David Kelly
A. Introduction: The Magazine Industry-a guide for working journalists will address some of the key challenges and opportunities that the industry faces in the present and near future. The report will tackle five issues which are of huge relevance to the industry: 1. Challenges faced by private publishers starting out will introduce how publications can secure capital, advertising and distinguish themselves from competition, 2. The usefulness of the “three P’s” in the business model will look at product, price and place and how these factors may impact upon content, circulation and costs, 3. Issues surrounding the provision of online content will look at publishing content online, dual publishing and creating a charging model for providing extra content online, 4. The role of market research in the work of a magazine journalist will introduce the field of magazine market research and how this has implications for the working journalist and 5. Issues regarding production: newspapers v magazines will contrast the production phases involved in writing and producing feature articles.
An array of analogies and references will be used, where possible, to identify and analyse areas where certain publications succeeded and others failed. This will allow the reader to gain an insight into the industry. Start-up or even established magazines may also learn from the plights of their competitors, magazine commentators and personnel.
B. 1. Challenges faced by private publishers starting out: The magazine industry is not immune to challenges. Start-up magazines face many challenges, including securing capital, getting businesses to advertise with their publication and finding ways to distinguish themselves from market competition. In starting up a magazine the issue of income has to be addressed. How much money is required for production costs, staffing costs, etc? Is there sufficient demand for the magazine in the first place? Morrish (2008) suggests that magazine survival follows three distinct categories: those who depend primarily on money from their readers, those who depend on money from advertisers or those who depend on money from an outside party. His advice is to adopt a universal approach where potential investors are lured in to the magazine by way of interest and potential reward. However, he notes that “Publishers must expect to make a loss during the whole period in which circulation is being built”.
This has implications for the magazine: (A) They should seek investment which is greater than the initial start-up costs, because they may need additional investment to sustain the production of the publication in periods of reduced sales or increasing costs-e.g. circulation, printing and (B) They should not over estimate circulation figures. Thus, according to Morrish (2008), what is needed is a magazine that can test the market in its initial start-up phase.
Advertising is a lucrative challenge faced by start-up magazines. How can a start-up magazine be expected to compete with the top dogs or the more established magazines, who, over time have built up a relationship with advertisers they wish to acquire? Pearson (1999) argues that magazines should create an ‘ideal mix’-whereby they write about a product in a way that entices subscribers to buy the product through the publications advertising. This not only creates effective advertising, but also helps the start-up magazine to create and maintain a unique advertiser demographic.
This point was echoed by Garda Review Editor Neil Ward: “Our advertisements have to be national to target our specific demographic. They must be relevant to the lives of gardai across the country. We have a set number of advertising pages which increases advertisers’ value for money. If advertisements come in which have no relevance to our readers, it is a waste of resources and advertising value. It has to be a feasible and mutual relationship”.
Examples of regular Garda Review advertisers.
Magazines also face challenges from competition. The same question reverberates from advertising to competition: How can your magazine cope with more established magazines targeting the same audience. Being cheaper may not always be enough. Pearson (1999) suggests four reasons to help magazines cope with competition: 1. Have a unique subscriber demographic, 2. Have a unique advertiser demographic, 3. Have a magazine that is attractive and unique and 4. Try and find a niche for this publication. He also suggests that the one overriding principle which helps magazines to cope with competition is to spot what they are and aren’t doing. For example, LFC Weekly, a Liverpool supporter’s magazine publishes free posters and gifts. A rival magazine would need to rival or match this, perhaps by way of a sticker album for younger fans or a poster/photograph pullout with every issue.
Are there elements that could be incorporated from both publications in the form of a new magazine?
However, a magazine that goes all out in year one is likely to go bust if the market demands fail to see the potential niche for their product. Instead, magazines should “start small with a less stick, more information packed version of your magazine. Then as time goes on, add the more expensive touches. The nice thing about periodical publishing is it evolves” (Pearson 1999).
2. The usefulness of the “three P’s” in the business model: The 3 P’s (product, price and position) should be analysed before starting up any magazine. They provide challenges in their own right and in relation to cost, content and circulation. The product mix includes the design of the publication and journalistic content. The use of colours, images, etc can be used to make the publication appeal to its readers. Take LFC Christmas Posters for example. It appeals to its readers because it offers content they can’t get anywhere else. It has exclusive interviews and access to players, coaching staff, etc. It also uses marketing tools to its advantage. There are free gifts, posters, bookmarks, door hangers, etc. to entice the reader to buy the magazine. This is also effective in selling the magazine to passive readers or those who would never buy the magazine for its content, but are hooked on seeing freebies, which Davis (1994, p.12) says is “the fastest growing sector of publishing”. From a reader’s point of view, the magazine has design credentials which help distinguish it from the rest. It makes use of Liverpool colours: red and yellow (from the kit) and showcases the Liverpool FC crest. It also builds a rapport with the reader based on the brand of LFC. The word “official” creates a status among the readers who feel they are part of a celebrity culture. They all share the same passion and are all part of the LFC Christmas Posters community.
Behind this description is reasoning. Davis (1994, p.11) suggests that children’s publications should make use of picture stories, comic like strips and effective colours. The reason why he suggests this is because it proves more effective when selling to a younger demographic. If the same style and design was used to target readers of the Irish Marketing Journal then a decrease in subscribers would be expected. Different designs and different styles suit different demographics.
Price also offers its own unique challenge. What is our profit/loss margin and can we sustain it? Who are we targeting and what income bracket do they belong to? These are all questions that need to be addressed during market research. “Good market research enables a company to know if it has been able to satisfy customer needs and whether any changes need to be made in the packaging, delivery or the product itself. This enables a company to formulate a viable marketing plan or measure the success of its existing plan” (Morebusiness.com 2009). The cost of labour and staff adds another strain on the publication as nobody wants to be paying staff when they are already at a loss. Hence, the benefits of working part time and in-house or taking content from outside sources without payment should not be overlooked when the magazine is getting off the ground. The Limerick Event Guide (LEG) and the Hogan Stand GAA magazine are two paramount examples, where they accept some journalistic content on a no fee basis and where they try to keep publishing in-house- the Hogan Stand magazine is produced by Lynn Publications in County Meath and the LEG is produced by Eightball Promotions and Media in Limerick.
Position: The position element of the three P’s is the target audience. This is the specialist demographic-trade, lifestyle and/or news in which the product is placed. For example, the Garda Review is a professional trade magazine for gardai. The magazine may however incorporate elements of all three, which is certainly the case for the analogy used. The Garda Review contains news stories, for e.g. the introduction of pepper spray, sports stories from the Garda College or events ran by garda barracks and stories relevant to gardai, e.g. how to deal with stress, pay cuts, pension levies, etc. Position also refers to the outlay in which the magazine sells. Magazines need to know where to distribute their product. Selling two narrowly, e.g. shops and pubs and two broadly, e.g. shops, supermarkets, cinema, colleges, present their own problems, most notably rising distribution costs for the latter. Davis (1994, p.12) says “sales in supermarkets have been increasing at the expense of traditional newsagent-tobacconist shops because of changes in shopping habits and a decline in smoking”. However, he also notes that supermarkets tend to stock best-sellers and if a publication can’t hack it, then it won’t be on the shelf for long.
3. Issues surrounding the provision of online content: The magazine industry faces a very uncertain future. With many commentators proclaiming the death of print journalism, coupled with the rise in new media, today’s magazine journalist has to tap into every media environment (Allen 2009). Skills like indesign, adobe audition, blogging, etc are needed more now than ever before. The New York Times cut 100 newsroom positions last year. With the media environment transforming and evolving, the provision of online content is no longer a myth. It is a reality.
Magazines may publish online content for a variety of reasons. They see their competitors publishing online and want to tap into the same environment. This outlay allows them to gain a greater market share. Having an online presence garnishes visibility. Not all readers may be interested in hard copy. People with busy lifestyles may check the net for the latest gossip, stories, etc, just like readers read the Times Online.
Dual publication is another issue. Neil Ward (Garda Review) spoke about having an online presence. He said: “Our online presence is purely about existence. We want people to type us into Google and get basic information from our site. We are a small title that offers some public content but largely hidden content, limited to our subscribed members”.
However, he did add that having dual publication allowed for an expansion of content to the wider public and allowed an extra base for advertisers, although the Garda Review has not fully maximised its potential in terms of advertising online. Also, regarding copyright law, should a journalist be paid for dual publication, i.e. if the same article is used twice? Should a journalist write for two different audiences? The answer is enshrined in Irish law-Copyright Act, 1963. The individual journalist does not own the article; rather his/her employer owns the article once it is published. Thus, the employer should decide in consultation with their staff. A freelancer often writes the same article for different newspapers/magazines. Changing the article in terms of the magazine’s style guide and what it represents, essentially allows for double payment.
Can a universal charging model be created for the provision of online content? Media Mogul Rupert Murdoch has taken the first steps in creating and charting a model for online content. Last year he announced that he was planning to charge reader’s for access to content across his various publications and titles in the UK, Ireland and Australia. The Wall Street Journal has charged for online content over the past few years using a paywall system (Lardinois 2009). From June onwards, readers of The Times and The Sunday Times online will be charged £1 for a day's access or £2 for a week's subscription-perhaps the first step in creating a universal business model for online content (RTE 2010).
A large section of magazine titles have an online presence. Some offer free content and others offer specialised content to subscribers. The Garda Review makes use of both. It offers free public content and limited subscriber content. Can we create a model with limited free content and extra specialised content that readers must pay for?
OK! Magazine seems to think so. It offers limited content and the choice for the reader to delve further into the story (at a cost) or withdraw.
4. The role of market research in the work of a magazine journalist: Market research is a valid tool in any business. The magazine industry is no different. Market research allows for what the reader wants and needs. In return the publisher can produce a magazine capable of fulfilling this task. In 2008, for example, magazines helped to generate €215 million in advertising revenue (PPA 2008). They are also acknowledged as being a central player in reaching core target audiences. With over 300 titles catering for all interest groups, demographics and people, MR can shape and aid a magazines success.
According to An Analysis of the Effectiveness and Efficiency of Advertising on the island of Ireland:
• Magazines have a closer, more personal, more individual relationship with their readers.
• Best reflected reader’s personal beliefs and attitudes (30%-double newspapers).
• Advertising in magazines is shown to be more credible and relevant and is often “more referred back to”.
• 35% agreed that it magazines were tailored to meet their individual needs and 18% as a source of information.
• 32% said it was where they found content they were most interested in.
• 69% of readers read more than 70% of the mag-with 80% reading at home.
(PPA 2008)
With this in mind a journalist/editor should: Try to create a bond with their reader-e.g. tackling issues they find important, targeting the passive/casual consumer as well as the expert. This means a journalist should use everyday language instead of professional jargon. The Garda Review tackles this issue head on. It includes a note from the editor, which creates and builds a rapport for the reader, sections from high rank gardai, superintendents, members of CAB, etc, features ranging from community policing to the Special Olympics and an open mike section, for readers to write in with any short stories, observations, etc.
Be the eyes and ears of their target audience: reflect current trends, fashion, news and sport/entertainment, etc. This may mean that they use MR or reader responses to tackle what readers want/need. The journalist will have to cater for this niche in writing; he/she must place themselves in the reader’s shoes and ask what would interest the reader? Again the Garda Review is a reputable analogy. Neil Ward said: “Our aim is to give a voice to gardai, who are denied a political voice. We tackle issues from a garda perspective. Community, policing, new housing and society-these are all issues relevant to our readers. When commissioning work, we look for writers who can look through the eyes of our readers and see things from their perspective. This is paramount for us”. Rarely, if ever would you see the Garda Review criticise its own members. On the other hand, you often see the same come out and criticise the pension levy, overtime shifts, etc. It has a lot to do with perspective. If they criticise internally, then by extension they may be criticising the Force. It’s just not feasible.
With advertising shown to be more ‘credible and relevant’ the editor, in connection with the advertising editor/person in charge must make a conscious decision as to what is in the interest of the public and public interest. This can help generate greater income and loyalty between advertisers. Ads that are irrelevant are a waste of resources and bring the magazine into disrepute and subsequently degrade its value. This is why the Garda Review uses national ads, which include: EBS, Toyota, Vodafone, Motorola and St.Raphael’s Garda Credit Union. It is all down to specificity, reader demographics and reader profiles-all aspects that can be resolved with successful MR.
With such a high number reading magazines from home (80%), a journalist should try and be creative, have a well laid out page with text broken up with an appealing picture/photo. A variation in length may help to draw the reader in and expand their attention span. The images and photography used in the Garda Review serve this purpose. Text is usually separated, kept tight and broken up with a striking image, for example in the Feb/Mar issue there was a photo of 24-year-old Garda Gary McLoughlin’s coffin being carried by his devastated family and colleagues. This story was broken up with text, a main image and several smaller images of the tricolour, his family and his colleagues giving him a final salute/bidding him farewell.
