National Intramural-Recreational Sports Association Research Articles

Inclusivity of collegiate campus recreation programs in region VI of NIRSA: a content analysis of websites

To improve the living conditions of and provide more rights and protections for individuals with disabilities, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was signed into law in 1990. Collegiate campus recreation programs are supported by student fees and/or tuition, they are a component of the educational enterprise, and they provide students a variety of benefits. As such, they should be available to all students, including those with disabilities. This study’s purpose was to determine the inclusivity and accessibility of collegiate campus recreation programs for students with disabilities, specifically in terms of representativeness on program websites within Region VI of the National Intramural-Recreational Sports Association. Twenty-four universities from Alaska, Arizona, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Northern California, Oregon, Southern California, Utah, and Washington were included. Each university’s campus recreation website was reviewed for inclusive terminology, inclusive images, and inclusivity statements. Two universities accounted for 39.48% of the total number of terms used. The largest majority used only one disability-related term on their website, half used a total of eight or fewer terms, and one university used outdated terminology. Fourteen (58.33%) of the universities included no pictures of people with disabilities or adaptive equipment on their website. Only six (25%) had a collegiate campus recreation program-specific statement at their website. On the 30th anniversary of the ADA, the majority of collegiate campus recreation programs assessed in this study had only minimal information for and representation and visibility of students with disabilities at their websites. Several recommendations are advanced to improve upon this.

NIRSA Championship Series Volunteerism: The Perceived Impact on Professional Development

The National Intramural-Recreational Sports Association (NIRSA) Championship Series (Series) has developed into the primary organization for governing extramural/sport club collegiate recreational tournaments. As NIRSA professionals describe it, the Series has also evolved into a platform for professional development. To date, however, no study has attempted to link professional growth and advancement to volunteerism at Series events. As such, the purpose of this study was to examine skills and competencies that could be correlated with volunteering at Series events. Using Astin's Input-Environment-Outcome (I-E-O) model the research team explored the environmental impact of the volunteer experience by collecting data in two phases (prevolunteer experience and 3–4 months after the volunteer experience). Results indicated that campus recreation professionals do perceive themselves to be using effective leadership and communication behaviors and that there are no significant differences in professional development based on the NIRSA region of the tournament. Some gendered differences were uncovered, but it appears that a significant number of volunteers returned to work with higher levels of job-related competencies and important networking connections. Possible implications are discussed, including a Series training program based on NIRSA's core competencies, and areas for future research.

Common Training Practices and Preferred Personality Traits of Intramural Sports Officials

This research study examined campus recreation intramural training techniques used to prepare sports officials. The top 10 techniques reported by the sample (n = 52) are presented. Use of National Intramural-Recreational Sports Association (NIRSA) training materials was found to have a significant positive relationship with overall official training program satisfaction. Intramural coordinators who self-rated as unsatisfied with training program also rated their program significantly less effective when compared to intramural coordinators who indicated satisfaction with their training program. Further inquiry determined that the responding professionals ranked officials' traits and abilities similar in importance, with confidence, knowledge, and decision making as most important. There were no differences in the preferred officials' trait ratings when compared to overall program satisfaction.

Sustainable facility development: perceived benefits and challenges

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to assess the perceived benefits and challenges of implementing sustainable initiatives in collegiate recreational sports facilities. Additionally, this paper intends to contribute to the evolving field of facility sustainability in higher education. Design/methodology/approach The design included qualitative research methods that allowed respondents to elaborate on perceived benefits and challenges. Respondents consisted of directors of campus recreation departments at National Intramural-Recreational Sports Association member institutions. Content analysis served as the method for analyzing and categorizing the data. Findings Six categories of perceived benefits became distinguishable, including Educational, Environmental, Ethical, Fiscal and Operational. Eight categories of perceived challenges emerged after responses were analyzed, including Administrative, Attitudinal, Commitment, Educational, Facility, and Fiscal. The majority of respondents indicated Fiscal demands as being the top challenge when it comes to implementing sustainable initiatives. Common themes arose from the responses and were sorted within their respective category. Originality/value This paper contributes to the evolving field of sustainability by providing some data regarding recreational sports facilities in higher education. Administrators, particularly those in Student Affairs, Facilities Management and Campus Recreation can benefit from this paper by assessing their respective institution’s current view of sustainability and by proactively determining a strategy to combat the potential challenges identified. Additionally, identifying perceived benefits can help equip facility directors and executives with justification and rationale for moving toward sustainable facility design and operation.

