Philosophiae Doctor - PhD (Sport, Recreation and Exercise Science)
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Item An analysis of the implementation of DSAC’s club development programmes: case studies of selected community football clubs in Kwazulu-Natal and the Western Cape(University of the Western Cape, 2023) Moroe, Jakobo Jacob; Keim, MarionScholars such as Seippel and Belbo (2021), Robertson, Eime and Westerbeek (2018) and Sotiriadou and Wicker (2013) regard community sports clubs as a panacea for the challenges associated with building social capital, social engagement and community cohesion. In the South African context, the Club Development Programme (CDP) is a key initiative of the Department of Sports, Arts and Culture (DSAC) which was introduced in 2006 to promote community sport development. However, there is scant academic research that has examined the design and implementation of this programme with a view to understanding its challenges and/or success factors. Premised on a management theoretical framework, the focus of which is primarily on the design and implementation of community sport development programmes, this qualitative study examined the design and implementation of the CDP in South Africa through the lenses of two purposively selected provinces: the Western Cape (WC) and KwaZulu-Natal (KZN). These provinces were targeted on the basis that they were reported to have a better system to implement the CDP (Club development coordinators, 2017). The findings of this study revealed that the CDP has been operating without any existing substantive model to demonstrate how the programme ought to be designed and implemented effectively in South African communities. Therefore, priorities to be addressed for the effective implementation of the CDP in the South African setting include that: platforms to be prioritised to strengthen relationships with key stakeholders to give valuable input; good systemic governance at club and federation level need to be promoted; mechanisms to be introduced to prevent the abuse of power within the CDP; the CDP management needs to be diligent in recruiting new personnel to the programme; all of the programme coordinators must undergo rigorous training to enable them to acquire knowledge and skills to implement, monitor and evaluate the programme effectively; a succession plan must be prioritised for the CDP administrators; quality equipment and clothing be distributed equally to clubs that have not yet received them; and programme coordinators must frequently invite community clubs to the CDP planning sessions. This study contributes to the limited and growing academic literature on the design and effective implementation of community sports club programmes with reference to South Africa and Africa at large.Item Development of guidelines for adolescents and parents to increase adolescent participation in physical activity(University of the Western Cape, 2022) Cozett, Colleen Sarah; Bassett, SusanPhysical inactivity in adolescence increases due to numerous influencing factors and this inactivity may continue into adulthood without intervention. Parental involvement provides support for adolescents to increase their participation in physical activity. In South Africa, it is unclear which strategies are available to improve parental involvement in physical activity in adolescence. Thus, this study aimed to develop guidelines for enhancing parental involvement to increase adolescent participation. The objectives of the study included: The phases and stages linked to the research question, study’s aim and objectives.Item A context-specific physical education programme for senior-phase primary and high schools in resource-poor communities in the Western Cape(University of the Western Cape, 2022) Venter, Teneille; Travill, AndreThe benefits of exercise are widely accepted. A better quality of life is one of the many benefits associated with regular exercise, as well as a decreased risk of a variety of diseases. There are also psychological and emotional benefits, and the attainment of basic movement skills which form the foundation of movement. Greater school engagement, improved academic performance and enhanced physical health are more benefits of physical education (PE). A reduction in depression, anxiety and stress are some of the other benefits that have been reported. However, physical activity (PA) practices among South African school learners are insufficient to promote health and prevent chronic disease.Item Guidelines for leadership development using leisure education as a tool for youth with physical disabilities in South Africa(University of the Western Cape, 2022) Malema, Makhaya Johannes; Wegner, LisaYouth need to build their resilience, feel empowered, take the initiative and become independent for their leadership development. The application and use of leisure education amongst youth with disabilities for developing leadership appears feasible, although it has never previously been researched. It is noted that leisure plays a significant role in the lives of all persons, and people with disabilities should also embrace opportunities to obtain the positive benefits of leisure.Item Development of mental skills training programmes for competitive collegiate netball players in Zimbabwe(University of Western Cape, 2021) Gondo, Thembelihle; Andrews, BarryMental skills are critical to the development of a positive mind-set in the athlete in order to develop the ability to concentrate more, focus attention, manage arousal, develop