Massey Documents by Type
Permanent URI for this communityhttps://mro.massey.ac.nz/handle/10179/294
Browse
6 results
Search Results
Item An emergent athlete development framework : examining the case of Swiss Triathlon from a coach’s perspective : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy at Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand(Massey University, 2025-04-08) Lamont, CameronIn New Zealand (NZ), recent high-performance (HP) reviews of National Sport Organisation (NSO) teams have identified issues around selection and athlete support. This current study examines Swiss Triathlon’s athlete development pathways (youth to elite), specifically issues of selection, de-selection and non-selection, and their practical implications from a coach’s perspective. In this thesis, the researcher (originally from NZ) through reflecting on his current role as National Coach for Swiss Duathlon, has used the case of Swiss Triathlon to examine athlete development pathways. This thesis reviews issues of early versus late sport specialisation and the importance of athlete development pathways addressing both physical performance and the athlete’s development as a person. Two theoretical and conceptual approaches provide the basis for the research; the Long-Term Athlete Development (LTAD) Model and the Foundation, Talent, Elite and Master (FTEM) Framework. The background to triathlon and Swiss Triathlon are presented, along with the author’s personal and professional career, first as a professional athlete and then as a coach at a range of athlete development levels through to HP. A multi-method approach primarily involves an auto-ethnographic analysis providing a ‘reflective practitioner’ perspective of the researcher’s athlete and coaching experiences (at a regional, national, and international level). Triangulation enhances the study’s credibility through cross reference to a bricolage of secondary sources, for example, document analysis from Swiss Triathlon, results of athlete testing, National and Youth League races, and feedback from athletes, parents, and coaches. The findings of this research have resulted in an emergent framework for enhancing athlete development pathways (youth to elite) for Swiss Triathlon, which is hoped will be transferable to other triathlon, regional and national sport contexts. The framework specifically addresses issues of selection, de-selection, and non-selection, with practical implications provided for coaches, which are designed with the intent of being athlete-centred.Item Exploring sports leaders’ understanding of male allyship for female high-performance coaches in Aotearoa : an exploratory study : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the Masters of Business Studies in Management at Massey University, Wellington, New Zealand(Massey University, 2022) Mulhern, EmmaThe sports coaching profession has historically been and remains a male dominated profession, both in Aotearoa New Zealand and worldwide. Not only are female coaches under-represented, but the numbers of female high-performance coaches are declining, leading to the loss of the female voice from the coaching landscape. Sports organisations cannot genuinely reflect their communities without female representation and that includes female coaches. Men in sports leadership and coaching positions can be utilised to support and empower women coaches, by men playing an essential role in enabling gender equity. Little is known about male allyship advancing gender equity and supporting female high-performance coaches. Therefore, this study focused on the following questions: what are the perceptions and understandings that sport leaders hold about individual and organisational male allyship in the context of female high-performance coaches in Aotearoa? And how, and to what extent, is male allyship evident in the support of the development of high-performance women coaches in Aotearoa? This study utilised the Transformational Allyship Model and the theory of allyship as frameworks to guide the study. A purposeful sample was selected from senior leadership teams representing 8 individual national sports organisations currently working with High Performance Sport New Zealand. A total of 10 semi-structured interviews were conducted via Zoom and analysed using reflexive Thematic Analysis which followed a six-phase process. Three key themes were developed from the data: male sports leaders’ perceptions of allyship; the range of male allyship for high-performance female coaches in Aotearoa and supportive actions of ally activists in Aotearoa. Key findings indicated the existence of male allyship for female high-performance coaches in Aotearoa and being an ally activist was identified as the most effective form of allyship. Overall, participants perceptions of allyship were associated with support of female coaches. This study contributes to the literature by adapting the continuum of gender allies for the purpose of this research and it identifies the presence of male allyship for female high-performance coaches in Aotearoa utilising the transformational allyship model.Item The effect of COVID-19 restrictions on physical activity levels and mental well-being in adult females living in New Zealand : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Nutrition and Dietetics, Massey University, Albany, New Zealand(Massey University, 2022) Awsi, HayaBackground: Previous research has suggested positive associations between physical activity (PA), mental health (MH) and well-being, however the current literature also suggests that females are less active than males. With the arrival of Coronavirus (COVID-19), containment strategies were implemented to minimise the global spread of COVID-19, with varying degrees of physical containment and social isolation. These containment strategies have impacted individuals’ ‘normal’ daily routines and social lives, changed the way we work and reduced opportunities in typical avenues of PA including gyms, recreational facilities and sport. The impact of such restrictions on PA levels in females, and the effect on MH and well-being has not been described in the research to date. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to understand the effect of the New Zealand Government’s COVID-19 containment strategies on adult females’ PA and mental well-being. The researchers also sought to identify factors that influenced PA participation during these periods of social isolation and physical containment. Methods: Adult females residing in New Zealand (n = 1504; mean ± SD : age 48 ± 14 years, 83.4% New Zealand European) were recruited through a combination of convenience and snowball sampling and completed two amalgamated anonymous online surveys during Level 4 (L4) lockdown and Level 2 (L2) restrictions (Qualtrics; Survey 1 - 10-29th April 2020; Survey 2 - 5-18th June 2020) to assess PA via the International Physical Activity Questionnaire – short form (IPAQ-SF), MH via the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales-9 (DASS-9) and well-being via the World Health Organization Five Well-Being Index (WHO-5). PA level was classified as high (≥3000 MET·min·wk⁻¹), moderate (≥600 to 2999 MET·min·wk⁻¹) or low (˂600 MET·min·wk⁻¹). Factors that influenced PA participation were assessed as to whether they had no influence or some influence on PA participation. Results: Our participants were sufficiently physically active to meet the WHO and New Zealand PA guidelines, and more met the PA guidelines during L4 (94.1%) than pre COIVD-19 (79.4%) or during L2 (85%). Although PA was higher during L4, sitting time was also significantly higher when compared to L2 (449 ± 169 vs 426 ± 189 min·wk⁻¹). Well-being scores (WHO-5) were higher at L4 (59 ± 20) than at L2 (57 ± 20). DASS-Anxiety scores were lower at L4 (0.5 ± 1.1) than at L2 (0.6 ± 1.2), whereas DASS-Depression and -Stress scores were higher at L4 (Depression 1.9 ± 1.8, Stress 1.9 ± 1.6) than at L2 (Depression 1.6 ± 1.7, Stress 1.7 ± 1.6). Compared to those who participated in lower levels of PA (according to IPAQ classification), those who participated in higher levels of PA had higher WHO-5 scores at both L4 (66.3 ± 19.3, p < 0.001) and L2 (62.9 ± 19.6). The high IPAQ group also had lower DASS-Depression, -Anxiety and -Stress scores ([1.5 ± 1.6, p < 0.001][0.3 ± 0.9, p < 0.001][1.6 ± 1.5, p < 0.001]) compared to those in the low group. The major factors that influenced PA participation were time available, working situation and MH. Conclusions: These results support previous findings on the positive association between PA, MH and well-being in females and illustrates the importance of maintaining adequate PA levels during times of mental unease, such as during a global pandemic or periods of social isolation. Governments and public health advisers are encouraged to use the findings and recommendations in this report to encourage and promote PA in the event a situation such as COVID-19 was to arise again in the future in order to best preserve the mental well-being of females and other New Zealanders.Item Health and wellness of Royal Navy personnel : trial of a health & wellness programme for the Royal New Zealand Navy : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Sport and Exercise in Endorsement of Exercise Prescription and Training, Massey University, Wellington, New Zealand(Massey University, 2019) Crawford-Mickleson, Chance RaphealIntroduction: It is essential for the Royal New Zealand Navy to ensure that all personnel are physically fit and maintain optimal physiological health for deployability. While access to health care and training facilities is provided, physiological health and physical fitness standard is up to the individual. This can potentially lead to sub-optimal health and wellness in military personnel. Therefore, the aim of this research is to trial a basic health and fitness screening programme among Royal New Zealand Navy personnel and compare results with healthy population data to ascertain any health and fitness issues that need to be addressed to ensure deployability of staff. Methods: 91 male and female Royal New Zealand Navy participants (mean age of 34 years, 68.1% = male, 31.8% = female) volunteered for this study. Data was collected over two phases within the same day (between 0600 and 1500 hours). Phase one, participants arrived in a fasted state (12 hours) and blood cholesterol/glucose, resting heart rate and blood pressure, was obtained. On completion participants consumed breakfast. Phase two involved answering two questionnaires; (the AHA/ACSM health and fitness pre-participation screening questionnaire for general health and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index questionnaire to measure sleep status over the past four weeks); and collection of anthropometric data (weight; height; waist circumference; hip circumference and right arm/leg length). Final assessment procedures involved the YMCA estimated VO2max test, Y-Balance and sit