Academic Athletic Associations: Management-Related Overview

Adilson Anacleto ,Carmelita Pereira Galdino ,Jade Ramos Trochmann ,Luana Maria Tavares Rosa

doi:10.7176/rhss/11-6-01

Abstract

Athletics are non-profit academic associations, found in several universities around the world. These university associations promote teamwork and fellowship of the students, through sports and social interaction. However, despite its relevance, few studies were found on the subject. Thus, this study is intended to provide an overview related to management of these types of associations. This study explores the evidence of both limitations and opportunities with regard to services provided to the academic community. For such, an exploratory and descriptive research was conducted between July and December of 2020 with 30 managers of Academic Athletics Associations. The study revealed that despite the existence of 196 higher education institutions in the State of Parana, only 30 associations were verified to exist, which represents a great potential for expansion of this type of academic athletics in the State. The main potential observed in this kind of association was the integration and strengthening of human relations, the formation of new leadership and the use of volunteer work to perform acts of community service both inside & outside the campus. In order to maximize this potential, managers must mitigate several issues. These issues include the lack of leaders’ management experience, the lack of organizational planning, and the chafing of interpersonal relationships between managers. Apparently, the embrace of strategic planning with projections for a series of actions to correct these issues over a period of up to 10 years, could benefit this type of organization, given the loss of active participants due to academic graduation and other changes in living situations. Keywords: underclassman athletics, college, university, college sports, university sports, junior athletics, young leaders DOI: 10.7176/RHSS/11-6-01 Publication date: March 31 st 2021

Highlights

Athletics are non-profit academic associations, being that their existence to be often found in several universities around the world, this model of university association prioritizes the integration and togetherness of students, through practice of social actions and sports (MALAGUTTI et al, 2020)
The relevance of sports practice in the university environment is corroborated by Hatizidakis (2006), who defines sport as a social event that integrates the students physicallyculturally and socially, fulfilling their needs for exchanges through the practice of sports in different levels that go beyond physical matters, fully developing the student and assisting in the formation of the citizen, the leisure and professional
Still according to Hatizidakis (2006), academic athletics associations in Brazil exist since 1916, having emerged from competitions between universities, where, later, the athletics associations established ties with higher education academic centers, becoming autonomous in the 70’s, being that the two last decades were marked by strengthening and expansion of Brazilian academic athletic associations

Summary

Introduction

Athletics are non-profit academic associations, being that their existence to be often found in several universities around the world, this model of university association prioritizes the integration and togetherness of students, through practice of social actions and sports (MALAGUTTI et al, 2020). According to the United Nations report (2003), sports practice promotes social integration and expands psychological strengthening, increasing the concentration levels of partakers and resulting in greater ease in the learning processes. The benefits of sports practice for learning are relevant, because once the individual reaches physical wellbeing, the levels of capacity, concentration and interpersonal relationship are expanded, essential conditions to the job market, inherent to the profession. Still according to Hatizidakis (2006), academic athletics associations in Brazil exist since 1916, having emerged from competitions between universities, where, later, the athletics associations established ties with higher education academic centers, becoming autonomous in the 70’s, being that the two last decades were marked by strengthening and expansion of Brazilian academic athletic associations

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Methods