American football is one of the most-watched sport across the country. It has gained a lot of favor from fans and football management. Sports organizations are usually recognized for their on-pitch achievement but not for their abilities to diversify revenue streams off the field. The success of any sports activities depends on the financial contribution which determines the business activities within the Club. Sport funding is a critical part of sport management, and it embraces various aspects including sponsorship and member contributions.
American football acquires the funding through various means; however, every specific football club has its own way of generating revenue to promote effective management of sporting activities. Membership Funds is the premier source of funds; members contribute towards club activities; this contribution can be specified in different forms such as yearly, monthly, or weekly contributions (Moore, 2019). Another source of funds is effect fees; spectators may be allowed on the field on a ticketing platform during a particular sporting event. Each ticket is priced, and those collections are used to fund club activities.
Sometimes the government can grant football clubs to promote talents and social activities in the country. Government can offer funds by improving the sporting facilities and financial support to the professional club administrators. Football clubs being not-for-profit organizations, may require subsequent fundraising activities. However, this may not be a common source of funds; most activities are done through an online platform to encourage well-wishers to support the Club.
Sponsorship is a contractual arrangement done between the football club and the specific business partner. Sponsors offer funding to support events and embrace community support for the purpose of promoting talents as well as improving their businesses and product brands (Phaswana, 2018). In exchange, they get business exposure and a chance to get connected with new customers. Sponsorship allows the Club to attain financial support from their sponsors, which helps them run football activities effectively. Another source of funds includes the sale of items for profit plowed back into the organization.
References
Moore, M. E. (2019). Financing sport. International Journal of Sport Communication, 12(2), 306-309.
Phaswana, N. (2018). Sport funding of schools in low socio-economic communities in Gauteng (Doctoral dissertation, University of Pretoria).
A new stage in the development of esports requires increased attention to improving professionalism in the organization of competitions, the gambling and entertainment of which attracts millions of fans and players, and the financial and economic aspects of this activity. Esports is a relatively young and developing sport compared to others. Experts agree that the prospects for this kind of sports industry are of great significance. However, it is necessary to sponsor and involve various organizations in its events for further development.
The revenue generated by the esports world is growing every year. If in 2011 the winning team at the first League of Legends World Championship received fifty thousand dollars, in 2018, at the World Championship, the team that was in the first place took with it two and a half million (Eisenband, 2019). Such a turnover of money is associated with various services that operate within the esports sphere. The key areas of services in this type of activity are provided within the framework of sponsorship and advertising. A significant number of people use a variety of services that both tournament organizers and their partners offer. Moreover, several services are provided for the organizers of various events themselves.
At the same time, a considerable role is played by bookmakers and websites that provide the public with services related to bets and forecasts. The opportunity to feel as an expert and try to win money is relevant in all sports. The most crucial part of any event in esports is its organization. Services for organizing a sports event are widespread and include the ones related to what happens during the event, such as the competition itself, working with the audience, providing support and safety of people, as well as services that foreshadow and end the event, such as attracting an audience, finding partners for the organization, rehearsal events, cleaning and tidying up the premises (Pike, 2019). All of them require different types of sponsorship to ensure that all the parts involved work appropriately.
The most important companies that are involved in the cybersport industry are the organizations whose priority is the sports component. There are many companies of this kind, and they are mainly associated with teams, esports leagues, and betting, which equally affect all the most important elements of organizing and financing events in the disciplines. It is now possible to state that two main esports markets are the United States and Asia. Eisenband (2019) writes that the most interested in the development are game publishers, such as Epic Games actively promoting Fortnite or Riot Games, working on developing franchise leagues for League of Legends. At the moment, publishers are ranked first in terms of the amount of money invested in esports.
The audience’s loyalty to esports partner brands is one of the reasons for such a sharp market growth. As a rule, every esports fan plays and follows no more than one or two games (Pike, 2019). Such demand allows various organizations to create and actively sell game equipment and paraphernalia with popular tournament teams’ logos. The audience’s high interest allows to conduct broadcasts in which fans can take a non-direct part, thereby being sponsors of sports events.