5. Issues regarding production: newspapers v magazines: There is greater scope in general for more opinion and feature pieces in a magazine than in a newspaper. Within a magazine itself, there may be room to have a feature within each sub section, for example, within arts, etc. The relationship between the magazine and target readership will determine what works and what features to run with.
Features in newspapers have now been devised for people standing up, for e.g. take the Irish Independent going compact and the weekend feature sections of the Irish Examiner that can be whisked away from the remaining paper and easily folded. Whereas in magazines there is a casual, almost relaxed layout style with text being broken up with high quality photographs and images (denoted by the Garda Review). Magazine readers are less likely to switch publication, so newspapers have to work that little bit harder to secure loyalty and thus, this impacts on production stages.
Vital to these production stages are intrinsic (balance of story, conflict and news value) as well as the extrinsic (commercial) news values. The editing process of a feature begins long before the first word is written. There must be advanced planning within the magazine publication and a log book will be useful in recording upcoming events in the proximity to be covered. The production period for magazines depends on how often the publication is released. A feature for example on St.Valentine’s Day may have to be planned well in advance. There will also be periods a peak performance, where events that are central to the publication may result in an increase in readership, for example, the upcoming FIFA World Cup in South Africa would impact on sales for magazines of that nature, for example, World Soccer has already included in-depth team reviews and posters for the upcoming World Cup and included posters, player profiles and calendars, etc. Hot Press would be mad to miss out on the Oxygen music festival as its readers would expect to read gig reviews, listings, who to see, features, pictures, etc. They must live up with reader expectations-be the eyes and ears of their target audience.
Failing to live up to consumer expectations may cause a slump in sales and revenue.
4 Key stages can be identified:
Pre-copy phase: Style and vernacular use may dictate writers approach to the article as well as article length. Also contains a reflective period, where features are analysed-for example, can we use this feature in our UK and Europe edition or do we have to change one perspective. For example, the Hand of Gaul wouldn’t be mentioned in a preview of the French soccer squad, whereas it would be used in analysing Ireland’s departure from the World Cup.
Handling copy: The copy is proof read and checked for accuracy and legal obligations. The topic, length, style and angle may come under scrutiny if the feature fails to live up to the magazine’s image, target readership and style guide. Legal concerns, libel, defamation, etc have to be addressed before proceeding to the next stage.
Production: If the approach is wrong-questions need to be asked whether the feature can be salvaged. If it is a format issue-is it easy to solve? A simple issue of grammar correction, while being a hindrance to the sub-editors, can easily be corrected. However, the structure flow dictates four types of response: the writer can rewrite the copy themselves, it can be sub-edited (in-house), it can be scrapped and replaced, or rewritten by the editor or another writer, usually sending the original writer fuming with their tail between their legs.
Post-copy: Usually an editorial meeting will be held to discuss the previous publication’s short-comings and what can be improved. Sales figures and market research play a major role in the production stage. They are central to the design and layout of the publication, as well as subscribing to and fulfilling the target markets expectations. Whereas this is usually a slow process in a magazine publication (given the frequency of production), it is much quicker in a newspaper setting. The argument could be made that newspapers thus lose out on the finer details regarding style and layout, but the counter-argument suggests that newspaper readers accept a more laxed approach because they are mainly interested in content and do not re-read/revisit the publication as much as magazine readers do (PPA 2008).
C. Conclusion: The Magazine Industry-a guide for working journalists has drawn together some of the key issues affecting the magazine landscape in Ireland and abroad. It is clear from this report that the magazine industry is both a vibrant media environment and an arena of conflict and challenges. The provision of online content is an argument that has taken on a new lease of life, with commentators arguing in favour and against a charging model. The vox populi seems largely to have been ignored with the likes of New Corp not shy in phasing in a charging model. Whether it works or fails remains to be seen. The role of market research has been proven to be effective in helping magazines identify and cater for the needs and wants of their readers. Production values, content, style, the role of product, price and place have all been analysed as to how they can better the publication. Differences in production values between magazines and newspapers were also considered in a general manner.
Having drawn on a large base of media sources and data pools, this report should act as a brief guide into the magazine industry, its benefits and short-comings. It should not be taken at face value, as the industry is ever evolving and what works for one publication may not work for another. In the words of Neil Ward: “Don’t overlook small magazines. They offer you an opportunity to learn hard and soft news values, develop your contacts and knowledge base. You can execute photographic skills, feature and technical writing skills. It is vibrant career pathway”.
Bibliography
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Data pool
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Garda Review (2007) ‘The Story’ [online], available: http://www.gardareview.ie/index.php?article=The_Story [accessed 16 Mar 2010].
Hogan Stand (2010) ‘Hogan Stand Magazine Subscription’ [online], available: http://www.hoganstand.com/Subscription.aspx [accessed 12 Apr 2010].
Hot Press (2010) HotPress logo [image online], available: http://www.hotpress.com/ [accessed 16 Mar 2010].
IMJ (2010) ‘IMJ Magazine’ [online], available: http://edition.pagesuite-professional.co.uk/Launch.aspx?referral=mypagesuite&pnum=&refresh=oM15Y3c07m0G&EID=a704b55d-3eec-4563-8bb5-6a89c702841a&skip= [accessed 12 Apr 2010].
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OK! Magazine (2010) OK! Magazine: Subscription Features [Images and data online], available: http://www.zinio.com/browse/publications/?productId=500353216&offer=500172015&pss=1&RF=OK and http://www.okmagazine.com/2010/04/what-i-ate-today-melissa-rycroft/ [accessed 12 Apr 2010].
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Friday, April 16, 2010
Sport psychology benefits
A. Selling sport psychology (300 word limit)
Dear colleagues, students and managers,
You were the overwhelming favourites going into the World Cup final in South Africa. You easily disposed of the opposition thus far and you intended to do so again. Yet you lost the game and it seems unexplainable. You were the better team, you had the physical and technical edge, but what went wrong?
This is where sports psychology and the mental fitness component of success comes in. For your players it all got too much. The hostile environment, the dogged opposition and the hype of the occasion affected their performance. These are natural occurrences, but most importantly, sports psychology can help your team deal effectively with them.
Take imagery as a paramount example. Mental practice involves taking a skill and engaging in “visual or kinaesthetic imagery of the performance of a skill or part of a skill” (Magill 2004, p.349). Imagery can help your team and athletes in times where they can’t physically train or before/during and after training/competition. It helps players perfect their techniques and they can do more repetitions without fatigue.
Visualization has also been shown to be “more effective than no practice, but not as effective as physical practice” (Clark, cited in Hemayattalab and Movahedi 2009). However, in some circumstances it has been found to be equal to physical practice. Another advantage is that mental practice can be used in conjunction with tactics, to aid performance and cope with the many distractions we, as players face. It has become an integral part of any training regime and is based on the notion that “any idea occupying one’s mind will also be expressed in one’s muscles” (Onestak 1997).
Strong advocates of imagery include Ronan O’Gara, Jonny Wilkinson and Keith Wood. Keith Wood uses imagery before throwing a lineout. He imagines where his teammate will be and where the opposition will be prior to his throw. This allows him to zone into a narrow focus where all previous cognitions and crowd noise is irrelevant (O’Sullivan and Smyth 2002, p.172). It is a routine that he has perfected over the years.
Sports psychology as a domain researched by sports scientists, practitioners, etc needs to be utilized to its full potential. It can be implemented with training or as a recovery session/session in itself. It can often be the one defining factor between winning and losing.
What will distinguish you from the rest?
Thank you.
B. Applying Sport Psychology.
1. Present a “needs assessment” of a sport / sport participant using Taylor’s model as a guide (200 words).
Sport examined: Soccer
Sport demands (Psychological):
• Confidence/self belief in own ability and that of your teammates
• Motivation/determination-drive to succeed, to go training, reasons
for playing soccer
• Positive and resilient-optimistic view even in defeat, ability to
rebound after failure, injury, etc.
• Mental toughness- cool under pressure, maintain optimal anxiety
level
• Concentration/decision making-based on information, when to
pass, shoot, attack, defend, etc.
Sport demands (Physical/Technical/Logistical):
Physical:
• Co-ordination-rapid movements, body working as a collective unit-
feet, eyes, etc.
• Strength-hold off opposition, challenging and recovery from
knocks-soccer requires explosiveness and endurance over 90-120
mins
• Agility and speed- ability to turn and change movements, reaction
time and pace. Can you outrun your marker and dribble at speed?
Technical:
• Skills, for e.g. the cruyff turn, heading the ball, tackling and close
control
• Soccer involves a mixture of gross and fine motor skills, depending
on position, e.g. shooting, heading and tackling
• Soccer is also made up of many short performances, yet depending
on the game situation, players may be faced with a series of long
performances, for e.g. defending an away goal lead
Logistical:
• Movement of players relative to position, a players ‘positional
sense’ and sense of awareness.
• Tactics deployed-e.g. the off-side rule, man or zonal marking, when
‘to hold the line’, attack, defend, etc.
Performer needs (Psychological contributors to performance):
• Self-awareness-the individuals role in the team and what is
expected, e.g. captain to lead and encourage players
• Trust-player needs to know that the manager has trust and belief in
them and that they can go to him/her with any concerns, etc.
• Motivation and confidence: a player lacking motivation and
confidence may lack in his/her performance, and a player overly
motivated and confident may lunge into tackles, lose confidence if
substituted
• Intensity and concentration: soccer being an explosive and intensity
driven sport requires high and alert levels of concentration. One
slip up or lapse could cost your team points and this may affect
confidence and motivation.
2. Based on the psychological demands of the sport what mental skills (present at least 2) are most important in this activity and why? Support your answer with evidence from your readings (800 words).
Based on the psychological demands of soccer identified in part one, the two most important mental skills in this sport are the use of positive mental imagery and relaxation strategies such as progressive muscle relaxation.
The use of positive mental imagery as a mental skill is paramount for any soccer player and team as it can aid confidence and belief in one’s own ability, and thus has a direct impact on performance. Imagery involves mentally practicing aspects of your activity. It allows players the chance to see them performing at their best, and it is a valuable aid in clearing the mind of distractions, such as the environment, crowd chants, etc, while preparing the player for his own game in a positive setting (ASPN 2007).
Imagery is “more effective if you can use all the senses” and one should “imagine the sounds, smells and physical sensations that go along with the scene” (ASPN 2007). An example in soccer would include a free kick on the edge of the box where the taker could imagine the wall, the goalkeeper’s position and his target. The reason why imagery should be positive is because it has a direct effect on confidence. A player can imagine a skill that they failed to execute properly in their last game, for e.g. a volley and mentally rehearse it, viewing the successful execution of the skill and learning the techniques involved (ASPN 2007).
Thelwell et al (2006) argue for the inclusion of imagery in any training programme on the basis that it not only aids motivation, but because it can help performers gain inner confidence in their ability and aid decision making as the effects of fatigue set in. Imagery harmonises many of the psychological demands of soccer: it prepares players for competition where they imagine themselves at their peak, it prepares them for the actions they may have to execute during the course of the game, e.g. tackles, clearances and winning headers and helps them recover from errors and previous poor performances (Lesyk 1998).
It is vital for every soccer player to believe in their own ability and recover from misjudgements or errors, for e.g. an own goal or yellow card. If they lack confidence and start having negative cognitions, the anxiety cycle will kick in and their muscles will tense and seize up, making them prone to more errors and affecting performance. Mental imagery has been shown to be more effective than no practice and even in some circumstances equal to physical practice (Clark, cited in Hemayattalab and Movahedi 2009). It is thus suitable for players returning from injury and can be incorporated into training sessions or as a recovery session in itself. Imagery premises the notion that “any idea occupying one’s mind will also be expressed in one’s muscles” (Onestak 1997), so if a trainer is to adopt this mental skill for his/her soccer players/team it should in incorporated in a positive framework.
A second mental skill that is equally important is progressive muscle relaxation (PMR), which I will use as a relaxation analogy from herein. PMR is a relaxation and stress control technique which involves tensing various muscles for several seconds, relaxing them and moving on to other muscle groups. The aim of PMR is that with practice the participant, in this case a soccer player can learn to relax the muscles and relieve tension within seconds (Scott 2005).
Relaxation strategies, such as PMR are appropriate because they reflect the psychological demands of soccer, i.e. they help players stay cool under pressure, aid concentration and help them to regulate arousal. It has also been found that these strategies “may benefit performers’ perceptions of pain and fatigue” (Thelwell and Greenlees, cited in Thelwell et al 2006). If there is any symbolic relationship between this, it may suggest that a player whose perception of pain and fatigue is positively distorted may have greater self belief and determination to go the distance and win the game. However, this is a research question rather than a hypothesis that has yet to be proved correct.
