Annals of Applied Sport Science
Volume:8 Issue: 4, Winter 2020

Nowadays, sport is considered as a good base for marketing and entrepreneurship. Business model design is also increasingly welcomed. But in the field of sports businesses and sports academies in Iran, no research has been conducted, and no specific business model has been introduced.

The purpose of this study is to identify and prioritize the value proposition components and customer segments as influential components of the business model.

This research is applied in terms of purpose and adopted the descriptive-survey approach for data collection. Lastly, it employed mixed exploratory research methodology (i.e., quantitative-qualitative). The statistical population consists of entrepreneurs, sports business owners, managers of athletic academies, heads of athletic departments and managers of national Olympic academies. In the qualitative section, 15 individuals were selected using the purposeful snowball sampling strategy until the theoretical saturation level was achieved. The analysis of the data was done by analyzing the quality of the content while using open coding, axis coding and theme coding methods. Next, in the quantitative section, the AHP method was used to prioritize the different categories of value proposition and customer segments.

The results of data shows that the customer segments, in order of importance include athletes (beginners to champions) (0.557), coaches and referees (0.333) and the ordinary people (public) (0.110).

It is recommended that the business owners studied as well as those interested in setting up such businesses while carefully analyzing their customers and their characteristics and accurately segmenting them, provide services tailored to the value of each customer.

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is characterized by motor and non-motor symptoms that affect patients’ functional performances, especially while performing dual tasks which is a critical factor in connection with everyday living. There are many controversies about the benefits.

This study assessed the efficacy of motor and cognitive dual-task training programs for improving of balance, quality of life, and fear of falls in people with idiopathic Parkinson’s disease.

About 30 PD patients (Hoehn and Yahr stage II-III while ON medication) were assigned to a cognitive dual-task training group (n = 10), a motor dual-task training group (n = 10), or a single task control group (n = 10). All groups received 30 sessions of different exercises for ten consecutive weeks. Balance, quality of life, and fear of falls respectively assessed with Time Up and Go Test (TUG) and Trial Walk Test (TWT), Parkinson’s Disease Questionnaire - 39 (PDQ - 39), and FES-I, before and after training and after one-month follow-up.

No significant time by group interaction were found, suggesting both dual-task and single-task training had a similar effect on outcome measures (P > 0.05). A significant post-training improvement in TUG (F = 535.54, p < 0.001), PDQ - 39 (F = 463.52, p < 0.001), TWT (F = 284.89, p < 0.001), and FES-I (F = 266.4, p < 0.001) was found after single and dual-task training. These improvements were maintained at follow-up, although the effect was slightly reduced (p < 0.05).

Motor/cognitive dual-task training and single-task training were found to be moderately effective in improvement of balance, quality of life, and decrease of fear of falls in people with PD.

International successes, especially in the Olympic Games, have become significantly important to many countries. Hence, the prediction can be better planning to gain this goal.

This study was conducted to predict the success of the participating countries in the Tokyo Olympic Games and this it was done using smart methods

This study was conducted in two stages of qualitative (determination of indicators) and quantitative (collecting data on selected countries). In the first stage of the research, through a study of research background and collecting of library data, a preliminary list of predictive indicators was identified. In the next step, semi-structured and in-depth qualitative interviews as non-random purposive were conducted with four elites aware of the subject of the research. The discussions continued until theoretical saturation.

According to the results of the research, the United States, China, and England will be ranked first to third in these games. The Islamic Republic of Iran will also be ranked 21 among the participating teams. Also, the coefficients of the predictive indicators of the rank of the countries participating in the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games were calculated. Olympic Hosting. GDP per capita and the unemployment rate had the highest share in predicting countries, with 24.15%, 10.04% and 9.74%, respectively.

Using the theoretical model (PEST+S) and the neural network model, the countries’ sports policymakers were enabled to use the identified indicators and components in their future planning to successfully participate in the Olympics Games.

The concept of sport tourism has become very popular in recent years as a field of study and a tourism product and has attracted the attention of many researchers.

This study aimed at future scenario planning of the Mashhad metropolitan sports tourism industry.

