Abstract Examines the history and scope of the problem in professional and college athletics. Discusses organized crime control, the involvement of various ethnic crime gangs, types of wagering, and the U.S. Congressional investigation of gambling on amateur sports.
From the Paper "If there's competition involved, you can bet that you can bet on it" is a quote from Henry J. Hyde (R, Ill). Hyde is chairman of the United States House of Representatives and Chairman of the committee investigating..."
Abstract Discusses the prevention of injuries, recognition and treatment of injuries, treatments and rehabilitation of athletes, dangers of premature return to activity by athletes, and the role of coaches and health care professionals.
From the Paper "The management of sports injuries has led to the development of a specialized field known as Sports Medicine. The major components of sports medicine are the prevention of injuries, the recognition and treatment of injuries, and rehabilitation of ..."
Abstract Discusses the ambivalent findings of studies and the theory that caffeine helps athletic performance in endurance sports. Describes how caffeine works in the body, the use of coffee by Americans, in general, and problems of too much caffeine.
From the Paper "Many people enjoy caffeine because it makes them feel more alert, enhances their energy, improves their mood, and makes them more productive. Athletes often use caffeine to facilitate performance improvement, both in their routine workouts ..."
Abstract This paper discusses the career of an athletic trainer, including the background necessary for the career, the necessary education, and job opportunities for athletic trainers. It examines how athletic trainers form a necessary backbone of most professional sports organizations and many private organizations and how a professional athletic trainer can make the difference between a life-changing injury or returning to the game. It also looks at how athletic trainers are an essential and integral part of modern sports medicine, and as sports and athletics increase in importance in our society, they will continue to play an important part in our healthy lives.
From the Paper "The education necessary for this job is usually completed as an undergraduate, and is offered by several colleges and universities across the nation. The most respected and accepted educational facilities are accredited according to standards created by the Commission on Accreditation for Allied Health Education (CAAHEP), a division of the American Medical Association (Hibberts). Many students major in exercise science with a specialty in athletic training. In most cases, they also need to obtain a state license or National Athletic Trainers Association (NATA) certification in order to work as an athletic trainer and "to become certified, trainers must complete 1500 hours of athletic training, and pass the National Athletic Trainers Association (NATA) certification exam" (AHEC)."
Abstract Examining the origins of the sport known today as tennis. This paper discusses how it spread from Bermuda to the United States and to Europe. It also looks at a history of tournaments held and examines the skills of some of today's top tennis stars.
From the Paper "The word tennis is derived from the Old French name for the game, tenetz (Flink) and in the late-13th Century a game similar to tennis was played in Paris amongst the social elite and upper classes. The French version of the game has been compared to an Italian version that was also played around that time, even though the French game was referred to as "jeu de paume" or "game of the palm" because it involved players using their hands to strike the ball. It was only approximately 100 years later that racquets would be introduced into the game, giving players greater reach, and less bruised hands."
Abstract This paper examines how sports play an important role in our society and an even greater role within a college campus, not only as a team-building and positive force in the social life of students, but as a tradition in education. It looks at how most universities and colleges in the United States have an integrated sports program, ranging from the NCAA divisions to intramurals. It also shows how, in universities and colleges within the NCAA divisions, sports programs are just not a sidebar to college entertainment, but host scholarships and contribute to the finances of the college.
From the Paper "Within the educational institution, students may vary in placing student-athletes on pedestals or in the dog-house depending on their performance, or view them with animosity because of the so-called "perks" and "easy breeze through college" it is perceived that student-athletes have. They are considered to be egotistical and elitist because they are unable to fraternize with the rest of the student body, or are subjected to strict NCAA guidelines regarding parties and daily routines during a season, which in some cases could include unusual or abusive routines from their coaches who will "use various means to control their athletes, such as having midnight practices after the team returns from a disappointing loss" (Eitzen)."
