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The term 'nature sports' can be understood in different ways, depending on how the words 'sport' and 'nature' are explained. Since 'nature' is usually understood as 'ungroomed', 'nature sports' may be interpreted either as non-competitive practices in ungroomed nature (as discussed by Krein), with examples such as backcountry skiing, climbing or surfing; or as competitive sports in ungroomed nature. This paper argues that those ultra sports that take place in ungroomed nature, such as ultra swimming and ultra running, are better candidates for being called 'nature sports' than those non-competitive ones suggested by Krein; and that this is also more in line with the contemporary common use of the term 'sport'. This paper discusses these 'ultra/nature' sports, mainly from the point of view of their relationship to nature, the values that they offer to athletes, and their specific temporality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Strength is a central element of sport and therefore an equally central topic in sports science. In sports science, strength is dealt with primarily in biomechanics. Biomechanics reduces strength – legitimately – to a scientific subject. As a result, it loses sight of strength as a lifeworld phenomenon. The discipline that allows us to grasp strength as an everyday experience is phenomenology. This essay undertakes a phenomenological analysis of strength to uncover the diversity of strength phenomena in the lifeworld of sport. The theoretical and methodological basis for this is Hermann Schmitz's 'new phenomenology' (Neue Phänomenologie). With the help of new phenomenology, I first develop a real definition of strength ('strength is an intrusive effect through one-sided incorporation'). Second, I work out the general structures of the phenomenon of 'strength', that is, a system comprising ten categories ('pulling, pushing, centripetal, centrifugal, lifting, lowering, strong, weak, heavy, light'). Third, I use this system of categories for a phenomenology of sport-immanent strength phenomena. The paper thus makes a contribution to a pure phenomenology of sport. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sport categorization is often justified by benefits such as increased fairness or inclusion. Taking inspiration from John Rawls, Sigmund Loland's fair equality of opportunity principle in sport (FEOPs) is a tool for determining whether the existence of an inequality ethically justifies the institution of a new category in any given sport. It is an elegant ethical normative framework, but since FEOPs does not account explicitly for athlete safety (i.e. athlete physical and mental wellbeing), we are left in an ethically dubious situation where the risk of harm associated with a categorization regime might in fact prove to be greater than the risk of harm present within the sport before its introduction. To address this critical gap, I propose the 'scales of ignorance' ethical normative framework to weigh the relative risk of harm within a sport, crucially inserting athlete safety into the discourse surrounding ethical justification for categorization in sport. The current paper is the first explicit formulation of assessment and ethical justification of risk of harm in the familiar logic of FEOPs. The scales of ignorance framework can also be used independently of Loland's approach. Two new concepts are also proposed: 'insidious risk of harm' and 'pernicious risk of harm'. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we explore the lived experiences of mother-coaches who, while coaching, navigate policy and programs aimed at promoting gender equity. Specifically, this study took place within the context of an amateur national, 10-day multisport games event in Canada. Using critical feminist narrative inquiry, 14 mother-coaches (apprentice, assistant, or head coach), representing eight different provinces, and 10 different sports, participated in this study. Three themes were constructed that call attention to the Canadian sport system broadly, as well as the 10-day multisport games event specifically: (a) performative policies and gendered assumptions, (b) programs that are band-aids for a "shitty culture," and (c) a pathway to nowhere for mother-coaches. The findings complicate the hegemonic work–family conflict narrative, suggesting that mother-coaches' advancement, opportunities, and quality experiences are impacted by the current heteropatriarchal culture and structure of sport that these programs and policy are rooted in. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we analyze the subjective inclusion experiences of visually impaired (VI) adult tennis players from an ableism-critical perspective. The primary focus of this research is the inclusive potential of blind tennis from the perspective of VI individuals. Episodic interviews were conducted to capture subjective perspectives. A qualitative text analysis revealed that the interviewees were confronted with multiple ability assumptions by sighted people in their everyday lives. Deficit notions on the performance of VI people included sports, work, and general activities. Participation in blind tennis helped the interviewees build a "competent identity" and acquire various skills useful for their everyday lives as participation in blind tennis was a pathway for competence in sports. Further research is needed to identify exclusion experiences from the perspective of disabled people to recognize the potential of different sports in reducing barriers to participation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Where sporting games may be said to epitomize our species' unique agential capacity for playful movement, sports played in nature differ from their equivalent played indoors in that they envelop the human agent within the living physical environment from which our agency originates. In this paper, we draw attention to how sporting sites differ according to origin by pursuing a biosemiotic line of reasoning. Here, the story of a meaningful human life begins with the eukaryotic cell, even though the human subject itself arises much later. As such, the story of nature in relation to our agency, here, in sports, changes too. We present key concepts from biosemiotics, including its continuum life-as-semiotic-agency view, Umwelt, metasemiosis, and semiotic scaffolding to advance our argument that naturogenic sporting sites provide continuity to the macro processes that have generated our semiotic ability to play. Meanwhile, secluded anthropogenic environments constitute yet another discontinuity for the modern sportsperson where the moving body steps into an anthroposemiotic loop and its restricted signscapes from centralized agency. We conclude on the primacy of naturogenic sporting sites as they preserve the quality and complexity of animal ludens' constitutive relations and therefrom semiotic freedom, on which current and future gameplaying depends. