Sports Studies Commons^™

Book Review: The Olympics That Never Happened: Denver '76 And The Politics Of Growth, Samuel M. Clevenger

Global Sport Business Journal

The issue of economic growth and its historical ties to modern sport is of central importance to contemporary sport business researchers. After all, considering that the growth-driven sport industry is increasingly trying to balance improving the sustainability of their present practices and facilities with maintaining its emphasis on expansion, accumulation, and revenue generation–resulting in organizations like the International Olympic Committee (IOC) engaging in “greenwashing” (Boykoff, 2025)–we (meaning sport researchers) need plentiful work that takes seriously the issue of economic growth and its impacts on the decision-making of sporting organizations. Adam Berg’s recent book The Olympics That Never Happened: Denver ‘76 …

Effects Of Seasonality On The Experiences Of Employees In Minor League Sports, Amanda Barefoot

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

The temporal rhythms of sport organizations, driven by recurring cycles of in-season and off-season activity, create a unique organizational context that shapes decision-making, leadership behavior, and the experiences of employees. While seasonality is widely recognized in operational planning and revenue forecasting, its implications for organizational behavior in sport management remain underexplored. This three-paper dissertation examines seasonality as a temporal force influencing sport organizations at conceptual, strategic, and affective levels.

The first paper develops a sport-specific taxonomy of seasonality by synthesizing literature from econometrics, tourism, and organizational theory. It distinguishes between natural, internally institutionalized, and externally institutionalized seasonal influences, offering a …

The Effectiveness Of Myofascial Massage Of The Gastrocnemius Muscle On The Threshold And Pain Tolerance., Karolina Pawlikowska, Aleksandra Jażdżewska, Jakub Kortas

Baltic Journal of Health and Physical Activity

Background: The aim of the study was to assess the effectiveness of the myofascial self-massage technique of the gastrocnemius muscle in determining the possibility of increasing pain tolerance and individual pain threshold, which could increase exercise efficiency, allow for greater training loads and accelerate post-exercise regeneration, as well as to determine the subjective assessment of pain intensity using the VAS scale. Material and Methods: 85 students at Gdansk University of Physical Education and Sport took part in the research, including 37 women and 48 men aged 19–25 years. (M = 20.7; SD = 1.07). The test consisted of applying pressure …

The Sports-Betting Market: A Road To Sports Betting As Viable Investing, Tyler Gottlieb

Vanderbilt Journal of Entertainment & Technology Law

Since its legalization, sports betting has experienced rapid growth, both in terms of economic output and expansion into more states. The current system of sports betting in the United States requires individuals to place bets using a sportsbook. The sportsbook sets the lines on every bet. If an individual wins their bet, the sportsbook pays them money according to the listed odds. If an individual loses their bet, the sportsbook keeps the amount staked. Sportsbooks set lines in a way to ensure that on average, they make money on every bet. This system has been widely accepted, often based on …

Ua80/1 Meeting Agenda & Minutes, W Club

University Organizations

Agenda and minutes of the June 2025 W Club Board of Directors meeting.

The Effect Of The Proposed Training Program Using Body Resistance Exercises (Trx) On The Level Of Some Physical And Skill Abilities Of Female Gymnasts In Jerusalem, Hala Jaber, Ahmad Sharaf

Journal of the Arab American University مجلة الجامعة العربية الامريكية للبحوث

The aim of this study is to identify the effect of the proposed training program using body resistance exercises (TRX) on the level of some physical and skill abilities of female gymnasts in the governorates of Jerusalem. The study was conducted on a sample of (30) gymnasts at the Rosary Sisters School, they were divided into two groups, the experimental group and its members (15) and the control group and its members (15), after ensuring the homogeneity and equivalence of the sample. The control group was subjected to the traditional program, and the experimental group was subjected to the proposed …

Sensory Integration Processes Characterize Concussed Athletes With Balance Deficits, Bhagyashree Singh, Ingo Helmich

Exercise and Sport Studies: Faculty Publications

Impaired postural control constitutes a major symptom after mild traumatic brain injuries (mTBI/sport-related concussions (SRC)). In order to uphold cognition and behavior during pathological situations, individuals may be characterized by neuronal upregulation. Because postural control necessitates the integration of sensory information within somatosensory (/parietal) cortices, we investigated the hypothesis that athletes with ongoing symptoms after SRC are characterized by increased brain activation within these areas in order to compensate for postural deficits. Sixty-six athletes (27 ± 13 years; 50 men, 16 women) participated in the study. Twenty-two concussed athletes reported high post-concussion symptoms (PCS; symptomatic group), and 22 concussed athletes …

