Sports Management Commons^™

The Intersection Of Sport Betting And Consumer Behavior: A Systematic Review, Jackson Sears, Beth Cianfrone

UNLV Gaming Research & Review Journal

Sport betting is a popular and lucrative entertainment segment of the sport industry. As such, understanding consumer behavior across the betting experiences is critical for the many stakeholders involved. The current study is a systematic quantitative literature review which assesses the current state of literature that intersects sport betting and consumer behavior literature, specifically cognitive, affective, conative, and consumption behavior of the sport bettors. The purpose of the systematic review is to (1) identify the most recent sport betting consumer behavior research, (2) compile and examine theoretical frameworks guiding sport gambling consumer research, (3) provide a descriptive summary of findings …

Locker Room To The Classroom, Bert Wicks

Masters Theses

This thesis sought to explore the feasibility of using graduated collegiate athletes to supplement teaching populations to mitigate the teaching shortage in America. The researcher interviewed five professionals in education and five current college athletes to assist in answering two research questions. What are the perceptions of school administrators regarding the employment of former collegiate athletes as public-school teachers, in comparison to educators with formal academic training in education, and what are the attitudes of current and former collegiate athletes on the prospects of pursuing careers in public school teaching relative to employment opportunities aligned with their academic major were …

Growth, Governance, And Organizational Crisis In Nonprofit Rowing Club: Failures In Leadership In A Growing Organization, Noah Legendre, Ehren R. Green

The COSMA Journal

This case explores governance and leadership challenges within a growing nonprofit sport organization governed by a volunteer board of directors. Within this case, the Litchberg Valley Rowing Club (LVRC), a rowing organization in a small community, experienced rapid growth in membership, financial resources, and competitive success. Despite this growth, the organization maintained informal governance structures and policies to guide its decision-making. In this case, the board of directors elected to terminate the head coach because of difficult contract negotiations and other issues at hand. This decision was met with public backlash, raising concerns about club leadership and the future of …

Exploring The Motivations Of Undergraduate Sport Management Students, Kyle J. Brannigan, Tyler J. Hajek

The COSMA Journal

This study explored the motivations of undergraduate sport management in four university programs. Convergent mixed-methods research through the theoretical framework of Self-Determination Theory was incorporated with an adapted questionnaire of the Academic Motivation Scale and semi-structured interviews through Thematic Analysis. Ninety-six surveys with nine interviews were deemed usable across four regionally focused, vocationally minded, and accessible universities. Overall, students reported higher levels of extrinsic motivation than intrinsic motivation. The findings suggested intrinsic motivation to know and extrinsic motivation through regulation for identification scored highest with the participants. No significant differences were found between classes and ethnicities. However, male students experienced …

Revisiting The Flutie Effect: The Impact Of Collegiate Athletics On College Choice, Robin Hardin, Michelle L. Childs, Win G-Y Koo

The COSMA Journal

This study revisits the Flutie Effect by examining factors that influence a student’s college choice which includes the role of athletics and its brand. The study assessed items related to academics, interpersonal influences, campus culture, and athletics through a survey of first-year students. An exploratory factor analysis produced a seven-factor model explaining 71.51% of the variance. The strongest factor was emotional and behavioral identification with university athletics, reflecting fandom, affiliation, and pride in athletic success. Athletics significantly influenced college choice, but their impact extends beyond athletic success to include broader dimensions of branding, fandom, and affiliation. For institutions seeking to …

Book Review - Innovative Pedagogical Practices In Sport Management Education, Mitchell Mcsweeney

Global Sport Business Journal

This review examines Innovative Pedagogical Practices in Sport Management Education, an edited collection that provides a comprehensive resource for enhancing teaching, curriculum design, and student learning in sport management. Organized across seven thematic sections, the book integrates theory with practical classroom applications, covering topics such as active learning, experiential education, diversity and inclusion, critical pedagogy, digital technologies, leadership, and emerging trends. The review highlights the collection's emphasis on actionable teaching strategies, reflective practice, and future-oriented innovation. 

Consumer Prioritization Of Revenue Generation Strategies In College Football Programs, Nels Popp, Chris Greenwell

Journal of Issues in Intercollegiate Athletics

Collegiate athletic departments face increasing financial pressures, making it vital to identify revenue generation strategies that align with fan preferences for sustainable growth. This study explores how various methods, including corporate logos on uniforms, increasing game-day costs, and accepting loans from private investors, are ranked by consumers in terms of their acceptability and potential impact on fan experience. Guided by prospect theory, we hypothesize fans prefer strategies seen as gains rather than losses and fan identification influences these preferences. Results from rank-ordered surveys of 7,110 respondents reveal that strategies enhancing program visibility without direct financial impact, such as corporate logos, …

“It’S Its Own Toxic”: Occupational Opportunities And Barriers For Lgbq+ Collegiate Athletic Administrators, Colleen S. O'Connell, Michelle E. Moosbrugger, Jill Kochanek, Elizabeth M. Mullin

