Talent Identification in Youth Ice Hockey: Exploring “Intangible” Player Characteristics

2019 ◽  
Vol 33 (4) ◽  
pp. 323-333 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ryan W. Guenter ◽  
John G.H. Dunn ◽  
Nicholas L. Holt
Keyword(s):  
Sport Psychology ◽  
Parental Behavior ◽  
Body Language ◽  
Leadership Team ◽  
Ice Hockey ◽  
List Ranking ◽  
Semistructured Interviews ◽  
Team Player ◽  
Investigative Process ◽  
Inductive Thematic Analysis

The purpose of this study was to examine “intangible” characteristics that scouts consider when evaluating draft-eligible prospects for the Western Hockey League. Sixteen scouts participated in semistructured interviews that were subjected to an inductive thematic analysis and then organized around predetermined categories ofwhyintangibles were important,whatintangibles were valued, andhowscouts evaluated these intangibles. Intangibles helped scouts establish players’ fit with the organizational culture of teams and influenced scouts’ draft-list ranking of players. The key intangibles scouts sought were labeled compete, passion, character, and leadership/team player. Scouts noted red flags (i.e., selfish on-ice behaviors, bad body language, and poor parental behavior) that led them to question players’ suitability for their respective organizations. Finally, scouts used an investigative process to identify and evaluate these intangibles through direct observation; interviews with players, coaches, and trainers; and assessments of players’ social media activities. Implications for sport psychology consultants are discussed.

scholarly journals Exploring the Understanding and Application of Motivational Interviewing in Applied Sport Psychology

2017 ◽  
Vol 31 (4) ◽  
pp. 396-409 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rory Mack ◽  
Jeff Breckon ◽  
Joanne Butt ◽  
Ian Maynard
Keyword(s):  
Motivational Interviewing ◽  
Sport Psychology ◽  
Current Practice ◽  
Evidence Base ◽  
Reflective Listening ◽  
Semistructured Interviews ◽  
Counseling Style ◽  
Sport And Exercise ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Inductive Thematic Analysis

The purpose of this study was to explore how sport and exercise psychologists working in sport understand and use motivational interviewing (MI). Eleven practitioners participated in semistructured interviews, and inductive thematic analysis identified themes linked to explicit use of MI, such as building engagement and exploring ambivalence to change; the value of MI, such as enhancing the relationship, rolling with resistance and integrating with other approaches; and barriers to the implementation of MI in sport psychology, such as a limited evidence-base in sport. Findings also indicated considerable implicit use of MI by participants, including taking an athlete-centered approach, supporting athlete autonomy, reflective listening, demonstrating accurate empathy, and taking a nonprescriptive, guiding role. This counseling style appears to have several tenets to enhance current practice in sport psychology, not least the enhancement of therapeutic alliance.

Collegiate Ice Hockey Players’ Perceptions of the Delivery of an Applied Sport Psychology Program

2003 ◽  
Vol 17 (3) ◽  
pp. 351-368 ◽  
Author(s):  
John G.H. Dunn ◽  
Nicholas L. Holt
Keyword(s):  
Sport Psychology ◽  
Communication Skills ◽  
Interview Data ◽  
Ice Hockey ◽  
Multiple Roles ◽  
Program Delivery ◽  
Factors Associated ◽  
Hockey Players ◽  
Semistructured Interviews ◽  
Psychology Program

This study examined collegiate male ice hockey players’ (N = 27, mean age = 22.4 years) perceptions of factors associated with the delivery of a sport psychology program. Participants were engaged in semistructured interviews. Interview data were transcribed verbatim and inductively analyzed. Results revealed that in terms of program delivery, the athletes had favorable perceptions of the absence of the (technical) coaching staff from sport psychology meetings and raised time demand issues. The sport psychology consultant was perceived to fulfill multiple roles (e.g., teammate, liaison, co-coach), and as being socially and emotionally involved with the team. Other results pertaining to the consultant reflected the importance of respect and communication skills. Implications for practitioners working in team settings are discussed.

scholarly journals Treatment Choice in Adolescents With Cleft Lip and/or Palate: The Importance of Shared Decision-Making

2019 ◽  
Vol 56 (9) ◽  
pp. 1220-1229
Author(s):  
Francesca Wogden ◽  
Alyson Norman ◽  
Louise Dibben
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Young People ◽  
Shared Decision Making ◽  
Cleft Lip ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Medical Decision ◽  
Shared Decision ◽  
Pediatric Dentist ◽  
Semistructured Interviews ◽  
Inductive Thematic Analysis

