Sport Leaders For Life? Supporting the Development of Individuals Working in Sport

Published November 23, 2011

One of our collective objectives is to enhance the capacity of sport professionals and volunteers so that they can handle recurring issues, challenges and opportunities. Through our ongoing partnership with True Sport, the Sport Law & Strategy Group along with the Centre for Sport Capacity at Brock University have been evaluating the impact of the Risk Management Workshop on the performance of individual sport leaders and the resulting impact on their organization.  The preliminary results are available in this four-page brief.

Supported by True Sport and coordinated by the Sport Law & Strategy Group, the Risk Management Workshops (RMWs) are designed to provide NSOs with the ability to manage the risks they face on a daily basis. According to the study, the workshops have provided NSO leaders with valuable knowledge and education - and contributed to these individuals' ongoing learning. With a renewed focus on achieving podium performance and implementing Long Term Athlete Development (LTAD) at all levels, it is imperative for Canadian sport leaders to adjust and evolve in order to continue to serve the needs of athletes, coaches, and organizations. An early conclusion to this research is that committing to long-term professional development can help NSOs realize capacity gains and better prepare themselves to effectively administer LTAD.