Scott Forrester

A comparison of constraints to participation in intramural sports between international and noninternational students.

This study investigated if international students face unique interpersonal, intrapersonal, and structural constraints to participation in intramural sports. Surveys were collected from 292 participants, with proportionate representation of international and noninternational students when compared with the broader university population. Results demonstrated that international students who have participated in intramural sports experience significantly higher interpersonal and intrapersonal constraints when compared with noninternational students who also have participated in intramural sports. There were no significant differences in the three types of constraints between international vs. noninternational students who have not participated in intramural sports. It was concluded that campus recreation and international student service departments at universities need to collaborate to foster awareness, promote the benefits of participation, and assist international students in overcoming these constraints to participating in intramural sports.

Using Past Campus Recreational Sports Participation to Explain Current Physical Activity Levels of Alumni

The purpose of this pilot study was to examine the role of past recreational sports involvement during the college years in explaining current physical activity patterns in college alumni. Subjects (n = 311) completed a mailed questionnaire about their current physical activity levels and past campus recreational sports participation that measured (1) the breadth, depth, and quality of past recreational sports involvement and (2) the current level of exercise or physical activity. Overall, the results of the study revealed that over 77% of the respondents agreed that their involvement in recreational sports during college positively influenced their current physical activity levels. Increasing both the depth and breadth of physical activity for students while in college, and more importantly, beyond the college years, is an important goal for campus recreational sports programs.

Determinants of Sport Participation in Middle School Children and the Impact of Intramural Sports

The purpose of this study was to examine the determinants for adolescent participation in sports and to determine the impact of an alternate model of sport delivery (i.e., school intramural sports). More specifically, this study used the theory of planned behavior to highlight factors that might contribute to young peoples decisions to play sports and to determine what impact an alternate model of sport delivery would have on intention to participate in sport. Three hundred and three students in grades seven and eight completed measures of their participation in intramural and extramural sports and items related to the theory of planned behavior. In addition to results that showed a relatively large number of students participating in school intramural sports, notable differences in the relative contributions of the predictor variables of attitude, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control were found across different sport-participation subgroups. Suggestions for future research are made in the context of the limitations of the study.

Association Between Collegiate Recreational Sports Involvement and Undergraduate Student Retention

This study examined the association between collegiate recreational sports (CRS) involvement and undergraduate retention rates after 1, 2, and 3 years of study at a midsized Canadian university. Astins theory of involvement and Tintos inter-actionist theory of student departure provided the conceptual underpinnings for the study. The results of the study indicated a significant association between CRS employment, or participation in intramural sports, with retention when compared to the broader student population that were not participating in intramural sports nor employed by the CRS department. These findings will assist recreation directors and program staff to ensure that the value of recreational activities for all students and the leadership opportunities provided through staffing programs and recreational facilities with students continues to be seen as important to university administrators.