“What’S Good For The Goose Just Might Be Good For The Gander”: A Proposal For Self-Study Of Practice (S-Sp) Methodology In Apa Research, Tomás Alyward

International Symposium of Adapted Physical Activity and International Symposium on Physical Activity and Visual Impairment and Deafblindness

Introduction Self-study of Teaching and Teacher Education Practice (S-STTEP) has been applied in higher education settings for more than forty years (Russell, 2022). (McPhail, 2012). In particular, the application of this research methodology in Physical Education Teacher Education (PETE) has significantly enhanced the professional development (PD) of academics in this domain (Lunenberg et al., 2020). It has also increased the scholarly outputs associated with PD in this field (McPhail, 2012). While professional formation in APA and APE is closely aligned with PETE, this research method has not featured in APA publications.

Methodology: A case study in APA teaching practice was …

Views From The Cheap Seats: Understanding The Key Motivators Behind Sport Volunteering, Nicholas Paul Smith, Tiberio Garza

The COSMA Journal

Sport volunteers are imperative to the success of sport mega events. Knowing why volunteers continue to help events was the purpose of this study. This study aimed to investigate the motivations of sport volunteers post Covid-19. Data were collected from 30 volunteers at the 2023 NCAA College World Series. Inductive qualitative analysis and descriptive statistics found that community support was the reason the respondents were most glad to volunteer. The findings offered insight into how communication factors between supervisors, law enforcement, and other volunteers affected volunteer motivation. The theoretical and practical implications of these results are discussed in more detail …

The N-Pact Factor, Replication And Power Associated With Quantitative Research In Physical Activity And Health, Angelina Haidar, Jeffrey J. Martin, Adam J. Martin, Sarah Rogers, Fatemeh Dehghan, Eva Prokesova

International Journal of Physical Activity and Health

Physical Activity (PA) and health science researchers often face challenges related to sample size, which can impact the reliability and generalizability of study findings. The purpose of the current paper is to address these issues by discussing key statistical concepts: effect size and Type I and Type II errors, with a specific focus on examining statistical power and sample size using studies from the Disability and Health Journal (DHJ). We examined research articles published in DHJ over a 15-year period (2008–2022), covering 62 issues and analyzing a total of 1,177 articles. Our analysis revealed that the median sample sizes …

Book Review: Magic In The Air: The Myth, The Mystery, And The Soul Of The Slam Dunk, Andrew C. Sellers

Global Sport Business Journal

Book review of Mike Sielski's (2025) Magic in the Air: The Myth, the Mystery, and the Soul of the Slam Dunk.

Gsbj Editor's Note, Robert Mcdermand

Global Sport Business Journal

Editor's Note for Volume 10 (2025)

Professional Sport Venue Threats, Security Measures, And Technological Solutions, Brandon Allen, Laurajean Holmgren, Stacey A. Hall

Global Sport Business Journal

Several incidents involving large crowds have led venue security directors to adopt preventive strategies. Venue organizers should foster a safe and secure environment, which requires assessing risk levels, recruiting and training staff, exercising plans and protocols, and leveraging technology solutions. The purpose of this study is to explore professional sport venue threats, security measures, and technology utilization. Security directors (n=52) from five major sports leagues in the United States (MLB, MLS, NBA, NFL, and NHL) participated in the study. Key findings focus on staffing, training and development, fan behavior, and facility operations. Recommendations include investing in multiple strategies to enhance …

Sports And Physical Activity Of Poles In The Context Of Good Health And Well-Being As A Sustainable Development Goal, Elżbieta Biernat, Monika Piątkowska, Robert Podstawski

Baltic Journal of Health and Physical Activity

Investing in physical activity (PA) is vital for achieving sustainable development goals. We examine PA trends in Poland using data from Eurobarometer surveys conducted in 2013, 2017, and 2022. In 2022, 64.6% of Poles did not participate in sports, and 41.8% did not engage in non-sport PA. There is a concerning trend of increasing inactivity in sports (Chi²_2022/2017 = 34.64; p < 0.001; Chi²_2017/2013 = 56.98; p < 0.001) and non-sports PA (Chi²_2022/2017 = 18.3, p < 0.01 and Chi²_2017/2013 = 16.95, p < 0.01). Participation in sport and PA is influenced by individual, inter-personal, environmental, political, and global factors. Notably, there is an upward trend in interpersonal (e.g., club membership, volunteering), environmental (e.g., PA in parks/nature, at home), and political (e.g., dissatisfaction with local government actions) factors. Government intervention is crucial and requires: (1) establishment of an institution for leadership and advocacy of PA, (2) adoption of a cross-sectoral approach for a coordinated change, and (3) increased in-vestment in monitoring systems to track the impact of interventions. These actions are essential for fostering a more active and healthier population in Poland.

