title: Overtraining and the complexities of coaches’ decision making: Managing elite athletes on the training cusp.

authors: Pope, Clive C.

subjects: overtraining

abstract: In many elite sport performance contexts overtraining is a critical issue for coaches to understand, recognise and respond to. While the indicators and effects of overtraining have attracted considerable research interest, there are no diagnostic tests that reliably predict impending overtraining. This study explored the practices and beliefs of three highly successful professional elite rowing coaches as they predicted and managed the risk of athlete overtraining during crucial periods of intensive training. These coaches took part in a series of semi-structured interviews that explored their practices, philosophies and experiences. The research draws on sociological perspectives pertinent to coaching pedagogy and more specifically, the tenets of naturalistic decision making in exploring how the coaches define and make decisions about overtraining. In doing so it recognizes that coaching involves decision-making in complex and demanding situations. The coaches were found to monitor the fatigue of their rowers through observation, communication and measures of training pace. In general, the intuitions and cues that were used by coaches had little in common with overtraining markers or indicators that are promoted in the sport science literature. Coaches’ decision-making was based largely on subjective information and processes that were influenced by a range of stressors unique to their positions. We contend that the research provides an important new perspective on coaches’ definitions and management of overtraining and enables management of overtraining to be better understood as a key element of coaching pedagogy in elite performance settings. In this article we argue successful coaches have unique insights into this topical area and this is worthy of future exploration.

text: Overtraining and the complexities of coaches’ decision making: Managing elite athletes on the training cusp. In many elite sport performance contexts overtraining is a critical issue for coaches to understand, recognise and respond to. While the indicators and effects of overtraining have attracted considerable research interest, there are no diagnostic tests that reliably predict impending overtraining. This study explored the practices and beliefs of three highly successful professional elite rowing coaches as they predicted and managed the risk of athlete overtraining during crucial periods of intensive training. These coaches took part in a series of semi-structured interviews that explored their practices, philosophies and experiences. The research draws on sociological perspectives pertinent to coaching pedagogy and more specifically, the tenets of naturalistic decision making in exploring how the coaches define and make decisions about overtraining. In doing so it recognizes that coaching involves decision-making in complex and demanding situations. The coaches were found to monitor the fatigue of their rowers through observation, communication and measures of training pace. In general, the intuitions and cues that were used by coaches had little in common with overtraining markers or indicators that are promoted in the sport science literature. Coaches’ decision-making was based largely on subjective information and processes that were influenced by a range of stressors unique to their positions. We contend that the research provides an important new perspective on coaches’ definitions and management of overtraining and enables management of overtraining to be better understood as a key element of coaching pedagogy in elite performance settings. In this article we argue successful coaches have unique insights into this topical area and this is worthy of future exploration.

year: 2017

title: Rock type and channel gradient structure salmonid populations in the Oregon coast range

authors: Hicks, Brendan J.

subjects: fish populations

abstract: The study objective was to investigate the response of salmonid populations to disturbance in Oregon Coast Range streams in two rock types, basalt and sandstone. Salmonid abundance was estimated in a total of 30 km of channel in 10 Oregon Coast Range streams with similar basin areas (14–20 km2). These basins had a range of disturbance caused by timber harvest, fire, and salvage logging. Mean channel gradient in sandstone was 0.012 m/m, and pools were the dominant habitat type. Mean channel gradient in basalt (0.025 m/m) was twice that in sandstone, and riffles were the dominant habitat type. Mean percentages by length of pools, glides, and riffles were 47, 33, and 20%, respectively, in sandstone, compared with 24, 27, and 50% in basalt. Channel gradient and channel morphology appeared to account for the observed differences in salmonid abundance, which reflected the known preference of juvenile coho salmon Oncorhynchus kisutch for pools. Coho salmon predominated in sandstone streams, whereas steelhead O. mykiss and cutthroat trout O. clarki predominated in basalt streams. In sandstone, juvenile coho salmon were four times more abundant than age-0 trout (steelhead and cutthroat trout combined). In basalt, age-0 trout were five times more abundant than juvenile coho salmon. Steelhead and cutthroat trout aged 1 or older were more abundant in basalt streams than in sandstone. However, mean densities of all salmonids combined were not different between rock types. We failed to find a clear fish response to disturbance, but our study shows the importance of geology in the design of studies investigating the response of salmonids to timber harvest and suggests that streams in basalt and sandstone have different potential capacities for salmonid communities.

