Exploring Self-Determination and Recreational Sports Participation for Adolescents with Disabilities: A Preliminary Report

Out-of-class involvement provides students with opportunities for rich social lives which, according to Cheng (2004), are closely associated with sense of campus community. Based on Astin's (1984) Theory of Involvement, and Boyer's (1990) principles of community, the purpose of this study was to examine the degree to which involvement in campus recreational sports programs is associated with students' perceived sense of campus community. Three hundred and thirty respondents completed an on-line questionnaire which consisted of demographics and questions related to their out-of-class involvement in 14 areas as identified by the institutions' Dean of Students Office, and a 25-item sense of community scale developed by Cheng (2004). Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) was conducted to examine the underlying factor structure of the sense of community scale. The six factors extracted from the EFA served as independent variables in a multiple regression analysis used to predict student perceived sense of campus community using a sample of 125 participants in campus recreational sports. In addition, participation levels in campus recreational sports were used to measure differences in perceived sense of campus community based on involvement using a multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA). Results suggest participation in campus recreational sports significantly predicted a sense of community within the diversity and acceptance factor. In addition, students who participated in campus recreational sports perceived a greater sense of campus community based on the residential experience factor when compared with those students who did not participate.

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Aerobic Physical Fitness and Recreational Sports Participation After Total Knee Arthroplasty

Sports Health A Multidisciplinary Approach ◽

10.1177/1941738116670090 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 8 (6) ◽

pp. 553-560 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Sue D. Barber-Westin ◽

Frank R. Noyes

Keyword(s):

Total Knee Arthroplasty ◽

Physical Fitness ◽

Knee Arthroplasty ◽

Sports Participation ◽

Recreational Sports ◽

Total Knee

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Recreational Sports Participation as a Mediating Factor for College Student Alcohol Use

Recreational Sports Journal ◽

10.1123/rsj.31.2.119 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 31 (2) ◽

pp. 119-130 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Deborah L. Jackson ◽

Laura Walling ◽

Amy Thompson

Keyword(s):

Alcohol Use ◽

Extracurricular Activities ◽

Protective Factor ◽

Program Planning ◽

Team Sports ◽

Sports Participation ◽

Recreational Sports ◽

Sports Activity ◽

Recreation Professionals ◽

Training Team

Research indicates that college students involved in extracurricular activities are less likely to abuse alcohol or other drugs. This study investigated whether or not involvement in recreational sports acts as a protective factor in preventing abuse and explored whether substance use differs by type of recreational sports program: team sports, individual or dual sports, fitness programs, and nonparticipation in any recreational sports activity. Trained resident assistants surveyed college freshmen ( N = 316) living in residence halls. Descriptive statistics and multivariate analyses of variance were calculated. Overall, no significant differences in alcohol use based on participation and type of activity were found regarding recreational sports participants; however, findings are useful in providing future direction for recreational sports programs. Implications for campus recreation professionals related to program planning, student employee and sports officials training, team captain training or orientation, and use of peer educators are addressed.

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Sport Participation for Elite Athletes With Physical Disabilities: Motivations, Barriers, and Facilitators

Adapted Physical Activity Quarterly ◽

10.1123/apaq.2016-0127 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 34 (4) ◽

pp. 421-441 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

Gabriella McLoughlin ◽

Courtney Weisman Fecske ◽

Yvette Castaneda ◽

Candace Gwin ◽

Kim Graber

Keyword(s):

Sport Participation ◽

Elite Athletes ◽

Sports Participation ◽

Self Determination Theory ◽

Self Determination ◽

Barriers And Facilitators ◽

Semistructured Interview ◽

Snowball Sampling ◽

Interview Guide ◽

Athletic Development

There are many reasons why individuals are motivated to participate in sports. Less attention, however, is given for studying motivation and athlete development in adapted sport. The purpose of this study was to identify the motivations, facilitators, and barriers to sports participation of elite athletes with a physical disability. Participants (N = 23, 17 males, six females, mean age: 24.3 years) were recruited through online listservs, e-mails, and snowball sampling. A semistructured interview guide was employed. Analysis was conducted and grounded in self-determination theory and literature surrounding barriers and facilitators of sports participation. Through coding by multiple researchers, six themes emerged. Themes indicated that athletes attributed participation to constructs of self-determination theory as well as overcoming specific barriers such as cost, time constraints, and lack of opportunity. Among facilitators to their athletic development, there were empowerment and advocacy, increased health, college scholarships, and achieving performance-related goals.

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