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This cross-sectional study looks to investigate whether the previously reported positive relationship between physical activity and mental wellbeing is comparable between cisgender and transgender groups. This study also looks to examine the impact of barriers to physical activity on this relationship.

An exploration into cisgender athlete's welcoming attitudes, perceptions of fairness and emotional responses in relation to transgender athletes in sport. This experimental survey design study looks into differences in response to new members entering their sport based upon their gender identity, and further factors believed to influence these decisions, such as the nature of the sport being played e.g. contact or non-contact, team or individual and the level the sport is played.

The primary aim of this study was to explore gender differences regarding the sport psychological skills (SPS) profile of adolescent sport participants in a South African context. The present study forms part of an extensive five-year longitudinal study, the Physical Activity and Health Longitudinal Study (PAHL-Study). A crosssectional research design was used to gather quantitative data. Two hundred and eleven (89 boys and 122 girls) grade nine pupils (14 and 15 years of age) participated in the study. The participants completed the Athletic Coping Skills Inventory for Sport (ACSI-28) to determine their SPS profile. The results showed that the boys obtained higher mean scores in seven of the eight measured sport psychological skills. Freedom from worry was the only skill that yielded a statistically significant difference, with the boys (52.06±20.27) obtaining a higher mean value than the girls (46.17±20.56). In conclusion, the current findings indicated that, at this developmental level of competitive sport, boys and girls participants seem to be very similar regarding their sport psychological skills dispositions.Keywords: Adolescents; Gender differences; Participation; Profile; Psychological skills; Sports participants.

PhD (Health Science), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus At the elite level in sport, the difference between winning and losing is often ascribed to a player’s level of psychological abilities. Given that athletes’ physical, tactical and technical abilities are fairly equal, an athlete’s winning performance usually is ascribed to him/her possessing better mental skills than the rest. In rugby, numerous studies have investigated certain aspects important for performance such as anthropometrical, physiological and biomechanical requirements. However, the psychological characteristics of elite rugby players and the relationship thereof with performance have not yet attracted much attention among researchers. Based on the limited research pertaining to the role of cognition, personality and emotional intelligence with regard to playing level in rugby, the following research questions were formulated: 1) Which neurocognitive variables significantly differ between male, South African professional and semi-professional rugby union players? (Article 1); 2) Which personality traits significantly differ between male, South African professional and semi-professional rugby union players? (Article 2); 3) Which aspects of emotional intelligence significantly differ between male, South African professional and semi-professional rugby union players? (Article 3); and 4) Does a significant interrelationship exist between neurocognitive variables and emotional intelligence and between personality and emotional intelligence among male, South African professional and semi-professional rugby union players? (Article 4). The objectives of the study were subsequently also formulated as follows: 1) To determine if neurocognitive variables significantly differ between male, South African professional and semi-professional rugby union players; 2) To determine whether personality traits significantly differ between male, South African professional and semi-professional rugby union players; 3) To determine whether aspects of emotional intelligence significantly differ between male, South African professional and semi-professional rugby union players; and 4) To establish whether a significant interrelationship exists between neurocognitive variables and emotional intelligence and between personality and emotional intelligence among male, South African professional and semi-professional rugby union players. Since this was an exploratory study, a quantitative empirical research approach with a cross-sectional survey design was used along with a convenience sample. The sample consisted of 79 male South African rugby union players between 19 and 37 years of age participating at national, transnational and university levels. To address objectives 1-3, the total group of players was divided into a professional group (n = 55) and a semi-professional group (n = 24). The professional group consisted of full-time players who were competing at the highest level in a transnational competition and were remunerated for playing rugby, while the semi-professional players were full-time students at a university and competing in the top tier university competition, but therefore not earning a salary for being part of the team. To address objective 4, all the players were treated as one group. The players all completed the WebNeuro Sport online assessment representing a holistic assessment of various factors which might potentially influence an athlete’s performance. The assessment consists of a demographic questionnaire (including name, surname, age and gender) and seven assessments, namely the Carlstedt Subliminal Attention, Reactivity and Coping Scale-Athlete Version (CSARCS-A); the cognitive functioning domain; the Brain Resource Inventory for Screening Cases (BRISC) which is a screening tool for markers of self-regulation; the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS); a sleep assessment questionnaire which evaluates the test taker’s quality and frequency of sleep; the Brain Resource Inventory for Emotional Intelligence Factors (BRIEF) and a Personality inventory (NEO-FFI). For this study, only the data of the cognitive functioning domain, the BRIEF, and the NEO-FFI were used. The results of the quantitative data suggest that no significant neurocognitive difference existed between the professional and semi-professional players. Neuroticism was, however, the only personality trait that was found to differ significantly between players playing at different levels. On emotional intelligence (EI), the external emotional capacity subscale (EEC) obtained a medium worthwhile effect in favour of the professional players. Lastly, the findings indicate a significant correlation between total EI and extraversion, and conscientiousness. Internal emotional capacity (IEC) significantly correlated with extraversion, openness, agreeableness and conscientiousness. External emotional capacity (EEC) showed a significant correlation with extraversion and openness. With regard to cognition, external emotional capacity significantly correlated with verbal ability. Contrary to our expectations, the findings showed few psychological differences between professional and semi-professional players with only neuroticism and external emotional capacity differing between players playing at different levels. Finally, seen from a theoretical point of view, the results indicated that EI is rather associated with personality than with an individual’s cognition. Doctoral

