Future Sport Research Articles

Director Selection: Drivers for the Adoption and Design of Nomination Committees by New Zealand National Sport Organizations

Nomination committees (NCs) are a critical, yet under-researched, part of the good governance equation. This study contributes to baseline knowledge of NC adoption and design. Underpinned by critical realism, four national sports organization case studies explain the “why” and “how” of NC adoption through a multitheoretical lens. Change strategies are identified using Hampel et al.’s mechanisms (symbolic, relational, and material) approach to institutional (creation) work outcomes. Archer’s morphogenetic cycle helps to demonstrate the interplay between structure, culture, and agency in achieving the change with the study, providing a timely reminder of the power of morphostasis (inertia). The results are important for future NC design to better inform national sport organization NCs’ structures and processes (including case-appropriate balance between community and corporate logics in national sport organization governance re-configurations) and aid future evaluations of NC effectiveness. A critical realism multitheoretical and multicase approach is modeled for future sport management studies.

Sport Management Research Productivity and Impact for Ranking Considerations

The present essay aims to promote further dialogue within the sport management community about research productivity and impact by outlining various considerations that should take place within any potential ranking attempt. Some may question why examining research production and impact matters to sport management education, but the mission of many institutions of higher education is not exclusively centered on teaching and training the next generation of leaders. In many instances, sport management programs and faculty are collectively compelled by their host institution to develop theory and search for answers to important questions that can shape future sport management practices, including classroom activities and materials. In the present essay, a rationale is provided for why sport management programs and individual faculty should be interested in developing their own tailored research output and impact rankings. Next, a list of research product variables is offered for consideration, and a conversation is provided about their need and impact with respect to the uniqueness of sport management—a multi-interdisciplinary field. Finally, recommendations for the weighing of such variables to tailor an approach best suited to programs based on college or department home, faculty appointment/workload, and faculty-to-student ratio are submitted.

The VALUE of COSMA Outcomes: Student Learning Outcomes, Transferable Skills and Taxonomy Levels

Using a content analysis of all published Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs) of Commission on Sport Management Accreditation (COSMA) accredited programs, the current study analyzes SLOs to assess the most frequently used measurable verbs (utilizing a revised version of Blooms’ Taxonomy) and transferable skills (utilizing the definitions provided by AAC&U’s VALUE Outcomes and their corresponding rubrics) emphasized by accredited programs. An analysis of the most common Taxonomy Levels is presented at the aggregate level as well as a comparison between undergraduate and graduate education to provide a case study of SLO measurable verb alignment across accredited sport management programs. Further, content areas of the SLOs were analyzed to understand what transferable skills and specialized knowledge are focused on by sport management degree programs. The emphasis on the Apply Level verbs overall and the Create Level verbs at the graduate level provide insight into the degree of proficiency expected amongst accredited programs. The emphasis on Oral Communication in SLOs may indicate that it is the most valuable transferable skill for future sport managers according to sport management faculty. Finally, a simplified version of Bloom’s Taxonomy focusing on the verbs most frequently utilized in COSMA accredited Sport Management program SLOs is proposed.

Middle School Students’ Team Cohesion Development Within a Sport Education Season: A Mixed Methods Investigation

Purpose: The purposes of the study were to examine the longitudinal changes of team cohesion within a Sport Education season among female students and to identify facilitators and barriers underlying cohesion development. Method: A longitudinal, concurrent, mixed methods design was employed. Students from sixth to eighth grades (all girls; n = 55) in small teams (n = 15), and their physical education teacher, from one convenience private school in a southern U.S. state, participated in this study. All students completed the validated Youth Sport Environment Questionnaire across three time points. Regular field observations, focus group interviews with students, and individual interviews with student leaders and the physical education teacher were conducted to capture the facilitators and barriers. Results: No significant time effect was observed for team cohesion, but student leadership significantly moderated cohesion development from Time 2 to Time 3 and from Time 1 to Time 3, but not from Time 1 to Time 2. Qualitative data unraveled four facilitators and three barriers underlying cohesion development. Conclusion: The findings are informative for future Sport Education-based curricular and instructional practices to nurture team cohesion.