A Multidimensional Model Of Attitudes Toward Sponsorship, Zachary C. T. Evans, Terry Eddy

Global Sport Business Journal

Sport sponsorship is an important marketing tool, with many of its elements having received previous research attention. Although researchers have examined attitudes toward sport sponsorship, the theoretical grounding of attitudes is often incomplete, and theoretically distinct terms are frequently used interchangeably (e.g., attitudes and beliefs). The purpose of this study was to critically examine the literature regarding attitudes toward, and beliefs about, sponsorship to review the common frameworks utilized in examining the constructs, and analyze their theoretical appropriateness. A systematized review methodology was undertaken, through which a definition for attitude toward sponsorship was developed using the tripartite framework for attitude …

2025 Gsba Conference Abstracts, Robert Mcdermand

Global Sport Business Journal

2025 GSBA Conference Abstracts

Analysis Of Personality Traits, Intelligence Level And Ability To Cope With Stressful Situations And Their Impact On The Evaluation Of Judo Fights, Maciej Kostrzewa, Jan Supinski, Slawomir Kownacki, Miłosz Drozd, Anna Ścisłowska-Czarnecka, Jarosław Markowski, Jan Pilch, Alicja Markiel, Marcin Żak, Adam Maszczyk

Baltic Journal of Health and Physical Activity

Background: The aim of the study presented in this article was to conduct an analysis that would answer the research question: do personality traits such as extraversion, neuroticism, openness to experience, agreeableness, conscientiousness, intelligence level, and ability to cope with stressful situations correlate with the assessment of judo fights? Materials and Methods: Ninety individuals participated in the study, including international-class referees, national-class referees, coaches, and active judo athletes. The study used a correlational analysis approach to examine the relationships between personality traits and fight assessment criteria in judo. Results: The results indicate that in the referees' group, there is a …

Game, Set, Empower: A Comparative Instagram Analysis Of Branding And Engagement In The Confederation Of African Football (Caf) Women’S And Men’S Champions League, Nour Abdelkader Ms

Theses and Dissertations

The rise of women’s football has placed new emphasis on digital branding, with social media becoming a vital space for visibility, engagement, and representation. This thesis investigates how Instagram content strategies influence fan engagement during the CAF Women’s and Men’s Champions League tournaments. Specifically, it examines the role of content type (match, behind-the-scenes, off-the-pitch, promotional), marketing orientation (organic, sponsored, collaborative), and post format (reel, carousel, photo, graphic) in shaping audience interaction.

Using an explanatory sequential mixed methods approach, the study analyzed 674 Instagram posts (276 CAFWCL, 398 CAFCL) and conducted semi-structured interviews with five digital sports professionals, including CAF digital …

Analysis Of The Characteristics Of Lower Limb Muscle Synergy Controlistic Patterns During Unilateral Load-Bearing Walking, Jinwei Zhao, Luyao Chen, Fuyong Liu, Piotr Aschenbrenner, Tomasz Grzywacz, Jan Strawiński

Baltic Journal of Health and Physical Activity

Background: This study aims to investigate how unilateral load-bearing conditions influence lower limb muscle synergistic control patterns during walking. Understanding these patterns is crucial for elucidating the biomechanics of gait under loaded conditions. Materials and Methods: Sixteen healthy adults participated in the study. The Qualisys 600 series motion capture system was used to collect kinematic data, and the Delsys 16-channel wireless surface EMG system to record muscle activity. Four unilateral loading conditions (LL10, LR10, LL20, LR20) were tested, with normal walking as the control. Results: Load-bearing conditions significantly altered muscle contributions in different synergistic units. For example, in Synergistic Unit …

Examining The Impact Of Legalized Sports Gambling On Ncaa Athletes' Welfare And Game Integrity, Reem Al Jaradi