self-esteem and thereby enhance self-confidence in competitive sport. This study was an exploratory study to investigate how well Zimbabwean inter-collegiate athletes were prepared mentally and how this was handled during their participation in inter-collegiate games. The study focused specifically on just one group of athletes, netballers.Item Sport for development and peace in communities: A case study of the ‘sport for peace and social transformation programme’ in Uasin Gishu, Kenya(University of the Western Cape, 2021) Mariga, Erick; Lees, Marion Keim; De Coning, ChristoThis study examined the role of Sport for Development and Peace (SDP) in peacebuilding, focussing particularly on the case of the Kenya Community Sports Foundation’s (KESOFO) Sport for Peace and Social Transformation (SPST) programme in Uasin Gishu County, Kenya. It was meant to provide an in-depth understanding of the role generally played by community NGO programmes in fostering peace in communities through variations of the SDP framework. Additionally, the study’s purpose was to identify lessons of experience from the programme and give recommendations on how the programme can be improved in delivering its stated goal of fostering peace and development in conflict prone communities. The study made use of Johan Galtung’s 3Rs Conflict transformation theory, linking it with the Sports for Development and Peace (SDP) framework, with a critical analysis being proffered all in the quest to inform conceptualisation of this particular study. It made use of the philosophical assumption of interpretivism through relativist ontology and qualitative research methodology anchored on a descriptive approach.Item Sustainable health-promoting physical education in the upper primary and junior secondary phases of schools in the Zambezi Region of Namibia: Developing guidelines for curriculum development.(University of Western Cape, 2019) Kela, Gerald M; Travill, AndreThe health benefits associated with physically active lifestyles are well known and the World Health Organisation has acknowledged its significance in preventative and rehabilitative health care. It is recommended by the World Health Organisation that children, aged 6 to 17 years, should participate in 60 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity on a daily basisItem Physical activity behaviours of persons with HIV and AIDS in low-income populations: The design of a context-sensitive randomised control trial(University of the Western Cape, 2018) Mabweazara, Smart Zivanai; Leach, LloydThe Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and acquired Immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) are serious health issues that continue to affect many nations. Specifically, the sub-Saharan African region has the highest prevalence of HIV and AIDS worldwide. Africans living in informal settlements or townships have the highest prevalence of HIV in South Africa. Persons of low socioeconomic status (SES) in general become socialised into unhealthy behaviours and risk factors at early ages, and experience poor health outcomes. Physical activity (PA) is one cost-effective, non-pharmacological approach that has been reported as conjunctive therapy for HIV to effectively address these impairments. Aim: The aim of the study was to develop a contextualized intervention that promotes PA among persons living with HIV and AIDS (PLWHA) of low SES. Methods: A mixed methods approach was used. Studies included (1) a systematic review which assessed (a) specific and useful intervention techniques that were previously used in successful PA interventions (b) relevant behaviour change theories used to develop the intervention content, (2) a narrative review which examined the available literature on PA, social support and SES with a view to inform the design of effective PA interventions for PLWHA of low SES, (3) a cross sectional study which aimed at determining if age, body weight, height, gender, waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), educational attainment, employment status, CD4+ cell count, and body mass index (BMI) could predict overall PA among PLWHA of low SES in Cross roads Township in the Western Cape Province, South Africa (4) a cross-sectional study which (a) examined the PA profile of PLWHA of low SES based on PA domains and intensity and (b) determined whether employment status and level of education can predict PA among PLWHA of low SES in Cross roads Township in the Western Cape Province, South Africa (5) a mixed methods study which investigated the benefits and barriers of PA for HIV-positive women of low SES using the Exercise Benefits/Barriers Scale and focus group discussions, (6) a study which sought to develop a contextualised intervention for promoting PA among PLWHA of low SES and (7) a crossover study conducted at a community centre caring for HIV positive Black African Xhosa-speaking women of low SES in Nyanga Township in the Western Cape Province in South Africa. Results: The systematic literature review showed that the following techniques, namely, ‘provide feedback on performance’, ‘goal setting (behaviour)’, and ‘plan social support/social change’ were the most frequently used behavioural change techniques in interventions focusing on promoting PA for the management of chronic diseases amongst individuals of low SES. The review also showed that the Transtheoretical model of behaviour change and the Social Cognitive theory were the common theoretical frameworks of most study interventions.Item Sport and the struggle for development: Conceptual approaches to sport for development and peace as an emerging field of evaluation - case studies from the public sector, academic sector and civil society led initiatives in South Africa(University of Western Cape, 2018) Sanders, Ben; Keim, Marion; de Coning, ChristoSport for Development and Peace (SDP) refers to the use of sport to promote varied outcomes beyond the playing field and encompasses a range of initiatives seeking to harness the power of sport for social change. Despite the rapid growth of the SDP field, there remain serious gaps in our collective understanding of which initiatives work best, how and why, and whether these can be scaled. Further, there remains little literature or robust debate around the governance of SDP, with limited conceptualisation of the optimal institutional arrangements and roles and responsibilities of the relevant stakeholders operating in this emerging sector. As such the best methods of cooperation and collaboration may be unclear, reducing the likelihood of strong partnerships, shared outcomes and ultimately greater impact. This study contributes to the SDP field as an emerging field of development cooperation and explores optimal governance of the SDP sector.Item The impact of multiple behaviour health intervention strategies on coronary heart disease risk, health-related physical fitness, and health-risk behaviours in first year university students(University of the Western Cape, 2011) Leach, Lloyd L; Travill, AndreBackground: There is compelling body of evidence that coronary heart disease (CHD) risk factors are present in people of all ages. The extent to which the problem exists in university students in South Africa (SA) has not been confirmed in the literature. Furthermore, the effects of physical activity, physical fitness, diet and health behaviours on CHD risk factors has not been studied extensively in SA and needs further investigation. Aim: The aim of the study was to assess the impact of multiple behaviour health intervention strategies on CHD risk, health-related physical fitness(HRPF) and healthrisk behaviours (HRB) in first year students at the University of the Western Cape (UWC). It was hypothesized that exposure to various health behavioural interventions would reduce CHD risk factors in subjects at moderate risk, and improve health-related physical fitness, as well as health-risk behaviours.Methods and Study Design: An experimental study design was used wherein subjects at moderate risk for CHD were identified and exposed to multiple health behavioural interventions for 16 weeks in order to determine the impact of the various interventions on CHD risk, health-related physical fitness and health-risk behaviours. Population and Sample: The target population consisted of first year students at UWC aged 18 – 44 years who were screened and a sample of 173 subjects were identified as being at moderate risk for CHD. Next, the subjects were randomly assigned to a control and four treatment groups, namely, health information, diet, exercise, and a multiple group that included all three treatments. The intervention, based upon Prochaska‟s Transtheoretical Model of behaviour change, continued for a period of 16 weeks and, thereafter, the subjects were retested. Data Collection Process: Subject information was obtained using self-reported questionnaires, namely, the physical activity readiness questionnaire (PAR-Q), the stages of readiness to change questionnaire (SRCQ), the international physical activity questionnaire (IPAQ), and the healthy lifestyle questionnaire (HLQ), together with physical and hematological (blood) measurements. The measurements taken before and after the intervention programme were the following:• Coronary heart disease risk factors, namely: family history, cigarette smoking, hypertension, obesity, dyslipidemia, impaired fasting glucose and a sedentary lifestyle; • Health-related physical fitness, namely: body composition, cardiovascular fitness, muscular strength, muscular endurance, and flexibility; and • Health-risk behaviours, namely: physical activity, nutrition, managing stress, avoiding destructive habits, practising safe sex, adopting safety habits, knowing firstaid, personal health habits, using medical advice, being an informed consumer, protecting the environment and mental well-being. Types of interventions: A control group was used in which subjects did not receive any treatment. The health behavioural interventions were arranged into four groups of subjects that received either the health information, diet, exercise or a combination of all three individual treatments. Statistical analyses of data: In the analyses of the data, the procedure followed was that where the outcome variable was approximately normally distributed, the groups were compared using a two-sample t-test. For outcomes with a highly non-normal distribution or ordinal level data, the nonparametric Wilcoxon Rank Sum test was used for group comparisons. To account for baseline differences, repeated measures analysis of variance was used. In the case where nonparametric methods were appropriate, analysis was done using Cochran-Mantel-Haenszel (CMH) methodology stratifying on the baseline values. For the case of nominal level outcomes, groups were compared by Chi-square tests for homogeneity of proportions. When baseline values needed to be incorporated into the analysis, this was done using CMH methodology. Main Outcome Measures: The main outcome measures tested in the study related to the three areas of investigation, namely: • Modifiable CHD risk factors: systolic and diastolic blood pressure, cigarette smoking, total cholesterol (TC) concentration, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol concentration, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol concentration, triglycerides, fasting glucose, body mass index, waist circumference, waist-hip ratio and physical inactivity; • Health-related physical fitness: body mass, percent body fat, absolute body fat, percent lean body mass, absolute lean body mass, the multi-stage shuttle run, handgrip strength, repeated sit-ups in a minute, and the sit-and-reach test; and • Health-risk behaviours: physical activity, nutrition, managing stress, avoiding destructive habits, practising safe sex, adopting safety habits, knowing first aid, personal health habits, using medical advice, being an informed consumer, protecting the environment and mental well-being. Results: The results showed significant decreases for body mass, waist and hip circumferences, resting heart rate, systolic blood pressure, cigarette smoking and a sedentary lifestyle (p < .05) primarily in the multiple group. No significant differences were recorded for blood biochemistry, however, favourable trends were observed in the lipoprotein ratios. For health-related physical fitness, only the multiple group showed significant (p < .005) improvements in predicted maximal oxygen consumption ( O2max), body composition, muscular strength and muscular endurance. The exercise group also recorded significant differences in muscular endurance. In all groups, including the controls, no significant differences were found for stature, waist-hip ratio, and flexibility at pre- and post-test. Overall, the participants reflected positive health behaviours, especially for managing stress, avoiding destructive habits, practising safe sex, adopting safety habits, personal health habits and mental well-being at pre- and post-test. The intervention programme had a corrective influence on providing the participants with a more realistic perception of their level of physical activity and nutritional habits. The participants scored poorly on being informed consumers and for recycling waste both at pre- and post-test. A substantial net reduction in CHD risk factors as well as in cumulative risk was achieved with treatment that impacted positively on the re-stratification of participants at moderate risk. In terms of treatment efficacy, the dietary intervention appeared to be the least effective (10.91%), with health information and exercise sharing similar levels of efficacy (32.81% and 33.93%, respectively) and, the combined treatment in the multiple group stood out as the most effective treatment (50.00%), and supported the hypothesis of the study. Conclusions: The net and cumulative decline in CHD risk factors was substantial with treatment and was directly related to the number of treatments administered. The evidence suggests that such multiple health behaviour interventions when implemented through a university-based setting have substantial benefits on reducing CHD risk and may be of considerable public health benefit. Key messages • Despite being a relatively educated population, a substantial number of first year university students are at considerable heart disease risk. • Physical inactivity constitutes one of the main CHD risk factors amongst first year students and, together with smoking, place many of them at moderate CHD risk. • The effectiveness of health behavioural strategies designed to modify lifestyle and prevent coronary heart disease is supported by this study.Item An analysis of the implementation of the National Sport and Recreation Plan in the Western Cape(University of the Western Cape, 2016) Bouah, Lyndon; de Coning, Christo; Lees, Marion KeimIt is widely accepted that sport has the potential to serve as a tool for development as well as a catalyst for social and personal change. The National Department of Sport and Recreation (SRSA) has recognized the role that sport can play in building a better society in its recently published document the National Sport and Recreation Plan(NSRP). The aim of this study was to analyse the implementation of the NSRP in the Western Cape and to develop options for the improvement of the implementation of the National Sport and Recreation Plan in the Western Cape. The study analysed the factors that are necessary for an enabling environment to be successful to create an active and winning nation. By linking policy to implementation the study showed that the social benefits of sport can be extended to the broader social community. The fieldwork research was conducted with sport councils, sport federations, academy officials and senior government officials. The study found that the links between local, provincial and national government must be strengthened. The study further found that the level of commitment amongst the various spheres of government is not the same. The will may be there but the actual resources that must be committed is not readily made available. An important finding was that there appeared to be a lack of a nationally coordinated dedicated unit to champion the NSRP within SRSA. No reporting mechanism exists that will indicate to the general public and sport fraternity what the level of compliance is with the broad requirements of the NSRP. The 5-C protocol was used to analyse the NSRP and its current implementation within the Western Cape. Communication was considered as a future addition to augment the5-C protocol. The alignment between