Sports Management Commons^™

Games Played In The Off-Season: A Teaching Case Study On Major League Baseball Arbitration And Game Theory, Rebekah Ansbro

The COSMA Journal

Each January and February, professional baseball players with three to six years of Major League service time endure a process exclusive to Major League Baseball (MLB): arbitration. Though arbitration itself is not an unfamiliar form of dispute resolution, the structure MLB employs in contract arbitration is unlike any other industry, as it incorporates an all-or-nothing result that does not allow arbitrators to “split the pie” between parties. Because of this, teams and players are not only responsible for preparation of their own arguments and filed salary, but also for anticipation of their opponent’s filed salary. The hurdle of needing to …

Managing User Conflicts In A Water Aerobics Program On Behalf Of A Veteran’S Group: A Short Case Study, Hadley Blankenship, Steven N. Waller Ph.D., Jason L. Scott

International Journal of Aquatic Research and Education

This article captures an experience in conflict management that happened during the summer of 2024 as a recreational therapy intern with an adaptive sport and recreation organization located in the Southeastern United States. The backdrop to the case is that a recreational therapy intern worked with various special needs populations – mainly with paraplegic (adult and youth) athletes and veterans. In many organizations, user conflicts and poor communication regarding service provision and scheduling hinder the implementation of programs for special populations, such as veteran groups. In this case, a problem occurred with the scheduling of a water aerobics program for …

Diversity In Aquatics:4th Special Issue, Tiffany M. Quash Ph.D., Angela K. Beale-Tawfeeq, Steven N. Waller Ph.D.

International Journal of Aquatic Research and Education

The theme of this special issue is “Building a Community of Champions.” The purpose of this theme is to highlight and promote a civic engagement perspective that engages, advocates, and supports communities of Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC) in addressing the national, regional, and local evolving health-related issue of drowning. Aquatic Settings have been a pivotal focal point of social justice, water safety, and public health, not only in the past but also in our present day (Beale-Tawfeeq, Quash, et al, 2023 and Waller and Bemiller, 2023). Diversity In Aquatics (DIA) strives to positively impact the field of aquatics …

If We Tear It Down, We Might Build You A New One: The Troublesome Use Of Eminent Domain And Urban Neighborhood Swimming Pools, Steven N. Waller Ph.D., James H. Bemiller

International Journal of Aquatic Research and Education

Public swimming pools are a vital part of America’s recreation and sport culture since the early 1900’s. Municipal swimming pools were initially built to provide recreation and hygiene to urban communities, regardless of race or class. However, a complex history of segregation, civil unrest, suburbanization, and funding challenges has resulted in a significant decline in public pools, depriving many communities of vital recreational spaces. In many communities, options for sustaining the operation of swimming pools have resulted in pool closures. Unfortunately, once swimming pools close, especially those in aging neighborhoods in central city areas, they are seldom resurrected. They quickly …

Promising Practices For Increasing The Number Of Equity-Owed Lifeguards In Canada And The United States Of America, Sofia Pantano, Audrey R. Giles

International Journal of Aquatic Research and Education

Currently a shortage of lifeguards exists in Canada and the United States (US) (Frommer, 2023; Santucci, 2024), and those who are working as lifeguards often do not reflect the diversity of the communities they serve (Martinez, 2020). Increasing the number of lifeguards from equity-owed groups is a potential way of increasing the lifeguard workforce and decreasing the shortage of workers in these important roles, as well as a moral imperative. In this paper I explore challenges to and promising practices aimed at increasing the representation of members equity-owed groups in lifeguarding. I begin with an overview of lifeguarding in Canada …

Adopting Stuart Hall’S “Race, The Floating Signifier” As A Conceptual Framework Within Aquatic Research And Education, Kurt J. Cordice

International Journal of Aquatic Research and Education

During his 1997 lecture at Goldsmiths College in London, Stuart Hall, renowned for his contributions to sociology and cultural studies, offered his argument that the concept of race functions as a Floating Signifier. In this essay, Stuart Hall’s Race, the Floating Signifier is presented as a strong conceptual framework to support more accurate and effective positioning of race as an important consideration within aquatic research and education. Evidence from a range of disciplines, including historical research, is presented to establish both the importance and challenge of race within aquatic research and education. This evidence is also used to demonstrate …

Building Swimming Skills In A Community Based Program For Black Youth: An Evaluation, Tyler Lennon Md, Mph, Ashley Hayes Mph, Leonardo Barrera Mph, Amy Hill Ms, Mph, Andy Miner, Michelle Macy Md, Ms

