Movahedi, A.,
Sheikh, M.,
Bagherzadeh, F.,
Hemayattalab, R.,
Ashayeri, H. Publication Date: 2007
Journal of Motor Behavior (00222895)39(6)pp. 457-462
The authors propose a practice-specificity-based model of arousal for achieving peak performance. The study included 37 healthy male physical education students whom they randomly assigned to a high-arousal (n = 19) or low-arousal group (n = 18). To manipulate participants' level of arousal, the authors used motivational techniques. They used heart rate and the Sport Competition Anxiety Test (R. Martens, 1977) to measure the level of arousal that participants achieved. At the determined and given arousal state, the 2 groups performed the task (basketball free throws) for 18 sessions. Both groups performed a retention test at the 2 arousal levels immediately after the last exercise session, in the posttest, and after 10 days. Results showed that both groups learned the task similarly and achieved their peak performance at their experienced arousal level. When tested at an arousal level that differed from the one that they experienced throughout practice sessions, participants' performance had deteriorated significantly. Performance of the task seemed to have integrated with the arousal level of the participants during the task learning. The findings of this study suggest a practice-specificity-based explanation for achieving peak performance. Copyright © 2007 Heldref Publications.
Publication Date: 2020
Journal of Facilities Management (14725967)18(2)pp. 159-178
Purpose: Sports facilities can play a vital role in encouraging physical activity and sport. Also, just the distribution of sports facilities is very important for better access to these facilities. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to evaluate spatial justice in the distribution of built outdoor sports facilities in the city of Isfahan, Iran and provide insight for planning in terms of equitable accessibility. Design/methodology/approach: All facilities located in the 15 areas of the city, whether private or public, built for the purpose of physical activity and sports programs were considered in this study (107 cases). To obtain information on the locations of the outdoor sports facilities, Isfahan Atlas data, which has been compiled by Isfahan Municipality was used. Arc geographic information systems environment and its different algorithms were also used to perform different calculations and prepare maps. Findings: The results indicated the unfair distribution of built outdoor sports facilities in the city of Isfahan in terms of spatial justice based on the number of built outdoor sports facilities in each area, the population, land area, population density and the spatial pattern of the facilities. Practical implications: In this regard, urban authorities and sport managers should make an effort to decrease or obviate inequity in access to outdoor sports facilities for the purpose of promoting participation in physical activity and sport and providing residents with numerous other benefits. Originality/value: This paper has concluded that spatial justice in the distribution of built outdoor sports facilities for the improvement of access to these facilities is very important. © 2020, Emerald Publishing Limited.
Publication Date: 2020
International Journal Of High Risk Behaviors And Addiction (22518711)9(4)pp. 1-4
The prevalence of high-risk behaviors among professional athletes as role models for their fans, especially adolescents and young people, is important to be considered. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the prevalence of HRBs in Iranian professional athletes. This cross-sectional study included 1,940 athletes that were active in eight popular sports from 12 cities of the country. Data were collected using stratified random sampling and a self-made high-risk behavior questionnaire. To analyze the data, descriptive statistical methods were used. The results showed the prevalence of doping among professional athletes was 3%. Besides, 0.3% of the professional athletes on average smoke daily, and 2% used shisha (smoking water pipes) daily. Moreover, 2.5% of professional athletes drunk alcohol at least one time per month. Also, the prevalence of violence involvement among professional athletes was 4.1%, and the prevalence of illicit drug use was 0.3%. The research results showed all high-risk behaviors were prevalent to some degree among professional athletes. © 2020. Author(s). This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/) which permits copy and redistribute the material just in noncommercial usages, provided the original work is properly cited. All Rights Reserved.
