Journal of Park and Recreation Administration, 2022
Youth sport parents experience an array of emotions as part of their child’s youth sport experien... more Youth sport parents experience an array of emotions as part of their child’s youth sport experience. This may include emotions related to watching their child play, supporting their child’s emotions, or simply related to daily parenting responsibilities. This research examined youth sport parent emotions through an expressive writing exercise. Twelve parents completed a total of 32 expressive writing exercises. In each exercise, parents were asked to write about their emotions as a youth sport parent. Quantitative analysis with Linguistic Inquiry and Word Count (LIWC; Pennebaker et al., 2015) software and qualitative thematic analysis were employed to analyze writings. Results indicate that though parents experienced both positive and negative emotions, negative emotions were most common and salient. Thematic analysis resulted in six themes, including one theme related to positive emotions (happiness for child experience), and five themes related to negative emotions: 1) general str...
Objective: Sport is an important source of physical, social and emotional health and well-being a... more Objective: Sport is an important source of physical, social and emotional health and well-being among children. Sports participation at school may provide young people with the opportunity to build interpersonal skills and develop supportive social relationships with peers and adults, which may translate to positive experiences during the school day. School climate represents the relationships, values and beliefs within a school system and is associated with positive social, emotional and psychological health outcomes. This research examines the influence of social relationships developed during an after-school sports programme on indicators of school climate. Method: Students in grades 4–8 ( n = 230) at a school in Phoenix (Arizona) completed an online survey to measure perceptions of peer and coach relationships in after-school sports and indicators of school climate in the form of engagement with students, teachers and the school itself and perceptions of the school environment. ...
Journal of park and recreation administration, 2015
Parents play an essential role in the youth sport experience, performing necessary roles such as ... more Parents play an essential role in the youth sport experience, performing necessary roles such as registering their children, paying registration fees, ensuring that their children get to and from games and practices, and often playing a vital volunteer role in the organization. Despite these crucial functions, research has paid little attention to the experience of the parent and the portneial benefits that a parent may accrue as a result of his or her involvement with the program. As parents often spend a large amount of time involved with their children's youth sport experiences and often interact with other parents in those experiences, the development of a feeling of sense of community among the parents is one possible and important component of those experiences. Research has suggested that sense of community is associated with numerous positive outcomes. Although sense of community has in numerous settings, it has not specifically been studied in youth sport with parents. ...
SCHOLE: A Journal of Leisure Studies and Recreation Education, 2015
View related articles View Crossmark data Sport management alumni (N=268) from five universities ... more View related articles View Crossmark data Sport management alumni (N=268) from five universities that offer undergraduate programs with an emphasis in sport management within departments of parks, recreation, and tourism were sampled via an electronic survey. The survey sought to learn where alumni were working, and how they felt about their career choice and undergraduate professional preparation. Participants were also asked about what curricular changes they would recommend, their view of sport in North America, and their view of the relationship between sport and recreation. Of the respondents, 63% found work in sport-related fields after graduation, although only 39% of those remained in sport-related positions at the time of the study. Low salaries and limited job opportunities were the main reasons given for leaving the field. However, many respondents indicated their entry-level work experience provided them an opportunity to move into more lucrative careers outside sport. Curricular implications, such as the need for core competencies, conclude the paper.
The purpose of this study was to better understand sport management students within departments o... more The purpose of this study was to better understand sport management students within departments of parks, recreation, and tourism, and to address the often uneasy fit faculty experience when trying to educate sport and recreation students in the same classes. Researchers sent a 16-item online questionnaire to 1,337 undergraduate sport management majors at seven universities offering sport management as an emphasis within a department of parks, recreation, and tourism. Results yielded a 32% response rate, and indicated many similarities among the seven universities. The results also provided guidance for addressing the challenges faced by parks, recreation, and tourism educators when teaching students who identify with sport rather than recreation, and who are highly focused on a career in sport. The article concludes with implications for advising, curriculum planning, and employment potential.
