Acute and Chronic Adaptations to Anaerobic and Aerobic Training

Anaerobic and aerobic training both result in specific, acute, and chronic adaptations. Acute adaptations to both anaerobic and aerobic training include responses, and changes, that occur during and shortly after the training. Chronic adaptations to both anaerobic and aerobic training include changes in the body that occur after numerous training sessions. These changes are longer lasting and continue on after the training sessions. While both anaerobic and aerobic training produce acute and chronic adaptations, the changes between the two types of training are very different in nature. The differences between the adaptations are largely influenced by the metabolic energy pathways used by each type of training (Coburn & Malek, 2012).

The results of anaerobic training concentrate around short duration, high power events, such as sprinting, plyometric jumps, and resistance exercises. The metabolic energy pathways used by anaerobic training include the phosphagen system and glycolysis. Acute adaptations of anaerobic training include muscular, neurological, and endocrine changes. Neurological responses include increases in motor unit recruitment and EMG amplitude. Muscular changes involve increases in hydrogen ion concentrations, ammonia levels, and inorganic phosphate concentrations. There is usually a slight decrease or no change to ATP concentrations. CP and glycogen concentrations decrease. Endocrine changes include increases in the concentrations of epinephrine, cortisol, testosterone, and growth hormone (Pike, 2015).

Chronic adaptations to anaerobic training include changes to muscle fiber characteristics, muscle enzymes, muscle substrates, and muscle performance. Structural, body composition, and neurological changes also occur. The changes to muscle fibers include increases in type I & II CSA fibers, and type IIa fibers. There are decreases in type IIx fibers and usually no change to type I fibers. Increases in muscle size, and the number of muscle fibers are also common. Structural changes include increases in bone density, bone mass, and connective tissue strength. Muscle enzyme changes include increases in the absolute levels of glycolytic enzymes, and phosphagen system enzymes. The concentrations of glycolytic enzymes, and phosphagen system enzymes may also increase. Muscle substrate changes include increases in the absolute levels of ATP, and CP. The concentrations of ATP, and CP may also increase. There are usually decreases in ATP, CP, and lactate during exercise. Muscle performance changes include increases in muscle strength, power, and endurance. Body composition changes include a decrease in body fat percentage, with an increase in fat free mass. The metabolic rate usually increases as well. Neurological changes include a decrease in cocontraction, with an increase in motor unit firing rate. There is usually an increase in EMG amplitude during maximal voluntary contraction, and motor unit recruitment. Additional changes in the endocrine, immune, and cardiorespiratory systems promote an increase in force, velocity, and power capabilities (Fitzherbet, 2012).

Aerobic endurance training causes the body to respond to stressors, through a variety of alterations and changes, in numerous physiological processes and systems. The aerobic system is suited for activities that are normally longer in duration, and less intense, than those that require the anaerobic system. Distance running, mud runs, marathons, and triathlons are some examples of activities requiring the aerobic system. Intensity, frequency and duration are key variables that impact the response of the aerobic system. Acute adaptations of aerobic training include cardiovascular, respiratory, metabolic, and endocrine changes. Cardiovascular changes include increases in heart rate, stroke volume, cardiac output, blood flow to coronary vasculature, skeletal muscle blood flow, mean arterial pressure, hematocrit, and systolic blood pressure. Other adaptations also include decreases in splanchnic blood flow, plasma volume, and total peripheral resistance. Respiratory changes include increases in pulmonary minute ventilation, breathing rate, tidal volume, and the respiratory exchange ratio. Metabolic changes include increases in oxygen consumption, blood lactate, and arteriovenous oxygen difference. There is a decrease in blood PH levels. Endocrine changes include increases in glucagon, catecholamines, and growth hormone. There is a decrease in insulin. Cortisol levels decrease during low to moderate intensity exercise, and increase during moderate to high intensity exercise (Murphy, 2015).

Chronic adaptations to aerobic training include changes to the respiratory system, blood, heart, muscle, bones, metabolism, body composition, and performance. Changes to the respiratory system include increases in respiratory muscle aerobic enzymes, and ventilatory muscle endurance. Changes to the blood include increases in blood, plasma, and red blood cell volumes. Heart changes include increases in coronary arteriole densities, and diameters, left ventricular muscle thickness, and end-diastolic chamber diameter. Sometimes there is also an increase in myocardial capillary density. Metabolism changes include an increase in lactate threshold. Muscle changes include increases in capillary density, myoglobin, mitochondria density, oxidative enzymes, triglyceride stores, and glycogen stores. Sometimes there is an increase in type I fiber cross-sectional areas. Usually, there are no changes to the muscle cross-sectional areas, type IIa, and type IIx fiber cross-sectional areas. Normally, there are no changes or an increase in bone mineral density. Body composition changes include decreases in body fat percentage, fat mass, and overall body mass. There are usually no changes to fat free mass. Performance changes include an increase in cardiorespiratory endurance. There are usually no changes in muscular strength, anaerobic power, vertical jump, and sprint speed (Lewis, 2013).

In order to isolate and enhance certain adaptations to anaerobic and aerobic training, specific exercise programs can be designed. Lactate threshold training is an example of a specific style of training that benefits aerobic performance. Conducting specific training to increase the lactate threshold causes further adaptations to the athlete’s metabolism. Raising an athlete’s lactate threshold allow the body to move further, at a higher intensity level, for longer periods of time. The increased ability of the athlete to maximize lactate clearance increases performance dramatically. A variety of exercise protocols exist where intensity and distance are manipulated during each training session. Over a period of time, these specific adaptions increase the lactate threshold and clearance capability. This ultimately improves aerobic performance (Messonnier, Emhoff, Fattor, Horning, Carlson, & Brooks, 2013).

To isolate and enhance certain, specific adaptations to anaerobic training, specialized plyometric workouts can be designed. This training maximizes the benefits of the stretch shortening cycle. By using different single and double leg plyometric exercises, in a variety of repetition and set schemes, with varying intensity levels, numerous physiological adaptations can be enhanced. This style of specific training has been shown to improve overall power, strength, stored elastic energy, stretch reflex response, motor unit recruitment, muscle fiber size, rates of force production, inhibition of antagonist muscles, activation, and cocontraction of synergistic muscles, and increased Type I and Type II muscle fiber area. By conducting plyometric training numerous, specific, anaerobic adaptations are isolated and enhanced. This improves overall anaerobic performance as well (Luebbers, Potteiger, Hulver, Hyfault, Carper, & Lockwood, 2003).

References:

Coburn, J.W., & Malek, M.H. (2012). NSCA’s essentials of personal training (2nd ed.). Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics.

