Bowling is More than a Hobby for Lillian Singleton

Recreation

By

U.S. Sports Academy

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March 17, 2023

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Bowling is More than a Hobby for Lillian Singleton — Lillian Singleton

By Dr. Katrina Wahlstrom |

Women’s stories in sport are often overlooked and undervalued. Although there have been some strides made for women in sport, women still face many barriers such as lack of resources, lower pay, limited media coverage, and discrimination in coaching and leadership positions. When we as women see another woman tearing down these barriers, we shouldn’t hesitate to lift those women up and encourage them to inspire others by sharing their journey. The journey of women in sport provides a resource that cannot be acquired from a classroom because they are as unique as the person that tells them. So, in celebration of Women’s History month, I wanted to provide a platform for a woman to share her story in sport, health, and fitness in hopes that it will inspire others to share their journeys too.

In January, I had the pleasure of sitting down with Spain Park High School volunteer bowling coach, Lillian Singleton. While many people think of bowling as just a hobby, some high schools around the country have embraced it as their varsity sport. The Alabama High School Athletic Association recognized bowling as an official high school sport in 2015, and Spain Park has been turning heads ever since. In the high school bowling world, Spain Park holds 3 state championships (2016, 2017, & 2022) in boys bowling, which makes it currently the winningest team for high school boys bowling in Alabama. While Coach Singleton has several wins under her belt, what also makes her stand out is that she is the first, black female high school bowling coach in the Birmingham area. So, not only is she able to provide her experience from a female perspective, but she brings her perspective as a black minority to the forefront.

On why Singleton became a bowling coach

“I learned about bowling from my late husband, Mr. Theodore Singleton. He was my guinea pig, when it came to bowling, really. I could observe him and help him improve his game by indicating the arrows he needed to roll the ball on. I felt like I could really help other people improve too. When I want to do something, I make it happen. So, we researched bowling coaching schools, and I started coaching classes in North Jersey at 10 Pin University. After completing the certification, I began coaching at Carolier Lanes in North Brunswick, NJ.”

On being a female coach in a male dominated field

“I started coaching in bowling leagues and league coaching wasn’t bad in that regard. When I started coaching at the high school level, there was a vast difference. The male coaches seemed to show more resentment and I felt that I wasn’t liked. When I attended meetings and my male counterpart wasn’t with me, I could feel people staring. It was like they were thinking, “what are you doing here?” I have even been heckled and badgered during tournaments. The boys I coach don’t tolerate the other coaches showing that type of behavior towards me. They have always stood up for me.”

On where she draws her inspiration and fortitude

“My drive and inspiration come from my father. When you know you are good at something, you know there will be people that are haters or that will try to stop you. Because I’m a black woman, I know I have to be strong. I’m going to make sure you really don’t like me because I’m going to strive to be the best. I take pride in strategy and competition. Even when my team is losing, I don’t lose hope. I calculate how much we are down in points and whether that win is in or out of reach. We just keep pushing. Even in losing, there is a lesson to be learned. If we lose, we know what we need to focus on when we are practicing and I reflect on anything I could have done from a strategy perspective that could have impacted the game.”

On how bowling has contributed to her health and sense of well-being

“Bowling keeps me busy and constantly thinking. When I’m coaching it really keeps my brain active. I’m not sitting the majority of the time; I’m up walking around and watching all my boys in action. Sometimes, I must physically show them what I mean with my own bowling ball, so it keeps me in shape and always moving.

On what other things she incorporates in her life to keep her healthy, active senior.

“I eat a lot of vegetables and that contributes to keeping me healthy and my system moving. I can feel a difference when I’m not eating enough vegetables. You have to know your body and give it what it is asking for. I go walking and riding my bike. I work in the yard when the weather is nice. Sometimes I challenge my grandkids and we run relays. I believe I surprise them with how quick I am in my old age. I let them win though. If I get beat, then I can say what do they expect from a 75-year-old.”