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper deals with the question of whether nature sports are to be counted among the (traditional) sports and Kevin Krein's recent argument, based on sporting excellence, as to why they should. Krein argues that sports as such are ultimately about sporting excellence and because both so-called traditional sports and nature sports fulfil that criterion, nature sports belong in the sport domain. Here, I show that Krein's argument rests on an equivocation between two concepts of sporting excellence. Sporting excellence in traditional sports is connected to sporting success. Here agon (contest or competition) dictates or frames areté (striving for excellence). This is not the case for sporting excellence in nature sports, as these are not competitions. We are dealing with two different concepts of sporting excellence and Krein's argument, based on sporting excellence, must be rejected. It gives no basis for including nature sports in the sport domain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ethical questions normally arise in sport because its participants are human moral agents and because its practice community entails the observance of rules and responsibilities that humans generally owe one another in a social practice of voluntary competition. Since nature sports are not defined by this kind of inter-agential activity, it would appear that there are no comparable ethical constraints on their pursuit. This paper considers conflicts of preference versus right between humans, how these are resolved, and whether these rights are relevant in assessment of nature sport activity vis-à-vis nonhuman creatures. Relying on a goods perspective instead of a rights framework, via Korsgaard, I argue against an assumption that human preference is sufficient to override consideration of nonhuman animals' functional goods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An extensive literature base has investigated women's underrepresentation in decision-making positions with sport organizations, yet women's access to these positions remains limited. Diversification strategies, based on distributive justice, have failed to create further opportunities. A new approach is needed to address this latent issue. The concept of gender allyship is presented to address the limitations of distributive justice paradigms that involves men and women to work as members of a coalition to improve gender equity in sport organizations. Utilizing grounded theory, this paper presents the core category of awareness and related subcategories self-awareness, organizational awareness, and industry awareness, as a means of informing the performance of gender allyship. The findings provide interesting theoretical and empirical implications for understanding the development of awareness, its subcategories, and how it contributes to change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, I propose a new way of defining sport that I call a 'core-periphery' model. According to a core-periphery model, sport comes in degrees – what I refer to as 'sport-likeness' – and the aim of the philosopher of sport is to chart those dimensions along which an activity can be more or less a sport. By introducing the concept of sport-likeness, the core-periphery model complicates the picture of what is or is not a sport and encourages philosophers interested in defining sport to engage with the social sciences in exploring the extension of the term sport in common usage. In this paper I present the results of a small survey about attitudes to sport, and use it to illustrate how a core-periphery definition of sport would proceed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Currently, librarians, researchers, and policy maker still need updated information regarding the profile of research trends, especially in sports. This research aims specifically to explore sports research trends. Publication (Scopus) at the International Level is dominated by scientific journal articles, while the Indonesian level is dominated by Conference Papers (Proceedings). The opportunity for publication in Scopus indexed scientific journals is still wide open. The research implications: (1) contribute ideas to librarians, researchers, and policy maker in the world to be able to develop sports and be able to produce Scopus documents (reputable journals) to the fullest; (2) providing ideas for librarians, researchers, and policy maker regarding sports research trends; and (3) providing information on research trend profiles from Scopus documents related to international and Indonesian sports to librarians, researchers, and policy maker. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Resistance training (RT) has been identified as an important lifestyle activity for health. While systematic reviews have examined behavior change techniques (BCTs) used in interventions and potential correlates of RT behavior, the connection between BCTs and changes in putative mediators and RT participation have yet to be linked. The purpose of this review was to examine RT intervention effects, as coded by BCT clusters, on behavior change via capability, opportunity, and motivation as putative mediators of that change. Method: Literature searches were concluded in January of 2023, using three databases. Eligible studies included a comparison group, assessed RT as an outcome, included BCTs, assessed potential mediators, and were in English. The initial search yielded 1050 hits, which was reduced to 5 to independent RT interventions. Screening of previous reviews yielded three additional papers for a total of 8 papers. Each paper was assessed for the associations between intervention effects (as BCT clusters) on mechanisms of action (a path), effects of mechanisms of action on behavior (b path), and indirect (ab path) and direct (c path) effects of BCT clusters. Results: There was support that interventions had significant effects on capability and opportunity with inconclusive effects on motivation (a path). Both capabilities and motivation had associations with RT behavior (b path). The examined studies showed that changes in capabilities have the strongest support as a mediator with some support for motivation as a mediator (ab path). Studies that used more BCT clusters seemed to have a more positive effect on behavior, yet there were no trends to suggest any one crucial BCT cluster (c path). Conclusion: Current evidence suggests that capabilities and motivation are important to target in RT interventions. Future interventions would be well suited to utilize behavior change techniques that address these mediators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Advanced scientific and technological measurement methods are the basis of sports research and the progress of sports research methods. It promotes the continuous improvement of sports technology to meet athletes' pursuit of excellent sports achievements. Therefore, the method of sports scientific research must be changed from the traditional empirical training mode to the programmed training method, from the qualitative analysis of the training effect to the nuanced analysis of the training process. Based on this, this paper uses in-depth learning to study sports motion capture. First, two-dimensional human joints are extracted based on Mask R-CNN. Then, the 3D human motion skeleton is constructed by using the binocular vision system, and the Mask R-CNN human pose estimation algorithm is optimized. On this basis, a sports motion capture system is designed, and the system's accuracy is verified. The error of the depth information obtained by the sports capture system constructed in this paper is less than 3% in the experiment of about 2 m. It has strong practicability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Isokinetic normative data in females' soccer players is scarce in comparison to males. Furthermore, evaluation protocols employed to obtain those data in female's studies, strongly differ from each other, using different ranges of speeds and movement patterns, thus producing different output data. Thus, it is difficult for the researcher and the clinician to choose a correct protocol for knee isokinetic test in female soccer players. Aim of this paper is to review the literature to provide updated information on how to interpret a knee isokinetic testing in healthy females. Methods: Google Scholar, PubMed, Sport Discus, and Psych info databases were queried, and 17 papers were selected. Following PRISMA methodology and PEDro scale, we classified the retrieved papers and assessed the quality. Results: In this review some common features of isokinetic testing in female soccer players of various levels of qualification are highlighted. The isokinetic performance indexes widely accepted are the hamstring/quadriceps (H/Q) ratio and dominant/non-dominant (D/ND) ratio. It also emerges that, 3 reps at the speed of 60°/sec in knee flexion/extension are preferable due to the higher reliability and that the optimal H/Q ratio in healthy female soccer players of different level of qualification and age is 50%, while the interlimb differences (D/ND) should be below 10%. Conclusions: Normative data and