Fitzherbet, H. (2012). Chronic adaptations to anaerobic and aerobic training. Prezi. Retrieved from https://prezi.com/w34-ouvi-gzx/chronic-adaptations-to-anaerobic-and-aerobic-training-phyt2001-group-presentation/

Lewis, J. (2013). The body’s response to long term exercise: The respiratory system. Prezi. Retrieved from https://prezi.com/yl0elxrsom3t/the-bodies-response-to-long-term-exercise-the-respiratory-system/

Luebbers, P., Potteiger, J., Hulver, M., Hyfault, J., Carper, M., & Lockwood, R. (2003). Effects of plyometric training and recovery on vertical jump performance and anaerobic power. The Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research. Retrieved from https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Matthew_Hulver/publication/8992729_Effects_of_Plyometric_Training_and_Recovery_on_Vertical_Jump_Performance_and_Anaerobic_Power/links/0deec520d08d225579000000/Effects-of-Plyometric-Training-and-Recovery-on-Vertical-Jump-Performance-and-Anaerobic-Power.pdf

Messonnier, L., Emhoff, C., Fattor, J., Horning, M., Carlson, T., & Brooks, G. (2013). Lactate kinetics at the lactate threshold in trained and untrained men. Journal of Applied Physiology. Retrieved from http://jap.physiology.org/content/114/11/1593.short
Murphy, P. (2015). Endurance training and adaptations of the cardiovascular system. Live Strong. Retrieved from http://www.livestrong.com/article/351971-endurance-training-and-adaptations-of-the-cardiovascular-system/

Pike, J. (2015). Anaerobic training adaptations. Live Strong. Retrieved from http://www.livestrong.com/article/442214-anaerobic-training-adaptations/

Eric Dempsey

MS, ISSA Master Trainer

Dempseys Resolution Fitness

The Rise of Alternative Pleasure and Participation Sports

The power and performance sports have long dominated American society and culture. And while these sports continue to do well and retain millions of fans, there are many people who are not interested in these types of sports. For the people who do not find interest and value in power and performance sports, there are alternatives that many turn to. These alternatives are the pleasure and participation sports. These sports attract people who wish to be themselves and to do their own thing. These people seek the freedom to participate in activities that they value and enjoy, on their own terms. The pleasure and participation sports are very different from the power and performance sports in their structure, management, decision making, participation guidelines and rules. While a person may not be able to make the cut for the football or basketball team, they can easily join and participate in a variety of pleasure and participation sports. These pleasure and participation sports are growing in popularity for many reasons. Some of the reasons include an increased interest in fitness and health, older people are seeking to be more active, and many people are seeking an alternative sporting activity that they are good at and enjoy. High pressure, high impact, competitive sports, like football, basketball and baseball, are not for everyone. Pleasure and participation sports are a great alternative for the people looking for something different (Coakley, 2015).

While there are various reasons for the growth in popularity of pleasure and participation sports, some reasons include gender and disability. While women have fought a long and hard battle to be recognized in sports, it is still a hard road for women to follow in the realm of power and performance sports. Many women seek to avoid this struggle and participate in activities that are friendlier to their gender. Disabled athletes have also fought a hard battle in their quest for equality in sports. Much progress has been made for both women and the disabled in power and performance sports. But there are still many who just do not want to or cannot, participate in power and performance sports. There are many opportunities for disabled athletes in pleasure and participation sports. Sports such as tennis, fishing, scuba diving, racing, water skiing and mountain climbing have become more popular in recent years, with many female and disabled athletes. The power and performance sports model emphasizes winning, competitiveness and very structured formats and rules which invariably impacts many female and disabled athletes. The pleasure and participation sports offer opportunities for all people to partake in activities without discrimination, pressure or overly rigid structures (Hardin & Hardin, 2005).

Another reason that pleasure and participation sports are growing in popularity in the United States is due to the influence of globalization and immigration. Millions of people from all over the world have been moving to the United States for decades. The sports and physical culture of different countries are very different from the traditional American model. Sports such as soccer are becoming increasingly popular in America, especially in the youth athletics category. The rise of pleasure and participation sports are beginning to challenge power and performance sports in a slow, yet growing manner. One area where the competition between the two sports models is having a bigger impact is with youth athletics. Little league baseball and T-ball have been popular with kids for many years. Now, millions of children can be found in greater numbers on the numerous, youth soccer league fields, across the country. Many other pleasure and participation sports such as cricket and tennis are on the rise, as well, due to a subtle influence by the millions of immigrants, in the United States (Foer, 2011).

Pleasure and participation sports are growing in popularity across the country. Organizations are being formed at a rising rate to promote these alternative sporting events. Associations like the Western Alternative Sports Association (WASA), promote different sports for the true pleasure and participation reason, which they claim is to have fun. That is hard to argue with as having fun with sports seems to be the least bit important with many power and performance sports. Winning and making billions of dollars has replaced the fun in many of these sports. With the pleasure and participation sports, everyone can find something they enjoy. It is becoming more available to those whose location, financial status and other variables would normally prevent them from sports participation. There is even a rise in women’s shooting sports and a gold medal has already been won by a female Olympic athlete. With the rise of pleasure and participation sports, people now have a choice between power and performance sports and the alternative, pleasure and participation sports. This is a great thing as it will allow people from all walks of life to be able to find a sport that suits them. Whether it is football or target shooting, there is now something available for everyone. While the power and performance sports may continue to reign supreme, pleasure and participation sports are growing in popularity, worldwide. And with the nation’s current obesity epidemic, anything that can help get more people active is a good thing (Kirkland, 2015).

References:

Coakley, J. (2015). Sports in society: Issues and controversies (11th ed.). New York, NY: McGraw-Hill.

Hardin, M., & Hardin, B. (2005). Performance or Participation: Pluralism or Hegemony? Disability Studies Quarterly. Retrieved from http://www.dsq-sds.org/article/view/606/783

Foer, F. (2011). Why Is Soccer Becoming Popular in the United States? IIP Digital. Retrieved from http://iipdigital.usembassy.gov/st/english/article/2011/06/20110603114306ecurb5.794269e-02.html#axzz4GgJjBtkf

Kirkland, A. (2015). Shooting Sports are Becoming More Popular with Women. KOMU News. Retrieved from http://www.komu.com/news/shooting-sports-are-becoming-more-popular-with-women-69781/

Photo credit: http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/fall-guys-like-to-stretch-their-luck/story-e6frep2f-1226193624194

Eric Dempsey

MS, ISSA Master Trainer

Dempseys Resolution Fitness

The Impact of Sportsmanship on My Life

Growing up, I wasn’t involved with traditional sports. I became consumed by martial arts and combat sports at the age of eleven. Sportsmanship was a very big deal in my training hall or dojo. The martial arts also teach a code of behavior, ethics, morals and virtues, similar to the western concept of sportsmanship. This is called Bushido or the way of the warrior. Sportsmanship is an inherent part of the American culture and it has a great ethical and moral impact on society. Fair play, following the rules, having respect for the opposing team members and sports officials, having respect for the athlete’s fellow team members and coaches, and generally doing the right thing at all times, are the fundamental concepts that sportsmanship is supposed to develop in athletes. While many argue that with our country’s moral decline, over the last thirty years, sportsmanship is no longer the virtuous set of guidelines that it once was. Others believe that sportsmanship is alive and well in today’s society. It may be just much harder to see (Appenzeller, 2011).