Journal of Issues in Intercollegiate Athletics

Athletic administrators hold positions of influence within intercollegiate sport, yet their experiences, especially in relation to sexual identity, remain underexamined. The purpose of this study was to explore the occupational experiences and environments of LGBQ+ intercollegiate athletic administrators using a narrative inquiry qualitative design. Sixteen administrators, who occupied various positions across all NCAA levels, were interviewed. Guided by Sexual Stigma and Prejudice Theory and Poststructuralism Theory, collected data were analyzed at the semantic and latent levels using reflexive thematic analysis. Two distinct themes were generated: LGBQ+ administrators described both positive and negative aspects of their workplaces. Inclusive environments were committed …

International Student Athletes And The Covid-19 Global Pandemic: Disruption, Uncertainty, And Coping, Isabella M. Franks, Trent A. Petrie, Whitney G. Moore, Carmyn Hayes

Journal of Athlete Development and Experience

COVID-19 and its ripple effects (e.g., social distancing, sport cancellations, quarantining) negatively affected the careers of collegiate student-athletes. The disruption to university systems and collegiate athletics and the stress and uncertainty felt globally likely increased international student-athletes' (ISAs) risk for distress. Yet, ISAs also possessed unique characteristics and were immersed within supportive sport environments, which may have shaped their psychological responses in distinct ways. The COVID-19 pandemic created an opportunity to understand how ISAs, as individuals navigating both athletic and international identities, responded and coped. To date, no study has examined the initial coping experiences of international collegiate athletes, even …

Perceived Safety For Collegiate Student-Athletes: Race, Gender, And Mental Health Outcomes, Macey L. Arnold, Hunter P. Williams, Justin Harker, Heather Kiefer, Julian Yoon, Trent A. Petrie

Journal of Athlete Development and Experience

Inadequate levels of perceived safety on campuses have been reported by college students (e.g., Maffini & Dillard, 2021) and connected to college students' mental health concerns (e.g., sleep disturbances; Etopio et al., 2019). Little is known about student-athletes’ (SA) perceptions of safety, particularly related to their racial and gender identities, and how their perception of safety is related to their mental health. We surveyed 213 SAs regarding their safety perceptions on campus, athletic department, and teams, along with anxiety (GAD-2), depression (PHQ-2), and sleep disturbances (PROMIS-SD). White SAs reported higher levels of safety than Black SAs for all three environments …

Performance, Pressure, And Prescription: A Qualitative Investigation Of Maladaptive Coping In Collegiate Cheerleading, Chris Corr, Taylor Behl

Journal of Athlete Development and Experience

While cheerleading is a staple among athletics competition in the United States, cheerleading has perennially struggled to achieve legitimacy as a competitive and rigorous sport. However, cheerleaders experience similar stressors to those of their athlete peers. In addition, cheerleaders occupy unique and distinct stressors pertaining to expectations for appearance and behavior. While extant research has examined maladaptive coping mechanisms among competing athletes, the distinct pressures and stressors associated with cheerleading may be associated with unique engagement in maladaptive coping. Accordingly, the present study sought to examine the prevalence and propensity of maladaptive coping behaviors among a sample of current and …

'It's Going To Be Colder Than San Diego': Pre-Transition Experiences Of American Postgraduate Athletes At One British University, Lara Killick, Pete Schroeder

Journal of Athlete Development and Experience

Athlete migration is a visible element of the sport-globalization nexus. At the intercollegiate level, a new migration pattern has recently emerged. Numerous British universities are recruiting American postgraduate athletes for a variety of sports. International athlete migration has been examined using the cultural transition model (CTM) (Ryba et al., 2016). CTM features three phases that profile the developmental tracks migrant athletes experience in a new culture. This study used CTM to qualitatively explore the pre-transition experiences of American postgraduate athletes. Nineteen Americans playing at one British university were interviewed prior to the 2022-23 academic year. Data were recorded, transcribed, and …

An Analysis Of The Sport Fan You Don’T Want To Encounter: Willpower And Fan Dysfunction, Anna M. Minor, Daniel L. Wann

Findings in Sport, Hospitality, Entertainment, and Event Management

Dysfunctional sport fans are classified as fans who have impaired function as it relates to socialization and social groups in the sport context, leading them to be highly confrontational and frequently complain within sporting environments (Wakefield & Wann, 2006). These fans are frequently loud, obsessive and even violent (Wann & James, 2019). The current research attempts to provide insight into this degree of excessive fandom behavior. Although previous work has examined demographics, alcohol, media consumption, and game attendance among dysfunctional fans, research has yet to examine the level of willpower (i.e., self-control) among these persons. With consideration that dysfunctional sport …

Participation Motivation Of Diverse Pickleball Participants: With A Marketing Implication, Mark Lifang Zhang, Steve S. Chen, Scott Thorton, Eric Street

Findings in Sport, Hospitality, Entertainment, and Event Management

Pickleball has been widely reported as one of the fastest-growing sports in the United States. Prior research has largely attributed this growth to the psychosocial benefits that pickleball provides to older adults, including increased social interaction and enhanced overall well-being. However, limited attention has been given to participation motivations and perceived benefits among other participant groups. The purpose of this study was to examine pickleball participants’ motivations, interests, and intentions for continued involvement across diverse demographic groups.

