Sports Studies Commons^™

Center Of Pressure Excursion During The Golf Putting Stroke In Low, Mid And High Handicap Golfers, Ashley K. Richardson, Gerwyn Hughes, Andrew C.S. Mitchell

Kinesiology (Formerly Exercise and Sport Science)

Golf handicap is significantly correlated to putting performance with low handicap golfers (LH) demonstrating increased putting accuracy compared with high handicap golfers (HH). Smaller center of pressure excursion (CPE) during putting has been demonstrated by LH golfers, suggesting balance is important during successful putts. The aim of this study was to examine CPE in low, mid and high handicap golfers about the mediolateral axis (ML) and anteriorposterior axis (AP). Nineteen subjects participated in the study; subjects were split into LH, mid handicap and HH groups. Subjects completed five successful 2.5m putts, standing on an RS FootScan. The LH group demonstrated …

Field Based Reliability And Validity Of The Bioharness Multivariable Monitoring Device, James A. Johnstone, Paul A. Ford, Gerwyn Hughes, Tim Watson, Andrew C.S. Mitchell, Andrew T. Garrett

Kinesiology (Formerly Exercise and Sport Science)

The BioharnessTM device is designed for monitoring physiological variables in free-living situations but has only been proven to be reliable and valid in a laboratory environment. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the reliability and validity of the BioharnessTM using a field based protocol. Twenty healthy males participated. Heart rate (HR), breathing frequency (BF) and accelerometry (ACC) were assessed by simultaneous measurement of two BioharnessTM devices and a test-retest of a discontinuous incremental walk-jog-run protocol (4 – 11 km·h-1) completed in a sports hall. Adopted precision of measurement devices were; HR: Polar T31 (Polar Electro), BF: Spirometer (Cortex Metalyser), ACC: …

Dynamic Variability Of Isometric Action Tremor In Precision Pinching, Tim Eakin, Waneen Spirduso, Karen Francis

Kinesiology (Formerly Exercise and Sport Science)

Evolutionary development of isometric force impulse frequencies, power, and the directional concordance of changes in oscillatory tremor during performance of a two-digit force regulation task was examined. Analyses compared a patient group having tremor confounding volitional force regulation with a control group having no neuropathological diagnosis. Dependent variables for tremor varied temporally and spatially, both within individual trials and across trials, across individuals, across groups, and between digits. Particularly striking findings were magnitude increases during approaches to cue markers and shifts in the concordance phase from pinching toward rigid sway patterns as the magnitude increased. Magnitudes were significantly different among …

Comparing Team Performance Of The English Premier League, Serie A, And La Liga For The 2008-2009 Season, Joel Oberstone

Business Analytics and Information Systems

Three of the most celebrated football leagues in the world include the English Premier League (EPL), Italy’s Serie A, and Spain’s La Liga. To date, little football research has been conducted that attempts to determine why these leagues are so successful. What is it that the EPL, La Liga, and Serie A do that fosters such a high caliber of play, and what pitch factors, if any, either (1) contrast or (2) connect these prestigious leagues? The paucity of rigorous inquiry has not deterred popular speculation—common folklore has not waited for hard data. Experts rush to characterize the perceived performance …

Differences Between The Sexes In Knee Kinetics During Landing From Volleyball Block Jumps, Gerwyn Hughes, James Watkins, Nick Owen

Kinesiology (Formerly Exercise and Sport Science)

The purpose of the study was to investigate gender differences in frontal and sagittal plane kinetics (normalized ground reaction force and normalized knee moment) in university volleyball players when performing opposed block jump landings. Females displayed a significantly lesser normalized knee extension moment at the start of muscle latency than males. The greater normalized knee extension moment at the start of muscle latency in females suggests that through practice, the female subjects may have developed a landing strategy that minimizes the moment acting about the knee in the sagittal plane to reduce the likely strain on the passive support structures. …

Reflections Of A Novice Sports Science Lecturer: Perceptions Of The Challenges And Sources Of Support, Gerwyn Hughes

Kinesiology (Formerly Exercise and Sport Science)

The aim of this article is to highlight perceptions of the main demands and challenges placed on a novice sports science university lecturer and consider sources of support available to assist a novice lecturer during the early stages of their career. A lecturer is typically required to perform the roles of administrator, teacher, personal tutor, researcher and consultant. Discussion is given to the specific challenges a novice lecturer is likely to face within each of these roles and possible ways to overcome these challenges. Finally, a number of sources of support are identified to ensure a novice lecturer maintains the …

The Effects Of Opposition And Gender On Knee Kinematics And Ground Reaction Force During Landing From Volleyball Block Jumps, Gerwyn Hughes, James Watkins, Nick Owen

Kinesiology (Formerly Exercise and Sport Science)

