In a recent study, MSU Kinesiology doctoral student Veronica Son and department chair Deborah Feltz have found that individuals are more motivated if they are working as part of a team, as opposed to focusing solely on themselves. Specifically, the researchers saw increased performance when the word “I” was replaced with “we” in self-talk motivational statements. “I believe in the power of ‘we,’” Son...
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Aaron Scheidies, a 2004 graduate of Kinesiology from the Michigan State University College of Education, is one of two recipients of the 2011 Distinguished Young Alumni Award – and it’s no wonder why. Scheidies is a physical therapist, model, public speaker and triathlete who has only 10% of the vision of a fully sighted person. Despite being born with  Stargardt disease - a condition that...
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This past Sunday, a 27-year-old pregnant woman named Amber Miller gave birth to her daughter merely seven hours after crossing the finish line of a marathon. A controversial topic, TIME Healthland covered the story, and consulted MSU College of Education kinesiology professor Jim Pivarnik for an expert’s viewpoint. When asked about the implications of Miller’s choices, Pivarnik said that all pregnant women...
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Cognitive scientist Sian Beilock has devoted her career to the study of high-pressure situations, and how people – mainly students and athletes - respond to them. As a student and lacrosse player herself, Beilock was immediately drawn to the topic, and has since discovered ways to keep from choking under pressure. In one study, Beilock found that if athletes sing...
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Dan Gould, professor of kinesiology at the MSU College of Education and director of the Institute for the Study of Youth Sports, has appeared in ABC News twice this past week. In an Oct. 4 article, Gould provided insight about post-injury psychological effects, in regards to Indianapolis Colts defensive tackle Erick Foster’s recent ankle injury. Gould predicted that Foster may develop anxiety and...
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Brian Tass, a 2001 kinesiology graduate from the MSU College of Education, has recently been selected as the new varsity head coach of the Novi High School boys’ basketball team. With six years of success as head coach at Waterford Kettering High School, Tass says he hopes to keep the Novi program running strong. “I think Novi basketball will...
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