International Journal of Aquatic Research and Education

Black youth in the United States disproportionately experience fatal drowning at rates up to five times higher than their white peers. Eliminating these inequities requires new approaches that address historical and structural barriers of learning to swim. The objective of this study was to evaluate the three-week long swimming component of a community-based discovery program to empower Black youth in Evanston, IL. Participants were Black youth ages 8-10 years enrolled in summer 2023 and 2024. Swim skills were assessed by instructors using the Pictorial Scale of Perceived Water Competence (PSPWC). Caregiver surveys, collected post-intervention, also assessed perceived changes in swim …

An Innovative Approach Addressing Childhood Drowning: Making Use Of Collegiate Aquatic Facilities And Expertise, Gennette Cordova, Natasha Lloyd, Chezik Tsunoda

International Journal of Aquatic Research and Education

The silent epidemic of childhood drowning, and the racial disparities associated with it require scalable and innovative approaches that both break cycles of exclusion and circumvent our societal tendency to overlook drowning as a matter in need of urgent resolution. No More Under, a Seattle-based water safety organization whose mission is to eradicate childhood drowning, has launched the Swim Safely Series. The series is a national program uniquely poised to overcome the various barriers associated with racial and socioeconomic drowning disparities by tapping into underutilized collegiate aquatic spaces and merging water safety with mentorship and social intervention.

An Examination Of The Experiences Of An African American Male Diver On A Power Four Swim Team: An Elite Interview, Steven N. Waller Ph.D., Tiffany M. Quash Ph.D.

International Journal of Aquatic Research and Education

Despite the incremental increase in the number of Black people who are learning to swim, the number of Black divers has not kept pace. In the NCAA Database, swimmers and divers were not segmented; thus, they all appear in the category of “swimming” by race and sex. When viewing the 2024 Division I NCAA Demographics Database, 89 (.02%) of 4307 student-athletes participating in swimming were Black women. For men, the data is equally dismal, revealing that 81 (.03%) of 2,608 student-athletes who were identified as swimmers were Black. The purpose of this research note is to examine the developmental experiences …

Navigating Leadership: A Qualitative Exploration Of Challenges And Coping Strategies For Women In Sport Management Education, Rachel Silverman, Shanon Kempt, Nita Unruh

The COSMA Journal

Abstract

Women remain significantly underrepresented in senior leadership roles in higher education, a disparity that is particularly pronounced in male-dominated disciplines, such as sport management (Chance, 2023; Lozano et al., 2023). This qualitative study examines the challenges faced by women in leadership positions within sport management education and the strategies they employ to overcome these barriers. Thirteen semi-structured interviews were conducted with biological females holding leadership roles at both teaching- and research-focused institutions. Participants ranged in age from 32 to 74 and had between one and twenty-four years of leadership experience. Using thematic analysis, key challenges identified included male-dominated work …

Ditch Tradition...And Move To Case-Based Learning, Emily Dane-Staples

The COSMA Journal

Recent criticisms of higher education include a lack of relevance and alignment with what employers are seeking in new hires. A lecture-based approach to teaching has proved less effective than other active learning strategies and does not adequately mimic the working environment sport professionals face. To better align the classroom and the workplace, a case-based learning approach can be used. This pedagogy blends high impact practices that have been demonstrated to assist students in knowledge acquisition and soft skill development by replacing traditional lecture and chapter readings with real-life scenarios that require student engagement with concepts in application. The technique …

Exploring Coaching Leadership Behaviours In Strength And Conditioning Coaching: Preferences Of Ncaa Division I And Ii Collegiate Student-Athletes Based On Task Variability, Severiano Tiberi, Jeremy Moody, Steve Cooper, George Jennings, Joseph I. Esformes

Journal of Athlete Development and Experience

This study aimed to explore collegiate student-athletesˈ preferences of coaching leadership behaviours in strength and conditioning coaching and evaluate differences between the student-athletesˈ preferences of behaviours based on task variability. In total 145 National Collegiate Athletic Association student-athletes (closed sports athletes = 51, open sports athletes = 94) completed an electronic questionnaire involving the athletesˈ preference version of the Revised Leadership Scale for Strength and Conditioning. Results revealed that the most favoured behaviour was ˈtraining and instructionˈ, whilst the least favoured was ˈautocraticˈ. Similar results were observed for closed and open sports groups, though closed sports athletes preferred ˈtraining and …

