ARCAA Contents & Abstracts Volume 17, 2002

ISBN 978-0-89641-384-9

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    Part I: Sex of Head Coach as a Function of Sport Program Prestige and Institutional Structure Kurt A. Stahura, Michael Greenwood — A tremendous increase in the number of athletic programs for females in recent years would suggest a greater number of head coaching and administrative positions for women. Empirical studies have consistently demonstrated that coaching positions for women in athletics have significantly diminished since the passage of Title IX (Acosta & Carpenter, 1996; Kane & Stangl, 1991; Lopiano, 1980; Lovett & Lowry, 1988, 1994; Stahura & Greenwood, 2000). While the topic of sexual discrimination addressed by the Act is highly emotional, Title IX was not intended to transform the structure and processes that compose the foundation of women’s sport with respect to occupational employment trends and participatory patterns. Rather, it was merely intended to impose upon educational institutions the necessity to provide opportunities for girls and women within sport in the same capacity that men had already been afforded. Ironically, this piece of legislation seems to have had the opposite effect on occupational employment patterns within women’s intercollegiate athletics. This paper will determine which head coaching jobs within the aforementioned hierarchical structure men occupy. Although there are more sports at this point than any point in history, the ten most popular sports across both Division I and Division III institutional structures were analyzed. (1-25)

  • Desirable Qualities, Attributes and Characteristics of Future Interscholastic Athletic Directors—As Recommended by High School Athletic Directors William F. Stier, Jr., Robert C. Schneider — Athletic directors have very definite opinions as to those qualities, attributes and characteristics that are deemed to be essential for those individuals given responsibility for the successful management of interscholastic sports programs. A national study of 400 interscholastic ADs resulted in a ranking of the top 14 qualities and characteristics of successful high school ADs (selected by more than 50% of the respondents). (26-42)

  • The Instructional Attributes of a Successful College Baseball Coach Brent Hardin, Gregg Bennett — The purpose of this study was to extend the previous research on teaching and coaching expertise by pinpointing the instructional attributes of Andy Lopez, a successful college baseball coach. Two researchers spent an entire fall season with Coach Lopez collecting data concerning his coaching and instructional strategies. During this time the researchers completed several field observations at practices and games, interviewed Coach Lopez and reviewed his practice plans and coaching documents. The interview data, coaching documents and field notes were analyzed to determine the existence of reliable coaching themes and categories. The findings for this study include coaching themes based on the instructional strategies that Coach Lopez discussed in his interview sessions and often implemented during practice sessions and games. The instructional themes include practicing at game speed, checking for understanding when teaching and coaching, repetition when teaching and coaching, and extensive practice planning. (43-62)

  • Proportionality: Lowering the Glass Ceiling Dennis J. Francois — Since the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare’s Office for Civil Rights developed its Policy Interpretation of Title IX in 1979 there have been numerous inquiries as to what effect the law has had on women’s sports as well as men’s Olympic sports. The effects that Title IX has had on providing more opportunities for women are quite clear. However, questions still exist as to the legitimacy of the Policy Interpretation’s “proportionality” test and the effect it will eventually have on women’s intercollegiate athletics once participation levels equal those of men. It is the author’s stance that allowing institutions to eliminate or cap (limiting the number of participants) men’s sport programs to satisfy proportionality does nothing to enhance opportunities for women and was not the intent of the law. Rather, the requirement of proportionality further lowers the glass ceiling by preventing future growth for women’s intercollegiate athletics. (63-74)

  • A Method to Determine the Stride Length for Baseball Pitching Josh Montgomery, Duane Knudson — A method to determine the appropriate stride length for the fastballs of baseball pitchers using tape measures and a radar gun was developed. The method was effective in identifying the relationships between stride length and pitch speed and accuracy in six professional pitchers. The data showed that four of the six pitchers would increase pitch speed by increasing their stride lengths up to 85 to 90 percent of standing height. Contrary to common coaching opinion, increases in stride length did not adversely affect pitch accuracy (increase the height of the pitch). Only one pitcher had a very weak trend (r = 0.54) of higher pitch location with increasing stride lengths. The data supported the importance of stride length on pitch speed and showed the effectiveness of the method for determining appropriate stride lengths for pitchers. (75-84)

  • Effects of Game Variables on the Three-Point Shot in Men’s College Basketball Robert C. Schneider — Over the past several years, the three-point shot attempts in division I men’s college basketball has continued to increase. Three-point shot attempts were recorded from videotapes of the Big Ten, Atlantic Coast and Big East Conferences. The effects of time segment (TS), point differential (PD), and shot clock (SC) on the frequency and the success rate of shot attempts were determined. The results showed a consistent decrease in success rates for each of the four, five minute time segments from the beginning of the first and second half to the end of the first and second half. (85-108)

  • Coaching in the New Millennium Kurt Stahura, Michael Greenwood — Sport has a tremendous presence, some might even argue influence on American society and scholars are starting to analyze its importance with respect to the development of young people. Coaches serve as teachers channeling behavior in socially prescribed ways (Horne & Carron, 1996). It is essential that coaches understand their importance. Scholarly inquiry relative to youth in sport has included perceived coaching behaviors and team cohesion (Gardner, Shields, Bredmeier & Bostrom, 1996), children’s perception of coaches’ feedback (Horn, 1985) and children’s perception of coaching competence (Black & Weiss, 1992). This article attempts to offer a new coaching paradigm and a philosophy that embraces a more holistic ideology, which encourages first and foremost fun, and the development of the whole person. The role of coaches with respect to young athletes is addressed with special attention being given to physical, psychological and social development. (109-122)

  • Satisfaction Levels of College Club and Varsity Sport Participants Mark Brandenburgh, Dave Carr — This study investigated satisfaction levels of college student athletes in regard to self-concept, socialization, academic success, and overall personal development. A questionnaire was posted to an internet page for participants to complete. Seventy-six college club and 34 college varsity male soccer teams were contacted to participate in this study. Ninety-one responses were received, of which 60 were from club student athletes, and 31 from varsity student athletes. Significant differences were found on three of the 19 variables. Varsity student athletes who have participated for two years or more reported a higher level of sport enjoyment. Varsity student athletes also rated coaches and college athletics success as more important than did club student athletes. However, the overall research suggests minimal differences between the groups. This finding affirms that college club sport programs and varsity sport programs provide the student-athlete with similar benefits of satisfaction, socialization and enjoyment.

  • BOOK REVIEWS

  • Call Me Coach: Lessons Learned in 40 Years on the Sidelines (2000) by George H. Baldwin, reviewed by Warren K. Simpson (143-145)
  • Developing Decision Makers: An Empowerment Approach to Coaching (2001) by Lynn Kidman, reviewed by Warren K. Simpson (145-148)
  • Seeing England from the 50 Yard Line (1996) by George H. Baldwin, reviewed by Warren K. Simpson (148-150)
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