Creating communities that lead to retention : the social worlds and communities of umpires

Umpires (referees) are essential for sport competition, yet many sports report difficulty in recruiting and retaining umpires. Therefore, this research sought to better understand what experiences will ensure continued participation in umpiring. Previous literature suggests that the communities created are vital to umpire retention. Thus, the aim of this research was to identify the factors that lead to, or detract from sense of community for umpires. Twenty-two Australian Rules football umpires were interviewed using a semi-structured approach. This study revealed that Lack of Administration Consideration, Inequity (specifically related to remuneration and resources), Competition, Common Interest (specifically in the sport, interactions within football community, and/or within social spaces) impacted the development of sense of community for umpires. This study demonstrates that as umpires move through their careers, the outcome of the noted factors to enhance or detract from sense of community change. Implications for umpire education, accreditation, and management aimed at retaining umpires are discussed.<br /

Building Community via Sport for Adolescents

Sport is frequently claimed to foster a greater sense of community for participants. However, a dearth of quantifiable and empirical evidence supports this claim and even less is known about how sport impacts adolescents\u27 sense of community. The aim of this research was to assess the effectiveness of a sport program for adolescents. A pre/post research design was used to determine if any changes in sense of community were experienced for adolescents who took part in a three-week sport program. Sense of community was measured using the Sense of Community Index- 2. A total of 28 participants completed pre- and postsurveys. These data were analyzed and the findings indicated that significant increases in adolescents\u27 sense of community were observed. An analysis of the survey subscales revealed that the adolescent program participants in the study experienced significant increases related to Reinforcement of Needs, Membership, Influence, and Shared Emotional Connections. This study helps lay the foundation for better understanding of how sport can help build a sense of community for adolescents

Sports and Community on Campus: Constructing a Sports Experience That Matters

Student affairs personnel are often charged with the task of creating a sense of community on campuses. Sports is among the many activities that historically have been used to meet this need for community among students. Yet, how and when a sense of community is created within a sports context has not been appropriately addressed in literature. Utilizing a community psychology theoretical framework for this study, we employed a qualitative approach to uncover the necessary factors for creating a sense of community within a sports club setting. The results revealed that Common Interest, Leadership Opportunities, Voluntary Activity, and Competition were the most critical components to creating a sense of community. The results advance community building theory and suggest practical application for improving the student experience. The implications for sports managers and student affairs administrators are also discussed

Connecting It All: Creating Community in Sport and Entertainment

There is a growing concern that many individuals are no longer living in and experiencing community like previous generations. Today for many Americans, it is common for someone to have thousands of online Facebook friends without knowing his or her neighbors’ names. Despite the technological advances in communication, individuals receive less social support than in the past and are becoming less connected as a result of these shifting societal trends. Overall, individuals are reporting that they have fewer confidants and people they discuss important matters with (McPherson, Smith-Lovin, & Brashears, 2006; Putnam, 2001). Even within families, traditional American family dynamics are also changing as fewer individuals are raised in two-parent households. This is important because social relationships and connectedness are linked to health and overall well-being (Berkman, Glass, Brissette, & Seeman, 2000; Olds & Schwartz, 2010). Experiencing a strong sense of community is fundamental to one’s overall life quality, well-being, and health, which makes the shift away from living in and experiencing community concerning, as people do not have a lessened need for belonging to communities. Thus, if we can find better ways for more individuals to feel strong social support at the group level, then it is possible to improve overall life quality and ensure that this growing need for community is met. Yet it is not only individuals that are well served by communities. Because of this inherent need to feel a sense of belonging to communities, organizations can take advantage of this need by offering the opportunity to their consumers and/or stakeholders to become a part of their community. Doing so would increase the engagement of their stakeholders, and consequently, the commitment to the organization

The Price of Winning and the Impact on the NCAA Community

In many cases, athletics department spending has been spurred by a desire to field more competitive athletics programs, and it has been assumed that spending more would result in greater on-the-field success for the athletics program. However, little empirical evidence exists to support this assumption, and few studies have explored financials trends related to cost-benefit of intercollegiate athletics program. Thus, the aim of this study was to determine the relationship between on-the-field success and spending while also exploring current trends. The authors drew longitudinal data from EADA reports and then examined the association with Directors’ Cup rankings at the end of these respective seasons. The results indicated that a relationship between overall expenses and on-the-field success does exist, and points to operating expenses, rather than coaching salaries and recruiting expenses, as having greatest influence on this relationship. The cost-benefit analysis and trends over time are also explored and discussed

Employee Satisfaction in Sport: Development of a Multi-Dimensional Model in Coaching

Despite the overwhelming emphasis on job satisfaction in sport management research, scholars continue to advocate for the distinctiveness and importance of evaluating both job satisfaction and dissatisfaction. The purpose of this investigation is to develop a model of job satisfaction and dissatisfaction for intercollegiate coaches. Fifteen head coaches participated in semistructured interviews. Results revealed a sport industry speci!c three-factor model. Desirable job factors (Player-Coach Relationships, Recognition, and Social Status) were related only to satisfaction. Industry Standard Factors (Sport Policy, Salary, Recruiting, Supervision, and Life Balance) were related only to dissatisfaction. Performance Dependent Factors (Flexibility and Control, Program Building, and Relationships with Colleagues) were related to satisfaction and dissatisfaction. The results support the distinctiveness of job satisfaction and dissatisfaction as constructs, and also demonstrate a continued need for examining job attitudes within context. As sport managers understand the particular expectations of their employees and their industry they can better diagnose and solve employee issues

Winning At All Costs: A Case Study

This case addresses the challenges of sport managers to make fair and ethical decisions while considering the many potential organizational outcomes of their decisions. The case is based on a real situation that occurred within a NCAA Division III athletics setting. It highlights the decision making process of a director of athletics who must respond to the untimely arrests of the university’s star quarterback and an assistant coach. The case provides an opportunity for students to critically examine the following: 1) how a sport organization’s policies and philosophical position impact decision making, and 2) the relationship between sport and education. The case is multifaceted, and therefore, relevant for a wide spectrum of sport management classes, including sport ethics, philosophy or sociology, organizational behavior, strategic management, human resource management, and sport marketing

Perceptions of Justice within Intercollegiate Athletics among Current and Former Athletes

The topic of social justice within intercollegiate sport has focused primarily on administrator perceptions. To better understand the athletes’ perspective and the impact of athletic identity on social justice, 166 current and former NCAA athletes participated in a survey related to their perceptions of inequities during their collegiate athletic experiences. Results indicated that although no significant difference existed between current and former athletes and their levels of athletic identity, former athletes were more likely to perceive inequities. Thus, the data suggests that a shift in perspective, unrelated to athletic identity, may occur once an athlete leaves college. The results further suggest that former athletes may provide a more critical perspective that is needed to further advance social justice within intercollegiate athletics. The theoretical and practical implications of this research are discussed

Youth Sport Ministry: Looking Beyond the Court

Every year millions of children participate in church-sponsored sport leagues throughout the U.S. and Canada. In fact, the Upward sport program reports that over a half of million 5-12 year-olds compete annually in their sport leagues alone. Pastors, staff, and volunteers shoulder the task of creating and implementing a Christian-based youth sport experience that is both fun and meaningful for children. While youth sport participants in these programs typically walk away with both enhanced sport skills and a better understanding of the teachings and principles of Jesus, what is often overlooked is that youth sport serves more than the just the children