Masters Degrees (Exercise and Sport Sciences)

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Browsing Masters Degrees (Exercise and Sport Sciences) by Author "Bloemhoff, H. J."

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    Attitudes and insights of Free State Swimming coaches towards scientific coaching principles
    (University of the Free State, 2013-02) Jones, Colleen Jo-Ann; Bloemhoff, H. J.; Coetzee, F. F.
    English: Objectives: The aim of this study is to determine the attitudes and insights of swimming coaches in the Free State Aquatics region towards scientific coaching principles. A comparison between performance coaches and participant coaches’ scientific coaching principles to improve performance or participation levels in swimming were recorded. Methods: This study was done by sampling data via quantitative research (i.e. a questionnaire). All swimming coaches who were at least 18 years old, regardless of their level of qualification, affiliated or not with Free State Aquatics, were invited to participate in the study. A questionnaire was compiled using data from various research sources. All coaches were categorised into a participant or performance coach. The researcher captured data from the data forms to Microsoft Excel. A statistician conducted further analysis using SAS Version 9.1.3. Frequencies and percentages were calculated for categorical data. For numerical data, where data were evenly distributed, means and standard deviations were calculated. Medians and percentiles were calculated where data were not normally distributed. The Student’s T-test was used to compare mean values between the two groups, whereas the Kruskal-Wallis test was used to compare median values. The appropriate p-values and/or confidence intervals were reported. For the dependent data, the mean or median differences were calculated within the groups. The Student’s T-test, or Wilcoxon signed rank test, was used to test for significant median differences. A Fischer Exact test was used to test for significant frequency differences. A significance level of p ≤ 0.05 was used throughout the research study. Results: Seventy one percent of the participant coaches and 29% of the performance coaches participated in the research study. Out of a total of 42 participants (coaches), 21% were male and 79% were female. An alarming result was that 36% of coaches had no qualifications in swimming coaching whatsoever, but are currently involved in coaching. Almost half (46.7%) of the participants have no swimming coaching qualification, while 41.7% of the performance coaches only have a ‘Learn to Swim’ qualification. Only 23.8% of all coaches (participant and performance coaches) are registered with SSA, which is compulsory. Therefore, 76.2% of all coaches are not compliant with SSA rules and regulations pertaining to a coach. As expected, performance coaches rated professional knowledge (50%) and interpersonal knowledge (58.4%) as very important. This differs from participant coaches who indicated that professional knowledge (50%) was important to them. Performance coaches preferred learning methods through internal learning (75%) and unmediated learning (58.4%). Participant coaches reported that internal learning (56.7%) and mediated learning (40%) were their preferred learning methods. Differences between performance and participant coaches’ characteristics are passion and enthusiasm and love for the sport, as demonstrated by performance coaches. This is contradictory to the main goal of participant coaches who would like to instil an element of fun in swimming, in order for the swimmers to gain passion and enthusiasm and ideally love for the sport so that they continue with swimming. In comparison, a participant coach’s role as a friend differed significantly from performance coaches (p = 0.0437). This coincides with their strategy of integrating professional and personal life while coaching. There was no significant difference between participant and performance coaches with regard to the multi-disciplinary involvement in performance improvement. Conclusions: It is alarming that almost half of the current swimming coaches have no qualifications at all. SSA and FSA must enforce stricter rules and regulations regarding coaching, so that all coaches have the minimum qualification in relation to their level of coaching. Various learning methods must be employed to develop numerous knowledge components to achieve optimal scientific coaching.
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    Parental involvement in sport: perceptions of competitive adolescent swimmers
    (University of the Free State, 2006-11) Stroebel, Leoni Catherine Emilie; Bloemhoff, H. J.; Walker, S.