Publication Date: 2025
Human Movement Science (01679457)101
While some studies suggest stereotype threat negatively affects motor performance and learning, further research is needed to better understand its effects and underlying mechanisms, which could lead to strategies for mitigating its impact. In experiment 1, we 1) investigated the effects of gender stereotype threat on learning of an aiming task among adolescent girls, 2) evaluated conscious processes and motivational processes to explore the variables that act as mediators in the context of stereotype threats on performance, and 3) conducted in-depth interviews to explore the participants' experiences, understandings, and opinions related to gender stereotype. Moving one step further, with respect to our findings in Exp 1, we tested whether attentional focus strategies could mitigate the negative effects of stereotype threat on the motor learning of adolescent girls (Exp 2). Our results revealed that implementing an external focus of attention can mitigate the detrimental effects of stereotype threat on motor performance and learning in adolescent girls. These findings hold significant implications for the acquisition of motor skills among adolescents, especially in stereotype-threat conditions. Coaches and teachers, particularly in activities such as throwing, can encourage adolescents to adopt an external focus of attention. © 2025
Publication Date: 2025
Learning and Motivation (00239690)90
This study was designed to explore whether increasing learners’ expectancies through delivering relatively easy criteria for success could mitigate the negative effect of explicitly activating gender stereotypes on motor learning. Fifty-four female participants (Mage: 9.42 years, SD = 0.49) were recruited from an elementary school through convenience sampling. During the first stage (day 1), all participants completed three low-kick trials of a soccer skill that served as the pre-test. Based on their pre-test scores, children were then randomly allocated to one of three groups: stereotype threat with enhanced expectancies (ST/EE), stereotype threat (ST), and nullified stereotype threat (NST). Prior to the practice stage, participants in the ST/EE and ST groups received explicit instructions emphasizing the natural superiority of boys/men in soccer. During the practice stage, participants in the ST/EE group were given relatively easy success criteria. In the second stage (day 2), participants completed the retention phase as part of the learning assessment. The results revealed that, after controlling for the pre-test kicking scores, the NST and ST/EE groups exhibited similar levels of motor learning (p = 0.76). However, both the ST/EE group (p = 0.046) and the NST group (p = 0.007) outperformed the ST group. These findings suggest that enhancing children's expectancies can effectively counteract the adverse effects of gender-stereotypical threats on motor learning, providing valuable insights for educational interventions and practices. © 2025 Elsevier Inc.
Publication Date: 2025
Journal of Motor Behavior (00222895)57(1)pp. 87-95
This research examined how changes in task constraints impacted the throwing patterns of children. The study involved 24 children, with an equal number of males and females, aged 5 and 6. The primary task constraints were the orientation of the target (horizontal or vertical hoops) and the size of the ball (diameters of 6 cm or 12 cm). We observed throwing patterns and analyzed kinematic changes in the preferred throws’ components. Initially, some children transitioned from using two hands to using one hand, and from underhand to overarm throws, particularly when using the larger balls. However, the preferred pattern for most children was one-hand overarm throwing. The kinematic analysis revealed that the participants adapted their throwing technique based on the size of the ball and the orientation of the hoop. The most significant adjustments occurred in the forearm component in response to changes in the target orientation. Notably, when aiming for a vertical hoop, distinct modifications were observed, including elevating the humerus and pulling the hand backward. These findings support the dynamical systems theory, which explains how movement patterns vary during motor development. The study also discussed the potential benefits of using constraints for skill acquisition in physical education settings. © 2024 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.
Mousavi, S.M.,
Salehi, H.,
Iwatsuki, T.,
Velayati, F.,
Deshayes, M. Publication Date: 2023
Sex Roles (03600025)89(3-4)pp. 174-185
The purpose of this investigation was to examine the effects of the relatively long induction of negative gender stereotypes on motor skill learning in young adolescent girls. Forty-six Iranian girls (Mage = 14.02 years old, SD = 0.80) were asked to practice a futsal kicking task (i.e., kicking a rolling ball toward a target) for 3 days with approximately 48 hours separating each session. Participants were randomly assigned to either a stereotype threat (ST) or nullified-stereotype threat (NS) group. Participants in the stereotype threat group randomly received related verbal, visual, and readable activation of gender stereotypes before each training session. The order of the manipulations (verbal induction on day 1 and so on) was randomly determined and this order was the same for all the participants. Two retention tests of 10 trials each, followed by two transfer tests, without feedback, were conducted 2 and 7 days later to assess the relatively permanent effects. Results showed that inducing negative stereotypes resulted in degraded kicking scores during the training sessions and degraded motor learning outlined by lower performance on the first and second retention and transfer tests. These findings provide the first evidence of the effect of relatively long induction of negative gender stereotypes on motor skill learning in adolescent girls. © 2023, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.
