Journal of Sport Behavior

The Cultural Utility of Cricket Among International Students at U.S. Colleges and Universities

Martin Barrett, Jeff Farr — Thu, 21 May 2026 00:00:00 -0700

Sport can facilitate social inclusion and acculturation for immigrant populations. For instance, recreational sport participation for international students is positively correlated with the acculturation process. Yet, scant research explores the acculturative capacity of specific sports. This study considers how cricket plays a role in the acculturative process for international students in U.S. higher education. Data were collected from 126 research participants using a single-sport modification of Allen et al.’s (2010) scale to measure adaptation to a multicultural environment and cultural maintenance through sport. Results indicate international students use cricket primarily for purposes of cultural maintenance, as well as an opportunity to interact with others from diverse cultural backgrounds. However, cricket appears to be used less by this population for purposes of adaptation to American culture. As such, cricket, as a predominantly South Asian diasporic space, is both an important cultural lifeline and bridge, which the researchers suggest is being used selectively by international students through an approach that renders cultural separation as a form of belonging. The study offers practical implications that center around the opportunity to simultaneously leverage cricket as a tool for cultural maintenance to grow the game among more captive audiences while also capitalizing on the non-exclusionary nature of the sport to drive participation among non-traditional audiences.

Development and Validation of the Competitive Language Intentionality Inventory (CLII):

Marcis Fennell, Kayla Martinez, C. Keith Harrison — Thu, 21 May 2026 00:00:00 -0700

Sport behavior of athletes during competition categorizes behavior associated with the interpretive action coined as “trash talk” has negatively framed the intentions of competitors in sport. The present paper fills a theoretical gap by empirically examining the intentionality of elite competitive athletes. The purpose of this exploratory study is to examine the empirical and philosophic the intentionality of competitive language with 25 pilot items (n = 720). In a two-study method, this paper sought to establish a transtheoretical tool measuring four factors: Perceived Competence, Decompetition, Moral Community, and Effort Expenditure. Exploratory factor analyses were conducted, revealing a 16-item, two-factor model measuring Moral Community and Socialized Ethics. Concurrent validity was supported through correlational analyses. The internal consistency reliability of measure was .865. Regression results indicate an overall model of two predictors (Sport and Geographical Origin) that significantly predict the use of competitive language in competitive sport, R² = .177, R2 adj = .066, F(7, 702) = 6.86, p = .0001. This model accounted for less than 1% of the variability in the intentionality of competitive language use and interpretation. Overall, results support the CLII as an inductive tool to understand the socialized behavior of the athlete community within competitive environments.

“Skating gives me a freedom to be myself”:

Christy Greenleaf, Brady Cawthon, Gretchen Paulson — Thu, 21 May 2026 00:00:00 -0700

Figure skaters often experience pressure to attain and maintain a thin and lean physique, yet adults who participate may have opportunity to experience embodiment and body inclusivity through skating. Thus, grounded in Piran’s (2016) Developmental Theory of Embodiment, we explored adult skaters’ experiences of embodiment and perceptions of body size inclusivity. Participants, n = 46, individuals aged 25 or older who have regularly engaged in figure skating within the last 5 years completed a series of surveys to assess the experiences of embodiment, self-esteem, body compassion, experiences of flow, and perceptions of body inclusivity. We also examined, via responses to open-ended questions, skaters’ experiences of embodiment through skating, factors that influence their body image, and perceptions of body inclusivity within adult figure skating. Embodying experiences were positively correlated (ps < .05) with all variables except flow. Thematic analysis of responses to open-ended items revealed embodying experiences consistent with Piran’s conceptualization, mixed feelings about body inclusivity within adult skating and numerous constraining factors related to body image. Study results provide researchers and practitioners with preliminary information regarding adult athletes’ experiences of embodiment and body inclusivity; yet additional work is warranted.

Impairment-Performance Dynamics in Para Surfing Kneel/Upright Sport Class:

Maureen Johnson, Mohan Ganesan, Anna Ishizawa — Thu, 21 May 2026 00:00:00 -0700

Adaptive surfers with amputations, spinal cord injury, and neurological conditions, such as cerebral palsy, are competing against each other in international Paralympic-style competitions. This cross-sectional study is the first to examine the relationship between impairment and performance in the Para Surfing (PS) Kneel/Upright sport class using data from seven international competitions. A total of 39 athletes (31 male, 8 female) were analyzed based on demographics, classification testing results, surf stance, and experience, with performance assessed through judged wave scores and contest rankings. No significant differences were found in performance scores (p = .317) or rankings (p = .635) based on impairment. However, athletes using a sideway kneeling stance performed significantly better than those using a forward kneeling stance (p = .004). Training frequency (p = .039), competition experience (p = .007), and prior surf experience (p = .006) positively correlated with performance, while better rankings were associated with higher performance scores (p < .001). These findings suggest that athletes in the PS Kneel/Upright sport class experience a comparable impact from their varied health conditions, supporting their classification for fair competition. Additionally, training volume, competitive exposure, and surf stance play key roles in performance outcomes, providing insights for athlete development and classification refinement.

Movement Patterns of Mid Major Head Coaches Before and During the Name, Image, and Likeness Era

Hannah Kloetzer, Molly Harry — Thu, 21 May 2026 00:00:00 -0700

Recent National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) reports highlight increased athlete mobility due to the implementation of the transfer portal in 2018 and Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) in 2021. While some coaches have argued Mid Major programs serve as steppingstones for athletes transferring to Power Four conferences, less attention has been given to Mid Major coaches, who are able to move freely. Thus, this study examined Mid Major football and men’s and women’s basketball head coach movement from the 2017-2018 to 2024-2025 seasons. Using publicly available rosters, we mapped coach trends, analyzing the direction of job movements. Chi-squared and ANOVA tests revealed that football coaches were more likely to move, get fired, or transition up to a Power Four or professional team. Men’s basketball coaches were more likely to move laterally within Mid Major conferences, while women’s basketball coaches were more likely to hold the longest tenures. Study findings highlight the importance of understanding coach mobility, providing insights into career trajectories, sport-specific dynamics, and managerial investment strategies, particularly in the evolving NIL era. Lastly, these insights extend beyond college athletics, as coaching pipelines, managerial guidance, and system and policy shifts occur across all levels of sport.