A novel approach for sports injury risk prediction: based on time-series image encoding and deep learning.

The rapid development of big data technology and artificial intelligence has provided a new perspective on sports injury prevention. Although data-driven algorithms have achieved some valuable results in the field of sports injury risk assessment, the lack of sufficient generalization of models and the inability to automate feature extraction have made it challenging to deploy research results in the real world. Therefore, this study attempts to build an injury risk prediction model using a combination of time-series image encoding and deep learning algorithms to address this issue better. This study used the time-series image encoding approach for feature construction to represent relationships between values at different moments, including Gramian Angular Summation Field (GASF), Gramian Angular Difference Field (GADF), Markov Transition Field (MTF), and Recurrence Plot (RP). Deep Convolutional Auto-Encoder (DCAE) learned the image-encoded data for representation to obtain features with good discrimination, and the classifier was performed using Deep Neural Network (DNN). The results from five repeated experiments show that the GASF-DCAE-DNN model is overall better in the training (AUC: 0.985 ± 0.001, Gmean: 0.930 ± 0.007, Sensitivity: 0.997 ± 0.003, Specificity: 0.868 ± 0.013) and test sets (AUC: 0.891 ± 0.026, Gmean: 0.830 ± 0.027, Sensitivity: 0.816 ± 0.039, Specificity: 0.845 ± 0.022), with good discriminative power, robustness, and generalization ability. Compared with the best model reported in the literature, the AUC, Gmean, Sensitivity, and Specificity of the GASF-DCAE-DNN model were higher by 23.9%, 27.5%, 39.7%, and 16.2%, respectively, which confirmed the validity and practicability of the model in injury risk prediction. In addition, differences in injury risk patterns between the training and test sets were identified through shapley additivity interpretation. It was also found that the training volume was an essential factor that affected injury risk prediction. The model proposed in this study provides a powerful injury risk prediction tool for future sports injury prevention practice.

Spor Yöneticiliğinin Evrimi: Yönetim Bilimleri Yaklaşımıyla, Eğilimler ve Gelecek Vizyonu

The aim of this study is to examine the trends, future vision, and development of sports management from the perspective of management sciences. The scope of the research is to understand the discipline and field of sports management, evaluate its historical development, and identify future trends. As this study is a review article based on literature analysis, no fieldwork or experimental methods were used. The data were analyzed by synthesizing information obtained from existing sources. From the perspective of management sciences, sports management is a field that applies management principles and techniques to the specific conditions of the sports industry. This includes practices such as strategic planning, personnel management, marketing, and communication. Sports managers should make strategic decisions, develop leadership skills, and effectively utilize resources by applying management principles in sports organizations to achieve success. Sports management education should aim to train future sports managers who can adapt to the rapidly changing sports industry. This should involve gaining competencies in areas such as keeping up with technological advancements, data analysis, and digital marketing. Additionally, topics like globalization and diversity should be addressed as sports organizations are becoming increasingly international.

Comparison of the Opinions of School Management and Students of the Faculty of Sports on the Use of School Spaces for Physical Activity

Statutory and by-law regulations determine the functioning of the primary school, and within this also define the way these premises are used. Within the framework of the project Designing guidelines for the quality design of modern school architecture with the aim of supporting a comprehensive sustainable way of living and working in school, an important goal is to establish opportunities for a movement-friendly school. The goal was to check the attitude of school leaders (with many years of experience) and the future professional sports public (without many years of experience) to the use of different school facilities for the realization of supporting physical activity. Questionnaires were filled out by 21 elementary school principals and 72 students in the third year of first-level studies and the first year of second-level studies at the Ljubljana Faculty of Sports. Both groups would make significantly better use of the existing spaces for physical activity, but in comparison, managements are more in favor of the occasional use of school spaces such as classrooms, corridors and multi-purpose halls, outdoor children's and outdoor sports grounds for sports activities; the managements estimate that there are not enough toilets, shower cubicles, hand basins in their schools, both found a lack of foot basins; students notice more that students do not shower after practice; a slightly smaller proportion of management would practice athletics, gymnastics, football and handball in gyms; the proportion of managers who would dedicate corridors and a multi-purpose hall to football in the future is higher, and the proportion of those who plan athletic content on the outdoor children's playground is lower.