My experiences with sportsmanship were mainly centered around the realm of pugilistic activities, such as boxing, kickboxing, karate, tae kwon do, kung fu, wrestling, judo and jiu jitsu. Simple acts of sportsmanship that I witnessed daily were things like touching gloves at the start of a fight, helping your opponent up after you knocked him down, kneeling when an athlete was injured, showing respect by bowing and handshakes before and after a match and other general courtesies. These small, but meaningful actions were equally valued in western sportsmanship as well as in eastern bushido. These actions had a great impact upon my social development, as I followed these principles outside of the training halls and fighting arenas. This is what some of the early intentions were about, for those who influenced the growth of sports in our country. Instilling teamwork, discipline, self-confidence and a competitive drive are some of the benefits for both traditional sports and martial arts. These traits would help me later in life, as I transitioned from the martial arts training hall, to the training and battle fields with the U.S. Army (Szczepanski, 2015).

I have also observed acts of sportsmanship during my own actual matches in different martial arts or combat sports. One time during a tae kwon do match, I threw a punch so hard at my opponent, that I dislocated my shoulder, when the opponent slipped the punch. The referee didn’t see what happened and the match continued. At first, my opponent was eager to rush in and score the finishing points on me as I clutched my injured shoulder. He then realized that I was really hurt and he had a serious advantage over me. He could have finished the match with a victory. Instead, he told the referee that I was hurt and the match ended in a tied score. I later thanked him for his display of sportsmanship and he said that he knew I would have done the same for him. And I definitely would have. Winning a match due to an unfair advantage violates the concepts of sportsmanship and of bushido (Ohlenkamp, 2016).

Sportsmanship has also impacted my life within society, in many ways. It prepared me for the drill, ceremonies, courtesies and honors, taught by the military. It also made me a better person overall. I was once on a crowded bus in Germany, heading into a big city. There was a pregnant mother standing with her young son, who was wearing a judo uniform. As soon as I saw them, I immediately offered my seat to the lady. She was very thankful for my gesture. It wasn’t a conscious thought or action, but rather instinctive or reflexive in nature, like blocking a punch. It was just the right thing to do at the time. I’ve had many instances where sportsmanship learned through my years of training, had a direct impact on my actions, outside of any competition grounds. And I believe that these traits and virtues are taught and learned through sports. I only hope that as the moral decay of our current society continues, athletes from all sports, will set the example for others to follow (Daily, 2016).

References:

Appenzeller, H. (2011). Ethical behavior in sport. Durham, N.C.: Carolina Academic Press.

Szczepanski, K. (2015). The Role of Bushido in Modern Japan. About Education. Retrieved from http://asianhistory.about.com/od/japan/fl/The-Role-of-Bushido-in-Modern-Japan.html

Ohlenkamp, N. (2016). Martial Art vs Sport. Judo Info. Retrieved from http://judoinfo.com/sport.html

Daily, S. (2016). Sportsmanship: A Deeper Understanding and its Importance Beyond Sports. Decatur Sports and Recreation. Retrieved from http://www.decaturparks.com/sportsmanship-a-deeper-understanding.php

Eric Dempsey

MS, ISSA Master Trainer

Dempseys Resolution Fitness

Sports Facilities Used in Athletic Recruiting

The use of facilities and equipment in the recruitment of athletes is a very common and highly debated practice. When a prospective student athlete comes to a school during a recruiting pitch, coaches often showcase their best facilities and equipment in the hopes of swaying the decision to join. Sometimes unethical practices occur, where the athlete is told untruths and shown facilities that aren’t really available. This can cause quite the shock and upset to the new athlete who was shown and told one thing and then arrives for practice to see something completely different. If the school has high quality facilities and equipment, this is not an issue, and showing the athlete the real facilities can be an enticing technique for recruitment. The real ethical issues revolve around the lies and deceit that sometimes occurs (Appenzeller, 2011).

There is somewhat of an arms race going on in the recruiting world of sports. Competition is high and the stakes are even higher. Getting the right athletes to join the team and keeping the good ones they already have, is a tough job. Research shows that modern athletes want to be engaged. They want to be team players and part of something bigger than themselves. In order to appeal to these newfound variables, universities are spending millions of dollars to upgrade facilities with cutting edge technology, designs, amenities and features. Specialized marketing and advertising companies work with universities to create unique marketing approaches to capitalize on the needs and wants of today’s athletes. A university’s history, traditions and back story are embedded into a modern technology, based package, which is designed to impact the new athletes upon their very first visit. These marketing campaigns are expensive and are going on across the country. This new era of recruiting and marketing is proving to be very profitable for the marketing firms that specialize in this niche (Jessop, 2014).

One of the issues surrounding the facilities for the recruiting arms race is the problem between big money universities and smaller universities. It is hard to compete with universities who are dropping fifty million dollars or more to develop these state of the art facilities and recruiting packages. Smaller universities try to recruit good prospects and then the bigger universities lure the athletes away with facilities and amenities, which the smaller school simply can’t match. Some argue that the best interests of these athletes would sometimes be served better by the smaller universities, who have reputable programs, yet lack the big lights, bells and whistles. The nature of the recruiting game is dog eat dog and those with the fancy facilities usually get what they want. Even the big money universities are competing at extreme levels and some wonder how far can it go. There are on so many upgrades that can reasonably be made to facilities but new heights are continually being pushed. The battle rages on as the amount of money being spent, continues to climb (Hoffman, 2015).

While in the past, coaches may have lied to and deceived prospective recruits, about a school’s facilities and equipment. In today’s world, that situation is diminishing with the advent of mega facilities and social media. Athletes now are looking at facilities across the full spectrum of social media sites. Reviews and videos of athletes conducting recruiting tours are readily available to anyone who searches online. Hiding facilities inadequacies is very difficult to do now. Schools that spend millions of dollars on the newest and best features are not hiding anything. The dilemma that athletes face now is one that has to do with their best interests versus the ever growing list of amenities. Schools have ridiculous facilities now with custom locker rooms, training equipment, technological training aids, and all sorts of other added features. But with all of these high priced gadgets and features, is the athlete going to receive the experience and education that they seek? For many, the education part is irrelevant and is a whole separate topic of debate. Athletes today are bombarded with giant video screens, new cryotherapy chambers and free IPads. And that doesn’t even touch the ongoing debate of whether athletes should be paid in school or not. Some say that the entire recruiting situation is an ethical minefield. Others think that it is just the natural evolution of the growing industry, in today’s society. The facilities arm race continues unabated, and will likely continue to do so, for many years to come (Hobson and Rich, 2015).

References:

Appenzeller, H. (2011). Ethical behavior in sport. Durham, N.C.: Carolina Academic Press.

