This thesis examines if there is a relationship between competition time and team valuation, revenue and profitability in North American professional sport. The leagues examined were the major four in North America and include the National Basketball Association, Major League Baseball, the National Hockey League and the National Football League. Using the Balanced Scorecard (BSC) as a guide, appropriate literature of the four BSC categories was reviewed. The four categories of the BSC include Financial, Customer, Internal Business Processes and Learning and Growth. Conceptual models for team valuation, revenue and profitability were constructed using the BSC as a framework. In order to construct the three conceptual models 51 professional sport research variables were identified as useful to this framework. The data was collected over a ten-year period for the seasons 2003/2004-2012/2013. A series of statistical analyses were examined with regression analyses revealed three distinct models for the three dependent variables. It was found that competition time has a significant impact on all three dependent variables. The results from this study will help league executives in creating new strategies for revenue growth and other financial gains. Future research will work towards creating more competition time variables that will aid in determining the proper amount of competition time that needs to be played by each league to maximize league finances.

The purpose of this dissertation was to understand how Canadian sport system stakeholders select the international youth events in which athletes will take part. The first part looked at the policies and processes consistent among all national sport organizations (NSOs) using a policy-based approach. The second part focused on how NSOs responded to these demands in conjunction with pressures stemming from their specific sport communities and stakeholders, and analyzed the NSOs’ governance structures and processes in doing so. A conceptual framework composed of the governance, stakeholder theory and policy diffusion literatures guided the study and a qualitative methodology was used. Sport Canada and Own the Podium (OTP) played a steering role within the event selection process. NSOs faced numerous pressures such as learning, coercion, imitation, and competition, which they responded to by creating policies and processes for their organization and through selecting events for their athletes that best responded to these pressures. The final findings found the policies and processes were created using a network governance approach, taking into consideration NSOs’ sport-specific needs, which included, but were not limited to, the NSO’s organizational capacity, the number of athletes competing in the sport, and the depth and field of competition within Canada. Two key concepts outlined as best practices among successful NSOs and as an area for improvement for the Canadian sport system overall were alignment and communication.

Title: Sport popularity among the high-school students in Hradec Králové. Goals: The main goal of the Thesis is to determine an extent and a measure of sport and dynamic activities among students from chosen high-schools in Hradec Králové and to surfy a popularity of individual sports among those students. Methodology: The quantitative method wasused in this Thesis. Mainly the questionnaires. These were assembled direct for the surfy purposes and was given to the students of chosen high-schools in Hradec Králové. Results: It has been uncovered that 76% of high-school students in Hradec Králové do sport in their free time. Students do sport mainly because of thein health. Parents are the ones who have a great impact on their children doing sport. The most favourite sport of girl is modern dance, The most favourtie sport of boys is football. Klíčová slova: sport, adolescence, free time, motivation

None Provided.

This dissertation presents two individual studies aimed at providing insight into the impacts and benefits of participation and involvement in an alternative sport. Thus, the purpose was to monitor and evaluate the authentic sport of quidditch, based on the Harry Potter franchise, and the governing body, the International Quidditch Association (IQA). In Study 1, through a grounded theory approach, I examined the impact and benefits on participants and determined similarities and differences to traditional sport activities. Findings suggest involvement with quidditch provided leadership skills, social gains, increased health and fitness, self-confidence and pride, along with a positive sporting experience, all of which have been recognized in more traditional sports. Further analysis revealed the grassroots component of the sport provided leadership opportunities that organized traditional sport often cannot provide. In Study 2, I furthered my exploration with the sport of quidditch through a grounded theory approach and examined the impact and benefits for volunteers who chose to work for the IQA. Findings suggested the unique atmosphere of quidditch was able to produce an environment that yielded positive impact on the volunteers. It was found that volunteering for the IQA resulted in two themes recognized as a precursor to social capital development: A positive experience within a sport setting and meeting new people and like-minded individuals. Two additional themes, satisfaction and pride, and enhanced job marketability and networking, were found to result in personal gain. As grounded theory methodology suggests, this study aimed to advance substantive theory in regards to alternative sport impact in an effort to assist in the development of formal theory. From a practical standpoint, this dissertation implies the importance of alternative sport endeavors in an effort to reach those whom normally might not be found on the field, court, or ice.

Zugl.: Köln, Dt. Sporthochsch., Diss., 2008 u.d.T.: Bertling, Christoph: Unterhaltung durch Sport und Medien. / Bibliogr.