Exploring the Experiences and Perceptions of Adults With Spinal Cord Injury or Disease Aged 50 Years or Older on Participation in Sports.

Sports are physical activities that provide physical, psychological, and social benefits for individuals with spinal cord injury/disease (SCI/D). However, most sports research has been completed on individuals with SCI/D who are aged >50 years, even though the majority of people with SCI/D are aged >50 years. Despite substantial evidence supporting sports for older adults not living with a disability, there is currently no research examining the impact of sports for adults with SCI/D aged ≥50 years. To explore the perceptions and experiences of individuals with SCI/D aged 50 years or older who participate in sports in the community. Fifteen adults with SCI/D aged ≥50 years who participated in community-based sports were interviewed. Interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. Conventional content analysis was applied to the data. The overarching theme identified was that sports are fun and adaptable physical activities that have the potential to optimize physical, psychological, and social health in all people with SCI/D, regardless of age. Within this overarching theme, six categories surfaced: (1) importance of participating in sports later in life, (2) prioritizing health over performance, (3) uncertainties about participating in sports later in life, (4) reflections on participating in sports later in life, (5) beliefs on alternative sports involvement, and (6) advice for other aging adults with SCI/D considering sports. Sports are perceived to provide physical, psychological, and social benefits for individuals with SCI/D aged 50 years or older. Findings will inform the development of future adaptive sports programs for older individuals with SCI/D.

Artificial Intelligence Program for Predicting Wrestlers' Sports Performances.

To date, there are conflicting opinions about the effectiveness of the introduction of artificial intelligence technologies in sports. In this regard, the purpose of the study was to develop and integrate an intellectual program for predicting competitive success into the process of selecting wrestlers to increase its effectiveness. The authors developed a program for predicting the sports performance of wrestlers on the basis of artificial intelligence technology. To implement the study, the individual data of Greco-Roman wrestlers (n = 72) were collected and processed on 36 comparison traits, ranked into categories according to three key areas: sports space, hereditary data and individual achievements. As a result of data processing through means of deep neural networks and machine learning algorithms, two prediction categories were identified: athletes who performed at the sport rank or the highest standard and athletes who did not achieve this standard. Control testing of the created program showed only 11% of error probability in predicting a given wrestler's competitive performance. As for the functionality of the program in the area of classification of the features by category, the authors' artificial intelligence program with 100% probability identified key categories of traits that reliably affect the results of the future sports performance of a young wrestler. Thus, the use of neural networks and machine learning algorithms, according to the results of the study, improves the quality of sports selection, which will allow further timely individualization and improvement of the training process of young wrestlers.

Aerodynamics-based design of the rear wing of a sports car

The value that people place on a car's performance has increased significantly in recent years. With advances in automotive technology, the performance of racing cars has become a critical factor in their success. The study of aerodynamics has become increasingly important in achieving efficiency and speed in sports cars. Despite the growing interest in a car's appearance, the design of sports cars remains highly focused on aerodynamics. The rear wing, in particular, plays a critical role in the car's overall performance, providing downforce and reducing drag. As a result, designing an effective rear wing is a critical aspect of any sports car design. This article analyzes and compares different rear wing designs to determine which is the most effective. By considering factors such as shape, size, and angle of attack, designers can optimize the rear wing's performance for a particular car and racing conditions. The findings of this analysis can help inform future sports car designs and contribute to continued improvements in automotive performance.

