Governance in Sport : Analysis and Application

Simplify the complexities of sport governance with an engaging and thought-provoking guide to how authority, policies, rules, and regulations can influence decision making in sport organisations. Governance in Sport: Analysis and Application examines the structure of governance within sport organisations across a breadth of levels and a variety of industry sectors to prepare students to practice principles of good governance and ethical decision making.

The content is presented from three broad perspectives: (1) Students will first learn the foundation of legal and managerial practices in sport governance, encompassing ethical behavior, effective leadership, decision making, and policy development within sport organizations. (2) Once the groundwork is established, a geographical framework explores the structures and functions of regulatory agencies for sport at the local, state, national, regional, and global levels. Students will gain an appreciation for how agencies vary, as well as the differences in for-profit, nonprofit, and quasi-public sport organizations at the various levels. (3) Students will examine the nuances of sport governance across selected sectors of the sport industry. Professional sport, amateur sport, sport media, sporting goods and licensing, and fitness, wellness, and health are presented alongside the emerging and rapidly evolving sectors of sport marketing, legalized sport wagering, and esports for a realistic look at how governance is applied across different sectors.

To enhance practical application, a related web resource presents 12 in-depth case studies and debates on relevant examples of governance in action within sports organisations. Each case study provides thought-provoking perspectives, authored by industry experts and scholars across sport business and academia. Students will gain real-world understanding of how governance varies across national and international levels by scrutinising contemporary issues such as the NCAA college basketball corruption scandal, the NFL kneeling policy, Olympic host city selection, and poaching in esports. Critical thinking skills are encouraged with multiple-choice and discussion questions provided at the end of each case study.

Additional learning aids also help to connect foundational knowledge to modern-day application. Governance in Action boxes highlight key concepts and provide context in relationship to recent events. Critical thinking questions encourage classroom discussion, and end-of-chapter applied activities help to solidify understanding.

Providing an overview of managing sport at all levels and all sectors, Governance in Sport will help students develop an acute understanding of where power resides, how decisions are made, and the impact of those factors on the goals, purpose, and structure of sport organisations.