methodologies reviewed can be useful for the isokinetic test of female soccer players. It emerges that simplifying test procedures limiting at few testing speed and considering selected H/Q and D/ND gives all the necessary relevant informations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Isokinetic normative data in females' soccer players is scarce in comparison to males. Furthermore, evaluation protocols employed to obtain those data in female's studies, strongly differ from each other, using different ranges of speeds and movement patterns, thus producing different output data. Thus, it is difficult for the researcher and the clinician to choose a correct protocol for knee isokinetic test in female soccer players. Aim of this paper is to review the literature to provide updated information on how to interpret a knee isokinetic testing in healthy females. Methods: Google Scholar, PubMed, Sport Discus, and Psych info databases were queried, and 17 papers were selected. Following PRISMA methodology and PEDro scale, we classified the retrieved papers and assessed the quality. Results: In this review some common features of isokinetic testing in female soccer players of various levels of qualification are highlighted. The isokinetic performance indexes widely accepted are the hamstring/quadriceps (H/Q) ratio and dominant/non-dominant (D/ND) ratio. It also emerges that, 3 reps at the speed of 60°/sec in knee flexion/extension are preferable due to the higher reliability and that the optimal H/Q ratio in healthy female soccer players of different level of qualification and age is 50%, while the interlimb differences (D/ND) should be below 10%. Conclusions: Normative data and methodologies reviewed can be useful for the isokinetic test of female soccer players. It emerges that simplifying test procedures limiting at few testing speed and considering selected H/Q and D/ND gives all the necessary relevant informations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This paper aims to present a theoretical framework and underpinning evidence to support researchers and practitioners to systematically design sport and exercise interventions. Design/methodology/approach: The framework highlights the theoretical underpinnings and practical feasibility considerations that are important when designing sport and exercise interventions for children and adolescents with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Findings: Future research may wish to apply and evaluate the utility of this framework and research and practice and make recommendations for further refinement. Originality/value: The quality and strength of conclusions from this body of research has been undermined by a lack of methodological quality and clarity in these studies. One criticism has been the lack of an evidence based, transparent and consistent approach to the design of physical activity and sport interventions and selection of outcome measures. This paper will facilitate the transparent and evidence-based decision-making to guide the design of sport/physical activity interventions for children/adolescents with ADHD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inequalities related to racial identity are consistently reported across social institutions, not least education, and sport. These inequalities consistently challenge 'post-race' narratives that rationalise racism down to individual prejudices and poor decision-making. This paper presents part of the findings from a wider a twelve-month research project commissioned by British University and Colleges Sport (BUCS) to explore race equality. This wider research privileged the voices of non-White students and staff in an exploration of race and equality in British UK university sport. 'Non-white' was chosen as a race identifier to focus on Whiteness, the normalised, raceless power that reproduces itself both knowingly and unknowingly, to ensure racial 'others' remain subordinate. This paper presents the findings of the student voices. In this study a research team of academic and student researchers explored the experiences of 38 students across five universities. Generating case studies from each university, the data was analysed from an Intersectional and Critical Race Theory perspective. Two core themes relating to negotiating Whiteness were developed from the data analysis which reflected experiences of university sport as predominantly White spaces; 'Play by the Rules' and 'Keep You Guessing'. Racial abuse was subtle, camouflaged in comments and actions that happened momentarily and hence were implausible to capture and evidence. For incidents to be addressed, evidence had to meet a 'beyond doubt' standard. Students were required to consciously negotiate racial bias and abuse to ensure they did not provide a justification for abuse. Navigating racialisation and stereotypes, plus White denial, was additional emotional labour for students. This mechanism of silencing the victim served to normalise racism for both the abused and perpetrator. The conclusion explores potential ways of disrupting these mechanisms of Whiteness in placing students' welfare at the heart of university sport. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Traditional narratives of sport posit winning as the defining goal in ways that can feel and be exclusionary to young people and result in a lack of enjoyment and subsequent decision to avoid or discontinue involvement in sport. This is particularly true for girls and young women who participate in sport at lower rates and quit at higher rates than boys and young men. Shifting the focus of sport away from winning can open space for a wider range of girls and young women to see themselves as athletes. Scholars have highlighted how story in the form of counter-narratives can play a role in changing readers' perspectives. However, no attention has been paid to fictional representations of athletes engaging in non-competitive sport and how these depictions might invite girls and young women to imagine themselves differently in sporting spaces. This paper employs thematic inductive analysis to examine three, girl-centric young adult sports novels that work as counter-narratives to examine what happens when winning is not the central goal of participation in sport. Specifically, it explores what fictional young women athletes gain through their participation in non-competitive sport and what young adult readers might gain in their engagement with these titles. Findings reveal how participation in non-competitive sport gives the fictional athletes a sense of full personhood, confidence and pride in what their bodies can do, and connection with something larger than themselves. These titles can show readers that their engagement in sport is desirable, that non-competitive sport is beneficial to them, and that their engagement in sport is possible, that non-competitive sport is for them. The paper suggests that stories of non-competitive sport have the potential to open equitable access by inviting more young people, particularly those who have not seen themselves in stories of sport, to engage as athletes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The sweat, meaning to sweat, is a moniker attached to prearranged but unorganised and informal sport and physical activity within local communities in Trinidad and Tobago. Explained as a culturally significant phenomenon, the sweat is a space of community cohesion and radical questioning through its resident attendant ole talk where the critical deconstruction of social reality readily occurs. Using Paolo Freire's pedagogical ideas of problem-posing dialogue, this ethnographic paper, explores three main areas. Those being, the sweats and ole talk; the radicality of the sweats displayed in individual agency against the structured restrictions of formal sports participation; and the sweats as a site for cross-cultural integration and interaction in an otherwise ethnically diverse country. Through the experiences of eight individuals associated to the sweats, Freirean ideas of love, radicality and hopefulness are