Sports management
Sports management in schools is a very vital discipline whose role is to ensure that sports participants are well versed with the rules associated with a particular event. Sports in the United States are organized according to the rules and regulations that are set for national and State sports management and organization. activities in the State of Florida are organized under the rule of Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA). It is unfortunate that if an AD is not familiar with the rules and regulations governing their State’s sporting activities they may end up not taking part in the sporting activities.
It is therefore important that all scholars, sports participants and school leaders as well as the society get awareness of the rules and regulations governing sporting activities in their States as well as the whole of the United States. Florida is a State that has been fully dedicated to providing the best possible educational services to her youth at different levels of academics. FHSAA was formed in 1920. The first group of school to unite and form the FHSAA included 29 principals of schools.
Their first meeting was held at Florida University, (Gibson, et. al. 2002). “Since its formation it works hand in hand with member school in administering the best requirement in both academics and sports. In 1997 FHSAA was given statutory recognition by the Florida Legislature. The body was fully recognized as Florida’s interscholastic athletics organizing body. FHSAA has grown over time and currently it comprises of a membership of 748 schools. FHSAA seeks to promote, control, direct and supervise interscholastic athletics programs for member school.
The body establishes and maintains the rules and regulations that must be adhered to by the high school during sports to better education promotion. More so, the body cooperates closely with “Florida Department of Education” towards the development of athletic programs and promotion of sportsmanship in addition to teamwork participation among the students. Policy making and implementation that safeguards the wellbeing of all players and school athletics management is the role of FHSAA. This organization basically ensures that the high school student acquire equitable and fair participation in sporting activities.
The association offers championship sponsorship programs in which at least 720 student from 108 teams participate in athletic activities with the majority getting championship crowns for the year. FHSAA is dedicated to form leaders from the schools in which about 800,000 students have the opportunity of being trained as leaders, good citizenship codes and sportsmanship every year, (Gems, 2006). There are rules and regulation associated to the organization. FHSAA ensures that it upholds the legislative rules of Florida Legislature as well as to enforce eligibility regulations set by member schools to ensure fair and equitable competition.
Eligibility of participants is set according to certain levels of physical fitness, amateurism, academic status, attendance, and sportsmanship capability, participation frequency not forgetting the transfer cases associated to a student. Although the set rules and regulations apply to all students, changes may be achieved depending on the level of the school that request for the adjustment upon recommendation by the respective board representatives. The structure of FHSAA is formed of several leadership levels.
Any school; public and private, that wishes to subscribe to the rules and regulation of the Department of Education of Florida as well as FHSAA is a potential member. FHSAA is managed by a board of directors; 16 members, representative assembly of members (more than 60), advisory committee and appeals committee of 5 members. All of these organizational officers have different roles in policy formulation and implementation. The policy formulation process in the organization is admirable for the fact that all stakeholders at different levels including the student are part of decision making and policy formulation.
It is worth noting that the FHSAA is a subscriber of the national interscholastic laws as applied by the legislature and National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) thus upholding the title 9 rules of gender balance in athletics. This rule allows each gender to play separately for boys and girls teams and encourages more female representation that in the past. Players may also be regulated according to their stature, body strength, age such that if a team is endangered by the presence of that particular player he/she may be barred from participation, (Burton, 2009).
If player are suspected of any substance and drug abuse within the sporting arena they are faced with automatic disqualification unless they are proven innocent after extermination. At present most players are using drug like steroids, heroine, cocaine among others to enable them compete their peers. Unfortunately, the laws and rules that have been put in place by the interscholastic and intercollegiate sports managers and policy makers in the State of Florida are tough and will not allow any drug abusers to thrive in game and sports at any cost.
Safety of players is ensured through a set of governing rules that advocate for single sex teams especially for players within and past puberty. In addition the FHSAA ensures that before athletics and sporting events are held the host complies with the set standards. For example, appropriate equipment, supply of necessities, there should be set time for practice in the schools plus appropriate schedule for different events. Availability of team coaches is an important factor in organization of any sporting activity.
Appropriate health facilities and support services must be provided. Students for different schools must be recruited according to the set standards. Despite the fact the Florida High school Athletics Association is a nonprofit making organization aimed at promoting the welfare of interscholastic sports, it may not be left behind in politics of sporting professionalism. Controversies are always on board when ever professionals meet. For example, national teams are currently facing a controversy on mobility of sports franchise by professionals.
The FHSAA is faced with leadership and policy making controversy. Money issues can not be left behind. Funding sports is not an easy task since it often gives leaders a hard time yet at the end of it all they are face with complains of missing items during certain events, (Staurowsky, & Sack, 1998). Allocation of awards is usually another hectic job for the organizers since they have to ensure that the best player gets the best prizes and the lowest a lower price.
Amateur athlete must also be awarded a prize for their effort if not performance. This motivates them to improve in the sport in future. FHSAA has always ensure sufficient communication technique through its website, newspapers, magazines and other forms of media to keep the school heads and sports administrators informed of its requirements. FHSAA has awards for both best academicians and athletes. For instance, the “FHSAA academic Team Champion Program” awards the best team in terms of cumulative average grade.
The Sportsmanship awards, Sunshine Cup awards are also good example of awards offered by FHSAA in its strive to maintain both academic Excellency and sports performance. In conclusion, the FHSAA is one of the most adorable and organized sports associations of the world due to the good work it does in school within Florida. Its main role is to produce team leaders and managers after school. The policy formulation process in FHSAA is all inclusive and worth emulation by others organizations who just dictate policies to their juniors. References Burton, L. J.
(2009). A Reinvigorated Call for Support of Title IX at the High School Level. The Journal of Physical Education, Recreation, & Dance. Vol. 80. Gems, R. G. (2006). The Athletic Crusade: Sport and American Cultural Imperialism. University of Nebraska Press. Gibson, H. , Willming, C. , & Holdnak, A. (2002). “We’re Gators. Not Just Gator Fans”: Serious Leisure and University of Florida Football. Journal of Leisure Research . Vol. 34 Staurowsky J. E. & Sack A. L. (1998) College Athletics for Hire: The Evolution and legacy of the NCAA’s Amateur Myth . Krieger.