    English: All adults involved in children’s sport affect the nature of the sporting experience, and to a large extent determine whether or not it is a positive experience for children. Of all adults involved, the parents are perhaps the most important and play the most significant role in children’s sport. The purpose of this study was to examine how a group of competitive and professionally trained adolescent swimmers perceived parental involvement and how it affected their total sport experience. Participants in the study were 93 (45 male and 48 female) competitive adolescent swimmers between the ages of 13 and 22 years, who received professional coaching for 1 to 15 years, and trained for 5 to 11 months per annum. Respondents completed the parental involvement in sport questionnaire (PISQ). The questionnaire consists of three multi-item scales. The three scales measured Directive behaviour (DB), Active involvement (AI), and Praise and understanding (PU). A single item of Pressure (P) was included as a dependent variable. The questionnaire was designed to elicit responses about the behaviour of parents with regard to their children’s swimming activities. Respondents identified the frequency with which certain behaviours were (a) exhibited by, and (b) desired of their parents. Discrepancies between exhibited and desired behaviour indicated the extent of respondents’ satisfaction with these behaviours. Single sample t-tests showed that respondents perceived insufficient levels of DB, and satisfactory levels of PU, AI and P from their mothers. The results revealed that swimmers perceived satisfactory levels of pressure from their mothers, which leads to the conclusion that they find the amount of pressure acceptable. Single sample t-tests to determine the behaviour of fathers, showed satisfactory levels of DB, which suggests that fathers exhibit an appropriate level of directing or controlling of their children’s sporting experience. This is in contrast with the excessive levels of PU, AI and P that the respondents perceive from their fathers. Respondents may feel pressured by disproportionate praise as this might be accompanied by efforts to take control to an unacceptable degree. A second questionnaire was distributed to assess participants’ enjoyment of their swimming. This questionnaire consists of three questions measuring the enjoyment of sport. The data revealed that the majority of the respondents (92%) were very satisfied with their swimming experience in general and indicated that they enjoyed it to a large extent. The data suggests that the current level of pressure the swimmers experienced did not have any affect on their level of enjoyment. The study indicates that parents who express satisfaction with children’s sport performance, who interact positively with them, and who are generally positively involved and supportive in the children’s sport experience may enhance the enjoyment they derive from their sport participation. Optimal parental involvement in sport could be achieved by having well-organised, well-run programmes, and by providing parents with an opportunity to receive some education about the sport programmes in which their children are involved. A proposed document, “Practical Guidelines for Swimmers’ Parents”, was prepared in order to provide parents with a course of action to maximise their involvement. It is recommended that the above-mentioned document be distributed to the parents of the participants in this study.
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    Physical activity and lifestyle aspects of female students at a tertiary institution
    (University of the Free State, 2013-07) Losper, T'Neil Sarelle; Opperman, M. M.; Coetzee, F. F.; Bloemhoff, H. J.
    English: BACKGROUND AND RATIONALE: It is generally believed that a sharp rise in chronic diseases and unhealthy living has occurred. Researchers believe that the modern lifestyle and a lack in physical activity (PA) are the main reasons for this problem (McGinnis, 1992:S196). Chronic diseases and obesity are factors that can be prevented or reduced with physical activity and a healthy way of living. The way in which physical activity can have an indirect influence on conserving health can be explained in two ways: Firstly physical activity can be used as trigger mechanism to change other destructive lifestyle habits (Weinstein, 1987:8; Eddy & Beltz, 1989: 168). Secondly, participation in PA can have an indirect effect on the reduction of coronary diseases because of its reducing effect on depression, anxiety and tension, to name a few (Willis & Campbell, 1992:47). According to Bray and Born, (2004:181) there is an increasing need for physical activity among young adults. Young adults attending universities gain increased control over their lifestyles. However, they may not necessarily develop positive behaviors like regular PA. The lifestyle that students live is questionable. Whether their activity levels are adequate and whether they generally lead to healthy lifestyles is unknown as little research is available on this matter, especially in South Africa. Keating, Guan, Pinero and Bridges (2005:116) stated that it is well known that students' PA as a research topic has been seriously neglected. Young adulthood is considered to be an important phase of life, as many lifelong health behaviour patterns are established during this phase (Timperio, Salmon & Ball, 2004:20). OBJECTIVES: The purpose of the study is twofold: 1. To identify PA levels of undergraduate female students indifferent ethnic groups on a South African university campus, and 2. To establish the lifestyle profile and body composition of female students in different ethnic groups in a South African university campus. RESEARCH METHODS: The sample constituted of female students at the University of the Free State in their 1st, 2nd and 3rd year+ of study residing on the campus. The sample consisted of 244 students (78 1st years, 98 2nd years, 68 3rd years-: 139 black, 21 coloured and 84 white students). The following three research instruments were used: • International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) (2012) • Belloc and Breslow's 7 lifestyle habits questionnaire • The Heath and Carter anthropometrical assessment. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: By comparing the 1st, 2nd and 3rd year groups it is evident that 40.16% of the group as a whole (all ethnic groups) did take part in some form of physical activity. Fifty five point one percent (55.13%) of 1st year female students, 42.86% of the 2nd year and 44.12% of the 3rd year female students participated in PA. The White female students had the highest physical activity participation rate (67.86%), followed by the coloured students (38.10%). The black students' physical activity participation (35.97%) was the lowest. An average of 4 out of the 7 lifestyle habits being followed by the majority of the participants. The majority of participants eat breakfast daily (51.64%) but they do not eat 3 meals per day. Eighty seven present (87.70%) of the sample are nonsmokers, with 77.05% of the respondents consuming little to no alcohol, and at least 66.80% of the group maintains a healthy body weight. Unfortunately their eating, sleeping and exercise habits are not optimal. It is evident that the lifestyle habits of the students decrease from the 1st to the s= year, but that by the time they progress to the 3rd year-, they start trying to change their lifestyles habits to a certain extent. The ethnic groups do not show a significant difference among their lifestyle habits but white female students do have a more positive profile.