Sustainability and Recreational Sports Facilities: An Exploratory Study regarding Levels of Institutional Adoption

Sustainability is a hot topic in higher education. Buzz words such as green and renewable have helped brand modern environmentalism. A greater emphasis on facility planning, development, and management is contributing to sustainability efforts. Collegiate recreational sports programs often include facilities that pose a challenge to the green movement, due to their size and operational requirements. To identify efforts within the collegiate recreational sports industry, this study focused on assessing the state of facility sustainability. The purpose of this study was to assess levels of institutional adoption related to sustainable initiatives at collegiate recreational sports facilities. This foundational study attempted to create some benchmark data for the collegiate recreation industry within the National Intramural-Recreational Sports Association (NIRSA). The Collegiate Recreational Sports Sustainability Survey was developed to assess the variables in the study and was sent to directors of NIRSA member institutions. This study used quantitative research methods and produced primarily descriptive research. This research produced a number of key findings: institutions that led in adoption levels per their respective category type were two-year public institutions, large enrollment institutions, institutions from NIRSA Region VI, and institutions that contain large collegiate recreational sports facilities. In addition, significant differences in adoption levels existed between four-year public and four-year private institutions, between large and small enrollment institutions, and between institutions that had large and small facilities. Implications from this study include providing benchmark data, creating advisory committees, and modeling NIRSA Region VI institutions. This study establishes a foundation for further research on sustainability efforts in collegiate recreational sports.

Exploring the Effect of Staff Achievement on Job Satisfaction in Hong Kong Residential Clubhouse

Housing is one of the hottest topics in Hong Kong, a city with high population density, 7.24 million residents in mid-2014, and less land. Therefore, a high concern of housing issue and housing development direction occurs in recent years. Residential clubhouse becomes a selling gimmick of the private housing in spite of the unit itself. There are several reasons making residential clubhouse becomes a popular item in the private housing sector. The selling price of each unit can be set higher if there is a clubhouse services in the private housing sector. A sound human resource supply is expected as there are several leisure and recreation management diploma or bachelor degree programmes offering in Hong Kong, which should be formed a positive relationship under an increasing demand in the industry. However, the fact is hiring staff or retaining staff in residential clubhouse are always difficult. Job satisfaction is one of the important indicators towards staff recruitment and retention. There may be tons of reasons affecting residential clubhouse staffs’ job satisfaction and it is necessary to find them out to rectify the situation. Many researchers had been discussed factors affecting job satisfaction in other fields, but not in the residential clubhouse industry. Most of the researchers agreed achievement, job content, salary, interpersonal relationship, firm size, fringe benefit are the affecting factors. In this paper, achievement including work empowerment, work autonomy, recognition and reward, opportunity of position promotion, sense of self-professional status, and personal future development will be examined and explained in details in affecting job satisfaction and intended turnover rate in Hong Kong residential clubhouse. National Intramural Recreational Sports Association (NIRSA) 2009 Campus Recreational Sports Professional Staff Survey was adopted with several amendments to ensure the questions are well fit to Hong Kong situation. Significant difference was found in result of the flexibility on work arrangement among gender, open communication among age group and opportunity of promotion among different educational level. Moderate correlation of most of the sub-factors under staff achievement was found, and the opportunity of rank promotion and fringe benefit perks had the higher correlation among the others. Hence, it is suggested improving physical reward, training and learning, and recognition practice can help enhancing job satisfaction. Research results could help the practitioners to understand the current situation as this topic has not been discussed in Hong Kong before and this research study is the pioneer in exploring the satisfaction issue by one of the big factors, staff achievement in the residential clubhouse field.

