Elizabeth Wanless

An examination of preactivity and postactivity flexibility practices of National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I tennis coaches.

Judge, LW, Bellar, D, Craig, B, Petersen, J, Camerota, J, Wanless, E, and Bodey, K. An examination of preactivity and postactivity flexibility practices of National Collegiate Athletic Association division I tennis coaches. J Strength Cond Res 26(1): 184–191, 2012—The purpose of this study was to determine if National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I mens tennis programs are in compliance with suggested current preactivity and postactivity stretching protocols. Questionnaires were sent to NCAA Division I mens tennis programs in the USA. Seventy-six coaches (73 men and 3 women) participated in the study. The results of the Chi-Square analysis suggest that the number of years of head coaching experience had a significant relationship with the preactivity stretching routines employed by coaches (p = 0.029). A significant difference was found between preactivity stretching routines and the key sources of influence for the foundation of knowledge regarding preactivity stretching (p = 0.012). Some results indicate that many tennis coaches do not use current suggested practices for preactivity stretching. The results of this study indicate that certification may influence how well research guidelines are followed. Further research is needed to delineate how these factors affect coaching decisions.

Using Sports Science and Training Theory to Develop Elite Performance: A Case Study of a 2005 World Championship Finalist in the Women's Shot Put

Conclusions from biomechanical data can make a significant difference in the performance of athletes in the shot put if properly understood by coaches. By utilizing this scientific approach, the throws coach will be able to determine more accurate adjustments and devise training stimuli to better accommodate the athlete. The purpose of the present study was to examine the effect of a comprehensive training protocol on a performer that integrated physical capacity development and technical interventions based on a quantitative biomechanical analysis. In this case study, we have attempted to bridge the gap between the researcher and the coach in our approach to teaching and training the shot put, by integrating biomechanical analysis. This USATF Womens development shot put project is an example, in which the cooperation between sport science and coaching helped to produce a World Championship (18.58 m) berth by Elizabeth Wanless in the womens shot put in 2005.

An examination of preactivity and postactivity stretching practices of crosscountry and track and field distance coaches.

Abstract Judge, LW, Petersen, JC, Bellar, DM, Craig, BW, Wanless, EA, Benner, M, and Simon, LS. An examination of preactivity and postactivity stretching practices of crosscountry and track and filed distance coaches. J Strength Cond Res 27(9): 2456–2464, 2013—This study sought to determine the effectiveness of coach certification courses in promoting proper preactivity and postactivity stretching practices in National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I, II, and III crosscountry programs. Distribution of questionnaires to 770 NCAA Division I, Division II, and Division III programs in the U.S.A. resulted in 111 coaches (88 [78.2%] men and 25 [21.8%] women) participating. Chi-square analyses revealed that noncertified coaches reported significantly greater (&khgr;2 = 21.582, p = 0.0174) usage of static stretching alone as their preactivity modality (18.9%, n = 9) vs. their certified counterparts (1.8%, n = 1). In addition, certified coaches reported a higher usage of dynamic flexibility only during the preactivity period (47.4%, n = 27) vs. their noncertified peers (32.4%, n = 16). Coaches were also asked if they allowed for static stretching between interval work and events in track and field, and a significantly higher percentage (&khgr;2 = 11.948, p = 0.0177) of noncertified coaches (45.5%, n = 23) reported allowing the athletes to perform static stretches between intervals at practice than certified peers (37.9%, n = 22). These significant differences help demonstrate that coaching certification courses are an effective tool for communicating current information about stretching practices. However, the results also revealed that there are still many certified coaches who are not implementing best practices in preactivity routines.

Pedometers and aerobic capacity: evaluating an elementary after-school running program.

Childhood obesity affects 1 of every 6 youth in the United States. One contributing factor to this statistic is a lack of physical activity (PA). Demands related to accountability which are placed on educators to demonstrate academic achievement often result in resistance to allocating time during the school day for PA. One possible solution is to consider utilizing time after school to integrate PA programs. The purpose of this study was to assess the impact of a 12-week after-school pedometer-focused PA program on aerobic capacity and to examine the relationship between step count and aerobic capacity in elementary school aged children. A group of elementary students (n = 24; 9.5 ± 0.9 years) participated in a 12-week pedometer-focused PA program that included pretraining and posttraining fitness testing via the 20-meter version of the PACER test. Paired sample t-tests revealed significant differences between the pretest (M = 21.0 laps, SD = 9.9) and posttest (M = 25.2 laps, SD = 12.2) scores (t = 4.04, P ≤ 0.001). A Pearson correlation revealed no significant relationship between individual step count and the difference between PACER pre- and posttest (r = 0.318, P = 0.130). The program improved aerobic capacity, but an increase in pedometer-calculated step count was not a predictor.

PRE-AND POST-ACTIVITY STRETCHING PRACTICES OF COLLEGIATE ATHLETIC TRAINERS IN THE UNITED STATES.

