Balancing training, stress, and recovery is essential for achieving optimal performance. The performance of professional athletes can be severely compromised by overtraining, injuries, prolonged periods of competition, or even life events outside their sporting lives. The current recovery-stress state depends on preceding stress and recovery activities, but through simultaneous assessment of stress and recovery, a differentiated picture can be provided. This manual includes two measurement instruments to gauge individual recovery, enabling both athletes and coaches to better understand the often-unconscious processes that impinge upon peak performance, and to monitor the physical, mental, emotional, mental, and overall recovery-stress state before and after training. The Acute Recovery and Stress Scale (ARSS) and the Short Recovery and Stress Scale (SRSS) are instruments that systematically enlighten the recovery-stress states of athletes. Through utilization of the ARSS and the SRSS, athletes and coaches can better understand the importance of daily activities, including how they can relate to stress/recovery and the direct impact on athletic performance. In addition to the instruments themselves, both of which are simple and easy to use, the manual also discusses their development, their basis in theory, and case studies showcasing their usage. The ARSS and the SRSS provide important information regarding the current recovery-stress state during the process of training, and are essential tools for coaches, sport scientists, sport psychologists, and athletes alike.

Soccer is the fastest growing sport in America: almost nine million children between the ages of six and eleven play, making it second in that age group behind basketball. But because of its only recent explosion in popularity, many coaches are just as inexperienced as the children on their teams. Directed toward the inexperienced soccer coach, but useful for anyone interested in improving their coaching (and players') abilities, this work addresses both the physical and mental aspects of the game. It provides a detailed overview of the fundamental skills of controlling, shielding, defending, turning, feinting, dribbling, passing, shooting, and defending, and keys to smart play and sportsmanship for coaches and players. It also provides tips for adapting the game to different age groups, ; structuring and running practices, ; getting the most out of each match, and; answering the most common questions asked by coaches and parents. ; Illustrations and diagrams supplement the text.

This book examines the youth sport parent experience through the lens of social capital, a cornerstone social science concept of the past 30 years. Social capital reflects the value of one's social networks, and the actual and potential benefits - and costs - of relationships. Bringing together a team of kids for a season also brings together their families who all must negotiate this new social world. Within this world, relationships are bound to form, and these are the foundation upon which this project rests. Youth sport scholars have traditionally been interested in questions such as: how many kids play sports, what sports they play, how and why do they start playing and stop playing, and the costs and benefit of participation. However, aside from sensational examples of youth sport parents behaving badly, scholars know far less about the parental experience. This time is meaningful for parents, because parents often spend as much or even more time at the fields than their children. It is thus worth examining what they might get out of this investment. Utilizing two years of fieldwork and over 30 interviews with parents and board members of a youth baseball league in the southwestern United States, this book provides an inside look at the beneficial relationships that can be found in the bleachers of a kids' baseball game, as well as the unseen, high-stakes games waged in the boardroom, where relationships can carry heavy costs as well. This book was originally published as a special issue of Sport in Society.

The number of athletes training for and competing in mixed martial arts has skyrocketed to over 3.6 million, making it one of the world's fastest-growing sports. To succeed, fighters need to not only master various martial arts disciplines but also develop the physical stamina and mental endurance to dominate their opponents. Based on the latest science and research, Training and Conditioning for MMA details physical training, nutrition, and injury prevention for all martial arts disciplines. It uses actual training programs and showcases real examples recurring in the day-to-day preparation of countless elite MMA fighters from the American Top Team, UFC, Bellator, Sambo, and Jiu-Jitsu World Championships. Collectively, the 21 contributors to this book have trained over 200 amateur, professional, national, and Olympic MMA champions, including Amanda Nunes, Junior Dos Santos, Marcus "Buchecha" Almeida, Mark Hunt, Yoel Romero, Hector Lombard, and Glover Teixeira. The quality and extent of the knowledge they share in these pages is simply unmatched in the world of MMA training resources. Developed for combat athletes and the trainers and coaches who work with them, Training and Conditioning for MMA is a complete manual for all training-related aspects of MMA, featuring the following: Methodology of sports training, including the periodization model used at American Top Team Principles for designing a fighter's training program Physical assessment of a fighter, from body composition to flexibility Importance of nutrition in high-level training More than 45 proven training programs for a wide range of martial arts disciplines, athlete types, and levels, accompanied by photos of professional MMA fighters demonstrating exercises and techniques Prevention strategies for MMA-related injuries Comprehensive yet practical, Training and Conditioning for MMA is the definitive resource for success for developing future champions. CE exam available! For certified professionals, a companion continuing education exam can be completed after reading this book. Training and Conditioning for MMA Online CE Exam may be purchased separately or as part of the Training and Conditioning for MMA With CE Exam package that includes both the book and the exam.