Players must work hard to find their optimal level of arousal. With techniques such as PMR incorporated into their training, they can learn how to relax their muscles within seconds, thus intervening in the muscle tension phase of the anxiety cycle and helping them to “prepare well for your sport, perform at your peak during the event, and react appropriately to things that happen during the game” (ASPN 2007). Soccer players have to make quick decisions based on information they receive, for e.g. by looking up to see a teammate in space and they launch an attack, they have to react to difficult situations within split seconds, the bounce/flight of the ball, a quick free kick, etc.
Relaxations strategies can aid their concentration levels, which have to be strong over the course of 90+ minutes. We often see soccer teams switching off at corners, or thinking they have the game won with minutes remaining. Using such techniques could increase their team’s points tally during the course of the season. Especially for soccer players, such techniques could help them when moving from a high arousal state to a lower state, for e.g. a tackle to a throw, corner or even a penalty kick.
Lesyk (1998) suggests that the most successful sports performers know when to reduce anxiety, without it hindering their intensity. Relaxation techniques if performed in soccer help give players something to focus on. This means that they do not dwell on past mistakes or negative cognitions, but they play in the “here-and-now”.
These strategies can be learned and improved with instruction and technique. It would be rather naive to suggest that they can be learned in a day. They should be encouraged and implemented in training sessions for small periods. Ultimately, they will prepare each individual for the sports situations they can and will face in the field setting where they compete (Taylor 1995).
References
ASPN (2007) ‘Imagery’ [online], available: http://www.aspn.com.au/imagery.htm [accessed 15 Mar 2010].
Hemayattalab, R. and Movahedi, A. (2009) ‘Effects of different variations of mental and physical practice on sport skill learning in adolescents with mental retardation’, Research in Developmental Disabilities, 31(1), available: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B6VDN-4XJN4S5-1&_user=103702&_coverDate=02%2F28%2F2010&_rdoc=1&_fmt=high&_orig=search&_sort=d&_docanchor=&view=c&_searchStrId=1267583970&_rerunOrigin=google&_acct=C000007923&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=103702&md5=ad7ecf96a44f2fd136769bf2afb14740 [accessed 15 Mar 2010].
Lesyk, J.J. (1998) ‘The Nine Mental Skills of Successful Athletes’ [online], available: http://www.sportpsych.org/nine2.html [accessed 15 Mar 2010].
Magill, R.A. (2007) Motor Learning and Control Concepts and Applications, 8th ed., New York: McGraw-Hill.
Onestak, D.M. (1997) ‘The effect of visuo-motor behavior rehearsal (VMBR) and videotaped modeling on the free-throw performance of intercollegiate athletes’ [online], available: http://www.accessmylibrary.com/article-1G1-19619548/effect-visuo-motor-behavior.html [accessed 15 Mar 2010].
O'Sullivan, E.M. and Smyth, P.J. (2002) ‘The Attacking Mindset’, in Hale, B.D. and Collins, D.J. (eds.) Rugby Tough, Champaign: Human Kinetics.
Scott, E. (2005) ‘Progressive Muscle Relaxation (PMR)’ [online], available: http://stress.about.com/od/stressmanagementglossary/g/pmr.htm [accessed 15 Mar 2010].
Taylor, J. (1995) ‘A Conceptual Model for Integrating Athletes' Needs and Sport Demands
in the Development of Competitive Mental Preparation Strategies’, The Sport Psychologist, 9(3), 339-357.
Thelwell, R.C, Greenlees, I.A. and Weston, N.J.V. (2006) ‘Using Psychological Skills Training to Develop Soccer Performance’, Journal of Applied Sport Psychology, 18(3), 257-270.
Dear colleagues, students and managers,
You were the overwhelming favourites going into the World Cup final in South Africa. You easily disposed of the opposition thus far and you intended to do so again. Yet you lost the game and it seems unexplainable. You were the better team, you had the physical and technical edge, but what went wrong?
This is where sports psychology and the mental fitness component of success comes in. For your players it all got too much. The hostile environment, the dogged opposition and the hype of the occasion affected their performance. These are natural occurrences, but most importantly, sports psychology can help your team deal effectively with them.
Take imagery as a paramount example. Mental practice involves taking a skill and engaging in “visual or kinaesthetic imagery of the performance of a skill or part of a skill” (Magill 2004, p.349). Imagery can help your team and athletes in times where they can’t physically train or before/during and after training/competition. It helps players perfect their techniques and they can do more repetitions without fatigue.
Visualization has also been shown to be “more effective than no practice, but not as effective as physical practice” (Clark, cited in Hemayattalab and Movahedi 2009). However, in some circumstances it has been found to be equal to physical practice. Another advantage is that mental practice can be used in conjunction with tactics, to aid performance and cope with the many distractions we, as players face. It has become an integral part of any training regime and is based on the notion that “any idea occupying one’s mind will also be expressed in one’s muscles” (Onestak 1997).
Strong advocates of imagery include Ronan O’Gara, Jonny Wilkinson and Keith Wood. Keith Wood uses imagery before throwing a lineout. He imagines where his teammate will be and where the opposition will be prior to his throw. This allows him to zone into a narrow focus where all previous cognitions and crowd noise is irrelevant (O’Sullivan and Smyth 2002, p.172). It is a routine that he has perfected over the years.
Sports psychology as a domain researched by sports scientists, practitioners, etc needs to be utilized to its full potential. It can be implemented with training or as a recovery session/session in itself. It can often be the one defining factor between winning and losing.
What will distinguish you from the rest?
Thank you.
B. Applying Sport Psychology.
1. Present a “needs assessment” of a sport / sport participant using Taylor’s model as a guide (200 words).
Sport examined: Soccer
Sport demands (Psychological):
• Confidence/self belief in own ability and that of your teammates
• Motivation/determination-drive to succeed, to go training, reasons
for playing soccer
• Positive and resilient-optimistic view even in defeat, ability to
rebound after failure, injury, etc.
• Mental toughness- cool under pressure, maintain optimal anxiety
level
• Concentration/decision making-based on information, when to
pass, shoot, attack, defend, etc.
Sport demands (Physical/Technical/Logistical):
Physical:
• Co-ordination-rapid movements, body working as a collective unit-
feet, eyes, etc.
• Strength-hold off opposition, challenging and recovery from
knocks-soccer requires explosiveness and endurance over 90-120
mins
• Agility and speed- ability to turn and change movements, reaction
time and pace. Can you outrun your marker and dribble at speed?
Technical:
• Skills, for e.g. the cruyff turn, heading the ball, tackling and close
control
• Soccer involves a mixture of gross and fine motor skills, depending
on position, e.g. shooting, heading and tackling
• Soccer is also made up of many short performances, yet depending
on the game situation, players may be faced with a series of long
performances, for e.g. defending an away goal lead
Logistical:
• Movement of players relative to position, a players ‘positional
sense’ and sense of awareness.
• Tactics deployed-e.g. the off-side rule, man or zonal marking, when
‘to hold the line’, attack, defend, etc.
Performer needs (Psychological contributors to performance):
• Self-awareness-the individuals role in the team and what is
expected, e.g. captain to lead and encourage players
• Trust-player needs to know that the manager has trust and belief in
them and that they can go to him/her with any concerns, etc.
• Motivation and confidence: a player lacking motivation and
confidence may lack in his/her performance, and a player overly
motivated and confident may lunge into tackles, lose confidence if
substituted
• Intensity and concentration: soccer being an explosive and intensity
driven sport requires high and alert levels of concentration. One
slip up or lapse could cost your team points and this may affect
confidence and motivation.
2. Based on the psychological demands of the sport what mental skills (present at least 2) are most important in this activity and why? Support your answer with evidence from your readings (800 words).
Based on the psychological demands of soccer identified in part one, the two most important mental skills in this sport are the use of positive mental imagery and relaxation strategies such as progressive muscle relaxation.
The use of positive mental imagery as a mental skill is paramount for any soccer player and team as it can aid confidence and belief in one’s own ability, and thus has a direct impact on performance. Imagery involves mentally practicing aspects of your activity. It allows players the chance to see them performing at their best, and it is a valuable aid in clearing the mind of distractions, such as the environment, crowd chants, etc, while preparing the player for his own game in a positive setting (ASPN 2007).
Imagery is “more effective if you can use all the senses” and one should “imagine the sounds, smells and physical sensations that go along with the scene” (ASPN 2007). An example in soccer would include a free kick on the edge of the box where the taker could imagine the wall, the goalkeeper’s position and his target. The reason why imagery should be positive is because it has a direct effect on confidence. A player can imagine a skill that they failed to execute properly in their last game, for e.g. a volley and mentally rehearse it, viewing the successful execution of the skill and learning the techniques involved (ASPN 2007).
Thelwell et al (2006) argue for the inclusion of imagery in any training programme on the basis that it not only aids motivation, but because it can help performers gain inner confidence in their ability and aid decision making as the effects of fatigue set in. Imagery harmonises many of the psychological demands of soccer: it prepares players for competition where they imagine themselves at their peak, it prepares them for the actions they may have to execute during the course of the game, e.g. tackles, clearances and winning headers and helps them recover from errors and previous poor performances (Lesyk 1998).
It is vital for every soccer player to believe in their own ability and recover from misjudgements or errors, for e.g. an own goal or yellow card. If they lack confidence and start having negative cognitions, the anxiety cycle will kick in and their muscles will tense and seize up, making them prone to more errors and affecting performance. Mental imagery has been shown to be more effective than no practice and even in some circumstances equal to physical practice (Clark, cited in Hemayattalab and Movahedi 2009). It is thus suitable for players returning from injury and can be incorporated into training sessions or as a recovery session in itself. Imagery premises the notion that “any idea occupying one’s mind will also be expressed in one’s muscles” (Onestak 1997), so if a trainer is to adopt this mental skill for his/her soccer players/team it should in incorporated in a positive framework.
A second mental skill that is equally important is progressive muscle relaxation (PMR), which I will use as a relaxation analogy from herein. PMR is a relaxation and stress control technique which involves tensing various muscles for several seconds, relaxing them and moving on to other muscle groups. The aim of PMR is that with practice the participant, in this case a soccer player can learn to relax the muscles and relieve tension within seconds (Scott 2005).
Relaxation strategies, such as PMR are appropriate because they reflect the psychological demands of soccer, i.e. they help players stay cool under pressure, aid concentration and help them to regulate arousal. It has also been found that these strategies “may benefit performers’ perceptions of pain and fatigue” (Thelwell and Greenlees, cited in Thelwell et al 2006). If there is any symbolic relationship between this, it may suggest that a player whose perception of pain and fatigue is positively distorted may have greater self belief and determination to go the distance and win the game. However, this is a research question rather than a hypothesis that has yet to be proved correct.
Players must work hard to find their optimal level of arousal. With techniques such as PMR incorporated into their training, they can learn how to relax their muscles within seconds, thus intervening in the muscle tension phase of the anxiety cycle and helping them to “prepare well for your sport, perform at your peak during the event, and react appropriately to things that happen during the game” (ASPN 2007). Soccer players have to make quick decisions based on information they receive, for e.g. by looking up to see a teammate in space and they launch an attack, they have to react to difficult situations within split seconds, the bounce/flight of the ball, a quick free kick, etc.
Relaxations strategies can aid their concentration levels, which have to be strong over the course of 90+ minutes. We often see soccer teams switching off at corners, or thinking they have the game won with minutes remaining. Using such techniques could increase their team’s points tally during the course of the season. Especially for soccer players, such techniques could help them when moving from a high arousal state to a lower state, for e.g. a tackle to a throw, corner or even a penalty kick.
Lesyk (1998) suggests that the most successful sports performers know when to reduce anxiety, without it hindering their intensity. Relaxation techniques if performed in soccer help give players something to focus on. This means that they do not dwell on past mistakes or negative cognitions, but they play in the “here-and-now”.
These strategies can be learned and improved with instruction and technique. It would be rather naive to suggest that they can be learned in a day. They should be encouraged and implemented in training sessions for small periods. Ultimately, they will prepare each individual for the sports situations they can and will face in the field setting where they compete (Taylor 1995).
References
ASPN (2007) ‘Imagery’ [online], available: http://www.aspn.com.au/imagery.htm [accessed 15 Mar 2010].
Hemayattalab, R. and Movahedi, A. (2009) ‘Effects of different variations of mental and physical practice on sport skill learning in adolescents with mental retardation’, Research in Developmental Disabilities, 31(1), available: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B6VDN-4XJN4S5-1&_user=103702&_coverDate=02%2F28%2F2010&_rdoc=1&_fmt=high&_orig=search&_sort=d&_docanchor=&view=c&_searchStrId=1267583970&_rerunOrigin=google&_acct=C000007923&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=103702&md5=ad7ecf96a44f2fd136769bf2afb14740 [accessed 15 Mar 2010].