Expert performance in sport depends on physiological, technical, emotional, and cognitive domains. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between the measures of cognition (memory capacity, attention and behavioural tasks, sensory-motor functioning, verbal tasks, executive functioning and emotion identification) and on-field performance [as determined by the key performance indicators (KPIs)] of university-level rugby players. A group of 25 male university-level rugby players were recruited from a South African University’s Rugby Institute squad who participated in the Varsity Cup Tournament (VCT). The players’ cognitive functioning was measured using the WebNeuro Sport, developed by the BRC, which consists of seven measuring scales. The cognition scale was used for further analysis. To quantify the players’ on-field performance, the KPIs of each player were determined for each game by using the technical analysis software, Stratus. Results indicated that the tight five forwards’ sensorymotor ability might contribute to the number of carries the players perform during attacking play. The loose forwards’ showed a positive correlation between total contribution and emotion identification. For the backs, medium to strong positive correlations exit between emotion identification and total attacking contribution, passes as well as kicks. Therefore, effective pattern recognition ability and associated quick decision-making might be important cognitive functions for backline players as well as loose forwards.Keywords: Cognitive functioning, neuropsychology, performance, performance indicators, Rugby union, sport psychology

This study determined whether anthropometrical, physical, motor and sport psychological differences exist between a group of male adolescents who show talent for sprinting and their less talented counterparts. Grade 8 boys (N=89; mean age: 13.25±0.46 years), from a high school in Potchefstroom voluntarily participated in the study. A general talent identification (TID) protocol and a sport psychological questionnaire were completed. The 40m-sprint test was used to categorise the subjects into two groups. Those in the top 10% were assigned to the talented group (TG) (n=8, mean age=13.79), and the remaining subjects were assigned to the less talented group (LTG) (n=72, mean age=13.55). An analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) was applied with stature as the covariate to adjust for variations in growth status between the two groups. The practical significance of differences between the two groups was determined by means of effect sizes (ES). The level of significance was set at p≤0.05. Significant differences with the potentially talented sprinters, who obtained better scores in upper and lower body explosive power, acceleration, maximal speed, aerobic endurance and in goal setting were found.Key words: Sprinting; Anthropometry; Physical; Psychology; Adolescence; Boys.

MSc (Counselling Psychology), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2016 Rugby is regarded as one of the most popular professional team sports in the world and characterized by various high-intensity activities such as sprints, accelerations from a static position, rucking, mauling, tackling and breaking through tackles. In addition to the physical demands players have to deal with, there are also psychological, emotional, social and behavioural demands which need to be addressed. Athletes have to excel in four domains in order to perform at elite levels of sport, namely the physiological, technical, emotional and cognitive levels. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between measures of cognition (memory capacity, attention and behavioural tasks, sensory-motor functioning, verbal tasks, executive functioning and emotion identification) and on-field performance [as determined by the Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)] of university-level rugby players. A quantitative research method, namely a cross-sectional research design with a convenience sample, was used. A group of 25 male university-level rugby players were recruited from a South African University’s Rugby Institute squad who participated in the Varsity Cup Tournament. The group consisted of eight tight five players (numbers 1-5), five loose forwards (numbers 6-8) and twelve backline players (numbers 9-15) with an average age of 22.63, 22.80 and 21.50 years respectively. The participants’ cognitive functioning was measured using the WebNeuro Sport, a web-based assessment instrument developed by the Brain Resource Company. In order to quantify the players’ on-field performance, the Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) of each player were determined for each game by the full-time, qualified coders of the technical support department of The South African Rugby Union (SARU) by using the technical analysis software, Stratus. The following KPIs were included in the analysis: Attacking variables, including the total number of contributions a player provided during attacking play, carries (number of carries), passes (number of passes a player made), kicks (number of kicks during the game), ball recycler (number of times a player recycled the ball from a maul), breakdown arrivals (number of times a player is part of breakdowns) and attacking mauls (number of times a player was part of an attacking maul. Defensive variables included total number of contributions a player provided during defensive play, tackle attempts (number of attempts), missed tackles (number of tackles missed), breakdown arrivals on defence (number of times a player is part of breakdowns) and defensive mauls (number of times a player was part of a defensive maul). According to our knowledge this is the first study of its kind, which makes a comparison of our findings with existing literature virtually impossible. The analyses of the tight five forwards revealed that players’ sensory-motor ability might contribute to the number of carries the players perform during attacking play. In terms of the loose forwards the positive correlation between total contribution and emotion identification might be indicative of the important role of good pattern recognition and associated quick decision-making. In line with the results of the loose forwards, the analyses of the backs revealed medium to strong positive correlations between emotion identification and total attacking contribution, passes as well as kicks. It therefore appears that good pattern recognition ability and associated quick decision-making might be important cognitive functions for backline players as well as loose forwards to enhance their performance. Although this is the first study of its kind and the fact that most of the explanations are based on hypotheses, it might lay the foundation for further research regarding rugby players’ cognitive functioning and related on-field performance. An important implication of the present findings is that knowledge of the positive as well as the negative relationships and certain measures of cognitive functioning may be of value for improving on-field performance by means of the application of cognitive interventions programs Masters