prominent in the description of the sweats. To this end, this paper adds to the growing body of literature on informal sport participation as a site to negotiate and reconcile differences in local communities, as well as a site for social and sport-for-development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The field of Philosophy of Sport has been developing in Anglo-Saxon scholarship since the 1960s and since then has achieved considerable consolidation. However, this is a progressing field in Latin American countries like Brazil. This paper aims to analyse the trajectory of the Philosophy of Sport in Brazil, presenting an overview of its development since the 1980s and some prospects that have been generated since the turn of the century. In conclusion, the article points out that the field of Philosophy of Sport in Brazil is in the process of disciplinary consolidation, presenting a plurality of agents, institutions and theoretical approaches in its structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The designation of Diego Maradona's 'handball' goal, that it was an intervention by God himself, brings the phenomena of sport and religion into an interrelationship. The basic thesis of this paper is that, despite many of their phenomenal similarities, explicit religion is not, and cannot be, substantially related to sport, as the two manifest themselves in different ways of being. This thesis is supported by arguments from three philosophical areas: 1. The ontological dimension of the manifestation of the sacred in the profane through the process of hierophany in sport does not refer to a specific deity or God, and is therefore not a presentation but an indirect representation of the sacred; 2. The epistemological perspective of the intentional relation of consciousness to religious ritual justifies the necessity of situating them in an overall horizon of references and meanings to the horizon of the lifeworld; 3. The existential and experiential aspects of transformative sport experiences transform the horizon of meanings of empirical reality, but lack the sacramental perspective. Implicit religion as a possibility of transition on a continuum of complementary existential states is a suitable explicative framework for analyzing the phenomenal similarities and essential differences of religion and sport. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Laboratory medicine in sport and exercise has significantly developed during the last decades with the awareness that physical activity contributes to improved health status, and is present in monitoring both professional and recreational athletes. Training and competitions can modify concentrations of a variety of laboratory parameters, so the accurate laboratory data interpretation includes controlled and known preanalytical and analytical variables to prevent misleading interpretations. The paper represents a comprehensive summary of the lectures presented during the 35th Annual Symposium of the Croatian Society of Medical Biochemistry and Laboratory Medicine. It describes management of frequent sport injuries and sums up current knowledge of selected areas in laboratory medicine and sports including biological variation, changes in biochemical parameters and glycemic status. Additionally, the paper polemicizes sex hormone disorders in sports, encourages and comments research in recreational sports and laboratory medicine. In order to give the wider view, the connection of legal training protocols as well as monitoring prohibited substances in training is also considered through the eyes of laboratory medicine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to explore the ultras phenomenon in the Kolkata maidan as a mediatized spectacle in the context of sports fandom in 21st-century India. In contrast to the typical portrayal of football ultras as violent groups of conservatives in the global paradigm, this paper examines the Kolkata ultras as a distinct community formed by specific fan groups of two prominent football clubs—Mohun Bagan and East Bengal. Exploring the complex configurations of sports fandom and ultras activities, this paper considers the Kolkata football ultras as a pastiche of their European counterparts. Through their gallery activities, including the display of tifos, the Kolkata ultras attempt to narrativize the settlers-migrant conflict between Mohun Bagan and East Bengal in a neoliberal economy. While turning the identarian discourse on a visual level, the paper also analyses how the display foregrounds a change in the politics of sports fandom in India through their anti-NRC-CAA tifos in recent times. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reports the findings of a mixed-methods study which investigates the socio-cultural impacts of UK gendered school sport uniform and the role uniform plays in shaping female school sport experiences. Drawing on an extensive analytical survey with over 400 women of all-ages and 8 interviews with women aged 18–24, it explores how school sport uniform directly impacts female sporting experiences and participation in physical activity, and how uniform policy could be changed to promote greater female sport participation. Gendered school sport uniform continues to operate as a socio-spatial mechanism that names, frames and positions young people in heteronormative school sport spaces. This paper assesses how gendered school sport uniform contributes to the disciplining of the 'ideal feminine body' in schoolgirls and the construction of behavioural gender binaries in sport. The data reveal gendered sport uniform influences the development of a 'fear of masculinisation' in sport and common athletic-feminine identity tensions in teenage girls. The research finds gendered school sport uniform plays a major role in the high drop-out rates of teenage girls in school sport and offers practical insight into how policy could be changed to promote inclusivity, comfort and greater female sport participation. This paper proposes redesigning traditional gendered school sport policy to focus on 'enabling' participation has huge potential to transform female embodied and psychological experiences of school sport and increase school sport participation and enjoyment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Organized youth sport has become a prominent activity in Western societies, one around which myriad families structure their daily lives. Despite its popularity, or rather because of it, youth sport is besotted with complex problems. One distinctive set of problems pertains to children's opportunities to benefit from engagement in sport. Such problems require a reflection on the conditions of justice. The goal of this paper is to explore ethical guidelines to make youth sport more just. The paper begins by characterizing childhood, youth, and youth sport. Then, it articulates considerations of justice in youth sport. Together, these sections provide a basis to formulate the general features of a just youth sport. What emerges is a vision of youth sport that the adults involved in it should emphasize and implement if their young charges, and youth sport, are to flourish, as well as a novel approach to formulating and justifying normative criteria to make youth sport more just. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The sociology of sport has developed within and been intricately involved in the critique of neoliberalism. While important, there are certain limitations to this scholarship that are related to the nature of Western liberalism and academia. This paper attempts to argue a role for Marxist–Leninist thought in the sociology of sport. Historically excluded from academia after World War II, this bias is part of what Gabriel Rockhill has described as the "Global Theory Industry," that decries socialism while remaining favorable to Western liberal capitalism. The anti-communism of the theory industry means that much of the work on neoliberalism and Marxism in the sociology of sport has ignored the experiences and efforts of socialist countries, as well as theorists from the Global South. This article broadly critiques existing neoliberal and Marxist studies of sport while arguing that a Marxist–Leninist approach may give those in the field a better account of sport and its relationship to domestic and global politics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the decision-making role of Canadian national sport organization boards, identifies the processes used to facilitate decision making by these boards, and explores whether these elements differ between the various design archetypes that exist among these organizations. Forty-five semistructured interviews were conducted with board members and senior staff of 22 Canadian national sport organizations, and data were thematically analyzed. Findings indicate board members and senior staff focused on strategy as their primary role, along with control over other roles (e.g., providing advice and counsel or securing resources). Roles differed according to the organization's design archetype. Our analysis showed clear differences between design archetypes in terms of how these the organizations used structural artifacts such as subcommittees to facilitate decision making, navigated decision rights between board members and paid staff, and adhered to the Carver policy governance model promoted for national sport organizations by Sport Canada. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Smart sensors represent a significant advancement in modern sports science, and their effective use enhances the ability to monitor and analyze athlete performance in real time. The integration of these sensors has enhanced the accuracy of data collection related to physical activity, biomechanics, and physiological responses, thus providing valuable insights for performance optimization, injury prevention, and rehabilitation. This paper provides an overview of the research progress in the application of smart sensors in the field of sports science; highlights the current advances, challenges, and future directions in the deployment of smart sensor technologies; and anticipates their transformative impact on sports science and athlete development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A central question within social theorization relates to the rescaling of ‘power’ in a globalized world. This paper advances sociological debates on power by cross-pollinating Beck’s power game theory with Bourdieu’s field. Hence, it conceptualizes what we call a ‘power game field’. This captures the power competition that cuts across local, national and global fields and involves, likewise, local, national and transnational actors whose capital and social relations shape the field’s outcomes. Using a global sport mega-event as our empirical setting, we explore the struggles and compliances in the power game field. Specifically, in the context of how the standards imposed on Brazil by football’s governing body (FIFA) – framed nationally as ‘Padrão FIFA’ – were contested within a localized media setting (2007–2014). This is done through a frame analysis of readers’ letters and media articles, which reveals the importance of Beck’s ‘both-and’ logic and the notion of ‘communal capital’. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction This scoping review mapped evidence on physical activity (including structured exercise) and sedentary behaviour interventions (interventions to reduce sedentary behaviour) in people living with both frailty and multiple long-term conditions (MLTCs) and their informal carers. Methods Ten databases and grey literature were searched from 2000 to October 2023. Two reviewers screened studies and one extracted data. Results were shared with three stakeholder groups (n  = 21) in a consultation phase. Results After screening, 155 papers from 144 studies (1 ongoing) were retained. The majority were randomised controlled trials (86, 55%). Participants' mean age was 73 ± 12 years, and 73% were of White ethnicity. MLTC and frailty measurement varied widely. Most participants were pre-to-moderately frail. Physical health conditions predominated over mental health conditions. Interventions focused on structured exercise (83 studies, 60%) or combined interventions (55 studies, 39%). Two (1%) and one (0.7%) focused solely on habitual physical activity or sedentary behaviour. Adherence was 81% (interquartile range 62%–89%) with goal setting, monitoring and support important to adherence. Carers were only involved in 15 (11%) studies. Most interventions reported positive outcomes, primarily focusing on body functions and structures. Conclusions A modest volume of evidence exists on multicomponent structured exercise interventions, with less focus on habitual physical activity and sedentary behaviour. Interventions report largely positive effects, but an updated systematic review is required. The field could be advanced by more rigorous characterisation of MLTCs, socioeconomic status and ethnicity, increased informal carer involvement and further evaluation of habitual physical activity and sedentary behaviour interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study has two main goals: to conduct a systematic review of musculoskeletal injuries experienced by badminton players, and to examine the management of such injuries. Searches were conducted of the PROSPERO, PubMed, Scopus, and SPORTDiscus databases, from their inception until March 2023. The papers analysed were all based on a study population consisting of individuals aged 18 years or more, diagnosed with badminton-related injuries. The methodological quality assessments was using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale and REVMAN. A total of 28 studies were included in the systematic review. In total, the analysis included 2435 participants. Of these athletes, 35.6% (1012) were female and 64.4% (1503) were male. By type of injury, sprains were the most commonly studied and the most prevalent, accounting for 36.06% of the sample. These were followed by muscle injuries, representing 23.86% of the total. Injuries to the joints were the least prevalent, accounting for 4.97% of the sample. Lower limb injuries accounted for 52.15% of the total. Of these, ankle injuries were the most common. Despite the generally low quality of the studies considered, the evidence suggests that musculoskeletal injuries, especially to the lower limb, most commonly affect badminton players of all levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Participating in sport and physical exercise (SPE) can be challenging for transgender and non-binary people. Previous research has identified some of the barriers trans people face in schools, leisure spaces and competitive sports (e.g. gender segregation, gendered language, sports clothing, and transphobia), and the resultant poor rates of participating in everyday SPE compared to the cisgender population. Yet, despite the ways in which sport, the experience of being trans, and being trans in sport are often framed as intensely focused on the body, less attention has been paid to the embodied experience of trans people as they engage in SPE. This paper draws on selected data examples from a qualitative study examining trans adults' experiences of engaging in everyday SPE and looks towards Wellard's [(2012). Body-reflexive pleasures: Exploring bodily experiences within the context of sport and physical activity. Sport, Education and Society, 17(1), 21–33. ] concept of circuits of body-reflexive pleasure, to explore how participants' make sense of their embodied selves. Sitting at the intersection of social, physiological and psychological experiences of sport, we explore how circuits of body-reflexive pleasure (and displeasures) in SPE can induce feelings of gender dysphoria as well as feelings of pleasure and gender euphoria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Utilising novel ways of knowing, aligned with an ecological approach, the Learning in Development Research Framework (LDRF) has been introduced as a different way to guide research and practice in sport. A central feature of this framework is an appreciation of researcher