Publication Date: 2022
Journal of Intellectual Disabilities (17446295)26(1)pp. 185-194
The purpose of the present study was to examine the effects of easy goals versus difficult goals on acquisition and retention of basketball free throws in children with intellectual disability. Twenty-one children with intellectual disability were randomly assigned to an easy goals or difficult goals group. The participants were required to improve their basketball free throws according to their own scores in the previous exercise session. More difficult goals were set for the difficult goals group than for the easy goals group. The groups exercised the task for nine sessions. Both groups performed pretest, acquisition, and retention tests. Results showed that participants with easy goals improved their performance while the participants with difficult goals failed to improve their performance. These findings indicate that providing children with intellectual disability with easy goals facilitates the process of sport skill learning. © The Author(s) 2020.
Publication Date: 2014
Journal of Motor Behavior (00222895)46(1)pp. 17-23
The authors main purpose was to determine whether learning of a real-world sport skill (basketball free throws) is specific to the sources of afferent visual information available during practice. Twenty-eight male high school students (inexperienced in the experimental task) were randomly assigned to a full vision or target only vision group. Participants trained under full vision or target only condition for 15 sessions. Following training, in immediate tests, they were examined under full vision and then under target only conditions. Ten days later, in delayed tests, they performed the task under full vision and then under target only conditions. Results showed both groups performed the task similarly across the experimental period. Interestingly, it was found that immediate and delayed retention performance is specific to the training visual context. The groups performances dropped significantly when we tested them at a visual condition that differed from what they had experienced while learning the task. Performance of the task seemed to have integrated with the visual information available during the task acquisition. These findings provide evidence for the specificity of practice hypothesis in the field of motor learning and control. © 2014 Taylor and Francis Group, LLC.
Publication Date: 2025
International Journal of Rehabilitation Research (03425282)48(1)pp. 18-24
We investigated the potential to improve motor learning and performance in people with multiple sclerosis (PwMS) with OPTIMAL theory conditions. OPTIMAL theory predicts that three main factors [i.e. autonomy support (AS), enhanced expectancies (EE), and external focus (EF)] facilitate performance and learning. We examined whether the implementation of all three combined in a consecutive manner during practice would be beneficial for the motor learning and performance in a clinical population facing physical, cognitive, and emotional challenges. Thirty PwMS with mild-to-moderate disability (Expanded Disability Status Scale = 2.0-5.0) were randomly assigned to one of two groups (optimized and control) and practiced a novel motor-cognitive task involving rapid square-stepping to memorized patterns. Following a pretest (no group difference), optimized group participants practiced under each of three factors across practice phase (EE: feedback after good trials; AS: choice of mat color; and EF: external focus to the mat). Control group participants practiced under neutral conditions. The optimized group had significantly shorter movement times than the control group in the practice phase [174.7 (27.4) s vs. 236.8 (35.8) s, P < 0.0001], on the 24-h retention test [69.3 (9.3) s vs. 159.7 (15.5) s, P < 0.0001], and the 24-h transfer test [146.1 (14.9) s vs. 223.1 (38.9) s, P < 0.0001]. Thus, optimized practice combining AS, EF, and EE enhanced motor skill learning. Key factors in the OPTIMAL theory can be used to improve patients' motor learning. Further studies are warranted to extend these proof-of-concept observations for potential clinical applications. Copyright © 2024 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.
