Sport Administrators Research Articles

Millennial football fan participation: the influence of football video games on play and engagement

Purpose Traditional sports have seen declining participation at many levels, with football being no different. This is occurring at a time when emergent technologies present new challenges, particularly to the crucial yet ignored cohort of millennials. Without meeting the needs of millennials, football cannot be successful in the future. This research seeks to understand how millennial football fandom (sport, not team) in Australia impacts football participation, whilst empirically examining the impact of football video games (FVGs).Design/methodology/approach Survey data are collected from online groups, forums and social media pages of Australian football (soccer) fans. Quantitative analysis of millennial fandom and its influence on football participation (for the first time demarcated into play and engagement) is undertaken, including the moderating influence of time spent playing FVGs, amidst covariate influences of age and number of children.Findings Results highlight the multi-dimensionality of millennial football fandom in Australia, reveal the typical hours spent playing football across a range of participation types (including play and engagement), support fan involvement’s influence on engagement with football, establish that a desire to interact with other football fans manifests in playing more football, specify how playing FVGs moderates these relationships, supports the covariate influences of age and evidences that playing FVGs does not hamper football play.Originality/value This is the first study to examine millennial fans of football (the sport, not tied to a club) and the influence of fandom on football participation. By separating football participation into two forms, play and engagement, we highlight discrete influences, whilst evaluating for the first time the moderating influence of the time millennials spend playing FVGs. For sport managers and administrators, these are important findings to facilitate better segmentation, recruitment, retention and participation, each with broader societal health benefits. This is undertaken in Australia where football is not a dominant code, relegating fandom to a niche, thus revealing important findings for sports and business management.

The development of parkour sport, organizational system, benefits and sports values contained in parkour sport

Purpose This study aims to the development of parkour sport, organizational system, benefits and sports values contained in parkour sport. Material and methods This research includes qualitative descriptive research. This research was conducted at the Brawijaya University climbing wall where the Malang parkour community practices and the Skate & BMX Park where the Surabaya parkour community practices. The research time was carried out for two months, starting from September 2023 to October 2023. The data sources in this study are the initiators of the chairman in each community, administrators and parkour practitioners. The data source to be obtained is primary data. Taking data sources this time, the researcher took a snowball sampling technique. The sampling procedure used in qualitative research occurs when initially the selected subject suggests the name of another person who would be suitable for the sample, the latter suggests another person, and so on. Snowball, chain, or network sampling. The data collection technique in this research uses descriptive qualitative research methods, which will be carried out in the Surabaya and Malang parkour sports communities. In qualitative research, data collection is carried out in natural settings (natural conditions), primary data sources, and data collection techniques are more on participant observation, in-depth interviews using open interviews and documentation. Results and discussion The development of parkour sports in Indonesia has begun to be seen from the beginning of 2005 to 2023, with the emergence of communities in all cities in Indonesia. The emergence of the parkour community in Indonesia, of course, there are those who pioneer the emergence of parkour communities in Indonesia, especially in East Java. An organization is a forum for a group of people who work together rationally to realize a common vision systematically consisting of leaders and other representatives under control with the intention of achieving certain collective goals by utilizing the resources available in it. Thus in both Malang and Surabaya parkour communities. The psycholigical benefits of parkour sports are to grow the hormone dopamine which is useful for growing a strong mentality. The health benefits include training all muscles, joints and even all muscle components throughout the body. The social benefits are being able to exchange ideas, learn to get new perspectives, add friends, how to deal with people. The ethical benefits can be more respectful and protect the environment. Conclusions The development of parkour sports in Indonesia has begun to be seen from the beginning of 2005 to 2023, with the emergence of communities in all cities in Indonesia. There is an organizational structure for parkour sports administrators. Parkour sports have benefits and contain good sports values.