various national, provincial and local spheres of government was found to be lacking. It is recommended that the NSRP be brought into the annual performance plans, strategic plans, medium term expenditure framework and performance agreements of departments and senior management. It was found that the voluntary nature of organisations may act as a hindrance to the implementation of the NSRP. It is foreseen that the outcome of the study will assist in benchmarking best practices for implementation. The recommendations proposed by this study will provide options for laying the foundation for the successful implementation of the National Sport and Recreation Plan in South Africa.Item Monitoring and evaluation of sport-based HIV/Aids awareness programmes of selected Non-Governmental Organisations in South Africa : strengthening outcome indicators(University of the Western Cape, 2016) Maleka, Elma Nelisiwe; De Coning, Christo; Keim, MarionThere are number of Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) in South Africa that use sport as a tool to respond to HIV/AIDS mainly among young people, however, little is reported about the outcomes and impact of these programmes. The aim of this study is to contribute to a generic monitoring and evaluation framework by improving the options for the use of outcome indicators of sport-based HIV/AIDS awareness programmes of selected NGOs in South Africa. The research followed a qualitative multiple case study design using multiple data collection instruments. The overall findings revealed that the sport-based HIV/AIDS awareness programmes of five selected NGOs examined in this study focus on similar HIV prevention messages within the key priorities highlighted in the current National Strategic Plan for HIV/AIDS, STIs and TB of South Africa. The HIV prevention messages of selected NGOs are also in line with the commitments and targets of the 2011 UN Political Declaration on HIV/AIDS. The sport-based HIV/AIDS programmes target youth with messages that raise awareness of HIV/AIDS, HIV risk behaviours and HIV stigma. Furthermore messages that promote uptake of health services such as HIV Counselling and Testing (HCT) and Voluntary Medical Male Circumcision (VMMC). However, evaluating outcomes and impact of such programmes remains a challenge. Descriptive information and outputs are more recorded rather than information about the actual outcomes which occurred as a result of sport-based HIV/AIDS awareness programmes. The use of multiple data collection instruments in conjunction with approaches of the ten-step model to a result-based monitoring and evaluation systems enables this study to propose a total of fifty one generic outcome indicators. These generic outcome indicators focus on measuring change in the knowledge of HIV/AIDS and change in attitude and intention towards HIV risk behaviours. In addition, this study further proposed a total of eight generic outcome indicators to measurepredictors of HIV risk behaviour. The selected NGOs can adapt the proposed generic outcomes and indicators based on the settings of their programmes. It can be concluded that the proposed generic outcome indicators are able to assist the NGOs to improve monitoring and evaluation of their sport-based HIV/AIDS awareness programmes. A collaborative approach by all stakeholders is required, from international organisations, funders, governments, NGOs and communities to strengthening monitoring and evaluation of sport-based HIV/AIDS awareness programmes including other development programmes.Item An exploration and evaluation of mechanisms on the role of sport in post-conflict racial reconciliation and integration : the post-apartheid South African context(University of the Western Cape, 2016) Asihel, Solomon Ghebremedhin; Lees, Marion KeimSport has both uniting and dividing features, often manifesting contradictory outcomes in terms of conflict or co-operation. Sport is a social construct and its role and function depends largely on what society makes of it, and how it is consumed by society. If sport’s potential is to unfold, the dividing features should be guarded against and the desired positive effects must be furthered. The aim of this study is twofold; on the one hand, the study focuses on evaluating the post-apartheid South Africa’s experience, of reconciliation through Sport Intervention Programs (SIPs), and on the other hand, the study explores mechanisms through which sport can serve as a vehicle to integrate racialized South African youth identities with the aim of promoting, reconciliation and integration for change. The study identified 12 Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) that are facilitating grassroots sport initiatives that use sport as a platform to combat social issues in previously marginalised communities of the Western Cape Province, South Africa. Purposive sampling was used to identify12 focus group discussions, consisting of 10participants in each group, ranging from 14-20 years, totaling 100 youth as well as another group of 13 respondents for semi-structured interviews, ranging from 25-68 years old, which include sport managers, coaches/officials, role models, government and UN officials, who contributed to the SIPs and their organizations in different capacities. Both the discussion groups and face-to-face interviews were conducted on a voluntary basis. Thematic content analysis was carried-out to analyse the data. This study explored existing theories, literature, and good intervention practices, and has established the relative