Need Frustration And Poor Mental Health Among Collegiate Athletes: The Indirect Role Of Ruminative Thinking, Alanni N. Brown, Adrian J. Bravo, Stimulant Norms And Prevalence 2 (Snap2) Study Team

Journal of Athlete Development and Experience

Vulnerability to negative mental health outcomes (i.e. anxiety and depression) among DI collegiate athletes may best be understood using Self Determination Theory (SDT) and the framework that need frustration impairs autonomy, competence, and relatedness. Need frustration may also relate to negative mental health symptoms via higher ruminative thinking, known to relate to both need frustration and poor mental health. The present study tested these two path models (i.e., SDT need frustration components [autonomy, relatedness, competency]-->rumination facets [problem-focused thoughts, counterfactual thinking, repetitive thinking, anticipatory thoughts]-->mental health problems (one for depression and one for anxiety as outcomes) among 341 collegiate …

Mentoring Of Para-Athletes And Its Impact On The Preparation Process For The 2020 Paralympic Games, Irina Perfilova, Joshua R. Pate, Robin Hardin

Journal of Athlete Development and Experience

Many factors contribute to successful athletic performance, and athletes have reported that mentors have played a vital role in their athletic performance as well as their personal development. Mentoring relationships can have a transformative impact on people’s lives, and mentored athletes, either by peers or coaches, have higher levels of dedication, confidence, and individual performance. Having a mentor is critically important during unexpected challenges in life such as was the case with the extraordinary uncertainty for para-athletes during the postponement of the 2020 Paralympic Games. The purpose of this study was to explore how mentoring aided para-athletes’ navigating the challenges …

Development And Transition In Crisis: The Impact Of The Covid-19 Pandemic On Division I College Athletes, Grace Kazmierski-Davie, Khalid Ballouli

Journal of Athlete Development and Experience

The aim of this study is to explore how Division I college athletes made meaning of their experiences during the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in spring 2020. Though existing literature details various athlete transitions, there is limited knowledge about how athletes navigate unprecedented disruptions like a global pandemic. This qualitative study employed semi-structured interviews to gather in-depth data. The study included a diverse sample of 19 college athletes, ranging from freshmen to seniors, representing various sports and academic levels. Findings revealed that athletes employed diverse strategies to maintain readiness and mental sharpness, reflecting both proactive and reactive coping mechanisms. …

Views From The Cheap Seats: Understanding The Key Motivators Behind Sport Volunteering, Nicholas Paul Smith, Tiberio Garza

The COSMA Journal

Sport volunteers are imperative to the success of sport mega events. Knowing why volunteers continue to help events was the purpose of this study. This study aimed to investigate the motivations of sport volunteers post Covid-19. Data were collected from 30 volunteers at the 2023 NCAA College World Series. Inductive qualitative analysis and descriptive statistics found that community support was the reason the respondents were most glad to volunteer. The findings offered insight into how communication factors between supervisors, law enforcement, and other volunteers affected volunteer motivation. The theoretical and practical implications of these results are discussed in more detail …

Fan Perceptions Of Dynamic Ticket Pricing In Professional Sports: The Impact Of Transparency, Incentives, And Demographics, Joshua Greer, Nicholas Zoroya

The COSMA Journal

Abstract

Dynamic Ticket Pricing (DTP) has become a widely implemented strategy in professional sports, allowing organizations to adjust ticket prices based on demand fluctuations. While DTP optimizes revenue generation for teams, its impact on fan perceptions, purchasing behavior, and loyalty remains a crucial consideration. This study examines the influence of age, gender, pricing transparency, and promotional incentives on fans’ perceptions of fairness, trust, and purchasing decisions within a dynamic pricing model.

A total of 57 participants completed a survey assessing their attitudes toward DTP. Key areas of analysis included perceived fairness, willingness to pay for high-demand games, trust in pricing …

Changing Salaries: Salary Constraints In North American Sports, Reese Shull

Honors Projects

The structure, impact, and potential future of the cap systems housed by the primarily North American sports leagues, NFL, NBA, and MLB, are examined. By comparing each of the different constraint models used to influence competitive balance, player compensation, and various team-building strategies, a comprehensive understanding of which league operates more effectively. Paramount is the relationship to rising revenues and the different returning and emerging channels that are being formed.