University Honors Theses

This thesis examines the effects of legalized sports gambling on NCAA player welfare and the integrity of competition through a mixed-method analysis of NCAA reports, academic literature, and media sources. Data disclose that although the overall prevalence of gambling among student-athletes has decreased, these individuals are demonstrating more detrimental behaviors, including solitary gaming and incurring substantial losses in a single day. The emphasis on internet abuse associated with betting results has escalated, especially during prominent tournaments. The NCAA's instructional programs and data-monitoring agreements are compromised by ethical issues surrounding data monetization and varying state gambling rules. The research contends that …

No Evidence For Pape-Induced Jumping Performance Enhancement Following Isometric And Treadmill Warm-Ups In Team Sport Athletes, Artur Terbalyan, Adam Maszczyk, Robert Krzysztof Roczniok

Baltic Journal of Health and Physical Activity

Background: This study aimed to determine whether an isometric PAPE‐based warm-up could enhance jumping performance compared to a traditional treadmill jogging warm-up in team sport athletes. The primary focus was on assessing neuromuscular activation and performance indicators such as jump height and force asymmetry. Materials and Methods: Fifty-three athletes from basketball, volleyball, handball, and soccer participated in a controlled, parallel-group experiment. Participants performed either a unilateral isometric warm-up protocol – comprising two sets of four exercises per leg– or a 5‐minute treadmill jogging session, with jump performance assessed via countermovement jump tests on dual force plates. A split-plot ANOVA was …

Changes In Insulin, Leptin, Resistin And Irisin Levels And Their Associations With Blood Pressure After An 8-Week Supervised, Online “Hiit Mama” Program Vs. Self-Performed Moderate-To-Vigorous Physical Activity During Pregnancy - A Randomized Controlled Trial, Anna Szumilewicz, Junjiang Sun, Rita Santos-Rocha, Jan Mieszkowski, Andrzej Kochanowicz

Baltic Journal of Health and Physical Activity

We aimed to determine changes in insulin, leptin, resistin, and irisin levels and their associations with blood pressure (BP) during pregnancy, following an 8-week high-intensity interval training (HIIT) or a self-performed moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA). The study involved 54 Caucasian women in uncomplicated, singleton pregnancy (age 32 ± 4 years, week of gestation 24 ± 4, mean ± SD). They were randomly allocated to the 8-week supervised, online “HIIT Mama” program (HIIT group, n = 34) or educational intervention and self-performed MVPA (EDU group, n = 20). All participants maintained normotension throughout the study. The HIIT program in-duced a statistically …

Co-Designing A Digital Nutrition Intervention For Individuals With Severe Mental Illness Using The Behaviour Change Wheel, Ciara O'Sullivan, Tara Coppinger, Indika Dhanapala, Alison Merrotsy

Publications

Title: Co-Designing a Digital Nutrition Intervention for Individuals with Severe Mental Illness Using the Behaviour Change Wheel

Purpose: This study aims to develop a digital nutrition intervention for individuals with severe mental illness (SMI) residing in high-support mental health hostels, using a theoretically informed co-design approach.

Design/methodology/approach: This study will employ a participatory, mixed-methods approach, incorporating Public and Patient Involvement (PPI) to ensure user-centred intervention design. The Behaviour Change Wheel (BCW) guides the selection of intervention functions, Behaviour Change Techniques (BCTs) and delivery methods. The study will consist of three phases: (1) Preparation, (2) Co-Design, and (3) Finalisation.

Findings: Data …

Promotions And Themes: An Empirical Analysis Of Attendance Factors In The National Women's Soccer League, Lena Gunn, Alexander Traugutt

Journal of Applied Sport Management

The National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) has experienced significant growth, making it crucial to understand attendance drivers at matches. This study evaluated the impact of themed events and promotions on attendance during the 2023 NWSL season. Using data from all regular-season home matches (N = 167), an OLS regression analyzed how various factors influenced attendance measured as a percentage of stadium capacity. Results revealed that themed events significantly increased attendance, while traditional promotions showed a positive but non-significant effect. External factors including post-World Cup timing, visiting team marquee players, and market demographics also significantly influenced attendance. These findings provide actionable …

The Evolution Of Sprinting Performance: Technological And Regulatory Influences From 1976 To 2024, Dariusz Tadeusz Skalski, Magdalena Prończuk, Kinga Łosińska, Ewelina Lulińska, Joanna Motowidło, Petr Stastny, Adam Maszczyk, Grzegorz Trybek