Jessop, A. (2014). FSU Utilizes New Football Facilities to Attract Top Recruits. Forbes. Retrieved from http://www.forbes.com/sites/aliciajessop/2014/09/20/fsu-utilizes-new-football-facilities-to-attract-top-recruits/#148e770231ce

Hoffman, J. (2015). The Recruiting Process in College Athletics Needs to Change. Know it All Football. Retrieved from http://www.knowitallfootball.com/2015/02/04/recruiting-process-college-athletics-change/

Hobson, W., and Rich, S. (2015). Colleges Spend Fortunes on Lavish Athletic Facilities. The Bulletin. Retrieved from http://www.bendbulletin.com/sports/3846188-151/colleges-spend-fortunes-on-lavish-athletic-facilities?referrer=bullet1

Photo credit: http://collegesportsbusinessnews.com/issue/november-2014/article/football-facilities-are-key-recruiting-fundraising-tool

Eric Dempsey

MS, ISSA Master Trainer

Dempseys Resolution Fitness

Sports vs Education: The Dilemma of Sports in School

College and high school sports’, contributing to the educational process is a highly debated topic. There are many aspects of sports in school, that do contribute to the educational process and others argue, that there are many aspects that do not. While there is some validity in both sides of the discussion, it really comes down to how the sports program is run at a particular school. Some schools are more interested in the sports programs doing well rather than the academic achievements of their athletes. Other schools try to maintain a good balance between the sports performance and the athletes’ academic achievement. For the schools that appear to favor winning the sports seasons and championships, emphasis is placed upon keeping the athletes in the game over their grade point averages. While the schools who try to maintain a balance, help to keep the athletes’ academic performance in good standing, often at the cost of the sports team’s winning streak. It is a difficult situation, with many complex variables. The goals and influence of the school’s leadership, ultimately determines the positive or negative impact, of sports on the educational process (Coakley, 2015).

One of the big differences between American schools and other foreign schools abroad is the emphasis on sports, at the high school and college levels. Many foreign students, who move to the United States, immediately notice the importance placed upon sports in school. It is noticed because it is such a big deal in American schools and it isn’t emphasized by most schools, in other countries. In other countries, schools place emphasis on academics and the international test scores reflect this difference. When international research and surveys are published, they frequently show the United States lagging far behind other countries, in topics like math and science. Some argue that the schools in other countries are doing it right and the United States isn’t, with its preference for sport emphasis. Budget issues are also frequently associated with the sports in school argument. Some schools who had to make tough budget decisions, tried to cut their sports programs. When schools cut sports programs, there was great public outcry and debate. One thing that occurred in many schools was that when the sports programs were canceled, academic achievement and grades went up. There was also a decrease in bad behavior and disciplinary actions. Many think that this proves the point that school is for learning and not sports. Numerous schools that cut sports programs eventually caved in to the pressure, and restarted their sports programs with new parameters in place (Ripley, 2013).

While it has been shown statistically, that American emphasis on sports in school has a price that is paid in academic achievement, some feel that it doesn’t have to be that way forever. Leadership and management in the schools can find ways to balance sports and academics so that both receive fair attention. Different programs and guidelines have been implemented in various schools, which set standards for academics and sport participation. If a student in these schools wishes to participate in sports, an academic standard or grade point average must be maintained. If the student’s grade point average drops below the standard, then they cannot participate in sports until the academic requirements have been met. These types of programs have met with varying degrees of success. Many student athletes have demonstrated that it is possible to succeed in sports and academics at the same time. Many universities have adopted these types of programs and there has been involvement by collegiate organizations, such as the NCAA, to help promote these guidelines (Shortell, 2013).

The argument for sports in school has many valid points as well. While the struggle between athletics and academics is true and ongoing, canceling sports programs can adversely affect students in many ways. Sports have always been touted to teach sportsmanship, competitiveness, team work and discipline. Some consider this a unique educational aspect of American schools. It has been shown that students who were athletes in high school and college had a high probability to be more successful in the professional workplace. Many employers look specifically for sports participation at high school and college level, when screening applications of potential employees. Some argue that great scores in math and science may not benefit a student in the future workplace when compared to the drive, discipline, team work and competitiveness of a former athlete. The situation and variables related to the job, matter a lot in these instances. Overall, many feel that the qualities that a student athlete develops, through sports in school, is a unique and important factor that academics alone, cannot replace. While a balance between academics and sports seems to be an optimal answer, the influence of sports in American schools is here to stay, barring any dramatic change in future society and culture (Sato, 2013).

References:

Coakley, J. (2015). Sports in society: Issues and controversies (11th ed.). New York, NY: McGraw-Hill.

Ripley, A. (2013). The Case Against High-School Sports. The Atlantic. Retrieved from http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2013/10/the-case-against-high-school-sports/309447/

Shortell, E. (2013). Sports vs. Education: A False Choice. Harvard Political Review. Retrieved from http://harvardpolitics.com/united-states/sports-vs-education-false-choice/

Sato, K. (2013). The Case For High School Sports. The Huffington Post. Retrieved from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/kai-sato/high-school-sports_b_3997391.html

Photo Credit: http://www.thesportsmirror.com/2015/12/what-schools-should-really-teach-in-sports-education/

Eric Dempsey

MS, ISSA Master Trainer

Dempseys Resolution Fitness

Sports and the Media: Do they need each other?

Sports and the media have had a long, mutually benefiting, relationship that continues to this day. Long ago, beginning with newspapers, media coverage informed readers of the latest scores and significant events in sports. Then there was the radio coverage, where listeners could follow the games and scores. Television was next in line, with pre-recorded and live coverage of all types of sporting events and related significant, sporting topics. Cable, satellite, digital and high definition television packages brought sports to the fans in a variety of general and paid programs. And with the latest technological advances, there are a variety of online and digital platforms that bring any and all sports, directly to the fans fingertips, on demand. People can now access any sports information, games, and scores on their personal computers, laptops, smart phones, tablets and even watches, at any time. With the surge of social media platforms in the last ten years, the options for a fan to get access to sports are more than plentiful (Coakley, 2015).

Many people argue over who needs who more. It is a very debatable topic and not one that really merits much effort because the two industries will likely always be interlinked. They benefit each other in a variety of ways. If they completely separated, both would survive at a cost. While there are so many types of media platforms available now, it is unlikely that there ever would or could be a complete separation between the two. Some forms of modern media are considered better than others for the sports industry, just as some sports coverage is better than others for the media. Negative media is a reality and that can have an adverse effect on a sports organization or individual. As with any topic, there are many areas of controversy between various media and sports organizations. Overall, as industries, these controversies are considered minor, when one takes their annual profits into account (Cuban, 2011).

The profitable relationship between sports and the media is one that neither industry would want to see go away. Sports are a huge part of society and culture. The sports industry provides entertainment for millions of fans around the globe. The media is a multifaceted platform that provides easy access to sports, games and news. There are a variety of spin off programs that focus on the athletes and the behind the scenes activities that fans enjoy. The media takes sports to a much higher level than just the game and the score. Both industries benefit from each other in many different ways. There are few other industries that have a co-dependence on each other that provides such a mutual benefit (Chiu and Wang, 2008).

The media is an extremely powerful and influential platform for just about any topic. The sports industry is a multi-billion dollar industry with considerable power and influence. These two entities do depend on each other for a variety of reasons, which benefit both parties. The sports industry uses the media for game coverage, and a variety of related coverage on athletes, rivalries, teams, organizations, management, and more. The media uses sports coverage to provide a multitude of programs and games, which is very profitable content and keeps ratings high. Then, there are the commercials, advertising and sponsoring, that generates billions of dollars annually, for both the media and sports industries. As two of the most profitable industries in the world today, their mutual linkage ensures that both industries will continue to grow and prosper into the foreseeable future (Lamendola, 2011).