Dynamic interceptive actions play a significant role in human behaviour, and are central to all forms of sporting activity. This book is the first to offer a comprehensive review of current theoretical research on dynamic interceptive actions, as well as demonstrating the connections between theory and practice for a wide range of key sporting skills.
An international team of authors, including many of the key figures in the field, present important new work on many of the most fundamental sporting actions such as : *catching
* hitting
* external-paced striking
* self-paced timing tasks
* locomotion towards targets or long surfaces
* kicking.
This book offers a wealth of theoretical material, as well as unique analysis of dynamic interceptive actions in practice. It will be essential reading for anybody with an interest in motor control and skill acquisition, and will also be of interest to students and practitioners in sport psychology, movement science and coaching science.

‘I really recommend this, it's a cracker. A top read and a great tool to use to improve and enlighten. It doesn't matter who you are – you will all get something out of this. Lovely stuff.' Ben Ryan, Olympic gold-medal-winning coach and author of Sevens Heaven: The Beautiful Chaos of Fiji's Olympic Dream ________________________ ‘I urge anyone who has the ambition and passion to develop themselves and those around them to read this book. I’ve worked with Matt for over fifteen years and have seen first-hand how he is able to get the best out of people with his unique awareness of soft skills, human values and long term vision' Leon Smith OBE, Great Britain Davis Cup team captain ________________________ 'This book brilliantly underlines the core principles needed to prepare for the next stage of your career. Terrific read.' Ross Hutchins, former British tennis player and Commonwealth Games silver-medal winner ________________________ Drawing on more than a decade’s experience working with former tennis World Number One Sir Andy Murray, The Way of the Tortoise introduces you to the benefits of the slow lane and reveals why it’s the only true path to a high-performance mindset. Taking inspiration from Aesop’s well-known fable of the Hare and the Tortoise, internationally renowned trainer Matt Little recognizes that there is no fast path to success. By focusing on immediate results, we can gloss over process in the race to get ahead, skipping over the lessons and experiences that we all need to build solid foundations for our future achievements. Matt shows that taking the slow lane can not only help you reach your goals more effectively, it can make your successes more sustainable by increasing your motivation, energy and resilience. Packed full of examples from the highly adaptable worlds of sport and business, as well as Matt’s own remarkable career, The Way of the Tortoise reveals, through practical exercises and techniques, the essential strategies we can all use to achieve extraordinary results.

Sport and physical education represent important components of German national life, from school and community participation, to elite, international level sport. This unique and comprehensive collection brings together material from leading German scholars to examine the role pf sport and PE in Germany from a range of historical and contemporary perspectives.
Key topics include:
* sport and PE in pre-war, post war and re-unified Germany
* sport and PE in schools
* coach education
* elite sport and sport science
* women and sport
* sport and recreation facilities.
This book offers an illuminating insight into how sport and PE have helped to shape Germany. It represents fascinating reading for anyone with an interest in the history and sociology of sport, and those working in German studies.

Sport and physical education represent important components of German national life, from school and community participation, to elite, international level sport. This unique and comprehensive collection brings together material from leading German scholars to examine the role of sport and PE in Germany from a range of historical and contemporary perspectives.
Key topics include:
* sport and PE in pre-war, post war and re-unified Germany
* sport and PE in schools
* coach education
* elite sport and sport science
* women and sport
* sport and recreation facilities.
This book offers an illuminating insight into how sport and PE have helped to shape Germany. It represents fascinating reading for anyone with an interest in the history and sociology of sport, and those working in German studies.

