EXPLORING FIRST-GENERATION COLLEGE STUDENTS LEADERSHIP BEHAVIORS AND ACTIONS DURING INTRAMURAL SPORTS

College graduates need to have specific leadership-related skills, behaviors, and traits when entering the workforce. Campus involvement is one way for students to develop such areas. Therefore, this qualitative study explored the self-reported leadership skills of first-generation college students who were actively participating in intramural sports. Twelve students from a 4-year public university in the Northeast were interviewed about the research-driven photographs they submitted depicting leadership skills they engaged in during intramural sports participation. Photograph captions and interviews were analyzed using Kouzes and Posner’s (2014) leadership model. Findings revealed that students reported engaging in behaviors and actions aligned with the leadership practices described by Kouzes and Posner (2014). These findings can help inform the decisions campus recreation professionals make about the role leadership development plays in program offerings.

How Constraints to Campus Recreation Participation Differ Based on Activity Type, Gender, and Citizenship

The purpose of this study was to explore the differential effects of constraints on participation in three different types of campus recreation (i.e., intramural sports, drop-in sports, fitness center), and how constraints differ based on gender and citizenship. Data were collected from undergraduate students ( n = 344) using a questionnaire at a large university in Ontario, Canada and analyzed using logistic regression and Mann–Whitney U. Non-participation in intramurals was associated with not knowing how to get involved, drop-in sports with not knowing enough people to participate, and fitness center with feeling uncomfortable exercising in public. Women and men did not differ in the ten constraints measured in the study. International students were more constrained than domestic students by feeling as though the recreation facilities were inaccessible. Implications for practice are discussed.

The Development and Psychometric Evaluation of the Exercise Overvaluation Scale

While regular exercise is associated with a number of physical and mental health benefits, basing one’s self-esteem largely on exercise is likely associated with negative outcomes. In the present studies, the authors developed a novel measure of this construct, something they term “exercise overvaluation.” In Study 1, 820 participants completed an online survey measuring self-esteem, exercise attitudes and behaviors, and eating disorder symptoms. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis were employed to develop the 14-item Exercise Overvaluation Scale. The results provided evidence of discriminant and convergent validity and internal consistency reliability of scale scores. In Study 2, the Exercise Overvaluation Scale was administered to 134 university athletes, including those who participated in intramural sports, club sports, and collegiate athletics. The results from Study 2 supported the criterion validity and test–retest reliability of scale scores. This scale offers researchers a new tool to help understand the relationships among exercise, self-esteem, and physical and mental health outcomes.

A Multi-Institutional Review of College Campus Adapted Intramural Sports Programming for College Students With and Without a Disability

This study examined factors surrounding the development and advancement of campus intramural programming for college students with physical disabilities. Campus recreation staff from 164 universities completed a survey examining campus programming for students with and without physical disabilities, marketing, modifications, barriers, needs, and strategies for developing adapted and inclusive intramural sports programming. Weight training, cardiovascular training, and personal training were among the most reported programming designed to include students with physical disabilities. Wheelchair basketball is among the longest-running intramural programs with sitting volleyball, goalball, and beep baseball increasing in popularity. Environmental and equipment accessibility was a predominant strategy and accommodation to facilitate inclusive programming, with the primary reason for not including adapted or inclusive intramural programming attributed to lack of request or too few students with physical disabilities on campus. Additional results and discussion address best practices and recommendations to initiate and improve programming for students with physical disabilities.

Contents and features of intramural (in-school) sports in the USA

The study and generalization of foreign experience is a value for Ukraine, which has set itself the task of integration into the world community and can be an important source of thorough thinking and creative use of positive ideas in domestic theory and practice of physical education and sports. This article analyzes the content and features of the organization of intramural (in-school) sports in the United States. The study found that intramural sports in the United States are an integral part of the overall education program, which provides an opportunity to involve children with different levels of development of motor skills and qualities in motor activities outside of physical education lessons. Participation in intramural sports programs is voluntary. It is determined that the intramural sports program in the United States is characterized by certain features that must be taken into account for its successful implementation. It was found that, first of all, American specialists determine the direction (nature) of the sports program and possible types of physical activity, taking into account the wishes of students; it is important to properly plan and compile a quality schedule for classes in compliance with the capacity of existing sports facilities; it is obligatory to observe the rules of admission of students to classes and competitions, as well as their annual medical examination; implementation of the sports program is carried out with the use of modern information technologies; the accounting and evaluation of the program is constantly carried out; proper administration and quality arbitration are of great importance; special attention is paid to the competition procedure itself and the determination of winners; a special place is given to the financing of programs and their support and promotion.

Retention and Academic Success of First-Year Student-Athletes and Intramural Sports Participants

The purpose of this investigation was to compare the relationship of intramural sports and Division III athletic participation to retention and academic success in first-year college students. A first-year student cohort ( n = 568) was grouped into four categories: no participation, student-athlete, intramural participant, and participant in both. There was no statistically significant difference in academic success among the participant groups, F(6, 1084) = .626, p = .710. Both the student-athlete and intramural participant groups were retained at a higher rate than the no participation group, 4.65% and 10.48%, respectively. Of the 46 student-athletes who discontinued playing varsity sports, only 17 remained at the institution. This investigation supports that intramural sports and Division III varsity athletic participation does not negatively affect grade point average and credit hours earned in first-year students, while demonstrating a positive relationship with retention. The results also highlight the need for intentional intervention and research related to the disengaged student-athlete.

Club and Intramural Sports Participation and College Student Academic Success

The purpose of this investigation was to determine the relationship between university club and intramural sports participation and student grades via the American College Health Association National College Health Assessment (NCHA) survey, while controlling for confounding variables. Data were obtained from the NCHA for the fall 2008, spring 2009, fall 2009, and fall 2010 time periods. The original sample included 178,091 respondents. After inclusion and exclusion criteria, the final analytic sample included 85,316 respondents. Multinomial logistic regression was used to evaluate the role of participation in club and/or intramural sports on self-reported grade averages. Analyses were adjusted for significant covariates that have been identified as potentially impacting academic success. In general, sport participants were more likely to report higher grade averages than nonparticipants. The strongest relationships were found for participants of club sports. Future research should investigate relationships between club and intramural sports and other indicators of academic success.

Season and Sport-Specific Adolescent Concussions via Online Surveillance in New Jersey Public High Schools 2015–2017

Despite increased awareness of concussions among student-athletes, local epidemiologic surveillance efforts are limited, especially among adolescents. We analyzed data reported through a state public-school-based online surveillance tool during the fall (summer preseason and regular season), winter, and spring seasons of the 2015–2017 school years at seven participating public high schools across New Jersey. Concussions were sustained during interscholastic and intramural sports and in physical education classes. There were 208 concussions: 142 in fall (123 regular season), 22 in winter (21 regular season), and 44 in spring. Reports stated 75% were first concussions, but 17% were second and 2% were third concussions.