References:

Coakley, J. (2015). Sports in society: Issues and controversies (11th ed.). New York, NY: McGraw-Hill.

Lamendola, A. (2011). Sports and Media: Do they need each other? American Sport in the 21st Century Scrapbook. Retrieved from http://anthony-americansport.blogspot.com/2011/04/sports-and-media-do-they-need-each.html

Cuban, M. (2011). What’s the role of media for sports teams? Blog Maverick. Retrieved from http://blogmaverick.com/2011/04/04/whats-the-role-of-media-for-sports-teams/

Chiu, P., and Wang, C. (2008). Impact of Media Coverage of the 42nd World Archery Championships on Audience Attendance and Purchases. The Sport Journal. Retrieved from https://www.questia.com/library/journal/1G1-210520252/impact-of-media-coverage-of-the-42nd-world-archery

Photo Credit: http://pol2016.ehf-euro.com/news/detail/news/infront-seals-media-rights-agreement-with-bein-sports/?tx_news_pi1%5Bcontroller%5D=News&tx_news_pi1%5Baction%5D=detail&cHash=b8b7fc0cc859c8864a347cea24048d7f

Eric Dempsey

MS, ISSA Master Trainer

Dempseys Resolution Fitness

Child Abuse in Youth Sports

In modern sports, the rise of youth athletics, has been steadily climbing over the past twenty years. The days of simple play for children, with the intent of recreation, leisure and fun, appear to be fading fast. Youth athletics has evolved from children simply playing games, to serious competition in a wide variety of sports. With this new level of competition, comes a variety of negative attributes, which may not be intentional, but are very real nonetheless. Special camps, travel teams, all stars and professional training services are common ingredients in today’s youth sports. Many youth sporting events have grown into big business with large profits at stake. The stress and pressures of these new situations in youth sports, has caused many unforeseen issues to arise, that need to be addressed for the welfare and safety of the children involved (Appenzeller, 2011).

There are many forms of abuse when it comes to child athletes. Different forms of abuse on today’s sports field can include physical, sexual, and emotional abuse, neglect and harassment. It is easier to understand the negative consequences of physical and sexual abuse. The other forms of abuse in the neglect, harassment and emotional abuse categories, are just as real and damaging as any physical abuse. These types of sports abuse were not very widely known or talked about in the past. In recent years, there have been a growing number of these incidents, involving these different forms of youth athlete abuse. Many court cases and litigation have come about as a result. The rising numbers of these incidents have gotten to the point where it is now a known problem, which have been addressed across many different forums (De Lench, 2015).

Another low key form of abuse, that seems to be happening frequently throughout the youth sports world, is a form of pampering or coddling, which leads the youth athlete in a direction that benefits the immediate needs of the team or coach and not the child’s best interests. Increasing performance, with the desire to win at all costs, is a new variable in youth sports that can have many negative effects on the youth athlete, especially long term. Instead of teaching the children involved in sports, how to make good decisions, based upon traditional morals and ethics, many are taught how to excel in the moment, without regard to the long term consequences. This type of abuse covers many different things such as using performance enhancing drugs or different training and sports shortcuts, to maximize performance on the field. Unfortunately, for the youth athlete, these types of shortcuts, hacks and tricks, can have life altering consequences, later in life (Elmore, 2013).

Aside from a child’s parents, a coach is one of the most powerful and influential figures in a young athlete’s world. There are many great coaches in the world today, who do great things for the children involved in sports. As with any group, there are also the bad apples of the bunch, who despite any good intentions, do not belong in a coaching job. A form of leadership or coaching that many coaches employ, revolves around mental and emotional cueing. By reaching the inner mental and emotional centers of a young athlete’s mind, a coach can deliver powerful messages to the athlete. Of course, this can be good or bad, depending on how it is done. Coaches are not psychologists and sometimes a coach’s verbal dialogue and related actions can have very harmful and negative effects on a young athlete. Regardless of the coach’s intentions, negative mental and emotional abuse of young athletes, is just as damaging, as any obvious physical abuses. Self-confidence, self-esteem, self-worth and the passion for playing sports can all be destroyed by a coach, employing negative mental and emotional tactics with a young athlete. This type of abuse is also very difficult to detect and isolate, as there are many variables in a child’s life, which can mistakenly be attributed to a change in behavior (Hartnett, 2015).

As different types of abuses with young athletes become more documented and well known, different agencies are beginning to fund and conduct more research into this complicated topic. Research into the multifaceted topic of youth athlete abuse is not an easy thing to do. There are many obstacles that stand in the way of any potential researchers. Political, financial, ethical and educational hurdles, stand in the way of researchers, who dare to delve into this sensitive topic. Nobody wants their team or school to be called out with an abuse scandal. Regardless, many organizations have been conducting research that will hopefully shed new light on this form of abuse. Physical abuse is probably the easiest form of youth athlete abuse to research, because of its obvious nature. Sexual, emotional and mental abuse and harassment are much more difficult to research, due to the sensitive and complex nature of these forms of abuse. Many organizations have formed child protection in sports offices with designated welfare specialists, who work with researchers, to investigate and take action on information provided. It still has a long way to go to reach optimal levels of effectiveness. Many agencies are now actively pursuing information on youth athlete abuse, in its many forms, and trying to find solutions to this intricate issue. (Tickle, 2010).

While research is important to understand more about youth athlete abuse, in its many forms, there are actions which many think need to be implemented immediately, to try to safeguard children from further abuse. Many think that certain actions and measures can be put into place quickly, which should help reduce the chances of further abuse. Some of these actions and measures include criminal background checks, increased education for coaches, administrators and staff members, policies implemented at school, organization and team level, hotlines setup for reporting abuse, and repercussions for officials, who fail to report and take action on abuse allegations. Many schools and organizations have already implemented some, if not all, of these measures (Hamilton, 2013).

Hopefully, these actions will help reduce the amount of abuse in the future. Many are concerned with the unknown abuses that are ongoing now or have already happened and have not been reported. Part of the issue involves the precarious situation that the young athlete is placed in, when these crimes occur. If a young athlete is doing well, despite being abused in some form; they are less likely to come forward and report an abuse and risk losing all that they have worked for. There is no simple answer to fix this dilemma. Some research has shown that those youth athletes, who have suffered the most abuse, are many times, the rising stars of the team, on the verge of greatness. These young athletes are very reluctant to come forward, with so much at stake. Educational and counseling programs have been implemented at many institutions to educate the youth athletes on these types of situations, and to give them options to report any abuse. It is still a difficult situation, despite many new courses of action that have been provided (Hamilton, 2013).

The threat of abuse, in its many forms, for youth athletes remains, despite many measures being undertaken to mitigate the risk. Awareness, education, standardized programs and policies are needed across the spectrum of youth athletics, to help reduce this type of abuse. Children should be able to participate in and enjoy sports, without the threat of some form of abuse, from adults, in positions of authority and influence. With the high stakes and stress of many youth athletic programs today, the threat of abuse will likely remain into the foreseeable future. This problem is complicated and wide reaching on a global level. Hopefully, the research and preventative measures, now being implemented, will at least reduce, the number of abuse occurrences. More work needs to be done, to eliminate this problem. Laws have been passed for child labor and education. It is time for the government to implement laws, to protect the children on the sports fields, as well (Appenzeller, 2011).

