Sports Thoughts
Among the major factors militating from the development of sports in Nigeria today is not enough effective management. Plenty of solutions are increasingly being proffered by concerned and patriotic Nigerians daily to bail us out the quagmire. One of such solutions is this text entitled "Modern Trends in Sports Administration and Management ".It's written by Dr. Joseph Awoyinfa, a lecturer in the Department of Human Kinetics and Health Education, Faculty of Education, University of Lagos, Nigeria; a researcher and educational consultant. I was the individual invited by the writer and the university to review the book when it had been presented to people on December 4, 2008 in Nigeria.In accordance with Awoyinfa, it is really a truism all around the world that sport is now a research issue which can no longer be ignored at various sectors of the economy and spheres of life. Mcdougal adds that this text thus requires a critical look at topical issues in sports administration and management, dwelling on theories and principles of modern trends in sports administration and management such as for example leadership, organisation, planning, motivation, etc.
The text contains 16 chapters. Chapter one is christened "the thought of sports management ".Here, Awoyinfa says management is really a concept that implies different things to different people at different occuring times, thus resulting in its multiplicity of definitions. He explains that management has been variously described being an art, a science, an individual or people, a discipline and a process.
This author expatiates that being an art, sports management is all about carrying out sports organisational functions and tasks through people; while as a science, sports management is all about establishing sports philosophy, laws, theories, principles, processes and practices. As an organisation, in accordance with him, sports management is defined as a means of creating formal structures and an establishment centered on a mission, objectives, targets, functions and tasks.
Awoyinfa says as an individual or group of people, sports management may refer to the pinnacle alone or to all the senior staff, committee, etc.; while as a discipline, management is a subject of study with various subjects and topics. Mcdougal illuminates that sports management as a procedure is all about an organized way of doing things. Awoyinfa highlights management functions in sports administration as planning, organising, staffing, directing/leading, controlling, coordination, budgeting and evaluation. On whom a sports manager is, this author educates that the sports manager is anyone at any level of sport organisation who directs
the efforts of other folks towards the achievement of organisational goals sport-wise.