To conclude, esports is one of the fastest-growing and most promising areas of the digital industry. It is important to note that a complex of various services mainly forms the organization and financing of this kind of sports. This aspect allows considering the background of the active growth of cybersport’s popularity as an entertainment and leisure element and as a rapidly developing and commercially profitable branch of sports.
References
Eisenband, J. (2019). Riot games wants non-endemic brands that buy into creative approach. Front Office Sports. Web.
Pike, N. (2019) No crystal ball required: What data tells us about the future of esports. Nielsen Esports. Web.
Young athletes have a particular need for nutrition and rest. Even though their occupation and activity are similar to that of adult athletes, young athletes should receive food adequate to their individual needs. The needs of young athletes are because they are in a phase of active growth, and some of their body functions differ from those of adults. Therefore, nutrition and rest should ensure their optimal growth and development. This paper aims to discuss the topic of the importance of nutrition and rest in younger athletes.
According to scientists, the main differences in nutrition and rest are due to gender, current maturity status, growth and maturation rates, physiological and metabolic capabilities, and sports and exercise needs (Hannon et al., 2019). These factors are interrelated, and nutritionists who design nutrition for young athletes need to understand the nature of this connection. In particular, young athletes spend more energy on movement, which requires additional replenishment of energy reserves through food (Hannon et al., 2019). Further, they experience a decrease in glycogen stores and a decrease in glycolytic capacity. Younger athletes rely more on exogenous carbohydrates, which should be consumed during moderate to high-load exercise. Finally, younger athletes have less thermoregulatory and perspiration capabilities, so they need to drink plenty of fluids during exercise.
In general, scientists have identified the main areas in which young athletes should adhere to specific dietary recommendations. The main difference is that young athletes consume most of the nutrients and energy from food, and for them, the use of nutritional supplements is less effective. In particular, nutritionists should make sure that young athletes have sufficient energy availability since as their bodies grow, they need the energy to synthesize tissue (Hannon et al., 2019). The rapid depletion of glycogen leads to fatigue in endurance training, so young athletes should consume enough carbohydrates, which will allow them to recover more easily during periods of rest. Younger athletes should consume dietary fat (for the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins and as a food source) and omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. It is recommended to take the amino acids leucine, isoleucine, and valine to facilitate muscle protein synthesis (Hannon et al., 2019). Athletes also need to take in enough fiber, micronutrients, calcium and vitamin D, iron, and fluids.
Scientists note that often young athletes and coaches demonstrate insufficient knowledge about nutrition. According to the results of a study in which 156 men and 156 women took part, 73% (± 9%) of athletes and 81% (± 9%) of coaches answered the questions about nutrition correctly (Heikkilä et al., 2018). It can be assumed that young athletes experience a high level of awareness deficiency. Therefore, the education of young athletes is a critical component of success and a guarantee that they will adhere to proper nutrition and proper rest and recovery regime. Coaches should also receive additional training sessions, as they are a source of knowledge for athletes (Heikkilä et al., 2018). According to the researchers, the topics of endurance nutritional recommendations and dietary supplements were the most challenging.
Other scientists have studied different ethical positions in assessing the acceptability of nutritional supplements in sports. The study involved 107 adolescent athletes, 157 adults, including 44 non-athletes and 94 amateur athletes, and 19 professional athletes (Fruchart et al., 2019). Participants were asked about the acceptability of 36 scenarios constructed by combining various opinion-determining information signals. As a result, scientists have identified two different ethical positions depending on age. Remarkably, 61% of adolescents considered supplementation acceptable, with minor health implications, a favorable coach attitude, and a high expectation of short-term success (Fruchart et al., 2019). At the same time, 70% of adults believe that nutritional supplements are acceptable only if the adverse health effects are minor. Therefore, younger athletes showed a more balanced stance on supplementation than older athletes.