References:

Appenzeller, H. (2011). Ethical behavior in sport. Durham, N.C.: Carolina Academic Press.

De Lench, B. (2015). Abuse in Youth Sports Takes Many Different Forms. MomsTeam. Retrieved from http://www.momsteam.com/health-safety/emotional-injuries/general/abuse-in-youth-sports-takes-many-different-forms?page=0%2C0

Elmore, T. (2013). A New Kind of Child Abuse in Athletics. Growing Leaders. Retrieved from http://growingleaders.com/blog/a-new-kind-of-child-abuse-in-athletics/
Hartnett, T. (2015). The Mental Abuse of Young Athletes. The Huffington Post. Retrieved from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/the-mental-abuse-of-young_b_6682184

Tickle, L. (2010). Olympics 2012 spark rise in studies into abuse of child athletes. The Guardian. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/education/2010/nov/23/young-athletes-abuse-studies-olympics

Hamilton, M. (2013). Abuse in the Sports World, and What Needs to Be Done About It. Verdict. Retrieved from https://verdict.justia.com/2013/05/16/abuse-in-the-sports-world-and-what-needs-to-be-done-about-it

Eric Dempsey

MS, ISSA Master Trainer

Dempseys Resolution Fitness

Eagle Stadium: The Palace of High School Football

Sports Stadiums have been a common part of most civilized societies for many years. As far back as the Roman Empire, sports stadiums have been a place where national and state pride were presented with much fanfare and glory. Sports stadiums not only provide a designated place for sport competition, but they provide entertainment for the public and revenue for the home state and associated sports teams and organizations. While there are many positive aspects about having a sports stadium in a community, there have been many negative aspects as well. High costs, fraud, overbilling and related scandals have plagued many sports stadiums and the host cities. Stadiums bring in jobs, revenue, popularity, travel, and a wide range of other business opportunities. They also cost a fortune and put a burden on the taxpayers and the host city budget (Coakley, 2015).

One such magnificent display of architecture, that has had its share of controversy, is the Eagle stadium in Allen, TX. It claimed the title of the most expensive high school stadium ever built, with an estimated sixty million dollar price tag. It originally opened in 2012 but was forced to close in 2014, because of required repairs. Apparently, there were structural issues and cracks in the foundation. Naturally, this caused quite a stir in public sentiment, after its enormous cost. This stadium is very large, with eighteen thousand seats, and eight thousand seats sold as season tickets. Despite the setback with repairs, the local community appears to still be very supportive of the stadium and their team, the Eagles. This team has been state champions three times, so the estimation for good things to happen with this stadium is very positive (Solomon, 2015).

Eagle stadium may soon lose its title of most expensive high school sports stadium. In the nearby city of McKinney, TX, a new stadium is being built that will have twelve thousand seats and cost approximately sixty two million dollars. This stadium will only be about seven miles from the Eagle stadium. There appears to be a stadium, arms race, in Texas, where high school football is very popular. Many people do not approve of so much money being spent on high school sports stadiums. Some people think that there are much better uses for the money, in other areas, that need attention. The majority of people, however, appear to support these stadiums, as these stadium budgets do require a vote by city residents, to be approved (Boren, 2016).

The residents of Allen, TX voted in 2009, for the approval of a one hundred and nineteen million dollar bond, to build this stadium and provide for other educational based facility upgrades. The stadium is owned by the Allen Independent School District. This stadium was built by Pogue Construction and PBK Architects. It has a sizeable parking complex, which can handle over five thousand vehicles. The stadium covers over seventy two acres. In addition to the football related features, Eagle stadium has a weight room, a golf practice area and a wrestling training area (Cook, 2012).

While many of the cities in Texas, including Allen, were cutting school budgets, this enormous undertaking was still approved. The economic strategy behind the stadium was to draw more attention to Allen through tourists, businesses and potential new residents. The city of Allen has grown from about eight thousand residents in 1980 to over eighty four thousand as of 2010. Allen residents are reported to have an average, annual income, in excess of ninety five thousand dollars. This is about twice the number of the national average. Being only twelve miles away from Dallas, Allen is far away enough, to enjoy the benefits of the suburban life, while still being close enough to attract big business (Cook, 2012).

One of the big stories surrounding Eagle Stadium, was the closing, repair and reopening of the stadium, that took place from 2014-2015. The repairs cost over ten million dollars. The architects estimated that it would have cost less than an additional one million dollars, to have the added features and reinforcements, done during the repairs, to have been done during construction. Fortunately, for Allen, Texas, the contractors agreed to cover the cost of the repairs themselves, seeing that it was their fault. They even paid Allen, Texas, over six hundred thousand dollars, for revenue lost during repairs and they covered the separate engineering fees that ran well over a million dollars. Naturally, the city government and school board were very pleased with this outcome. Another unusual occurrence was that this costly repair fiasco was handled amicably, without the need for time consuming and costly litigation (Chiquillo, 2015).

During the repairs, the Eagles football team had to use other facilities to train and play at. This required a lot of travel and was thought to be a setback for the team. As it turns out, the team has done well and really wasn’t negatively impacted by the temporary closure of the stadium. Everyone seems to love the stadium, with its thirty eight foot wide big screen, two hundred rest rooms and numerous concession stands. With such a high cost and then the shutdown for repairs, many thought this would turn into an ugly nightmare for the school and city. As it panned out, this minor setback had little negative effect and the school, city and community, now enjoy the stadium that was coined “the Palace of High School Football” by ESPN, when it made national headlines (Kuo, 2012).

Despite the high costs, in an age of budget cuts across the nation, magnificent sports stadiums continue to be built across the country. As long as sports remain popular and in such high demand, the need for these modern coliseums will continue. In communities around Dallas, Texas, the race is on, to see who can create the biggest and best stadium. These stadiums are a source of great pride, growth and revenue for communities across the country and throughout the world. The influence and popularity of the sports culture remains strong in our society. These majestic stadiums will contribute greatly to the continued success of the sports industry (Coakley, 2015).

References:

Coakley, J. (2015). Sports in society: Issues and controversies (11th ed.). New York, NY: McGraw-Hill.

