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

This is an historical, descriptive analysis of sport in Turkiye from the earliest available records to the present day. In order to present a complete picture, the development of sport in Turkiye was divided into three periods: the pre-Islamic, Islamic and post-Islamic-Republican. In the Pre-Islamic period, evidence suggests that the Turkish physical culture is immensely rich, and various forms of games and physical activities were essential and in many respects, a way of life. In an environment where often only the strongest and the fittest were able to survive, warlike forms of physical activities and games, such as archery horse-back-riding, cirit and wrestling were practiced, by men and women alike. In the relaxed moral and social climate of the pre-Islamic period Turkish people were free to practice and express themselves through physical cultural activities.

Abstract

This study investigates the effects of professional wrestling on children. Elementary and middle school teachers (n = 370) were surveyed and asked to indicate 1) the popularity of professional wrestling among their students; 2) any “preconceived notions” they hold of students who are fans of professional wrestling; 3) their beliefs regarding the harmfulness of professional wrestling; and 4) the extent and specific nature of verbal and behavioral imitation attributable to professional wrestling observed in their students. Survey results combined with prior literature and research on marketing ethics raise questions about the appropriateness of professional wrestling as sport-entertainment for children.

Introduction

Although many aspects of sport related research including history, psychology, sociology, and philosophy were discussed and studied, few studies on the environmental motivation factors (e.g., crowd control, quality of concession services, parking spaces) of sport fans for particular sports have been conducted. The reason to conduct a study on the environmental motivation factors of sport fans is based on the premise that each fan has different motivations and reasons to follow a certain sport team. Based on the Neo-Marxist critique of spectator sports in capitalist society, sports spectators are more likely than non-spectators to be actively involved not only in sports but in cultural activities of all kinds, including politics. Also, many spectator sports actually tend to increase the fan’s hostility and aggressiveness rather than to render them apathetic or to provide them with the lucid equivalent of an Aristotelian catharsis (Guttmann, 1981). From ancient times to the present, individuals who have allegiance or devotion to a particular sport, team, and/or player were classified as sport fans.

Abstract

Introduction

One question that many dancers ask is, “How can I get my jumps higher?” The repetitive execution of demi-plie is used to improve timing, alignment, strength, torso stability, coordination of joint movement, and finally, as a first component of other movements such as pirouette, releve’, and all aerial movements (Trepman, et al., 1998). There are four principles that must be applied when executing jumps of any kind (Kraines & Pryor, 2001): (1) all jumps must begin in demi-plie, (2) in order to get the jump into the air, dancers must press off the floor by fully pointing the foot, (3) the dancer must land on the balls of the feet and roll through to the heels, and (4) the jump must end in demi-plie.

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine whether a significant difference existed between the perception of the National Collegiate Athletic Association male and female athletes regarding various types of abusive behaviors by their coaches. This research examined whether or not athletic departments in the United States of America should develop policies and procedures to educate all persons involved in the athletic setting, as well as the prosecution of coaches who sexually harass or emotionally abuse student-athletes.

Abstract

The area of Olympic Volunteerism is a relatively new one for researchers and the Olympic Movement. It was not until the 1980 Lake Placid Olympics that that the “Olympic Volunteer Movement” commenced. To date, the Olympic Movement has not established a policy on volunteerism and multiculturalism. Moreover, none of the main IOC Commissions has a primary mandate for volunteerism and multiculturalism, while the responsibility for the recruiting and training of volunteers falls within the hands of the National Olympic Committees. This paper examines the linkage between volunteerism and multiculturalism for the Olympic Movement. While reflecting upon the experiences of Canada’s Multiculturalism Policy, a policy for volunteerism and multiculturalism is developed for the Olympic Movement. This policy emphasizes (1) equal recognition of all volunteers, (2) equal opportunity for personal growth through the volunteer experience, (3) a chance to experience the “spirit of the Olympics”, (4) an avenue of cultural exchange and interchange amongst each other, and (5) a “common cultural environment.” It is concluded that such a policy should be implemented in an IOC main commission (i.e., Commission for Culture and Olympic Education) and/or in the Olympic Charter.

Introduction

Self-confidence and sport confidence (SC) have been viewed as some of the most important factors that influence the sport performance. Many studies had shown that athletes with high sport confidence would possess better concentration, game strategies, healthy emotions, control of tempos, and performance (Chi, 1996; Gould, 1981; Mahoney, Gabriel & Perkin, 1987). Therefore, the relationship between sport confidence and performance should be a critical topic for sport psychologists to investigate.