On what advice she has for other women that may be thinking of becoming a coach or those already in the field

“Okay, if they are in the field of coaching bowling and they haven’t gotten a certification, they should go get it. Because you are out there and supposed to be helping someone and telling them what to do, how do you know you are doing it correctly without that education? It teaches you that each person bowls their way and not your way. You can tell coaches that have never been to coaching school because they will try to teach them how they want them to bowl rather than enhancing the bowling style that the kid already has. Every person is unique, and a cookie cutter approach doesn’t bring the best out of an athlete.”

Dr. Katrina Wahlstrom is the chair of exercise science at the United States Sports Academy.

Dolly Brumfield White – A League of Her Own

Gender Issues

By

Robert Herron

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March 13, 2023

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Dolly Brumfield White – A League of Her Own — Delores "Dolly" Brumfield White, seen here during her playing days in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League, played in the women's league from 1947-53. But before she was winning pennants with the Fort Wayne Daisies, White played baseball in the parks of Mobile. (Special to the Press-Register)

By Laura Jones and Dr. Robert L. Herron |

March is Women’s History Month, and March 8^th was International Women’s Day.

Accordingly, we wanted to share a brief story of sport and baseball hero that adds the accolades of baseball players from Mobile County (Alabama), including 5 MLB Hall of Famers.

Delores “Dolly” Brumfield White was born May 26, 1932, in Prichard, AL. She developed her elite athletic skills competing with young people who worked in the shipyards in Mobile. Interestingly, Dolly had a whole professional baseball career prior to enrolling in college. After signing her first professional baseball contract at 14 years old with the South Bend Blue Sox, she was part of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League for seven years – retiring from her professional baseball career at the age of 21.

Her professional baseball career took her many places, including spring training in Havana, Cuba in 1947. However, a stent with the Fort Wayne Daisies and manager Jimmie Foxx is noteworthy and most recognizable by many because the Daisies and Foxx were team and manager that served as the inspiration of the 1992 film, “A League of Their Own” – which had a recent TV series remake in 2022.

Her baseball career financed her path to higher education, but her athletic career did not end there. Dolly graduated in 1954 from Alabama College for Women (now the University of Montevallo) with a degree in Physical Education and was a standout on the varsity volleyball team as well as in many other roles on campus. Sports provided Dolly a medium through which she could change her life but also provided a pathway to help change the lives of many others.

After working as a coach and physical educator, Dolly went back to school and completed a master’s degree and doctoral degree from the University of Southern Mississippi.

Her career then moved to higher education where she worked at Copiah-Lincoln Community College – in Wesson, MS – and later served as a faculty member for 31 years in the Health, Physical Education, and Recreation Department at Henderson State University in Arkansas. Amazingly, Dolly was also the head swimming coach from 1963-1982 for Henderson State University.

After retirement, Dolly continued to actively work in her community until her passing in 2020. Her impact on sport and physical education is still felt today as her legacy is passed on through those she taught and she paved the way for many other women and girls in sports.

We would like to take a moment and celebrate Delores “Dolly” Brumfield White, and so many other amazing women during Women’s History Month.

Laura Jones is a Senior undergraduate student at the University of Montevallo studying Exercise and Nutrition Science. Laura is the current Social Media Chair of the Exercise Science Club at the University of Montevallo and will begin pursuing a master’s degree in fall 2023.

Robert L. Herron, Ed.D., NSCA-CSCS*D, ACSM-CEP is an Assistant Professor in the Exercise and Nutrition Science Program at the University of Montevallo. Dr. Herron is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist® with distinction from the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA-CSCS*D®) and a Clinical Exercise Physiologist through the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM-CEP®). Dr. Herron is a graduate of the United States Sports Academy and serves as a Non-Resident Faculty Member.

February for Heart Health

Exercise

By

Robert Herron

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February 14, 2023

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February for Heart Health — Courtesy image

By Manuel Munoz II and Dr. Robert L. Herron |

Happy Valentine’s Day! February encourages everyone to focus on Heart Health.

