2max) and received higher social support (p < 0.001, d = 0.86 for social support (SS)), than the NSP group. The social support received by those participating in sport correlated positively with most fitness components (p = 0.013, r2 = 18% for bent arm hang (BAH); p = 0.000, r2 = 12% for sit ups (SUP); p = 0.000, r2 = 17% for VO2max). Physical fitness components were negatively associated with most body composition components for both groups. Conclusions: The results provide a better understanding of sport participation in organized sports-related, body composition-related and physical fitness-related associations with changes in social support received by adolescents and may contribute to the development of more accurate promotive strategies to increase children’s and adolescents’ engagement in sport and PA.

Creating an enduring developmental legacy from FIFA2010: the Football Foundation of South Africa (FFSA)

ABSTRACTResearch question: The legacies of sport mega-events are widely contested. Whilst the short-term impacts of the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ in South Africa have been largely considered to be positive, there is little evidence of longer term outcomes. This paper contributes to the sport mega-event legacy literature by presenting empirical evidence of the longer term developmental legacy using a case study of a community-focused sports project. Key factors underpinning sustainable legacy outcomes are identified.Research methods: The Football Foundation of South Africa (FFSA) was selected as a case study due to the novel ways in which the project developed. Thirty-eight interviews were conducted with stakeholders involved directly in the FFSA’s day-to-day delivery and management, people from organisations who deliver sport and recreation services at the local and regional levels and children who use the facility. The interviews were recorded and transcribed, and the data were analysed using qualitative content analysis approach.Results and findings: The FFSA is achieving substantial and increasing reach into local, especially disadvantaged, communities. Children expressed very strong positive feelings about the contribution it makes to their lives. Several factors have enabled the FFSA to be successful, with the most critical being the strong institutional context within which the project is embedded involving local, regional, national and global organisations.Implications: The success of the FFSA highlights gaps in mega-event legacy planning. International sport bodies should develop formal mechanisms for drawing their corporate stakeholders together with community-based groups to identify and deliver sustainable developmental programmes.

Gendered performances and identity construction among UK female soccer players and netballers: a comparative study

This paper examines the gendered performances and identity construction of UK female University soccer players and netballers (n = 31). Focus group interviews explored their sporting experiences with reference to body perceptions, and perceptions of their sporting bodies outside sporting contexts. Three themes resulted from data analysis, these being; (1) UK culture, body performances and femininity, (2) sporting culture, body performances and femininity and (3) transiency of body satisfaction across sport and non-sport contexts. Findings suggest that sport may not always provide an opportunity to challenge and resist dominant discourses. In both netball and soccer, a range of surveillance and management practices were used that served to perpetuate the value of a ‘feminine’ and assumed heterosexual body, and legitimize their sport participation through an emphasis on a hyper-femininity. The influence of sport subcultures on gendered performances and identity construction, along with implications for marketing sports participation to women are discussed.

Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA), Power, and Politics: A Socio-Historical Analysis

How can Global Sporting Governing Bodies (GSGBs) like the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) take a stand on political issues in places where a sporting event which comes under their aegis is being held without compromising their own position as neutral governing bodies of sport? Drawing upon a historical sociological approach and using the FIA and the Formula 1 world motorsport championship as its key example, this paper argues that one reason why controversy about this is growing is because FIA’s current power structures were established in an era less suited to today’s world of sports and stakeholdership. In order to change, we need to review the historical processes that shaped current power relations between the GSGB and its stakeholders and, through that, identify an alternative view of power which may resolve the dilemma which the relation between sport and politics currently throws up.