embeddedness; positioned as an inhabitant who follows along with the unfolding inquiry. This positioning is integral for enriching ones understanding of the relations between socio-cultural constraints and affordances for skill learning within a sports organisation. Moreover, the notion of embeddedness foregrounds the ongoing nature of inquiry when practiced as an art of inquiry. In an effort to extend these ideas, this paper highlights how a phronetic iterative approach to data analysis-synthesis could be undertaken, while ensuring that the researcher remains 'in touch' with a phenomenon, and thus faithful to key tenets of research practiced as an art of inquiry. To illustrate this, we present a 'walk-through' from a recent LDRF study. Rather than focusing on data collection or recorded observations made from afar, this walk-through shows how a researcher, practicing an art of inquiry, can grow knowledge of and with the phenomena, enriching the evolution of practice and performance from within an ecology of relations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While regular exercise should be part of the contemporary lifestyle, many people overindulge in it to the point of losing control over their behavior. This condition is known as exercise addiction (EA). Although addiction is an individual phenomenon, and most of the over 1,000 published studies on EA look at individual exercisers, there are studies on team sports athletes, too. Theoretically, these athletes should not manifest exercise addiction, but some studies are projecting the contrary. Therefore, in this literature review, we analyze EA in team athletes. Based on four databases (PsycINFO, SPORTDiscus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar), we located 22 articles conforming to inclusion criteria. These studies suggest a high risk of exercise addiction among team sports participants. While the figures are lower than for individual exercisers, they are in discord with the concept of addiction as a dysfunction, and the lack of a single case of exercise addiction reported (to date) in team sports athletes in the academic literature. In agreement with a recent position paper, we conclude that there are substantial conceptual and measurement errors in exercise addiction research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores the use of biomechanics in identifying the mechanistic causes of musculoskeletal tissue injury and degeneration. It appraises how biomechanics has been used to develop training programmes aiming to maintain or recover tissue health. Tissue health depends on the functional mechanical environment experienced by tissues during daily and rehabilitation activities. These environments are the result of the interactions between tissue motion, loading, biology, and morphology. Maintaining health of and/or repairing musculoskeletal tissues requires targeting the "ideal" in vivo tissue mechanics (i.e., loading and deformation), which may be enabled by appropriate real-time biofeedback. Recent research shows that biofeedback technologies may increase their quality and effectiveness by integrating a personalised neuromusculoskeletal modelling driven by real-time motion capture and medical imaging. Model personalisation is crucial in obtaining physically and physiologically valid predictions of tissue biomechanics. Model real-time execution is crucial and achieved by code optimisation and artificial intelligence methods. Furthermore, recent work has also shown that laboratory-based motion capture biomechanical measurements and modelling can be performed outside the laboratory with wearable sensors and artificial intelligence. The next stage is to combine these technologies into well-designed easy to use products to guide training to maintain or recover tissue health in the real-world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The global issue of substance abuse demands ongoing initiatives aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. With drug use remaining prevalent worldwide, interventions are critical to addressing the associated health challenges and societal implications. Exercise and physical activities have emerged as integral components of substance use disorder (SUD) treatment, offering promising avenues for prevention, intervention, and recovery. Recent research underscores the efficacy of exercise in reducing substance cravings, promoting abstinence, and improving overall well-being. However, integrating exercise into SUD recovery programs presents challenges such as dropout rates and cultural considerations. This paper synthesizes existing literature on exercise integration into SUD recovery, highlighting strategies for enhancing treatment outcomes and addressing barriers to exercise adherence. Drawing on cognitive–behavioral therapy, experiential learning, motivational interviewing, and goal-setting techniques, the holistic approach outlined in this paper aims to empower individuals both mentally and physically, fostering resilience and supporting long-term recovery. In conclusion, new initiatives need to be taken by advocating for inclusive policies, promoting community engagement, and fostering collaborations across sectors. By doing so, stakeholders can optimize the effectiveness of exercise programs and contribute to sustainable rehabilitation efforts for individuals with SUD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The central objective of this paper is to demonstrate that the validity of the Hughes and Coakley (H&C) model of deviance in sport is context specific and depends on the time, place, social groups involved, and the relative power of the audience and deviant(s). H&C argued that performance enhancing substance (PES) use constituted a single type of deviant behavior among athletes (i.e. positive deviance). The Heckert and Heckert (H&H) deviance framework made it possible to theorize performance-enhancing substances and methods (PESM) use as four ideal types of deviant behavior among athletes and in sports collectives. Given the variability in the historical and social contexts where PESM use has occurred in sport, a comprehensive explanatory framework is needed to understand a full range of PESM behaviors. This paper demonstrates that the H&H framework has a clear explanatory advantage over the H&C model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Slavoj Žižek's interpretation of drive as a "less than nothing" entity that goes beyond life and death itself in the space of the "undead" is the proper dimension of endurance sports. The question of how far a human can push themselves is open, and limited only by real-life investigation. This paper highlights aspects and potential limits of the drive through three stories of endurance feats: the "Iron Cowboy" James Lawrence who completed 100 Ironman triathlons in 100 days, Courtney Dauwalter who won a 240-mile ultramarathon, and Eliud Kipchoge, the fastest marathoner in history. In each story, a few themes emerge, like the paradox that "discipline is freedom," "feeling alive at the moment of death," and pure jouissance beyond biology. It is not a coincidence that the first marathoner in history actually died after making the famous trip from Marathon to Athens. In the same way, this is exactly the death that endurance athletes strive toward. This paper argues that we should understand this drive as a being-toward-death, as Heidegger's phenomenological analysis in Being and Time holds remarkably for the experience of endurance athletes. But even beyond Heidegger's being-toward-death, as well as various biological explanations for sports motivations, only Jacques Lacan's understanding of drive, and the lamella, yield a satisfying account of these fantastic athletic achievements. As well as the three stories of endurance feats, I incorporate my own experience as an endurance athlete. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This paper aims to concentrate on recent innovations in flexible wearable sensor technology tailored for monitoring vital signals within the contexts of wearable sensors and systems developed specifically for monitoring health and fitness metrics. Design/methodology/approach: In recent decades, wearable sensors for monitoring vital signals in sports and health have advanced greatly. Vital signals include electrocardiogram, electroencephalogram, electromyography, inertial data, body motions, cardiac rate and bodily fluids like blood and sweating, making them a good choice for sensing devices. Findings: This report reviewed reputable journal articles on wearable sensors for vital signal monitoring, focusing on multimode and integrated multi-dimensional capabilities like structure, accuracy and nature of the devices, which may offer a more versatile and comprehensive solution. Originality/value: The paper provides essential information on the present obstacles and challenges in this domain and provide a glimpse into the future directions of wearable sensors for the detection of these crucial signals. Importantly, it is evident that the integration of modern fabricating techniques, stretchable electronic devices, the Internet of Things and the application of artificial intelligence algorithms has significantly improved the capacity to efficiently monitor and leverage these signals for human health monitoring, including disease prediction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores how students understand physical education (PE) as a subject in the Danish upper secondary school (USS) and discusses the role of the subject after the Danish USS reform of 2017. The paper presents a 6 months' field study of PE lessons in 2 Danish upper secondary schools. Both schools were located in the Danish capital area. A total of 42 Lessons in 4 PE-classes [N = 240] were observed throughout the 6 months and 8 focus group interviews were conducted with students [N = 54] at the end of the field study. We are inspired by the theoretical contribution of Hartmut Rosa to analyse how students understand physical education (PE) and critically discuss and reflect upon the how this understanding relates to the structure of PE as a USS subject in the light of the political development in the Danish upper secondary schools for the past decades. The study has shown that most students value the subject because it represents a place of resonance during an otherwise accelerated everyday life. At the same time, the USS reform of 2017 gives PE a smaller role in the overall curriculum. However, PE is now, for the first time, an exam subject after the third year of USS. Therefore, the article contributes to a debate regarding the consequences the increased focus on achievement may have on the subject as a place of resonance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The complexities of financial management in sports enterprises are magnified by the rapid pace of economic globalization and the increasing integration of advanced technologies. This paper examines the pivotal roles of block chain Web3 technology and deep learning in reshaping financial strategies within the sports and fitness sectors. With the proliferation of big data and cloud computing, sports organizations are seeking innovative ways to enhance their financial operations and maintain competitiveness in a volatile market. We explore how block chain Web3 technology can be applied to improve transparency, reduce transaction costs, and secure financial transactions, thereby enhancing the financial integrity of sports enterprises. Additionally, deep learning algorithms are analyzed for their capacity to provide predictive insights and early warning signals regarding financial risks, a crucial advantage in the dynamic sports market where financial stability is closely tied to seasonal performances and consumer interests. Furthermore, this paper addresses the existing challenges in the financial management of sports enterprises, highlighting how traditional methods may fall short in the face of evolving digital environments. We propose strategic applications of block chain and deep learning technologies, designed to foster more scientifically sound financial practices that support sustainable growth and operational efficiency in sports organizations. By integrating these advanced technologies, sports enterprises can better manage financial risks and capitalize on new opportunities for revenue generation and strategic expansion, ensuring long-term development and success in the increasingly competitive sports industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the growing body of feminist research investigating the relationship between sports initiatives and gender development goals, the literature to date has almost exclusively focused on female participation within sport for development programs. The purpose of this paper is to examine men's behavior and provide novel insights into the perspectives and roles of men in sport for development work. This paper draws upon 11 months of ethnographic research undertaken between 2017 and 2018 in two organizations in São Paulo, Brazil, which use football as a tool to empower women. The findings reveal the diversity of roles men play in gender equality efforts and indicate issues men face, specifically the impact of ideas of manhood that hinder their ability to support broader social justice. The author ends the paper by outlining the necessity to explore masculinity and manhood in more depth to broaden the current understandings of the limitations and potential of sport for development initiatives to change the traditional model of male dominance and, consequently, have a more profound effect on gender equality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since its beginnings, modern bodybuilding has been accompanied by the background issue of whether it should be considered a sport. The problem, culminating in its provisional acceptance as a sport by the International Olympic Committee, was later retracted. The uncertainty of whether bodybuilding is a sport or not seems to linger. Addressing this issue, Aranyosi (2018) provided an account to determine the status of bodybuilding as a sport that arrives at the negative answer: bodybuilding is not a sport but rather a form of artistic presentation. In this paper, we disagree with Aranyosi. We argue that by the standards he presents in his first argument, bodybuilding should be considered a sport. Further, we argue that his alternative approach on how to evaluate a discipline as more sport- or art-like on a spectrum, is not a valid basis to make such a judgment regarding bodybuilding. Further, even if his spectrum was modified to enable such a judgment, again it would result in bodybuilding being evaluated as a sport. Therefore, we conclude that everyone who accepts Aranyosi´s (or any less restrictive) requirements to decide whether bodybuilding is a sport, has to consider bodybuilding as a sport or refrain from making claims about its status. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Musculoskeletal pain is a non-negligible multifaceted condition affecting more than 30% of the global population. Superficial heat therapy (HT), through increasing tissue temperatures, plays a role in increasing local metabolism and function and relieving pain. Knee (KP) and sports pain represent two relevant fields of superficial HT application. Methods: In the present paper, a panel of experts performed a narrative review of the literature regarding the role of superficial HT in the management of knee and sports activity-related pain. Results: According to the reviewed literature, HT represents a therapeutic option in the management of musculoskeletal pain due to three main effects: pain relief, promotion of healing, and return to normal function and activity. Moreover, HT plays a role in sport activities both before and after exercise. Before performing sports, HT helps in preparing muscles for performance. After performing sports, it is capable to promote recovery and healing pathways. Combining and sequencing superficial heat and cold therapy represent an interesting topic of study. Overall, the application of heat wraps for superficial HT can be considered safe. Conclusions: HT has