Long distance running is a moderate to high-power activity supported by aerobic energy (Ward-Smith, 1999). Apart from the importance of aerobic conditioning, long distance running requires a great deal of mental toughness. The purpose of this study was to compare talented, with less talented distance runners, in order to identify the psychological characteristics exhibited by talented distance runners. A cross-sectional study design was used which consisted of 182 grade 8 pupils: 87 boys and 95 girls. Sport psychological skill levels were measured with the Athletic Copings Skills Inventory (ACSI-28). The Australian Talent Search Protocol was used to identify general sporting talent. The results of the beep test were used to identify the most talented potential distance runners. The top 30% (n=58) of the adolescents were assigned to group 1 (talented group) and the remaining adolescents to group 2 (n=107) (less talented). The results revealed that the talented group obtained significantly better results in 6 of the 8 variables which included adversity, pressure, goal-setting, concentration, coachability and the average coping ability (p

Development of previously disadvantaged communities was identified in South Afria (SA) as a national priority and sport was indicated to be part of such a strategy. Farm schools are among the poorest with regards to financial resources and physical structures in SA and consequently learners are confronted with many constraints regarding sport participation. The aim of this study was to develop a sport development programme for sprinting and long jump that is time effective and requires inexpensive equipment for 10-15 year old black children from farm schools. A pre-test/post-test 2-group research design was used. All girls between the ages 10 and 15 from 2 schools (N=66) who consented to participate in the study were tested by means of the Australian Talent Search protocol and the most talented girls (top 30%) in each school were selected by rank order for further testing by means of a sport specific test battery for the motor abilities underlying successful participation in sprint and long jump. The intervention group (n=19) underwent a development programme for ten weeks conducted twice a week for 1.5 hours and their results were compared to that of a control group (n=18) who did not follow a development programme. The results were analysed by means of independent t-testing and the practical significance of differences was determined by means of effect size. Covariance analysis (ANCOVA) was performed to adjust for pre-testing differences. The intervention programme contributed to improved motor and physical abilities important for performance in both sprints and long jump, namely: flexibility, explosive power, muscle endurance, reaction time, speed, speed endurance, acceleration and long jump. The development programme can successfully develop motor abilities important for successful participation in sprinting and long jump despite various limitations South African farm schools have to deal with. http://reference.sabinet.co.za/webx/access/electronic_journals/ajpherd/ajpherd_v17_n2_a14.pdf