Lesyk, J.J. (1998) ‘The Nine Mental Skills of Successful Athletes’ [online], available: http://www.sportpsych.org/nine2.html [accessed 15 Mar 2010].
Magill, R.A. (2007) Motor Learning and Control Concepts and Applications, 8th ed., New York: McGraw-Hill.
Onestak, D.M. (1997) ‘The effect of visuo-motor behavior rehearsal (VMBR) and videotaped modeling on the free-throw performance of intercollegiate athletes’ [online], available: http://www.accessmylibrary.com/article-1G1-19619548/effect-visuo-motor-behavior.html [accessed 15 Mar 2010].
O'Sullivan, E.M. and Smyth, P.J. (2002) ‘The Attacking Mindset’, in Hale, B.D. and Collins, D.J. (eds.) Rugby Tough, Champaign: Human Kinetics.
Scott, E. (2005) ‘Progressive Muscle Relaxation (PMR)’ [online], available: http://stress.about.com/od/stressmanagementglossary/g/pmr.htm [accessed 15 Mar 2010].
Taylor, J. (1995) ‘A Conceptual Model for Integrating Athletes' Needs and Sport Demands
in the Development of Competitive Mental Preparation Strategies’, The Sport Psychologist, 9(3), 339-357.
Thelwell, R.C, Greenlees, I.A. and Weston, N.J.V. (2006) ‘Using Psychological Skills Training to Develop Soccer Performance’, Journal of Applied Sport Psychology, 18(3), 257-270.
Monday, April 12, 2010
By David Kelly
FIND a safe house, stay away from the market place and above all, don’t get kidnapped by Hezbollah.
The advice from my noble peers and family couldn’t have come at a more ardent time. A trainee journalist leaving Laois for the streets of Lebanon, a ludicrous move in their eyes.
The death of a Japanese journalist caught up in a riot did little to disperse their argument. Six months work experience with SABIS, a leading educational publishing company based in Beirut awaits me. An act of escapism, opportunism and down right cheek will, I hope, sort me out.
The Middle Eastern stereotype of the suicide bomber sends alarm bells ringing in my family’s ears. I’m trading a toothless tyrant for a vibrant city and culture I know nothing about. But that’s the only way to approach the unknown, learn all you can when you can.
After all, there are terrorists and suicide bombers on my very doorstep. They have dropped bombshell after bombshell on any chances and ideals of prosperity I had. My family has been hit by every possible blast.
The shrapnel has pierced every bone in my body. My father, a garda in Rathdowney, County Laois, has seen his pension reduced by the levy of 7.5%, yet he admirably says we must put our shoulder to the wheel and build a better future for our children.
A rise in interest rates means a double whammy, never mind the fact that he raises my four siblings, one of which is in WIT. Coupled with being injured on the job and a looming hip replacement, things have gone from bad to worse.
The next generation will be paying for the mistakes of others for their lifetime. While the working classes slaved away to build this republic, our politicians, bankers and statesmen dazzled away on yachts, golden handshakes and multi-million euro pensions. The family provision in the constitution should be scrapped. Protecting us, protecting our children-are you having a laugh?
Not everyone was part of the Celtic Tiger era. Moyross, the regeneration areas, addressing child poverty and education all missed out. Hospital areas lay in ruin, primary school classes were the largest in the EU. Forget knowledge economy, Bord Failte should replace it with blah, blah, boom. The government didn’t create the boom, sheer luck and good fortune combined to perch them on the highest pedestal they could find.
Come 2012 I have to envisage myself working. I will be footing the bill for my siblings. My father has done everything to get me this far, I owe it to him and my brothers and sisters to pay off our mortgage, loans, and pay for their third level education.
If there is any justice in this country then the likes of Michael Fingleton and Sean Fitzpatrick will literally have got their comeuppance while I’m away.
Bertie Ahern once remarked: “I don’t know how people who engage in that don’t commit suicide”, in response to UCD Professor Morgan Kelly’s economic prediction of the looming bust.
Just don’t hit my family on the way out. I’m indebted to hard labour in the gulags of urban Ireland. I’ll enjoy my time in Lebanon at your expense.
FIND a safe house, stay away from the market place and above all, don’t get kidnapped by Hezbollah.
The advice from my noble peers and family couldn’t have come at a more ardent time. A trainee journalist leaving Laois for the streets of Lebanon, a ludicrous move in their eyes.
The death of a Japanese journalist caught up in a riot did little to disperse their argument. Six months work experience with SABIS, a leading educational publishing company based in Beirut awaits me. An act of escapism, opportunism and down right cheek will, I hope, sort me out.
The Middle Eastern stereotype of the suicide bomber sends alarm bells ringing in my family’s ears. I’m trading a toothless tyrant for a vibrant city and culture I know nothing about. But that’s the only way to approach the unknown, learn all you can when you can.
After all, there are terrorists and suicide bombers on my very doorstep. They have dropped bombshell after bombshell on any chances and ideals of prosperity I had. My family has been hit by every possible blast.
The shrapnel has pierced every bone in my body. My father, a garda in Rathdowney, County Laois, has seen his pension reduced by the levy of 7.5%, yet he admirably says we must put our shoulder to the wheel and build a better future for our children.
A rise in interest rates means a double whammy, never mind the fact that he raises my four siblings, one of which is in WIT. Coupled with being injured on the job and a looming hip replacement, things have gone from bad to worse.
The next generation will be paying for the mistakes of others for their lifetime. While the working classes slaved away to build this republic, our politicians, bankers and statesmen dazzled away on yachts, golden handshakes and multi-million euro pensions. The family provision in the constitution should be scrapped. Protecting us, protecting our children-are you having a laugh?
Not everyone was part of the Celtic Tiger era. Moyross, the regeneration areas, addressing child poverty and education all missed out. Hospital areas lay in ruin, primary school classes were the largest in the EU. Forget knowledge economy, Bord Failte should replace it with blah, blah, boom. The government didn’t create the boom, sheer luck and good fortune combined to perch them on the highest pedestal they could find.
Come 2012 I have to envisage myself working. I will be footing the bill for my siblings. My father has done everything to get me this far, I owe it to him and my brothers and sisters to pay off our mortgage, loans, and pay for their third level education.
If there is any justice in this country then the likes of Michael Fingleton and Sean Fitzpatrick will literally have got their comeuppance while I’m away.
Bertie Ahern once remarked: “I don’t know how people who engage in that don’t commit suicide”, in response to UCD Professor Morgan Kelly’s economic prediction of the looming bust.
Just don’t hit my family on the way out. I’m indebted to hard labour in the gulags of urban Ireland. I’ll enjoy my time in Lebanon at your expense.
Friday, April 2, 2010
(L) Geert Wilders
Picture Courtesy of: http://freedutchman.wordpress.com/2009/11/05/another-day-another-hit-piece/
Discourse Analysis on broadcast media-David Kelly
1. An account of the approach you are taking to discourse analysis:
Before analysing van Dijk’s ideological approach to discourse analysis, I want to briefly introduce the key concepts of discourse and ideology, which I feel and van Dijk argues are an integral part of discourse analysis. Devereux (2007a, p.247) describes discourse simply as a ‘form of knowledge’. This implies the notion that it is something we know, however Devereux’s definition is a simplistic one that does not tell us how discourse is used and it does not imply that people have varying degrees of knowledge. Van Dijk 1998a (cited in Devereux 2007a, p.175) says that discourse “has a special function in the implementation and especially the reproduction of ideologies, since it is only through language use, discourse or communication (or other semiotic practices) that they can be explicitly formulated”.
Van Dijk (1995, p.23) defines ideology as having a social function that legitimates dominance or justifies oppression or power abuse by those in a position of authority and power. He also argues that ideology influences ways of behaviour, acting, thinking and being. Keeping these concepts in mind I will now move on to introducing van Dijk’s ideological approach to discourse analysis.
Van Dijk’s approach to discourse analysis is concerned with the function of ideology and power relations. Devereux (2007b, p.121) argues that van Dijk’s ideological square is “intended to highlight key ‘functional moves’ in developing an ideological strategy”. Central to this approach are what van Dijk terms “positive in-group description and negative out-group description” van Dijk 1998 (cited in Devereux 2007b, p.121).
Van Dijk’s (1995) model has three main levels of analysis: Social analysis, cognitive analysis and discourse analysis. I will introduce this tripartite model, with a particular focus to discourse analysis as this is what my project is based on.
Social analysis: A social analysis according to van Dijk (1995, p.20) would involve an examination of societal structures, political parties, group relations and structures. It is in these societal structures and group relations that ideology will be most evident. Group structures involve specifics such as identity, tasks, position and resources. This will not form the basis of my discourse analysis but may be evident in the context of my interview and in analysing any discourses and ideologies present.
Cognitive Analysis: A cognitive analysis argues that texts do not simply “have” meanings, but are given meanings by language users, readers, viewers, etc. These also include mental and structural processes where the language user will try to make sense of the information in relation to their own systems of beliefs and attitudes (Jensen and Jankowski 1991, p.117). A cognitive analysis would analyse what ideologies and systems of attitudes are evident in the text, however van Dijk (1995, p.20) also argues for the need to look at the sociocultural knowledge, i.e. what we know about society, groups and language. Entwined with this analysis is personal cognition which may be context free or context bound. These include thoughts, ideologies and attitudes shaped by personal convictions or models of events and contexts (van Dijk 1995, p.20). This too will not form the basis of my analysis; however it will be reflected along with social analysis from a micro-perspective.
Discourse analysis: Discourse analysis is concerned with the study of the many media of communication. It is a method of research “focused on the analysis of text and talk, discourse analysis is concerned with the use of language in a social context and the relationship between language use and (unequal) power relationships” (Devereux 2007a, p.247). Discourse analysis looks at the various structures and frameworks of “text and talk”. These would include linguistic features such as nominalization, active/passive sentence as well as use of syntax, rhetoric, lexicon, local and global semantics to name but a few (van Dijk 1995, p.20). This will form the basis of my analysis as the structures of language use will help me to identify any outstanding major and minor discourses present as well as dominant ideologies.
2. A description of the context of the interview and your methodological framework:
The interview that I have chosen to complete a discourse analysis project on is Geert Wilders interview with Dale Hurd of CBN News in 2008. Geert Widers is a member of the Dutch parliament and the founder of the Freedom Party. He is an atheist who defends Judaeo-Christian civilizations and who directed a short internet film about the violence contained in the Qur’an. This film put him on a colliding path with Muslims around the globe and he was forced to live in prison cells and secret locations because his life was under threat.
Here Wilders talks about his film “Fitna”, the perceived threat of Islam, immigration and racism. He was in the news at this time because he was a leading politician and because his comments sparked outrage in the Netherlands and further afield. Being a controversial character he is being interviewed in my opinion because the interviewer knows that his answers are sure to be critical of the Islamic culture and further hype an already delicate situation in my opinion. I picked this interview because of its controversial nature and because many Islamic nations around the world wanted to put Wilders on trial for blasphemy. He lost his freedom of expression as a result and went into hiding. This is something that appeals to me as a student journalist as we are to strive for the public’s interest at all times.
Widers is also in the news because his comments came at a time when the global economic crisis was unfolding and there were a number of labour shortages in the Netherlands. The Netherlands has been an immigration country since the 1960’s according to the OECD (2008) Economic Survey of the Netherlands, so for his comments to come at a time of economic uncertainty and unrest, perhaps there is a discourse of blame and negativity about Muslims and migrants to be found. My analysis should take these sociocultural factors into consideration.
Using van Dijk’s ideological approach to discourse analysis I will investigate the role that rhetoric and lexicon play in shaping any discourses and ideologies present. I chose this approach because I want to see the effect that language and power have in creating discourse and ideology and how in particular Wilders uses language and discourse in shielding himself from criticism and in putting forward his beliefs and attitudes about Muslim culture, immigration and violence, etc.
3. A strong hypothesis/research question(s):
What role, if any, does language play in creating and maintaining discourse?
I want to investigate whether language plays a major/minor role in formulating discourse. I want to see if there is any correlation and patterns of particular language that have an effect in creating and maintaining discourses and ideologies. Using rhetoric and lexicon as linguistic features for a thorough analysis instead of an under-representation I want to investigate what discourses and ideologies are present in the interview I have selected.
4. An account of the discourses present and the evidence you have to support your claim:
Firstly it should be noted that my analysis will focus on discourses (ways of language communication) and ideologies, which are systematic beliefs-e.g. racism, religion, etc. In my opinion, as shared by van Dijk (1995) the two are interconnected and I will treat them as such.
