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

Introduction

Before the 2004 summer Olympic Games began, organizers contracted to Contemporary Services Corporation (CSC), an American company, for crowd management services. During the opening and closing ceremonies, personnel helped spectators find their seats, gave general information on the stadium and its features and helped exit the crowds when the ceremonies and events ended.

The Olympic Triathlete trains and the coach plans for four disciplines: the swim, bike, run, and transitions. The 1.5 kilometer swim, 40 kilometer bike, and 10 kilometer run are rarely done in ideal conditions or courses, adding to the complex formula that the athlete must compete against in order to win. At the Olympic level of competition every advantage and possible race situation needs to be planned in advance. In a sport that takes less than two hours to complete, often seconds is what separates the Gold from second place.

Abstract

The role and importance of athletics in the lives of today’s male and female youth is analyzed in responses to a survey co-authored by a professor and conducted by two undergraduate students at the United States Sports Academy. Athletes at the middle school, high school and junior college level were asked to rate the importance of sports in their lives and the likelihood of advancement in athletics as well as careers in sports. The two survey researchers, their professor and a third undergraduate analyzed the results of the survey and how they reflect of the current status of males and females in athletics today. The authors concluded that female athletes have a different set of priorities regarding sports because of the difference in athletic opportunities afforded them.

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships between the dimensions of perfectionism and various aspects of anger, such as state, trait, and the expression of anger, for collegiate springboard divers. The role of gender was also investigated. Forty women and 19 men were administered the State-Trait Anger Expression Inventory-2 (STAXI-2; Spielberger, 1999) and the Frost Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale (F-MPS; Frost, Marten, Lahart, & Rosenblate, 1990). Data analysis showed no significant differences between genders for any scales or subscales of anger or perfectionism. State anger and its subscales were not significantly correlated with any subscales of perfectionism. Anger expression scales were not found to be significantly correlated with the subscales of perfectionism. Only trait anger, and the subscale trait anger/ angry reaction, were found to have significant relationships with the concern over mistakes dimension of perfectionism. The perfectionism personal standards subscale was also correlated with trait anger/ angry reaction.

Introduction

Young athletes should be able to turn pro so that they can make money. This allows them to take care of themselves and their families. In October 2005, 15 year old golfer Michelle Wie turned pro Young basketball players who have recently made the direct leap from high school to the NBA include LeBron James, Dwight Howard, Korleone Young, and DeSagana Diop.. These athletes were all able to take early advantage of their talents. Their exceptional abilities enabled them to jump from high school directly to the professional ranks, and to enjoy monetary gains through which they could better their lives and the lives of their families.

Abstract

This paper explores the advent of a transactional leadership paradigm in sports antiquity. Specifically, an athlete’s reaction to means and types of intrinsic/extrinsic motivation is explored via relevant leadership praxis. Resultant achievements on the athletic field of play (stadion) are examined via review of an athlete’s reaction to: (a) external influence, (b) preparation, (c) training, (d) coaching, and (e) an established path to victory/defeat. The reactions are explored via the dimensions of a contingent reward structure and the implications for its adoption in order to succeed and become victorious at ancient Olympia. The paper concludes with a summary discussion of the proffered transactional paradigm existent in sport, and an athlete’s adherence to or subsequent rejection of said paradigm to mediate his/her success.

Introduction

The leisure, recreation and sport industries in Canada, as has been the case in most nations throughout the world, have been subject to globalization and corporate influence. In recent years, the number of small sized leisure, recreation and sport enterprises (i.e., family or individually owned sport stores or health clubs) have drastically been reduced as large corporations such as Play It Again Sports and Goodlife Fitness have cornered the Canadian Market from coast to coast.

Abstract

In what has traditionally been a white male-dominated industry, there are a growing number of females and minorities assuming the position of sport manager. This trend is attributed to increasing opportunities for female and minority participation in sport organizations at various levels. Such levels include recreational, interscholastic, collegiate, and professional athletic involvement. It should be noted that coaching and management opportunities are also increasing. The purpose of this study was to determine which, if any, demographic variables of age, gender, or race could significantly predict the frequency of viewing behaviors of sport-related media for undergraduate sport management students. Based upon the literature, credibility in a sport management role can be increased through sport-related media consumption. Fifty-five students in the undergraduate sport management program at a research extensive university in the Southeastern United States participated in the study. The instrument, constructed by the researchers, was a sixteen question survey. Using multiple linear regression analyses, only one predictor, gender, was found to have a statistically significant impact upon the frequency of viewing sport-related media (sport networks). The predictors of age and race were not found to be significant.