It was applied future analytical exploratory research. The information was collected through in-depth semi-structured interviews with 13 management, marketing, and sports tourism experts including 7 sections and 50 key indicators. A 50 * 50 cross-over matrix was used to analyze the data collected by Mic Mac Software.

Based on the findings of the study, seven general categories of factors (influencers to being influenced) were identified: natural drivers, social-cultural drivers, managerial and programmatic drivers, economic drivers, advertising drivers, service drivers, and infrastructure drivers.

Mashhad has great potential for attracting sports tourism in the near future with great human, natural and religious potentials and talents. It is hoped to take steps to improve tourism in the city.

Most football players (58%) around the world are younger than 18 years and almost three quarters of these young players are under the age of 14 years old. The characteristics of football injuries in children aged 7 - 12 years old are different from those of the young and adult players.

The aim of this systematic review was to evaluate effects of FIFA 11+ and 11+ Kids warm-up programs in preventing the injuries on the pre-adolescents football players.

PubMed and Science Direct databases were used using the search terms including FIFA 11+, 11+ kids, injury prevention, football, and pre-adolescent. A total of 520 studies were identified, of which 10 met the inclusion criteria of the review. Methodological quality of the studies were assessed through the PEDro score.

The 11+ Kids exercises reduce the injury and improve the physical fitness factors such as balance, jumping activities and lower limb isokinetic strength. Although 11+ exercises are designed for players aged over 14 years, they result in an improvement in movement patterns, stability, and trunk muscle endurance. The methodology quality of the randomized studies was in the range of 4 to 7 (out of 10) and the mean score of the studies was obtained 5.6, indicating moderate quality of the methodology.

11+ program alone or in a combination with the newly-developed 11+ Kids program may be helpful in preventing the injury and improving the performance, especially if implemented for a longer period or with more exercise sessions per week.

Considering that a personchr('39')s physical and psychological possibilities are not limitless, the technical means used by athletes are of great importance. In order to achieve high results in the kayak sprint competition, users-athletes orient to the highest quality products; therefore, a significant task falls to their manufacturers to analyze the competitorschr('39') products, evaluate userschr('39') needs at the maximum, and look for new technical solutions. Quality function deployment (QFD) is one of the methods, the use of which in the creation of high-quality paddles for the kayak sports competition is a relevant object of scientific research.

The purpose of this empirical study is to establish kayak paddle technical parameters for a sprint event deploying the extended quality function method. The article analyses the concept of quality function deployment, specifying opportunities for quality function deployment method applications when producing a new product.

The research comprises three major phases: the first one is a verbal survey, applying the method of half structural interview, the second one is written survey on the respondents’, prize holders’, from nine European countries (Lithuania, Hungary, German, Russia, Byelorussia, England, Australia, Spain, and Romania) responses and the third one – quality house matrix producing backing on the results of calculations and experts opinions.

Based on the impact of technical requirements and impact comparative weight indexes, priorities of technical parameters for consumers’ – rowers kayak paddle sprint events were established, which should be implemented first and foremost. Criteria such as the structure of the product material, rigidness, structure of carbon fiber, and the number of fabric layers were indicated.

Based on the results of the study, it has been found that in order to create a kayak paddle for the sprint competition, which meets the userschr('39') needs, the greatest focus should be placed on the implementation of such needs as paddle blade parameters, paddle shaft parameters, durability, and grip between the arm and paddle, as the participants of the study confirmed that they are of paramount importance for users. This study extends the limits of applicability of the QFD method in developing new and improving the already existing products, including a specific field – the paddle for the kayak sprint competition, and also partially addresses the problem of the lack of research on using the scientific research method in the development of sports products. Therefore, in the future, it is recommended to develop research on the application of the QFD method in the creation of various sports products.

Emotional competencies of individuals are evaluated as a form of capital today. Emotional capital has gained prominence in literature in the last decades. In this regard, qualitative and quantitative studies on emotional capital concept have been conducted.

The purpose of this study is to analyses the effect of emotional capital on job satisfaction and life satisfaction in terms of women basketball players in Turkey.