Baltic Journal of Health and Physical Activity

Background: This study examines the progression of sprinting performance across the 100m, 200m, and 400m events from 1976 to 2024, highlighting the influence of technological advancements and regulatory changes. Over the past decades, sprinting has been significantly shaped by developments in track surfaces, footwear technology, training methodologies, and regulatory frameworks. Understanding these factors is essential for assessing how sprint times have evolved and what future trends might emerge. Materials and methods: Utilizing a comprehensive dataset from international athletics federations, this research applies time series analysis, regression modeling, and variance testing to assess trends, gender disparities, and performance variability. Data sources …

The Real Price Of Glory: Gerald Gurney’S Ethical Indictment Of Intercollegiate Athletics, Hayden V. Coombs, Bryson V. Lester

Journal of Issues in Intercollegiate Athletics

Gerald Gurney’s The Cost of Winning: An Insider’s Perspective on Exploitation and Greed in College Sports is a powerful and timely indictment of the ethical and financial dysfunction in NCAA Division I athletics. Drawing from decades of experience in academic advising and compliance, Gurney delivers a reflective yet scathing critique of a system that prioritizes winning, revenue, and prestige at the expense of athlete welfare and educational integrity. His analysis reveals how institutional complicity, inflated coaching salaries, the academic-athletic eligibility divide, and misleading graduation metrics distort the purpose of higher education. Combining narrative depth with scholarly relevance, The Cost of …

“I Didn't Come Here To Make Money”: Exploring Power 4 Athletes’ Perceptions Of Exploitation, Sarah Stokowski, Chris Corr, Kaleigh Smith, Elijah Toney, Emma Kate Bostick, Eileen Russell, Brooke Prince, Michael Godfrey

Journal of Issues in Intercollegiate Athletics

While it is widely noted that athletes competing in National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) athletics are exploited in a variety of ways, scholarly examinations of college athlete exploitation have rarely sought to engage athletes themselves. Accordingly, researchers conducted in-depth, detailed, semi-structured interviews with college athletes currently competing in Power 4 conferences to uncover their perceptions of exploitation based on their lived experiences. Ten athletes representing five distinct sports (baseball, football, gymnastics, softball, and track and field) competing in the Atlantic Coast Conference, Big Ten Conference, and Southeastern Conference agreed to participate in the study. Findings indicate the characteristics of participants’ …

College Student-Athlete Identity Unveiled: The Interplay Of Racial And Ethnic Subdimensions, Trevor Bopp, Rhema Fuller, Michael Stellefson

Journal of Issues in Intercollegiate Athletics

The racialized and institutionalized structure of the NCAA, college sports, and the PWIs that host most athletic programs positions racial and ethnic identity as a potential barrier to the social and academic engagement, mental health, and identity development of student-athletes. However, few studies examine the relationship, role, and influence of racial, student, and athlete identities outside of domain-specific outcomes. We collected data from 343 student-athletes to explore the relationships between student-athletes' academic and athletic identities, race centrality, and private and public regard, while also examining how race and ethnicity influence these identity dynamics. Our results revealed race and ethnicity to …

Ncaa Student-Athletes' Sports Gambling Behaviors Examined Using Psychological Reactance Theory, Braden E. Norris, Paul M. Pedersen

Journal of Issues in Intercollegiate Athletics

Since the repeal of the Pro and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) in 2018, sports gambling has been a rapidly growing segment of the sport world. The United States federal government has left it up to individual states to legalize and govern the activity of sports gambling, however, the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) still prohibits (Bylaw 10.3) the activity regardless of legality. With it known that student-athletes violate Bylaw 10.3 (e.g., Paskus & Derevensky, 2025; Richard et al., 2019), this study examined sports gambling behaviors through under the scope of Psychological Reactance Theory (PRT) to investigate if student-athletes’ sports …

Recruitment Of International College Athletes (Icas) To The United States: A Bourdieuian Examination Of Pathways To Success, Simran Kaur Sethi, Kirsten Hextrum, Kaitlin Pericak

Journal of Issues in Intercollegiate Athletics

Successful recruitment pathways of international college athletes (ICAs) remain understudied. We use Bourdieu’s capital exchange theory to examine how ICAs acquire and deploy forms of capital to navigate college athletic recruitment. Bourdieu posits that individuals accumulate different forms of capital, including economic, social, and cultural capital, which they can use to gain access to resources and opportunities. In the context of athletic recruitment, ICAs may need to acquire different forms of capital than their domestic counterparts. Thus, we use a qualitative research design to explore how ICAs navigate the recruitment process. Findings from our study provide valuable insights into the …