and reach test. Statistical analysis: All data was first assessed for normal distribution and analysed using IBM SPSS Statistics 25. Data was grouped by age and/or gender and analysed using independent t-tests for first level comparisons, and univariate analyses for multi-level comparisons. Significance was set at p=0.05. Results: Overall, results show that high density lipoprotein, estimated VO2max, body mass index, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index and the AHA/ACSM health and fitness pre-participation screening questionnaire were near pre-published general population normal values. Analysis on age and gender showed that overall, females were healthier than males but had lower VO2max, and the <35 year age group performed better overall than the ≥35 year age group. Conclusion: Those aged <35 years and who are female presented with less risk factors for cardiovascular disease than males and those aged ≥35 years, as a whole. Recommendations for a screening programme is provided.Item Social media and live streaming : reaching and engaging fans? : the case of Facebook Live and the Queensland Maroons : a thesis presented in fulfilment of the requirements for a PhD in Sport and Exercise at Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand(Massey University, 2019) Wymer, SarahSocial media has profoundly changed the way sport organisations communicate with their fans by encouraging consumers to interact directly with event and player activity. While there has been an abundance of research examining the broad effects of social media on sport organisations, there has been a paucity to date around the usage of live streaming. As such, this research explores the case of one elite sport organisation, the Queensland Maroons, and how live-streaming was incorporated into their Facebook page by using Facebook Live over the entire 2017 and 2018 State of Origin seasons. This study sought to uncover the positioning of the live streaming component within the organisation’s overall social media strategy and how live-streaming may impact fan engagement by using a multi-method approach involving semi-structured interviews with the organisation’s social media managers, a content analysis of related Facebook posts and a thematic analysis of fan responses. The findings revealed that live streaming may be disruptive to a conventional social media strategy, as not all live posts are ‘engaging’ by design. However, live streaming can be an engaging proposition when it provides exclusive content that allows the fan to experience authentic insights into the rituals and traditions of their favourite sport team and athletes in ‘real-time’. Furthermore, live streaming may provide an immersive experience, and encourage fan-to-fan interaction and fan-to-sport organisation interaction, resulting in a sense of community and fan engagement. Three unique management challenges were identified: (1) access to athletes; (2) live-streaming resourcing and (3) understanding and determining ‘engaging’ live streams. Consequently, a conceptual model was formed to assist sport organisations to provide a strategic, structured approach to social media, of which live streaming can be a critical, useful component. It provides seven categories of live videos on a scale of engagement and ways in which fans may respond to these posts to assist sport managers to plan specific content to encourage interaction and fan engagement.Item Team culture and leadership : a case study of the Northern Mystics netball team : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Masters in Sport and Exercise at Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand(Massey University, 2015) McCarthy, Lana MargaretA winning culture has been defined as “one in which everyone on the team is committed to creating a performance-focused environment, which in turn, provides the opportunity for the team and every individual on that team to win” (Goldsmith, 2007, p. 42). This case study examines the team culture and leadership of the Northern Mystics netball franchise team throughout the ANZ Championship competition between 2008 and 2014. It focuses on what past and present factors of the team culture and leadership have influenced the team’s perceived lack of success (41 wins, 45%: 50 losses), and also what factors are important in creating a successful winning team for future seasons to come. Primary data was obtained through the use of in-depth, semi-structured interviews with both past and present Northern Mystics coaches (N = 4) and senior players (N = 3). The rich description provided by these interviews, combined with the lack of scholarly studies completed in this specific area of study, increased the credibility of this qualitative research. A case study analysis was chosen as it allows for the integration and contrasting of different perspectives to provide a detailed understanding of a context (Yin, 2009). Findings indicate that there is a need to re-establish, reinforce and commit to team values each season, and adopt a transformational and collective leadership approach involving informal and formal leaders to align cultural values. Whilst it is acknowledged that there are other aspects that affect team performance, it is hoped that these findings could potentially provide a catalyst and be of significant use to the Northern Mystics netball franchise, along with other high-performing sports team environments which will support the development and sustaining of a winning team culture.