Managing and Developing Community Sport

Can sport and physical activity (PA) be used to improve the communities we live in? How do community groups manage facilities that provide sport and PA? How can managers ensure the services they deliver meet the needs of their community? What role should community sport schemes play in society? Answer these questions and more in this, the first textbook to focus on the theory and practice of community-level sport management and development.

Bringing together academics and practitioners with expertise in sport management, sport development, the sociology of sport, PA programming and community coaching, this book outlines best practice and explores contemporary issues relating to:

• Community enhancement through sport and PA
• Leadership, enterprise and innovation
• Budgeting and decision making
• Event and facility management
• Corporate social responsibility (CSR)
• Monitoring and evaluation.

The book is divided into three sections: Part I provides an introduction to developing and managing community sport; Part II outlines the key issues and challenges that face those working in the sector; and Part III examines the leadership and management qualities needed to effectively manage and develop community sport.

Insightful and user-friendly, Managing and Developing Community Sport is written in an easy to read style and is a vital resource for sport management practitioners or students hoping to work in community-level sport.

Rob Wilson is a principal lecturer at Sheffield Hallam University (SHU), UK. His main research interests are the finance, economics and governance of professional team sports. He has presented at major European sport management conferences in recent years and has numerous publications in the sport management field. Rob is an active researcher with the Sport Industry Research Centre (SIRC) and contributes regularly to media items discussing the finances of sport and football with local, national and international media outlets

Chris Platts is a senior lecturer at Sheffield Hallam University (SHU), UK. His PhD in the sociology of sport and exercise examined the education and welfare provisions for young footballers undertaking a scholarship in professional football academies. Before undertaking his doctoral study, Chris completed an MSc in the sociology of sport and a BSc in sport and exercise science, both at the University of Chester, UK. Chris has used this research to contribute to publications on the work of young athletes and the application of qualitative research methods.