United States Sports Academy - "America's Sports University"

Introduction

The United States Sports Academy in cooperation with the Supreme Council for Youth and Sports presented the Arab world with its own international Physical Fitness Test Manual based on norms collected and processed on Arab youth aged 9 to 19. This fitness test is one of the few developed outside the Western world and is believed to be the only such test based on norms collected and processed on Arab youth ages 9 to 19. It measures the basic components of all physical activity i.e.: speed, strength, suppleness and stamina. The test was first introduced to 199 physical education teachers by the United States Sports' Academy President and Chief Operating Officer, Dr. Thomas Rosandich. Over 20,000 boys and girls have been tested with this comprehensive test battery.

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of creatine supplementation on body composition, muscular strength, and power during 10 weeks of training in female collegiate volleyball players. Thirty-six athletes (19 - 26 years old) were randomly assigned in a double-blind fashion to either a creatine treatment (CT, n=18) group or a placebo control (PC, n=18) group. The CT group ingested 5 g of Cr four times a day for five days for the initial loading phase and consumed 5 g of Cr once a day for the maintenance phase. The PC group followed the same supplementation schedule but was given a glucose placebo. All 36 subjects participated in a conditioning program focusing on weight training and plyometric training regardless of their assigned experimental group. Pre- and post-testing was conducted on body weight, lean body mass, percent body fat, 1 repetition maximum (1RM) bench press, and vertical jump (VJ) test. Testing revealed that 1RM bench press and VJ had significant improvement in both groups; the CT group increased significantly more than the PC group (p<0.05). Further, the CT group had significantly greater gains in body weight and lean body mass with no change in percent body fat. These findings suggests that creatine supplementation in conjunction with a good conditioning program can be effective in improving the athletic performance in female collegiate volleyball players.

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to analyze job satisfaction levels of certified athletic trainers in selected NCAA Division IAA institutions which sponsored football. The study utilized the Minnesota Satisfaction Questionnaire (MSQ) to measure job satisfaction of certified athletic trainers. A demographic questionnaire and MSQ were sent to 240 certified athletic trainers around the country. One hundred thirty-eight responses were used in the analysis representing a 57.5% rate of return. A one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Post hoc Scheffe multiple comparisons were conducted to determine if significant differences existed in the level of job satisfaction among athletic trainers relative to their demographics. Statistical significance was accepted at an alpha level of p<.05.

Introduction

The American culture is a sports-oriented culture. Sports metaphors are used to represent personal and professional lives. For example, "take one for the team" or "go for it" are common everyday phrases with origins in athletic competition. And, statistics are used to track favorite teams and players. Consider the following selected statistics regarding the sports industry:

Americans spent $213.5 billion on sports in 1999, a whopping $763 per capita (Street and Smith's SportsBusiness Journal 1999).

Abstract

In view of the fact that a century of medical and drug warfare has not liberated us from disease progressive practitioners have put a growing emphasis on "wellness" and "prevention", as a health strategy; recognizing that maintaining a state of good physical, mental and emotional health is the best way to prevent illness. At the same time, new discoveries in the science of psychoneuroimmunology (PNI) have provided evidence that a healthy mental state is a prime contributor of wellness, especially to the athlete. It is the objective of this article to present this knowledge to the reader in a precise and understandable manner.

Abstract

Members of the Swedish National Swimming Team (N = 16) traveled by air from Stockholm to Tokyo via Copenhagen in route to FINA (La Federation Internationale de Natation Amateur) World Cup competitions in Hobart, Tasmania and Sydney, Australia. Following competition at the above venues, the team trained for nine days at Cronulla Beach, one hour south of Sydney. This investigation assessed the effect of diaphragmatic breathing and sleep training on sleep, jet lag and swimming performance. Prior to the start of the investigation, swimmers were matched, by gender, using the FINA point scoring system. The eight matched pairs were assigned to Experimental and Control groups via a flip of a coin. This procedure produced two matched groups that were statistically equal (2.75 point of each other; t(14) = .071, n.s.). The Experimental group listened to a sleep training tape and did diaphragmatic breathing each night during the 21 day long experiment. To assess mood, the POMS was administered each day, except when competitions were held in Hobart and Sydney. Jet lag was assessed on an 11 point Likert-like scale by each swimmer following arrival in Tokyo and Hobart. The sleep of each swimmer was assessed daily using an Actiwatch. Following programming, this wristwatch like device was positioned on the non-dominant wrist of each swimmer. It recorded sleep length, sleep efficiency, movement and fragmentation index and other sleep variables. The FINA point scoring system determined swimming performance. Univariate and multivariate analyses of sleep, jet lag, mood and performance data did not find any significant between-group differences. It was concluded that sleep training and diaphragmatic breathing, as it was done in this study, did not effect, sleep, mood, jet lag or swimming performance.

Introduction

"Rejuvenology™" is defined (in part) as "…the proactive art and science of appearance, health, and performance enhancement…through, both, prevention and rehabilitation." This new discipline helps individuals look, feel, and perform better…longer, giving them the comprehensive competitive package, needed to "win" in any arena. Whether in sports, business, or interpersonal endeavors, success generally comes to the individual, who understands human nature and comes to grips with why people do what they do…why people think what they think…and what it takes to gain the competitive edge in a world, which places emphasis on beauty and brains, as well as brawn. This being the case, the author will share the essentials of Rejuvenology's Image-Building Triangle," which includes physical, psychological, and aesthetic elements. This triangular model can be used to build one's own image…or that of a student or client.