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    Athlete Preferences for Nutrition Education: Development of and Findings from a Quantitative Survey.
    (MDPI (Basel, Switzerland), 2023-05-29) Solly H; Badenhorst CE; McCauley M; Slater GJ; Gifford JA; Erueti B; Beck KL; Nieman DC
    Nutrition education (NE) is one of several strategies aimed at enhancing the dietary intake of athletes. This study investigated NE preferences of New Zealand and Australian athletes competing nationally and internationally. Athletes (n = 124, 22 (18, 27) years, female 54.8%) from 22 sports completed an online survey, with responses analysed using descriptive statistics. Teaching techniques considered 'extremely effective' were life examples (47.6% of athletes), hands-on activities (30.6%), and discussions with a facilitator (30.6%). Setting personal nutrition goals was important to most athletes (83.9%), along with two-way feedback with a facilitator (75.0%). General nutrition topics considered 'essential' were energy requirements (52.9%), hydration (52.9%), and nutrient deficiencies (43.3%). Performance topics considered 'essential' were recovery (58.1%), pre-exercise nutrition (51.6%), nutrition during exercise (50.0%), and energy requirements for training (49.2%). Athletes preferred a 'combination of in-person group and one-on-one sessions' (25% of athletes), 'one-on one sessions' (19.2%) and 'in-person group sessions' (18.3%), with only 13.3% interested in 'exclusively online delivery'. Sessions of 31-60 min (61.3% of athletes) held monthly (37.5%) and undertaken with athletes of the same sporting calibre (61.3%) were favoured by the participants. The preferred facilitator was a performance dietitian or nutritionist (82.1% of athletes), who had knowledge of the sport (85.5%), experience in sports nutrition (76.6%), and credibility (73.4%). This research provides novel insights into the factors that need to be considered when designing and implementing nutrition education for athletes.
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    Growth and Bone Development in the Horse: When Is a Horse Skeletally Mature?
    (MDPI (Basel, Switzerland), 2021-11-29) Rogers CW; Gee EK; Dittmer KE; Arfuso F
    Within the lay literature, and social media in particular, there is often debate about the age at which a horse should be started and introduced to racing or sport. To optimize the welfare and longevity of horses in racing and sport, it is important to match exercise with musculoskeletal development and the ability of the musculoskeletal system to respond to loading. The justification for not exercising horses at a certain age is often in contrast to the scientific literature and framed, with incorrect generalizations, with human growth. This review provides a relative comparison of the growth and development of the horse to the descriptors used to define growth and development in humans. Measures of physeal closure and somatic growth demonstrate that the horse completes the equivalent of rapid infant growth by weaning (4-6 months old). At approximately 11 months old, the horse completes the equivalent of the childhood phase of growth and enters puberty. At 2 years old, the horse has achieved most measures of maturity used within the human literature, including the plateauing of vertical height, closure of growth plates, and adult ratios of back length:wither height and limb length:wither height. These data support the hypothesis that the horse evolved to be a precocious cursorial grazer and is capable of athletic activity, and use in sport, relatively early in life.
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    An examination of inattentional blindness in the team ball sport of netball : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Health Science in Sport and Exercise at Massey University, Manawatū, New Zealand
    (Massey University, 2023) Blackmore, Melissa Lee
    The world around us is a detail-rich place. Therefore, there are numerous stimuli to observe, and as humans, we only have a limited information processing capacity. Thus, on occasion, we can have failures of attention. Inattentional blindness is a specific failure of attention when a person fails to see a clearly visible, but unexpected stimulus because their attention is engaged elsewhere. Inattentional blindness becomes an issue in team ball sports as missing critical stimuli, such as a freely available teammate, may be the difference between winning and losing. The present study examines inattentional blindness in the team ball sport context of netball. This examination has been conducted using a more ecologically valid sport inattentional blindness research paradigm than previously used. The findings of this study provide evidence that inattentional blindness exists in netball.
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    Utilising junior participant and caregiver perceptions to understand food and beverage sponsorship of sport : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Nutrition and Dietetics at Massey University, Albany, New Zealand
    (Massey University, 2022) Brouwer, Ella
    Purpose: The alignment of sponsor companies with sport has been a long contended topic, particularly in relation to tobacco and alcohol. However, the appropriateness of ‘unhealthy’ food and beverage products in sport has also come into question. Research has shown children can be affected by sponsorship marketing, with the potential for their attitudes, preferences and consumption habits to be altered. Childhood obesity is a pressing issue in New Zealand, bringing to light the importance of sport as a setting for health promotion. To date, limited research has been undertaken in New Zealand focussing on food and beverage sponsorship of junior sport. This study explores how young sports players and their parents perceive food and beverage sponsorship. Study Design/Methodology: A qualitative study that conducted 30-60 minute online Zoom interviews with children aged 8-13 years who were currently engaged in a team winter sport, and their parent. Participants were recruited from a variety of settings (schools, sports clubs) across the Auckland region. Findings: Children generally felt positive about receiving things from sponsors but unanimously expressed a preference for activity vouchers or merchandise over food vouchers. A sponsor companies alignment with sport and the wider sporting community was important for both parents and children. Some parents likened fast food to alcohol, drawing parallels between the harm alcohol causes adults and the harm fast food can cause children. The majority of parents recognised the reliance sport clubs have on sponsor funds with many prioritising sport participation over sponsor restrictions. Research Implications: The findings of this study recommend junior sport organisers consider a company’s connection to sport prior to enlisting them as a sponsor. These research findings could be used to inform policy both at the regional club level and national government level around sponsors appropriate to be involved in junior sport. The government would be well placed to support junior sport sponsor restrictions by providing an alternative funding source and using sport as a vehicle for promoting public health messages.