The athletic consul: a new role in sports organizations

Sports organizations are complex. In addition to the actual coaching of athletes, many utilize a myriad of different administrative and sport science departments or areas of expertise to aid in the achievement of success. Examples include sports administration, nutrition, strength and conditioning, sport psychology, counseling, athletic training, to name a few. Consequently, there are many voices within the organization, and communication and effectiveness may be affected by silos, fear of voicing opinions, or other chal¬lenges that come from the stresses and rigors of athletic competition. Anecdotally, we have noticed the often-informal introduction of an individual into some sports organizations and teams to help support the overall organization and its personnel. This individual does not necessarily have decision-making pow¬ers, but serves as a conduit of information, a supporter, and an advisor to all parties. To date, a specific title for this position has not been formally recognized, nor have its roles or responsibilities been defined. There¬fore, the purpose of this conceptual article is to propose a name for this position, which we have termed Athletic Consul (AC). Further, we outline why such a position is valuable, its fit within an athletic program, the roles and responsibilities of the position, and why it is necessary for such this position be formalized.

Mindfulness and impulsive behavior: exploring the mediating roles of self-reflection and coping effectiveness among high-level athletes in Central China.

In the highly competitive field of sports, impulsive behavior by athletes not only threatens personal and team harmony but also poses significant risks to their careers and public image. Despite these behaviors often becoming the focus of public attention, their underlying causes and prevention strategies remain relatively unknown. This study delves deep into the impact of mindfulness on athletes' impulsive behavior, revealing the mediating roles of self-reflection and coping effectiveness. Using a combination of snowball and convenience sampling, a sample of 403 athletes from high-level sports teams in the Central China region participated in a questionnaire survey. The data were analyzed using Amos v.23 software. The findings indicate a positive correlation between mindfulness and coping effectiveness (standardized coefficient = 0.336, p < 0.001), as well as between self-reflection and coping effectiveness (standardized coefficient = 0.406, p < 0.001). There is a negative correlation between coping effectiveness and impulsive behavior (standardized coefficient = -0.476, p < 0.001). The positive impact of mindfulness on impulsive behavior (standardized coefficient = -0.371, p < 0.01) is mediated by self-reflection and coping effectiveness. The explanatory power of this study is R2 = 0.35. Mindfulness reduces impulsive behavior by enhancing self-reflection capabilities and improving coping effectiveness. Based on these substantive research results, to mitigate impulsive behavior in athletes, it is recommended that the National Sports Administration and coaches actively implement mindfulness training. Additionally, targeted psychological intervention strategies should be developed to enhance athletes' mental health levels and optimize their sports performance.

“We Love You, Katie”: A Critical Discourse Analysis of Stanford University’s Response to the Passing of Katie Meyer

In 2022, Stanford University’s Katie Meyer and at least four other college athletes in the United States died by suicide. If used appropriately, social media is a potential platform to destigmatize mental health through initiating discussions and providing educational resources. The study explores how Stanford University’s athletic department utilized Twitter to address mental health in the year after Meyer’s passing. Guided by Bronfenbrenner’s ecological systems theory and Fairclough’s approach to critical discourse analysis, this study examined 59 tweets posted across Stanford University’s athletic department and program platforms. The current study found that Stanford’s social media messaging reinforced mental health stigma and the sport ethic across the micro-, meso-, exo-, and macrosystem, which discourage sport consumers from changing their perceptions of mental health stigma in sport. Furthermore, the social media messaging does not demonstrate future institutional emphasis on mental health. We conclude with best practices for college sport administrators.

Post Pandemic Assessment of Availability and Compliance with Covid-19 Preventive Protocols by Athletes, Coaches and Spectators in Sport Arenas in Southwestern, Nigeria.