Publication Date: 2024
Iranian Journal of Ageing (1735806X)19(3)pp. 438-451
Objectives Most falls in the elderly occur due to physical and cognitive risk factors. This study aims to compare the effect of two types of mind-body exercises, yoga and square-stepping exercise (SSE), on memory, balance, and fear of falling in older women. Methods & Materials A quasi-experimental study was conducted on 20 elderly women with an age range of 60 to 70 years. Participants were selected through purposive sampling and were randomly assigned to yoga and Square-Stepping groups. Both groups did exercise for 12 weeks and participated in a pre-test and post-test. The Wechsler memory test, stork test, berg balance test, and international falls efficacy scale were used to measure memory quotient, static balance, dynamic balance, and fear of falling, respectively. Analysis of variance with repeated measures was conducted to analyze the data Results The mean scores of memory quotient in the two groups after exercises were significantly higher than before exercises (F(1, 18)=32.692, P<0.001, η2=0.645). The mean static balance time in the yoga group was significantly higher than in the SSE group (F(1, 18)=60.755, P<0.001, η2=0.771). Furthermore, the mean dynamic balance score in the SSE group was significantly higher than in the yoga group (F(1, 18)=7.714, P=0.012, η2=0.300). In addition, the mean square of fear of falling in the SSE group was significantly lower than in the yoga group (F(1, 18)=11.777, P=0.003, η2=0.396). Conclusion It seems that square stepping exercises can also be used as a simple exercise program to improve physical and cognitive functions in older women. © 2024 The Author(s);
Publication Date: 2024
Journals of Gerontology - Series B Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences (10795014)79(1)
Objectives: According to the Optimizing Performance Through Intrinsic Motivation and Attention for Learning (OPTIMAL) theory of Wulf and Lewthwaite, enhanced expectancies (EE), autonomy support (AS), and an external focus (EF) of attention facilitate motor performance and learning. The present study examined whether consecutive implementation of EE, AS, and EF during practice would enhance the learning of a square-stepping task in older adults. Methods: Participants were randomly assigned to optimized and control groups. After the pretest, 1 of the 3 factors was implemented during each of the three 12-trial practice blocks, in a counterbalanced order, in the optimized group: positive feedback (EE), choice of mat color (AS), and instructions to focus on the squares (EF). Control group participants practiced without any of these factors. Results: Results indicated that the optimized group had faster movement times than the control group during the practice phase and on 24-hr retention and transfer tests. Discussion: The key variables in the OPTIMAL theory can be applied sequentially in order to facilitate motor performance and learning in older adults. © 2023 The Author(s). Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of The Gerontological Society of America. All rights reserved.
Publication Date: 2022
Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders (15733432)52(5)pp. 2180-2186
This quasi-experimental study investigated effects of Tai Chi Chuan training on stereotypic behavior of children with autism spectrum disorder. Twenty-three participants (mean age = 9.60 ± 1.40 years) were assigned to experimental (N = 12) and control (N = 11) groups. The experimental group received 12 weeks of Tai Chi training and all participants had pre, post, and one-month follow-up assessments. Stereotypic behavior measured using Gilliam Autism Rating Scale 2 Scores, was significantly altered by ~ 25% in the Tai Chi Chuan group. Behavioral change was maintained at follow up since there was no significant difference between that and the posttest. In conclusion, Tai Chi Chuan training is a useful and appropriate intervention to modulate behavior in individuals with autism spectrum disorder. © 2021, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.
Rejaei, S.F.,
Mojtahedi, H.,
Marandi, S.M.,
Rahnama, N.,
Movahedi, A.,
Bambaeichi e., E.,
Khayambashi, K. Publication Date: 2012
Journal of Isfahan Medical School (10277595)30(186)
Background: Cardiac biomarkers are factors that are used in the diagnosis of heart tissue damage and acute myocardial infarction. The main purpose of this study was to compare 3 types of endurance, resistance, and combined exercise on cardiac biomarkers, i.e. cardiac troponin T (cTnT) and creatine kinase isoenzymes MB (CK-MB), in active men. Methods: A total number of 15 healthy active young men with a mean age of 23 ± 1.60 years, mean height of 173 ± 3.75 cm, mean weight of 69 ± 8.74 kg, and maximal oxygen uptake (VO2 max) of 51.48 ± 1.84 mL/kg.min were selected. Each subject performed the 3 types of exercise with 7-day intervals. Blood samples were obtained before and immediately after exercise and cardiac biomarkers were evaluated. Statistical analyses were conducted using paired t-test and analysis of variance (ANOVA). Findings: Our results indicated that CK-MB increased significantly after resistance, endurance, and combined exercise (pretest value = 20.87 ± 2.39; posttest values = 25.98 ± 3.86, 26.34 ± 4.21, and 27± 2.66, respectively; α = 0.01). However, the 3 types of exercise did not result in significantly different CK-MB levels. CTnT levels did not change significantly after resistance, endurance, or combined exercise (pretest value = 0.65 ± 0.11; posttest values = 0.48 ± 0.11, 0.65 ± 0.11, and 0.77 ± 0.11, respectively; α = 0.01). Nevertheless, cTnT levels were higher after endurance and combined exercise compared to resistance exercise. Conclusion: The results indicated that despite the increased amounts of CK-MB which might have been caused by the nature of exercises and muscle damage due to intense muscular activity, none of endurance, resistance, and combined exercises triggered significant changes in cTnT levels in active men. Therefore, these types of exercise cannot be followed by heart damage.