text: Rock type and channel gradient structure salmonid populations in the Oregon coast range The study objective was to investigate the response of salmonid populations to disturbance in Oregon Coast Range streams in two rock types, basalt and sandstone. Salmonid abundance was estimated in a total of 30 km of channel in 10 Oregon Coast Range streams with similar basin areas (14–20 km2). These basins had a range of disturbance caused by timber harvest, fire, and salvage logging. Mean channel gradient in sandstone was 0.012 m/m, and pools were the dominant habitat type. Mean channel gradient in basalt (0.025 m/m) was twice that in sandstone, and riffles were the dominant habitat type. Mean percentages by length of pools, glides, and riffles were 47, 33, and 20%, respectively, in sandstone, compared with 24, 27, and 50% in basalt. Channel gradient and channel morphology appeared to account for the observed differences in salmonid abundance, which reflected the known preference of juvenile coho salmon Oncorhynchus kisutch for pools. Coho salmon predominated in sandstone streams, whereas steelhead O. mykiss and cutthroat trout O. clarki predominated in basalt streams. In sandstone, juvenile coho salmon were four times more abundant than age-0 trout (steelhead and cutthroat trout combined). In basalt, age-0 trout were five times more abundant than juvenile coho salmon. Steelhead and cutthroat trout aged 1 or older were more abundant in basalt streams than in sandstone. However, mean densities of all salmonids combined were not different between rock types. We failed to find a clear fish response to disturbance, but our study shows the importance of geology in the design of studies investigating the response of salmonids to timber harvest and suggests that streams in basalt and sandstone have different potential capacities for salmonid communities.

year: 2003-05

title: Contextualising social enterprise in New Zealand

authors: Grant, Suzanne Lisa Parker

subjects: business enterprise

abstract: Purpose – Social enterprise in New Zealand is still in its infancy, with no recognised framework to inform knowledge of current or future developments. In this exploratory paper, the aim is to consider four influences which are shaping the development of social enterprise in New Zealand.

Design/methodology/approach – A critical-appreciative lens utilising Habermas' concepts of the lifeworld and system informs the consideration of these influences.

Findings – Four distinct cultural and historical influences are proposed as contributing to the scope and “flavour” of social enterprise developing in New Zealand: socio-cultural norms, e.g. “Kiwi ingenuity”; the neoliberal reforms initiated by successive governments during the 1980s; Crown settlements in relation to breaches of the principles of 1840 Treaty of Waitangi; New Zealanders' as international citizens.

Originality/value – The paper shows how feedback and dialogue across the sectors, at local, national and international levels, is now required to determine how other scholars, practitioners and policy makers perceive this proposed initial framework.

text: Contextualising social enterprise in New Zealand Purpose – Social enterprise in New Zealand is still in its infancy, with no recognised framework to inform knowledge of current or future developments. In this exploratory paper, the aim is to consider four influences which are shaping the development of social enterprise in New Zealand.

Design/methodology/approach – A critical-appreciative lens utilising Habermas' concepts of the lifeworld and system informs the consideration of these influences.

Findings – Four distinct cultural and historical influences are proposed as contributing to the scope and “flavour” of social enterprise developing in New Zealand: socio-cultural norms, e.g. “Kiwi ingenuity”; the neoliberal reforms initiated by successive governments during the 1980s; Crown settlements in relation to breaches of the principles of 1840 Treaty of Waitangi; New Zealanders' as international citizens.

Originality/value – The paper shows how feedback and dialogue across the sectors, at local, national and international levels, is now required to determine how other scholars, practitioners and policy makers perceive this proposed initial framework.

year: 2008