Solomon, D. (2015). Allen’s Eagle Stadium is Set to Officially Reopen on Friday. The Daily Post. Retrieved from http://www.texasmonthly.com/the-daily-post/eagle-stadium-in-allen-is-set-to-officially-reopen-on-friday/

Boren, C. (2016). Take a look at America’s most expensive high school football stadium. The Washington Post. Retrieved from https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/early-lead/wp/2016/05/10/take-a-look-at-americas-most-expensive-high-school-football-stadium/

Cook, B. (2012). Why Allen, Texas, Built a $60 Million High School Football Stadium. Forbes. Retrieved from http://www.forbes.com/sites/bobcook/2012/08/13/why-allen-texas-built-a-60-million-high-school-football-stadium/#6c23d0c39d0b

Chiquillo, J. (2015). Allen's Eagle Stadium to reopen for graduation after $10 million-plus in fixes. The Dallas Morning News. Retrieved from http://www.dallasnews.com/news/community-news/allen/headlines/20150531-graduates-to-reopen-allen-isds-eagle-stadium.ece

Kuo, S. (2012). After Repairs, Allen High School Returns To Eagle Stadium for Football Season. Kera News. Retrieved from http://keranews.org/post/after-repairs-allen-high-school-returns-eagle-stadium-football-season

Photo credit: http://www.allenisd.org/page/22234

Eric Dempsey
MS, ISSA Master Trainer
Dempseys Resolution Fitness

Due Process and Fair Play in Sports

Due process is an important aspect of our society and culture. It extends into most regions of our lives, including sports. When a person is suspected of committing an offense, or breach of rule and protocol, certain steps should be followed to afford the involved parties due process. First, the involved subject or accused should be notified of the offense. Then, an opportunity should be presented to the accused, to hear their side of the story. A fair trial or hearing should be conducted, presenting all relevant information and facts concerning the matter, by all parties. An appeal process should be in place, should the accused wish to challenge a decision from the hearing. Over the last thirty years, there have been numerous court cases and litigation matters concerning a wide variety of topics, within the sports community. Many questions have been raised concerning due process and sports. Most sports organizations and universities have implemented some form of due process policy or protocol, to mitigate litigation and liability issues and to afford a fair and unbiased avenue to resolve issues (Appenzeller, 2011).

In addition to due process policies, many organizations have implemented fair play policies to handle complaints and to ensure a fair and equitable environment for their sports programs. Fair play policies can cover a wide range of topics from sports ethics, morals, character traits, rules, regulations, enrollment, recruiting, eligibility, gender, complaint processing and many others. The simple concept of fair play refers to everyone playing by the rules, without cheating, to have an enjoyable and honest play of a sport. It rarely stays that simple in today’s world, where sports have become a multi-billion dollar industry. Some organizations and universities have very complex and detailed fair play policies, to cover the long list of associated variables, found in modern sports. Performance enhancing drug use, gender participation, unethical practices in recruiting and money laundering are some of the controversial topics, which have been thrown into the fair play mix, in recent years (Steenbergen, De Knop, & Elling, 2001).

One of the big issues, concerning due process and fair play in sports, is that there is a separation between law and the policies of non-state entities such as organizations, colleges and universities. Many appeals protocols culminate in a court house, with public schools, but private institution appeals usually end in a non-legal environment, such as a director of education. So while it is in everyone’s best interest to have good due process and fair play policies, the law does not automatically cover this, or specifically control, or mandate it. That leaves a lot of gray area, where inconsistencies between organizations, concerning things like fines, punishment and penalties, are left up to the individual organizations. Once again, there is a long history of litigation, addressing these various issues. And in a lot of circumstances, the rulings from different courts have been very inconsistent. In some cases, there are consistent rulings which have formed the basis of many organization’s policies. The reality is that there are no cut and dried sets of state and federal laws, to handle all due process and fair play situations, in sports. There have been many attempts at the state and federal level to address these types of issues, but it remains largely, in the hands of private organizations and universities. Governing bodies in sports, such as the NCAA, have become very powerful as a result. There are many issues that remain unresolved and new issues appearing, with each passing year. An athlete, coach or administrator can only hope that their organization has good due process and fair play policies, which look out for the rights of all involved (Green, 1992).

References:

Appenzeller, H. (2011). Ethical behavior in sport. Durham, N.C.: Carolina Academic Press.

Green, R. (1992). Does the NCAA Play Fair? A Due Process Analysis of NCAA Enforcement Regulations. Duke University. Retrieved from http://scholarship.law.duke.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=3198&context=dlj

Steenbergen, J., De Knop, P., & Elling, A. (2001). Values and Norms in Sport: Critical Reflections on the Position and Meanings of Sport in Society. Meyer and Meyer Sport. Retrieved from https://books.google.com/books?id=aIzptiGkF-EC&pg=PA137&lpg=PA137&dq=fair+play+policies+in+sports&source=bl&ots=B6mmJ57Z7c&sig=fzvSDWr6KL8qxRzzk7irMEtbseQ&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiM44TLqOXNAhXk6oMKHQyKDJI4FBDoAQhJMAY#v=onepage&q=fair%20play%20policies%20in%20sports&f=false

Photo Credit: http://jurispage.com/2013/website-development/scales-of-justice-gavel-done-avoiding-a-cliche-law-firm-logo/

Eric Dempsey

MS, ISSA Master Trainer

Dempseys Resolution Fitness

Title IX and Women's Sports

In the history of our nation, the battles against discrimination have been well documented. Discrimination based upon gender, religion, ethnic background, race and many other categories, have existed since the beginnings of man. In the United States, discrimination has been challenged and legal action has been taken, to try to eliminate or at least mitigate, its occurrences throughout the country. One area of discrimination that has seriously affected the rights and freedoms of our citizens is gender discrimination. For many years, even decades, discrimination against women ran wild. There was a time when women couldn’t vote, hold certain jobs, receive equal pay, play certain sports, or attend certain educational institutions. The era of the 1960’s and 1970’s saw people in America, take a stand against all discrimination. Many laws were passed, to reverse the damaging practices of discrimination, in order to provide equality for all people. One such law that was passed was called the Education Amendments Act of 1972. One very important part of this law is known as Title IX (Sommers, 2014).

Title IX is a comprehensive federal law that prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex, in any federally funded education program or activity. The rules and regulations found within Title IX, apply to any local, state, or federal institution that uses financial aid benefits from the U.S. Department of Education. There are key areas where participating institutions have to comply with the guidelines set forth in Title IX. These areas include recruitment, admissions, and counseling; financial assistance; athletics; sex-based harassment; treatment of pregnant and parenting students; discipline; single-sex education; and employment. Institutions using Title IX, are prohibited from any form of retaliation, against any person who files a complaint or takes any actions, based upon alleged discrimination (OCR, 2015).

With the passing of Title IX, opportunities for women exploded in many categories. While Title IX covers many different areas, it is known for its relationship with women’s sports and sports in general. Before Title IX, there were very limited opportunities for women in sports. Women could not join men’s sports teams and there were no women’s teams or sports leagues. That situation quickly changed with the passing of Title IX. The past thirty years have seen the rapid growth of women’s sports. Women’s sports have even invaded the once male dominated, arena of combat sports. Today, women compete in mixed martial arts, Olympic sports, boxing and a long list of other sports. There are now women’s teams, leagues and individual participation in a very large number of sports ranging from alternative, individual sports to highly organized team sports. Women and girls have been allowed to play on formerly all-male teams and new teams for women have been created in sports that were previously male dominant (Appenzeller, 2011).

Title IX has been successful in many areas of women’s rights, especially in terms of sports participation. While there have been great advancements in women’s sports due to Title IX, problems have existed from its inception. With any new law that is passed, unforeseen details, omissions and errors are likely to exist. As women’s progress in sports evolved many smaller details have led to numerous litigation and court cases over a variety of related topics. Issues such as funding, facilities, equipment, administration, scholarships, training and coaching have seen the inside of many court rooms over the past thirty years. Many of these issues were simply due to the lack of women’s sports infrastructure prior to the implementation of Title IX. Many schools and institutions simply had never needed certain things because the women’s sports didn’t exist.

