Examining fairness perceptions of financial resource allocations in United States Olympic sport.

The purpose of the study was to measure U.S. National Governing Body (NGB) administrators\u27 perceptions of fairness of financial resource allocation within the U.S. Olympic Movement. The study was grounded in the organizational justice literature, specifically in distributive justice, which focuses on the perceived fairness of outcome decisions within organizations. This study follows that pattern, but adds to it by examining a new setting and controlling for the construct of procedural justice, which focuses on perceived fairness of policies and procedures employed within organizations. The study examined the perceived fairness of seven Distribution Principles and also measured which Distribution Principle NGB administrators believed was the most fair and which was most likely to be used to make resource allocation decisions. Study participants most often identified Need to be Competitively Successful as the most fair distribution principle but believed Equity Based on Medals Won was the most likely to be used. These results expand the growing literature on resource allocation in athletics by exploring a new context, the U.S. Olympic Movement, and offer practical understanding as to how U.S. NGB administrators perceive resource distribution decisions

Role of Intercollegiate Athletics’ Identification in Student Adjustment to College Life

The study focused on the impact of intercollegiate athletic programs on students’ college adjustment. The purpose of this study was to extend existing theory on whether intercollegiate athletic programs significantly assist college students’ academic adjustment with roles of social and psychological aspects in college life. Using a sample of 320 undergraduate students, students who have higher identification with college sport teams were found to positively evaluate themselves through active interaction with other college fans, and enhance their level of academic adjustment in higher education. Additionally, team identification had a direct function to enhance academic adjustment while personal self-esteem and social adjustment played significant mediating roles between team identification and academic adjustment. Finally, this study suggests college counselors utilize college sport events for students who have faced major adjustment challenges, such as such as a lack of social relationships and academic difficulties in college life in higher education.

College Athletic Departments As Media Organizations and the Regulation of Content: Issues for the Digital Age

Non

Cookie Cutter Marketing Might Not Cut It: A Case Study On Men\u27s Tennis Marketing

There has been little to no research conducted to understand the barriers and challenges of generating awareness for the team. Utilizing a case study approach, this study explores the best target market and exposure techniques for a Division I Power Five men\u27s tennis program in the southeastern United States. This study used the planned behavior theory and the social identity theory as the theoretical lenses to better understand how university students and booster club members identify as a social group and the relation to team identity. The planned behavior theory is used in relation to sport spectators, as the subjective norms of relationships influence are significant in sport settings. Team identification has been aligned with social identity theory, a psychological theory that describes a person\u27s identity based on the relationship between the persona nd the groups they belong to. Four distinct themes emerged from the data, including communication, social interaction, connection, and hospitality. The findings suggested booster club members are the primary fans and help the team generate greater fan interest through events, such as a booster club barbeque. The importance of sociability was clear, and the implications for target marketing and team exposure to acquire fans are discussed within

The Influence of the Bowl Championship Series on Competitive Balance in College Football

Competitive balance in sport has been identified as a predictor of demand for sporting events, and leagues. Conferences frequently seek to maximize outcome uncertainty as a means of increasing demand. While competitive balance was not initially a goal of the Bowl Championship Series (BCS), competitive balance in American college football has generally been regarded as improved since the implementation of the BCS. The present study confirms empirically that within-season competitive balance inside all six founding BCS conferences has improved since its creation. However, only three of the six conferences exhibited improved between-season competitive balance, meaning frequent turnover of championship teams was not observed in all conferences. Potential implications for these findings and their impact on college football are discussed