Research on the Competence of Future Coaches to Deal with Harassment and Aggression amongst Children during Sports Training

Bullying and aggressive behavior among children are a serious problem in our society. This study aims to investigate to what extent future sports pedagogues – and sports coaches – are prepared to recognize and respond to bullying among children aged 7 – 10. One hundred eighty full-time undergraduate university students voluntarily participated in the empirical study. The students were in their second year of undergraduate programs, preparing future coaches with different sports profiles. A questionnaire with study cases was developed and distributed for the students to complete. The questions were designed to explore students’ knowledge regarding the application of punishment in education and the skills formed to prevent and intervene in bullying among sporting children. The surveyed students were “more sparing” regarding the possible use of harsher punishments, such as removal from play/practice, and the widespread use (in sports contexts) of punishment through individual and additional exercise. The surveyed students demonstrated good knowledge and competence in applying punishment as an educational method in cases of bullying and aggression among children and preferred intervention measures to be more positive. It can be summarized that second-year students have the attitude to carry out educational influences on sporting children and do not entirely rely on parents’ assistance and support in education.

O.1.1-6 Active in Mind: a 6-year synthesis of the effects of a physical activity and mental health-focused programme on young people in a school-based setting

Abstract Purpose Mental health issues in young people are rising and have many adverse impacts on their health, development and education. The Active in Mind programme is a free to access, school-based intervention that uses physical activity as a vehicle for improving young people’s physical, mental and social wellbeing, whilst addressing physical inactivity. The programme is led by an Athlete Mentor, alongside student mentors, and targets young people with low-moderate mental health issues, who are not receiving statutory support, as mentees. Project description The Active in Mind programme was first piloted in 2016. Subsequent iterations of the programme have been based on evidence from both previous approaches of each implementation and evaluation, as well as the evolution of the needs of young people and schools. Together, the Active in Mind programme has always sought to address the current needs of schools and young people, with evidence-based core components that can be adapted based on school needs. To date, the programme has reached 21,216 young people. Survey data from young people at baseline and post-programme across this time period has been synthesised. Overall, synthesised outcome data from a subset of young people demonstrates improvements in mentees’ physical activity levels, mental and social wellbeing, whilst improving mentors’ life skills such as leadership, team working and communication skills. Differences in outcomes between mentors and mentees are present, as well as differences in young people from less and more affluent backgrounds. Conclusion The current synthesis of self-reported data demonstrates the effectiveness of a free to access school-based physical activity programme on young people’s physical activity levels, mental and social wellbeing and life skills. A strength of the programme is its evidence-based implementation and evaluation and that it provides a solution for the current challenges schools are facing around young people’s mental and physical wellbeing. The programme’s evaluations have contributed to design and development of future Youth Sport Trust programmes. In addition, evaluations of the programme have also evolved across the time period to ensure the most influential format of evidence is created, in order to influence external policymakers and decision makers at the time.

Contemporary Developments in Sport Pedagogy and Their Implications for Sport Management Education

This paper provides an in-depth analysis of the contemporary developments in sport pedagogy and their implications for sport management education. Sport pedagogy, as a field of study, focuses on the various teaching and learning strategies employed in sports education. It encompasses principles and approaches that aim to optimize the learning experience, enhance skill development, and create a positive and inclusive learning environment within sports settings. This paper explores the intersection of sport pedagogy and sport management education, highlighting key trends and advancements in sport pedagogy and their relevance to preparing future sport managers. The paper discusses the integration of technology in sport management education, the incorporation of experiential learning, and the promotion of inclusion and diversity in sport management programs. By embracing these contemporary developments, sport management education can enhance the learning experience, prepare students for the dynamic sports industry, and foster inclusive and culturally sensitive practices. The paper concludes by emphasizing the importance of integrating contemporary sport pedagogy in sport management education and outlining potential benefits for students, educators, and the sports industry. Furthermore, it identifies future directions for research and practice in this area, highlighting the need for ongoing evaluation, innovation, and adaptation to meet the evolving needs of the sports industry and its stakeholders.

Determinants of entrepreneurial intentions in European sports science students: Towards the development of future sports entrepreneurs

This study aims to analyse the determinants of sport science students’ entrepreneurial intentions considering the cultural effect on these relationships. The sample comprises 764 final-year sport science students from five European countries: Lithuania, Spain, Ukraine, Serbia, and Croatia. A validated structured questionnaire was used to collect the data. The results showed significant direct effects between attitude towards behaviour and perceived behavioural control in sport science students’ entrepreneurial intentions in all countries. Entrepreneurial skills presented an indirect impact (through attitude and perceived behavioural control) on all countries’ entrepreneurial intentions. However, the importance of each of these variables in explaining entrepreneurial intentions varied according to the students’ national culture. This study presents a series of educational policy implications to improve sports science students’ employability by developing their entrepreneurial spirit.

