Sport Management: Past, Present, Future
The author argues that present conditions justify an analysis of sport management, broadly interpreted, from the standpoint of its historical background, its present status, and its possible future. Three reasons are given: A new North American Society for Sport Management has just been established; serious criticism has been leveled at both professional sport and so-called educational sport; and management theory and practice has become an increasingly complex subject. Several questions are considered: What has been the historical background of sport management? What is its present status? What plan should be followed for the finest sort of progress in the years ahead? And what may be reasonably concluded from this analysis? The author concludes that (a) the field still has an opportunity to relate significantly to the developing social science of management but time is running short; (b) the vast enterprise that is sport must relate more effectively to the urgent need for qualified managers; (c) the new North American Society for Sport Management can make a significant contribution to this development; and (d) such development should be carried out in full cooperation with the National Association for Sport and Physical Education within the AAHPERD and the Canadian Association for Health, Physical Education, and Recreation.