Rhetoric: Rhetoric is a function of ideology where information that is unfavourable to ‘us’ is glossed over and negative information about ‘them’ is emphasized through over-statements and/or exaggerations for example (van Dijk 1995, p.29). This also links in with Thompson 1990 (cited in Devereux 2007a, p.153) where he describes this rhetoric as having a ‘unification’ function, where all members of a particular group are united against the ‘threat of terrorism’ or the assumed ‘threat that immigration brings”.
This observation I believe can be shown in my selected interview. Widers tries to create a sense of panic when he describes the Qur’an as “not just an old book from am fifteen hundred years ago it’s a book am that is still very alive ah today and people get a lot of wrong incentives from it today”. He then moves on to discuss “the actual danger that am Islam brings am to our society and our freedom”.
His use of “our” and “people” in my opinion helps him to unite western society against what he perceives as being the terrorist threat of Islam. He uses rhetoric and overstatements when he calls Islam “a fascist ideology full of hatred submission and anything else we should fight against” and denounces Islamic cultures as a “culture of backwardness of retardedness of barbarism”.
When he speaks of the Islamic threat it is shown as something ‘we’ must fight against. The words ‘they’, ‘us’ and ‘our’ help create in and out groups. I think the fact that Wilders compares Islam to a fascist ideology is interesting as it helps him to mask and obscure his argument. The discourses of blame and negativity are clearly evident from my analysis of the interview. Wilders blames Muslims for terrorism, although he attempts to “make a distinction between the ideology I believe Islam is more an ideology than a religion and the people I have nothing against Muslims who are not terrorist”. This is an interesting statement as Wilders uses the discourse of blame targeting Islam and then attempts to soften the blow in my opinion by what Thompson 1990 (cited in Devereux 2007, p.154) calls ‘fragmentation’-breaking or creating divisions in a group to remove opposition to the discourse, i.e. breaking Muslim groups into two categories-non-terrorist and terrorist.
The discourse of blame and negativity are clearly evident in this interview. Wilders uses Lexicon and Lexicalization as a form of ideological expression to foster the differences between the Islamic culture and western culture (van Dijk 1995, p.25). This links in to Fairclough 2003 (cited in Philo 2007, p.16) where he notes that discourse can be differentiated into how they classify certain locations. Widers uses lexicalization to create the ‘peaceful’ culture of the Netherlands and wider western society while damning the destructive nature of Islamic countries. “They are not here to integrate but to dominate and they they they they don’t give a damn excuse my words for am am all the criticism and all the culture that we have in the Netherlands today there are people living here from Morocco for thirty years who don’t speak one word of Dutch” is a clear accusation aimed at the Muslim population as the discourse of blame and negativity merges with a discourse of migration.
The prosperity of the Netherlands is seen to be at stake from the enemy, which is Islamic culture. Wilders describes the Netherlands as an ‘Islamic intifada’- this has further connotations as he suggests their culture is being subjected to an uprising. His final phrase “If we really don’t get a sense of urgency and act and defend our culture, defend our freedom that am am it’s too late” has a deliberate purpose-it is being used to create a sense that the Netherlands has to act through government intervention and that the Dutch culture is under attack from a foreign enemy that has now become domestic.
Finally these discourses of blame, negativity and migration are met with ideologies on racism and religion. After establishing blame to the government for failing to act “And the Government am looks eh in the other direction and ignores it it puts it under the carpet all the problems” Wilders moves on to racism and religion. He denies point blank that he is a racist because he is not involved with the likes of the ‘British National Party’ and because he is a ‘democrat’. Yet he has chosen to discuss the superiority of western white culture-“I believe that the Christian and the Judaic culture is a better one and I am not ashamed to say it I’m not a racist”. By using Turkey and Morocco as analogies and describing the Islamic culture as rooted in ‘our cities’ and ‘villages’ I think he is masking these ideologies under the less critical discourse of blame. He cannot as a member of parliament openly admit to being a racist-it would not serve his own vested interest and he would more than likely be removed from office.
5. A concluding paragraph that links your analysis back to your approach to discourse analysis:
Using van Dijk’s approach to discourse analysis I was able to see what role language plays in creating discourse. I have found that language plays a key role in creating and maintaining discourse. As such, the linguistic features that I have introduced: rhetoric and lexicalization helped me to analyse effectively what discourses and ideologies were present in my broadcast interview. While van Dijk’s approach also includes a social and cognitive analysis, I was very limited in how I could incorporate this into my work.
Nevertheless, by using these features of “text and talk” van Dijk (1995, p.20), I was able to provide a limited analysis of the role of language in shaping discourse and ideology. I found discourses of blame, negativity, migration and ideologies of religion and racism. From these findings I know that language is not neutral and is a key component of social action and control. However, my findings should not be taken at face value. Being based on broadcast media, they need to be transcended into other media, e.g. new and print media and critiqued by using qualitative and quantitative analysis to help identity any consistency.
Van Dijk’s (1995, p.32) statement that self-serving information will be emphasized while dispreferred information will be rubbished and disregarded certainly holds sway in my analysis.
Bibliography
Devereux, E. (2007a) Understanding the Media, 2nd ed., London: Sage Publications.
Devereux, E. (2007b) Media Studies: Key Issues and Debates, London: Sage Publications.
Jensen, K.B. and Jankowski, N.W., eds. (1991) A Handbook of Qualitative Methodologies for Mass Communication Research, London: Routledge.
Louwerse, M.M. and Graesser, A.C. (2005) ‘Coherence in Discourse’, in Strazny, P. (ed.) Encyclopaedia of Linguistics, Chicago: Fitzroy Dearborn, 216-218.
OECD (2008) ‘Economic Survey of the Netherlands’ [online], available: http://www.oecd.org/document/18/0,3343,en_2649_33733_39991250_1_1_1_1,00.html [accessed 3 Mar 2010].
O’Keeffe, A. (2006) Investigating Media Discourse, London: Routledge.
Philo, G. (2007) ‘Can Discourse Analysis Successfully explain the Content of Media and Journalistic Practice’, Journalism Studies, 8(2), 1-34.
Stewart, C., Lavelle, M. and Kowaltzke, A. (2001) Media and Meaning: an Introduction, London: BFI Publishing.
Van Dijk, T. (1995) ‘Discourse analysis as ideology analysis’, in Schaffer, C. and Wenden, A.L. (eds.) Language and Peace, Aldershot: Dartmouth Publishing, 17-33.
Widers, G. (2008) Interview on CBN [television], YouTube, 14 Oct 2008 (See Appendix).
Appendix
Transcription Conventions (Limerick Corpus of Irish English © Fiona Farr)
<$1> Our eh country in the Netherlands am as many other European countries is based on Christianity is based on Judaism is even based on humanism but not eh eh on Islam and this is what I wanted to show people not by using actors but by using real images and real verses from the Qur’an that the Qur’an is not just an old book from am fifteen hundred years ago it’s a book am that is still very alive today and people get a lot of wrong incentives from it today so I wanted to wrong eh the people and and I was quiet successful whatever you may think.
<$2> I’m sure that people <$X> who’ve who have watched you provoke Muslims over the years wonder if you have a death wish are you secretly daring Muslims to try to kill you?
<$1> No and I’m not even provoking eh eh them am as you said I try to eh warn the people in the Netherlands and maybe even abroad and western societies about the actual danger that am Islam brings am to our society and to our freedom.
<$2> Do you believe that a moderate or democratic Islam can exist?
<$1> No I don’t believe in it Islam as I see it is a fascist ideology full of hatred submission am and anything else that we eh we should fight against however I make a distinction between the ideology I believe Islam is more an ideology than a religion and the people I have nothing against Muslims who are not terrorist who are am the majority of the Muslims in my country are law abiding people are not terrorist at all.
<$2> I have heard you call Islamic culture “retarded”.
<$1> It it is a culture of backwardness of retardedness of barbarism.
<$2> In your speech to the parliament a few days ago you referred to Muslim colonists what did you mean?
<$1> Well people eh am that are coming to the Netherlands to stir up problems or who are in the Netherlands and sometimes they are even born in the Netherlands the younger generation and the parents or their grandparents were born here eh they are not here to integrate but to dominate and they they they they don’t give a damn excuse my words for am am all the criticism and all the culture that we have in the Netherlands today that’s why I call them colourless there are people living here from Morocco for thirty years who don’t speak one word of Dutch.
<$1> Most of the em em political elite or political parties believe really do believe that all cultures are equal whereas I believe they are not equal I believe that the Christian and the Judaic culture is is is far better and I am not ashamed to say it I’m not a racist eh to say that the Christian culture is a better one than the Islamic culture there is an enormous gap between the the political elite and the vox populi and they see that our country is changing they see in their street and in their neighbourhoods and in the cities and the villages they see that its its often not the Netherlands anymore they feel that they live live in Morocco or live or eh Turkey we have an Islam Islamic intifada today I’m not exaggerating in many many cities and villages of the Netherlands this is the problem and the Government am looks eh in the other direction and ignores it it puts it under the carpet all the problems.
<$2> Are you tired of living with a death threat over your head?
<$1> My mission is very strong and I really believe in it and I know that if we really don’t get a sense of urgency and act and defend our culture defend our freedom that am am it’s too late.
[5:38] available: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NHLM0-NbMi4
1. An account of the approach you are taking to discourse analysis:
Before analysing van Dijk’s ideological approach to discourse analysis, I want to briefly introduce the key concepts of discourse and ideology, which I feel and van Dijk argues are an integral part of discourse analysis. Devereux (2007a, p.247) describes discourse simply as a ‘form of knowledge’. This implies the notion that it is something we know, however Devereux’s definition is a simplistic one that does not tell us how discourse is used and it does not imply that people have varying degrees of knowledge. Van Dijk 1998a (cited in Devereux 2007a, p.175) says that discourse “has a special function in the implementation and especially the reproduction of ideologies, since it is only through language use, discourse or communication (or other semiotic practices) that they can be explicitly formulated”.
Van Dijk (1995, p.23) defines ideology as having a social function that legitimates dominance or justifies oppression or power abuse by those in a position of authority and power. He also argues that ideology influences ways of behaviour, acting, thinking and being. Keeping these concepts in mind I will now move on to introducing van Dijk’s ideological approach to discourse analysis.
Van Dijk’s approach to discourse analysis is concerned with the function of ideology and power relations. Devereux (2007b, p.121) argues that van Dijk’s ideological square is “intended to highlight key ‘functional moves’ in developing an ideological strategy”. Central to this approach are what van Dijk terms “positive in-group description and negative out-group description” van Dijk 1998 (cited in Devereux 2007b, p.121).
Van Dijk’s (1995) model has three main levels of analysis: Social analysis, cognitive analysis and discourse analysis. I will introduce this tripartite model, with a particular focus to discourse analysis as this is what my project is based on.
Social analysis: A social analysis according to van Dijk (1995, p.20) would involve an examination of societal structures, political parties, group relations and structures. It is in these societal structures and group relations that ideology will be most evident. Group structures involve specifics such as identity, tasks, position and resources. This will not form the basis of my discourse analysis but may be evident in the context of my interview and in analysing any discourses and ideologies present.
Cognitive Analysis: A cognitive analysis argues that texts do not simply “have” meanings, but are given meanings by language users, readers, viewers, etc. These also include mental and structural processes where the language user will try to make sense of the information in relation to their own systems of beliefs and attitudes (Jensen and Jankowski 1991, p.117). A cognitive analysis would analyse what ideologies and systems of attitudes are evident in the text, however van Dijk (1995, p.20) also argues for the need to look at the sociocultural knowledge, i.e. what we know about society, groups and language. Entwined with this analysis is personal cognition which may be context free or context bound. These include thoughts, ideologies and attitudes shaped by personal convictions or models of events and contexts (van Dijk 1995, p.20). This too will not form the basis of my analysis; however it will be reflected along with social analysis from a micro-perspective.
Discourse analysis: Discourse analysis is concerned with the study of the many media of communication. It is a method of research “focused on the analysis of text and talk, discourse analysis is concerned with the use of language in a social context and the relationship between language use and (unequal) power relationships” (Devereux 2007a, p.247). Discourse analysis looks at the various structures and frameworks of “text and talk”. These would include linguistic features such as nominalization, active/passive sentence as well as use of syntax, rhetoric, lexicon, local and global semantics to name but a few (van Dijk 1995, p.20). This will form the basis of my analysis as the structures of language use will help me to identify any outstanding major and minor discourses present as well as dominant ideologies.
2. A description of the context of the interview and your methodological framework:
The interview that I have chosen to complete a discourse analysis project on is Geert Wilders interview with Dale Hurd of CBN News in 2008. Geert Widers is a member of the Dutch parliament and the founder of the Freedom Party. He is an atheist who defends Judaeo-Christian civilizations and who directed a short internet film about the violence contained in the Qur’an. This film put him on a colliding path with Muslims around the globe and he was forced to live in prison cells and secret locations because his life was under threat.