Evaluation Of Online Information On The Cold Shock Response To Accidental Immersion In Cold Water, Adam Wilson, Heather Massey, Clare M. Eglin

International Journal of Aquatic Research and Education

Many of the UK open water accidental deaths have been attributed to the initial responses to cold water immersion (CWI) collectively known as the cold shock response (CSR). The aim of this study was to analyse the publicly available internet information on CWI and CSR for accuracy and quality compared to the ‘gold standard’ published, peer-reviewed research. Seventy-eight webpages which provided information in English on unexpected CWI and CSR were evaluated. Webpages were accessible, widely available, and had appropriate readability scores. Webpage accuracy was suboptimal including only presenting on average 10 (range 3-16) CSR components out of 19. Quality of …

High Performance International Student-Athletes’ (Isas’) Career Experience: Cultural Intelligence (Cq) And Transition To Sec Schools, Tsu-Lin Yeh, Mark S. Nagel, Allison Anders, Stephen Shapiro

Journal of Athlete Development and Experience

Given the increasing recruitment of International Student Athletes (ISAs) in the US, this study investigated high-performance international athletes’ career transitions in Southeastern Conference (SEC) schools. Utilizing Cultural Intelligence (CQ) theory, which explains a person’s capability for performing well in culturally diverse environments (Fang et al., 2018), this study specifically examined how the four CQ elements (metacognition, cognition, motivation, and behavior) impacted ISA’s transitions. Using criterion-based sampling and snowball sampling, a total of 14 ISAs (five females and nine males) were interviewed. The four CQ elements were utilized as protocol coding for analyzing the interview manuscripts (Saldaña, 2016). Facing new/different cultural …

Take A Risk Or Play It Safe? Views Held By Student-Athletes, Russell D. Ravert, Marissa K. Turner, Wenting Sun

Journal of Athlete Development and Experience

Because assessing and managing risks is an integral part of sports, athletes may develop general beliefs regarding taking and avoiding risks that they draw upon. This qualitative study used inductive content analysis of survey responses to examine risk-related experiences and attitudes in sample of U.S. NCAA Division I college student-athletes (N = 101) from a variety of sports. Participants were asked to describe situations they experienced that required deciding whether or not to take risks, and to describe their “personal philosophy” on taking risks and playing it safe. Thematic analysis identified five situational contexts in which the student-athletes said …

#Rookieparty: The Intersections Of Social Media, Hazing, And Canadian Varsity Sport, Jay Johnson Dr., Geneva Gudmundson, Jessica W. Chin, Margery Holman

Journal of Athlete Development and Experience

Prior to the start of the pandemic in 2020, almost two-thirds of all varsity athletes across gender and sport in Canada had engaged in a sport hazing ritual (Johnson et al., 2018). While hazing in sport has been researched from a variety of perspectives, few studies have examined hazing in the context of varsity athletes' social media use. This is a potential space where Johnson (2017) suggested that technological tools such as cellphones, that provide instant access to social media, have enabled users to more easily capture and post online, potentially exacerbating the trauma inflicted on rookies during team hazing …

“I Know More About What We Can’T Do Than What We Can”: Division I Women’S Sports Athletes’ Perceptions Of Name, Image, And Likeness, Jalyn Jimerson, Courtney Jones, Quinn Lukens, Marina Miller, Sarah Stokowski, Michael Godfrey, Trevor Bopp, Chris Corr

The COSMA Journal

This study investigated women’s sport athletes’ perceptions of their ability to profit off name, image, and likeness (NIL) as current participants in collegiate athletics. Researchers conducted comprehensive semi-structured interviews with eight women’s sport athletes representing four NCAA Division I member institutions. Participants explained how institutionally organized programmatic educational initiatives primarily codified impermissible forms of NIL compensation while often omitting information about permissible NIL opportunities. Furthermore, participants considered themselves minimally involved in the NIL space, feeling on the low to average side of NIL engagement compared to their athlete-peers competing in men’s sports. The findings of this study are informative for …

Student Speed Dating As A Catalyst For Creative Idea Generation In Sport Management Programs, Logan Schuetz Ph.D., Yo Han Lee Ph.D., Tyler J. Hajek, Brandy Runyan

The COSMA Journal

This article presents a novel approach to addressing the challenges of idea generation among students in higher education, particularly in the field of sport management. Based on research into student engagement and creativity, the authors suggest incorporating speed dating techniques into both in-person and online classes. Speed dating sessions, conducted in breakout rooms via platforms like Zoom and Microsoft Teams, offer students multiple opportunities to engage in brief, structured interactions, thereby enhancing their presentation skills, idea generation, and perspectives through structured, rapid interactions. Additionally, this method encourages greater collaboration and active participation, improving the overall learning environment. This strategy not …