Publication Date: 2025
Strategies (21683778)38(3)pp. 34-36
Classroom rules and agreements are essential for effective classroom management and significantly impact student learning. This article discusses 18 essential principles for designing and implementing rules and class agreements. © 2025 SHAPE America.
Publication Date: 2025
Trends in Sport Sciences (2391436X)32(2)pp. 123-133
Introduction. Sport provides a platform for positive youth development by allowing young people to acquire essential life skills. Aim of Study. This study examined how participants’ life skills development in sport is influenced by the length of their experience in sport, weekly participation hours, and satisfaction of their three basic psychological needs. Material and Methods. The study included 317 Iranian university students (Mage = 22.3 years; females = 222, males = 95) engaged in sport or exercise. Two validated measures assessed participants’ basic psychological needs satisfaction and life skills development in sport, with the data collected via an online questionnaire and analyzed using SPSS 28.0. Hierarchical multiple regression analysis included length of experience in sport and weekly participation hours as predictors in block 1, and autonomy, competence, and relatedness satisfaction as predictors in block 2. Results. The results indicated that both length of experience in sport and weekly participation hours were positively associated with participants’ development of eight different life skills. After controlling for length of experience in sport and weekly participation hours, satisfaction of autonomy, competence, and relatedness were positively related to all eight life skills. Of the three basic psychological needs, autonomy satisfaction had the strongest positive relationships with participants’ life skills development. Conclusions. Coaches and parents should encourage consistent participation in order to maximize the life skills benefits of sport, and create supportive environments that fulfill participants’ three basic psychological needs. © 2025, University School of Physical Education. All rights reserved.
Publication Date: 2024
Journal of Teaching in Physical Education (02735024)43(2)pp. 292-301
Purpose: The purpose of this research was to develop and assess the psychometric properties of the Persian version of the Life Skills Scale for Physical Education (P-LSSPE). Method: During Study 1, which included four translators, eight physical education experts, and 45 physical education students, the LSSPE was translated and adapted into Persian, and its content validity was assessed. Study 2 assessed evidence for the factorial validity and reliability of the scale with a sample of 1,004 students. Study 3, which included 462 students, assessed nomological validity evidence. Results: In Study 1, the content validity analyses indicated that the P-LSSPE items and their dimensions were clear in language, practical in application, and represented the life skills in question. In Study 2, a bifactor confirmatory factor analysis model was the best representation of the data and provided evidence for the construct validity of the scale. In Study 3, evidence for the nomological validity of the P-LSSPE was provided, with the correlation coefficients indicating that teacher autonomy support was associated with students’ development of all eight life skills and total life skills. Discussion/Conclusion: Overall, the findings of this research suggest that the P-LSSPE can be used to accurately measure the life skills development of Iranian physical education students. © 2024 Human Kinetics Publishers Inc.. All rights reserved.
Publication Date: 2024
Journal of Facilities Management (17410983)22(5)pp. 869-882
Purpose: In terms of the use of sports places and spaces, per capita is a determining parameter for the status and perspective of the future. Although there are many uses for the per capita indicator in sports places, there are no consistent scientific and methodological methods for calculating it. Therefore, this study aims to provide an analytical model to determine the per capita index of sports places and spaces. Design/methodology/approach: One of the matters that can be considered as the basic information required to develop and construct sports facilities is determination of per capita, which can be used as the most vital information to plan and develop this type of urban utilities. In the history of contemporary urbanization, the use of the per capita concept is one of Reinhard Laumeister’s innovations, a founder of modern urban engineering in Germany, hence, the use of per capita was triggered in 1876, almost 133 years ago. Findings: The underlying information of the research in two spatial and descriptive sections was analyzed in the geographic information systems (GIS) software. After the division and network distribution of the boundary by the Thiessen Networks analytic function in the Arc GIS, per capita of each polygon was separately calculated using the presented formula and the population of the related blocks Originality/value: Finally, with the qualitative per capita achieved in the previous stage, the study area was classified based on the need for the development of indoor pools to three, privileged, semi-privileged and deprived spectrums. © 2022, Emerald Publishing Limited.
