Browsing by Author "Ferguson, G"

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    Coaches’ perceptions on qualities defining good adolescent rugby players and are important for player recruitment in talent identification programs: the SCRuM project
    (2019-03-13) Chiwaridzo, M; Munambah, N; Oorschot, S; Magume, D; Dambi, J M; Ferguson, G; Smits-Engelsman, B C M
    Objective Competitive rugby is increasingly becoming popular among adolescent players even in countries hardly known for rugby such as Zimbabwe. Given the increased participation rates, burgeoning talent identification (TID) programs and the reportedly high injury-risk associated with competitive youth rugby, the minimal qualities or skills needed for effective performance by all young players need further clarification. Therefore, this qualitative study was conducted to explore the perceptions of high-school based rugby coaches on the key qualities or skills defining good adolescent rugby players and should be considered for player recruitment in TID programs. Currently, there is no consensus in literature from the coaches’ perspective on these qualities. Results The final sample had 22 coaches (median age = 45.5 years) with years of coaching high-school rugby ranging from 6 to 17 years. Using the conventional approach to inductive content analysis four broad themes emerged suggesting the multifaceted nature of the requirements imperative for effective and optimal rugby performance among adolescent rugby players as perceived by the coaches. Themes identified included: physiological characteristics, anthropometric attributes, psychological qualities and game-specific skills. Possibly, training approaches or design of rugby-specific test-batteries should consider all these important qualities and be multi-dimensional in composition.
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    High-school adolescents’ motivation to rugby participation and selection criteria for inclusion in school rugby teams: coaches’ perspective (the SCRuM project)
    (BioMed Central, 2019-02-26) Chiwaridzo, M; Ferguson, G; Smits-Engelsman, B C M
    Objective: Despite increasing rugby popularity among schoolboys’ worldwide, specific factors influencing their motivation to participate in rugby remain unclear. Therefore, this study was conducted in two parts with a dual purpose of exploring perceptions of rugby coaches on (i) factors motivating schoolboys to engage in competitive rugby, and (ii) criteria for selecting schoolboy rugby players for possible inclusion in school rugby teams. Results A qualitative study targeting Zimbabwean high school-based rugby coaches purposively-recruited during the 2017 Dairiboard Zimbabwe Rugby School Festival was conducted. Using the conventional approach to content analysis, the 22 recruited male coaches (median age = 45.5 years) felt that playing rugby is a choice largely influenced by either intrinsic or extrinsic motives for schoolboys. Additionally, coaches considered players’ characteristics (performance during training, attitude, physical qualities and skills) and match-related factors when selecting schoolboys for possible inclusion in school rugby teams. To effectively promote competitive rugby participation among schoolboys and promote sustainable and effective talent identification programmes in Zimbabwe, more recognition should be paid to factors motivating schoolboys to participate in rugby and also on the factors coaches consider when assembling school rugby teams which indirectly informs on what coaches think should be trained among schoolboy rugby players.
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    Motor Development in Children Living within Resource Poor Areas of the Western Cape
    (2007) Ferguson, G; Jelsma, J M
    Introduction: In 1986, Irwin-Carruthers tested 681 Black African babies from the Western Cape and concluded that the South African sample was in advance of the Denver sample both in fine and gross motor behaviour. This study was to determine whether the motor development of isiXhosa speaking children from the same area was still advanced compared to their North American counterparts. Method: The Bayley Scales of Infant Development-II were administered to 86 children attending well baby clinics, between the ages of 1-36 months. Results: The mean motor developmental quotient was 92 (SD=15). Twenty eight percent of the sample was either significantly or mildly delayed. No socio-economic or maternal characteristics were associated with this score. Conclusion: The reasons for the decrease in performance are not clear. The socio-economic situation of the mothers was poor and there were a large number of single mothers whose sole source of income was government child support grants. It is likely that the cause of the decrease is multi-factorial. The mothers are clearly in need of emotional and financial support. It is suggested that the introduction of stimulation programmes might be useful in reducing the long term impact of this delayed development.
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    Widening Access to undergraduate physiotherapy education in South Africa: Pointers from students records
    (2012) Amosun, S L; Maart, S; Ferguson, G; Manie, S
    In response to the state mandate to improve access and equity in higher education, the admission policy of universities in South Africa (SA) currently employs measures for the redress of past inequalities and racial injustices. As there is no information on the processes to widen access to undergraduate physiotherapy education program in SA, the aim of this reported study was to search for pointers from students’ records in one local university, situated in the Western Province of SA, that would inform the development of strategies that will widen the access for previously disadvantaged population groups and ensure successful academic outcomes. The records of six cohorts of students who earlier applied for and later enrolled in the undergraduate physiotherapy program between the years 2000 and 2005 were retrospectively reviewed. Information pertaining to access, student characteristics, and academic persistence was extracted, reviewed and analysed descriptively. During the period reviewed, approximately equal numbers of Black and non-Black students applied for admission to the program. The proportion of Black applicants meeting minimum admission requirements was less than half of the White/Asian applicants. Less than 50% (105/212) of the offers made to Black applicants were accepted. Forty one percent (43/105) of the enrolled Black students successfully completed the program within the minimum 4 years compared to 75.5% (145/192) of the White/Asian students. Strategies should be implemented to increase awareness and recruitment, improve enrolment rates, and improve retention and throughput for Black students in the undergraduate physiotherapy program of a historically “white” SA university.