Another nutritional research for adult athletes looked at the effects of a balanced diet on recovery and rehabilitation. According to scientists, rehabilitation nutrition after an injury is similar to sports nutrition (Papadopoulou, 2020). Exceptions are the risk or presence of sarcopenia, malnutrition, or dysphagia (Papadopoulou, 2020). Remarkably, nutritional rehabilitation is combined with reduced exercise training and, like sports nutrition, should provide good long-term dietary status for the athlete and improve endurance. Scientists also found that energy consumption should be above 25-30 kcal/kg body weight to combat sarcopenia; the diet should include micronutrients and macronutrients (Papadopoulou, 2020).
According to scholars, maintaining muscle mass without gaining fat is a significant problem for injured athletes. The diet must be very precise and consider that the simultaneous intake of carbohydrates and proteins slows down muscle breakdown and atrophy. Scientists recommended long-term intake of omega-3 fatty acids, which increases the body’s sensitivity to amino acids necessary for the breakdown of proteins. Given these observations, similar studies should be conducted for young athletes, considering differences in health, athletic load, and growth and maturation processes.
Thus, the topics of the importance of nutrition and rest in younger athletes were discussed. Young athletes have critical differences in body needs, so their diet should be tailored according to their age, gender, current maturity status, growth and maturation rate, physiological and metabolic capabilities, and sports and exercise needs. Scientists paid particular attention to the importance of educating athletes about proper diet. The ethical attitude of young athletes to nutritional supplements was also reviewed. No less important from the point of view of scientists is the diet for rehabilitation after injuries.
References
Fruchart, E., Rulence-Pâques, P., & Mullet, E. (2019). Mapping adults’ and young athletes’ views regarding how acceptable it is to use a nutritional supplement in sport. International Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology, 17(5), 477-492.
Hannon, M. P., Unnithan, V., Morton, J. P., & Close, G. L. (2019). Nutritional strategies to support young athletes. Strength and Conditioning for Young Athletes: Science and Application, 300.
Heikkilä, M., Valve, R., Lehtovirta, M., & Fogelholm, M. (2018). Nutrition knowledge among young Finnish endurance athletes and their coaches. International Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism, 28(5), 522-527.
Papadopoulou, S. K. (2020). Rehabilitation Nutrition for Injury Recovery of Athletes: The Role of Macronutrient Intake. Nutrients, 12(8), 2449.
The making of the meaning in Chapter 10 of Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi Flow, explains that sportsmen and artists can be joyful when performing their activities and differ when in their artistic or sporty world. He states that “the flow in a single occasion never essentially guarantees that it will be carried over to the rest of their lives” (Csíkszentmihályi 214). The author explains the approaches he uses in the making of life in various parts. They comprise the meaning of means, the purpose of cultivating, forging resolve, harmony recovery, and the unification of themes in life (Csíkszentmihályi 214-241). The author argues that meaning is complex since any creation of meaning might result in being circular.
By asking the question “How do we talk about the meaning of meaning itself?” the author provides three methods that can be associated with meaning (Csíkszentmihályi 215). First, he argues that the creation of meaning entails having the elements of the mind in order by joining activities into a combined flow of experience (Csíkszentmihályi 216). Second, meaning is a way that can be used to express intentions by someone. Finally, he suggests that one ought to pursue a goal with a motion.
The author explains that one needs to observe various steps to make every minute of their life sensible. The first part of his theory is cultivating purpose; this is because challenges that a person is required to face are defined by the goals set ahead (Csíkszentmihályi 220). The author argues that every culture of human beings has a meaning which serves as a general-purpose through which people classify their goals (Csíkszentmihályi 220). For instance, the author explains that in an ideational culture, the body is valued as a sign of some abstract principle of spiritual perfection related to the idea of the ‘Aryan race’ or ‘Roman valor.’
In forging resolve, the author explains that purpose offers direction to efforts made by a person but never makes life easy. Also, goals create problems that might make a person desire to quit at a certain point (Csíkszentmihályi 225). He hints that when one alters his goal, believing that he or she might attain a better life, sometimes they ends up gaining no experience. Therefore, the author argues that every goal has its challenges and if one is not ready to struggle with them, then the goal is useless.
