Center for Sport Studies

The Center for Sport Studies (CSS) strives to advance knowledge and leadership in physical activity and sport through study, intervention, outreach, and immersion. As a new and developing center, our goal is to become an accessible and educational resource for students, coaches, and our community.

Access to Physical Activity for Students with Disabilities - Tanslee Kirkham

Tanslee Kirkham, a student in Secondary Education with a Physical Education endorsement, and Dr. Foster began work to analyze and understand the accessibility to physical activity for students with physical disabilities on ISU’s campus. The team completed interviews with those who oversee physical activity, sport, and outdoor opportunities for students during the spring semester. During the summer and fall, the team plans to interview disabilitie services and students with physical disabilities.

Applying Sports Coaching Standards in Family-Centered Early Intervention - Ashley Ben-Jacob

Ashley Ben-Jacob, a PhD student in Rehabilitation Sciences, is working with Dr. Foster and Dr. Blasier (a professor in Communication Sciences and Disorders) to create curriculum to better prepare early intervention workers in coaching facilities of children who are deaf or hard of hearing. Ashley completed an independent study with Dr. Foster to understand curriculum from the sports coaching and physical education worlds and apply it to early intervention training. Ashley presented on the topic at the 2025 Early Hearing Detection & Intervention Conference in Pittsburgh, PA, and at the ISU Research Symposium, both in March.

Concussion Reporting Among Collegiate Cheerleaders - Kali Williams

Kali Williams, a Sport Management graduate of Fall 2024, and Dr. Foster completed a study on reporting practices among collegiate cheerleaders. Becuase cheerleading is not an NCAA sanctioned sport, concussion protocols are lacking. Current and former college cheer athletes completed the survey. Results indicated that athletes who received a concussion did not report because they feared losing playing time, thought they would let their team down, or did not think the concussion was serious enough. The study was presented at the December 2024 HPSS research day.

Enjoyment of Physical Activity & Rating of Perceived Exertion in Different Enviornments - Benjamin Scott

Benjamin Scott, a Sport & Exercise Science senior, and Dr. Foster completed a study on enjoyment and exertion among distance runners who ran outside on a track and inside on a treadmill. The research was presented at the College of Education Celebrating Excellence event and at the 2024 SHAPE Idaho conference.

Imagery and Motivation - Laura Magallon

Laura Magallon, a Sport Managment major, Dr. Foster, and Dr. Karen Appleby completed a study on imagery and motivation to continue physical activity. People attending an ISU rock climbing event completed a brief survey about their experience and their motivation to rock climb. Then, they were taken through an imagery session by a sport psychologist, Dr. Appleby, followed by another survey about motivation. The participants then climbed for around 30 minutes. Finally, they completed another survey assessing their experience and motivation to continue climbing. More data will be gathered during the 2025 SHAPE Idaho conference due to the few particpants completing the study.

Resilience Over Competition in Physical Education - Benjamin Park

Dr. Foster and Benjamin Park, a junior studying Secondary Education with a Physical Education endorsement, submitted an article to the Journal of Physical Education, Recreation, & Dance on teaching resilience in physical education.