The study investigated the availability and the level of compliance of athletes, officials, and coaches with the Covid-19 preventive in sports arena in Southwestern Nigeria. The study adopted the descriptive survey research design. The population for the study comprised all officials, athletes and spectators in sport arenas South-west Nigeria. Sample size comprised 220 respondents. The multi-stage sampling procedure was adopted for the study. Two questionnaires, titled: “State Athletes Welfare and COVID-19 Preventive Protocol Questionnaire” (SAWCPPQ) and the State Sports Administrators Questionnaire (SSAQ) were used to elicit information on the athletes’ welfare and compliance with COVID-19 preventive protocols. Data collected were analysed using appropriate descriptive and inferential statistics The findings also showed that there was moderate level of compliance with the Covid-19 preventive protocols among the athletes (63.1%), sports officials (61.9%) and spectators (61.1%), as 69 (31.36%) complied with the protocol all the time, while 151 (68.64%) only complied sometimes. The study concluded that there were preventive protocols in place at various sports arenas to ensure prevention of Covid-19. However, there were low level of compliance with the preventive protocols among the sportsmen and sportswomen during training and competitions in South West, Nigeria

A Qualitative Perspective on Anti-Doping: Mixed Methods Research

National and international anti-doping programs are carried out to protect athletes' health, establish an equal and fair competition environment, and defend the basic principles of sports. This study aims to determine the situation regarding the prevention of doping in sports in Türkiye and the recommendations that can be presented to the national sports administration on anti-doping in line with the findings to be obtained. The study was designed with the explanatory sequential design participant selection sub-design, a mixed method research. Three hundred-two people, determined by the purposeful sampling technique, participated in the research. After evaluating the quantitative findings obtained using the questionnaire technique, in-depth interviews were conducted for the qualitative part of the research with 12 people who met the criteria determined among all the participants. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze quantitative data, and theme analysis, descriptive analysis, content analysis, analytical generalization, and discourse analysis were performed in qualitative data analysis. As a result of this research, it is understood that training activities prepared to increase the knowledge and awareness level of sports professionals are considered a more effective method for doping prevention than criminal sanctions. In line with the findings obtained, it is understood that there is a need to establish an independent, multi-faceted anti-doping organization in which all relevant stakeholders are involved and a national action plan in which more importance is attached to guidance and training activities.

Development of public self-government within the framework of public administration of physical culture and sports in the system of higher education

The article deals with approaches to public self-government within the framework of public administration of physical culture and sports in the system of higher education. Based on the study of the Law of Ukraine “On Education” and the Law of Ukraine “On Higher Education”, the provisions on public self-government in general in education and in higher education in particular are summarized. Consideration of the subjective component of the Law of Ukraine “On Physical Culture and Sports” allowed for the identification of public self government institutions at: the level of a higher education institution - student sports centers of higher education institutions; local (territorial) level - public associations of pupils and students with a physical culture and sports orientation; national (allUkrainian) level – the sports student union of Ukraine, and also for the development of their functions. Thanks to the developed functions of all the above-mentioned public self- government bodies in the field of physical culture and sports of higher education, a synergistic effect is achieved from the development of vertical reverse management links between the Council for the Development of Physical Culture and Sports in Higher Education and the latter. In order to legitimize the proposed provisions, it is proposed to amend the Law of Ukraine “On Physical Culture and Sports” in part of Article 26 “Physical Culture in Education” by supplementing it with Part 9 in the corresponding author's wording.

The influence of the five-factor model of personality on performance in competitive sports: a review.

Personality is considered to be a factor affecting athletic performance. However, inconsistency in the research results regarding size and even direction of the relationship. An evaluation of the evidence of the relationship between personality and athletic performance was conducted in order to summarize the evidence available. A systematic literature search was conducted in March 2023. Sport performance and the Big Five personality model were identified in our research. We used PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, Cochrane Library, Wang Fang (Chinese), Wei Pu (Chinese), and CNKI (Chinese) databases for the systematic literature search (Prospero registration number: CRD42022364000), screened 4,300 studies, and found 23 cross-sectional studies eligible for inclusion in this review. The results of this systematic analysis show that, besides neuroticism, openness, conscientiousness, extraversion, and agreeableness are all positively correlated with sports performance. Conscientiousness and extraversion are the two main personalities in team sports. Openness and agreeableness show different results in different sports, and it is not clear to which project they are beneficial. The value of personality as a possible predictor of athletic performance is generally positive. Therefore, professionals such as applied sports psychologists, coaching personnel, athletes, and sports administrators must comprehensively grasp the significance of personality's role in achieving success in major competitions. Considering these facts, sports practitioners should promote personality screening and personality development programs.

