Building community via sport : a better together society / Stacy Warner, Ph.D.
| Author/creator | Warner, Stacy author. |
| Other author | ECU Sport & Community Development Lab, issuing body. |
| Format | Book |
| Publication | Chapel Hill : The University of North Carolina Press, 2025. |
| Copyright Date | ©2025 |
| Description | xvii, 191 pages : illustrations ; 23 cm |
| Contents | Chapter 1 : Ghost Runner -- Chapter 2 : Prespective on Sport : Sport is Not a Dirty Word -- Chapter 3 : So What? Why Sport Managers Need to Understand How to Build Community -- Chapter 4 : Common Interest : A Shared Mission, Goal, or Purpose -- Chapter 5 : Administrative Consideration : People-Focus -- Chapter 6 : Creating Leadership Opportunities : Empowering Others -- Chapter 7 : Social Spaces : A Place Where Everyone Knows Your Name -- Chapter 8 : Equity in Administrative Decisions : The Importance of Clarity and Transparency -- Chapter 9 : Now What? Measuring a Sense of Community in Sport -- Chapter 10 : What's Next ? A Call to Action and Community of Practice |
| Abstract | This book explores the profound impact of sport on community building, personal growth, and social cohesion. It delves into nostalgic memories of informal sport, the integration of sport management in academia, and the powerful sense of unity fostered through informal and formal sporting events and local traditions. The text builds from Warner and Dixon's Sport and Sense of Community theory while emphasizing the importance of having a common interest, people-focused administration, and creating leadership opportunities within sport organizations. It also highlights the critical role of social spaces, both physical and virtual, and equitable decision-making in fostering connections and psychological well-being. The author then underscores the necessity of the Sense of Community in Sport (SCS) scale, which developed from this theory. This tool can be utilized to gauge, measure, analyze, and then adopt the scale findings to enhance community dynamics in sport and recreation settings. The author argues that sport managers must understand and implement the strategies outlined to build strong, inclusive communities, especially in the context of contemporary challenges like the loneliness epidemic and mental health crisis across the globe. Ultimately, through well-managed sport and acknowledgment of a shared responsibility, sport can be a solution to addressing the innate desire to belong to a healthy and supportive community. Warner provides a well-defined path and plan for sport managers to lead the way in creating a better together society. -- Provided by publisher. |
| Bibliography note | Includes bibliographic references (pages 151-169). |
| Biographical note | Dr. Stacy Warner is the Dr. Leroy T. Walker Distinguished Professor, Director of Graduate Studies for Recreation Sciences & Sport Management, and the founding Director of the Sport & Community Development Lab at East Carolina University. Her research focuses on the role of sport in fostering community, health, and social cohesion. Warner is known for her interdisciplinary and practical approach to advancing the sport management discipline to enhance the positive impact sport can have on society. |
| Biographical note | Researchers in the Sport and Community Development lab focus on the use of sport as a platform for achieving positive outcomes. Although sport is an activity that most people have experienced at some point in their life and feel knowledgeable about it, there is limited meaningful, well-informed research regarding the role sport can play in improving life quality and building community. Given its popularity, the use of sport as a tool for positive community level impact remains high. The SCDL has specialized in research that will guide sport managers to better leverage sport in a manner that promotes community building, economic development, and health outcomes. Thus far, this work has emphasized improving the experiences of collegiate athletes, athletes with disabilities, older adults, and sport officials. Within this work, a critical perspective and strong emphasis is placed on connecting research and theory with practice. The goal of the SCDL research group is to provide 1) sport and community leaders with solutions on how sport can be managed to enhance life quality and promote regional transformation and 2) provide students with community engagement opportunities that will enhance their learning and career-readiness. |
| ISBN | 1469692112 |
| ISBN | 9781469692111 |
Availability
| Library | Location | Call Number | Status | Item Actions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Joyner | General Stacks | GV706.5 W37 2025 | ✔ Available | Place Hold |