ARCAA Contents & Abstracts Volume 11, 1996

ISBN 978-0-89641-295-8

  • purchase button
    Review button

    Attentional Focus and Endurance Performance Britton W. Brewer, Judy L. Van Raalte, Darwyn E. Linder — In a study of the relationship between attentional focus and endurance performance, 9 intercollegiate cross country runners and 35 introductory psychology students completed a measure of attentional focus both before and after a 12-minute trial on a stairclimbing apparatus. Pretrial dissociative focusing (r = -.26), pretrial distress focusing (r = -.51), and posttrial associative focusing (r = .37) were significantly related to stairclimbing performance at the p < .05 level. Compared to introductory psychology students, cross country runners were more likely to employ associative strategies and less likely to employ dissociative strategies. Female subjects were more likely than male subjects to report focusing their attention on distress cues. The findings highlight the importance of considering task experience and motives for participation when recommending attentional strategies to endurance athletes. (1-14)

  • Use of “Buddy Folders” to Improve Coaching Efficiency Thomas C. Ormond, Richard Suddaby — Coaches are responsible for the management of all aspects of their programs to ensure that established goals are met. The development of team and personal goals, monitoring of practice and competitive performances, open communications among coaches, athletes and assistants, and the achievement of all season goals are factors that concern most coaches. This article discusses the “buddy folder” strategy, a mechanism to achieve these ends. Use of the strategy as outlined in this article, or with modifications to meet the needs of individual settings and sports, will provide coaches with a means to use time more efficiently and enhance communications with athletes and assistants. The major premise of this article is that by using “buddy folders” coaches can manage their programs better, and, thereby, can achieve program goals. (15-30)

  • Plotting the Effects of Corrective Self-Analysis on Elite Volleyball Skill Performance Monica Fabian Lounsbery, Thomas Sharpe — Coaches often rely upon videotape records to gain information about an upcoming opponent or to better understand their own athletes' strengths and weaknesses. Many athletes, however, are not provided the opportunity to view video structured to facilitate skill‑based learning. This study piloted the effects of one video‑based corrective self‑analysis procedure on the attacking execution and related game performance of an elite female NCAA volleyball athlete. Three measures of a) component skill improvement b) attack hitting efficiency in situations, and c) athlete self‑reports were used to determine the effectiveness of the instructional procedure. Results indicated improvement in footwork, arm swing, and timing related to the attack. Athlete self-report data support the view that video‑based self-analysis was beneficial in identification of fundamental skill errors and performance tendencies (e.g., shot selection). Future research directions are discussed in light of the complexity of skills analyzed. (31-42)

  • Social and Environmental Predictions of Seasonal Soccer Performance in Youth Janette K. O’Connell, Zenong Yin — The purpose of this study was to examine how self-assessment of seasonal soccer performance was affected by parental attitudes and motivational climate of youth soccer players. Subjects were 60 boys and girl between the ages of' 8 to 13 years and their fathers. Results revealed that players who expressed higher levels of self‑assessment perceived their parents were most interested in their improvement as a player, building self‑confidence and having fun. In addition, if players perceived that their team's climate emphasized improving individual skills and having fun, then the level of self-assessment of performance was higher. Parental pressure to win was negatively related to self‑performance assessment. These results suggest that for youth athletes to perceive their playing experience to be positive, coaches and parents should provide a sport environment in which learning and improving skills, having fun, and de-emphasizing winning are promoted and encouraged. (43-54)

  • Observational Learning: Applications to Sport Dan Wagman, Denise Monroe — This article investigates the current knowledge of observational learning and its applicability to sport. A review of various modeling theories, the impact of cognition upon performance, various performance measures such as outcome, technique, and practice, and forms of observational learning (participant modeling, covert modeling, VMBR) provide the foundation for the critique. The critique identifies methodological and sport related concerns as they apply to the dynamics encountered in sport. It is suggested that the current body of knowledge does not allow for generalizations and application of modeling theory to athletics because the dynamics of sport and individuality of athletes has not been explored. Various untested sport-specific questions are presented, to include directions for future research. (55-74)

  • Effects of Experience on Analytical Proficiency and Observational Strategy among Female Collegiate Athletes and Coaches Jan L. Drummond, Sandra K. Gangstead — No Abstract. (75-94)

  • Effect of Casual Messages on Performance Sharon Huddleston, Nancy P. Hamilton, Joseph K. Mintah, Mick G. Mack — The present study was designed to investigate the effect of casual verbal messages on grip strength performance. A within subjects repeated measures design with random assignment of treatments was utilized to insure that subject characteristics were equal across treatments. The 61 subjects received positive, negative, and no message treatments prior to physical performance. It was hypothesized that the positive-negative content of a casual pre-performance message would affect performance on a grip strength task. Repeated measures one-way ANOVA results failed to support the hypothesis. Findings are discussed in relation to the strength of the message and future implications. (95-105)

  • The Reliability and Validity of Badminton Wall Volley Tests Lobo H. Louie, Bill C. Lam — The reliability and validity of two commonly used badminton wall volley skill tests were investigated. Subjects were 123 university students, including 27 PE majors and 76 non PE majors. The intraclass reliability coefficients for the wall volley test in the range of .41 to .84. The validity was computed utilizing the interclass correlation coefficients method. It appears that only correlations were found between the wall volley tests and the criterion measures (overhead return test and serve test). From the results of the present investigation, it is concluded that the use of wall volley technique to evaluate players' badminton playing abilities is not an adequate method. Physical educators and coaches should be aware that volley practice be used only as short term practice or for motivation. (106-115)

  • COACHES CORNER

  • An Overview of Administering Competitive Sports through Effective Marketing, Fundraising and Promotions William F. Stier, Jr. — This article deals with fundraising, marketing and promotional activities from both the conceptual approach and the pragmatic perspective. Resources and fundraising are viewed as both a means to an end as well as an end in themselves. Components of fundraising, marketing and promoting are examined from the viewpoint of the sport administrator at all levels, from the youth sport levels through and including sport competition at the very highest level of amateur sport competition, i.e., the World University and Olympic Games. Additionally, specific components of fundraising and marketing will be addressed to identify those competencies needed by the sport administrator in order to insure success of a highly structured sport activity or event. Finally, the cost and time effectiveness of specific strategies and tactics of marketing, promoting and fundraising will be reviewed towards the goal of presenting pragmatic recommendations for current and would-be sport administrators having responsibility for organizing and managing sporting events at all levels. (116-128)

  • BOOK REVIEWS

  • Cryotherapy in Sport Injury Management by Kenneth L. Knight, reviewed by David Stuckey (129-131)
  • Youth Sport Director Guide by Rainer Martens, reviewed Warren K. Simpson (131-132)
  • Sportparent by American Sport Education Program, reviewed by Warren K. Simpson (133-134)
  • Coaching Tennis Successfully by Jan Colarusso Seeley, reviewed by Lance E. Drake (134-135)
  • Positive Coaching by Jim Thompson, reviewed by Warren K. Simpson (135-137)
  • Coaching Mental Excellence by Ralph Vernacchia, Richard McGuire, David Cook, reviewed by Warren K. Simpson (137-138)
  • The Ultimate Guide to Sport Event Management and Marketing by Stedman Graham, Joe Jeff Goldblatt, Lisa Delpy, reviewed by Jamie Ryman (138-140)
  • Disability and Sport by Karen P. DePauw, Susan J. Gavron, reviewed by Warren K. Simpson (140-141)
E-mail americanpress@flash.net to order PDFs of any article.