Abstract This paper examines the new branch of science called sports science, which makes use of motor learning and motor control in the sports industry. It explains that this science examines various trends and aspects related to sporting events and athletes in order to determine how things can be improved and changed.
From the Paper "Motor learning and motor control is a field of science that is being studied from a sports point of view. Motor learning is connected to all the processes and conditions that affect one's ability to acquire skills, while motor control ascertains neuromuscular performance of individuals. Many people are taking great interest in the learning of motor skills and expertise, and the development of coordination. This new field of sports is based on the use of the knowledge base in the movement and sport sciences, cognitive sciences, and also physical therapy. [Graduate Programs: Masters in Motor Control]"
Abstract The report details a market analysis for Nike compared to the Number Two competitor, Adidas. Among the findings discussed are the differing marketing and advertising strategies Nike has successfully used to beat out the competition. Part of Nike's success is due to the creativity utilized in marketing campaigns. It explains how Nike has also actively sought out celebrity endorsements and sponsorships, which have resulted in positive associations with the product, nationally and worldwide. Also discussed is the global positioning of the Nike product in Europe, the Asia-Pacific region, the Middle East, and the Netherlands.
From the Paper "Part of Nike's success is due to its commitment to specialization of product. For this reason I would not recommend that Nike branch out into too many other areas, such as offering additional excessive accessories or lines of other sportswear such as hockey products as Adidas recently did. Nike has purchased some subsidiaries that offer specialized lines, including some golf products, hockey wear and luxury sports wear. In this respect Nike has been successful, and the subsidiaries operate utilizing their own names still. Adidas has recently ventured into other territories, having similarly partnered with a major European corporation to sell accessories and other specialty types of sports products."
Abstract This paper explains that the author loves fishing because he is able to venture off on his own in search of that secret fishing spot and enjoy the peace and quiet of the great outdoors. The author describes the process of capturing the bait and finding the perfect fishing spot. The author relates his catching of a 46-inch Northern Pike and deciding to let it go so that he could return another day and re-capture his dream of catching the "big one".
From the Paper "The next morning came upon me quickly; it was as if I had just laid down for a night's sleep. I sprung from my bed with anticipation and excitement; it seemed as though I had the energy of a racehorse. I was now eager more than ever to venture off in exploration for that secret fishing hole. My mother stopped me and wouldn"t let me out the door if I didn"t have something to eat; as I sat there at the table in a daze eating my breakfast, my mind wandered off reflecting on an image I had of landing "the big one". That image was now vastly embedded in the back of my mind."
Abstract This paper examines how, for the organizers and advertisers of the Olympics, the event is much more than a series of sport competitions and how, from the moment the bid is placed to host the Olympics, host nations are vying companies for sponsorship, advertising, broadcasting rights, and merchandising rights. It looks at how the games have become much more than sporting achievements, but an opportune time to increase job opportunities and revenue for a country that prepares well in advance for a chance to host the Olympic games and all the visitors and athletes that will be visiting their shores. It analyzes how the Olympic games can make a positive impact on a country's economy and how, in commercializing the games, the Olympics has turned into another money-making event for struggling economies and money-hungry countries.
From the Paper "Advertisers, as in the Super Bowl and World Series, are prepared to pay exorbitant prices for ad time during the Opening Ceremonies as well as significant events important to its viewers, i.e. basketball events and other events which feature prominent sport personalities. NBC acquired the rights to provide broadcast coverage of the Olympic Games for an 8 year period starting from 2000 in which they paid $3.6 billion for the rights (McClellan, 2003) and on top of their profits through advertising; the network stands to commercially gain beyond any Super Bowl or World Series."
Abstract This paper centers around the notion of "teaching styles", and this brief paper sets out to clarify some of the confusion that exists regarding the term itself. The paper then shows how one model of teaching style is an effective and creative way of teaching physical education today.
Contents
Introduction
What is Meant by "Teaching Styles"?
