Over the last week an interesting topic surfaced amongst some of my colleagues in Sport Management. The basic tenor of the topic surrounded the following two questions: “Are there too many sport management degree programs?” and “Are the programs teaching students the most beneficial material for them to be successful in the sport industry?” 

 My colleagues made some valid points regarding the content of curricula across the country.  I found two in particular that were very good and think they should be considered in more detail.  The first is that the market is being oversaturated with students graduating with a degree in Sport Management. Unfortunately, many graduates come from the programs that are not teaching students what they need to know in order to be successful in the field. Throwing a marketing course into a curriculum does not make a quality sport management program.  The second point, which I think is right on the money, is that the sport industry is much bigger than just professional sport.  As a result, it is not surprising that, like all businesses, sport-related businesses must be run by qualified individuals who know how to manage the unique attributes of sport businesses.

 While there are some very good programs, there are also programs that are not good at all. There is a big difference between what makes a quality program at the undergraduate, master and doctoral levels.  At the undergraduate level (I will just stick to that here) we have to prepare the students for a wide range of careers in the sport industry as well as prepare them to be successful in graduate school if they so choose to go that route. I have covered what makes a quality sport management program before.  I routinely talk with industry professionals about what they look for in hiring entry level employees.  Consistently, we hear employers are looking for someone who can do a number of different things as well as be able to sell.  This is true from the professional sport franchises, to college and high school athletic departments, to non-profit and community based sport organizations, etc. There is one caveat though that most sport professionals point out…regardless of the content of the program, if an individual does not have any desire or passion to work in the sport industry they will not be successful.

 Let’s face it; education is a business just as the sport industry is a business.  If educational institutions are not meeting the wants and needs of its consumers they will lose customers just like any other business. As a result, it is incumbent upon sport management programs to meet those wants and needs, help the students become successful and be willing to alter the programs as the industry evolves. We must all look at ourselves and our programs with a keen eye towards constantly developing and honing our skills as professionals in order to teach our students and model the behaviors necessary for us all to be successful in the future. What do you think?

I had a pretty busy week last week.  In fact, it was busier than usual and I am still recovering from the hectic pace. As a result, this post contains some of the random thoughts I had while reflecting on the events of the week. While my comments may appear to be scattered and unrelated they do reflect a certain theme and I hope you gain a new perspective as you read.

First, York College held Midnight Madness this past Friday.  Instead of hosting the event on the more “traditional” first day of basketball practice, our school conducts Midnight Madness in conjunction with Alcohol Awareness Week.  The Sport marketing students were responsible for marketing the event and they did a wonderful job!  Over one thousand students attended this year.  Everyone seemed to have a great time as they enjoyed various entertaining events, food, prizes and of course, an introduction to the teams.

Second, I played knock out at the event.  There are not many things that I am worse at than basketball.  On top of that, I honestly hate knock out because I always get my butt kicked!  Having said that, I enjoyed playing; it was fun. I certainly gave the students something to remember and it allowed me and other faculty and staff members a chance to let loose a bit. 

Third, during the busy week I noticed that there were some major miscommunications between many different people.  I was personally involved in two of the situations and I witnessed a few more. As frustrating as that was and did lead me to some conclusions.

So what did I take away from this week?

What are your thoughts on these points? How do you get through the tough weeks at work, school or in your personal life? Your tips and opinions are more than welcome here!

This week’s post is courtesy of Matt Blaszka (’07).  He has some interesting insight on why it is so important to get involved in the Sport Management Student Association.
The Sport Management Student Association might be one of the more important things to do while you are at York College. The SMSA provides opportunity to go out in the field, meet people, learn professionals, and most importantly being a part of the SMSA Golf Tournament.