Abstract Geographical relocation may create a number of adjustment issues for individuals includi... more Abstract Geographical relocation may create a number of adjustment issues for individuals including isolation and loneliness. For some, cheering for a team and being part of a fan group may be one way to address these issues and development a sense of community (SOC). The development of SOC, however, may be complicated when individuals no longer live near the team they root for. Though sport fan groups often exist outside of the area of the team, it is unclear if and how SOC develops in these groups, and further, how participation in the group influences views of the current residence. This paper addresses this gap by exploring SOC in one such ‘relocated’ sports fan group. Findings suggest elements of two prominent theories of SOC, and also extend that research by showing the process through which SOC develops, and how group participation impacts feelings towards the current residence.
In the United States, youth sport programs delivered by public recreation agencies face increased... more In the United States, youth sport programs delivered by public recreation agencies face increased pressure to either increase fees or "contract out" to private providers to compensate for budget reductions. Understanding these private-public partnerships (PPPs) is essential to the sustainability of youth sport. This study contributes to that objective by analyzing the perceptions of PPPs involving public recreation agencies and private youth sport providers. Using a qualitative interpretive approach, data were collected through semistructured interviews with 22 administrators in youth sport programs, including 12 from public recreation departments and 10 from outside organizations. Thematic analysis was utilized to uncover the perceptions of both sides of these PPPs. Guided by principal-agency and stewardship theory, results are organized across three partnership phases: (1) initiation, (2) management; and (3) outcomes to help inform best practices and identify barriers to effective collaboration.
SCHOLE: A Journal of Leisure Studies and Recreation Education, 2020
Resumo: Este artigo apresenta os resultados preliminares das pesquisas do Departamento de Arqueol... more Resumo: Este artigo apresenta os resultados preliminares das pesquisas do Departamento de Arqueologia da Universidade Federal de Rondônia realizadas no sítio Santa Paula, implantado em um terraço na margem esquerda da cachoeira do Teotônio, no alto Madeira, em Porto Velho, Rondônia, durante a disciplina de Práticas de Campo em Arqueologia, entre 2014 e 2016. Além dos objetivos didáticos, as pesquisas no Santa Paula tiveram o intuito de contribuir com a arqueologia regional, entendida como uma forma de história cultural indígena. As atividades desenvolvidas foram as seguintes: contextualização histórica e cultural, topografia, escavações, datação, curadoria e análises dos materiais cerâmicos. Os resultados indicam que o sítio foi ocupado por mais de três mil anos, inicialmente pelos portadores da cerâmica Santa Paula, pelos detentores das tradições tecnológicas Pocó-Açutuba, Morro dos Macacos, Barrancoide e Polícroma, pelos povos indígenas conhecidos historicamente, pelos portugueses e pelos ribeirinhos. Não obstante, as transformações mais marcantes do lugar, como a construção de montículos em torno de uma praça central e a formação de terra preta da Amazônia, foram ocasionadas a partir de 1.600 anos atrás, pelos Barrancoide, os quais, assim como os Pocó-Açutuba, podem estar associados à expansão e à influência cultural Arawak pela Amazônia e alhures.
ABSTRACT This study explores the meaning of inclusion among Black, Brown and Indigenous Persons o... more ABSTRACT This study explores the meaning of inclusion among Black, Brown and Indigenous Persons of Color (BIPOC) and LGBTQI+ volunteers of a national sport governing body. The study situates itself within socio-ecological and critical race theories to (a) examine the experience of inclusion (or lack thereof) for minoritized volunteers and (b) identify hindrances and enablers of inclusion. Volunteers perform essential roles within sport organizations, and increased diversity, equity, and inclusion is central for justice and performance reasons. However, limited research exists which critically examines the experience of volunteers from traditionally underrepresented populations. This study seeks to fill that gap. Improving diversity and inclusion within NGBs is not only likely to improve organizational performance, but also addresses issues of good governance and social justice. Semi-structured interviews coupled with narrative inquiry were employed to collect and analyze data. Findings suggest that volunteers experienced inclusion, or lack thereof, across four layered systems – personal, interpersonal, organizational and community. Within those layers, we identified the following subthemes: unique experience and viewpoint, personal responsibility, assimilation (individual); political/social capital, mentors (interpersonal); required commitment, inclusion not embedded in organizational cultural (organizational); implicit bias, microaggressions (community). From this model, we suggest characteristics of inclusive and non-inclusive organizations across a continuum of inclusion. Furthermore, the presented model fills a gap in existing literature and provides guidelines and specific actionable areas for organizations to develop environments that are more inclusive.
