Browsing by Author "Africa, Eileen Katherine"

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    The effect of a rhythmic movement intervention on selected bio-motor skills of academy players in the Western Cape, South Africa
    (SAGE, 2020) Solomons, Jocelyn; Kraak, Wilbur Julio; Kidd, Martin; Africa, Eileen Katherine
    Rhythmic movement, also referred to as “dance”, involves the execution of different motor skills as well as the integration and sequencing of actions between limbs, timing and spatial precision. The aim of this study was therefore to investigate and compare the effect of a 16-week rhythmic movement intervention on flexibility, dynamic balance, agility, power and local muscular endurance of academy rugby players in the Western Cape, according to positional group. Players (N=54) (age 18.66 ± 0.81 years; height 1.76 ± 0.69 cm; weight 76.77 ± 10.69 kg), were randomly divided into a treatment-control [TCA] (n=28) and a control-treatment [CTB] (n=26) group. In this crossover experimental design, the interaction effect of the treatment order and the treatment time between the TCA and CTB group, was determined. Results indicated a statistically significant improvement (p<0.05) in agility2 (p=0.06), power2 (p=0.05), local muscular endurance1 (p=0.01) & 3 (p=0.01) and dynamic balance (p<0.01). Likewise, forwards and backs also showed statistically significant improvements (p<0.05) per positional groups. Therefore, a rhythmic movement intervention has the potential to improve rugby-specific bio-motor skills and furthermore, improve positional specific skills should it be designed with positional groups in mind. Future studies should investigate, not only the effect of rhythmic movement on improving specific rugby bio-motor skills, but the potential of its application as an alternative training method during off-season (or detraining phases) or as a recovery method.
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    Die invloed van 'n intervensieprogram op omkeerbare gesondheidsrisikofaktore by 'n geselekteerde groep adolessente dogters
    (Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch, 2006-12) Africa, Eileen Katherine; Van Deventer, K. J.; Barnard, J. G.; University of Stellenbosch. Faculty of Education. Dept. of Sport Science.
    The continued integration of our global society has caused a shift in human social interaction and redefined the contexts of adolescents’ lives. Adolescents are inundated with a variety of choices at a stage of their lives where they are trying to create their own identity. This critical period of development is highlighted by an increased desire to experiment with adult life. Thus is experimentation not uncommon. The study examines the prevalence of a range of health risk behaviours amongst adolescent girls. It focuses on the identification of behaviours such as violence, smoking, alcohol and drug use and abuse, sexual behaviours, dietary behaviours and physical inactivity that place adolescents at increased risk for premature morbidity and mortality. An intervention programme was launched at the schools concerned in an effort to address these behaviour patterns and to inform learners regarding the dangers of these health risk factors. The sample population was selected from three previously disadvantaged high schools in the Worcester region. Due to restrictive circumstances at the schools, the sample could not be randomly selected and therefore the study is based on a quasi-experimental research approach. A sample of 1805 adolescent girls in Grades 8 to 10 completed a questionnaire, which assessed a range of health risk behaviours. This questionnaire was based on the Youth Risk Behaviour Survey (YRBS) and completed by all the respondents during the pre-test. A control and experimental group was selected from the Grades concerned, at the different schools. The experimental group was subjected to a six-months long intervention programme. At the end of the intervention programme a post-test was conducted on both the control and experimental groups. Four months after the post-test the respondents were subjected to the same test, which is now known as the follow-up test. The girls who dropped out of the study as it progressed are referred to as the drop-out group. Information regarding the socio-economic background of the girls, as well as permission to take part in the study, was obtained from the parents by means of a questionnaire. A self-designed questionnaire was used to obtain information regarding the state and status of Physical Education (PE) and movement programmes within Life Orientation at the schools. Teachers who were responsible for Grades 8, 9 and 10, completed the questionnaire. To keep track of body size and growth, mass and length were determined and body mass index (BMI) was calculated. Blood pressure was measured to determine to what extend these girls suffer from hypertension. Skinfold measures were taken to determine the fat percentage. The 20m shuttle run (Bleep test) was used to indirectly determine the physical activity levels of the respondents. The main results are discussed next. The results indicate that more respondents in the post-test (64%) reported that learners carry weapons on school grounds than in the pre-test. According to the results 64% of the respondents indicated in the post-test that learners carry weapons on school grounds compared to 29% of the respondents in the follow-up test (p<0.01). The pre-tests results indicate that 11% of the respondents smoke cigarettes in comparison to 14% in the post-test (p<0.01). Approximately 9% of the respondents in the pre-test indicated that they drank at least one alcoholic drink in the week before the study was undertaken in comparison to the 22% of the post-test (p<0.01). Regarding the smoking of dagga 2% of the respondents indicated in the pre-test that they smoked dagga whereas 9% in the post-test indicated that they did. More sexual active respondents during the follow-up test (57%) indicated that they used condoms during their last sexual experience than in the post-test (46%). The results of the pre-test indicate that approximately 49% of the respondents did something to loose weight or to prevent weight-gain in comparison to the 25% of the post-test and the 31% of the follow-up test. According the results, 35% of the respondents purported to have PE at their school in comparison to 30% during the post-test and 54% during the follow-up test. Although there were some exceptions, in most cases a tendency existed that indicated an increase in the variables measured between the pre-test and post-test. In most cases the results remained constant between the post-test and the follow-up test. This study can therefore be a starting point for further research into the process to combat health risk behaviours amongst adolescent girls. This can be done with educational programmes in cooperation with several role-players in the community.
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    'n Opname van die bewegingsontwikkelingskenmerke van grondslagfase leerders in die Stellenbosch omgewing
    (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2004-03) Africa, Eileen Katherine; Van Deventer, K. J.; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Education. Dept. of Sport Science.
    ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Physical activity is an integral part of children's lives. It makes an essential contribution to their physical, psychological and social well-being. Often, it is through movement and active play that children learn to discover themselves. This movement and play sometimes serves as a medium for communication. Unfortunately, various research studies show that children are not active enough and lead ever increasing sedentary lifestyles and these lifestyles lead to various types of hypo-kinetic diseases. Technology, as well as the phasing out of structured physical education in schools, are aspects that are responsible for the decrease in activity levels of children. The primary aim of this study was to determine if present-day children's (Grades 1 - 3) physical abilities have improved or worsened over the years. Movement tests from Katzenellenbogen (1976) were used to test movement abilities of these children. Adapted questionnaires from Van Deventer (1999) were used to construct the lifestyle patterns of learners and to get information concerning movement programmes from teachers at schools. The sample population (N=372) was selected from four schools (two previously disadvantaged and two former Model C schools) in the Stellenbosch area. The tests evaluated, inter alia the following, velocity, velocity and power, power, velocity and accuracy, accuracy and precision. Children from the previously disadvantaged and former Model C schools, as well as age and sex were compared. A comparison with the 1976 study of Katzenellebogen was also done. The latter study only involved girls and was undertaken only at White schools. The coding of the variable data was done in a computer format, coded and statistically analysed. Averages are compared through the Analyses of Variance (ANOVA). From the results of the study, it can be concluded that children at the former Model C schools fared better in most of the tests and it is evident that boys generally are more active than girls. As far as the comparison with the 1976 study is concerned, present-day girls fared worse in almost all the tests. The weight of the 9 year old girls increased by as much as 7.2 kg. This study can therefore be a starting point for further study attempting to combat the tendency of inactivity amongst the youth of today.