Due to the expanding aging population, Masters sport is becoming an increasingly popular activity for older adults (Weir et al., 2010). However, few resources are available to support lifelong sport adherence for middle-aged and older adults in competitive sport, or Masters athletes (MAs). The purpose of the thesis was to explore how MAs apply deliberate psychological strategies as a support to enhance their performance, experience, or adherence to the adult sport lifestyle. It also explored how mental performance consultants (MPCs) viewed the application of sport psychology to MAs, including content to which skills/strategies could be applied, and delivery approaches. In Manuscript 1, semi-structured interviews were conducted with eight Canadian MAs (Mage = 51, range 38-62; 3 males, 5 females) from 12 sports (10 individual, 2 team) to explore how they applied psychological skills/strategies as a support to the Masters sport experience. Data were thematically analyzed (Braun & Clark, 2012) deductively (Weinberg & Gould, 2015) and inductively. The results demonstrated that MAs used traditional mental skills predominantly to enhance performance, while novel Masters-specific skills were used to maintain sport adherence. MAs promptly illustrated sport psychology content, but were rather limited when discussing their methods/techniques. In Manuscript 2, five two-person semi- structured group interviews were pursued with ten professional Canadian MPCs (8 women, 2 men) who had experience consulting MAs. These interviews explored the content consultants delivered to MAs and whether there were implications of specific adult attributes associated with service delivery. Data were thematically analyzed (Braun & Clark, 2012) inductively. The results showed MPCs’ perceptions on psychological content they believed was highly pertinent in their consulting practice with MAs. Specifically, they described targeted content related to performance readiness, prioritizing sport, protecting/recovering sport enjoyment, and aging/self-compassionate considerations. MPCs also highlighted nuances related to approaches to consultation with adult sportspersons and the delivery of psychological services to MAs. In both studies with the MAs and the MPCs, interviewees described various barriers and constraints that influenced approaches to consultation and service delivery. Altogether, the corroborative results from both studies suggest the benefits of psychological support services for MAs, the use of MPCs’ services and expertise as an additional support to maintain lifelong sport activity, and provide a formative guide for content and approaches to delivery with the Masters clientele.

The aim of the thesis is to identify and compare the organization of sports activities of academic clubs at selected universities. The goal of the thesis is to find out how students perceive the importance of university sports and how is the historical development of university sports reflected in its current form. The objective is fulfilled via qualitative research method enabled by explorative nature of research. The individual data from various sources collected by method of questioning, interviewing and study of documents were concentrated and subsequently evaluated. The thesis concludes that the organization of academic sports clubs is different in several examined criteria. Another conclusion is that students have positive attitude towards sport at universities and perceive it as an importance for them and for every university. The organization of academic sports clubs is bonded to traditions acquired through the historical development, but the importance is not as significant as in the past.

Sport and sport events contribute a big percentage to the growth of sport tourism in South Africa. South Africa also hosts some of the most significant endurance events such as the Cape Argus, Cape Epic, Midmar Mile, Two Oceans Marathon and the Comrades Marathon. These endurance events have the potential to enhance endurance sport in South Africa and can also be used as a tool for tourism. It is important however, to determine the endurance sport consumption behaviour for participants and spectators who attend these events, since their behaviour and habits will influence their choices pertaining to travelling for sport events and even tourism. Sport tourism literature currently does not provide information and insight on this matter. Due to the lack of literature pertaining to endurance sport consumption behaviour, a description had to be provided to aid with the study. Endurance sport consumption behaviour (ESCB) in this study is therefore described as behaviour revealed by sport consumers who adapt their lifestyles after realising their desire to be self-complete, by testing and developing their bodies through sport activities. Sport consumption becomes the essence when participating in competitive, nature-related and fitness activities for both professional and amateur sport consumers. For spectatorship, these behaviours will differ, since the intentions of fans and supporters as well as the reasons for spectating differ, but sport events give them the opportunity to engage in sport on a different level, whether for the event or for the participant. These behavioural intentions can be influenced by the sport consumers’ attitude and subjective norms. ESCB is influenced by three main factors and includes: the demographic and behavioural profile; the motives and travel behaviour and the commitment towards the sport/event. The goal of the study was therefore to do a critical assessment of sport consumption at endurance sport events. In order to achieve this aim, secondary data of five endurance events (Cape Argus, Cape Epic, Midmar Mile, Two Oceans Marathon and the Comrades Marathon) were pooled. A total of 6453 questionnaires were distributed between the respective events for both participants and spectators attending these sport events and were included in the statistical analysis. From a first point of view, these sport consumers might seem homogenous, but when analysing the results, it became evident that sport participants and spectators (with regards to participation and support of endurance events) were not homogenous pertaining to their sport consumption behaviour at the respective endurance sport events. There are four main aspects that drive ESCB for endurance participants, namely the type of participant who pursues the sport; the age of the participant; the type of sport and the motives to participate. Four travel motives for these endurance sport participants were commitment, intrinsic achievement, escape and socialisation and the challenge these events provide. Endurance participants furthermore see sport events as an opportunity to travel. The spectators’ ESCB were driven by their socio-demographic and behavioural profile and the motives for supporting the respective endurance events. Endurance sport spectators were motivated by the social interaction and the sport novelty of the sport events. Their memorable experiences were influenced by the event’s personnel and provision, amenities, comfort and visibility, infrastructure and marketing. The study made literature contributions pertaining to the description of ESCB, which were lacking from sport tourism literature. Based on the results, recommendations were made, not only based on ESCB, but also on how these types of events can be used to enhance sport tourism in South Africa as well as the participation and support for these types of sport. Spectators’ views on endurance sport events were also lacking. The study indicated that these consumers were personally involved with the participants’ journey to success, compared to supporters who attended for the event in specific. In this study, sport consumer profiles are compared on a large scale, which have not yet been done in current sport literature, providing a holistic overview of endurance sport consumers. Sport consumer profiles are influenced by the sport context and the marketing of these events, but most importantly the ESCB. Practical contributions include the specialisation for endurance sport events, the growth for sport and tourism and insights to consumer behaviour for sport event organisers and marketers. This study is important, especially for sport marketers and organisations, in order to ensure the long term sustainability and competitiveness for the sport industry as well as for expanding sport tourism and tourism in South Africa. / PhD (Tourism Management), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015