Here Wilders talks about his film “Fitna”, the perceived threat of Islam, immigration and racism. He was in the news at this time because he was a leading politician and because his comments sparked outrage in the Netherlands and further afield. Being a controversial character he is being interviewed in my opinion because the interviewer knows that his answers are sure to be critical of the Islamic culture and further hype an already delicate situation in my opinion. I picked this interview because of its controversial nature and because many Islamic nations around the world wanted to put Wilders on trial for blasphemy. He lost his freedom of expression as a result and went into hiding. This is something that appeals to me as a student journalist as we are to strive for the public’s interest at all times.
Widers is also in the news because his comments came at a time when the global economic crisis was unfolding and there were a number of labour shortages in the Netherlands. The Netherlands has been an immigration country since the 1960’s according to the OECD (2008) Economic Survey of the Netherlands, so for his comments to come at a time of economic uncertainty and unrest, perhaps there is a discourse of blame and negativity about Muslims and migrants to be found. My analysis should take these sociocultural factors into consideration.
Using van Dijk’s ideological approach to discourse analysis I will investigate the role that rhetoric and lexicon play in shaping any discourses and ideologies present. I chose this approach because I want to see the effect that language and power have in creating discourse and ideology and how in particular Wilders uses language and discourse in shielding himself from criticism and in putting forward his beliefs and attitudes about Muslim culture, immigration and violence, etc.
3. A strong hypothesis/research question(s):
What role, if any, does language play in creating and maintaining discourse?
I want to investigate whether language plays a major/minor role in formulating discourse. I want to see if there is any correlation and patterns of particular language that have an effect in creating and maintaining discourses and ideologies. Using rhetoric and lexicon as linguistic features for a thorough analysis instead of an under-representation I want to investigate what discourses and ideologies are present in the interview I have selected.
4. An account of the discourses present and the evidence you have to support your claim:
Firstly it should be noted that my analysis will focus on discourses (ways of language communication) and ideologies, which are systematic beliefs-e.g. racism, religion, etc. In my opinion, as shared by van Dijk (1995) the two are interconnected and I will treat them as such.
Rhetoric: Rhetoric is a function of ideology where information that is unfavourable to ‘us’ is glossed over and negative information about ‘them’ is emphasized through over-statements and/or exaggerations for example (van Dijk 1995, p.29). This also links in with Thompson 1990 (cited in Devereux 2007a, p.153) where he describes this rhetoric as having a ‘unification’ function, where all members of a particular group are united against the ‘threat of terrorism’ or the assumed ‘threat that immigration brings”.
This observation I believe can be shown in my selected interview. Widers tries to create a sense of panic when he describes the Qur’an as “not just an old book from am fifteen hundred years ago it’s a book am that is still very alive ah today and people get a lot of wrong incentives from it today”. He then moves on to discuss “the actual danger that am Islam brings am to our society and our freedom”.
His use of “our” and “people” in my opinion helps him to unite western society against what he perceives as being the terrorist threat of Islam. He uses rhetoric and overstatements when he calls Islam “a fascist ideology full of hatred submission and anything else we should fight against” and denounces Islamic cultures as a “culture of backwardness of retardedness of barbarism”.
When he speaks of the Islamic threat it is shown as something ‘we’ must fight against. The words ‘they’, ‘us’ and ‘our’ help create in and out groups. I think the fact that Wilders compares Islam to a fascist ideology is interesting as it helps him to mask and obscure his argument. The discourses of blame and negativity are clearly evident from my analysis of the interview. Wilders blames Muslims for terrorism, although he attempts to “make a distinction between the ideology I believe Islam is more an ideology than a religion and the people I have nothing against Muslims who are not terrorist”. This is an interesting statement as Wilders uses the discourse of blame targeting Islam and then attempts to soften the blow in my opinion by what Thompson 1990 (cited in Devereux 2007, p.154) calls ‘fragmentation’-breaking or creating divisions in a group to remove opposition to the discourse, i.e. breaking Muslim groups into two categories-non-terrorist and terrorist.
The discourse of blame and negativity are clearly evident in this interview. Wilders uses Lexicon and Lexicalization as a form of ideological expression to foster the differences between the Islamic culture and western culture (van Dijk 1995, p.25). This links in to Fairclough 2003 (cited in Philo 2007, p.16) where he notes that discourse can be differentiated into how they classify certain locations. Widers uses lexicalization to create the ‘peaceful’ culture of the Netherlands and wider western society while damning the destructive nature of Islamic countries. “They are not here to integrate but to dominate and they they they they don’t give a damn excuse my words for am am all the criticism and all the culture that we have in the Netherlands today there are people living here from Morocco for thirty years who don’t speak one word of Dutch” is a clear accusation aimed at the Muslim population as the discourse of blame and negativity merges with a discourse of migration.
The prosperity of the Netherlands is seen to be at stake from the enemy, which is Islamic culture. Wilders describes the Netherlands as an ‘Islamic intifada’- this has further connotations as he suggests their culture is being subjected to an uprising. His final phrase “If we really don’t get a sense of urgency and act and defend our culture, defend our freedom that am am it’s too late” has a deliberate purpose-it is being used to create a sense that the Netherlands has to act through government intervention and that the Dutch culture is under attack from a foreign enemy that has now become domestic.
Finally these discourses of blame, negativity and migration are met with ideologies on racism and religion. After establishing blame to the government for failing to act “And the Government am looks eh in the other direction and ignores it it puts it under the carpet all the problems” Wilders moves on to racism and religion. He denies point blank that he is a racist because he is not involved with the likes of the ‘British National Party’ and because he is a ‘democrat’. Yet he has chosen to discuss the superiority of western white culture-“I believe that the Christian and the Judaic culture is a better one and I am not ashamed to say it I’m not a racist”. By using Turkey and Morocco as analogies and describing the Islamic culture as rooted in ‘our cities’ and ‘villages’ I think he is masking these ideologies under the less critical discourse of blame. He cannot as a member of parliament openly admit to being a racist-it would not serve his own vested interest and he would more than likely be removed from office.
5. A concluding paragraph that links your analysis back to your approach to discourse analysis:
Using van Dijk’s approach to discourse analysis I was able to see what role language plays in creating discourse. I have found that language plays a key role in creating and maintaining discourse. As such, the linguistic features that I have introduced: rhetoric and lexicalization helped me to analyse effectively what discourses and ideologies were present in my broadcast interview. While van Dijk’s approach also includes a social and cognitive analysis, I was very limited in how I could incorporate this into my work.
Nevertheless, by using these features of “text and talk” van Dijk (1995, p.20), I was able to provide a limited analysis of the role of language in shaping discourse and ideology. I found discourses of blame, negativity, migration and ideologies of religion and racism. From these findings I know that language is not neutral and is a key component of social action and control. However, my findings should not be taken at face value. Being based on broadcast media, they need to be transcended into other media, e.g. new and print media and critiqued by using qualitative and quantitative analysis to help identity any consistency.
Van Dijk’s (1995, p.32) statement that self-serving information will be emphasized while dispreferred information will be rubbished and disregarded certainly holds sway in my analysis.
Bibliography
Devereux, E. (2007a) Understanding the Media, 2nd ed., London: Sage Publications.
Devereux, E. (2007b) Media Studies: Key Issues and Debates, London: Sage Publications.
Jensen, K.B. and Jankowski, N.W., eds. (1991) A Handbook of Qualitative Methodologies for Mass Communication Research, London: Routledge.
Louwerse, M.M. and Graesser, A.C. (2005) ‘Coherence in Discourse’, in Strazny, P. (ed.) Encyclopaedia of Linguistics, Chicago: Fitzroy Dearborn, 216-218.
OECD (2008) ‘Economic Survey of the Netherlands’ [online], available: http://www.oecd.org/document/18/0,3343,en_2649_33733_39991250_1_1_1_1,00.html [accessed 3 Mar 2010].
O’Keeffe, A. (2006) Investigating Media Discourse, London: Routledge.
Philo, G. (2007) ‘Can Discourse Analysis Successfully explain the Content of Media and Journalistic Practice’, Journalism Studies, 8(2), 1-34.
Stewart, C., Lavelle, M. and Kowaltzke, A. (2001) Media and Meaning: an Introduction, London: BFI Publishing.
Van Dijk, T. (1995) ‘Discourse analysis as ideology analysis’, in Schaffer, C. and Wenden, A.L. (eds.) Language and Peace, Aldershot: Dartmouth Publishing, 17-33.
Widers, G. (2008) Interview on CBN [television], YouTube, 14 Oct 2008 (See Appendix).
Appendix
Transcription Conventions (Limerick Corpus of Irish English © Fiona Farr)
<$1> Our eh country in the Netherlands am as many other European countries is based on Christianity is based on Judaism is even based on humanism but not eh eh on Islam and this is what I wanted to show people not by using actors but by using real images and real verses from the Qur’an that the Qur’an is not just an old book from am fifteen hundred years ago it’s a book am that is still very alive today and people get a lot of wrong incentives from it today so I wanted to wrong eh the people and and I was quiet successful whatever you may think.
<$2> I’m sure that people <$X> who’ve who have watched you provoke Muslims over the years wonder if you have a death wish are you secretly daring Muslims to try to kill you?
<$1> No and I’m not even provoking eh eh them am as you said I try to eh warn the people in the Netherlands and maybe even abroad and western societies about the actual danger that am Islam brings am to our society and to our freedom.
<$2> Do you believe that a moderate or democratic Islam can exist?
<$1> No I don’t believe in it Islam as I see it is a fascist ideology full of hatred submission am and anything else that we eh we should fight against however I make a distinction between the ideology I believe Islam is more an ideology than a religion and the people I have nothing against Muslims who are not terrorist who are am the majority of the Muslims in my country are law abiding people are not terrorist at all.
<$2> I have heard you call Islamic culture “retarded”.
<$1> It it is a culture of backwardness of retardedness of barbarism.
<$2> In your speech to the parliament a few days ago you referred to Muslim colonists what did you mean?
<$1> Well people eh am that are coming to the Netherlands to stir up problems or who are in the Netherlands and sometimes they are even born in the Netherlands the younger generation and the parents or their grandparents were born here eh they are not here to integrate but to dominate and they they they they don’t give a damn excuse my words for am am all the criticism and all the culture that we have in the Netherlands today that’s why I call them colourless there are people living here from Morocco for thirty years who don’t speak one word of Dutch.
<$1> Most of the em em political elite or political parties believe really do believe that all cultures are equal whereas I believe they are not equal I believe that the Christian and the Judaic culture is is is far better and I am not ashamed to say it I’m not a racist eh to say that the Christian culture is a better one than the Islamic culture there is an enormous gap between the the political elite and the vox populi and they see that our country is changing they see in their street and in their neighbourhoods and in the cities and the villages they see that its its often not the Netherlands anymore they feel that they live live in Morocco or live or eh Turkey we have an Islam Islamic intifada today I’m not exaggerating in many many cities and villages of the Netherlands this is the problem and the Government am looks eh in the other direction and ignores it it puts it under the carpet all the problems.
<$2> Are you tired of living with a death threat over your head?
<$1> My mission is very strong and I really believe in it and I know that if we really don’t get a sense of urgency and act and defend our culture defend our freedom that am am it’s too late.
[5:38] available: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NHLM0-NbMi4
Picture courtesy of: http://www.blogger.com/www.theage.com.au/.../08/20/1218911818613.html
SS4403-Case Study-Long Jump Programme
David Kelly
Brief client introduction: My client is a 26-year-old female. She is an elite level long jumper (currently National Champion). Her current personal best is 6.42m; she has been a full-time athlete for the past 3 years and is extremely good at plyometric training. She needs to improve her technique in the gym and she tends to suffer from Achilles tendonitis at times. She also has a part-time job (Monday, Wednesday and Friday-9 am-12pm). Her main goals are to retain her National crown and to qualify for the London Olympics in 2012.
Research regarding the Long Jump: The long jump is a track and field event that involves two key components-sprinting and jumping. The athlete sprints down a runway and at the raised board, attempts to jump horizontally into a measured area. The aim being to land as far away as possible from the raised board (Safesport 2009).
Furthermore, the event can be broken down into the following stages: ‘the starting run’-where the objective is to generate speed, ‘the take-off’- a change in the stride and movements required to increase this speed, ‘flight’- the body is in flight and the technique used by the jumper to influence his/her landing score, and finally ‘the landing’, which is the scoring area of the jump (Ibid.).
The rules of the long jump dictate that the jumper’s foot or any part of his/her body must not cross the raised board. It also forbids the use of somersault techniques (IAAF 2008).
