Books on the topic 'Elite/professional sport'

Qatar and the UAE in particular are emerging as a new destination for sport labor migration, including from the Maghreb and the Maghrebi community in Europe, which is the focus of this chapter. Specifically, the study examines the patterns and motives of sport labor migration in three sectors: professional football, elite sport development, and sport TV broadcasting. Migration flows in sport can be understood as a legacy of colonial history, or a dependency of former colonies upon former colonizers in social, cultural, economic, and sport domains. Sport migration is also a product of globalization characterized by increased interconnectedness between territories due to advancements in the means of transportation and communication. While it is becoming more difficult to migrate to Europe and North America, sport migrants from the Maghreb, like other Arab communities, are attracted to the GCC because it offers both material facilities and the familiarity of Arab and Islamic cultures.

Sport and exercise have been intensely advocated as protective lifestyle measures, preventing or reducing the risk of severe health issues including cardiovascular disease. More extreme forms of sport (for instance at high altitudes) have been identified as an important way of promoting cardiovascular adaptation, but have also been associated with adverse effects and even major cardiovascular events. More commonplace sport and exercise may also increase an individual’s risk of cardiac events. This publication is timely in the light of an increasing number of clinical papers in this field. The textbook provides an overview of prevention, detection, and treatment for elite athletes and young sports professionals in training which will be useful for clinical cardiologists, sports physicians, and general physicians alike. Split into eleven key areas in sports cardiology, ranging from sudden cardiac death in athletes to cardiovascular effects of substance of abuse/doping, the text is an invaluable resource covering all aspects of sports cardiology.

Many physical and psychological benefits of exercise and sport participation exist for blind or deaf children, as well as children with disabilities such as cerebral palsy, myelomeningocoele, spinal cord injury, and amputations. There are also a number of challenges these children must face in these endeavours. It is important to understand the injuries to which children with disabilities are predisposed and general strategies for prevention. Some adaptations via adjustments in rules and use of specialized wheelchairs and prosthetic devices allow participation in a more diverse range of athletic activity for this population. Many opportunities exist for children with disabilities, including Down syndrome and other intellectual disabilities, to participate in sports at a local or recreational level, all the way to the elite level in the Paralympic Games and Special Olympic World Games. It is important that health professionals become familiar with the unique challenges faced by these individuals.

The text guides readers through these situations: -Understanding the dynamics of a variety of issues, including alcohol abuse and violence, referral processes, erotic transference and countertransference, and communication problems between coaches and athletes -Working with diverse clients, including athletes of color, gay and lesbian athletes, and disabled athletes -Presenting to and working with entire teams -Plumbing the depths of several complex topics, including eating disorders and injury and identity issues In addition to covering some of these complex and deeply personal topics, the text details the fundamental issues of applied sport psychology, including developing the consultant–client relationship and connecting with teams, coaches, and individuals. In dealing with relationships a sport psychologist would typically face, Sport Psychology in Practice addresses serious ethical and philosophical issues and asks more general questions about the field and how to work with clients. Sport Psychology in Practice contains insights from an elite list of contributors who explain, using real-life examples, how they successfully and ethically “do” sport psychology. Methods that have worked for the most respected practitioners in the field are presented with an informal, engaging approach and rely substantially on dialogue and actual experiences. In addition, the book offers expert commentary after three chapters, expanding on the issues within each of those chapters. It includes an afterword that analyzes the key points in the book. This book is a great starting point for discussion among students and long-time practitioners regarding how the field should evolve and what issues should continue to be debated. Part I of Sport Psychology in Practice addresses the processes of presenting sport psychology to groups, including youths and disabled athletes. Part II tackles the complex issues surrounding athletes' concerns and ethical situations. The authors discuss cases that required great compassion in dealing with athletes in fragile conditions and precarious situations. Part III explores issues related to working with diverse athletes, including athletes of color and gay and lesbian athletes. You will consider the challenges these athletes face, the development of the relationships between the athletes and sport psychologists, and considerations of sport psychologists' own prejudices and human frailty. Sport Psychology in Practice covers the fundamentals and delves into complex and even threatening areas. It pushes the practice of sport psychology further than most other texts. With its coverage of taboo topics and its occasional use of frank language, it will be sure to provoke debate, discussion, and controversy—and to be a solid resource for students and professionals alike.

Gain the competitive edge with the innovative training methods in Pilates and Conditioning for Athletes. This science-based, multidimensional approach to athletic conditioning helps you build a strong and flexible foundation by infusing Pilates into training, resulting in complete training programs that tap into the seven pillars of training needed for success: • Agility • Flexibility • Mobility • Power • Speed • Stability • Strength Begin with proven assessment protocols that have helped elite and professional athletes reach the pinnacle of their careers and remain there. Evaluate your movement patterns, range of motion, strength base, flexibility, and core strength to determine your baseline and guide your selection of exercises and sequences to turn weaknesses into strengths. Then follow detailed instructions for 124 Pilates mat and traditional conditioning exercises to strengthen your core, improve your posture, increase flexibility, and correct muscle imbalances. You will learn the following: • Breathing exercises to increase lung capacity and reduce stress • Stretching routines to open your hips, hamstrings, and back • Joint articulation to improve range of motion and balance • Resistance training for strength and power • Medicine ball training for working in diagonal and transverse planes • A dynamic warm-up series to begin each training session You can take the confusion out of your training plan by adding one or more of the 19 foundational, intermediate, and sport-specific workouts to help you achieve your performance goals. Successful athletes never leave their training to chance: Every workout is planned, every exercise is done for a specific reason, and each movement and program builds upon the previous one. Whether you are a weekend warrior, a college or professional athlete, or a 70-year-old triathlete, Pilates and Conditioning for Athletes will help you incorporate Pilates training to become a stronger, faster, healthier, and better-equipped athlete.