Abstract Popp, JK, Bellar, DM, Hoover, DL, Craig, BW, Leitzelar, BN, Wanless, EA, and Judge, LW. Pre- and post-activity stretching practices of collegiate athletic trainers in the United States. J Strength Cond Res 31(9): 2347–2354, 2017—The aim of the study was to investigate the knowledge and practices of collegiate-certified athletic trainers (ATs) in the United States. Participants (n = 521) were provided an overview of the study and a hyperlink to a web-based survey. The “pre- and post-activity practices in athletic training questionnaire” consisted of demographic items and elements to measure knowledge and practices related to pre- and post-activity stretching routines. In previous studies, the survey demonstrated construct validity, &agr; = 0.722. Pearson chi-square test was used to evaluate goodness of fit, and kappa was calculated to measure agreement between items. Only 32.2% of ATs recommended dynamic stretching (DS) to be performed pre-activity, whereas a larger percentage (42.2%) recommended a combination of static stretching (SS) and DS. Athletic trainers reported that only 28.0% of athletes are performing DS before activity. Conversely, 60.6% of collegiate ATs recommended SS postexercise, and 61.0% of athletes agree and perform after workout SS (&kgr; = 0.761, p < 0.001). Collegiate ATs seem to underuse the current research evidence, which indicates that DS is more beneficial than SS when used pre-activity, and ATs continue to regularly incorporate SS in their pre-activity routines. However, there is evidence that collegiate ATs in the United States emphasize SS postactivity in a manner consistent with current research.

Pre-and Post-Activity Stretching Protocols of NCAA American Football Programs: Influence of Certification and Division Affiliation

The purpose of this study was to analyze the pre- and post-activity stretching practices of NCAA Division I FBS, II, and III football programs in the United States to determine whether stretching practices are influenced by divisional status and certification. A 31-item survey instrument was developed and used to collect data from 104 coaches ranging in age from 24 to 67 years (M = 42.59, SD =9.47). The results of the Pearsons Chi Square analysis demonstrated significant differences in the answers to three questions of interest based upon the CSCS certification status of the individual. Kruskal-Wallis analysis revealed the length of the pre-activity flexibility is influenced by divisional level (χ2 = 6.276, p = 0.043). The results of this study indicate that divisional status and certification may influence how well research guidelines are followed. Further research is needed to delineate how these factors affect coaching decisions.

Recruiting Youth for After-School Health Intervention Programming: Parent and Student Perceptions

In an effort to increase physical activity (PA) in children, some schools are utilizing after-school PA programs. For after-school PA programs to attract children and their parents more effectively, it is important to understand participant perceptions. With input from parents and children, after-school PA programs will be better equipped to attract children to the PA program, resulting in greater participation, enjoyment, and increased PA. Thus, the purpose of this study was to gain insight into parents’ and children’s thoughts and decisions relating to joining an after-school PA program. A cross-sectional qualitative design was employed. Children were interviewed and parents were surveyed prior to youth involvement in Step Up for Health, an after-school PA program geared toward youth of a Midwest elementary school. Responses to the surveys and interviews were coded into categories. Thirty of 39 youth students reported participating to increase their physical fitness levels. Thirty-seven of 39 youth participants identified their physical education teacher as being influential in their decision to participate. Thirty-nine of 39 parents/legal guardians stated the main benefit of the program was that it provided a PA outlet for their child. Every adult participant identified their own child as an influential figure in the decision-making process to allow their child to participate. Perceptions held by parents and children provided insight into the recruitment process for PA programs. The theory of reasoned action can serve as a guide to understand why participants and their parents support such a program.

Olympic Games Evolution: An Analysis of Personal and Public Awareness of the Inaugural Youth Olympic Games

The Olympic Games have become one of the world’s largest and most popular sporting events with over 203 countries participating in the games held every two years. The Olympic Games have a profound and rich history. The ancient Olympic Games trace their beginning back to the mythic date 776 BC as a Greek religious festival held every four years in honor of their supreme god, Zeus. Restricted to men, the ancient Olympics were held for nearly 1200 years until their demise in late antiquity about 400 AD (Howell & Howell, 1988).

Perception of risk in track and field venue management: are hammer facilities overlooked?

– The purpose of this paper is to determine the level of compliance with National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) Track and Field Hammer Facility Recommendations at Division I universities in the USA, and to determine factors related to perceptions of facility safety., – A 35‐item survey instrument was distributed to 279 applicable schools with a 28 percent response rate. Multiple regression analysis was utilized to determine factors significantly related to overall perception of safety., – A total of 78.1 percent participants in the study report compliance with the NCAA minimum recommendations and 38 percent also meet the IAAF standards. Analysis of the perceived safety reported by coaches reveal a significant prediction equation. Further analyses reveal significant risk involving some current facilities guidelines., – The NCAA may need to examine their present hammer facility guidelines and consider alignment with the new standards of the IAAF., – The paper creates a new application of statistical analyses for risk perception in a specific sport setting.