been shown to be a potentially beneficial and safe option in the management of several conditions including KP and sports. The key in the application of superficial HT is a multimodal and multidisciplinary approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coverage of problems relating to mental health and well-being is gaining ground in the sports sector today, both in the media and in the scientific literature. Despite exposure to numerous stressors and suffering from poor mental health, coaches have in general been largely overlooked in the scientific literature. Previous studies have mainly focused upon athlete populations. The absence of research means that there are real shortcomings in both understanding the mechanisms involved in the deterioration of coaches' mental health and well-being and in the lack of specific support systems available. This paper first describes findings from the recent, albeit quite scarce, research investigating mental health and well-being in coaches. It then proposes a number of avenues for research and support protocols, both of which are currently ongoing at the French Football Federation Research Centre. The aim is to help support these key participants in the sports sector who arguably have not been given sufficient consideration until now. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Core stability has been reported to be important for improving performance in athletes. However, the variety of measures used to assess core stability has made it difficult to compare results across studies. In addition, there is a lack of consensus on precise definitions of core and core stability, which is a barrier to research in this field. OBJECTIVE: The overall purpose of this review was to summarize the definitions of core and core stability and measurements of core stability used in previous studies on athletes. METHODS: We searched four electronic databases (PubMed/Medline, SPORTDiscus, Web of Science and Science Direct) from their inception to October 2023. Studies evaluating core stability in athletes across all sports were included. We excluded case studies and case series, opinion pieces, letters to editors and studies not written in the English language. Two researchers independently assessed articles for inclusion and exclusion criteria and methodological quality. RESULTS: One hundred thirty-four studies were included, of which two were of high quality. The definitions of core and core stability varied widely, and 'core' was not defined in 108 studies and 'core stability' was not defined in 105 studies. The most used test protocol was the McGill test, which was used in 19 studies. CONCLUSIONS: There are multiple tests to measure core stability, and there is some confusion as to whether the measurement results represent core strength or core endurance. Future research papers should clarify the definitions of core and core stability, and consider core strength and core endurance separately. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As computer image processing and digital technologies advance, creating an efficient method for classifying sports images is crucial for the rapid retrieval and management of large image datasets. Traditional manual methods for classifying sports images are impractical for large-scale data and often inaccurate when distinguishing similar images. This paper introduces an SE module that adaptively adjusts the weights of input feature mapping channels, and a Res module that excels in deep feature extraction, preventing gradient vanishing, multi-scale processing, and enhancing generalization in image recognition. Through extensive experimentation on network structure adjustments, the SE-RES-CNN neural network model is applied to sports image classification. The model is trained on a sports image classification dataset from Kaggle, alongside VGG-16 and ResNet50 models. Training results show that the proposed SE-RES-CNN model improves classification accuracy by approximately 5% compared to VGG-16 and ResNet50 models. Testing revealed that the SE-RES-CNN model classifies 100 out of 500 sports images in 6 s, achieving an accuracy rate of up to 98% and a single prediction time of 0.012 s. This validates the model's accuracy and effectiveness, significantly enhancing sports image retrieval and classification efficiency. This validates the model's accuracy and effectiveness, significantly enhancing sports image retrieval and classification efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In competitive and elite sports, mental health and athletic performance cannot be considered separately. Mental disorders in sports are bidirectionally associated with reduced athletic performance. A decline in performance, both within and outside of sport, can be a sign of mental disorder. Additionally, poor athletic performance is a potential risk factor for mental disorders in athletes. The central role sports psychiatrists play in the mental health of athletes is well‐established. However, their role in athletic performance is less well‐described and more controversial, perhaps due to a perception that performance is purely a secondary outcome of good mental health. This paper discusses the role that sports psychiatrists can play in athletic performance within competitive and elite sports. Performance can be distinguished into three key focus areas for sports psychiatrists: (i) performance restoration, (ii) performance maintenance, and (iii) performance enhancement. These should be considered throughout the continuum of mental health care, from prevention, treatment, to ongoing care for mental disorders. When reduced performance is due to a mental disorder, psychiatric treatment should purposefully aim to restore functioning and performance as part of management. Maintenance of performance is, similarly, an important element of the prevention, psychiatric treatment, and ongoing care of mental disorders. Holistic sports psychiatrists may also choose to aim for athletic performance enhancement beyond the context of mental health symptoms and disorders, to help athletes flourish and achieve their goals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This systematic review aimed to provide an overview of test protocols used to measure peak oxygen uptake (VO2peak) in adults with Down syndrome (DS) and to determine how generalisable the outcomes are for the entire population of adults with DS by describing the sample characteristics of these studies and their impact on VO2peak. A literature search (PROSPERO CRD42022309560) was performed (18 July 2023) using the following databases: PubMed, CINAHL, APA PsycINFO, Web of Science, Embase and SPORTDiscus. For articles to be included, they had to be peer‐reviewed pubications, reporting VO2peak or VO2max for individuals with DS separately, with a sample of n ≥ 5 and a mean age ≥18 years. Systematic reviews and meta‐analyses were excluded but their reference lists were searched for additional papers to include. Studies were evaluated for risk of bias following the guidelines of Kmet et al. The results were summarised with frequency statistics. Forty‐three studies were included in this systematic review. Sample sizes of included adults with DS ranged from n = 4–226, with a total of n = 1498 adults with DS being included. Most studies (29/43) used the same standardised maximal exercise treadmill protocol to measure VO2peak in adults with DS, and 33 out of 43 studies used at least one objective criterion to determine a valid maximal effort. Participants were predominantly male, under 40 years old, and overweight or obese. Additionally, the diversity of study samples was lacking or not reported. The most widely used, standardised, maximal exercise test treadmill protocol is recommended for future use in research and practice, including objective criteria to determine valid maximal effort. The current study samples are not representative of the population of adults with DS in terms of sex, age and diverse backgrounds and therefore likely overestimate VO2peak of this population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]