Armbruster et al (1979, pp.354-57) describe the three main airborne techniques employed by long jumper athletes and adopted by their coaches. They are the Sail, the Hang and the Hitch kick. The characteristics of the Sail denote the jumper’s body is carried in a ‘sitting position’. It is ideal for novice jumpers, the main disadvantage being too much forward rotation, which hinders the scoring of the jump. The Hang style is a ‘sweeping movement’ that causes an opposite reaction in the upper body, when the legs are kept behind the body line (Ibid.). This extends the body and allows for a greater leg shoot. There is also an emphasis on leg and arm movements to slow down the athlete’s centre of gravity and prepare them for landing (BrianMac 2009).
The Hitch kick technique is achieved when the jumper extends their ‘leading leg forward and then sweeps it downward and backward’ (Armbruster et al 1979, p.357). This is also coupled with a swinging arm movement of the arm opposite the leading leg; the rear leg comes forward to minimize forward rotation (Ibid.). This style is seen as very effective in balancing the jumper while airborne and provides for an advantage on landing (Ibid.). As much as five inches can be added to the jump if the correct arm movement is undertaken (Ecker 1971, p.35).
The Athletics Association of Ireland holds its Senior Track and Field Championships around the 1st/2nd of August each year. A jump of 6.68 won the honours in 2009 and our athlete won it with less distance achieved in 2009. If she is to retain her title and ultimately qualify for the London Olympics in two years time, a jump of greater than this will have to be required. Jumps of greater than 6.75 were enough to be in the medal places in Beijing in 2008. With such strict qualifying criteria, it is up to our training programme to ensure our athlete gets to London and achieves her personal goals.
Needs analysis of the Long Jump and assessment of the athlete:
Analysis of the Long Jump: Biomechanical movement analysis: The long jump involves a total body (Upper/Middle/Lower), consistent, explosive (High Intensity) workout and movement. The long jumper’s centre of gravity of mass is within their ‘hip region throughout most of the jump, but shift forward, into open space, just before landing’ (Ecker 1971, p.30).
Linear and rotary movements are required during the course of the event (Ibid., p.18). The jumper makes contact with the landing area, encounters resistance, including wind at take-off and heavily recruited muscles include the hip and knee extensors and the straightening of the trunk (Tidow 1989).
A brief analysis of the joint actions involved in each phase is now introduced: Approach-Incomplete knee extension, upright trunk, heel leads front leg, reduced knee angle and a flat support leg, horizontal push, knee angle opening of the front leg, straddled legs, pre-tension and extended at heel strike of the supported leg,
Take-Off position: triple extension of the ankle/knee/hip and a horizontal locking of the swinging leg, an upright trunk, lifted shoulder and counter-arm locked swing, the airborne technique will not be discussed because it varies with the style adopted, landing: arms parallel to shanks, legs knee angle opening, trunk bent forward, arms are well behind trunk and feet ahead of CG (Ibid.).
The planes of movement used in the long jump are the sagittal (straight out in front/behind the athlete, the transverse plane (rotation in the centre) and frontal (out to the side)-which could be caused by forward rotation, weak core (Fass 2008). The transverse and frontal axes of rotation are also used.
Common Injuries: Safesport (2009) outlined the most common injuries incurred by long jump athletes, they are: muscle or tendon strains/sprains or fractures from ‘awkward foot placement during running or takeoff, or from insufficient warm-up’, ‘sprains, fractures, or contusions from improper landing’ and ‘blisters, shinsplints, or sprains from poor footwear’.
-Physiological Considerations: “Powerful, controlled movements are needed for both distance and precision in jumps...with the attainment of background flexibility, strength and balance and coordination.” (Ibid.). The muscular endurance requirement is necessary even though a long jump attempt takes only approx. 10 seconds to fully compete, however it has to be consistent, so muscular endurance is a vital part of any training programme. The energy system utilized is the ATP-PC system, which is part of the anaerobic system-it is a system in itself and it is used for ‘fast, powerful bursts of energy’ during the first minutes of exercise (TeachPE 2009).
Assessment of the Athlete:
The athlete is an elite long jumper; she is the current National Champion. Her training status includes plyometrics and she is competent in all aspects of training, although she needs to improve her technique in the gym. She has been a full-time athlete for the last three years and her training age is 11 years. She tends to suffer from Achilles tendonitis at times. The athlete’s main goals are to retain her national title and qualify for London 2012.
After this assessment physical testing can take place. Together the data received from the assessment and testing process will frame the training programme. The physical examination, according to Wilmore (1982, p.236) should include “a health and family history, a resting electrocardiogram and blood pressure assessment, and an exercise stress electrocardiogram performed on either a bicycle ergometer or treadmill”. The stress electrocardiogram can help indicate coronary atherosclerosis, which would place the person in a high risk category, where they should be under the supervision of a physician before exercising (Ibid.).
When assessing the athlete, effective measurement depends on a number of factors, including: validity, reliability, objectivity, safety, practicality and sensitivity (BrianMac 2009). They also point out that testing, which can be Maximal (begin at low intensity and gradually increase) or Sub-Maximal (the athlete works below maximum effort) should only test one factor at a time-for example speed or strength maximum (Ibid.).
It should also be noted that testing can be carried out over the course of the programme and Paish (1974, p.101) suggests that along with a training schedule, the athlete should keep a training diary which contains records of work they are doing and they performances achieved. In doing so, the athlete can examine the record if anything goes wrong to understand why. If the physical testing and assessment of the athlete gives them the all clear the data should be transcribed and used to draw up a training schedule and periodized plan.
Periodized plan: Periodization is “the process of developing a training schedule which has varying periods of hard work leading to overload or over-reaching, followed by a recovery period. Typically the year (the macrocycle) is broken into several large cycles, called mesocycles” (Entl 2009).
Claro (2009) says that each training phase is made up of ‘sub-phases’, where more sport specific abilities will be develop following the various principles of training: specificity, overload, recovery, adaption and reversibility.
My athlete will follow an annual periodized plan from September 2010 until September 2011- although she should follow a bi-annual plan if she is to qualify for the Olympics. There are two key competition dates for my athlete-the IAAF Indoor Championships in March and the National Championships in August. Thus it will be necessary to break up our training programme into more phases.
Day Preparatory phase
(Sept/Oct) Transition phase
(Nov/Dec) Competition phase (Mar)
(Jan/Feb-start of March) 2nd Transition phase
(Mar/Apr) 2nd Preparatory phase
(May/June) 2nd Competition phase (Aug)
(July/Aug)
Tue
2 sessions Beginners weight training Beginners weight training (Tapering-reduce volume and frequency gradually) Beginners weight training (gradual increase in intensity and decrease in volume) More advanced weights training and core stability-low intensity More advanced weight training and core stability with tapering More advanced weights training and core stability (gradual increase in intensity/decrease in volume)
Thur
2 sessions Interval training (shuttle sprints) Anaerobic circuit Anaerobic circuit (gradual increase in intensity and decrease in volume) Swimming/cycling (recovery period) Agility training drills Water step-up aerobics (gradual increase in intensity/decrease in volume)
Sun
1session Plyometrics (non-sports specific) Sports specific plyometrics Swimming/step up aerobics Medicine Ball training Water step-up aerobics Rest period/ competition
September 2010-11-including the IAAF World Indoor Championships (qualification path to the Olympics) and National Championships
Rationale behind decision making process: I have included weight training in my periodization plan because it is very important for the athlete to be able to generate quick movements. There is an emphasis on speed and strength in the long jump, along with flexibility. Exercises that target the major muscles of the legs, the feet and the upper body are extremely important in the conditioning of the athlete (Safesport 2009). The ‘three main muscle bulks in the body, the arms, the trunk and the legs’ should be conditioned to achieve what Paish (1974, p.104) calls ‘harmonious development’-working cohesively as one strong unit. The overload theory should also apply-“If a muscle is overloaded it will first of all break down and then repair itself so that it is much stronger” Paish (1974, p.103).
In the assessment of the athlete she said that her level of technique in the gym was poor so taking this into consideration she will start at beginner’s level until she progresses in 6 months time.
I have included interval training in the training programme to develop speed. The key to interval training is the distance covered, recovery between the runs, number of reps, time of each run and activity between each run (Armbruster et al 1979, p.167). Interval training is known to bring about quick results and according to (Sports Medicine 2009) it can be used in conjunction with the plyometrics and agility drills that I have also prescribed in the training programme.
Anaerobic circuits aid in the development of strength and hypertrophy. They involve working at a high intensity where oxygen is not present and may allow for short or no rest periods until the circuit is completed (Mosey 2009). Mosey also describes it as beneficial to athletes with a limited schedule, such is our athlete.
Plyometric exercises invoke the ‘stretch reflex, of the legs and are highly recommended (Ecker 1976). Together with the weight training and anaerobic circuits they will help develop the athlete’s strength, speed, agility and coordination components of fitness relevant to the performance and execution of the long jump.
The aim of core stability, medicine ball and step aerobics is to strengthen the athlete’s core and increase their aerobic stamina, coordination and overall fitness. Step aerobics will ‘strengthen the muscles and tendons and the ligaments connecting muscles and bones to each other’ of the athlete (AerobicsWorkout 2009). Finally Swimming and or cycling will act as an active recovery period with the only emphasis on preventing injury and aiding the athlete’s tired body. Swimming also helps to develop balance, coordination and aids leg movements, thus helping to keep the body horizontal and aid propulsion (Armbruster et al 1979, p.298) which is a key factor in the performance of the long jump.
Before I move on to the details of monthly plans the importance of warm-up exercises has to be stressed. Armbuster et al (1979, p.383) provide an example of an effective warm-up for a weights session. It involves running for two minutes, push-ups, sit-ups and stretching exercises for different parts of the body.
An effective warm-up can be done in 10-15 minutes and it can often mean the difference between injury prone and injury free. Since our athlete tends to suffer from Achilles tendonitis, it is vital that she does the proper warm-ups and seeks medical advice or stops training if the problem re-occurs. The Achilles tendon connects the heel to the lower calf muscle. Once injured they heal slowly because they don’t have as much ‘blood flow as muscles’ (Ryan 2008). It can be treated by physical rehabilitation, such as ultrasound to increase the blood flow and by using strengthening and stretching exercises. It can be caused by wearing improper footwear and increasing the intensity and duration of an activity suddenly; hence any change in the training programme should be gradual/occur over a number of weeks (Ibid.). An appendix of details outlining monthly plans with various progressions and variety can be seen at the end of this paper.
Brief notes outlining guidelines for next season: Should our athlete qualify for the Olympics by this stage, she should focus on maintaining her performance and technique. She should aim to get a consistent performance and develop her preferred technique-e.g. the Hitch kick, while maintaining the key components of fitness relative to the long jump. The athlete should by now be competent in weight training and be able to improve her sprinting ability through implementation of a regular program of leg strengthening exercises (Ecker 1976).
Tapering should also be maintained to ensure she is fresh and not burnt-out before the Olympics. This could be maintained through cross-training and an extensive active recovery period. Tapering not only aids recovery but has a range of advantages including ‘better repair of muscle and connective-tissue trauma’ as well as ‘heightened mental confidence’ (P2P 2009). Thus tapering and developing the athletes technique should be maintained and developed on in the 2011-12 season. The athlete should also be tested to see how much of an improvement they have made and areas that still need to be worked on before any training programme can resume or be drawn up.
Appendix:
Sept/Oct-Preparatory Phase-Beginners Weights with a focus on the conditioning of the legs to increase athletes speed, strength and power. A simple set system because our athlete is a novice- 3 sets of 6 with 70%-enables the athlete to learn correct technique (BrianMac 2009). Content to include back squats (leg muscles), calf raises (gastrocnemius soleus), front squat (quadriceps), hack squat (front thigh), knee raise (lower abs), lunges (front thigh), squats (glutes and adductors) and step-ups with barbell (upper thighs) (Prevent Disease 2009). Interval training should incorporate the 40m sprint of the long jump and its run through technique. Shuttle sprints and agility drills will also develop the coordination and athlete’s technical ability.
Nov/Dec-Transition Phase-conditioning of the arms with a gradual decrease in volume and frequency (tapering).3-5 Minutes of recovery time between sets. 2 sets of 7 with 70%. Content to include dumbbell wrist curls (front forearms), dumbbell wrist extension (back forearms), dumbbell press (front delts), bent over flyes (rear delts), Lateral raise (medial delts), Upright row (Shoulders and Traps), Dumbbell/Barbell curls (biceps), Dips (lower pecs, serratus and triceps), one arm dumbbell kickbacks (triceps) (Ibid.). Develop range of motion and movement used in the long jump (Hitch kick technique). Anaerobic circuits can be included to develop speed, strength and power. They should include exercises for 30+ seconds and active recovery on completion of each circuit (BrianMac 2009)
Jan/Feb-Competition phase-conditioning of the upper body. Should take into account a gradual increase in intensity and decrease in volume. 3 sets of 5 with 80%. Content should include crunches (ab muscles), Dumbbell side bend (obliques), bench press (deltoids/triceps), dumbbell bench press (Chest-tendons and ligaments), flat flye (inner pectorals), Barbell row (back), Back extensions (erector spinae, hamstring and gluteus maximus) and shrugs (trapezius) (Ibid.). Reduced from 2 sessions to 1 closer to competition to ensure athlete is fresh. The anaerobic circuit training will now increase in intensity and decrease in volume. Anaerobic training can also be overlapped with interval and weight training (Ibid.).