Impact of Marketing Strategies on Campus Recreational Sports Departments

The purpose of this study was to examine the need for marketing efforts and a marketing plan within the campus recreation profession. Participants consisted of 218 campus recreation administrators from four-year public and private institutions affiliated with the National Intramural Recreational Sports Association (NIRSA). Results from this research suggest that established marketing strategies and marketing plans provide the campus recreation profession coordination with their marketing efforts. The second component of this research requested that respondent's identify marketing techniques being used in the campus recreation profession. Results from this research suggest that employee skills and responsibilities, external guidelines, budget constraints, and marketing mediums provide challenges to the campus recreation profession.

Best Practices in Student Development for Campus Recreation Professionals

Student employees play a vital role in the leadership and delivery of campus recreation programs. Therefore, campus recreation professionals have a unique opportunity to contribute to their development. The purpose of this study was to identify best practices for effective student development in campus recreation programs affiliated with the National Intramural Recreational Sports Association (NIRSA). Data were collected using the Delphi technique via a web-based survey. A panel of experts including five of the 2009 Regional Vice Presidents of the NIRSA organization, as well as five campus recreation professionals from each region chosen by the Regional Vice Presidents was asked to participate. Panel members advocated five general best practices and 21 specific best practices. The five general best practices were leadership opportunities, performance assessment, training and orientation, personal relationships, and professional development. The results provide a framework that campus recreation professionals can use to enhance student development of their employees.

Job Satisfaction for Campus Recreation Professionals within NIRSA Institutions

An international investigation was conducted to determine the overall job satisfaction of college campus recreation employees who are members of the National Intramural Recreational Sports Association (NIRSA). Demographic information was gathered to provide statistical analysis based on (a) region; (b) size of school; (c) private versus public; (d) four-year versus two-year schools; (e) rural, suburban, and urban location; (f) years in the profession; and (g) reporting structure. The following work related areas were examined to determine if NIRSA members were satisfied with their job environment: (a) personal/individual satisfaction, (b) staffing and organizational structure, (c) financial support, (d) salary and professional development, (e) department and individual expectations, (f) campus recreation facilities, and (g) campus collaboration and communication. The study found that overall the respondents indicated they were satisfied with their job situation/environment with greater satisfaction being shown by those with loftier job titles when compared with those with lesser job titles. Differences in job satisfaction were noted in terms of (a) supervisor's expectations of them, salary, and hours worked (based on amount of experience); (b) salary (based on title held); (c) budget allocation (based on reporting structure); and (d) a desire to leave their present position/job (in terms of job title held, experience/length of service and reporting structure).

A Study on Job Satisfaction among Campus Recreation Administrators at Four-Year Public and Private Institutions

The primary purpose of this study was to investigate aspects of the job that influence job satisfaction among campus recreation administrators. Job satisfaction was measured by the Job Satisfaction Survey (JSS) which consisted of nine subscale measures that relate to employee job satisfaction and strongly examines perceptual and attitudinal variables (Spector, 1997). Participants, consisting of 104 campus recreation administrators, were affiliated with the National Intramural Recreational Sports Association (NIRSA). According to the data, the degree to which campus recreation administrators are satisfied with their job is significant in two subscales. Results from this research suggest that supervision and nature of work were the two highest ranking measures of job satisfaction among campus recreation administrators at 4-year institutions. The second part of the Job Satisfaction Survey requested demographic information. Results from this research suggest that the demographic information was not significant to explain the overall level of job satisfaction.