The aim of the study was to examine the effect of opposition and gender on knee kinematics and ground reaction force during landing from a volleyball block jump. Six female and six male university volleyball players performed two landing tasks 1) an unopposed and 2) an opposed volleyball block jump and landing. Knee kinematics were recorded by a 12 camera motion analysis system (120 Hz) and ground reaction force was recorded by a force platform (600 Hz) during landing. The results showed a significant effect for level of opposition in peak normalized GRF (p = .04), knee flexion at ground …

Perceptions About Rollersoccer Youth Programs, June Solomon

Master's Projects and Capstones

The purpose of this research was to investigate the demand for structured

RollerSoccer Youth Programs and to examine the perceptions about this type of

Program. The market for RollerSoccer is untapped and unrepresented in the

world of sports. To date, there are no articles about the development of

RollerSoccer Youth Programs or scholarly work on marketing the emerging sport

of RollerSoccer. The RollerSoccer International Federation (RSIF), the governing

body for this fast‐paced, high scoring hybrid sport aims to expand its reach to

youth in diverse communities by developing this sports initiative.

Three hundred and ten youth participants from selected schools …

Lower Limb Coordination And Stiffness During Landing From Volleyball Block Jumps, Gerwyn Hughes, James Watkins

Kinesiology (Formerly Exercise and Sport Science)

The aim of the study was to investigate lower limb coordination and stiffness in five male and five female university volleyball players performing block jump landings. Coordination was assessed using angle – angle plots of the hip – knee, knee – ankle and hip – ankle joint couplings and discrete relative phase (DRP) of right – left joint couplings (i.e. left knee coupled with right knee). Leg stiffness was calculated as the ratio of the change in vertical ground reaction force (GRF) to the change in vertical displacement of the centre of gravity between ground contact and maximum vertical GRF. …

Gender Differences In Lower Limb Frontal Plane Kinematics During Landing, Gerwyn Hughes, James Watkins, Nick Owen

Kinesiology (Formerly Exercise and Sport Science)

The study aimed to investigate gender differences in knee valgus angle and interknee and inter-ankle distances in university volleyball players when performing opposed block jump landings. Six female and six male university volleyball players performed three dynamic trials each where subjects were instructed to jump up and block a volleyball suspended above a net set at the height of a standard volleyball net as it was spiked against them by an opposing player. Knee valgus/varus, interknee distance and inter-ankle distance (absolute and relative to height) were determined during landing using 3D motion analysis. Females displayed significantly greater maximum valgus angle …

The Effects Of Glycerol Ingestion On Fluid Balance And Cardiovascular Hemodynamics In Males During Hypobaric Hypoxia, Julia Orri, Robert A. Robergs, Donna W. Lockner, David S. James, Ann L. Gibson, Erik Faria, Derek W. Marks, Heidi Weingart, Lance Dalleck

Kinesiology (Formerly Exercise and Sport Science)

Acute altitude exposure causes a loss of total body water and plasma volume. Glycerol ingestion has been shown to be rapidly absorbed by the intestine, leading to increases in serum osmolality, plasma osmolality, and total body water. The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of glycerol ingestion on fluid balance and cardiovascular hemodynamics at rest and during exercise during hypobaric hypoxia. Twelve men (33 ± 8 yr, 177 ± 3 cm, 75 ± 11 kg, 52 ± 10 ml O2 · kg-1 · min-1) each completed 4, 3.5 hr trials in a randomized design: (A) 6% carbohydrate/electrolyte …

A Risk Factor Model For Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injury, Gerwyn Hughes, J. Watkins

Kinesiology (Formerly Exercise and Sport Science)

The stability of the tibiofemoral joint is maintained by passive (non-contractile) and dynamic (contractile) mechanisms. The passive mechanisms include the shape of the articular surfaces, the menisci, the ligaments and the joint capsule. The dynamic mechanisms consist of the muscle-tendon units that cross the joint, in particular, the quadriceps and hamstrings. The incidence of non-contact anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury is reported to be 6 to 8 times greater in females than males competing in the same activities. A number of intrinsic and extrinsic risk factors have been proposed to account for this gender difference in the incidence of ACL …

Intra-Arterial Blood Pressure Characteristics During Submaximal Cycling And Recovery, Julia Orri, S E. Griffin, Robert A. Robergs, David S. James, D R. Wagner, R Quintana

Kinesiology (Formerly Exercise and Sport Science)

The purpose of this study was to measure intra-arterial (IA) blood pressure from rest to steady-state submaximal exercise and immediately post-exercise. Beat-to-beat blood pressure was compared to breath-by-breath VO2 during steady-state and maximal exercise. Fourteen normotensive subjects volunteered. Systolic (SBP), diastolic (DBP) and mean (mBP) blood pressure was measured from rest to steady state during cycling at 45, 60, and 75% maximal power output (POmax). BP was assessed during recovery from VO2peak through 2 min of cycling at 50 W. During the rest to exercise transition, mBP decreased from 103.41 ± 9.4 to 90.1 ± 8.9 mmHg after 11.6 ± …