Sports Studies Commons^™

When Online Gambling Was Legalized, Did We As A Society Think About The Long Term Consequences?, Joshua Linnehan

Interdisciplinary Senior Seminar

Legalized online gambling has increased the amount of problematic gamblers, due to companies such as DraftKings and FanDuel advertising their product, and the governments in US and Canada having a liberation point of view when it comes to people’s free will to gamble. This paper covers the rise of sports betting since its legalization, and how it impacts various demographics of people in order to understand the limits of sports betting and to not be persuaded to gamble irresponsibly by outside influences.

Tackling Crime: A Data-Driven Comparison Of Nfl Players With The General Population, Ryan Piersza

Honors Projects in Data Science

This research investigates the frequency of arrests among NFL players compared to the general population and analyze the types of crimes committed. A main theme from the literature is that previous groups of NFL players were found to be arrested at a rate lower than the general population. However, there has been no analysis on how the COVID-19 pandemic impacted the crime rates and types. Data obtained from the FBI’s Uniform Crime Report, The U.S Census Bureau, an NFL arrest database, and player statistics from Pro Football Reference is used for the analysis. The data is analyzed with a rate …

Ua3/10 President's Messages - Spring Semester, Wku President's Office - Caboni

WKU Administration Documents

President's Message emails sent by Timothy Caboni to faculty & staff during spring semester, 2025.

• Accreditation
• Budget
• Buildings
• Cherry Hall Renovation
• Commencement
• Enrollment / Recruitment
• Legislation
• Semester Kickoff
• Semester Review
• Student Retention
• Summer Review

Ua19/16/2 Golf Press Releases, Wku Athletic Media Relations

WKU Administration Documents

Press releases and game statistics for WKU golf teams in spring 2025.

Ua19/16/2 Tennis Press Releases, Wku Athletic Media Relations

WKU Administration Documents

Press releases and game statistics for WKU tennis teams in spring 2025.

Ua19/16/2 Softball Press Releases, Wku Athletic Media Relations

WKU Administration Documents

Press releases and game statistics for WKU softball team in spring 2025.

Ua19/16/2 Baseball Press Releases, Wku Athletic Media Relations

WKU Administration Documents

Press releases and game statistics for WKU baseball team in spring 2025.

An Exploration Of The Differences Between Male And Female High School Athletes Becoming College Athletes, And The Reasons For Their Successes And Failures; Combining Sociological And Philosophical Perspectives., Lilli Horn

Gender Studies Student Scholarship

College sport is reaching a new high, however the gender disparities remain consistent throughout all aspects of elite athletics. From funding to media representation, and recruiting opportunities, women remain at an extreme disadvantage compared to their male counterparts. Despite a recent surge in the attention to women’s athletics, the main issues behind the gaps are still not being addressed or changed. Some reasons for gaps in attainment can be obvious, however other reasons may be deep rooted in social stereotypes as well as structurally. In a society where the patriarchy is seemingly indestructible, the fight for equality is ongoing.

This …

From Data To Decisions: Safeguarding Athletes In The Age Of Ai, Nathan Elmer

SLU Law Journal Online

Artificial intelligence (AI) and data analytics are transforming professional sports by enhancing player performance, injury prevention, and scouting. However, the rapid adoption of AI raises significant concerns about data privacy, ownership, and decision-making biases that affect athletes. While collective bargaining agreements in major sports leagues provide some protections, they fail to address the complexities of AI-driven data collection and processing. The United States should adopt a regulatory framework similar to the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) to safeguard athletes’ personal data. Implementing explicit consent requirements, addressing power imbalances, and ensuring transparency in AI decision-making would protect athletes while …

Does Name, Image, And Likeness Increase Gender Inequality In College Athletics?, Aimee Christenson

Political Science Theses and Capstones

In June of 2021, the National Collegiate Athletic Association adopted its first interim policy regarding Name, Image, and Likeness. From here, college athletes have been able to benefit from opportunities regarding their brand as an athlete. While this development has been historic in its expansion of rights to athletes, it highlights the inequities between male and female athletes. Title IX requires equal opportunity for male and female students. This research raises questions about whether NIL is increasing the disparity between male and female athletes. To answer this question, I looked at NIL data collected by Kyle Ems on the NIL …

Book Review: Justice Batted Last, Darlene A. Kluka, Aaron Livingston

Global Sport Business Journal

Book Review of Don Zminda's (2025) Justice Batted Last: Ernie Banks, Minnie Miñoso, and the Unheralded Players Who Integrated Chicago's Major League Teams

The Experiences Of Disabled People In Physical Education, Wesley J. Wilson (Editor), Justin A. Haegele (Editor)

Human Movement Studies & Special Education Faculty Books

Bringing together a set of first- person accounts of physical education from the perspectives of disabled children and adults, this book puts disabled people’s voices in the foreground.