The purpose of this study was to better understand sport management students within departments o... more The purpose of this study was to better understand sport management students within departments of parks, recreation, and tourism, and to address the often uneasy fit faculty experience when trying to educate sport and recreation students in the same classes. Researchers sent a 16-item online questionnaire to 1,337 undergraduate sport management majors at seven universities offering sport management as an emphasis within a department of parks, recreation, and tourism. Results yielded a 32% response rate, and indicated many similarities among the seven universities. The results also provided guidance for addressing the challenges faced by parks, recreation, and tourism educators when teaching students who identify with sport rather than recreation, and who are highly focused on a career in sport. The article concludes with implications for advising, curriculum planning, and employment potential.
Given the challenge of consistent physical activity among aging adults, it is important to find w... more Given the challenge of consistent physical activity among aging adults, it is important to find ways to increase physical activity levels in this population. Participants in the Senior Olympic Games may extend their sport participation through the use of mental skills. This study examined the relationship between mental skills use by Senior Olympic Games participants and their grit, or passion and perseverance, toward a long-term goal. The participants in the Arizona Senior Olympic Games (n = 304) completed an online survey of mental skills use (Athletic Coping Skills Inventory) and grit (Grit Scale-Short). Based on the ongoing validity and reliability issues of the Grit Scale-Short, two regression models were examined, with consistency of interests (passion) and perseverance of effort (perseverance) as dependent variables. After controlling for age and sex, mental skills accounted for 15.2% of the variance in consistency of interests and 13.1% of the variability in perseverance of ...
Journal of Park and Recreation Administration, 2022
Youth sport parents experience an array of emotions as part of their child’s youth sport experien... more Youth sport parents experience an array of emotions as part of their child’s youth sport experience. This may include emotions related to watching their child play, supporting their child’s emotions, or simply related to daily parenting responsibilities. This research examined youth sport parent emotions through an expressive writing exercise. Twelve parents completed a total of 32 expressive writing exercises. In each exercise, parents were asked to write about their emotions as a youth sport parent. Quantitative analysis with Linguistic Inquiry and Word Count (LIWC; Pennebaker et al., 2015) software and qualitative thematic analysis were employed to analyze writings. Results indicate that though parents experienced both positive and negative emotions, negative emotions were most common and salient. Thematic analysis resulted in six themes, including one theme related to positive emotions (happiness for child experience), and five themes related to negative emotions: 1) general str...
Objective: Sport is an important source of physical, social and emotional health and well-being a... more Objective: Sport is an important source of physical, social and emotional health and well-being among children. Sports participation at school may provide young people with the opportunity to build interpersonal skills and develop supportive social relationships with peers and adults, which may translate to positive experiences during the school day. School climate represents the relationships, values and beliefs within a school system and is associated with positive social, emotional and psychological health outcomes. This research examines the influence of social relationships developed during an after-school sports programme on indicators of school climate. Method: Students in grades 4–8 ( n = 230) at a school in Phoenix (Arizona) completed an online survey to measure perceptions of peer and coach relationships in after-school sports and indicators of school climate in the form of engagement with students, teachers and the school itself and perceptions of the school environment. ...
Journal of park and recreation administration, 2015
Parents play an essential role in the youth sport experience, performing necessary roles such as ... more Parents play an essential role in the youth sport experience, performing necessary roles such as registering their children, paying registration fees, ensuring that their children get to and from games and practices, and often playing a vital volunteer role in the organization. Despite these crucial functions, research has paid little attention to the experience of the parent and the portneial benefits that a parent may accrue as a result of his or her involvement with the program. As parents often spend a large amount of time involved with their children's youth sport experiences and often interact with other parents in those experiences, the development of a feeling of sense of community among the parents is one possible and important component of those experiences. Research has suggested that sense of community is associated with numerous positive outcomes. Although sense of community has in numerous settings, it has not specifically been studied in youth sport with parents. ...