Participants included 431 individuals (54% male, 46% female) representing four age groups, with 67% aged 55 and older. Participants were recruited from two …

Coaching One's Own Child: An Ethnographic Study Of Parent-Coach Experiences In Youth Sport, Dr. Sandra Alspach, Dr. Jon Coles

Findings in Sport, Hospitality, Entertainment, and Event Management

Over 27 million children in the United States are playing youth sports.  Many of those youth are being coached by their own parent. Although this phenomenon is commonplace, little research has been done to study how parent-coaches balance their dual roles.  To better understand communication, roles, and relationship dynamics in youth sports environments, this study examined the experiences of parent-coaches and their athlete children. There were two ethnographic investigations. In the first, 76 participants (34 parent-coaches and 42 child-athletes) ranging from age 8 to age 80 participated in semi-structured Zoom interviews. Personal networks and snowball sampling were used to invite …

“What Is Our Brand?” Examining The Indiana State University Athletics Rebrand, Matt Blaszka, Patrick T. Walsh, Craig Morehead

Findings in Sport, Hospitality, Entertainment, and Event Management

Rebranding in sports has become commonplace as teams try to modernize their brand. Often, rebrands are viewed negatively by fans, particularly immediately following the rebrand. However, less is known about the impact of rebranding over time. In this case study, the Indiana State University athletics rebrand was explored three years after the initial launch. A total of 189 participants representing student-athletes, alumni, donors, faculty, and staff were asked open-ended questions on their feelings toward the rebrand. Four different themes emerged. The two positive themes were: modern logo, wordmark, and font, as well as public perception. The two negative themes were …

Nil And Contract Law: Advising A Prospective College Athlete Through Competing Name, Image, And Likeness Agreements, Jason Kight, Marcy Faircloth, Lori Mikl, Rachel Silverman

The COSMA Journal

Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) agreements have created significant financial opportunities for amateur and collegiate athletes while also introducing complex legal, ethical, and strategic decision-making challenges. This decision-focused teaching case places students in the role of trusted advisors to Archie Stafford, a highly recruited high school athlete who must evaluate and compare multiple NIL contract offers connected to his preferred college options. By analyzing NIL agreements, students assess contract enforceability, identify key legal and business risks, weigh legal, contractual, ethical, and reputational disclosure obligations, and formulate a reasoned recommendation aligned with Archie’s academic, athletic, financial, and long-term career goals. The …

Can Ungrading Make Sport Management Education More Practical And Engaging?, Michael A. Odio

The COSMA Journal

In this essay I take on the subject of grades in sport management education. While grades are used as a measure of success across higher education, they are an imperfect measure of achievement and learning and have major limitations in terms of student employability. The ungrading movement brings attention to the ways grades can harm learning by shifting attention away from students’ development, and instructor or peer feedback, and intrinsic motivation, while incentivizing compliance and risk-aversion. These harms directly affect what are arguably some of the most important aspects of sport management education, as when grades are the main incentive, …

On- And Off-Field Impacts Of Foreign Players On Peruvian Liga 1 Football Teams, Juan Victor Aranibar, Claudio Rocha

Global Sport Business Journal

Despite the growing globalisation of football, little research has examined how foreign players create competitive advantage in non-traditional leagues. Using the Resource-Based View (RBV), this study explores the on- and off-field impact of foreign players in Peruvian Liga 1 clubs. Semi-structured interviews with 12 sporting directors, commercial managers, scouts, and coaches were analysed thematically, revealing five themes: physical characteristics, leadership and mental strength, cultural barriers, competitive salaries, and commercial blindness. Findings suggest that although foreign players provide valuable physical and psychological attributes, these are rarely sufficient to create sustained competitive advantage. More notably, clubs fail to capitalize on foreign players' …

How Gyms Should Use Commitment Devices: The Role Of Deposit Contracts In Attracting Consumers, Zehua Hei, Alan Morse

Global Sport Business Journal

Amid growing health concerns, increased competition among fitness centers, and declining staff-to-customer ratios, gym operators are seeking effective ways to reduce customer attrition. Drawing on Prospect Theory, this study examines how commitment devices in gym promotions (e.g., deposit contracts and transformation challenges) influence consumers’ intentions to join a gym. Two experiments with 609 participants (Study 1 = 204; Study 2 = 405) investigated the mediating role of perceived attractiveness and the moderating role of contractual flexibility. Results indicate that membership options incorporating a commitment device were perceived as more attractive, leading to stronger registration intentions. However, this effect was observed …