The politics and public administration nexus in the practice of football administration in Zimbabwe

The topical focus of the paper is to examine how national sports administration reflects the interconnectedness of politics and public administration in Zimbabwe. To achieve this aim, the paper examines the patron-client relationship between the Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) and the ruling political party, the Zimbabwe African National Union–Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF). The paper demonstrates how the interference of ZANU-PF in the management of the ZIFA has soiled the governance and formal administration of the national football administration body. The study reveals that due to constant political manipulation, ZIFA has been marred by allegations of corruption and maladministration, sexual harassment and the marginalization of women and the subsequent suspension by the global football governing body, the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) in February 2022. The paper argues that these challenges are not unique to football administration but are reflective of the broader public administration culture in Zimbabwe, which is entangled with partisan politics. This entanglement has over the years expressed itself through transactional relationships, whereby the ruling ZANU-PF seeks to control football administration for its political and hegemonic purposes. Some individuals have used their political links with ZANU-PF as political capital to both legitimize and entrench their football administration careers. This implies that ZIFA has morphed into a subsidiary of the ruling political establishment, in the process compromising its independence as a football governing and regulatory body. Football administration is therefore a useful lens that can help us understand and theorize on the impact of politics in public administration. Methodologically, the paper utilizes a qualitative research design which included in-depth interviews and document analysis with the intent to capture and express in detail the nexus of politics and football administration in Zimbabwe.

How NIL and student athletes are prompting changes in higher education administration

Name, image, and likeness (NIL) policies are expanding rapidly in the United States and affecting the roles of higher education administrators. Athletics compliance officers are dealing with an uncertain and rapidly shifting policy landscape that includes vague state and NCAA regulations and burgeoning third parties trying to capitalize for the sake of schools and athletes. Using interviews with compliance officers at five institutions, we demonstrate how this environment raises novel questions about theories of prosocial rule breaking, discretion, autonomy, and contracting out. This work demonstrates the value of studying sports administration for theorizing and presents future directions for related research.

Recognizing sports activities from video frames using deformable convolution and adaptive multiscale features

Automated techniques for evaluating sports activities inside dynamic frames are highly dependent on advanced sports analysis by smart machines. The monitoring of individuals and the discerning of athletic pursuits has several potential applications. Monitoring individuals, detecting unusual behavior, identifying medical issues, and tracking patients within healthcare facilities are examples of these applications. An assessment of the feasibility of integrating smart real-time monitoring systems across a variety of athletic environments is provided in this study. Motion and activity detection for recording sporting events has advanced due to the need for a large amount of both real-time and offline data. Through the use of deformable learning approaches, we extend conventional deep learning models to accurately detect and analyze human behavior in sports. Due to its robustness, efficiency, and statistical analysis, the system is a highly suitable option for advanced sports recording detection frameworks. It is essential for sports identification and administration to have a comprehensive understanding of action recognition. An accurate classification of human activities and athletic events can be achieved through the use of a hybrid deep learning framework presented in this study. Using innovative methodologies, we conduct cutting-edge research on action recognition that prioritizes users’ preferences and needs. It is possible to reduce the error rate to less than 3% by using the recommended structure and the three datasets mentioned above. It is 97.84% accurate for UCF-Sport, 97.75% accurate for UCF50, and 98.91% accurate for YouTube. The recommended optimized networks have been tested extensively compared to other models for recognizing athletic actions.