interlinkages between sport and peace-building, as pivotal to the ongoing scholarly debates in the field of Sport for Development and Peace (SDP). From the findings, reconciliation and integration through SIPs may require a unique method in the holistic approach for transformation and social change in post-1994. From the findings in this study, the SIPs’ effort and approaches highlighted a number of positive inroads. The majority of the discussion groups and face-to-face interviewees felt the desire to have a united and non-racial South Africa. Within the discussion group, the notion of the ‘Rainbow Nation’ emerged as a ‘counter discourse’, and, a reaction to the apartheid discourse ‘racial segregation’, both discourses found to have impacts on the youth identities. The youth participants also referred as ‘Born Frees’ are still deeply marked by their racialized past, but they also showed a drive to make a different present, and a new future. From the findings, the SIPs foci of learning by doing, such as team cohesion on the field, and peace education off the field were found instrumental in building relationship. Networking, non-violent conflict resolution, and collaboration for shared goals, which reduced, negative perceptions among the South African racialized youth, at personal and relational level. However, the structural and cultural dimensions require multiple changes at all societal levels. The interconnection of the hierarchies of change in relation to the program in-put, out-puts and outcomes, on how the attitudes and behaviours of the individual youth are expected to change by the SIPs, and how these personal changes are sought to change the structural, and cultural practices, within the programme design, monitoring and evaluation of the SIPs were found unclear, and under-developed. The reflexive learning within the current research process postulate that, first, conflict resolution, racial integration and reconciliation within the SIPs endeavors is characterized by a complex set of factors and dynamic forces on the ground such as race relations and social change. As such, a systems approach is necessary to approach this field in comprehensive manner. The present research study shows that a model is required that needs to integrate the various elements in a comprehensive fashion to promote reconciliation, conflict resolution, peace and development. Secondly, the SIPs may serve as a platform and provide contextual mechanism for conflict resolution, and this study discovered that the ‘theory of change approach’ is an effective tool to unpack the change process between the SIPs’ activities and its ultimate goal. Thirdly the genuine effort of SIPs and its NGOs in the lives of the future leaders is well articulated; however, they seem to confront a problem way bigger than their capacity, which involves power and massive resources. The fieldwork experience from the present study, commends the SIPs’ culture of networking, and collaboration can only be enhanced when it is framed by the ‘scaling-up’ strategy developed by Lederach et al. for wider social impact, and,sustainability. In light of the findings, while the above three imperatives considered as an original contribution to the existing knowledge in the field of Sport for Development and Peace (SDP), it also concluded by providing possible recommendations that may guide sport practitioners to effectively design, implement, monitor and evaluate programmes and the SIPs’ in post-apartheid South Africa, in Africa and beyond.Item The effects of a sports vision training programme on selected visual-motor skills in a non-fatigued and fatigued cardiovascular condition(University of the Western Cape, 2014) Van Dyk, A.P.; Bassett, Sue; Bressan, E.S.The aim of the study was to determine the effects of a sports vision training programme on peripheral awareness, eye-hand coordination, eye-body coordination, visual reaction time and visual-motor response time of physically active males when in a non-fatigued condition and when in an induced-fatigue condition that simulates levels experienced when playing field-based sports. Scheduling challenges made it necessary to use a sample of convenience rather than random sampling to divide the 49 participants into a treatment group (n=16) and a control group (n=33). A pre-test was administered according to assessment protocols for five selected visual skills performed in both a nonfatigued and fatigued condition. The treatment group participated in an eight-week visual training intervention programme. The purpose of this visual training programme was to train the five selected visual skills (peripheral awareness, eye-hand coordination, eyebody coordination, visual reaction time and visual-motor response time and to practice these skills during fatigued cardiovascular conditions. The post test was administered immediately after the intervention period. Interaction effects were found for three variables: peripheral awareness, eye-hand coordination and visual reaction time, so conclusions could be drawn only for eye-body coordination and visual-motor response time. No significant differences were found for visual-motor response time in the non-fatigued condition. It can be concluded that the sports vision training programme, as implemented in this study, resulted in a significant improvement in visual-motor response time of the treatment group as compared to the control group, when performing under fatigue conditions.Item The effects of two versions of the games for understanding approach on the application of