Mar/Apr-2nd Trans Phase-more advanced weights training and/or core stability. Should start at a low intensity because the athlete is recovering from the stress of competition. Can now include machine use because the athlete has developed the basic technique. Core stability is the ability to fire and activate the muscles quickly during “specific movement sequences to stabilize the low back and pelvis giving a stable base which force can be generated through the limbs to run, jump” (GAA 2009). It plays a vital role in power generation and injury prevention and treatment.
May/Jun-2nd Prep phase should include core stability with a taper and during the competition phase sessions should be reduced from 2 to 1 with a gradual increase in intensity/decrease in volume. Alternative sequences could see core stability be replaced by weights training each week, ie 1 session of each every 2 weeks. Content to include planks, bridges, oblique crunches, sit-up and throw, side touch downs, one leg catch and pass and straight leg raise. Core stability can also incorporate medicine balls or they can be a separate session (BrianMac 2009). There should be an active recovery and rest period included in the 2nd trans phase. I have included swimming/cycling at a low intensity because there are many benefits of cross training including: injury prevention, rehabilitation, active recovery, enhanced motivation, rejuvenation and enjoyment of other sports (Fitzgerald 2004). My training programme is by no means an exhaustive list and with weight, interval, core stability and anaerobic circuit training often overlapping in what components of fitness they can develop, I may replace one or more of these aspects with cross-training to prevent overuse injuries and keep the athlete motivated to achieve her goals.
Finally, the inclusion of plyometrics and step up aerobics in the training programme is to threefold: to develop coordination, aid recovery and aid the specific long jump movements of the long jump. Plyometric exercises should progress from non-sports specific to sports specific with both slow and fast movements. These movements should include fast hopping, long bounding jumps, double leg take-offs, hopping on/off low boxes, bounding and hurdling, press-ups and hand claps, standing hop, bunny hop, squat jumps, the standing long jump and agility drills (BrianMac 2009and Ecker 1976). The progression of the training plan will see the athlete start off at a low level and by the time competition arrives, she should be reaching her peak performance. In following this training programme, for the reasons demonstrated, I have no doubt that the athlete can achieve her personal goals and who knows she may even get a medal in the 2012 London Olympics.
Bibliography:
AerobicsWorkout (2009) ‘The Benefits of Step Aerobic Exercise’ [online], available: http://www.aerobicsworkout.net/step-aerobic-exercise.php [accessed 5 Nov 2009].
Armbruster, D.A., Musker, F.F. and Mood, D. (1979) Sports and Recreational Activities for Men and Women, 7th ed., London: The C.V Mosby Company.
Bradshaw, E.J. and Aisbett, B. (2006) ‘Visual Guidance during Competition Performance and Run-Through Training in Long Jumping’, Sport Biomechanics, 5(1), 1-14.
BrianMac (2009) ‘Long Jump’ [online], available: http://www.brianmac.co.uk/longjump/index.htm and http://www.brianmac.co.uk/weight.htm [accessed 3 Nov 2009].
Claro, F. (2009) ‘Sport Training Periodization’ [online], available: http://frederickclaro.com/Sport_Training_Periodization.pdf [accessed 3 Nov 2009].
Dyson, G.H.G. (1973) The Mechanics of Athletics, 6th ed., London: University of London Press Ltd.
Ecker, T. (1971) Track and Field Dynamics, California: Tafnews Press.
Ecker, T. (1976) Track and Field: Technique through Dynamics, California: Tafnews Press.
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Fitzgerald, M. (2004) ‘Eight Benefits of Cross-Training’ [online], available: http://www.runnersworld.com/article/0,7120,s6-238-263--7420-2-1-2,00.html [accessed 10 Nov 2009].
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IAAF (2008) ‘Competition Rules 2008’ [online], available: http://www.iaaf.org/mm/Document/imported/42192.pdf [accessed 3 Nov 2009].
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2009].
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Don't shoot us in the foot, pleads youth worker
BUDGET CUTS and a decrease in funding will result in more children engaging in anti-social behaviour, a local youth worker has warned.
Moyross Community Centre Youth Supervisor Eugene Kiely said December’s budget could spell the end of community development projects in the area.
“This centre teaches young kids how to behave, the social skills involved in life and it keeps them out of trouble and harm’s way,” he said.
“What’s down the line in six months for these kids? They will be out on the road, breaking windows and throwing stones at trains,” he added.
With the An Bord Snip Nua report calling for the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs to be shut down, the centres existence could be jeopardised. The centre runs a number of summer camps, child minding services and sports activities for kids. If the community development projects are downgraded and funding reduced, these services may have to be withdrawn and a number of workers let go, he said.
He said that the great work done by the communities’ volunteers would be erased and Moyross would take two steps backward instead of forward. He called on the Government not to target the projects and he added that the funding needed to maintain the centre was “Mickey Mouse money, in the thousands not millions”.
Meanwhile, Limerick Women’s Network Co-ordinator Liz Price called on the Government not to target those already at risk. She said that the organization is one of a kind in Limerick. It helps women who are disadvantaged and who have suffered at the hands of violence.
“There is potential for a huge increase in anti-social behaviour if these projects are cut because it is hard for youths to engage in education and because they see the benefits reaped by criminals,” she said.
The network, based in Moyross, is involved in anti-poverty and awareness of violence campaigns. It also provides crèches and meals for the elderly. The proposal by the Government as regards the community employment scheme will reduce women’s social welfare from two payments to a single payment. In effect, women will have to bear the burden and costs involved in travelling to work, she said.
“People who benefited least from the Celtic Tiger are being hit. I urge the Government to come down here and meet the people, there are hundreds of volunteers. If the funding for these community development projects is withdrawn or downgraded, we will be paying for it for a long time,” she said.
Community Education Project Manager Josephine Sheedy said the resource centres budget was already on hold and that her job would be at risk, should An Bord Snip Nua’s recommendations be put into effect.
An Bord Snip Nua recommends the closure of the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, which would save €151 million and scale backs of 196 staff. Its role would be transferred across other departments. The report calls for a reduction in the allocation of funds for community development programmes, saving €44 million.
ENDS
Moyross Community Centre Youth Supervisor Eugene Kiely said December’s budget could spell the end of community development projects in the area.
“This centre teaches young kids how to behave, the social skills involved in life and it keeps them out of trouble and harm’s way,” he said.
“What’s down the line in six months for these kids? They will be out on the road, breaking windows and throwing stones at trains,” he added.
With the An Bord Snip Nua report calling for the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs to be shut down, the centres existence could be jeopardised. The centre runs a number of summer camps, child minding services and sports activities for kids. If the community development projects are downgraded and funding reduced, these services may have to be withdrawn and a number of workers let go, he said.
He said that the great work done by the communities’ volunteers would be erased and Moyross would take two steps backward instead of forward. He called on the Government not to target the projects and he added that the funding needed to maintain the centre was “Mickey Mouse money, in the thousands not millions”.
Meanwhile, Limerick Women’s Network Co-ordinator Liz Price called on the Government not to target those already at risk. She said that the organization is one of a kind in Limerick. It helps women who are disadvantaged and who have suffered at the hands of violence.
“There is potential for a huge increase in anti-social behaviour if these projects are cut because it is hard for youths to engage in education and because they see the benefits reaped by criminals,” she said.
The network, based in Moyross, is involved in anti-poverty and awareness of violence campaigns. It also provides crèches and meals for the elderly. The proposal by the Government as regards the community employment scheme will reduce women’s social welfare from two payments to a single payment. In effect, women will have to bear the burden and costs involved in travelling to work, she said.
“People who benefited least from the Celtic Tiger are being hit. I urge the Government to come down here and meet the people, there are hundreds of volunteers. If the funding for these community development projects is withdrawn or downgraded, we will be paying for it for a long time,” she said.
Community Education Project Manager Josephine Sheedy said the resource centres budget was already on hold and that her job would be at risk, should An Bord Snip Nua’s recommendations be put into effect.
An Bord Snip Nua recommends the closure of the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, which would save €151 million and scale backs of 196 staff. Its role would be transferred across other departments. The report calls for a reduction in the allocation of funds for community development programmes, saving €44 million.
ENDS
Budget cuts to devastate sporting community
By David Kelly
BUDGET CUTS will deal a massive blow to sports in Moyross, an FAI officer has warned.
FAI Development Officer for Limerick City Tommy Barrett said a reduction in the grant to the Irish Sports Council would have disastrous knock-on effects for the area.
Picture courtesy of http://www.inpho.ie
“A cut in funding will have a negative impact on the area. Kids learn about social integration and inclusion through sport. They also learn manners and discipline, as well as respecting other cultures. It will affect all the kids and there will be a negative impact of social behaviour, as kids won’t have the options to do stuff and play sport,” he said.
The Moyross Community Centre runs after school services, kids play pool and soccer and during the summer and spring we run late night soccer activities, he added.
“Sport is a great way of mixing people of all backgrounds. We hold blitz days each year and it is a great way for kids to be active and make friends. The sports development in Moyross is unique in that we are co-funded by the FAI and the Regeneration Agency,” he said.
Mr Barrett said that funding should not be cut because the service is a mainstream one that provides employment, keeps the kids active and thus away from hospital visits, and keeps kids away from the streets and engaging in anti-social behaviour.
“Facilities aren’t great at the minute, the base is flooded. We need more centres like this, we should have swimming pools and other pitches,” he said.
He said that the Government should not put a monetary value on sport, because its benefits far out way any negatives.
The money generated through sport saves a fortune in terms of health and crime, as well as providing employment nationwide, he said.
Limerick regeneration Community Rugby Officer George Guilfoyle, who also works in the Moyross area, said sporting activities provide kids with an outlet away from the street.
“Sport brings kids together and creates friendships. It’s a fact that kids who are provided with sports facilities and nurtured from a young age will continue playing sport into adulthood,” he said.
Mr Guilfoyle helps run activities in the community centre. He works with primary and secondary schools in developing pupil’s sporting ability and the social aspects of sport.
“We work with St Mary’s and Corpus Christi National School’s in the locality, as well as St Nessan’s. We run tag rugby activities, a Saturday club, Ceim ar Ceim groups, as well as local competitions and community games,” he said.
He reiterated Mr Barrett’s claims that Moyross would suffer if cuts are made in next week’s budget.
“If you cut any budget there will be knock-on effects. The bigger picture is everyone suffers. Health will suffer and crime may increase as kids are bored. An hour and a half in here is an hour and a half less on the street.
“Since I became involved here in Moyross, after eight years of experience in Clare, I have seen interest from kids who are seven to kids who are 10 and 13. We don’t make kids play rugby, we encourage the development of other codes and multi-sports, so there is something for everybody,” he added.
Mr Guilfoyle said that the continuation of these activities is vital to children’s development and he urged more locals to get involved.
“The next big event is a second hand gear collection on the dates of the upcoming Munster matches vs. Connacht, Northampton and Glasgow Warriors,” he said.
Their comments follow the Joint Committee on Arts, Sport, Tourism, Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs discussion entitled Funding of Irish Sport: Discussion with Federation of Irish Sports earlier this month.
The committee heard from members of the GAA, IRFU, FAI, Olympic Council of Ireland, Cumann Camogaiochta na Gael, Special Olympics Ireland and the Paralympic Council of Ireland.
They were highly critical of the McCarthy report’s recommendations to cut funding to the Irish Sports Council by €18 million, and the discontinuation of Sports Campus Ireland, saving €2 million. They were also adamant that sports remains a department and that its functions are not transferred to other bodies and departments.
GAA Director General Paraic Duffy said that more children are playing hurling in Ireland than at any time in the history of the state. He said that further cuts would cause the playing of our native games to diminish.
IRFU Chief Executive Philip Browne cited a number of ERSI reports which suggested “the State and the public are getting a very good deal from sport”. He added that sport was responsible for economic and social dividends as well as Ireland’s positive image.
“Rugby alone...is providing an economic impact to the State of approximately €300 million per year,” he said.
FAI Chief Executive John Delaney said that the work done in Moyross is tremendous.
“This helps to develop family relationships, creates a new community of volunteers and gives great self-esteem to both young and old,” he said.
The McCarthy report also recommends The Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs be closed down, saving €151 million. This crippled with a reduction of €44 million in funding available for community development projects could also spell the end of the Moyross Community Centre, Youth Worker Eugene Kiely has warned.
ENDS
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