Recreational Sports Trends for the 21st Century: Results of a Delphi Study

Abstract

Every recreational sport administrator has the challenge to plan, guide and lead his or her organizations into the future. Yet, the future is mostly unknown. This article provides insight into what the future may hold for recreational sport practitioners in a campus setting, by sharing the results of an electronic Delphi study conducted to identify the key trends impacting the delivery of recreational sports programs up to the year 2015. Of the 31 trends that emerged from the study, the panel of experts believed that funding and budgets, legal aspects, and technology would have the greatest potential for impacting the delivery of campus recreational sports programs over the course of the next 15 years.

A Study on Job Satisfaction among Campus Recreation Administrators at Four-Year Public and Private Institutions

“…University and college administrators are increasingly aware that campus recreation is one of the most dynamic and fastest-growing services on a college. The campus recreation profession has a responsibility to be attentive to the programs and services they offer and the professional skills they possess (Garland & Grace, 1993;Osman, Cole, & Vessell, 2006;Young & Ross, 1998). Campus recreation administrators have an obligation to show they are competent in their leadership abilities, skills, and knowledge base in order to serve their participants and their institution effectively.…”

“…Campus recreation administrators must work effectively and efficiently and not be overwhelmed by institutional and administrative factors that they cannot control (Schneider, Stier, Kampf, Wilding, & Haines, 2007;Zhang et al, 2004). Additionally, Young and Ross (1998) indicated that campus recreation administrators, as have all student affairs professionals, experienced an increase of workload, responsibilities, and mounting expectations while still being required to offer a successful product. Weese (1997) explained that if campus recreation administrators want their programs and services to survive in a competitive market then they must ensure that their program offerings are expertly conceived, promoted, staged, and evaluated.…”

“…The demand for campus recreation on university and college campuses encourages student affairs professionals to meet students' needs (Lewis et al, 2001;Osman et al, 2006). Being able to offer exciting, accessible, and innovative exciting programs and activities that encourage students, faculty, and staff to become more actively involved in their personal well-being is a fundamental building block of the campus recreation profession (Byl, 2002;Ellis et al, 2002;Haines, 2001;Mull et al, 1997;Young & Ross, 1998).…”

“…The campus recreation profession can differ from campus to campus. Young and Ross (1998) (Taylor et al, 2003, p. 85).…”

Identification of Problems in Campus Recreation Programs in North America

“…There is an abundance of literature related to technology and how it relates to recreational sports (Handel & Forrester, 1997;Kendell, 1997;Ross & Wolter 1997;Sherman, 1998;Ross & Forrester, 2001;Young & Ross, 2000). In the sports, fi tness and recreation industry, colleges have become the leaders in website development (Sherman).…”