Latest Articles
Determinants of NBA Player Salaries
Submitted by Dr. Robert Lyons Jr.1*, Dr. E. Newton Jackson Jr.2*, Dr. Aaron Livingston3*
1* Associate Professor, Sport Management, Queens University of Charlotte, Charlotte, NC
2* Professor, Sport Management, University of North Florida, Jacksonville, FL
3* Assistant Professor, Sport Management, Hampton University , Hampton, VA
Abstract
Determining the factors that influence National Basketball Association (NBA) owners to pay players is of great importance in light of financial constraints such as the NBA salary cap. The purpose of this study was to identify the performance variables i.e. scoring, assists, and fouls that significantly contributed to determine a NBA player’s salary. It was hypothesized that scoring performance variables such as points per game; field goal, free throw, and three point percentage would be significant contributors to player salaries. The authors utilized multiple regression to analyze the 2013-2014 salaries of 243 NBA players and their career performance variables. Results indicated that points per game, rebounds, and personal fouls contributed significantly to a player’s salary. Implications of these findings are discussed in this investigation.
Keywords: National Basketball Association, salary cap, player salaries
Ethical Considerations of Genetic Manipulation in Sport
Submission by Dr. John T. Ehrbar1*
1* Student of doctoral studies in sports management at the United States Sports Academy
ABSTRACT
New technologies are currently being developed that will enable medical professionals to modify genes for medicinal purposes. As the process continues to be refined, the emergence of a controversial new use for this technology has ignited some serious debate. Scientists have submitted that genetic modification could potentially be used as a method of performance enhancement in sport. There are different schools of thought on this type of performance enhancement, and researchers and theorists have argued the advantages and disadvantages of using such a technology. These arguments are discussed in the present review. Though the ethical debate on this matter is in its infancy, a general consensus is that the allowance of genetic modification for the purpose of enhancing performance in sport will most certainly create a new look, along with new concerns, for sport in the future.
Key words: ethics, gene doping, sport, performance, enhancement (more…)
Swing Kinematics Described in Division I Female Softball Players
Submitted by Cassie Reilly-Boccia1*, Travis Ficklin2*, Robin Lund3*
1* Director of Research and Development at Athletes Warehouse in Pleasantville, NY
2* Assistant Professor of Movement and Exercise Science at the University of Northern Iowa
3* Associate Professor of Movement and Exercise Science at the University of Northern Iowa
Cassie Reilly-Boccia is a former member of the National Champion University of Alabama softball team and is the Director of Research and Development at Athletes Warehouse in Pleasantville, NY. Travis Ficklin is an Assistant Professor of Movement and Exercise Science at the University of Northern Iowa. Robin Lund is an Associate Professor of Movement and Exercise Science at the University of Northern Iowa.
ABSTRACT
The purpose of this study was to describe basic kinematic variables of the swing and the relationships that exist between these variables in Division I female softball players. These variables included bat velocity (BV), bat quickness (BQ), and bat acceleration (BA). Video data were collected for all swings during a 15-game softball tournament in which six NCAA Division I teams played. High-speed video cameras recording at 300 Hz were located along the first and third base lines recording every pitch. Data from 1,099 swings were analyzed for bat velocity (BV), bat quickness (BQ), and bat acceleration (BA). BQ and BV were calculated by video analysis and digitization. All swings were rank ordered by BA and assessed for relationships among BV, BQ, and BA. Descriptive statistics (mean ± SD) were calculated for all swing kinematic variables. Pearson product moment correlations were used to examine relationships among the swing kinematic variables. Alpha was set at (p<0.05) for all tests. Mean BV for all swings was 28.77 ± 4.94 m/s, mean BQ for all swings was 0.208 ± 0.042 s, and mean BA for all swings was 144.39 ± 38.44 m/s2. When observing correlations of all swings, BV and BQ unexpectedly had an inverse relationship. When grouping swings into homogenous strata based on BA, BQ, and BV proved to have a significant positive correlation.
Key words: softball, bat velocity, bat quickness, bat acceleration
Daily Self-Monitoring of Physical Leisure Activities and Health Practices, Self-Concept, and Quality-of-Life
Submitted by Jennifer Kwak1 MA*, Michael Amrhein2*, Harald Barkhoff2*, and Elaine M. Heiby1*
1* Department of Psychology, University of Hawai’i at Mānoa
2* Department of Kinesiology and Exercise Sciences, University of Hawai’i at Hilo
ABSTRACT
Purpose: Being physically active during leisure time is a positive contributor to overall physical and mental health, while sedentariness is a risk factor for several diseases. Minority students are at-risk of physical inactivity during leisure time and more research is needed to better understand how this affects health outcomes and its dynamical nature.
Methods: Computer Assisted Mobile Interview (CAMI) cell phone technology was used to prospectively collect daily self-monitoring of physical leisure activity and the outcomes of six health practices (eating habits, feeling hassled, mood, alcohol and cigarette consumption, and use of sun protection) and mental health indicators of self-concept and quality-of-life, over four months with 28 multi-ethnic college students in Hawaiʻi, U.S.
Results: Correlational and multiple regression analyses yielded significant positive relationships among daily physical leisure activity, self-concept, and feeling less hassled. Daily sedentary leisure activity was significantly associated with poorer health practices. Very-Physically-Active participants reported significantly more positive self-concept than Not-Very-Physically-Active participants. Self-concept and quality-of-life were significantly related to more positive daily health practices.
Conclusions: These results provide preliminary evidence for the positive and dynamical effects of active physical leisure activity on health practices and mental health indicators, and demonstrate cell phones as an effective tool for daily self-monitoring.
Applications in Sport: Health professionals, coaches, and educators may better understand the temporal health effects of physical leisure activities in student minorities. The use of cell phone technology, particularly text-messaging, can be an effective tool to self-monitor daily activities to improve health and fitness during leisure time.
Key words: physical leisure activities, health practices, self-monitoring, self-concept, quality-of-life
Effect of National-Level Field Hockey on Physical Fitness and Body Composition Parameters In Turkish Females
Submitted by Yılmaz Ucan1, Ph.D*
1* Abant Izzet Baysal University, School of Physical Education and Sports
Yılmaz Ucan, PhD, is an assistant professor in the Department of Coaching Science at the Abant Izzet Baysal University, Turkey.
ABSTRACT
To be successful in field sports such as soccer, rugby, football and hockey, players need to be enhancing some bio-motor abilities like endurance, strength, speed and flexibility. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of national-level field hockey on physical fitness and body-composition parameters in Turkish females. Twenty-four female subjects (12 non-sporting healthy controls aged 19 to 22, 12 elite, national level field hockey players aged 18 to 21) participated in this study. Body composition, 30-meter sprint, leg power, handgrip strength, posture balance were measured. At the end of measurements, there was a significant differences in body-fat percentage (p < 0.014), fat mass (p < 0.044), speed (p < 0.000), leg power (p < 0.006), grip strength (p < 0.022), but no significant differences in fat-free mass (p > 0.442) and fall index (p > 0.258) were observed between hockey players and non-sporting controls. Results suggest that regular participation to hockey training programs improves body composition, speed, and lower- and upper-extremity strength, with no effect on fat-free mass and posture balance in young females. Additional studies may identify effects of field hockey training on physical fitness and body composition in males and different age groups.
Key words: Field hockey, fat mass, speed, strength, posture balance