Chapter 8

8

Interscholastic Athletics

Warren A. Whisenant, University of MiamiEric W. Forsyth, Bemidji State University

C H A P T E R

Interscholastic Athletics

• Key segment within the sport industry

• Media attention devoted to segment

• Economic impact

• Influence of administrators

High School Sport: The Canadian Perspective

• International Sidebar

• International Learning Activity #1

• International Learning Activity #2

Arrival of Interscholastic Athletics

• First intercollegiate athletics competition 

• Growth and size of sector in the sport industry

Table 8.1

Governance of Interscholastic Athletics

• Development and growth of individual state associations

• Arrival of the Midwest Federation

(continued)

Governance of Interscholastic Athletics (continued)

• National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS)

• Examples:

– Florida High School Athletic Association

– Minnesota State High School League

– University Interscholastic League

Table 8.2

Value of Interscholastic Athletics Programs

• Athletics support the academic mission of schools

• Athletics are inherently educational

• Athletics foster success in later life

• Conflicting (critical) views

Participation Numbers

• Impact of Title IX

• States with the most participants

• Most popular sports for girls and boys

Table 8.3

Operating Models

• Establish structure to fit stakeholders’ needs

• Considerations for structuring athletics departments

– The size of the school district

– Centralized vs. decentralized organizational structure

– Public vs. private schools

– Athletics budgets

Figure 8.1a

Figure 8.1b

Careers in Interscholastic Athletics

• Positions within professional associations

– Executive director

– Chief financial officer

– Director of media relations and marketing

– Director of membership services

(continued)

Careers in Interscholastic Athletics (continued)

• Positions at the local school level

– Athletics director

– Associate or assistant AD

– Athletics business manager

– Coach

– Athletic trainer

– Officials

Issues Facing Interscholastic Athletics

• Experienced and certified athletics administrators

• Budgetary constraints

• Coach turnover and exiting

(continued)

Issues Facing Interscholastic Athletics (continued)

• Recruitment and retention of officials

• Participation options

• Fair play

• Transfers

Practical Application

• Critical thinking in interscholastic athletics

• Ethics in interscholastic athletics

– Department action and school mission

– Funding interscholastic athletics

Three Review Questions

1. What are the major operational differences between public and private school athletics departments?

2. What are some of the underlining factors that caused interscholastic sports to become a part of the educational school system?

(continued)

Three Review Questions (continued)

3. What are some of the perceived benefits that students receive by participating in interscholastic sport programs?