Managing Major Sports Events: Theory and Practice is a complete introduction to the principles and practical skills that underpin the running and hosting of major sports events, from initial bid to post-event legacy and sustainability. Now in a fully revised and updated new edition, the book draws on the latest research from across multiple disciplines, explores real-world situations, and emphasises practical problem-solving skills. It covers every key area in the event management process, including: * Bidding, leadership, and planning; * Marketing and human resource management; * Venues and ceremonies; * Communications and technology (including social media); * Functional area considerations (including sport, protocol, and event services); * Security and risk management; * Games-time considerations; * Event wrap-up and evaluation; * Legacy and sustainability. This revised edition includes expanded coverage of cutting-edge topics such as digital media, culture, human resources, the volunteer workforce, readiness, security, and managing Games-time. Each chapter combines theory, practical decision-making exercises, and case studies of major sports events from around the world, helping students and practitioners alike to understand and prepare for the reality of executing major events on an international scale. Also new to this edition is an "Outlook, Trends, and Innovations" section in each chapter, plus "tips" from leading events professionals. Managing Major Sports Events: Theory and Practice is an essential textbook for any course on sports event management or international sports management, and an invaluable resource for all sport management researchers, practitioners and policymakers. Online resources include PowerPoint slides, multiple choice questions, essay questions, stories, and decision-making exercises.

This text, intended for undergraduates on various education and sport related degree courses, covers the key, current issues in the field of sociology of sport and physical education. The first section of the text covers the importance of sport in culture, its theoretical background, and methodological issues in research. The main body of the text then discusses issues including the sporting body, participation and socialisation into sport, the hidden curriculum, critical pedagogy, and sport and the media. Laker discusses in depth gender, race and ethnicity, class, and equality, and he looks at sport and the media, and the involvement of politics. The chapters are each rounded off with challenging 'reflection' questions, activities and tasks for the reader to fulfil.

Crisis and Disaster Management for Sport is the first book to introduce key concepts and best practice in crisis and disaster management in sport and international sports events. The book draws from multiple disciplines to provide insight into the issues and challenges involved in planning for, and managing, crises and disasters in the context of sport. With an initial focus on sports event and venue resilience, the book also explores social, community and individual resilience within sport and examines concepts and issues such as fandom, risk perception, crowd control and management, crisis communication and reputational risk and the growing challenges posed by climate change. The book includes real-world case studies as well as disaster management-related simulation and scenario-building exercises and looks ahead to what might be the most significant threats in future to the safe and sustainable management of sport. With the devastating impacts of COVID-19 illustrating the central importance of resilience and proper preparation for crises and disasters, this book is an essential read for all researchers, students, practitioners and policy-makers working in sport, tourism, entertainment, leisure and critical event studies.

Skill Acquisition in Sport gives academics, students, coaches and practitioners the broadest and most scientifically rigorous grounding in the principles and practice of the field. Fully revised, updated and restructured, the third edition integrates theory and practice, and provides more material on practical application than ever before. Divided into four sections - providing instruction and feedback, organizing effective practice, training high-level skills, and the theories and mechanisms underpinning skill acquisition - the book covers a full range of key topics, including: the role of errors and rewards in motor learning instructions, demonstrations and feedback imagery in motor learning constraints-based and self-directed learning technique change, creativity training and visual gaze training practicing under pressure the neurophysiology of learning. Based on the latest research, including chapters on emerging topics, and written by a global cast of world-leading experts, Skill Acquisition in Sport is an essential textbook for any kinesiology or sport science student taking skill acquisition, expertise development or motor learning classes.