The Reclassification Of Sport Management, Robyn Lubisco, Kerry Fischer, Genevieve F.E. Birren, Kathleen Burke

The COSMA Journal

Institutions of higher education use Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) codes to categorize and track academic programs. Developed by the National Center for Educational Statistics (NCES), CIP codes are used for various purposes, including data collection, analysis, and reporting (NCES, 2010). Academic administrators can use CIP data to initiate or revise academic curriculum, develop market research for new programs, and reallocate programs. Institutions can establish benchmarks in the form of teaching, research, qualifications, and funding (Knudson, 2016). A survey distributed in November 2022 to members of the North American Society for Sport Management (NASSM) revealed less than one percent of …

Faculty Perceptions Of Soft And Hard Skills In Sport Management Curricula, Jonathan Rosenberg Ed.D., Simon M. Pack

The COSMA Journal

While employers still see the value in accessing hard skills, the current hiring process involves placing a greater emphasis on the transferable skills known as soft skills. These soft skills include critical thinking, teamwork, leadership, written and oral communication, and the ability to research independently. As such, hiring managers suggest the onus for developing soft skills rest with faculty as they equip these future employees with the soft skills necessary for a given role or industry. There exists an abundance of research in skill development and employability from the vantage point of the employer and of the graduating student, however, …

Integrating A Practical Sport Analytics Course Into Sport Management Education, Bradley Congelio

The COSMA Journal

Integrating analytics into sport management curricula has become increasingly crucial as the sport industry embraces data-driven decision-making. However, many programs struggle to bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical application in analytics education. This paper presents a comprehensive approach to teaching sport analytics that emphasizes hands-on experience with data using the R programming language and RStudio. The course structure and content described herein focus on leveraging the tidyverse ecosystem and National Football League (NFL) data to immerse students in conducting sport analytics. By progressing through modules on data manipulation, visualization, web scraping, and statistical analysis, students acquire both the …

Voluntary Early Retirement From Sport: The Lived Experiences Of Former Ncaa Diii Student-Athletes, Lindsey Darvin, Ryan Konotopskyj, Ashley Ryder

Journal of Athlete Development and Experience

Intercollegiate athletics offer amateur athletes an approximately four-year window to pursue their athletic careers (Hodges & Darvin, 2022). While many athletes complete their full eligibility, some choose to retire early (Zvosec & Bass, 2022). At the NCAA Division III level, motivations for early retirement remain unclear, and the experiences of former student-athletes are often overlooked (Zvosec & Bass, 2022; Hodges & Darvin, 2022). Despite DIVISION III's large athlete population, research seldom delves into their experiences. This study aims to explore why former Division III athletes voluntarily leave their sport. Transitioning out of collegiate sports poses significant challenges, affecting athletes' identities, …

The Challenges Women Face In Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu In The United States, Rachel S. Silverman, Anthony Dixon, Harriet E T Dixon

Journal of Athlete Development and Experience

The purpose of this case study was to discover the challenges facing women participating in Brazilian jiu-jitsu in the United States, how they overcame these challenges, and why they continue to participate in Brazilian jiu-jitsu. Twenty-three female jiu-jitsu athletes participated in the study. Semi-structured interviews using open-ended questions were utilized. Analysis of challenges revealed three broader themes of Brazilian jiu-jitsu being male-dominated, gender norms and Brazilian jiu-jitsu being a contact sport. Women discussed how they coped with the challenges and the benefits they gain from participation. To increase the number of women involved in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, participants suggested more women’s-only …

The Fight In And Out The Ring For Mexican American Women Boxers, Melody Alanis, George B. Cunningham, Natasha T. Brison

Journal of Athlete Development and Experience

In the context of the United States (US) sport sector, particularly within the boxing domain, a prevalent hypermasculine culture has been widely observed. Despite this prevalence, there exists a significant gap in research: addressing the shared experiences of Latinas, specifically Mexican American women boxers in the US. To bridge this divide, the authors employ a qualitative study utilizing Latin Critical Race Theory (LatCrit) as the primary theoretical framework to further investigate the boxing experiences of Mexican American women inside and outside the ring. The study engaged ten participants in semi-structured interviews, while additionally collecting data from their respective boxing gyms' …