The book provides a rich set of case study material that deepens our understanding of the experiences of disabled people and challenges students, researchers, and practitioners to reflect critically upon their own positionality. The first part of the book discusses the ways in which disability has been conceptualized, how the voices of disabled people have sometimes been marginalized, and how nondisability power has historically framed the narratives of disabled people in physical …

Being Muslim In European Football: Defining Spaces Of Muslimness, Leif Stenberg, Ridha Sheikh, Esen Kaya

Abdou Filali-Ansary Occasional Paper Series

This paper explores the intersection of football and Islam, looking especially at European contexts, and with particular focus on the experiences of Muslim footballers in the UK. By examining the stories of UK Premier League player Cheikhou Kouyaté and amateur footballer Yasmin Abdullahi in London, the paper investigates how these individuals navigate their Muslim identities in the context of their sporting careers. The paper reflects on the broader cultural and societal implications of Muslimness in football, considering how both Muslims and non-Muslims contribute to defining Islamic spaces within the sport. The research also touches on the evolving perceptions of Islam …

The Acute Effects Of High-Intensity Functional Training On Inhibitory Control, Julia Daniel, Amaryllis Rubalcaba, Brianna Valadez

Posters - 2025

High-Intensity Functional Training (HIFT), such as CrossFit®, integrates high-intensity, multi-joint movements and has gained attention for its potential to enhance both physical and cognitive performance. While acute resistance exercise (RE) is known to influence physiological responses like heart rate variability (HRV) and cognitive functions such as inhibitory control, the specific effects of CrossFit®—a structured HIFT program—on cognitive outcomes remain underexplored, particularly when comparing trained CrossFit participants to untrained or non-CrossFit populations. HIFT’s unique combination of cardiorespiratory and muscular stress may uniquely enhance cognitive processing speed and response stability, especially in individuals with chronic CrossFit® experience. However, it is unclear how …

Go Big Or Go Home: An Analysis Of The 2019 Nfl Draft, Lucas W. Gee

Senior Theses

This thesis is a correlation analysis of the 2019 NFL Draft class, analyzing if there is a relationship between what position a player was selected and the amount of value returned in terms of Approximate Value by Open Source Football. The draft was broken down by position and by round to see trends within the data. Using knowledge of how scouting occurs in the NFL, biases were identified that affected its efficacy.

The Intensity Of 10-Minute Classroom Physical Activity Breaks In Elementary School Children, Jeffery J. Honas, Amanda N. Szabo-Reed, Joe Sherman, Anna Rice, Robert Montgomery, Ken Murfay, Richard A. Washburn, Joseph E. Donnelly

International Journal of Physical Activity and Health

This study examined the intensity of different physical activity (PA) breaks for elementary school children in a simulated classroom setting. Researchers compared the energy expenditure (Kcals/min, METs) of PA breaks developed for the Physical Activity Across the Curriculum (PAAC-3) program, delivered via video or in-person, to commercially available GoNoodle^© videos. 71 children (age 9.0 ± 1.1 yrs., 47 males, 24 females, 18% minority) participated in 10-minute PA breaks. The intensity of activity breaks was assessed using a COSMED® K5 portable indirect calorimeter (weight ~ 1 kg) (COSMED®, Rome, Italy) and and portable accelerometer (ActiGraph GT3X+; ActiGraph LLC, Pensacola, FL) …

Profiling Competitive Malaysian Archers: Musculoskeletal Injuries And Related Risk Factors, Ambusam Subramaniam, Fariza Zainudin Fairus, Mon Redee Sut Txi

Baltic Journal of Health and Physical Activity

Background: Archery requires precision, strength, stamina, and attention, yet musculoskeletal injury data is scarce. The study aimed to profile the musculoskeletal injuries and the associated risk factors among Malaysian archers. Methods: A cross-sectional approach was used to recruit 165 elite archers. The Standardized Nordic Questionnaire (SNQ), adapted risk factors questionnaire, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and Depression Anxiety Stress Questionnaire (DASS-21) were used to screen participants. Results: Shoulder (drawing arm) (54.5%), shoulder (bow arm) (56.4%), upper back (38.8%), lower back (38.2%), and neck (37.6%) musculoskeletal injuries were common. The injuries were reported during training (85.5%), accumulation/overuse injuries (72.1%), and sudden …

Belonging On The Field: Racial Identity, Inclusion, And Challenges Of Athletes Of Color In Predominantly White Sports, Mikaila Ealum, Madeline Koch

Great Lakes Regional Counseling Psychology Conference

Despite past research exploring the relationship between racial and athletic identities in Black American athletes, there remains a significant gap in literature regarding the impact of sports social environments on the salience of these identities, highlighting the need for further investigation.