Impact of Campus Recreational Sports Facilities and Programs on Recruitment and Retention among African American Students: A Pilot Study

The purpose of this study was to assess the impact of campus recreational sports facilities and programs on student recruitment and retention among male and female African American students. A convenience sample of students from classes in the Department of Health and Human Performance at a small, southeastern, private, historically black college and university was used in the study. The instrument consisted of a modified version of the National Intramural-Recreational Sports Association's Quality and Importance of Recreational Services Survey. An independent samples t test was used to test for differences between gender and the recruitment and retention questions, alpha = .05. It was determined that 60% of the male students reported that the availability of recreational sports was important/very important in deciding to attend the college and 68% of the men reported that the availability of recreational sports was important/very important in deciding to continue attending the college. Men scored higher than women when it came to importance of the availability of recreational facilities and programs in deciding to attend the school, the importance of the availability of recreational facilities and programs in deciding to continue at the school, how important sports and fitness activities will be to them after graduation, and the total times per week they participate in active recreational sports pursuits. Although there are limitations to the study, the results provide further evidence that students report that the availability of recreational sports facilities and programs has an impact on both their decisions to attend and remain at an institution. This is a finding that can only serve to increase the practitioner's understanding of those who use such facilities and programs. More studies are needed to further examine the impact of campus recreational facilities and programs on African American students.

Factors Affecting Risk Management of Indoor Campus Recreation Facilities

Factors affecting risk management of indoor campus recreation facilities were studied. Campus recreation directors of 4-year colleges/universities in North America who held memberships in the National Intramural-Recreational Sports Association (NIRSA) responded to a paper survey consisting of 32 dichotomous yes/no and close-ended multiple-choice questions. Questions addressed staff certification requirements, use of waivers, number of automatic external defibrillators (AEDs) in the facility, communication and security devices, health screening of participants, and in-person supervision of the facility. Results showed that facilities are open to participants extensively throughout the 7-day week, thus requiring directors to ensure their risk management procedures are up to date—most notably staff members' CPR and first aid certification, as well as AED training.

Club Sport Legal Liability Practices at NIRSA Institutions

Current legal practices in collegiate club sport programs were studied. A 23-item questionnaire consisting primarily of close-ended questions was mailed to 563 campus recreation directors representing all six National Intramural-Recreational Sports Association (NIRSA) regions. Data obtained showed that mean club sport budgets ranged from $51,657 in Region 4 to $135,657 in Region 6, with an overall mean of $69,138 across all regions. Signing a waiver before participating was required by 91% of the directors. Lack of consistency in waiver language and font size was reported. Only 9% of campus recreation directors always require that an institutional employee travel with a club sport team. The most frequent modes of approved travel for club sport participants were students driving personal cars (94%), renting vans from outside vendors (95%), and the use of private transportation such as a chartered bus (70%). Paid coaches were used by 15% of the directors.

Selected Risk Management Policies, Practices, and Procedures for Intramural Activities at NIRSA Institutions

A survey of all National Intramural-Recreational Sports Association (NIRSA) campus recreation directors was conducted to determine the risk management policies, practices, and procedures relating to intramural activities and recreational sports at colleges and universities throughout North America. The survey instrument, in its final form, addressed practices, policies, and procedures of campus recreation directors through 44 questions relating to the following areas: (a) documentation, (b) medical factors, (c) rules and regulations, (d) physical supervision, (e) sportsmanship rating systems, (f) restrictive policies, (g) safety devices, (h) officials-tests-qualifications, and (i) background experiences and training of the respondents. Selected data are presented in terms of (a) the size of institutions (small, medium, and large), (b) location of the institution (rural, urban, and suburban), and (c) whether public or privately supported.

NIRSA Members' Perceptions of Organizational Effectiveness

This study assessed National Intramural-Recreational Sports Association (NIRSA) members' perceptions of effectiveness in a sport association. Specifically, this study investigated the extent to which professional members of the NIRSA perceive it to be effective in achieving its stated and operative goals. A stratified systematic sample of professional NIRSA members ( N = 600) was selected to complete the survey. The survey was sent to NIRSA members who had 1 through 4 years of membership, 5 through 9 years of membership, and 10 or more years of membership in the association. Multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) was used to compare perceptions of organizational effectiveness among the membership groups. No significant differences were found between the three membership groups and satisfaction. Correlations and multiple regression analyses were conducted to determine the relationships between stated and operative goal effectiveness and satisfaction. Significant relationships were confirmed between satisfaction and several stated and operative goal factors.