SCHOLE: A Journal of Leisure Studies and Recreation Education, 2015
View related articles View Crossmark data Sport management alumni (N=268) from five universities ... more View related articles View Crossmark data Sport management alumni (N=268) from five universities that offer undergraduate programs with an emphasis in sport management within departments of parks, recreation, and tourism were sampled via an electronic survey. The survey sought to learn where alumni were working, and how they felt about their career choice and undergraduate professional preparation. Participants were also asked about what curricular changes they would recommend, their view of sport in North America, and their view of the relationship between sport and recreation. Of the respondents, 63% found work in sport-related fields after graduation, although only 39% of those remained in sport-related positions at the time of the study. Low salaries and limited job opportunities were the main reasons given for leaving the field. However, many respondents indicated their entry-level work experience provided them an opportunity to move into more lucrative careers outside sport. Curricular implications, such as the need for core competencies, conclude the paper.
The purpose of this study was to better understand sport management students within departments o... more The purpose of this study was to better understand sport management students within departments of parks, recreation, and tourism, and to address the often uneasy fit faculty experience when trying to educate sport and recreation students in the same classes. Researchers sent a 16-item online questionnaire to 1,337 undergraduate sport management majors at seven universities offering sport management as an emphasis within a department of parks, recreation, and tourism. Results yielded a 32% response rate, and indicated many similarities among the seven universities. The results also provided guidance for addressing the challenges faced by parks, recreation, and tourism educators when teaching students who identify with sport rather than recreation, and who are highly focused on a career in sport. The article concludes with implications for advising, curriculum planning, and employment potential.
Abstract Geographical relocation may create a number of adjustment issues for individuals includi... more Abstract Geographical relocation may create a number of adjustment issues for individuals including isolation and loneliness. For some, cheering for a team and being part of a fan group may be one way to address these issues and development a sense of community (SOC). The development of SOC, however, may be complicated when individuals no longer live near the team they root for. Though sport fan groups often exist outside of the area of the team, it is unclear if and how SOC develops in these groups, and further, how participation in the group influences views of the current residence. This paper addresses this gap by exploring SOC in one such ‘relocated’ sports fan group. Findings suggest elements of two prominent theories of SOC, and also extend that research by showing the process through which SOC develops, and how group participation impacts feelings towards the current residence.
In the United States, youth sport programs delivered by public recreation agencies face increased... more In the United States, youth sport programs delivered by public recreation agencies face increased pressure to either increase fees or "contract out" to private providers to compensate for budget reductions. Understanding these private-public partnerships (PPPs) is essential to the sustainability of youth sport. This study contributes to that objective by analyzing the perceptions of PPPs involving public recreation agencies and private youth sport providers. Using a qualitative interpretive approach, data were collected through semistructured interviews with 22 administrators in youth sport programs, including 12 from public recreation departments and 10 from outside organizations. Thematic analysis was utilized to uncover the perceptions of both sides of these PPPs. Guided by principal-agency and stewardship theory, results are organized across three partnership phases: (1) initiation, (2) management; and (3) outcomes to help inform best practices and identify barriers to effective collaboration.
