The making of a social entrepreneur: From participant to cause champion within a sport-for-development context

The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of a sport-for-development initiative, Street Soccer USA, on one of its most successful participants in order to understand her experiences, expectations, and motivations towards becoming a cause champion and social entrepreneur and continuing her activism. We adopted a narrative inquiry approach for this study in an effort to explore this topic in a detailed manner. Guided by previous literature within the field of social entrepreneurship, we found there were three specific background influences – sport, life, and traumatic experiences – which influenced her social entrepreneurial leanings. Within that context we show how the variables of people, opportunity, and capital intersect and lead towards the social value proposition of the social entrepreneur. Drawn from the findings, we provide theoretical and practical implications and directions for future research in the field of sport-for-development and social entrepreneurship.     

Developing a performance management framework for a national sport organisation

Organisational performance has become an imperative management function within the non-profit sport context as increased pressure is placed on these organisations to provide a quality service to stakeholders in an accountable and transparent manner. The case presented here examines the issue of developing and implementing a robust performance management tool that can potentially help national sport organisation managers with the multitude of performance challenges now facing these organisations. The theoretical underpinnings of a performance management tool are presented followed by background information to a fictional national sport organisation (Racquetball Australia) and views from the CEO of the organisation in relation to the topic of performance management. The case is written from a fictional perspective so that instructors may adapt the case to suit the geographical context in which the class is taking place.     

What about sport? A public health perspective on leisure-time physical activity

In an effort to determine how sport could be better positioned on the public health agenda, three community physical activity programs aimed at combating obesity were examined to determine the benefits residents seek through their participation. Using a case study approach and critical framework, assumptions and presumed knowledge of these public health programs were drawn out through site visits and interviews. A total of 42 interviews with community leaders, program organizers, and residents in each community were conducted. The results reveal that new approaches need to be considered for promoting greater levels of participation in U.S. community sport and other leisure-time physical activity programs. Instead of the commonly emphasized benefits of physical health or appearance, the results demonstrate that hedonic rewards and opportunities for social interaction are two overlooked, yet primary benefits sought by participants. This research suggests that concerted efforts to focus on the hedonic feelings and social aspects can potentially lead to increased sport participation and holistic health. Such an approach may help better address vital public health policy issues while demonstrating the distinctiveness and utility of sport.     

少林禅武思想对空中极限运动内在价值的诠释

以少林禅武思想作为“他者的视角”对空中极限运动的内在价值进行诠释,将西方哲学视域下的“自我肯/否定”补充和升华至无念无住的无我之境,为生活在“常人”世界的当代人通向本真之路另辟一条蹊径.     

南京体育学院运动系学生就职意向调查与分析

随着社会经济发展,大学生就业压力逐年增大,体育专业中的运动系学生作为一个特殊的就业群体,就业面局限,就业机会受限,毕业面临的就业压力更大,因此,采用文献资料法、问卷调查法、专家访谈法、数理统计法等,以南京体育学院运动系学生作为调研对象,了解其就职意向和影响因素,得出结论并针对其中存在的问题提出相应的建议,为南京体育学院运动系学生提供更具有针对性的就业指导,促进毕业生顺利就业,具有现实的科学合理的指导意义.     

论运动素质转移与运动项目迁移的关系* ——以健美操与体育舞蹈、体操为例

运动素质是可以相互转移的,各个运动项目需要的身体素质不尽相同,但他们之间都是可以相互转移的。通过描述了多个运动项目之间的身体素质之间的关系和转移,主要介绍了竞技健美操与体育舞蹈之间素质的转移,说明,每个项目需要的身体素质不同,运动员都要朝着正迁移的方向来进行训练。     

阳光体育运动对大学生体质健康促进的实验研究

以阳光体育为平台,有计划、有目的运动干预可以有效地提高大学生的体质健康水平,有助于培养大学生体育锻炼能力;并提出了干预的路径、管理机制,为学校体育改革提供理论和实践依据。     

Examining the participation patterns of an ageing population with disabilities in Australia

Social policies facilitate equity of access for participation in physical activity by all groups of people in society. While the sport participation of able-bodied people has been widely examined, much less attention has been given to the participation of people with disabilities. The purpose of this study is to investigate the patterns of participation in physical activity of people with disabilities. Based on the leisure constraint theory, a theoretical framework is developed that describes participation as a function of intrapersonal, interpersonal, and structural constraints. The framework is tested using a comprehensive sample of people in Australia from 2009 and 2010. From the dataset a sub-sample of people with disabilities was identified (n = 4342). As 78.1% of participants were aged 45 years and older, the sample represents an ageing population and a selected segment of the population of people with disabilities. Therefore, generalisations to disability sport need to be made with caution. The results show that 57% of the respondents participate in physical activity for an average of 4 h per week. The regression results indicate that the type of disability, the extent to which the person is restricted by the disability, age, gender, and education have a significant effect on participation. People with high workloads who are in a relationship participate less frequently. The cluster analysis resulted in two non-participant clusters and three participant clusters. The results inform policy makers and sport managers on ways to better support the participation of people with disabilities and specifically target their needs.     

Strategic alliances in sport tourism: National sport organisations and sport tour operators

This qualitative case study provides a sport-oriented perspective of sport tourism. It examines a strategic alliance between an Australian national sport organisation (NSO), the Australian Rugby Union (ARU), and a sport tour operator (STO), FanFirm. The study contributes insights into how NSOs can facilitate and develop sport tourism for major events through alliances with STOs. Findings indicate that by collaborating with the STO, the ARU accrued a range of intangible and financial benefits, which in turn provided an impetus for ongoing maintenance of the strategic alliance. In addition, the alliance was perceived to deliver advantages beyond the NSO–STO nexus, with rugby fans and host governments of rugby events also benefiting. The study demonstrates that sport organisations can play a role in maximising the tourism outcomes of major events and also suggests that smaller-scale, ‘bottom-up’ cross-sector alliances can contribute to maximising tourism outcomes of major sport events.     

Opening a Window on Early Twentieth-Century School Sport in Cape Town Society

An attempt was made at recording structured sport in non-White schools in Cape Town, South Africa, prior to 1956. The study was introduced with a historical presentation of sport at mission schools. It was shown how these schools inherited a legacy of deprivation and neglect that impacted upon sport participation. Yet, champion sportspersons at these schools gained some recognition in a racist and hostile society. This was possible due to the efforts of a few Teachers' League of South Africa (TLSA) campaigners who saw sport development as part of their mission of uplifting children in their charge. The TLSA attempted organising athletic meetings from 1916 onwards. Teachers belonging to this organisation were instrumental in establishing the first mass-based school sport organisation in Cape Town in 1928, the Central School Sports Union (CSU). This organisation was the only avenue of meaningful sport participation for most of Cape Town's marginalised children. A study of the CSU enables historians to open a window not only on social and political complexities of school sport but also on the broader early twentieth-century Cape society.