African Journals Online
South African Journal for Research in Sport, Physical Education and Recreation

Volume 23, Issue 2, 2001

'Volksmoeder' : mother of a rugby playing nation
Allen, D.C. 1-6

Abstract: This study investigates the role allocated to women in Afrikaner society in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries and how it came to form an integral part of emergent Afrikaner nationalism. Created by men and sustained through the male dominated realms of politics and rugby, the notion of Volksmoeder or 'Mother of the Nation' promoted the virtues of 'ideal womanhood' and became a central unifying force within Afrikanerdom in the years following the Anglo-Boer War. Although the concept of the Volksmoeder defies precise definition, it nevertheless incorporated a clear role model for Afrikaner women and became part and parcel of the Afrikaner nationalist mythology. Synonymous with Afrikaner paternalism, it was a deliberately constructed ideal, the work of male cultural entrepreneurs who deliberately promoted a set of images surrounding women. Based on the exploits of Voortrekker women and perhaps more significantly, those who'd suffered at the hands of the British during the 1899-1902 conflict, the notion of an 'idealised womanhood' was woven into a male-dominated nationalism.

Athena Nike was geen Suid-Afrikaanse godin nie : die mite en realiteit van geslagsgelyke sport
Burnett, C. 7-22

Abstract: The myth and reality of women's positioning in elite sport poses unique challenges to feminist enquiry and feminists' actions for change. The aim of this paper is to meet this challenge by offering an overview of feminist paradigms and praxis as they relate to South African elite sporting practices and underlying issues. By utilizing different feminist frameworks and practices such as the liberal, radical, socialist and post-modern paradigms, the differential reality of women's oppression in competitive sport is discussed. The marginalization of women and 'their sport' is discussed against the backdrop of poverty, capitalist market realities, patriarchal structures, hegemonic ideology, socialization practices, biased media coverage and unequal funding. Other categories of oppression such as class and race interplay to illuminate a diverse and unequal picture of such marginalization. The tentative nature of this paper serves to contextualize and explore the possibilities of feminist understanding and direct praxis in addressing South African women's quest for equality in the sphere of competitive sport.

Employing a tri-axial accelerometer for estimating energy expenditure during simulated load carrying
Davies, S.E.H.Mackinnon, S.N. 23-33

Abstract: The Tritrac-R3D, a portable tri-axial accelerometer, was assessed for its ability to estimate energy expenditure during simulated load carrying activities. The Tritrac data were compared to metabolic data collected simultaneously by a MetaMax ergospirometry system while ten, healthy male subjects (aged 20.7 ±1.4 years) walked on a motorised treadmill. The subjects were measured under three conditions: no load (0%), carrying a load equivalent to 15% body mass and carrying a load equivalent to 30% body mass. When statistically compared with the MetaMax data, a significant difference of 2.105 kcal.min -1 was observed for the 30% load condition (p<0.001). This significant difference was eliminated when the data used to initialise the Tritrac was corrected to include the magnitude of the mass carried, as well as the subject's mass. Pearson Product Moment Correlations between the Tritrac and MetaMax data were calculated for each experimental condition. Correlation strength between these variables improved as the load carried increased from 0% to 30% (r=.406, .494, .818 respectively). The strongest correlation was found when all conditions were combined (r=.628) and the association was further improved when corrected Tritrac data were used (r=.857). Evidence from this study suggests that the Tritrac provides a reasonable estimate of energy expenditure gradients during load carrying activities.

Fisieke aktiwiteit, lewenstyl en enkele sosio-ekonomiese aspekte se verband met die gesondheidstatus van mans in Potchefstroom
Dreyer, L.I.Dreyer, S.Van der Merwe, G.G. 35-49

Abstract: Epidemiologic studies have shown that a low socio-economic status (SES) is related to negative lifestyle choices and a higher tendency for premature disease and all-cause mortality. Individuals with a high level of socio-economic status (SES) report the best lifestyles and health status. These relationships are, however, influenced by the race and sex of the individual. The aim of this study was to investigate the association of two socio-economic factors namely income and educational attainment with the lifestyle, physical activity profile and health status of a group of men. The subjects of this study were 525 caucasion male inhabitants of Potchefstroom, a city in the North West Province of South Africa. Subjects between the ages of 30 and 60 were selected at random according to street addresses. The quality of participation in physical activity was determined with Sharkey's physical activity index, the quality of lifestyle was determined by using the seven Belloc and Breslow habits and Walker's health promoting lifestyle profile, while health status was measured by Wyler's seriousness of illness rating scale. Educational attainment showed a direct and statistically significant (p_0.05) relationship with lifestyle, participation in physical activity and health status. The higher the educational attainment of the participants the better the lifestyle, quality of participation in physical activity and state of health. However, income showed only a direct and statistically significant (p_0.05) relationship with the quality of participation in physical activity. No statistically significant (p>0.05) relationship was found between income, lifestyle and health status. Two-way analysis of variance showed no relationship between educational attainment and health status, independent from lifestyle and participation in physical activity. Although the active (moderate and high) individuals showed the best lifestyle, participation in physical activity and health status throughout the study, educational attainment seems to have an effect on the health status of inactive individuals. The results of this study therefore seem to indicate that socio-economic status (SES), and in particular educational attainment, influences health through the effect it has on the individuals lifestyle and quality of participation in physical activity.

