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Informal Sports |
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Informal Sports |
Lesson Objectives:
By completing the work in this lesson, you will have learned:
 | the participation factors involved in planning informal sports. |
| operational considerations relevant to informal sports. |
| various programming techniques to facilitate participation. |
| several types of facility scheduling. |
I. Introduction
One of the most misunderstood
and misrepresented programming areas in recreational
sports is the informal sports programming
area. By definition, informal sports is self-
directed participation in recreational sports.
This program area is completely opposite than
the structured intramural sports program
and one that possesses the least amount of
structure for the participant. Activities
can range from backyard volleyball or softball at the
family picnic to “pick-up” basketball games
at the local gymnasium to participation in an
aerobics class. However, in most settings
(municipal parks and recreation, military,
educational, etc.), informal sports involves
the largest number of participants.
II. Participation Factors
In order for a recreational
sports programmer to effective administer an informal sports
program, an understanding of several key
factors which facilitate participation is important.
These factors include: availability/accessibility
of facilities, seasonal timing, scheduling,
conveniences, cleanliness, personnel, cost
and program policies/procedures.
A. Availability/accessibility of
facilities. What recreational sport facilities are available
for participants
to utilize? In determining availability and accessibility of facilities,
it is
important to complete
an overall assessment of the available sport facilities in your
specific environment.
Factors such as terrain, weather, transportation and participant
interests will have
a direct impact on how available and accessible sport facilities are.
The programmer should always
be aware of local trends, sport traditions and culture
in identifying facilities.
For example, in the state of Indiana, basketball is an extremely
popular sport.
While in the resort areas of North and South Carolina, golf is king.
The physical placement
of all sport facilities should be done in a way to accommodate
accessibility for all
disabled participants.
Facility availability
should be the greatest when the demand and wants of users are the
greatest.
Also consider the best times for certain target populations such as senior
citizens, housewives,
professionals, students, etc.
B. Seasonal timing. When
is the best time of the year to make certain facilities available?
Obviously, outdoor
facilities for golf, golf driving ranges, softball diamonds, football
and soccer fields,
etc. must be available during the spring, summer and early fall
months. Indoor
facilities for basketball, racquetball, weight training, swimming, etc.
should be available
in late fall, winter and early spring.
C. Scheduling. Factors
which influence the scheduling of a facility for informal sports use
include:
1. Age of participants (youth vs adult participants)It is also very important to communicate to all informal sport users the available
2. Time required for participation
3. Needs of other recreational sports programs which use the same facilities
4. Budget constraints of programs and facilities
5. Popularity of the activities.
times/hours of each facility. This can be achieved through posted notices on bulletin
boards, telephone voice mail, newspaper ads, radio ads, etc. If the daily facility
schedule must be altered (possibly due to unexpected maintenance or repairs), this
should also be communicated. Nothing is worse than for a user to come to a facility
during his/her daily exercise routine and find the facility closed.
There are basically
two types of facility scheduling: short term reservations and block
scheduling.
| Short term reservations. Reservations for facility use are made on a short term basis--daily, weekly or monthly. Short term reservations are mostly used for one-time requests for such sports as racquetball, tennis, golf, etc. or when scheduling special interest or target groups. |
| Block scheduling. Block scheduling is the objective, priority review of facilities for use by separate programs or groups. This type of scheduling is usually completed on a seasonal or yearly basis. Participant headcounts during peak use times can be very helpful in determining these priority block schedules. Properly done, block scheduling affords advanced planning, minimizes conflicts, balances program areas and maximizes facility usage. |
Regardless of which
facility scheduling method is used, there will still be facility
conflicts with participants.
Suggestions for reducing conflicts include:
1. Changes
should be posted as early as possible and communicated to all
supervisory staff.
2. Contact user group
representatives by telephone to advise of changes and
alternative programming options.
3. Establish
an objective policy for dealing with facility use conflicts and apply it
in
ALL situations.
4. Utilize public service announcements.
5. Conflicts
should be handled by the program director who should be on-site
during periods of
anticipated facility use conflicts.
6. Use good
communication techniques with all concerned parties--can one group
come back at an
alternative time?
7. Admit to a scheduling problem and offer apologies.
8. Require facility confirmation notices at least one week in advance.
9. Handle all
facility use conflicts directly and assertively to obtain acceptance and
agreement.
