Sports Management: Chapter 1 Background

In what year did Wisconsin University recognize the need to manage competitive athletes more effectively?

Which of the following is NOT a functional aspect of sport management?

Which team was established in 1947 in South Africa?

What was the year of the Rugby World Cup hosted by South Africa?

Which of the following is a sociological aspect of sport management in South Africa?

What is a key element of sport in an unstructured environment?

According to the White Paper on Sport and Recreation, what is the primary purpose of sport?

What is a characteristic of sport that contributes to social outcomes?

What is a reward associated with sport?

What is a requirement for an activity to be defined as a sport?

In what type of environment is competition more involved in sport?

What percentage of South Africa's GDP did the sport-related infrastructure development reach by 2017?

What is the estimated number of full-time jobs created by sports-related activities?

What is the benefit of sports in combating social ills?

What is the primary reason sports management is essential?

How can citizens contribute to reducing carbon footprint, according to the text?

What is the benefit of sports on an individual's wellbeing?

Sport Management as a Field of Study

Sport management is a fairly new academic field in academia, emerging in the early 21st century.
The University of Wisconsin recognized the need to manage competitive athletes more effectively in 1911.
In 1966, South Africa introduced course administration and organization in sport management.

Sport Management Structure

Functions of sport management include:
- Marketing function
- Operations function
- Financial management function
- Human resource function
- Event management function
Functional aspects of sport management include:
- Planning
- Organising
- Leading
- Control

Benefits of Sport

Sport improves overall wellbeing and happiness.
Sport prevents chronic diseases and combats obesity.
Sport improves physical and psychological health.
Sport contributes to a healthier population and reduces pressure on health service providers.
Sport increases motivation and improves social relations.
Sport reduces social ills, such as crime, conflict, and racism.
Sport breaks down social and cultural barriers.
Sport brings together people of various backgrounds.

Definition of Sport

The White Paper on Sport and Recreation for the RSA defines sport as any activity that requires significant physical involvement, either in a structured or unstructured environment.
Key elements of sport include:
- Level of physical involvement required
- Competition edge
- Unstructured sport sphere for relaxation, satisfaction, physical health, emotional growth, and development.
Characteristics of sport include:
- Level of physical exertion
- Bound by rules
- Element of competition
- Reward
- Physically and mentally beneficial to the individual
- Contributes to social outcomes
- Results in economic benefit for the country
- Must be casual or organized
- Dependent on a facility

Test your knowledge on the place of sport in society. Define sport and be able to analyse the basic requirements of an activity for classification purposes. Know the benefits of sports. Define the characteristics of sport. Understand the place of sport management as a field of study. Outline the functions that sport plays in society. Discuss the individual, community and country benefits deriving from sports. Identify the origin and development of sport management as a discipline