Aquatic Management Survey to Identify Factors Related To Injuries, Accident,s And Deaths Acquired at Aquatic Facilities.

The purpose of the study was to identify factors related to serious injuries and deaths sustained at senior colleges’ and universities’ aquatic facilities with respect to the aquatic management oversight of the facility. Surveys were mailed to senior colleges and universities that are listed with aquatic departments, and there was a 32.7% return rate. The study sample group consisted of 446 aquatic management professionals. The sample group consisted of senior colleges and universities (N = 446, responses = 146) listed in the National Intramural Recreational Sports Association (NIRSA) Recreational Sports Directory (RSD), 1997 issue. This sample group was determined by each school’s listing of aquatic departments or aquatic positions in the RSD. Participants were voluntary respondents located in the United States. Because senior colleges and universities are often the places that professional training and education originate, they are also an excellent source for analysis. If factors can be identified from aquatic management professionals to help reduce serious injuries and deaths at aquatic facilities, education about these factors can be provided to all aquatic facilities to help administrators and patrons reduce serious injuries and deaths.

Current Hiring Practices of Campus Recreation Directors of NIRSA Institutions

A survey of all National Intramural-Recreational Sports Association (NIRSA) campus recreation directors was conducted to determine the hiring practices, policies, and procedures relating to professional employees, graduate assistants, and student employees in campus recreation programs throughout North America. The survey instrument, in its final form, addressed hiring practices, policies, and procedures of campus recreation directors through 28 questions relating to the following areas: (a) search and screen committees, (b) job descriptions, (c) advertisement and announcement of vacancies, (d) applications, (e) references, (f) interviews, and (g) impact/involvement of national professional organizations in the hiring process. Selected data is presented in terms of (a) entry level position (coordinator) or for mid-level positions, (b) size of institutions (small, medium, and large), (c) rural, urban, and suburban locations, and (d) public and private institutions.

Directors of Public and Private State-of-the-Art Multimillion Dollar Recreational Facilities Lead the Way in Risk Management Practices

The study's purpose was to identify and examine two main areas: the risk management practices and documents being used by recreation directors of state-of-the-art multimillion dollar recreational facilities and the number of lawsuits, settlements, and accidents. Due to the large amount of financial and legal risk exposure at these facilities, it is assumed that the facility directors would implement and rate as either important or very important the five elements of a bona fide risk management program: Surveys were distributed to recreational directors in senior colleges and universities throughout the US. The sample frame was listing in the National Intramural Recreational Sports Association Facilities of Distinction, Volumes, I, II, and III, and college and university facilities listed in “State of the Art Facilities” in Athletic Business ( N = 65). These institutions typically offer a wide range of recreational programs and have large recreational facilities that are either purpose-built or shared. A total of 35 recreational directors responded, a 54% return rate. The findings suggest that: (a) the importance of risk management practices has reached the university administration, (b) recreational directors are implementing risk management plans, (c) recreational directors are creating their own risk management manuals, and (d) the ACSM and the NIRSA documents are the two publications most commonly used by recreational directors to assist them in creating their risk management manuals.

The Intramural Program: A Comprehensive Analysis

While the majority of the members of the National Intramural-Recreational Sports Association work at the community college, college or university level of higher education, there exists at the elementary and secondary level of higher education an untapped area of recreational sports development. Why intramural sports remains at this relatively low level of participation and resource allocation is more than likely the result of a combination of factors. This article examines the components and benefits of a properly organized, funded and supported intramural sports program. Intramural sports programs at the elementary/secondary levels need three basic components in order to be successful: (1) Student involvement; (2) Assistance from the school staff; and (3) Cooperative efforts from the school district. The effective and efficient intramural sports program results in the development of character and leadership among the participating students and leads to a commitment to a lifetime of physical activity.

A Historical Perspective on the Development of the National Intramural-Recreational Sports Association National Office

A Historical Perspective on the Development of the National Intramural-Recreational Sports Association National Office