Spasticity And Pain And The Improvement Of Muscle Strength In Athletes With Partial Spinal Cord Injury, Dariusz Tadeusz Skalski, Kinga Łosińska, Magdalena Prończuk, Alicja Markiel, Jarosław Markowski, Jan Pilch, Joanna Motowidło, Petr Stastny, Adam Maszczyk

Baltic Journal of Health and Physical Activity

Spasticity and chronic pain are common secondary complications following spinal cord injury (SCI), significantly impacting functional recovery and quality of life. Robot-assisted gait training (RAGT) using the Lokomat has been proposed as an effective rehabilitation method to improve motor function and reduce these symptoms. However, the impact of training frequency on rehabilitation outcomes remains unclear, particularly in athletes and physically active individuals. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of Lokomat training on spasticity reduction, pain alleviation, and improvements in gait function and lower limb muscle strength in athletes and physically active individuals with partial SCI. A total of 45 …

Esports: Women, Harassment, And Paving The Way For Equity, Becky Harris

International Gaming Institute Faculty Research

It all began with a patent. In 1947, Cathode Ray Tube Amusement Device, the first video game, featured oscilloscope graphics similar to World War II radar screens. As targets appeared on the screen, players maneuvered light beans in an attempt to destroy them. Or... maybe it’s not. Whether or not Cathode Ray Tube Amusement Device is actually the first video game to be invented depends on your school of thought. Technically, Cathode Ray Tube Amusement Device is mechanical and does not rely on programming. It does have the distinction of being the first electronic game to be issued a patent …

Assessment Of The Effect Of Classic Sports Massage On The Reduction Of Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness In The Rectus Abdominis, Dariusz Boguszewski, Cezary Kaaroud, Jakub Grzegorz Adamczyk

Baltic Journal of Health and Physical Activity

The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of classic massage on the reduction of post-exercise pain in the rectus abdominis muscle. Twenty-eight people between 20 and 43 years of age (mean age 27.4) were qualified for the study. There were nine women and six men in Group 1 (experimental) and six women and seven men in Group 2 (control). All participants of the study qualified after in the initial interview they performed sit-ups, according to the guidelines of the International Physical Fitness Test. Group 1 was subjected to the convergence of classical sports massage (3 treatments). The …

Assessment Of The Reliability And Validity Of Simple And Complex Reaction Speed Tests In Mixed Martial Arts Athletes Using The Blazepod System, Jacek Polechoński, Jan Pilch, Alan Langer, Magdalena Prończuk, Jarosław Markowski, Adam Maszczyk

Baltic Journal of Health and Physical Activity

The main aim of the research was to evaluate the reliability and validity of measurements of simple and complex reaction speed using the BlazePod system in MMA athletes. Additionally, these motor skills for the right and left hands of the studied athletes were compared. The study involved 34 male professional MMA practitioners (training experience 7.0±4.0 years, age 26.5±5.3 years, body mass 76.9±9.8 kg, height 178.5±5.7 cm). The evaluation of reaction speed utilized the BlazePod^TM system and classic computer tests. The time from the activation of a light stimulus to the hand striking a glowing target in front of the …

“Burned At The Stake”: Unpacking Disinformation In The Story Of A Coach Allegedly “Terminated” For Expressing Anti-Transgender Women Athlete Beliefs, Ellen J. Staurowsky

Journal of Issues in Intercollegiate Athletics

On August 29, 2023, a video testimony entitled ‘Burned at the Stake’: One NCAA Coach’s Battle to Protect Women’s Sport was released. The film was part of a “female athlete storytelling series” developed and funded by the Independent Women’s Forum (IWF) designed to support the IWF’s stated agenda to “fight to save women’s sports and counter the radical agenda that seeks to erase women” by allowing transgender girls and women on teams that match their identities. The central figure in the video is Kim Russell, then head women’s lacrosse coach at NCAA Division III Oberlin College, who claimed her right …

The Relationships Between Perceived Stress, Burnout, And Work-Family Conflict Among Athletic Trainers Working In Collegiate Sport, Stephanie M. Singe, Alexandrya Cairns, Christianne M. Eason

Journal of Issues in Intercollegiate Athletics

Athletic trainers in collegiate sport experience burnout and work family conflict, however the relationship with perceived stress in this setting has yet to be explored. The purpose of this study was to explore the impact that perceived stress has on self-reported measures of burnout and work family conflict. Secondarily, the study aims to better understand if subdivision (DI, DII, DIII) within the NCAA impacts perceived stress, burnout, or work family conflict. A web-based cross-sectional survey (Qualtrics, Provo, UT) was utilized to collect data on collegiate athletic trainers’ perceptions of stress, burnout, and work family conflict as well as demographics relevant …