Publication Date: 2023
Physical Culture and Sport, Studies and Research (20812221)102(1)pp. 41-57
This study aimed to identify the causes and consequences of international migrations of Iranian elite athletes. This research was conducted using the qualitative method and Glaser grounded theory approach. The statistical population included senior managers in the Ministry of Sports and Youth and national sports federations, expert researchers in this field, professional athletes who have emigrated or were on the verge of emigration, and coaches in professional sports teams in Iran. Twenty-six people were selected through theoretical sampling and snowball methods. The data collection tool was a semi-structured individual interview. The Glaser approach was used to analyse the data, including two main stages of actual and theoretical coding. During the actual coding process, 468 primary statistical codes were identified, and 68 subcategories and 11 main categories were subsequently identified. The categories were divided into three general dimensions: “Factors affecting”, “Consequences”, and “Strategies” concerning “elite athletes’ emigration “; in the theoretical coding stage, the final model of the research was outlined. Identifying the causes and consequences of the emigration of elite athletes can significantly help the authorities to recognise problems in this area and provide appropriate solutions to retain adequate human capital in the country. We attempted to examine and present the causes and consequences of the emigration of Iranian elite athletes in the form of a model. © 2023 Sciendo. All rights reserved.
Publication Date: 2023
International Journal of Learning Technology (17418119)18(3)pp. 260-278
This paper aims to identify the factors affecting the quality of the e-learning of physical education students. The statistical population of the paper consisted of undergraduate students at the University of Isfahan in the field of physical education who passed their theoretical and practical courses virtually in two semesters. The sample size was estimated to be 210 individuals based on the Krejcie and Morgan table. Then, a researcher-made questionnaire was employed to collect the required data. Exploratory factor analysis was used to identify the factors affecting the quality of e-learning and confirmatory factor analysis was used to confirm the identified factors. According to the results, the factors affecting the e-learning quality of theoretical and practical courses are teachers’ characteristics, technical characteristics of the educational system, content, student characteristics, and evaluation and feedback. Copyright © 2023 Inderscience Enterprises Ltd.
Publication Date: 2022
International Journal of Business Information Systems (17460972)39(1)pp. 76-95
The purpose of this study is to develop a model for the success of information systems in sports organisations. This research is based on modelling the structural equations based on the conceptual model derived from the DeLone and McLean research. This model consists of six variables namely system quality, information quality, service quality, intention to use, user satisfaction, and net benefits, which are derived from Sirsat and Sirsat (2016) research. To implement the model, the statistical population included all the staff of the sport departments of Iran. After data collection, the model constructs were modified using of the measurement model. In the final stage and based on the collected data, the conceptual model was implemented, which had a very bad fit; after implementing some necessary reforms, the model of the success of IS in sports organisations was presented and confirmed. © 2022 Inderscience Enterprises Ltd.
Publication Date: 2022
International Journal of Knowledge Management Studies (17438276)13(3)pp. 231-256
The purpose of the present article is to study the effects of mediator organisational agility in the relation between knowledge management, and innovation and competitive advantage in sports organisations. The test population included all the staff active in sports organisations of Isfahan province. The standard knowledge management questionnaire of Newman and Conrad (1999), innovation (Jiménez-Jimenez et al., 2008; Panayides, 2006; Prajogo and Sohal, 2006), competitive advantage from researcher-made questionnaire and organisational agility (Zhang and Sharifi, 2000) were used for collecting data. The results of the findings indicated that knowledge management variable has significant effects on innovation, competitive advantage and agility. Also, the effects of agility variable was not significant regarding innovation, but they had significant effects on the competitive advantage. In conclusion, Sohel test result indicated that knowledge management variable has significant effects on innovation and competitive advantage with mediator of organisational agility. Copyright © 2022 Inderscience Enterprises Ltd.