tactics, motor skills and physical fitness of grade four children(University of the Western Cape, 2014) Adams, Warren Grant; Bassett, Sue; Bressan, E.S.The aim of this study was to determine the effects of participation in a single sport small-sided games (SSG) programme compared to a multi-sport SSG programme on the physical fitness, gross motor coordination, soccer skills and application of tactics during soccer games of grade four children from a disadvantaged community. Two intact classes of boys and girls (n= 39 and n=40) participated in a six-week, 2x per week intervention programme. One class specialized in soccer and the other engaged in a diversified programme where they sampled hockey and team handball along with soccer. In terms of pedagogy, both classes followed a deliberate play model with its focus on intrinsic learning and non-intervention by a coach. Data were collected during pre-, post- and retention test periods. Both boys’ groups achieved significant improvements in their muscle endurance-push-ups, power and aerobic endurance on the retention test. Only the boys who participated in the multi-sport SSG programme achieved a significant improvement on their muscle endurance-sit-ups. The girls from both groups showed significant improvements in all physical fitness variables, with the exception of the girls in the muti-sport programme who did not achieve a significant improvement in their speed. Significant improvements were experienced by all groups for gross motor coordination and soccer skills. The boys in the soccer SSG programme demonstrated improvements in both offensive and defensive tactics while the boys in the multi-sport SSG programme improved in the application of their defensive tactics only. The girls who participated in the soccer SSG programme also improved in their defensive tactics while the girls who participated in the multi-sport SSG programme achieved improvements in their application of both offensive and defensive tactics. The results of this study support proponents of the Developmental Model of Sport Participation as presented in current sport pedagogy literature, who claim that the physical and tactical benefits pre-pubescent children derive from participation in a diversified games programme will be similar to those benefits derived from participation in a specialized sport-specific game programme, providing the sports involved are late specialization sports. These results support the conclusion that it is not necessary for pre-pubescent children to specialize in a late specialization sport such as soccer in order to progress in their ability to play soccer. They can make similar progress if they participate in a diversified games programme that provides them with a broader experience with sports that have similar physical and tactical requirements.Item Combining sport and mediation skills for community healing. A multiple case study of two post-conflict communities in South Africa and Zimbabwe(University of the Western Cape, 2014) Chikwanda, Clever; Lees, Marion KeimThis paper argues that post conflict communities need capacity to effectively deal with violent conflicts. This study therefore examines avenues through which sport can be used as a catalyst for mediation programmes in Zimbabwe and South Africa, to address sustainable community healing. This will capacitate communities with the skills to mediate and resolve their own conflicts, thereby contributing to knowledge and changing the paradigm of post-conflict community healing. Grounded in the structural functionalist theory and John Paul Lederach’s Multilevel Leadership pyramid, this study was carried out in Mfuleni, Western Cape and Highfields, Harare, where mediation training for sport participants, community coaches, sports men and women were carried out. It was assessed at all the stages using the qualitative research methodology. This study discovered many benefits derived from the sport and mediation training. However, successful implementation of sport and mediation training in post-conflict communities can face challenges around language, different ways of interpreting terms and related issues by stakeholders; the extreme dominance of religion; superstition and use of magic in sport; lack of acceptance in communities on issues around age and gender, owing to patriarchy. It also noted that the school system is replete with loopholes that threaten the security of learners. Also, the school system is caught in the net of propagating patriarchal values, albeit in subtle ways. As such, the need to take all these into consideration cannot be overemphasisedItem Occupational self efficacy : an occupational therapy practice model to facilitate returning to work after a brain injury(University of the Western Cape, 2010) Soeker, Shaheed; van Rensburg, Viki; Travill, Andre; Dept. of Sports, Recreation and Exercise Science; Faculty of Community and Health SciencesThis qualitative study explored and described the lived experience of people with brain injuries with regard to resuming their worker roles. Based on the results, an occupational therapy practice model to facilitate return to work was developed. The theoretical framework of occupational science with emphasis on occupational risk factors informed the study. The research design was a theory generative design based on a qualitative, phenomenological, explorative and descriptive research approach utilizing the methods of theory generation as advocated by Chinn and Kramer (1999), Walker and Avant (2005) and Dickoff, James and Wiedenbach (1968).