Current status and assessment of quantitative and qualitative one leg balancing ability in 3-6 year old children
Du Toit, D.Pienaar, A.E. 51-62

Abstract: Qualitative assessment (the developmental quality of the movement), of the one leg balance is not as commonly used as quantitative assessment (the measurable time in seconds), possibly prohibiting the accurate identifying of balance problems. The purpose of this study was to determine the current status of the quantitative and qualitative balancing ability in a selected group of South African children, and to examine the interrelationships between the quantitative and qualitative results of 3-6 year old children as to propose a more accurate assessment of the one leg balance. The subjects (N=514), aged 3-6 years, were quantitatively and qualitatively assessed using valid norms and criteria found in the literature. The effect sizes measuring the relationship between the quantitative and qualitative assessments as determined by the Phi-score, showed a large effect for the 4 year olds (ES>0.8), and small effects for the 5 and 6 year olds (ES>0.2). A relatively large percentage (44.10%) of 3 year olds scored well above the average level for their age in both the quantitative and qualitative assessment, indicating that the norms and criteria used might not be appropriate for 3 year olds. Relatively large percentages (25.27%-27.47%) of the 6 year olds scored below the average level for 5 year olds in the qualitative assessment, suggesting developmental balance delays or disorders that might not have been identified by means of only a quantitative assessment. These findings indicate that, when evaluating the one leg balance in children aged 3-6 years, a quantitative and qualitative assessment should be used in combination together to assure a more accurate assessment.

The nature of mental toughness in sport
Fourie, S.Potgieter, J.R. 63-72

Abstract: This study investigated the components of mental toughness as reported by 131 expert coaches and 160 elite athletes from 31 sport codes. The written statements of coaches and athletes were analysed by means of an inductive content analysis. This resulted in the identification of 12 components of mental toughness. These are: motivation level, coping skills, confidence maintenance, cognitive skill, discipline and goal-directedness, competitiveness, possession of prerequisite physical and mental requirements, team unity, preparation skills, psychological hardiness, religious convictions and ethics. The coaches regarded concentration as the most important characteristic, while the athletes regarded perseverance as most important. The coaches rated the effectiveness of coaches and sport psychologists in strengthening the characteristics of mental toughness more highly than athletes did.

The relationship between negative addiction to running and running enjoyment amongst black Zulu-speaking South African runners: an exploratory study
Myers, B.J.Basson, C.J. 73-87

Abstract: A survey research design was employed to explore the relationship between negative addiction to running and running enjoyment, amongst black, Zulu-speaking South African runners. Translated versions of the Biographical Information Questionnaire (Leask, 1997), Negative Addiction Scale (Hailey & Bailey, 1982), and Running Enjoyment Questionnaire (Basson & Macpherson, 1998) were administered to an opportunity sample of 79 black, Zulu-speaking South African runners, drawn from athletic clubs in the Durban and Pietermaritzburg regions of KwaZulu-Natal. On the basis of their negative addiction scale scores, runners were assigned to either a high (n=23), moderate (n=35), or low addiction group (n=21). Significant relationships were found between running dependence and all four sources of running enjoyment. In addition, length of running history and the importance placed by the participant on the running activity were shown to play a role in both running dependence and enjoyment processes. For black South African runners, both intrinsic and achievement running enjoyment sources were more motivating than extrinsic or non-achievement factors. Extrinsic and achievement factors were more motivating for black South African runners compared to Macpherson's (1998) sample of white runners. These results were discussed with reference to the literature on running dependence, running commitment, and cultural influences on motivation.

The effect of selected initiative and cultural activities on the self-concept of young adults at a multicultural institution
Roux, C.J.Malan, J.H. 89-103

Abstract: This study investigated the effect of selected initiative and cultural activities during an intervention programme on the self-concept of first year students at a multicultural tertiary institution. A self-concept scale based on the self-concept scale of Coopersmith (1967) and the Adolescent Sport Self-concept Scale of Vrey (1974) adapted by Paterson (1991) was administered during the various testing occasions of a pre-post-follow-up research design. Data were statistically analysed, where a t-test and a Duncan's multiple range test were applied to determine differences between the experimental group (n=127) and the control group (n=30), as well as between the various testing occasions. There was a significant difference (p<0.01) between the experimental and control group after the intervention programme. The findings of this study revealed a significant positive change (p<0.01) in the self-concept of the subjects.