SCHOLE: A Journal of Leisure Studies and Recreation Education, 2020
Resumo: Este artigo apresenta os resultados preliminares das pesquisas do Departamento de Arqueol... more Resumo: Este artigo apresenta os resultados preliminares das pesquisas do Departamento de Arqueologia da Universidade Federal de Rondônia realizadas no sítio Santa Paula, implantado em um terraço na margem esquerda da cachoeira do Teotônio, no alto Madeira, em Porto Velho, Rondônia, durante a disciplina de Práticas de Campo em Arqueologia, entre 2014 e 2016. Além dos objetivos didáticos, as pesquisas no Santa Paula tiveram o intuito de contribuir com a arqueologia regional, entendida como uma forma de história cultural indígena. As atividades desenvolvidas foram as seguintes: contextualização histórica e cultural, topografia, escavações, datação, curadoria e análises dos materiais cerâmicos. Os resultados indicam que o sítio foi ocupado por mais de três mil anos, inicialmente pelos portadores da cerâmica Santa Paula, pelos detentores das tradições tecnológicas Pocó-Açutuba, Morro dos Macacos, Barrancoide e Polícroma, pelos povos indígenas conhecidos historicamente, pelos portugueses e pelos ribeirinhos. Não obstante, as transformações mais marcantes do lugar, como a construção de montículos em torno de uma praça central e a formação de terra preta da Amazônia, foram ocasionadas a partir de 1.600 anos atrás, pelos Barrancoide, os quais, assim como os Pocó-Açutuba, podem estar associados à expansão e à influência cultural Arawak pela Amazônia e alhures.
ABSTRACT This study explores the meaning of inclusion among Black, Brown and Indigenous Persons o... more ABSTRACT This study explores the meaning of inclusion among Black, Brown and Indigenous Persons of Color (BIPOC) and LGBTQI+ volunteers of a national sport governing body. The study situates itself within socio-ecological and critical race theories to (a) examine the experience of inclusion (or lack thereof) for minoritized volunteers and (b) identify hindrances and enablers of inclusion. Volunteers perform essential roles within sport organizations, and increased diversity, equity, and inclusion is central for justice and performance reasons. However, limited research exists which critically examines the experience of volunteers from traditionally underrepresented populations. This study seeks to fill that gap. Improving diversity and inclusion within NGBs is not only likely to improve organizational performance, but also addresses issues of good governance and social justice. Semi-structured interviews coupled with narrative inquiry were employed to collect and analyze data. Findings suggest that volunteers experienced inclusion, or lack thereof, across four layered systems – personal, interpersonal, organizational and community. Within those layers, we identified the following subthemes: unique experience and viewpoint, personal responsibility, assimilation (individual); political/social capital, mentors (interpersonal); required commitment, inclusion not embedded in organizational cultural (organizational); implicit bias, microaggressions (community). From this model, we suggest characteristics of inclusive and non-inclusive organizations across a continuum of inclusion. Furthermore, the presented model fills a gap in existing literature and provides guidelines and specific actionable areas for organizations to develop environments that are more inclusive.
The purpose of this study was to better understand sport management students within departments o... more The purpose of this study was to better understand sport management students within departments of parks, recreation, and tourism, and to address the often uneasy fit faculty experience when trying to educate sport and recreation students in the same classes. Researchers sent a 16-item online questionnaire to 1,337 undergraduate sport management majors at seven universities offering sport management as an emphasis within a department of parks, recreation, and tourism. Results yielded a 32% response rate, and indicated many similarities among the seven universities. The results also provided guidance for addressing the challenges faced by parks, recreation, and tourism educators when teaching students who identify with sport rather than recreation, and who are highly focused on a career in sport. The article concludes with implications for advising, curriculum planning, and employment potential.
Given the challenge of consistent physical activity among aging adults, it is important to find w... more Given the challenge of consistent physical activity among aging adults, it is important to find ways to increase physical activity levels in this population. Participants in the Senior Olympic Games may extend their sport participation through the use of mental skills. This study examined the relationship between mental skills use by Senior Olympic Games participants and their grit, or passion and perseverance, toward a long-term goal. The participants in the Arizona Senior Olympic Games (n = 304) completed an online survey of mental skills use (Athletic Coping Skills Inventory) and grit (Grit Scale-Short). Based on the ongoing validity and reliability issues of the Grit Scale-Short, two regression models were examined, with consistency of interests (passion) and perseverance of effort (perseverance) as dependent variables. After controlling for age and sex, mental skills accounted for 15.2% of the variance in consistency of interests and 13.1% of the variability in perseverance of ...
Uploads
Papers by Eric Legg