In Recovering Harmony, the author argues that initially, the capacity of human beings to have reflective consciousness was a condition of their minds before being disrupted by danger, pain, sexuality, and hunger. In the unification of meaning in life themes, the author believes that; rather than concurring with the unity of purpose offered by the conventions of the society, the main challenge that human beings have is creating harmony based on choice and reason (Csíkszentmihályi 229). Therefore, one ought to respect the flow of experience to make life enjoyable because the game of life is determined by different rules.
Finally, the author states that for people to value science, and its role in the life of humans, it needs to change so that it relates to the life of human beings. He concludes his essay by stating that the “next centuries and decades have to recognize that complexity involves integration and differentiation,” which is a concept of the human mind that is immature (Csíkszentmihályi 238). Therefore, just the way people have learned to separate themselves from one another, they also need to learn to reunite themselves with other entities without losing their hard-earned individuality (Csíkszentmihályi 238). He recommends that it is necessary to combine our dreams with the laws of life if we desire to achieve our goals in a safe environment.
Reference
Csíkszentmihályi, Mihály. “Chapter10: Making of meaning.” Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, Flow. Chicago: UP, 1990. 214-241.
The sports organization should direct its actions to the service of Jesus Christ. The mission of Athletes in Action is based on the growth of Colossians 1: 2; in order to spread the righteous faith and glorify the unity of God through team games. Sports activities can help attract more people to religion. The organization’s primary purpose is not to win certain competitions but to provide everyone an understanding that everything in life happens with the permission and command of the Almighty.
Introduction
Modern sport is a complex, multifaceted, and in many ways contradictory phenomenon. On the one hand, people have always known that movement is an integral part of life. On the other hand, people close to the sporting top often note that athletes rarely think about the soul. Consequently, it is essential to state that a sound and sober life is the key to success. Sports, in turn, do not contradict biblical concepts but, to some extent, can bring one closer to God. One prime example of a non-profit Christian sports ministry is Athletes in Action.
Mission and Objectives
The organization’s mission is to send athletes out into the world, assist, and train to create pure movements around the globe through the platform of sports. Everyone must know the person who truly serves Jesus. One of the primary purposes is to challenge contestants to think critically about their own identity and place within it. To this end, athletes are helped to build their physical and mental health. Numerous programs are created to give them a sense of the hope and purpose of following Jesus. The organization also seeks to integrate faith, life, and sport so that each person can feel their victory outside of a competitive environment (Aicinena, 2017). Unfortunately, sinfulness is everywhere today, but in the Gospel, there are answers to the problem. The foremost challenge is not numerous achievements but to gain victory over oneself.
The focus is on team spirit, and this requires frequent team meetings so that everyone realizes they are an essential part of the whole. A strong relationship between team members is necessary for a more robust connection to Jesus, and, as a result, it will help spread the mission. It is also a global purpose to have Christ-followers on every team, sport, and nation (Aicinena, 2017). Therefore, it is necessary to get as many people involved in systematic training and encourage interaction to build the necessary skills and spread religious principles globally.
General Ministry Concept
An organization needs to have its concept of a ministry. It is critical to remark that sports activities can influence the spiritual education of young people and support the idea of the ministry. The concept of Athletes in Action is based on the growth of Colossians 1:28 (Holy Bible, 1995). Learners must choose at least one day of the week to pray for each of the organization’s athletes and coaches. Thus, recognition of the spiritual care of athletes will be inspired to win. The concept also includes attending sports competitions to express relief for athletes. Coaches and spiritual guidance are also significant. Together, they will be able to work in such a way that before each professional training, players have the opportunity to glorify God for at least ten minutes and ask him for help and protection.
For the concept, it is valuable to open a church for the team. In this way, competitors will be able to receive the chaplain’s instructions about their spirit and body before the game. Accordingly, athletes will develop not only physical health but also religious principles. At the same time, educational materials are also essential for the opinion, which anyone can obtain to read the interpretation of biblical teachings. This indicates that modern people will be able to constantly improve their spiritual progress.