Tall, powerful athletes surge toward the goal in the last seconds of a fiercely fought game, providing excitement to an arena full of basketball fans. Increasingly, challenging games like this are being played by women's college teams. With the passage of Title IX and the success of the WNBA (Women's National Basketball League), women's college teams have received more support and attention both from academic institutions and basketball fans. One of the primary reasons for the growing interest in women's college basketball is the dedication of the women who coach these student athletes to personal and athletic success. Women currently coach nearly 65 percent of the womens basketball teams in all divisions of the NCAA. Their commitment to their sport and to their athletes has resulted in a game and a generation of athletes unlike any other. This analysis of the role of women coaches in college basketball provides a detailed history of women's involvement in college sports, as well as insights into the work of the great women coaches of the past and present, all highlighted through interviews with some of the most important women coaches of today.

The American Dream is founded upon the ideological belief that 'you can be anything you want to be', regardless of your current class position, and is one of the most emotive, pervasive and ideologically embedded concepts championed by American citizens. Providing contemporary insight into the American Dream via the critical lens of soccer - the world's pre-eminent sport but still a minority interest in the US - this book challenges the notion that America is different, exceptional or unique in the global order, either in real socio-economic-political terms or in perceived cultural terms. Soccer and the American Dream offers an overview of soccer in the US and uses case studies to explore the motives of American university students in undertaking a soccer scholarship, considering the impact of family, social class and career development upon social mobility and upon the game itself. Providing a fascinating new insight into the nexus of sport, education, culture and society, this is a topical resource for students, scholars and practitioners across the fields of soccer, higher education, youth sport, sports development, sports coaching and sport management.

The book is relevant for various regions including the US, UK, Australia, Western European nations and New Zealand. Key informants offer insights for policy and practice. Rich theoretical analysis further contextualizes findings and provides analysis to advance the field.

Despite the growing literature on spirituality and its positive impact on well-being in health psychology, education, occupational psychology and leisure studies, it has been less examined in sport studies. Meaning and Spirituality in Sport and Exercise: Psychological Perspectives examines the many forms of spirituality in sport from a psychological perspective, from moments of transcendence and finding deeper meaning and value to prayer before an important competition or in adversity, such as a career-threatening injury. Based on the latest research and the Nesti's experience in applied sport psychology service delivery, this book covers a range of novel topics linking spirituality to athlete development, injury, exercise motivation, and ageing athletes, and offers applied, practical guidance for sport psychologists working with spiritual athletes. Offering a unique contribution to the study of spirituality in sport, and to sport psychology practice, this book is vital reading for any upper-level student or academic working in sport and exercise psychology, religion and sport, or the philosophy of sport, and any practising sport psychologist.

In today's world, with the increased emphasis on student assessment and teacher accountability, this book is invaluable to the physical educator. The most complete reference listing available on sports skills tests and measurement, the guide contains nearly 100 skills tests for 28 sports from the junior high through the college level. A thorough bibliography completes each chapter, including all sports skills tests constructed--authenticated or unauthenticated. Easily adaptable for the challenges of each teaching setting, this book is a unique resource that no school or practitioner should be without.

Current popular interest in bodies, fitness, sport and active lifestyles, has made bodybuilding more visible and acceptable within mainstream society than ever before. However, the association between bodybuilding, drugs and risk has contributed to a negative image of an activity which many people find puzzling.
Using data obtained from participant observation and interviews, this book explores bodybuilding subculture from the perspective of the bodybuilder. It looks at:
* How bodybuilders try to maintain competent social identities
* How they manage the risks of using steroids and other physique-enhancing drugs
* How they understand the alleged steroid-violence link
* How they 'see' the muscular body.
Through systematic exploration it becomes apparent that previous attempts to explain bodybuilding in terms of 'masculinity-in-crisis' or gender insecurity are open to question. Different and valuable insights into what sustains and legitimizes potentially dangerous drug-taking activities are provided by this detailed picture of a huge underground subculture.

