Sports Studies Commons^™

The Interaction/Impact Of Aces And Coach-Athlete Relationships On The Collegiate Athlete Experience: A Trauma Informed Coaching Approach, Lauren King

Masters Projects

Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) are known to contribute to long-term mental, physical, and social health challenges, including depression, anxiety, injury, and early mortality (ACE Response, 2024; Felitti et al., 1998). Despite this, limited research has addressed how ACEs affect student-athletes, who often enter college already carrying unresolved trauma (Bennett, 2022, 2023). Simultaneously, the coach-athlete relationship (CAR) is recognized as a key mediating factor in student-athlete well-being, yet coaches receive little to no formal training on trauma-informed care (Mageau & Vallerand, 2003; Simons & Bird, 2022). This project bridges that gap by synthesizing ACEs research, sport psychology, and social stress frameworks …

Ua12/2/1 College Heights Herald, Vol. 100, No. 3, Wku Student Affairs

WKU Administration Documents

Magazine edition of the College Heights Herald for the period February 17 - April 20, 2025.

• Wilborn, Price. You Matter & You Are Not Alone
• Smith, Kane. Peggy Crowe Reflects on Counseling Center in Face of Staff Shortages
• Stafford, Hallie. Help with Horses – New Beginnings Therapeutic Horse Riding
• Hawkins, Kaylee. How a WKU Professor Helps Improve Student Mental Health – Jay Gabbard, National Alliance on Mental Illness Recovery Support Group
• McMahon, Jake. More Than a Coach – Brent Chumbley, Track & Field
• Simpson, Libby. WKU’s American Foundation for Suicide Prevention Brings Mental Health Into the Light
• Hardesty, Emma. Trans …

Physical Activity Curriculum And Marketing Strategy For Dale Vuelta To Empower Young Girls In Mexico., Reagan A. Dodson, Eunice M. Lee

SPARK Symposium Presentations

The World Health Organization (WHO) found that nearly one-third of the world’s adult population are physically inactive, not meeting the global recommendations of at least 150 minutes of necessary physical activity per week (WHO, 2024). Adolescent girls were less active than adolescent boys, with 85% in comparison to 78%. In Mexico, 88% of girls, ages 11-17, are physically inactive (WHO, 2022). In Mexico, the stigma around girls practicing sports remains strong; gender-based violence grows by the year, and girls are often bullied, questioned, or discouraged from participating in sports (B. Möller, personal communication, September 23, 2024). Dale Vuelta, a non-profit …

A Winning Strategy: Sports For Advancing Health In Underserved Communities, Chia-Liang Dai

Community Engagement Expo Research Posters

Prevailing disparities in health outcomes underscore the urgent need for targeted interventions tailored to the unique needs of underserved students. An after-school sports program plays a vital role in promoting comprehensive school health by offering structured team sports alongside social-emotional lessons and academic support.

The Need For Gender Equity In Outdoor Adventure Sports: The Impact Of Gender Disparities On Women In The Outdoors, Suzanna Stegelmeier

Student Research Symposium

What obstacles do women face when participating in outdoor adventure recreation?

The Role Of Age, Experience, And Physical Fitness In Technical Performance In Karate: An Observational Analysis, Rui Miguel Silva, Joaquim Ferreira, Georgian Badicu, Jarosław Muracki, Beata Pożarowszczyk-Kuczko, Adam Kawczyński

Baltic Journal of Health and Physical Activity

Background: This study aimed to investigate the relationships between age, experience, anthropometric measures, physical fitness, and the quality of technical performance in karate practitioners. We conducted an observational cross-sectional study with 53 federated karate athletes, aged 5 to 55, affiliated with the Youth Karate Association Portugal. The participants were divided into age and experience groups to assess differences in anthropometric measures (body mass, height, BMI) and physical fitness (strength, power, flexibility). The technical performance of four specific karate techniques – kizami, gyaku zuki, mawashi geri, and ura mawashi geri – was evaluated using a custom-designed technical evaluation …

The Pitch Clock's Impacts On The Game Of Baseball, Cole Ricciarelli

Honors Projects in Mathematics and Economics

Past research has investigated what on-field statistics have impacted the success of MLB teams. However, this paper aims to look at the effect that the recent rule change of the pitch clock has on the win percentage of MLB teams. With the implementation of the pitch clock, it was expected that teams with a lower average pitch time would see more success. Using data from the 2013-2024 seasons, statistical analysis was run to determine which variables impacted team win percentage the most. It was found that average pitch times of pitchers did not play a significant role in overall team …

Ua19/16/2 Women's Basketball Press Releases, Wku Athletic Media Relations

WKU Administration Documents

Press releases and game statistics for WKU women's basketball team in spring 2025.

Beyond The Game: Black Power In Sports

The Civil Rights Movement (HIS/BLS 347) Zine Project

No abstract provided.

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

WKU Administration Documents

Press releases regarding general activities of the WKU Athletics Department for spring 2025.

Ua19/16/2 Volleyball Press Relations, Wku Athletic Media Relations

WKU Administration Documents

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

Ua19/16/2 Track & Field Press Releases, Wku Athletic Media Relations

WKU Administration Documents

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

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

WKU Administration Documents

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

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

WKU Administration Documents

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

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

WKU Administration Documents

Press releases and game statistics for WKU men's basketball team in spring 2025.

Ua35/3 Provost's Message, Wku Provost

WKU Administration Documents

Spring 2025 Provost's Messages issued to faculty & staff via email. Topics include awards, budget cuts, grants, Transdisciplinary Opportunity Program and administrative decisions.

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 …