Everyone recognizes that the heart is an important organ as it pumps blood throughout our body via the circulatory system, to ensure our body’s ability to have the necessary molecules and nutrients to function.

Within the United States, heart disease is the number 1 leading cause of death for men, women, and most racial/ethnic groups. Several risk-factors contribute to the development of heart diseases such as obesity, smoking, high blood pressure, physical inactivity, etc.

A beneficial way to improve cardiovascular health and overall health is to be physically active. Exercise really is medicine! Starting your journey to be more physically active is important. Any amount of activity will help improve your cardiovascular health – some is better than none, and more is better than less. According to the most-recent Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans, guidelines for physical activity are 150 minutes a week of moderate intense activity or 75 minutes of vigorous activity a week. Moderate and vigorous training looks different for every individual but getting your activity level up can help reduce the likelihood of developing heart or chronic conditions. Moving for as few as 5 minutes can be a good start.

Physical activity plays a role in heart health, but your nutritional habits also matter. Enhancing your consumption of foods like grains, fruits/vegetables, and lean meats while limiting the number of added sugars, saturated fat, and sodium can lead to an overall lower risk of heart disease. Changing your nutritional habits can be tough, but making active efforts to make better food choices, more often can have a long-lasting, positive impact on your health. During this February, we encourage you to focus on your heart health. If you are looking for a professional to help you get started, check our these databases for qualified Exercise Professionals and Registered Dietitians in your area!

Manuel Munoz II is a Junior undergraduate student at the University of Montevallo studying Exercise and Nutrition Science from Samson, AL. Manuel is the current Vice President of the Exercise Science Club at the University of Montevallo and has been recognized for being on the President’s List every year during his time at Montevallo.

Robert L. Herron, Ed.D., NSCA-CSCS*D, ACSM-CEP is an Assistant Professor in the Exercise and Nutrition Science Program at the University of Montevallo. Dr. Herron is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist® with distinction from the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA-CSCS*D®) and a Clinical Exercise Physiologist through the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM-CEP®). Dr. Herron is a graduate of the United States Sports Academy and serves as a Non-Resident Faculty Member.

U.S. Men’s Soccer Misses Opportunity to Establish Soccer as Premier American Sport

FIFA

By

U.S. Sports Academy

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January 11, 2023

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U.S. Men’s Soccer Misses Opportunity to Establish Soccer as Premier American Sport — United States of America forward Christian Pulisic (10) reacts after losing a round of sixteen match against the Netherlands in the 2022 FIFA World Cup at Khalifa International Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Danielle Parhizkaran-USA TODAY Sports

By Dr. Matthew Williams |

It is well known that Americans love football and consider it Americans’ premier sport. For the past few decades, there has been a push for soccer to become one of America’s premiere sports.

Most American sports fans have never really considered soccer as a premier sport for two main reasons Soccer is not a very physical sport compared to football. There has been a theory that one reason John Kerry lost the presidential election was that he played varsity soccer at Yale University for one year. Football is considered a collision sport where the main objective is to collide with the opponent, while soccer is considered a contact sport where the main objective is to limit contact as much as possible. Second, American fans have trouble with soccer as a premier sport because it was not invented in America as compared to football.

During the men’s 2022 FIFA World Cup, the U.S. men’s soccer team had a good chance to get acknowledgment from American Fans that soccer could be considered a premier sport in America. But instead, they chose to make the 2022 FIFA World Cup a theater stage of protest.

The American Soccer team started off by changing the USA crest which is usually red, white, and blue colors to rainbow colors which are associated with the pride movement. Then the United States head men’s soccer coach, while coaching a game at the world cup, was wearing a T-Shirt that left out United and displayed only the word STATES. The result of political statements from the players and head coach and a record in the World Cup of One win, two ties, and a loss did not help Americans earn support for soccer to be a premiere sport in America.