As early as 1994, and with transformation in mind, the African National Congress (ANC) identified the development of the previously disadvantaged communities in South Africa as a national priority. In so doing, sport, among others, was used in this strategy as a medium to improve and change the circumstances of people in disadvantaged communities. Sports development in disadvantaged communities is essential, if taken into consideration that without such further support of the sport talent of some of these children, the needs of these talented children cannot be met and their potential will remain undeveloped. Talent identification (TID), which is based on scientific principles and forms the first step in sports development, still is relatively new in South Africa. Historically, coaches used their own knowledge and experience of the characteristics, which should lead to success in sport as well as participation in competitions in order to do TID. To date, very little research has been done on talent identification and development in sprints and long-jump, especially pertaining to young boy and girl athletes, and in particular concerning athletes from disadvantaged communities. The first and second objectives of this study were to implement sport specific athletics development programmes aimed at improving sprinting and long-jump ability and to determine its effect on the abilities and skills of talented 10 to 15 year-old girls and boys with talent for sprints and long-jump. The third and fourth objectives of this study were to establish which kinanthropometric, physical and motor components will play such a role in 10 to 15 year-olds that it can predict performance ability in sprints and long-jump in girls and boys at this age. The "Australian Talent Search" protocol was used to identify general sport talent in the children (66 girls and 62 boys) who were identified for the study. The talented children (19 girls and 21 boys) from the initial group of were then subjected to a sport specific test battery for sprints and long-jump. The maturation level of the boys was determined by means of a maturity questionnaire, based on the 5 Tanner stages. By using the Statistica and SAS computer programmes, independent t-testing, covariance analyses, correlation coefficients, effect sizes, descriptive statistics as well as a stepwise multiple regression analysis were used to analyze the data with regard to the above-mentioned objectives. A p-value smaller than or equal to 0.05 was accepted as significant. From the results of the study it is evident that the development programmes contributed to the improvement of physical and motor abilities and skills important for performance in both sprints and long-jump in girls (n=19) and boys (n=21) respectively. Among the girls, flexibility, explosive power, muscle endurance, reaction time, speed, speed endurance, acceleration and long-jump showed statistically significant improvement, while abdominal muscle strength and stride length showed no improvement. Secondly, it was established that the development programme contributed statistically significantly to an improvement in flexibility, muscle endurance, 0-40 metres speed and long-jump ability in boys. However, some components did not show improvement, among them explosive power, reaction time, speed endurance, acceleration and stride length. A stepwise multiple regression analysis was used to analyze the third and fourth objectives. It indicated that, in respect to the 100 metres sprint, 7 variables, namely long-jump, push-ups to the point of exhaustion, 7-level abdominal strength, 0-5 metres speed, ankle dorsiflexion, body length and age contributed 84.0% to the total variance in girls. As for long-jump, 7 variables, namely 0-100 metres speed, body length, 7-level abdominal strength, push-ups, ankle dorsiflexion, standing long-jump and body mass proved to be the most important contributors to performance in these items with a total contribution of 79% to the total variance. The fourth objective indicated that average anaerobic power output, acceleration and body mass contributed statistically significantly to performance in the 100 metres sprint in boys with a contribution of 86.5% to the total variance. Horizontal jump, age and acceleration contributed statistically significantly to long-jump performance with a contribution of 81 5% to the total variance. It is evident from this study that sport specific development programmes can successfully be implemented on girls and boys at ages 10-15 in order to improve sprinting and long-jump ability, regardless of poverty-stricken circumstances and poor infrastructure. Furthermore, the study brought to light that specific kinanthropometric, physical and motor abilities exist which can be used to predict performance in sprints and long-jump in girls and boys separately at ages 10 to 15. Thesis (Ph.D. (Human Movement Science))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2007

Thesis (M.Sc.)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2004. The importance of studies on a complete anthropometric profile is stressed due to the lack of literature and due to the fact that athletes' morphological composition is one of the factors that contribute to performance. The purpose of this study was firstly to describe the body composition and somatotypes of international male elite javelin throwers and to identify which variables distinguish the world's elite javelin throwers (n=6) (Group A) from the sub elite throwers (n=13) (Group B) and which variables contribute to their performance. The anthropometrical variables are primarily as described in Norton et al. (1996). Elite javelin throwers were found to have an average body mass of 97.0 kg, stature of 187.5 cm, percentage body fat of 11.9% and percentage muscle mass of 40.4%. The javelin throwers had an average value of 11.2 kg for skeletal mass and expressed as a percentage, an average of 11.7%. The average acromial-radial length (humerus) was 35.5 cm with the radial-stilion length (forearm) 28.7 cm. The javelin throwers had an average bi-iliocristale breadth of 31.9 cm, bi-acromiae breadth of 45.5 cm, A-P chest depth of 21.9 cm and a chest breadth of 33.8 cm. The average wrist breadth was 6.0 cm, ankle breadth 8.1 cm, femur breadth 10.2 and humerus breadth 7.4 cm. The javelin throwers had an average flexed arm girth of 38.3 cm, forearm girth of 30.5 cm, thigh girth of 64.1 cm and calf girth of 40.8 cm. The average somatotypes for the javelin throwers were 2.5-5.9-1.4. Seven variables that best discriminate between the javelin throwers in Group A and the javelin throwers in Group B were determined by using discriminant analysis. The variables were age, body mass, mesomorph, muscle mass, A-P chest depth, chest breadth and arm-span. The forward step-wise discriminant analysis found the variables that best discriminate between the two groups to be age (F=10.53, P