Current popular interest in bodies, fitness, sport and active lifestyles, has made bodybuilding more visible and acceptable within mainstream society than ever before. However, the association between bodybuilding, drugs and risk has contributed to a negative image of an activity which many people find puzzling.
Using data obtained from participant observation and interviews, this book explores bodybuilding subculture from the perspective of the bodybuilder. It looks at:
* How bodybuilders try to maintain competent social identities
* How they manage the risks of using steroids and other physique-enhancing drugs
* How they understand the alleged steroid-violence link
* How they 'see' the muscular body.
Through systematic exploration it becomes apparent that previous attempts to explain bodybuilding in terms of 'masculinity-in-crisis' or gender insecurity are open to question. Different and valuable insights into what sustains and legitimizes potentially dangerous drug-taking activities are provided by this detailed picture of a huge underground subculture.

As sport has grown, progressively replacing religion, in its power to excite passion, provide emotional escape, offer fraternal (and increasingly sororital) bonding, it has come to loom larger and larger in the lives of Europeans and others. It has become an inescapable reality linking public environment with intimate experience and thus offers the historian an opportunity to inspect and attempt to grasp all the dimensions of the recent past and their relative share in individual and collective experience. This collection considers the evolution of modern sport in Europe and examines its role in shaping masculine identity.

The feel good effect of physical activity is one which although realised has barely reached its potential and in the modern world of stress and inactivity for our mental health. Physical Activity and Pychological Well-being provides a research consensus on the relationship between physical exercise and the aspects of mental health. Whilst reviewing and integrating relevant information the book also considers physical activity in relation to the different aspects of mental health:
* anxiety
* depression
* mood and emotion
* self-esteem
* cognitive functioning
* psychological dysfunction.
Physical Activity and Psychological Well-being is invaluable reading for undergraduates and post graduates of sport and exercise science and provides a foundation for health services, sport specialists and psychologists alike to promote the benefits of physical activity and improve mental health.

The 'feel-good' effect of physical activity is widely reported among participants. Physical Activity and Psychological Well-Being represents a research consensus on the relationship between physical activity and aspects of mental health, providing an overview of the case for the role of exercise in the promotion of psychological well-being. Topics covered include:

* anxiety and stress
* depression
* mood and emotion
* self-perceptions and self-esteem
* cognitive functioning and ageing
* psychological dysfunction

This book is invaluable reading for students and researchers working in the exercise, sport and health sciences, and for health and clinical psychologists. It is also a foundation text for health promotion and health service professionals, particularly those working in the area of mental health.

Personal Training: Theory and Practice, Second Edition, draws together in one unique volume the personal, practical and business skills central to becoming a successful personal trainer. This accessible book introduces you to the fundamentals of applied exercise prescription and programme design, as well as advanced concepts including nutritional intervention, postural analysis and the psychology of behaviour change. Key Features - updated to reflect advances in training methodology and techniques in line with requirements for professional qualification - key points boxes, chapter summaries and a glossary of scientific and technical concepts to aid understanding - full colour illustrations and photos to support visual learning - case studies and sample exercise plans to help you put theory into practice - supported by online resources such as self-assessment tests, downloadable forms and session sheets at www.routledge.com/cw/crossley Personal Training: Theory and Practice is the ideal companion and handy reference for those embarking on a career in personal training as well as experienced trainers. Reviews of the first edition: 'the ideal companion to turn you from an amateur into a professional sports trainer...the only title tailored to meet the needs of UK-based personal training.' Work Out 'a gem of a book...clearly written and presented which makes it easy for both fitness professionals and lay people to understand. Definitely worth buying.' Health and Fitness

This book is a practical guide and concise sports medicine reference, written exclusively for the sport of soccer. Based on Adil Shamoo's notes from years of coaching, teaching, and lecturing on the subject, this succinct handbook approaches soccer from a unique scientific perspective. The experiences of Dr. Shamoo and coauthors William Baugher, a sports medicine orthopedist, and Robert Germeroth, a physical therapist, combine to make the latest sports medicine research relevant and accessible to those who participate in the sport. Coaches, referees, players, parents, and athletic trainers from grade school through college will find the authors' knowledgeable discussion of soccer injuries to be an invaluable resource for prevention and treatment. Sports retailers, pediatricians and professionals in the field of sports medicine will also appreciate the book's comprehensive coverage of the physical, mental, and nutritional aspects of playing the game of soccer, the world's most popular sport.