Biblical Basis for Ministry
Every servant of God is invited to serve and glorify him but in different ways. Thus, in each sphere of human life, there should be bells proclaiming the commandments of the gospel to build the kingdom and glorify God. Therefore, it is essential not to aim to win competitions but to spread the righteous faith in a sports organization. Personal abilities or skills are not as valuable to God as the urge to pray and spread the religion. The AIA promotes athletes and fans to follow Fruitfulness – ‘Whoever abides in Me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit… but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide…’ (Holy Bible, 1995). In the sense of sports teams, this means that Fertility suggests that athletes are willing to work towards a collective purpose. That is, to increase the number of people who are ready to come to the Lord and spread his teachings throughout the world. They will understand what the Almighty wants from him and have a sincere desire to dispose of knowledge carefully.
The following postulate is Faith; the way of life in the organization should be organized in such a way as to concentrate on the global purpose and not on personal requirements. ‘Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen… And without faith, it is impossible to please God’ (Holy Bible, 1995). Team members need to understand that God is the driving force of progress because absolutely everyone is dependent on higher powers every minute. Therefore, humanity must refuse its ego to express gratitude and devotion to Jesus Christ.
Programs and Activities
The organization offers daily training in a variety of sports and summer camps as part of its ministry. The most significant advantage is the size of the teams, which are small enough for everyone to feel a spiritual connection with their teammates and counselors. There is a practice every day except Sunday so that everyone can choose the most convenient time and date. For example, baseball, soccer, and tennis are on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday are for aqua aerobics and swimming. Being a professional sportsman can be lonely, especially if trying to grow mentally. That is why each training begins with a 30-minute biblical discussion, where the staff connects trained athletes with a caring community of other Christ-followers (Ellis & Weir, 2020). There are debates, encouraging and tuning each other up in the Word. Everyone can express an opinion, offer an idea, and be heard. Through this interaction, people can find like-minded souls and mentors who can support them in their faith in a way that meets the many demands of the sport.
After the words of encouragement, the effective training sessions begin. The program of each exercise is unique and includes several stages. Practices last one hour and start with a warm-up for different muscle groups. Then the athletes begin a specific training, depending on the sport they have chosen. The coach supports everyone in a team, making each member feel significant. It is an essential element because each needs to understand how valuable their personal beliefs are to the system, both spiritually and athletically. After each practice session, everyone has an opportunity to talk with a teammate or coach. Sometimes it is essential to take the opportunity to teach one-on-one because not everyone can express themselves freely in a wide circle of people. Spiritual discussions provide even more motivation and opportunities for growth and point in the right direction. Every Sunday, there is a large gathering for all members. Newcomers and sophomores are welcome to join the team (Ellis & Weir, 2020). They receive an Athlete’s Bible, access to all faith and sports resources, and invitations to local services. Most importantly, everyone gets to interact with a caring community, and ultimately with Jesus.
Operational Concerns
In order to conduct productive activities, organizations need to clearly set up time management.This will serve to allocate time for prayer and sports. At the same time, an extraordinary moment is to attract sponsorship and donations to buy sports equipment to build gyms and stadiums. Moreover, given many planned activities, it is necessary to involve professional sports coaches with religious education. In this way, it will be reasonable to provide a spiritual connection during training. All these activities will assist in understanding the value of glorifying God to new personalities who want to attend classes (Trothen, 2018). Thus, the goal is to increase the audience and team members who can potentially join the religious movement in the future.
Conclusion
Athletes in Action is a unique organization for both solid and spiritual development. Due to constant and practical training, each member can achieve better results and find other Christ-followers. Through cooperation and shared goals, they will be able to carry the vital mission through life and gain resonance in the hearts of others. Each member can achieve the desired and become one step closer to God.
References
Aicinena, S. (2017). Implicit religion and the use of prayer in sport. American Journal of Sociological Research, 7(1), 56-65.
