Joshua R. Pate

Experiential Learning and Its Impact on Students’ Attitudes Toward Youth With Disabilities

This research uses contact theory to examine the impact of a service learning class on college students’ attitudes toward people with disabilities. Students were involved in both lecture material and working directly with people with disabilities in a therapeutic camp environment. Eighty-four students responded to the questionnaires at three time periods over the course of the semester. One-way repeated measures ANOVA and mixed-model ANOVA were performed to study the changes in students’ attitudes. The results indicate that there was a change in attitudes after 12 weeks of course instruction and between the beginning of class and after the camp experience. Also, gender and academic major were found to have had little impact on students’ attitudes toward people with disabilities. Implications and limitations of this research are discussed and thoughts for future research are addressed.

Playbook vs. textbook: examining academic transitioning of NCAA Division I-FBS football student-athletes.

Abstract The athletic transition of freshman student-athletes receives a plethora of media attention but there is also an academic transition that takes place. This research focuses on the academic transition of freshman football student-athletes at a Division I-Football Bowl Subdivision institution. Three themes were constructed from the interviews: (a) time management; (b) prioritization; and (c) guidance. Increased time demands devoted to football and academics presented a struggle in time management as well as deciding how to prioritize what needed to be accomplished. The student-athletes also acknowledged the immense amount of academic support they receive. The support staff may think this is what is desired, but the student-athletes responded they would like to be able to make decisions on their own and not be treated as though they are incapable of making decisions. Student-athletes should be taught time management, prioritization, and self-guidance skills and not have those tasks done for them.

Exploring the legitimacy of wheelchair basketball as an NCAA emerging sport

Abstract Given the frustrations of wheelchair basketball athletes’ media portrayal, NCAA recognition of the sport would presumably be paramount. While this status has been argued for in past research (e.g., ), the legitimacy of such a moniker has not been studied. Accordingly, this study sought to explore whether the attainment of NCAA recognition for the sport of collegiate wheelchair basketball would be an appropriate endeavor under the NCAA bylaws as of 2014. Applying the constant comparative method for document analysis, the study examines the legitimacy of this moniker with respect to the requisite number of teams for emerging sport status, divisional alignment, academic eligibility, Title IX, and institutional recognition. Ultimately, the study recommends that female collegiate wheelchair basketball teams apply first for NCAA emerging sport status, while men’s teams could follow, provided the requisite number of teams rule could be waived.

For the Love of Sport Examining Sport Emotion Through a Lovemarks Lens

Lovemarks are brands and products that have high levels of love and respect and evoke a loyalty beyond reason response from consumers. These are products and brands that consumers are devoted and emotionally connected to with disregard for competitors, price change, or controversy. In the world of sport, loyalty beyond reason is common and seemingly required with many fan bases. In addition, athletes of all skill level are loyal to sporting goods and brands. The purpose of this exploratory research was to examine the relationship between Lovemarks and the world of sport. Outcomes of this research aim to assist sport managers and communication specialists in (a) breaking through advertising clutter, (b) recognizing and utilizing fan emotion for good, and (c) segmenting advertising and marketing campaigns into attainable subgroups. Utilizing a content analysis to analyze 668 open-ended nominations of sport-related products, brands, teams, venues, and people to Lovemarks.com, researchers uncovered themes and top-coded categories of love and respect. Practical and theoretical application and implications are discussed.

An Exploration of the Sport Club President’s Experience

Extensive research has shown that sport club participation enhances student development, but little research has examined how specific officer roles in sport clubs may shape the experience. The purpose of this case study was to explore how sport club presidents at a midsized, public, four year institution in the Mid-Atlantic region described their involvement in an on-campus leadership opportunity. Eleven sport club presidents participated in the study, and shared their experiences through reflective journaling, and 30-min semistructured interviews. The researchers conducted document analysis for further review of the sport club program and president experience. Findings suggest that participation in the presidential role within the campus recreation sport club program at this institution provides an impactful developmental experience for students by enhancing specific skills that prepare students for careers beyond college more candidly than classroom education. Recommendations for sport club professionals and students regarding the outcomes associated with this ongoing campus leadership opportunity are provided.

The International Paralympic Committee as a Governing Body

The governance structure of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) and the Paralympic Movement includes international federations, National Paralympic Committees, a governing board, a general assembly, as well as a management team. Guided by its Strategic Plan, the IPC governs para-sport and also maintains relationships with the IOC and various sport governing bodies that work with sports for people with disabilities but are not competed in at the Paralympic Games.

Confronting Physical Activity Programming Barriers for People with Disabilities: The Empowerment Model

Community-based physical activity programs for people with disabilities have barriers that are unique to their program leader qualifications and the population they serve. Moran and Block (2010) argued that there is a need for practical strategies that are easy for communities to implement, maximize resources, and minimize the impact of barriers on each individual. The purpose of this article was to build upon the work of Moran and Block by identifying and systematically addressing barriers to physical activity for people with disabilities in ways that target their sources of self-efficacy. The Empowerment Model is introduced, along with its multi-tiered empowerment continuum of training, support, and programming strands. The goal of the tiered empowerment continuum is to progressively move populations to more independent levels of training, support, and programming.