Publication Date: 2021
Journal of Facilities Management (17410983)19(3)pp. 339-357
Purpose: This study aims to provide a novel method for sport places site selection, although instead of using decision-making methods, the focus is on analytic functions in geographic information systems (GIS). Design/methodology/approach: Researchers today have combined site selection science to a large extent with GIS and different decision-making methods to provide methods with higher confidence coefficients, however, it seems that there is a long way left to the best result. Findings: After making a study database including data related to uses and urban elements, sports places, population density in study territory and drawing map of the region, by exporting data to GIS environment this database was prepared to use as separate layers. In the next step, the final map was made by shared overlapping of layer resulted from combining determining factors in sport places site selection and a layer of the sphere of influence of sport places available. Originality/value: As with other research studies done for site selection, the region determined as high value in the final map was wide, a method of minimizing the difference of maximum and minimum standard deviation of polygons was used to minimize these lands. This method made it possible to plan to construct multiple sport places in succession. © 2021, Emerald Publishing Limited.
Publication Date: 2019
International Journal of System Assurance Engineering and Management (09764348)10(5)pp. 1133-1144
The aim of present study was to provide a combined model of fuzzy AHP and numerical taxonomy analysis for sport organizational ranking and performance appraisal in which subjects were Esfahan youth and sports offices (Iran). In the first step, related indices with four balanced scorecard perspective were identified, and scientific resources, research background, professional comments, and finally confirmatory factor analysis were used. Finally, 41 indices were identified and classified in four-perspectives balance scorecard (BSC). After confirmation of final construct of the BSC, fuzzy analytical hierarchy process was used to identify the weight of indices in every four perspectives. Then, in Esfahan, 26 youth and sports offices were ranked using numerical taxonomy method. According to the results, youth and sports offices of Esfahan city, Najafabad, and Shahinshahr were in first to third places, respectively. Finally, in order to conduct performance appraisal and rank sports organizations, a model was provided through the previous path. The provided model not only could identify studied organizations situation in every executive area but also could make a framework for better management and efficient performance. © 2019, The Society for Reliability Engineering, Quality and Operations Management (SREQOM), India and The Division of Operation and Maintenance, Lulea University of Technology, Sweden.
Publication Date: 2024
International Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology (1557251X)22(5)pp. 1194-1208
This study aimed to determine the effect of different combinations of action observation and motor imagery on the learning of badminton short serve (BSS) in typically developed children. Fifty female high school students (mean age of 13.76 ± 1.82 years old and novice in badminton) participated in this study. The participant’s motor imagery ability and BSS performance were measured through the Motor Imagery Questionnaire 3 (MIQ-3) and French BSS Test respectively. The participants were randomly allocated to five groups including action observation (AO), motor imagery (MI), simultaneous action observation and motor imagery (S-AOMI), alternate action observation and motor imagery (A-AOMI), and a control group. The participants of each group received their intervention in three sessions per week for six weeks. Both groups performed pretest, retention, and transfer tests. The results revealed that the task performance of all groups, except the control group, significantly improved. Post hoc analyses indicated that the MI group performed significantly better than the control group and the S-AOMI group performed significantly better than the AO group and control group. The A-AOMI group performed significantly better than the AO group, MI group, and the control group. It was concluded that the combination of AOMI may facilitate learning of BSS better than AO or MI alone. © 2023 International Society of Sport Psychology.
Publication Date: 2022
Physical Culture and Sport, Studies and Research (20812221)97(1)pp. 21-31
The aim of this study was to measure the effects of educational intervention on sports law concepts on coaches' attitude, knowledge, and behavior. The method of the study was quasi-experimental, including two groups, pretest and posttest stages, and a follow-up study. A total of 50 coaches from Eghlid in Fars Province, Iran, were selected using the convenience sampling method. They were then randomly divided into an experimental group and a control group. A researcher-made educational protocol was used for educating coaches who participated in the experimental group on the concepts of sports law. Then, in order to measure the efficiency of the educational protocol, three questionnaires were employed to measure the coaches' attitudes and their knowledge about the concepts and regulations of sports law, as well as their behavior related to the principles and regulations of sports law at sports clubs. The covariance analyzing test and ANOVA with repeated measures were employed to analyze the data provided by the study's instruments. The results indicated that the educational intervention of this study positively changed the attitude of the coaches in the experimental group towards the concept of sports law. In addition, the educational intervention of this study significantly improved the knowledge of coaches in the experimental group about the rules and regulations of sports law. Furthermore, the behavior of the coaches in the experimental group changed in that they began properly implementing the principles and regulations of sports law after participating in eight educational sessions. Moreover, the effects of the educational intervention in this study remained for three months following the completion of the intervention. © 2022 Hamidreza Mirsafian et al., published by Sciendo.