Bible, Holy. ‘New American Standard Bible.’ Grand Rapids: World, 1995
Ellis, R., & Weir, J. S. (2020). In praise of God: Sport as worship in the practice and self-understanding of elite athletes. Religions, 11(12), 677.
Trothen, T. J. (2018). Spirituality, sport, and doping: More than just a game. Springer International Publishing.
Of all types of entertainment, sports games such as baseball are usually regarded as strongly divorced from politics. However, as the article by Fay Vincent (2021) has shown, political issues percolate even in games, shaping the choices made by players and, more importantly, their leaders, to a significant extent. Robert Manfred’s experience in managing both political and baseball-related issues becomes evident as soon as he starts assessing the outcomes of the specified decision. Although the commentary that Robert Manfred, a former Baseball Commissioner, makes in his article, seems to stem mostly from his personal beliefs and philosophy, his experience in managing the game and the related events may have affected his opinion due to the thorough understanding of the nuances of boycotting and the people whom the specified decision affects most.
Namely, while he accepts the necessity to voice disapproval of Georgia’s racist law, Manfred also recognizes the repercussions, including the fact that viewers and other stakeholders not involved in the conflict will suffer first and to the greatest extent: “The only people hurt by Mr. Manfred’s decision will be Atlanta’s stadium workers and local vendors” (Vincent, 2021, para. 4). Additionally, Manfred embraces the dubious nature of the choice to boycott the state of Georgia specifically despite the fact that other countries have demonstrated even more despicable attitudes toward the issue of equality in law: “If Georgia is racist, how can baseball talk of doing business with China?” (Vincent, 2021, para. 5). Therefore, Manfred’s experience in managing games has given him the perspective to view the situation objectively. Thus, despite being based mostly on common sense and his political and ideological convictions, the decisions made by Robert Manfred, as well as his opinion concerning the Major League boycotting the entire state, seems to have been shaped by his understanding of the nuances of the sport.
Sport and religion may seem incompatible at first sight due to the calculated training, science-approved nutrition, and secular psychology. Furthermore, there are no clear statements about the importance of physical activity in biblical texts. Indeed, one of the most known Christian sports organizations is Athletes in Action (AIA), which helps attain excellence through the lens of Christianity (Cheney, 2019; Pubols, 2018). Their main philosophy is to perform and achieve for God, sacrificing their bodies for the common good (Cheney, 2019). Moreover, AIA aims to help its students grow spiritually in the competitive environment (Pubols, 2018). The initial goal of this organization was to aid athletes in traveling, but later it developed into a global network of offices in college campuses (“History & financials,” n.d.). The members of AIA are wrestlers, basketball, baseball, volleyball, and soccer players who are taught the principles of the Bible and its application in sports (“History & financials,” n.d.). Notably, the mission of this organization helps players to remain modest, resulting in constant hard work and improvement. The objective of this paper is to discuss AIA’s origins and history, mission statements, recent development, and future vision.
This Christian group has a more than fifty-years long history of teaching young athletes the word of God. AIA was founded in 1966 by Dave Hannah as the ministry of parachurch organization Cru to provide spiritual guidance and training support (“History & financials,” n.d.). Two years after the establishment, they gathered the first official team of wrestlers who competed at the international level. Currently, AIA opened its offices in more than sixty countries, helping sportsmen and spreading Christian beliefs (“History & financials,” n.d.). Indeed, according to AIA’s president Mark Householder, all athletes need community because it allows them to feel accepted, removing anxiety and allowing them to focus on achieving excellence in their craft (“Belong beyond sport,” n.d.). Moreover, the organization’s leaders started an annual summer event, known as Ultimate Training Camp (UTC), in 1979 to teach its members the central principles of AIA (Pubols, 2018). According to Pubols (2018), UTC cultivates in the participants an understanding of the connection between their faith and performance in competitions. Therefore, AIA members maintain their beliefs, commitment, and discipline for a long time.
