Is it Fun to Run?
Notes and Bibliography
INTERVIEW QUESTIONNAIRE
During informal interviews with seven high school athletes and six NCAA athletes, five general areas were explored: practices, coaches, priorities, expectations, and reasons for participation. However, since the interviews were conducted as informal conversations, various follow-up questions and responses to comments made by athletes took each interview in slightly different directions. However, the general outline of the interviews follows:
1. Describe your typical track practice.
2. Describe your coaches (or your main event coach) with respect to the following characteristics.
a. Approachability
b. Reaction to athlete's performances (good or bad)
c. Expectations
d. Consequences (rewards or punishments for performances)
example: If you or everyone performed very well or very poorly, will practice the following day reflect those results? How so?
3. Where does track fall in terms of priority in your life?
4. What type of expectations to you have of yourself for your track career? What type of expectations does your family have for you? Your teammates?
5. Why do you participate in track? Do you look forward to it everyday? How would you, your parents, and your teammates react if you stopped participating in track?
HOMESTEAD HIGH SCHOOL TRACK AND FIELD
Homestead High School, a Division I high school in Mequon, Wisconsin, has a recognizable boys' and girls' track program that has dominated the North Shore Conference in Southeastern Wisconsin for the last decade. Further, Homestead High School is appreciated in the area as an academically focused and demanding school supported by a strong community. The student-athletes at Homestead High School are held to high expectations with regard to their performance both in school and on the track. Interviews with several members of the 2010 track and field team gave an in-depth look at the experience of high school athletes with respect to the five aforementioned areas.
UNIVERSITY OF NOTRE DAME TRACK AND FIELD
The University of Notre Dame Track and Field team, a competitive Division I program at the renowned institution in South Bend, Indiana, has won two consecutive outdoor Big East Championships and finished as the runner-up in the indoor championships for two consecutive years as well. The student-athletes at Notre Dame are expected to balance rigorous academics with demanding athletic schedules and uphold the University's commitment to building faith and community. According to a season preview for the 2009-2010 Track and Field team, "with a veteran group of student athletes and a gifted group of newcomers, the...team will have a solid chance to sweep the BIG EAST trophies and make a run for the national stage."
During informal interviews with seven high school athletes and six NCAA athletes, five general areas were explored: practices, coaches, priorities, expectations, and reasons for participation. However, since the interviews were conducted as informal conversations, various follow-up questions and responses to comments made by athletes took each interview in slightly different directions. However, the general outline of the interviews follows:
1. Describe your typical track practice.
2. Describe your coaches (or your main event coach) with respect to the following characteristics.
a. Approachability
b. Reaction to athlete's performances (good or bad)
c. Expectations
d. Consequences (rewards or punishments for performances)
example: If you or everyone performed very well or very poorly, will practice the following day reflect those results? How so?
3. Where does track fall in terms of priority in your life?
4. What type of expectations to you have of yourself for your track career? What type of expectations does your family have for you? Your teammates?
5. Why do you participate in track? Do you look forward to it everyday? How would you, your parents, and your teammates react if you stopped participating in track?
HOMESTEAD HIGH SCHOOL TRACK AND FIELD
Homestead High School, a Division I high school in Mequon, Wisconsin, has a recognizable boys' and girls' track program that has dominated the North Shore Conference in Southeastern Wisconsin for the last decade. Further, Homestead High School is appreciated in the area as an academically focused and demanding school supported by a strong community. The student-athletes at Homestead High School are held to high expectations with regard to their performance both in school and on the track. Interviews with several members of the 2010 track and field team gave an in-depth look at the experience of high school athletes with respect to the five aforementioned areas.
UNIVERSITY OF NOTRE DAME TRACK AND FIELD
The University of Notre Dame Track and Field team, a competitive Division I program at the renowned institution in South Bend, Indiana, has won two consecutive outdoor Big East Championships and finished as the runner-up in the indoor championships for two consecutive years as well. The student-athletes at Notre Dame are expected to balance rigorous academics with demanding athletic schedules and uphold the University's commitment to building faith and community. According to a season preview for the 2009-2010 Track and Field team, "with a veteran group of student athletes and a gifted group of newcomers, the...team will have a solid chance to sweep the BIG EAST trophies and make a run for the national stage."
