The first book to be published in more than a decade to examine sport in New Zealand in all its aspects New Zealand is a globally significant case study of sport development and the relationship between sport and society, punching far above its weight in sport Essential text for any course on sport in New Zealand Features multi-disciplinary perspectives, including sociology, history, geography and management Covers the full spectrum of NZ-based recreation, from traditional sports such as rugby and cricket, to indigenous Maori sport, to lifestyle and adventure sports

The first book to be published in more than a decade to examine sport in New Zealand in all its aspects New Zealand is a globally significant case study of sport development and the relationship between sport and society, punching far above its weight in sport Essential text for any course on sport in New Zealand Features multi-disciplinary perspectives, including sociology, history, geography and management Covers the full spectrum of NZ-based recreation, from traditional sports such as rugby and cricket, to indigenous Maori sport, to lifestyle and adventure sports

This book lifts the lid on the high pressured, complex world of women's artistic gymnastics. By adopting a socio-cultural lens incorporating historical, sociological and psychological perspectives, it takes the reader through the story and workings of women's artistic gymnastics. Beginning with its early history as a 'feminine appropriate' sport, the book follows the sport through its transition to a modern sports form. Including global cases and innovative narrative methods, it explores the way gymnasts have experienced its intense challenges, the complexities of the coach-athlete relationship, and how others involved in the sport, such as parents and medical personnel, have contributed to the reproduction of a highly demanding and potentially abusive sporting culture. With the focus on a unique women's sport, the book is an important read for researchers and students studying sport sociology, sport coaching, and physical education, but it is also a valuable resource for anyone interested in the development of sporting talent.

How do new technologies come to be used in sport? This book moves beyond the idea of functionality to explore the many other important factors that athletes and sporting bodies consider throughout the process of adoption. Few would question the difficulty of producing an elite athletic performance. The high level of training, combined with intense competition and pressure from media and sponsors, can be challenging for athletes and sporting bodies to negotiate. This book explores how these factors affect the use of technology in sport, while simultaneously demonstrating the influence of new technologies on sporting practice. Using actor-network theory - an approach common in studies of science and management but seldom applied in this field - it offers readers an inside view into elite sport and the part that technology plays in training, competition and broadcasting. Sport and technology offers theoretical insights relevant to students and scholars of sport and sociology. It will also be fascinating reading for anyone interested in elite sporting practice in the twenty-first century. -- .

This book lifts the lid on the high pressured, complex world of women's artistic gymnastics. By adopting a socio-cultural lens incorporating historical, sociological and psychological perspectives, it takes the reader through the story and workings of women's artistic gymnastics. Beginning with its early history as a 'feminine appropriate' sport, the book follows the sport through its transition to a modern sports form. Including global cases and innovative narrative methods, it explores the way gymnasts have experienced its intense challenges, the complexities of the coach-athlete relationship, and how others involved in the sport, such as parents and medical personnel, have contributed to the reproduction of a highly demanding and potentially abusive sporting culture. With the focus on a unique women's sport, the book is an important read for researchers and students studying sport sociology, sport coaching, and physical education, but it is also a valuable resource for anyone interested in the development of sporting talent.