Objective: Limited research has studied the involvement of children in medical decision-making. The aim of the study was to understand the involvement of adolescents with cleft lip and/or palate (CL/P) in decisions about elective surgeries and treatments. Design: Parents and professionals completed mixed-methods questionnaires about the degree to which children had been involved in choices about elective treatments. Data were analyzed using content analysis. Young people aged 12 to 25 years were asked to take part in semistructured interviews. The data were analyzed using inductive thematic analysis. Setting: Questionnaire data collection took place online, and interview data were collected via messenger or telephone-based interviews. Participants: The study employed 30 participants; 11 young people (3 male, 8 female), 17 parents (13 mothers, 4 fathers), and 5 professionals (2 surgeons, 2 speech and language therapists, and 1 pediatric dentist). Results: Five main themes were identified. These reflected participants feeling that with increasing age should come increased involvement in decision-making and that it was important for adolescents to “have a voice” during decision-making. Parents, peers, and health professionals were identified as influencing decisions. Most adolescents reported overall satisfaction with their involvement in decision-making but sometimes felt “left in the dark” by professionals or under pressure from parents. A desire to improve speech and/or appearance was as an area where adolescents wanted to be more involved in decision-making. Conclusions: Shared decision-making is an important factor for psychological well-being by promoting autonomy and self-esteem among adolescents with CL/P.

Coping resources and strategies of Canadian ice-hockey players: An empirical National Hockey League career model

2019 ◽  
Vol 14 (6) ◽  
pp. 726-737 ◽  
Author(s):  
Randy C Battochio ◽  
Natalia Stambulova
Keyword(s):  
Sport Psychology ◽  
Coping Resources ◽  
Ice Hockey ◽  
National Hockey League ◽  
Career Stage ◽  
Hockey Players ◽  
Minor Leagues ◽  
Sophomore Slump ◽  
Career Model ◽  
Conversational Interviews

Sport psychology researchers have studied careers of Canadian ice hockey players in the National Hockey League (NHL) and devised an empirical NHL career model. The model was comprised of career stages, statuses, demands and barriers to career progression without any indication of coping. The intent in the present article is to feature coping resources and strategies utilized by players during each status and career stage within the empirical model. Five rookies, 5 veterans, and 13 retirees participated in conversational interviews and the data underwent a deductive thematic analysis. Prospects seeking to gain entry into the NHL set controllable expectations rather than playing to impress coaches and staff. Most prospects played in the minor leagues where they adjusted their expectations to accept roles that they were likely to have during an NHL call-up. The career stage of developing as an NHL player was about rookies producing immediately in their role while holding off internal competition for their roster spot. In the same stage, sophomores were in their second full NHL season and they studied their opponents to avoid the sophomore slump. The stage of reaching the NHL elite involved constant pressure for point production and winning playoff games. The final stage was about seasoned veterans maintaining NHL play involvement by preserving their physique despite being worn down from long careers in a contact sport. The authors will discuss the significance of the model for sport psychology researchers and practitioners, and NHL stakeholders.

scholarly journals Developing a Typology of HIV/STI Testing Patterns Among Gay, Bisexual, and Queer Men: A Framework to Guide Interventions

2019 ◽  
Vol 30 (4) ◽  
pp. 610-621 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rayner Kay Jin Tan ◽  
Nashwinder Kaur ◽  
Mark I-Cheng Chen ◽  
Chen Seong Wong
Keyword(s):  
Thematic Analysis ◽  
External Factors ◽  
Transmitted Infection ◽  
Sexually Transmitted ◽  
Factors Associated ◽  
Sti Testing ◽  
Semistructured Interviews ◽  
Testing Patterns ◽  
Purposive Sample ◽  
Inductive Thematic Analysis

Although factors associated with HIV/sexually transmitted infection (STI) testing among gay, bisexual, and queer (GBQ) men are well-established in the literature, few studies have attempted to delineate the processes underlying different patterns of testing. We conducted a qualitative study involving 35 semistructured interviews with a purposive sample of GBQ men in Singapore from October 2017 to July 2018. Topics explored included formative sexual experiences, relationships, and experiences of HIV/STI testing. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed, coded, and analyzed through inductive thematic analysis. A typology comprising four distinct HIV/STI testing patterns was identified from the data, categorized based on the regularity of testing, relative to internal or external factors that motivate testing behaviors. These include triggered episodic testing, influenced episodic testing, institutionalized regular testing, and value-based regular testing. The typology highlights the preconditions that underlie different testing patterns and provides a framework for developing interventions that promote HIV/STI testing among GBQ men.