The Spectrum of Teaching Styles
Conclusion
From the Paper "The term itself has no agreed definition but the more widely accepted definitions refer to it as "a set of teaching tactics" and "instructional format" (Galton et al. 1980; Siedentop 1991). In Physical Education circles the definition of it as "the general pattern created by using a particular set of strategies" provides a neat working definition (BAALPE 9). Over the last thirty years a number of writers in the United Kingdom, as well as the United States, have identified particular teaching styles and related them to philosophies of teaching or to specific learning outcomes (Bennett 1978). Emerging from this work and that of other writers specifically in Physical Education are two important findings."
Abstract This paper is a research proposal to study the effects of sports imagery training on novice athletes and athletes who enjoy their sport recreationally. The paper begins with an overview of the positive effects of sports imagery training and then looks at some of the studies done and literature available on the subject. The paper suggests a study that will seek to answer the questions as to whether or not sports imagery training is of value only to the professional athlete or if it can benefit athletes at all levels.
From the Paper "The positive effects of sports imagery training has been validated by athletes and trainers at the highest level of athletic competition. When the athlete visualizes the individual aspects of an athletic competition, they approach the event with more confidence, and are able to attain significantly higher scores. In one study, findings revealed that the Five Step Strategy, which includes mental readying, imaging, focusing, executing, and evaluation procedures, significantly influenced performance in tasks that were low cognitive demand and higher physical demand tasks. The study showed support for a hypothesis that performance in tasks appearing to contain a greater number of motor elements is enhanced more with the FSS than those having a high number of cognitive elements."
Abstract This papers looks at judgemental errors that occur during negotiations, using the Major League Baseball strike of 1994. The paper examines the factors involved in the cause of the strike and how the conflict was finally resolved.
From the Paper "Ignoring the cognitions of the other parties when assessing the negotiation situation as stated by Bazerman can lead to what is called the "winners curse" This usually happens when others fail to consider the perspective of the other parties. Winning becomes the main motive - this is especially true considering that both parties were concerned with saving face. As early as the late 1960's the players adopted an adversarial stance to which the owners responded with distrust, disrespect, name-calling, and lack of accommodation for the players. (Staudahar) All parties were self absorbed in their own issues and did not take into consideration the cognition of the other parties involved. This also affected the behavioral atmosphere at the bargaining table."
Abstract This paper first takes a brief look at how drugs are used all over the world and then focuses specifically on the use of steroids in the world of sports. The paper explains what anabolic steroids are, gives a brief history of steroid use, and describes the negative side effects.
From the Paper "Steroids have been a very common form of drugs used in sports today despite the fact that athletes are regularly tested for doping and are immediately expelled from events if they test positive. The question that arises is why would athletes use steroids when such tactics simply kill the whole spirit of competition. To compete means to show you are more skillful and better trained for a certain sport, however with steroids this purpose of competition is destroyed because the winner has won not due to his own ability but because of certain performance enhancing drugs."
Abstract This paper examines how athletes as a collective group are becoming harder and harder to admire and how there are many factors contributing to the demise of the sports hero. It looks at how there are three main contributing factors to the destruction of the sports hero, the media portrayal of the athlete, the exploitation of the athlete's personal life and the monetary value and salary focus of today's athletes.
From the Paper "It has been reported by Children Now that 90% of American boys watch televised sports. The media exploits this fact. Athletes and advertising agencies cater to a younger generation. There are athletes in movies, TV shows, and some even have produced albums. They endorse apparel, fast food, sports drinks and video games. Many marketed strictly to children and teenagers. These athletes therefore become familiar; they are everywhere and the child wishes to become just like the athlete that is so popular thus buying the products and the athlete becomes an instant hero. Many children do not know the specific stats of their sports hero, or even their greatest accomplishments. All they know is that they want to be like the player that they see everywhere as well as own the merchandise that they endorse."
Tags: athletes, endorsements, media, salaries, traditional