Sport and sport events contribute a big percentage to the growth of sport tourism in South Africa. South Africa also hosts some of the most significant endurance events such as the Cape Argus, Cape Epic, Midmar Mile, Two Oceans Marathon and the Comrades Marathon. These endurance events have the potential to enhance endurance sport in South Africa and can also be used as a tool for tourism. It is important however, to determine the endurance sport consumption behaviour for participants and spectators who attend these events, since their behaviour and habits will influence their choices pertaining to travelling for sport events and even tourism. Sport tourism literature currently does not provide information and insight on this matter. Due to the lack of literature pertaining to endurance sport consumption behaviour, a description had to be provided to aid with the study. Endurance sport consumption behaviour (ESCB) in this study is therefore described as behaviour revealed by sport consumers who adapt their lifestyles after realising their desire to be self-complete, by testing and developing their bodies through sport activities. Sport consumption becomes the essence when participating in competitive, nature-related and fitness activities for both professional and amateur sport consumers. For spectatorship, these behaviours will differ, since the intentions of fans and supporters as well as the reasons for spectating differ, but sport events give them the opportunity to engage in sport on a different level, whether for the event or for the participant. These behavioural intentions can be influenced by the sport consumers’ attitude and subjective norms. ESCB is influenced by three main factors and includes: the demographic and behavioural profile; the motives and travel behaviour and the commitment towards the sport/event. The goal of the study was therefore to do a critical assessment of sport consumption at endurance sport events. In order to achieve this aim, secondary data of five endurance events (Cape Argus, Cape Epic, Midmar Mile, Two Oceans Marathon and the Comrades Marathon) were pooled. A total of 6453 questionnaires were distributed between the respective events for both participants and spectators attending these sport events and were included in the statistical analysis. From a first point of view, these sport consumers might seem homogenous, but when analysing the results, it became evident that sport participants and spectators (with regards to participation and support of endurance events) were not homogenous pertaining to their sport consumption behaviour at the respective endurance sport events. There are four main aspects that drive ESCB for endurance participants, namely the type of participant who pursues the sport; the age of the participant; the type of sport and the motives to participate. Four travel motives for these endurance sport participants were commitment, intrinsic achievement, escape and socialisation and the challenge these events provide. Endurance participants furthermore see sport events as an opportunity to travel. The spectators’ ESCB were driven by their socio-demographic and behavioural profile and the motives for supporting the respective endurance events. Endurance sport spectators were motivated by the social interaction and the sport novelty of the sport events. Their memorable experiences were influenced by the event’s personnel and provision, amenities, comfort and visibility, infrastructure and marketing. The study made literature contributions pertaining to the description of ESCB, which were lacking from sport tourism literature. Based on the results, recommendations were made, not only based on ESCB, but also on how these types of events can be used to enhance sport tourism in South Africa as well as the participation and support for these types of sport. Spectators’ views on endurance sport events were also lacking. The study indicated that these consumers were personally involved with the participants’ journey to success, compared to supporters who attended for the event in specific. In this study, sport consumer profiles are compared on a large scale, which have not yet been done in current sport literature, providing a holistic overview of endurance sport consumers. Sport consumer profiles are influenced by the sport context and the marketing of these events, but most importantly the ESCB. Practical contributions include the specialisation for endurance sport events, the growth for sport and tourism and insights to consumer behaviour for sport event organisers and marketers. This study is important, especially for sport marketers and organisations, in order to ensure the long term sustainability and competitiveness for the sport industry as well as for expanding sport tourism and tourism in South Africa. / PhD (Tourism Management), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015