Preparing Sport Leaders of the Future To Lead Equitable, Diverse, and Inclusive Sport Organizations: The Insights and Strategies of Professors

Researchers have documented the tangible and significant benefits to organizations having more diverse senior leadership teams. However, not all industries have embraced his practice. While gains have been made for women securing senior positions in professional sport, the rate of change has been slow, despite the fact that men and women equally aspire to these roles, and women outnumber men in many sport management educational programs. Systemic and structural barriers exist for women seeking senior leadership levels in the industry, a fact that only the women students seem to appreciate (Gray & Weese, 2021). This descriptive study extends this research by engaging sport management professors to determine if they understand the issue and, if so, what they were doing to ensure that their students understand the benefits of equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI). The professors clearly appreciated the issue and recognized the gender differences that exist between their men and women students. They also shared activities and strategies they use to help ensure that the next generation of sport leaders value and advocate for EDI leadership practices. The professors agreed that they needed to continue to heighten the awareness and sensitivities of their students on the topics of EDI, and they all believed that they could do more to incorporate EDI perspectives in their classes and mentorship sessions. Ten recommendations are provided to assist current and future sport management professors address this critical issue.

The university training of the sports manager in Italy between legislative misapplications and overlapping degree courses

PurposeThe implementation of the 2021 sports reform in Italy introduced new professional figures, including the sports manager, defined by Legislative Decree no. 36/2021. According to this law, a master's degree in Organization and Management of Services for Exercise and Sport Sciences (LM-47) is required to practice as a sports manager. However, some universities offer bachelor's and master's degree courses in sports management under different study classes, such as Sciences of Legal Services (L-14), Administration and Organization Sciences (L-16), Business and Management Sciences (L-18), and Business Economics (LM-77). These degree courses may qualify individuals as pseudo-sports managers, despite substantial differences in the educational content compared to the legally defined sports manager profile. This study aimed to assess the illegitimate overlap of degree courses outside the class LM-47 and the discrepancies in their study plans compared to those of LM-47, which is the only one corresponding to the sports manager profile.MethodsThis documentary investigation used the two Ministerial Decrees of 2007 of the bachelor’s and master’s degree classes to extrapolate the degree courses involved in the overlap. Universitaly portal was used to identify the relevant subjects included in the individual degree courses in sports management other than the LM-47. The textual analysis of the objectives and content of the degree courses was done through the literature review tool Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA), highlighting the relevant or consistent elements of the profile of the sports manager as established by law.ResultsDegree courses in Law and Sports Management in class L-14 have a juridical professional profile, which is minimally relevant to the sports manager's role. Similarly, degree courses in Economics and Business Management Sciences in the class L-18 and Administration and Organization Sciences in the class L-16 focus on economic–financial administration and management control, lacking alignment with the sports manager profile. Even master's degree courses in the class LM-77 exhibit disparities with the sports manager profile as defined by the law. Furthermore, all these degree courses lack European credit transfer system (ECTS) credits in the exercise and sport sciences area, an essential aspect of the sports manager profession.ConclusionThere are evident contradictions in the degree courses designed for sports managers other than LM-47. According to the law, a master’s degree in study class LM-47 is required to pursue this profession, but there are several degree programs from different classes of study (juridical and economic) available in the national educational offering. This situation may lead to the misapplication of Legislative Decree no. 36/2021 and result in problems with professional accreditation and limited employment opportunities for graduates of such courses. To promote the development of this professional figure, it is necessary to improve the educational offerings in the LM-47 with a more integrated approach to various economic and juridical knowledge to meet the educational needs of future sports managers who navigate the real dynamics of the sports industry.