The Road Less Traveled: Analyzing The Career Paths Of Women Athletic Directors Utilizing Social Network Analysis, Mary C. Motley, Jonathan A. Jensen, Erianne Weight, Brad Bates

Journal of Issues in Intercollegiate Athletics

The purpose of this research is to analyze the career paths of current NCAA Division I women athletic directors (ADs), towards the goal of building and identifying networks within intercollegiate athletics. By using social network analysis (SNA), this research builds out a hiring network within intercollegiate athletics by analyzing the career changes of current Division I women ADs. The objectives of this study included exploring current women AD career paths, uncovering institutions deemed most influential in the network, and comparing the career paths of women and men ADs. Findings suggest that on average, women ADs have longer career paths than …

Book Review: The Price: What It Takes To Win In College Football's Era Of Chaos, Rob Mcdermand

Journal of Issues in Intercollegiate Athletics

In The Price: What It Takes to Win in College Football's Era of Chaos Armen Keteyian and John Talty have written the first comprehensive post-NIL examination of college football’s new landscape for coaches, athletes, agents, and athletic departments. The authors explore the newly disrupted landscape of college football, likening it to the "Wild West" where traditional structures have been upended. The authors detail the profound impact of recent upheavals, including the COVID-19 pandemic, the transfer portal, and name, image, and likeness (NIL), which have collectively struck the sport like a nuclear bomb, leaving coaches and administrators grappling with unprecedented challenges. …

Religiosity, Patience, And Mental Well-Being Among Ncaa Athletes In The United States At State, Secular Private, And Faith-Based Colleges And Universities, Laura Upenieks, Elizabeth M. Bounds, Karen K. Melton, Perry L. Glanzer, Sarah A. Schnitker

Journal of Issues in Intercollegiate Athletics

Patience has been defined as remaining calm in the face of frustration, suffering, or adversity for the sake of something beyond the self. This study examines patience, an understudied virtue in the world of collegiate athletics. Drawing from a sample of 415 student-athletes across the United States, we assess patience as a mediating mechanism between religiosity/spirituality and well-being. Regression results suggest that of the three subscales of patience considered, only greater hardships patience was associated with lower depression, anxiety, and loneliness. We also observed that greater intrinsic religiosity and a secure attachment to God predicted greater patience, yet more frequent …

Construct Validity, Test-Retest Reliability, And Inter-Rater Objectivity Of The Swimming Competence Assessment Scale (Scas), Jon Sundan, Håvard Lorås, Monika Haga

International Journal of Aquatic Research and Education

This study aimed to investigate the construct validity, test-retest reliability, and inter-rater reliability of a newly developed and comprehensive instrument for assessment of children’s swimming competence. The Swimming Competence Assessment Scale (SCAS) consists of six consecutive test items (entry, swim on front, surface dive, float, swim on back and exit) that aligns with the Norwegian curricular standard of swimming competence. The exploratory factor analysis retained a unidimensional model, supporting one underlaying statistical dimension with acceptable internal consistency (α = 0.79). Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) between test and retest ranged from .84 to .98, and .97 for the total score. Strong …

"Feel For The Water": What Is It, Really?, Robert Keig Stallman, Kristine De Martelaer

International Journal of Aquatic Research and Education

The phrase, 'feel for the water,' is commonly used. But what does it really mean? The traditional idea of this 'feel' focuses on the sensation of touch and use of the hands to produce propulsion. But what about water resistance? Mastering a feel for how to reduce resistance is equally important as the unique relationship between aquatic propulsion and resistance is of great importance. While being in the water, the effects of gravity and buoyancy also need to be perceived by the learner and taught by the instructor. Reflection on the effects on propulsion-resistance and gravity-buoyancy requires relevant exercises to …

Water Orientation Skills And Basic Safety And Swimming Skills Of Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Kelle L. Murphy, Min Liu

International Journal of Aquatic Research and Education

Drowning is the leading cause of death among individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The current study examined water orientation (i.e., comfort level), water safety, and beginning swimming skills of individuals with ASD of ages ranging from 3 to 13 years using the Aquatic Orientation Checklist (AOC) (Kilian et al., 1984). Data were collected during consecutive Fall and Spring semesters. A total of 23 children (n = 15 boys; n = 8 girls) volunteered for the study. Lessons were conducted twice a week for 10 weeks continuously and each lesson was 45 minutes in length. Overall, the swimming program had …