Americans currently are going through tough economic times, hardships, and low morale. The same thing happened to our country in the 1980s. A group of college boys on the U.S Hockey team did not air their political views but instead won the Gold medal and the hearts of all Americans. The USA Men’s Soccer team needs to perform better on the field and have fewer political statements.

Dr. Matthew Williams is an Associate Professor of Sport Management at The University of Virginia’s College at Wise and is an avid NASCAR fan.

Aerobic Requirements for Rugby

Exercise

By

Robert Herron

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December 28, 2022

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Aerobic Requirements for Rugby — Courtesy image - comparethehealth.com

By Kiarra Walters and Dr. Robert Herron |

Aerobic training tends to get overlooked in sports like rugby because the competitors are big and powerful athletes. However, aerobic training is imperative for rugby performance. Rugby, specifically rugby union, is a multidirectional and dynamic contact sport that is played by various countries worldwide. A rugby game consists of two 40-minute halves. Rugby players are required to maintain substantial physical workloads for intermittent, high-intensity efforts combined with lower-intensity aerobic activity. Knowledge of rugby’s anaerobic and aerobic demands and requirements is necessary to optimally train athletes for success.

To achieve optimal performance, rugby players must be competent in and execute various movements and sport-specific activities. There are many positions in a rugby team that perform distinct roles and therefore have different training needs and fitness requirements. Despite the various positions, all players need the capacity to perform and repeat movements such as acceleration/ deceleration, agility, jogging, sprinting, tackling, rucking, scrummaging, mauling, and passing.

Metabolically, rugby players rely on aerobic and anaerobic energy systems to meet the demands and accomplish the intermittent, high-intensity repeated movements for the duration of the game. Sprints, tackling, rucking and other explosive powerful movements are performed at a rapid rate that uses the anaerobic system to supply the energy to the working muscles. The prolonged game play forces the players to require recovery (walking and jogging) between the maximal effort movements as well as being able to repeatedly perform them over the course of the game. The aerobic system provides fuel to the lower intensity activities between the maximal efforts to helps support recovery for the multiple high intensity movements.

Rugby is an interesting sport from an energy system requirement perspective because of the variety of different demands unique to the game, player and position. Physical performance and anthropometric characteristics tend to dictate individual strengths and weaknesses. Typically, ‘forwards’ will be heavier and stronger players who tackle more than the ‘backs’ who run more and are usually leaner individuals. A study showed that on average athletes during a competitive match can cover approximately 7 km (≈ 4.3 miles) which requires players to acquire aerobic-type training stimuli. This distance varies between positions, ‘backline’ players have displayed in studies to have a higher peak VO2 and lower body mass and fat percentage when compared to the ‘forwards’. This is a significant distance to cover over a single game; so, endurance-based aerobic training needs to be constantly considered throughout the duration of the training plan.

Aerobic training for rugby players will differ throughout the course of the competition year. Most of the main aerobic training stimuli will be conducted during the off-season training block. This may include longer aerobic activities like running for distance training. The coaching staff then will typically reduce aerobic training slightly and incorporate more speed, agility, strength and power training. Aerobic activities will still be part of the training block to prepare players for the longer season but will be shorter duration. If high loads of aerobic training were prioritized for players during in-season, strength and power training response could be muted and players may also be more fatigued for the games. During the competitive season, aerobic training will be reduced to allow players to focus on game plays as well as stimulate strength and power to perform the explosive maximal efforts during their games each week.

Kiarra Walters is Graduate Student in the Exercise and Nutrition Science Program at the University of Montevallo. Notably, Kia has been recognized on the Gulf South Conference Honor Roll as a standout on the Cross-Country team for multiple years and is from Brisbane, Australia.

Robert L. Herron, Ed.D., NSCA-CSCS*D, ACSM-CEP is an Assistant Professor in the Exercise and Nutrition Science Program at the University of Montevallo. Dr. Herron is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist® with distinction from the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA-CSCS*D®) and a Clinical Exercise Physiologist through the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM-CEP®). Dr. Herron is a graduate of the United States Sports Academy and serves as a Non-Resident Faculty Member.