During the 2005-06, I was the president of the SMSA. We were operating in the red but through small fundraisers during the fall and spring we were able to get ourselves in the black. During the spring of 2006 we wanted to do something big that would help the SMSA for years to come and provide opportunities to attend conferences and bring in professionals for cheaper cost. The SMSA at this point was 12-15 students and was trying to find a way to get involved. Enter the SMSA Golf Tournament. The committee of Dan Stahl, Scott Fitzgerald, Megan Eckenrode, Chris White and I began to explore and conquer putting on a golf tournament. Needless to say we struggled to put it together but we pulled it off with 10 foursomes, a professor who got sick the day of the tournament, and a building block for the SMSA for years to come. Now entering the fourth edition of SMSA Golf Tournament it is arguably the biggest event of the SMSA year and provides students with great experience.

I tell you this story not because of the struggles we went through but the experience of putting on a major event provides your resume with that little extra. When I did my work experience at Lehigh University, they saw that I put on a golf tournament and asked me to put together one for the alumni in the program. Again, it was 2ndgolf tournament that I was part of starting and now it sells out routinely.

The SMSA provides you the opportunity to get to know people that are in your classes. The Sport Management program provides you with students who are typically in all your classes. The classes provide a forum to meet people but the SMSA takes that to the next level. Joining SMSA puts you in touch with all the people in the program from seniors to freshman. For freshman it is crucial to get involved because you will not have the opportunity to have seniors in your classes and this is a way to network for yourself. Remember that networking is not limited to just professionals, it is fellow students and professors. SMSA provides these opportunities.

I am currently enrolled to get my Masters in Sport Administration at Georgia State. Students in my class have a ton of experience and volunteer work because they did the little things through their school. Those opportunities give your resume that boost when you do go for a job interview. Interviewers will see that you did a lot of work and were a part of a club at school. Whether it’s helping on game day with the Ravens as a greeter or having events with the York Revolution it all can help you further yourself in the field of Sport Management.

Here are my suggestions

High school graduations across the nation have come and gone and hopefully the graduates are enjoying their summer.  As they prepare to head off to college in the fall there are a few things that come to mind that will help in the transition from high school to college. Although I deal with these issues every year, this one is different since my oldest daughter will be a freshman in college and these issues are at the forefront of our family discussions.

• It is okay to be nervous.  You are venturing into the unknown and leaving your friends, parents, comfort zone etc…
• It may have been some time since you visited the college you will be attending. Do not forget why you chose to go there.  The reasons are still the same.
• Do not let the nervousness paralyze you.  You are now an adult start taking care of the issues at hand. Such as your schedule, a job etc… I was very proud of my daughter last week when we went on her orientation retreat, without being prodded she went to student services and financial aid and got her questions answered.
• Touch base with your new roommate before you move in.  With social media such as Facebook and Twitter it is very easy to do that now. Getting to know each other makes the transition much easier.
• When you get to campus in the fall if you have questions make sure you ask them and get answers that satisfy you.  If not, you will be lost right from the beginning.
• Make sure you see your advisor, that person will be one of the most important people in your undergraduate career.  They will help you not only with courses and helping you graduate, but also with professional preparation direction and many other issues that arise in college.
• Create a time management system. You will have more to do than you ever have and you are responsible for getting it done and being where you are supposed to be when you are supposed to be there. Find a system that works for you and use it!
• Be active and exercise. Exercise relieves stress and will help you stay healthy while keeping off the freshman 15!
• The biggest piece of advice is to get involved in something on campus.  Whether it is a club, intramurals, radio station, newspaper etc… Involvement with your advisor, friends, major etc… is the key to developing a relationship/bond with the college and enhancing your experience. 

I hope you find these tips/suggestions useful.  Enjoy your summer and good luck as you start your undergraduate career.

As a college professor, I look forward to and enjoy the summer months because I am on vacation. But vacation means different things to different people.  I spend my vacations relaxing, catching up on some reading, playing golf, spending time with family etc… But I also spend time reflecting on the previous year and planning for the school year ahead because one thing is for sure the sport industry never goes on vacation.

The sport industry is going through the same tough economic times as the rest of us, so I will be looking at ways that will make our students more marketable in their search for internships and jobs. I will also be researching ways to better incorporate social media into the courses I teach as well as developing a new course.

I believe that we should always be trying to improve to make us better people as well as better professionals. What are you doing this summer to be a better professional?