And there are the situations where the law, simply was not followed or complied with. Not everyone agreed with Title IX and many were very hesitant to comply with this new law. Many lawsuits corrected these situations one topic at a time. With each lawsuit, new precedence was set that contributed to the evolution of Title IX (Flanagan & Greenberg, 2012).

One of the big issues that arose after the implementation of Title IX was in regards to proportionality. Institutions and schools now had to ensure that athletic programs were proportional based upon the numbers of male and female students. This turned out to be a huge problem because the number of women in a school didn’t necessarily reflect the number of women interested in participating in the athletic programs. Schools were required to take actions based upon these numbers whether they were accurate or not. In many instances, new women’s teams were created to meet the number requirements at the cost of having to cut certain male teams and events. Some schools faced severe budget issues and potential litigation in the face of Title IX demands. Many of the men’s programs had to be cut from the budget in order to facilitate the women’s requirements. There were many more lawsuits that followed these types of actions (Sommers, 2014).

Another unintended consequence of the Title IX implementation concerned women’s health and safety. There have always been health and safety issues surrounding sports in general. Some say it goes with the territory. With the advent of numerous women’s scholarship opportunities, made readily available, the number of women who specialized in one sport, rose dramatically. With specialization in sports, the potential risk factors go way up and the likelihood of injury becomes great. This is true for both men and women. Now, with more women specializing in a sport, while seeking scholarship opportunities, injury rates climbed high. Overuse injuries are the most common, claiming over fifty percent of the reported sports injuries. Sports medicine doctors, surgeons, trainers and coaches have warned potential athletes for years, against specializing in one sport too early. But with scholarships on the line, young women choose to assume this risk in growing numbers, despite the warnings. Other health issues, that have become a growing problem for women in sports, include eating disorders, sexual abuse, ACL tears, concussions, and the female athlete triad syndrome (Flanagan & Greenberg, 2012).

Woman’s sport coaching and administration has been another area of contention. Even with the surge of women’s sports team and an increase in the number of coaching positions available, there has been a steady decline in the number of female coaches. Men dominate the coaching and administration roles in the majority of all sports teams. While the issue has been raised and is being looked into by various organizations, the numbers are still far from equitable (Sommers, 2014).

There are many topics and issues surrounding Title IX. There have been numerous lawsuits and litigation surrounding the complexities of this law. As a result, most institutions and universities now implement training programs, specifically targeted at Title IX compliance, awareness and implementation. These programs are mandatory in many places, for supervisors, employees, teachers, coaches, students and athletes. This increased education and awareness will hopefully curb the unintended negative consequences of a great law, which has done so much for women’s rights and equality.

While Title IX turned out to be far from perfect, the positive aspects and results have outweighed any of the negative problems that have arose. With increased education, oversight and awareness, Title IX should be able to evolve, and continue to ensure that women’s rights and equality remain protected, into the foreseeable future (Appenzeller, 2011).

References:

Appenzeller, H. (2011). Ethical behavior in sport. Durham, N.C.: Carolina Academic Press.

Sommers, C. (2014). Title lX: How a Good Law Went Terribly Wrong. Time. Retrieved from http://time.com/2912420/titleix-anniversary/

Office for Civil Rights (OCR). (2015). Title IX and Sex Discrimination. U.S. Department of Education. Retrieved from http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/docs/tix_dis.html
Flanagan, L., & Greenberg, S. (2012). How Title IX Hurts Female Athletes. The Atlantic. Retrieved from http://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2012/02/how-title-ix-hurts-female-athletes/253525/

Eric Dempsey

MS, ISSA Master Trainer

Dempseys Resolution Fitness

Ankle Mobility And Movement - It's Important stuff.

Ankle mobility is a crucial for success in movement for athletics and daily life. There are numerous factors that influence ankle mobility. Injuries are one of the top factors. Ankle sprains are the most common injury in sporting events. Due in part to the large number of ankle sprain injuries, ankle mobility has become a very important topic in the medical, athletic and fitness fields (Zouita, A., Majdoub, O., Ferchichi, H., Grandy, K., Dziri, C., Ben Salah, F., 2013).

I have had flat feet all of my life. I have suffered from strained leg muscles, plantar fasciitis and sprained ankles as well as numerous other injuries. Ankle mobility has been a limiting factor that I have had to battle constantly. Good shoes, arch supports, flexibility training and strength training has been the recipe that fixed my foot issues. Flexibility is my current limitation with ankle mobility and I have to address that daily. Form, technique and posture are also important when talking about ankle mobility, especially in regards to fitness and sports.

Without proper ankle mobility, stability and range of motion, a person’s ability to execute common and complex movements or exercises becomes very limited and opens the door to many possible injuries. Ankle mobility issues stem from several sources including previous ankle injuries, flexibility issues, muscular imbalances, postural deficiencies and genetic defects (Sharma, N., Sharma, A., Sandhu, J., 2011).

Poor ankle mobility can have an impact on the entire body as well. The entire kinetic chain can be influenced by limitations of the ankle. Overuse and compensation injuries as well as postural and muscular imbalance issues can all be affected by a lack of mobility in the ankle. The knee is especially vulnerable to impairment and injury as a result of ankle mobility issues (Ota, S., Ueda, M., Aimoto, K., Suzuki, Y., Sigward, S., 2013).

 

Assessments, flexibility training, proprioceptive training and resistance training are some of the methods that have been shown to be effective in preventing injuries and improving ankle mobility, range of motion and stability. Many people neglect ankle mobility training and develop issues as a result. By including ankle mobility training in a person’s fitness training program, injuries can be avoided and performance in both athletics and daily life activities can be improved. This would also reduce pain and discomfort and increase a person’s quality of life. Ankle mobility is a critical factor in human movement and should not be neglected (Zouita, A., Majdoub, O., Ferchichi, H., Grandy, K., Dziri, C., Ben Salah, F., 2013).

References:

Sharma, N., Sharma, A., Sandhu, J. (2011). Functional Performance Testing in Athletes with Functional Ankle Instability. Asian Journal of Sports Medicine, Vol 2, No 4.

Young, R., Nix, S., Wholohan, A., Bradhurst, R., Reed, L. (2013). Interventions for increasing ankle joint dorsiflexion: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Foot & Ankle Research.

Zouita, A., Majdoub, O., Ferchichi, H., Grandy, K., Dziri, C., Ben Salah, F. (2013). The effect of 8-weeks proprioceptive exercise program in postural sway and isokinetic strength of ankle sprains of Tunisian athletes. Annals of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine, 56, 634–643.

Ota, S., Ueda, M., Aimoto, K., Suzuki, Y., Sigward, S. (2013). Acute influence of restricted ankle dorsiflexion angle on knee joint mechanics during gait.

Eric Dempsey

NASM Certified Personal Trainer & Weight Loss Specialist

Dempsey’s Resolution Fitness