Tactical Training for the United States Marine Corps CFT

Exercise

By

Robert Herron

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December 21, 2022

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Tactical Training for the United States Marine Corps CFT — U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Stephen D. Himes/Released

By Crystal Williams and Dr. Robert L. Herron |

The United States Marine Corps is known for being the combat in readiness force. Marines undergo a series of evaluations throughout their time in the service, one being the CFT.

The CFT stands for the Combat Fitness Test which is assessed every six months ensure the Marine is prepared for combat at all times. The CFT uses combat related tasks to measure the Marine’s functional fitness, strength, and anerobic capacity.

The fitness test is split into three events. Starting with an 880-yard sprint also known as the movement to contact. Next, the Marine will complete maximum repetitions of ammunition can presses with an ammo can weighing 30 lbs. within a two-minute period. The final event is the Maneuver Under Fire that consists of three 100-yard sprints with obstacles. Within the sprints, the Marine will complete a series of high crawls, low crawls, agility sprints, partner carries, ammo can carry, push-ups, and a grenade throw. The entire test is performed in boots and utilities to mimic wartime uniform.

Enlisted Marines must meet a minimum score of 135, and officers should make at least 235 points for a passing score for the entire event. Scoring can be found by using the charts located on the Marine Corps website https://www.fitness.marines.mil/pft-cft_standards17/ , under “CFT Standards.”

All events are completed in under three minutes. As such, training programs should primarily focus on the Marine’s anaerobic system but also develop work capacity and one’s ability to repeat high intensity movements.

To train for this test, Marines should focus on explosive sprints, repeated sprint ability, the capacity to crawl in different body positions, and upper body strength/endurance (for the ammo can carry). Those working in tactical strength and conditioning should also be aware of common injuries that include back injuries and twisted ankles due to improper form in the partner carry. Additionally, during the ammunition can lifts, broken teeth, black eyes and broken noses are common. To avoid injury practicing the proper technique and placing grips on the ammo cans can limit the number of tasks related injuries.

In summary, practitioners that work – or aim to work – in tactical strength and conditioning should recognize the unique requirements of the Marine CFT. All branches of the military have different fitness assessment protocols and the Marine CFT is uniquely challenging.

Crystal Williams is from Cooper City, FL and a Graduate Student studying Exercise Science at the University of Montevallo. Crystal is an Honor Roll student-athlete on the Women’s Lacrosse Team recognized for her scholastic achievement by the Intercollegiate Women’s Lacrosse Coaches Association.

Robert L. Herron, Ed.D., NSCA-CSCS*D, ACSM-CEP is an Assistant Professor in the Exercise and Nutrition Science Program at the University of Montevallo. Dr. Herron is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist® with distinction from the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA-CSCS*D®) and a Clinical Exercise Physiologist through the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM-CEP®). Dr. Herron is a graduate of the United States Sports Academy and serves as a Non-Resident Faculty Member.

Welcome to Rowing 101

Aquatic Sports

By

Robert Herron

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December 6, 2022

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By Anja Kuys and Dr. Robert L. Herron |

The sport of rowing is a unique combination of accomplishing a skill while challenging the cardiovascular system. Rowing relies heavily on the aerobic system, as a race is typically completed between 5 to 8 minutes, and the anaerobic system when athletes require a quick start and fast bursts throughout the race. There are several distinct types of boats which can race. They include one, two, four, and eight people and can either have one or two oars (besides the single).

The beginning race is the most important part, and it begins with a few quick strokes to get the boat up and running. The athlete needs to have explosive power to be effective in this aspect. This is the main part of the race when the anaerobic system is major contributor.