Sport Psychology Consultants’ Perceptions of Their Challenges at the London 2012 Olympic Games

2015 ◽  
Vol 29 (2) ◽  
pp. 183-195 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter Elsborg ◽  
Gregory M. Diment ◽  
Anne-Marie Elbe
Keyword(s):  
Sport Psychology ◽  
Olympic Games ◽  
London 2012 ◽  
Semistructured Interviews ◽  
The Media ◽  
Contextual Differences ◽  
The Olympic Games

The objective of this study was to explore how sport psychology consultants perceive the challenges they face at the Olympic Games. Post-Olympics semistructured interviews with 11 experienced sport psychology consultants who worked at the London Games were conducted. The interviews were transcribed and inductively content analyzed. Trustworthiness was reached through credibility activities (i.e., member checking and peer debriefing). The participants perceived a number of challenges important to being successful at the Olympic Games. These challenges were divided into two general themes: Challenges Before the Olympics (e.g., negotiating one’s role) and Challenges During the Olympics (e.g., dealing with the media). The challenges the sport psychology consultants perceived as important validate and cohere with the challenge descriptions that exist in the literature. The findings extend the knowledge on sport psychology consultancy at the Olympic Games by showing individual contextual differences between the consultants’ perceptions and by identifying four SPC roles at the Olympic Games.

scholarly journals The Use of Counseling Principles and Skills to Develop Practitioner-Athlete Relationships by Practitioners Who Provide Sport Psychology Support

2016 ◽  
Vol 30 (3) ◽  
pp. 276-289 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fran Longstaff ◽  
Misia Gervis
Keyword(s):  
Sport Psychology ◽  
Significant Role ◽  
Thematic Analysis ◽  
Counseling Skills ◽  
Working Alliances ◽  
Self Disclosure ◽  
Semistructured Interviews

This study examined how practitioners who provide sport psychology support use counseling principles and skills to develop practitioner-athlete relationships. Semistructured interviews were conducted with thirteen competent practitioners (Mean age = 41.2 ± 10.9 years old, five men, eight women). Thematic analysis revealed that the participants used a range of counseling principles to develop practitioner-athlete relationships including: the facilitative conditions, self-disclosure, counseling skills, the formation of working alliances, and awareness of the unreal relationship. The participants also described using noncounseling strategies (e.g., gaining an understanding of the athlete’s sporting environment) to build relationships with their athletes. There was considerable variation between the participants both in the training that they had received in counseling principles and skills, and how they applied them. It was concluded that counseling principles and skills play a significant role in the development of practitioner-athlete relationships.

Leadership in physiotherapy: experiences of leaders of physiotherapy professional organisations

BMJ Leader ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (4) ◽  
pp. 115-122
Author(s):  
Emer McGowan ◽  
Emma Stokes
Keyword(s):  
Leadership Development ◽  
Thematic Analysis ◽  
Leadership Roles ◽  
Semistructured Interviews ◽  
The World ◽  
Future Leaders ◽  
Professional Leadership ◽  
The Many ◽  
Purposive Sample ◽  
Inductive Thematic Analysis

BackgroundThe changing demands of healthcare and ongoing advances in practice and technology require corresponding change and development of the physiotherapy profession. Physiotherapy professional organisations perform many important functions in ensuring the ongoing growth and success of the profession. The leaders of these organisations therefore have key roles in progressing the physiotherapy profession in their country. To date, however, there has been very little written about these physiotherapy leaders and their work for the profession.PurposeTo explore the professional leadership journeys of international physiotherapy leaders and their experiences of leading physiotherapy professional organisations.MethodsSemistructured interviews were conducted with a purposive sample of 16 physiotherapy leaders from a range of physiotherapy professional organisations from around the world. The interviews were analysed using inductive thematic analysis.ResultsThree main themes were found in the analysis of the data: ‘Leadership roles, behaviours and challenges’, ‘Perceptions of the profession of physiotherapy’ and ‘Leadership development’.ConclusionsThe physiotherapy leaders describe interesting and varied roles that can also be challenging and demanding. They recognise the many challenges facing the physiotherapy profession internationally and the need for physiotherapists to more effectively advocate for the profession and demonstrate leadership. Leadership development opportunities and mentoring may be potential strategies to enable the development of future leaders of the physiotherapy profession.

The Deselection Process in Competitive Female Youth Sport

2016 ◽  
Vol 30 (2) ◽  
pp. 141-153 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kacey C. Neely ◽  
John G.H. Dunn ◽  
Tara-Leigh F. McHugh ◽  
Nicholas L. Holt
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Youth Sport ◽  
Female Adolescent ◽  
Ice Hockey ◽  
Head Coaches ◽  
Interpretive Description ◽  
Female Youth ◽  
Provincial Level ◽  
Semistructured Interviews ◽  
Sport Teams

The overall purpose of this study was to examine coaches’ views on deselecting athletes from competitive female adolescent sport teams. Individual semistructured interviews were conducted with 22 head coaches of Canadian provincial level soccer, basketball, volleyball, and ice hockey teams. Interpretive description methodology (Thorne, 2008) was used. Results revealed deselection was a process that involved four phases: pre-tryout meeting, evaluation and decision-making, communication of deselection, and post deselection reflections. Within the evaluation and decision-making phase coaches made programmed and nonprogrammed decisions under conditions of certainty and uncertainty. When faced with uncertainty coaches relied on intuition.

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