Breaking the Glass: The Perception of Gender Disparity from Future Sport Professionals

The purpose of this study is to investigate gender disparities among students seeking entrance into the sports industry. With the growing trend of women facing differences in the sports industry, an exploration of the connection between professional challenges and the perception of future professions is necessary. A convenience sample of one hundred and fifty one (N=151) subjects who possessed sport related academic majors were selected to participate in the study. The subjects' ages, racial groups, classifications, and university or college of attendance varied. Two of the sites surveyed were classified as Historically Black Colleges and Universities. Subjects were asked to complete a questionnaire, which consisted of 15 question items. A modified version of the Career Pathway Survey (CPS) was used as the questionnaire for this research project. The questionnaire was distributed via email to the subjects using an anonymous Google Forms link. Descriptive statistics were used to assess if a significant relationship existed between the responses of the Career Pathway Survey and demographic variables. These variables included student major, gender, age, classification, and race. Keywords: Gender disparities in sports, sport management students, glass ceilings, career opportunities, career preparation

Adolescent tennis players' injury profile and awareness level of sports injury

Objective: The aim of this study is to examine the relationship between injury risk profile and injury awareness, as well as the level of injury knowledge and the incidence of injuries among adolescent tennis players. Material and Methods: One hundred seventy-nine adolescent tennis players (n: 98 females and 81 males, age: 13.9±1.6 years), who had a history of at least one sports injury were included in the study. A questionnaire was designed by sport experts that questioned about the tennis injuries and awareness of tennis injuries. Results: The most injured area was the shoulder (22%). It was followed by elbow (19%), ankle (17%), wrist (16%), and the knee (12%). Experiencing more sport injuries (more than twice) increased 5.7 times (p<0.01) if they had medium knowledge level, and increased 22.4 times if they had low knowledge level (p<0.001). Conclusion: Upper extremity injuries are more common in adolescent tennis players comparing with lower extremity injuries. In addition, the number of previous tennis injuries was related to training load and the athletes' awareness of tennis injuries. Therefore, optimizing tennis training load and increasing the level of injury awareness in adolescent tennis players may be important in preventing future sports injuries.

‘Zero Gravity’: Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on the Professional Intentions and Career Pathway Vision of Sport Management Students

The pandemic caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus has transformed the professional landscape and people’s career expectations. Especially among students, who now face new challenges not foreseen when they started their studies before the pandemic. Nevertheless, to date, there are no specific studies that examine in depth how the restrictions associated with the COVID-19 pandemic have reshaped the professional expectations of future sport managers. To address this research gap, the main purpose of the study is to explore how COVID-19 pandemic has affected the professional intentions and career plans of sport management students. To this end, we share the visions collected in written essays, that a group of 90 students from the Paris Saclay University (France) have concerning their professional future and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on it. The essays were qualitatively analyzed based on the self-concept theory of career development through the person–environment perspective. The findings suggest that the COVID-19 outbreak influenced sport management students’ self-concept, their future workplace and employment time choice planning, and overall, their vision and intention for their career path. Accordingly, sports management educators, educational institutions, and policymakers need to ensure that sport management curricula and teaching practices address the new demands of the sports industry prompted by the pandemic, together with the expectations and educational needs of the sport management students.

Experienced vs. Novice Participants Perception of Overall Quality and Intention to Join in Future Sport Trials: Case European Duathlon Championship.

Even though athletes' experience has been ascertained to shape the perception of quality in sports events, scarce studies have addressed this issue jointly with the intent to join in upcoming comparable sports challenges. (1) Background: The present research investigates how the experience determines the evaluation of the championship and future intentions. (2) Methods: The PLS (SEM) method was evaluated specifically for both novice and experienced duathlon participants, and secondly, the fsQCA methodology was applied with the intention to estimate combinatorial net effects to confirm the hypothesis proposed. (3) Results reveal that the overall quality is equally important for novice and experienced individuals as a determinant of future intentions. However, novices tend to value more positively all the dimensions analyzed, while experienced ones noted higher levels of demand. (4) These findings highlight the importance of designing adequate management strategies for the participants with different levels of performance.