The aerobic system is the predominant system in an 2km rowing race. As opposed to sports like soccer, which use the aerobic system but is comprised of stopping and starting, the aerobic system must be applied evenly throughout the race and always at what feels to be 100%. To train for this cardiovascular aspect, athletes typically row steady states (>30 minutes at the same pace) which can take place on water or on a rowing ergometer, and interval training which helps athletes train with pace while being tired. Often, to get rowers out of the water, an ergometer is used. This machine is convenient and can be used by one or have a whole crew on separate ergs to practice with timing. Cycling is also a popular alternative for rowers as it uses the same muscle groups and has a similar movement yet can be a pleasant change for the athlete.

Muscle activation in the rowing technique is made up of 60% legs, 20% core, and 20% arms, and is very similar to the movement of a traditional deadlift. The catch of the rowing stroke is like the beginning of the deadlift with legs flexed and hands reaching forward. The drive is initiated, and the legs fully extend, this is when the oar is moving through the water. The release occurs when the athlete snaps their wrists down and the oar pops out of the water. The final step is the recovery when is when the athlete brings themselves forward on the slide and begins the sequence from the catch again.

Improper technique in rowing could lead to several injuries. If an athlete is pulling more with their arms and back, rather than pushing with their legs, upper and lower back pain might occur. Lack of overall fitness can also attribute to injuries as poor fitness is associated with poor form. Wrist tendonitis and knee pain are from the cause of overuse. These two problems are more common in advanced rowers who train more than beginner rowers. Finally, blisters, an injury that is bound to occur in every rower without having much to do to help. A few ways are to wear gloves while rowing or drying them out with an alcohol solution.

Hop on the ergometer or find a crew to explore this challenging sport.

Anja Kuys is a Graduate Student studying Exercise Science at the University of Montevallo. Anja is also a Midfielder on the Women’s Lacrosse Team, has led the team in scoring multiple years, was recognized as an All-Conference player and achieved Academic Honor Roll in the Gulf South Conference, and represented her home country of New Zealand in the 2022 Women’s Lacrosse World Championship.

Robert L. Herron, Ed.D., NSCA-CSCS*D, ACSM-CEP is an Assistant Professor in the Exercise and Nutrition Science Program at the University of Montevallo. Dr. Herron is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist® with distinction from the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA-CSCS*D®) and a Clinical Exercise Physiologist through the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM-CEP®). Dr. Herron is a graduate of the United States Sports Academy and serves as a Non-Resident Faculty Member.

The Intricacies of Soccer – Player Demands and Structuring a Training Week

Soccer

By

Robert Herron

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December 1, 2022

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The Intricacies of Soccer – Player Demands and Structuring a Training Week — Courtesy photo

By Jordan Day and Dr. Robert L. Herron |

The World Cup is the biggest sporting event in the World. Taking place now, USA have recently matched up against England, Wales, and Iran – and will start with the Netherlands in the second round. Interestingly, the USA is set to play hosts for the 2026 World Cup alongside Mexico and Canada, now is an exciting time to discuss the rapidly evolving soccer environment in the USA.

Soccer encompasses many physiological demands, requiring a well-rounded athlete to succeed. A proficient aerobic system helps athletes to perform for a 90-minute match and aids in faster recovery of repeated sprint actions. Utilization of the anaerobic energy systems helps athletes perform high-value sprints that often lead to goals or goal-saving tackles. There is often an over-emphasis on ‘fitness’ in soccer; however, players just need to be “fit enough” to cope with the demands of the game and allow their technical and tactical prowess to do the rest.

At the elite level, demands are high to perform week in week out, but what do these athletes need to be able to do? Soccer players can cover anywhere between 10 to 12 km (≈ 7.46 miles) per match and the distance is increasing over recent years. In addition, high-speed running (> 19.8 km or 12.3 mph), maximal sprint speed, and the number of accelerations and decelerations have seen a significant rise. Furthermore, fluctuation in player demands from week to week can lead to higher incidences of injury, highlighting the importance of player’s fitness and a structured training week.