Мотиви за свързани с външния вид поведения при млади мъже с различен статус на телесното тегло: Качествено изследване

Изследването проучва мотивите за свързаните с външния вид поведения при млади мъже във възникваща зрелост (18-29 г.) с различен статус на телесното тегло. Проведени са 15 дълбинни полу-структурирани интервюта с мъже и 15 с жени, анализирани чрез тематичен анализ и интерпретативен феноменологичен анализ. Седем от петнадесетте млади мъже са с наднормено тегло или затлъстяване, като този статус на телесното тегло оказва значимо влияние върху съдържанието на мотивите за свързаните с външния вид поведения. Идентифицирани са девет мотива: да бъдеш с нормално тегло (по-слаб или по-едър, в зависимост от актуалния статус на телесното тегло); да не ти се подиграват другите; да имаш красиво/мускулесто тяло (стегнато, спортно тяло, или добре развито, мускулесто тяло); за здраве; за да се чувстваш добре; за висока самооценка; за да те харесват момичетата; за да можеш да победиш във физически сблъсък (включва да бъдеш физически силен и да предизвикваш уважение/респект у другите мъже); за (професионално) развитие в спорта. Първите пет мотива са свързани с поведенията на хранене (специален хранителен режим/диета) и с поведенията на физическа активност (спорт, физически упражнения, фитнес), а мотивът да имаш красиво/мускулесто тяло – и с прекомерни физически тренировки, прием на хранителни добавки и анаболни стероиди. Останалите мотиви са свързани с поведенията спорт, фитнес, прекомерни физически тренировки, прием на хранителни добавки и анаболни стероиди. Първите два мотива се отнасят до лицата със свръхтегло, третият – почти изцяло до мъжете с нормално тегло. Мотивите за здраве и да се чувстваш добре са сред най-универсалните (значими при всички статуси на телесното тегло). Последните 4 мотива могат да бъдат отнесени най-вече към нормалното тегло и добре развитата мускулатура.

Golf swing classification with multiple deep convolutional neural networks

The use of smart sports equipment and body sensory systems supervising daily sports training is gradually emerging in professional and amateur sports; however, the problem of processing large amounts of data from sensors used in sport and discovering constructive knowledge is a novel topic and the focus of our research. In this article, we investigate golf swing data classification methods based on varieties of representative convolutional neural networks (deep convolutional neural networks) which are fed with swing data from embedded multi-sensors, to group the multi-channel golf swing data labeled by hybrid categories from different golf players and swing shapes. In particular, four convolutional neural classifiers are customized: “GolfVanillaCNN” with the convolutional layers, “GolfVGG” with the stacked convolutional layers, “GolfInception” with the multi-scale convolutional layers, and “GolfResNet” with the residual learning. Testing on the real-world swing dataset sampled from the system integrating two strain gage sensors, three-axis accelerometer, and three-axis gyroscope, we explore the accuracy and performance of our convolutional neural network–based classifiers from two perspectives: classification implementations and sensor combinations. Besides, we further evaluate the performance of these four classifiers in terms of classification accuracy, precision–recall curves, and F1 scores. These common classification indicators illustrate that our convolutional neural network–based classifiers can basically group the golf swing predefined by the combination of shapes and golf players correctly and outperform support vector machine method representing traditional classification methods.

Perspectives on pre-participation cardiovascular screening in young competitive athletes: U SPORTS

ABSTRACTObjectives: To investigate the pre-participation cardiovascular screening (PPS) protocols currently implemented at U SPORTS (the governing body of university sport in Canada) sanctioned schools as well as the attitudes toward PPS as reported by Canadian University medical and athletic personnel.Methods: A 15-question survey was sent to the U SPORTS athletic directors in both French and English. The survey focused on the current practices of PPS within the respondents’ universities as well as attitudes regarding PPS. Athletic directors distributed the instructions to participate in the voluntary survey at their own discretion to coaches, athletic therapists, physicians, and associated personnel working within U SPORTS-sanctioned schools.Results: Twenty-three athletic therapists, 12 coaches, 6 physicians, and 5 associated personnel completed the survey (46 in total). Half of the respondents (52%) reported that some form of PPS was conducted at their institution. Eighty percent of respondents agreed with the implementation of mandatory PPS, and 60% reported that they believe their athletes have a neutral attitude toward PPS. Three respondents documented having witnessed an athlete’s sudden cardiac arrest/death.Conclusion: Members of the athletic care teams at U SPORTS-sanctioned schools display an overall positive attitude toward the implementation of mandatory PPS. Based on concerns raised by survey respondents, PPS procedures would need to be developed in a time- and cost-effective manner if PPS were to be expanded.