Basketball coaches often refer to their teams' success or failure as a product of their players' performances at the free-throw line. In the present study, play-by-play records of 490 NCAA Division I men's basketball games were analyzed to assess the percentage of points scored from free-throws at various stages of the games. About 20% of all points were scored from free-throws. Free-throws comprised a significantly higher percentage of total points scored during the last 5 minutes than the first 35 minutes of the game for both winning and losing teams. Also, in the last 5 minutes of 246 games decided by 9 points or less and 244 decided by 10 points or more, winners scored a significantly higher percentage of points from free-throws than did losers. Suggestions for structuring practice conditions are discussed.
Basketball coaches often call a timeout just before the opposing player shoots a free-throw during the last five minutes of a close game. Their intent is to lower the opposing player's free-throw percentage. This study examined the effectiveness of this strategy in critical game situations. Play-by-play records of 1237 men's NCAA Division I games played between 1977 and 1989 were reviewed. We identified 350 verifiable timeout situations. Opposing coaches called 250 timeouts before an opponent shot a free-throw. As the score differential and time remaining in the game decreased, coaches relied on this strategy more frequently to try to control the outcome of the game. This strategy was not effective in reducing free-throw percentage, suggesting that coaches need to reconsider the strategy.
Methamphetamine (MA) abuse has been a problem in the western United States for decades. However, recently the incidence of MA abuse has risen to epidemic levels in some regions and among particular subgroups of the population. Recognizing the need to develop effective treatments for MA dependence, the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT) established a multisite Methamphetamine Treatment Program (MTP) that compares the Matrix Model treatment program for MA to the treatments as usual at seven community-based clinics in California, Montana and Hawaii. Examination of the clients receiving services though this project provides an opportunity to explore particular issues of diverse special populations who are impacted by the problem of MA dependence. These groups include rural Americans, Native Americans, Hawaiians, gay and bisexual males and drug court participants. Specifically, this article examines cultural, geographic and situational barriers to accessing and completing treatment and presents strategies that have been used to overcome these barriers.
The Methamphetamine Treatment Project is a multisite trial that compares the effectiveness of eight models of outpatient treatment for methamphetamine dependence to that of the Matrix model. These eight "treatment-as-usual" models represent diverse approaches developed in a variety of settings to serve markedly different populations. The theoretical foundations of these treatments are described as well as the settings in which they are delivered. To facilitate comparisons, details are presented with respect to frequency of group and individual sessions, duration of treatment, therapist qualifications, and access to ancillary services. The populations served by these programs vary with respect to race and ethnicity. Most programs serve primarily non-Hispanic Caucasians, but some programs serve significant proportions of Hispanics, Asians, Pacific Islanders, and Native Americans. Usual route of administration of methamphetamine also varies by site, with snorting, smoking, and injecting each reported as the most common route of administration at one or more sites. The Minnesota model and cognitive-behavioral approaches are most commonly used in these programs, although contingency management and psychodynamic approaches are also represented. The intensive phase of treatment ranges between four and 24 weeks; the number of hours per week of client contact varies between one and 13. This trial will provide the opportunity to test the effectiveness of a wide range of treatments currently in use in community settings.
The Center for Substance Abuse Treatment funded the Metamphetamine Treatment Project to evaluate and compare treatment approaches for methamphetamine users. As part of this study, drug use patterns, history of physical or sexual abuse, history of suicidality, and psychopathology were assessed in 1,016 methamphetamine-dependent outpatients entering treatment between 1999 and 2001 at eight sites across the western United States. The sample was predominately female and racially diverse. The mean age of the participants was 32.8 years. Most were methamphetamine smokers, but there were marked regional variations. Suicidality and physical or sexual abuse were common and measures of current psychopathology were high. These clinical issues were associated with more frequent use of methamphetamine and, more strongly, with concurrent use of other drugs. Therefore, the relationship between polydrug use and psychopathology in methamphetamine users warrants further investigation.
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