During games, players must be able to sustain repeated sprint actions over a 90-minute period (two 45-minute halves), these high-speed actions are often decisive when creating chances and scoring goals. Pair this with jumping, twisting, turning, and reacting to opposing players, the difficulty arises by determining what your players need. Game demands vary by position, playing style (e.g., high press, counter-attack, etc.), opposing team, season period, etc. GPS technology (e.g., STATSports & Catapult) can be used to help analyze player demands during games, helping to inform training decisions during the week.

All this said, how do we structure our training week? In-season, MATCH DAY is our sole focus. Coaches and high-performance units work to prepare the players to be ready to perform on match day. Are they over/under-trained? Often, optimal training should follow a Match Preparation – Match Recovery cycle.

Above is an example of what a training week could look like. Having a varied focus on each training day allows each physiological aspect to get sufficient training and rest. Small-sided games are used for an increased acceleration/deceleration focus and expanded games are used to achieve high-speed running goals. Please note, these sessions can be modified for individual players and session types can differ between starting 11, substitutes, and reserve players.

This information can serve as a brief guide. Remember, it is important to look at your individual needs as a player or coach when planning your training weeks. But most of all, enjoy the beautiful game.

Jordan Day, CSCS is a Graduate Student studying Exercise Science at the University of Montevallo. He is a Graduate Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach for the Men’s Lacrosse and Women’s Soccer team at Montevallo. He acquired his CSCS in 2019 whilst playing and captaining the University of North Georgia’s men’s soccer team. Jordan is an international student, hailing from Beverley, England.

Robert L. Herron, Ed.D., NSCA-CSCS*D, ACSM-CEP is an Assistant Professor in the Exercise and Nutrition Science Program at the University of Montevallo. Dr. Herron is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist® with distinction from the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA-CSCS*D®) and a Clinical Exercise Physiologist through the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM-CEP®). Dr. Herron is a graduate of the United States Sports Academy and serves as a Non-Resident Faculty Member.

Poor Communication is a Symptom

Sociology

By

Dr. Tomi Wahlstrom

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November 28, 2022

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Poor Communication is a Symptom — U.S. men’s Olympic basketball team head coach Mike Krzyzewski speaks with Kevin Durant, left, Kevin Love, Tyson Chandler, behind, Anthony Davis, and others during a practice, Sunday, July 15, 2012, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

By Dr. Tomi Wahlstrom |

It is common for people in organizations to claim that bad communication is a cause of their problems. However, this is often not the case at all. Bad communication is not a cause. It is a symptom. It signals problems that are deeper and only manifesting themselves by preventing good communication from occurring. Let’s explore what some of those underlying issues are.

Organizational structure and culture go hand in hand. When an organization is poorly structured, organizational culture suffers. When organizational culture goes bad, so does communication. Bad organizational structures are likely to be poorly integrated and coordinated. People often work in silos without proper collaboration and teamwork. Workflows are poorly defined and job descriptions are often too rigid. People tend to be territorial and negatively competitive with each other. This creates bad communication. Since people are not aware of the overall value chain and only focus on their own jobs, they do not see it as necessary to communicate with others to perform their daily tasks. Bad organizational structures are typically top heavy and overly centralized. They are hierarchical and communication flow is often top-down if it occurs at all. It is one way rather than two way.

Leadership is another factor impacting organizational communication. Overly directive and task-oriented leaders tend to not focus on the importance of good communication. They tend to only focus on goals and objectives. The problem with their management by objectives approach is that they fail to focus on the processes. For the processes to work, there must be some teamwork and collaboration. These require good communication. However, if it is not fostered and modeled by the leader, it is not likely to occur. Task oriented leaders do not focus on people. They tend to have a need for control, and this control often includes attempts to control all communication as well. People tend to feel ignored, and they do not see themselves as being valued and appreciated. They tend to be poorly motivated and passive. Their lack of engagement limits their desire to communicate positively. The irony of these task-oriented leaders is that they do not communicate their expectations clearly. Since their focus is not on people, they also do not pay attention to whether they are being understood. When their communication is top-down and one sided, there is no feedback loop. It is incorrectly assumed by the leader that all communications sent or attempted are received and understood.