The research method of this study is descriptive. The statistical population consisted of 135 women basketball players who were reached via using convenience sampling method. Survey was conducted on athletes between 6th October, 2019 and 30th November, 2019. Emotional Capital Inventory developed by Newman et al. (2015), Job Satisfaction Scale developed by Brayfield and Rothe (1951), shortened by Yoon and Thye (2002), and Life Satisfaction Scale developed by Diener et al. (1985) was used for data collection. SPSS-22 computer program was used in data analysis. The internal consistencies of the questionnaires were obtained by Cronbach’s which were 0.81, 0.81 and 0.83, respectively. After exploratory factor analysis conducted on emotional capital inventory, seven factors were found as social awareness, self-management, self-awareness, self-reliance, relationship management, adaptability, and apathy.

The analysis of data revealed that self-reliance factor of emotional capital has significant and positive effect on job satisfaction, and self-management and personal awareness factors of emotional capital have significant and positive effects on life satisfaction.

Finally, it can be concluded that emotional capital has partial effect on both job satisfaction and life satisfaction of women basketball players in Turkey’s Super League.

The sports industry is comprised of a multitude of for-profit and non-profit organizations. It is therefore unsurprising that there are disputes between organizations and that some of these disputes center on the use of trademarks. 

This study seeks to identify the perceived benefits of trademark infringement law in the Thai sports industry.

This study employed a mixed-method design. In the quantitative phase w:as char:acterized by an initial quantitative phase of data collection by the questionnaire with 300 participants by selecting through non-probability sampling, and analyzed with the descriptive statistic and factor analysis research method. In the qualitative phase, two people with legal expertise, two entrepreneurs, and two consumers participated in semi-structured interviews.

The results of the quantitative phase identified seven key components: 1) Ethics; 2) Needs; 3) Attitudes and values) 4. Product; 5) Society; 6) Law, and 7) Economics with a total cumulative variance of 71.957 percent. The qualitative data confirmed the quantitative findings.

An improved understanding and application of trademark infringement law would benefit the Thai sports industry.

Treatment options for lateral ankle sprains continue to evolve as advances are made in terms of techniques and materials.

This study was performed to evaluate clinical outcomes and satisfaction between two immobilization materials, semi-rigid cast, and elastic bandages.

This study was a non-randomized controlled study. Fifty-four patients have undergone immobilization for their sprained ankle and divided into two groups according to the material selection. There were 27 patients in each group. VAS score, Karlsson score, satisfaction scale, and presence of later ankle instability was obtained. Standard descriptive measurement, independent samples t-test, and chi-square test were used for statistical analysis.

The mean age was 25.29 ± 6.04 years old. Sports injury was accounted for 27 patients (50%), followed by internal damage (24 patients; 44.4%). VAS and Karlssonchr('39')s scores were taken and validated by authors and significantly better in semi-rigid cast groups compared with the elastic bandage group in the first week and second-week follow-up. No significant differences in overall satisfaction and ankle stability after one year.

This study showed that the application of semi-rigid cast yielded quicker recovery in patients with ankle sprain without any decline in satisfaction scale. Therefore, a semi-rigid cast could be preferred over elastic bandage for acute ankle sprains.

A biofeedback program receives attention as an intervention program for athletes to regulate their psychological state.

The purpose was to apply for a heart rate variability (HRV) biofeedback training program and validate its effectiveness for racket sports players.

The participants were eight elite sport athletes (three men and five women): five squash players and three tennis players. The HRV biofeedback training program consisted of ten sessions in which the participants performed paced breathing for 10 minutes (e.g., 5-second inspiration and 5-second expiration). The means and standard deviations of the collected data were calculated, and the Wilcoxon signed-rank test was performed using SPSS windows 18.0.

Changes in HRV by the biofeedback training were significant. Standard Deviation of Normal to Normal (SDNN; Z = -2.38, p = 0.017) in time domain and Low Frequency (LF, Z = -2.52, p = 0.12) and the ratio of LF to High Frequency (HF; Z = -2.52, p = 0.12) in frequency domain were increased.

The present study provides empirical results needed to expand HRV biofeedback training research for the performance enhancement program of athletes.