D. Conveniences. Additional
benefits or conveniences that are provided by the agency
can make the facility
much more attractive to the informal sports participant.
Conveniences such
as: towel service, equipment rental or purchase, adequate parking,
concessions, hot
tub or sauna, outside water fountains, telephones, bus service, guest
passes, daily exercise
logging, personal trainers, etc. are just a few that add to a quality
sport experience.
E. Cleanliness. This is
a factor that we usually take for granted as a recreational sports
programmer but one
that is quickly noticed by the participant. A clean and attractive
facility helps maintain
a positive public image. First impressions are usually lasting
impressions.
F. Staffing. Personnel
play a vital role in either attracting participants or causing them to
go elsewhere.
Staff should be congenial, helpful and knowledgeable about the facility
and program.
In addition, they should be capable and competent in controlling safety
hazards, facility
misuse and disciplinary problems.
G. Cost. The recreational sports
programmer should also try to keep participant costs to a
minimum.
Facility operating costs can be defrayed through reservation fees,
equipment rental,
access fees, special group rentals and so forth. Traditionally, fees
and charges have
been more common in commercial settings such as health clubs and
private sport clubs.
However, in municipal and educational settings they are becoming
more and more commonplace
due to cutbacks in local, state and federal funding.
1. Types of fees and charges:
a. Annual user fee: unlimited access to facilities.
b.. Daily user fee: golf greens fees, swimming pools, informal sports daily
users pass, lift ticket, etc.
c. Rental fee: park shelter, softball diamond, etc.
d. License/permit fee: hunting, fishing, snow park permits, etc.
H. Policies/Procedures.
The purpose of program policies and procedures is to explain
the basic rules
and regulations for participation in the informal sports program.
All
policies and procedures
should be written in a clear and concise fashion leaving little
room for confusion.
When developing policies and procedures keep the following
factors in mind:
1. Never jeopardize the safety of participants.
2. Don’t burden participants with “red tape.”
3. Make sure all policies are understood by the users.
4. Policies and procedures usually pertain to eligibility, fees and charges, facility
reservations and general facility use standards. Consider participant rules such
as: smoking, litter, food, dress, pets, sportsmanship and lost/found to name just a
few.
The key to public
acceptance of policy statements is the justification for their
existence, consistent
enforcement and sensitivity for public relations.
III. Summary
The informal sports program
places significant emphasis on self-directed participation
through the proper administration of sports
facility and equipment. It is the participant who
designs and develops the specific personal
programs, while the recreational sports
programmer facilitates the involvement or
experience through appropriate and available
facilities and equipment. If managed
effectively, the informal sports program can contribute
significantly to the overall recreational
sports program.
Study Questions:
A. Textbook/Chapter 5
1. Describe the various types of information that informal sports
programmers can obtain
through facility
usage reports.
2. Name the five most common types of fees used in informal sports programs.
3. What considerations should be involved in developing a set of
facility use guidelines
for all program
users?
4. Cooperation and trust are deemed vital elements of multiple-use
facilities. What are
some strategies
for developing cooperation and trust among users?
5. Explain "block scheduling."
Notes:
1. One of the more difficult problems in
informal sports programming is balancing facility
scheduling and use. Explain the various
techniques that could assist with this problem.
2. What are the major differences between self-directed and staff-directed sport programs?
3. Why would eligibility policies apply to informal sports which is self-directed participation?
4. Explain the advantages and disadvantages
of phone-in facility reservations for short term
requests.
5. What are typical examples of participant
misconduct in informal sports?
Case Study
As the informal sports coordinator for the local YMCA,
a church group has contacted your office
for the use of your sport facilities for a week during
the winter holidays. The group will consist of
800 teenagers who will be attending a three day conference
in your community. The group
leadership would like to conduct several tournaments
and special events as part of the group's
activities. As the individual responsible for all
facilities, you are meeting with a representative of
the group to discuss facility and program arrangements.
Develop an agenda for this meeting
outlining specific topics you will discuss with the representative
as well as your recommendations.
Be as specific as you can in terms of details. Include
every facility and programming item that
you think is important to discuss with the group leadership.
Examples of items would include
such items as: liability, vandalism, handling of disciplinary
problems, etc. Remember, this is an
organizational meeting with the church group and a meeting
that you want to make sure that you
spell out every detail that must be covered in the weeks
to come. Do not assume that I or the
church group leadership have any experience with informal
sports, facility management or sport
programming.