Sometimes communication is interrupted by noise. This can be either literal noise or “noise” caused by some indirect environmental factors such as stress, overwork, perceived chaos, and turnover. Sometimes there is technical noise in the form of poor Internet or mobile phone connection. When there is too much noise, intended communication does not go through and the message sent by the sender is not received by the receiver. Dysfunctional organizations have a lot of noise that makes communication nearly impossible. Regardless of all the different communication channels, some better than others, good communication does not occur. Sometimes it is the number and nature of these different channels that make it impossible. Wrong channels are used for communication attempts. For example, email is used when face to face discussion would be better. Sometimes messaging applications and video conferencing platforms make communication worse rather than better.

Communication is in the heart of all human interactions. It is the key to all organizational interactions. People need to communicate in order to work together. Without it, optimal performance is impossible. Poor communication is not fixed by addressing the communication itself. It is fixed by correcting the underlying issues of organizational structure, culture, and leadership.

Dr. Tomi Wahlstrom is the Provost at the United States Sports Academy.

FIFA and the Refusal of Moral Progress

By

U.S. Sports Academy

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November 22, 2022

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FIFA and the Refusal of Moral Progress — Courtesy photo

By Finn Janning, Ph.D. |

It has become obvious that something is rotten in the internal governing body of football (soccer), the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA). Qatar is the evidence.

If FIFA wishes to achieve new goals or pursue a vision for a better future, then it needs a leader. Or different leaders. Leadership is often described as “doing the right thing.” Knowing what is the right thing to do and how to defend this position, for example, by arguing why it is right, makes a leader ethical.

It might be too late for FIFA due to the growing number of scandals. However, if it manages to regain some sort of confidence from its stakeholders—fans, sponsors, players, and the public—it needs ethical and responsible leadership.

For more than ten years, the nomination of Qatar as host of the World Cup has been infected by a growing list of ethical problems. To mention just the two most prominent ones: the numerous deaths of migrant workers, who built the stadiums, and the denial of basic human rights for LGBT people and women.

During the past two years, public protest has escalated as many journalists have created exemplary investigative and critical journalism about FIFA and Qatar.

Still, FIFA has refused to take responsibility. This became obvious when the current president of FIFA, Gianni Infantino, gave his opening speech the day before the tournament started. Infantino showed that FIFA does not want to change because it does not care about people’s lives and human rights.

In his opening speech, Infantino presented a mixture of moral subjectivism and cultural relativism. He exhibited moral subjectivism when he reduced ethics to his opinions and emotions, claiming that he “feels like” a migrant worker, a gay person, an Arab, etc. He showed cultural relativism when he claimed that Europeans should not criticize other countries due to their history. Instead, he suggested that Europeans must respect Qatari culture, and since Qatar sees homosexuality as deviant and women as inferior, Europeans must simply accept this. Therefore, Infantino and FIFA believe that human beings cannot and should not achieve moral progress. The fact that homosexuality is accepted and legal and that gender equality is being strived for in Europe (and elsewhere) should not be seen as better than the situation in Qatar, according to Infantino.

If FIFA had studied ethics—perhaps read Carol Galligan´s work on care ethics, which encourages us to view what happens around us from a place of empathy, or Aristotle´s virtue ethics, according to which you perform certain actions because they are good—would things have been different with the 2022 World Cup? I believe so. This is why leadership and ethical studies are strongly needed in the world of sport—because there is only one world.

Unfortunately, FIFA’s charade has not ended. The Belgium team has been told to remove the word “love” from the collar of their t-shirts, and several teams have been told that their captains cannot wear the “One Love” armband. If they do, they will receive a yellow card.

FIFA is taking politics and sports to a new level. Sadly, it is the lowest one ever.

Finn Janning, PhD, is a philosopher who teaches in Sport Ethics, Sport Psychology and Sport Coaching at Geneva Business School and UIBS in Barcelona, Spain.