The impact of social interactions on organisational performance in sports: A case study of Ambon City's sports organisations

Studying the impact of social interactions on sports organisations’ performance in Ambon City remains a relatively unexplored area. This research aims to address this gap by investigating the influence of social interactions among administrators, coaches, and athletes on sports organisations' performance. Additionally, it explores the disparity in performance levels between individual and team sports. The study focused on sport administrators in Ambon City affiliated with the Indonesian National Sports Committee (KONI). Fifteen participants were selected through purposive sampling, comprising administrators, coaches, and athletes from various sports branches, including athletics, taekwondo, boxing, water skiing, and football. Findings suggest that sports organisation management in Ambon City has not yet achieved optimal levels of effectiveness and facilitation, affecting the dynamics of group sports in particular. Team sports display a higher dependency on teamwork and board roles, notably the coach’s role. Despite suboptimal management, athletes retain the freedom to determine their paths to success or achievement. However, an imbalance exists between expectations and obligations in social relationships, except for the coach-athlete relationship. In summary, this study sheds light on the role of social interactions in sports organisations’ performance and highlights the differences between individual and team sports in Ambon City. These insights may serve as a foundation for more effective management strategies to enhance sports organisations’ performance in the future.

Impact of turning points and transitions on work and family orientations: insights from collegiate coaches

ABSTRACT Research Question The purpose of this study was to: (1) identify the kinds of transitions and turning points college coaches experience (particularly normative vs non-normative), (2) examine how various transitions and turning points in individual lives influence work orientations, and (3) examine how work orientations, transitions, and turning points impact individual work and life outcomes. Research Methods This study utilized in depth interviews with 30 head college coaches from the United States. The sample consisted of 12 women and 18 men who were 35 years or older and had several years’ experience coaching. Results and Findings Expected and unexpected transitions came from a variety of situations. Coaches discussed coping strategies for managing expected transitions, and the challenges of unexpected transitions, which at times also became turning points that changed work orientations. Several coaches adopted a stronger calling work orientation, while others became more job oriented, however none of the coaches became more career oriented. Also, turning points influenced coaches’ level of family engagement, often increasing family involvement. None of the coaches reported reducing family involvement following a life turning point. Implications These findings help sport administrators to understand the importance of being in tune with their coaches and realizing the influence of life transitions and turning points. These findings also provide needed theoretical insight and understanding about coaches’ lived experiences of transitions and turning points, and their impacts on orientations toward work and family.

Self-experimentation coaching as a resource for life skills development in sport

ABSTRACT The aim of this study was to apply a self-experimentation coaching approach to the development of life skills in sport. A sports administrator (self-researcher), a postdoctoral student (researcher) and two university professors (critical friends) participated in the research. Self-experimentation coaching occurred over a year, in two phases, over 23 sessions held online. The sessions were recorded, transcribed and broadcasted. The results showed benefits to self-organisation, both at the external and internal levels of the self-researcher. Participants also experimented with some elements of self-study and self-experimentation. Findings showed that self-experimentation coaching can be an effective alternative approach for sport administrators’ personal and professional development.

Dynamism of Sports Diplomacy and Foreign Policy as Correlate of Sports Development in North-Central State, Nigeria

The central focus of this study was to articulate a better image of Nigeria's sports diplomacy and foreign policy on the development of sports in North – Central state Nigeria. A descriptive research design of survey types was employed for this study. The population for this study comprises all sports administration in the study. A purposive sampling technique was used to select 588 respondents for the study. A researcher-structured questionnaire was used to gather information from the respondents. Three experts validated the instrument and tested for reliability through the test re-test method using Pearson Product Moment Correlation. A correlation coefficient of 0.75" r' was obtained. The researchers administered the instrument, and the data collected were analyzed using inferential statistics of Pearson Product Moment Correlations (PPMC) to test the formulated hypotheses set for the study at 0.05 alpha level. The finding revealed a significant relationship between politics in sports and sports development. Also, there was a significant relationship between management practice and sports development in North-Central State Nigeria. Based on the study's findings, it was recommended that politics in sports should not be allowed to discourage the private sector from sponsoring sports programmes that can bring about sports development in society. Also, sports administrators are encouraged to adopt best management practices that would bring about sports development.

