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Dr. LaVoi joined the faculty in the School of Kinesiology in
2005 in a dual role capacity. She teaches in the graduate sport
psychology program in addition to acting as the associate
director of the Tucker Center for Research on Girls & Women in
Sport.
Generally, LaVoi’s research falls within the
social psychology of sports. She enjoys working collaboratively
with faculty and graduate students in the Tucker Center and the
Minnesota Youth Sports Research Consortium to answer critical questions that
can make a difference in the lives of youth athletes — and
particularly girls. Currently she is interested in the
interpersonal qualities of the coach-athlete relationship, how
sport parents influence their children’s psychosocial outcomes
in youth sport — specifically the effects of background anger,
and how parents and coaches together can create a
moral-motivational sports climate.
To that end, she is launching the
Minnesota
PLAYS™ (Parents Learning About Youth Sports) program, and
continues to work with the
Minnesota Youth Soccer Association, on supporting the
Parents And Coaches Together (PACT™) program
she co-developed with colleagues at the University of Notre
Dame. Dr. LaVoi also is involved with a sports diplomacy program
through the
Indiana Center for Cultural Exchange, called
Unity Through Sport (USport).
In her spare time she plays ice hockey, runs,
plays tennis, supports collegiate sports, reads, and spends time
at her cabin.
Areas of specialization
- Sport psychology, sport sociology, girls and women in
sports
Research interests
- The coach-athlete relationship, the motivational-moral
climate in youth sports contexts, sport parents, coach
education, women and coaching
Academic degrees
- B.A., Gustavus Adolphus College, 1991. Majors: health
fitness and communications
- M.A., kinesiology, University of Minnesota, 1995.
Emphasis: sport psychology
- Ph.D., kinesiology, University of Minnesota, 2002.
Emphasis: sport psychology, sport sociology
Professional experience
- University of Notre Dame. Notre
Dame, Ind., director of sports programming, Center for Ethical
Education and The Mendelson Center for Sports, Character &
Community. 2002-2005.
- Wellesley College, assistant professor of physical
education & head women’s tennis coach, Department of
Physical Education, Recreation and Athletics. Wellesley, MA.
1994-1998.
- Carleton College, assistant women’s tennis coach.
Northfield, MN. 1992-1993.
Selected publications
LaVoi, N.M. (in press) Expanding the
Interpersonal Dimension of Coaching: Closeness in the
Coach-Athlete Relationship. International Journal of Sport
Science and Coaching.
Shields, D.L., LaVoi, N.M., Bredemeier, B.L.
& Power, C.F. (in press). Predictors of poor sportspersonship in
youth sports: An examination of personal attitudes and social
influences. Journal of Sport & Exercise Psychology.
LaVoi, N.M., & Babkes Stellino, M. (in
press). The Influence of Perceived Parent Created Sport Climate
on Competitive Youth Male Hockey Players’ Good and Poor Sport
Behaviors. Journal of Psychology: Interdisciplinary & Applied.
LaVoi N.M., Buysse, J., Maxwell, H.D., &
Kane, M.J. (2007). The Influence of Occupational Status and Sex
of Decision Maker on Media Representations In Intercollegiate
Athletics. Women in Sport & Physical Activity Journal.
LaVoi, N.M., Becker, E., & Maxwell, H.D.
(2007). Content Analysis of Best-Selling Coaching Girls Books.
Women in Sport & Physical Activity Journal.
LaVoi, N.M. (2006). Interpersonal
Communication and Conflict in the Coach-Athlete Dyad. In S.
Jowett & D. Lavallee (Eds.), Social Psychology of Sport.
Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics.
Shields, D.L. Bredemeier, B.L., LaVoi, N.M.,
& Power, C.F. (2005). The behavior of youth, parents, and
coaches: the good, the bad & the ugly. Journal of Research on
Character Education, 3(1).
Professional memberships
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