Decision-makers’ interactions that co-determine Positive youth development through sport: a critical realist examination

ABSTRACT The purpose of the present study was to examine Portuguese coaches, coach developers, and sport administrators’ (i.e. decision-makers) interactions that co-determine positive youth development through sport. A critical realist approach was adopted using Elder-Vass’s framework on the causal power of social structures. A total of 47 Portuguese decision-makers from provincial and national sport organisations were interviewed, leading to 2350 minutes of interview data. The findings provide insights into how participants varied in their perspectives on the place of performance and positive youth development in the youth sport system. Coaches and sport administrators believed performance was the main priority and their discourses were shaped by (inter)actions with norm circles influencing their dispositions and beliefs about the purpose of youth sport. Conversely, coach developers challenged the status quo and were much more deliberate in wanting to change the priorities of the youth sport system. Coach developers were in a privileged position to ‘broker’ change by using their individual agency to work to further include positive youth development. Considering the pressures imposed by norm circles and the active role of individual agency, practical and theoretical implications are offered to develop a youth sport system where positive youth development can become a legitimate and worthwhile pursuit.

The Difficulties of Making Sport Policy Succeed: A Case Study of Sri Lanka

Although a new Sri Lankan sport policy framework was introduced in 2012, no research has been done to evaluate the implementation of the policy framework. Consequently, the purpose of this study was to evaluate and identify mitigating factors in achieving the strategic goals of the Sri Lankan sport policy framework. Qualitative data and a quantitative approach were used to analyse and investigate the sport policy framework. A questionnaire (N = 240) and interviews (N = 05) were utilised to gather data from sport participants, non-sport participants and top-level sport administrators. Both quantitative and qualitative analyses suggested that the goals of the national sport policy framework have not been achieved. Lack of financial support, deficiency of government provision, institutional structural issues, and negative attitudes of policy actors were identified as mitigating factors in the process of policy implication. Developing an umbrella organisation for coordinating sport and government’s support are vital to resolve those problems.

An Investigation of the Sports Awareness of Employees in Sports Management According to Several Variables

This study aims to raise the awareness of public employees in sports administration through various types of training to measure the awareness of public employees working in sports administration regarding sports, as well as to reveal the problems facing sports in Turkey from the perspective of those working in sports administration. The research was carried out with a mixed methods convergent parallel design of the questionnaire variant. The study population consists of employees working in the central and provincial organizations of the Ministry of Youth and Sports, and the sample consists of 581 people working under different titles determined by the convenience sampling method. SPSS 24 and NVIVO 10 package programs were used for data analysis. The findings show that the awareness of those working in sports management is higher among men than women, that for those who have just started their professional life, it is higher than for others, and that those who have been working in sports management for a long time increase their awareness over time. The most critical problems of Turkish sports are stated as lack of infrastructure, lack of merit, lack of sustainable sports policy, discontinuity of studies, insufficient sports awareness education, and insufficient awareness of directing children to sports at an early age.

It’s about inspiring the greater community to continue supporting this sector: Elite sport success as a main policy objective for disability sport promotion in ASEAN member states

ABSTRACT Promoting sport participation among people with disabilities is often counted as one of the policy priorities of the national government as well as a main activity of sport for development initiatives to aid the Global South. However, little is known about specific systems, policy, history, and plans for disability sport promotion understood by disability sport administrators in the Global South. The current study focused on the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and aimed to explore how ASEAN government officials perceive the status of sport for people with disabilities. Representatives from nine ASEAN member countries participated in individual semi-structured interviews. The results of thematic analysis generated three themes: (1) Perceived lack of disability awareness and disability sport recognition; (2) Elite sport successes address problems at hand; and (3) Elite sport success to motivate funders. These themes suggest that successes in elite sports are of central importance for sport promotion among people with disabilities in ASEAN countries because they perceive that elite sport success can raise disability awareness, popularise disability sport, and motivate funders. Also, Paralympic success is viewed as an opportunity for them to demonstrate success otherwise unattainable in the Olympics. Some of the participants’ accounts appear to go against the current knowledge generated in the Global North; however, as funding is important to develop disability sport administration, it might be inevitable for them to continue promoting elite sport success for now.