Despite the surface image of tremendous physical control in every type of complex physical activity, mind and soul play an essential role in competitive achievements. Indeed, physical and spiritual harmony can be seen by the millions of viewers who perceive athletes as role models. Thus, the mission of AIA is to build “spiritual movements everywhere through the platform of sport so that everyone knows someone who truly follows Jesus” (“Why we’re here,” n.d.). To give sportspeople sacred guidance in this brutal and fierce occupation, the organization developed twelve statements that remind that their work is a critical element of the way to the Lord. Specifically, this document states that competition is inevitable, but sport’s authentic value is the experience and growth opportunity (Pubols, 2018). The organization’s core values become imprinted into students’ minds during an annual UTC event, where youth is taught its five fundamental principles: idolatry, worth, holy surrender, importance of suffering, and victory beyond competition (Pubols, 2018). Still, the most critical value in the AIA community seems to be faith because focusing on divinity maintains team spirit and cooperation, enabling outstanding results on small and big tournaments.
The organized events and activities of AIA suggest that it plans to continue spreading the vision of Christ through sport. Apart from UTC, the organization carries through many other engaging events. For instance, AIA runs an annual Super Bowl breakfast during which the most renowned figures in this world gather yearly since 1988 to present a winner with the Bart Starr Award (“Super Bowl breakfast,” n.d.). The Starr is elected by voting among the National Football League players in December of the preceding year (“Super Bowl breakfast,” n.d.). However, this year, the ceremony was conducted in an online mode on the 6th of February because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic (“Super Bowl breakfast,” n.d.). Another event that will take place in Ohio later this year is Night of Champions that will feature athletes who made the most significant contribution in proclaiming the word of God (“Nights of champions,” n.d.). Moreover, although UTC was not conducted this year due to the current situation, the organization hopes to gather them next year. Indeed, AIA continues to teach how to combine religiosity and competitiveness in sports.
In summary, Athletes in Action is a prominent Christian organization that supports young people’s physical and spiritual development. Dave Hannah founded AIA in 1966 as a ministry of Cru. During its half-a-century history, it created a vast network of AIA offices worldwide to teach young sportspeople to compete with the biblical point of view. Although many corporate events had to be canceled during the current pandemic, AIA leaders try to run annual events online and maintain the atmosphere of absolute belief in a higher power and a greater purpose.
Cheney, M. (2019). Mind, body, and soul. In B. Hemmings, N.J. Watson, & A. Parker (Eds), Sport, Psychology and Christianity: Welfare, performance and consultancy. Routledge.
Pubols, W. D. (2018). An Evaluation of the Five Principles as Taught at Athletes in Action’s Ultimate Training Camp. [Doctoral dissertation, Biola University]. ProQuest.
The greatest challenge in sports is to determine the person accountable for misconduct or team performance. Typically, the chain of command can determine who should be blamed for a various team or a specific team player’s misconduct. Sometimes players can cause misconduct, especially while on the pitch or on social media; this may result in the need for embracing disciplinary actions, but the question arises of who to punish for such misconduct. For example, the nature of misconduct can be related to the senior management leading to a chain of investigation to determine who to bear the punishment for specific egregious misconduct.
The other problem is determining the person who shares the responsibility for conduct off the field, court, pool, or arena. There can be a chain of command concerning particular misconduct, which makes it difficult to link the responsible person. Violations repeatedly occur, and efforts to suggest the means of preventing unethical conduct in college sports are ineffective. However, investigating who shares the responsibility for unethical behavior can be the most challenging part due to widespread people engaged in particular misconduct.
Interventions
The immediate solution to the various challenges of sporting activities, especially in universities and colleges, should be guided by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). Being a leading body for college sports activities should routinely sanction violations of rules related to various sporting activities such as recruiting, academic eligibility, and illegal payment (MacPherson and Kerr 110). It is important to understand that mistakes are part of being human. Some mistakes should be forgiven; other misconducts may lead to complete dismissal from the sporting activities.
These solutions will be effective if the NCAA can set specific guidelines and rules about the remedy to various problems and misconducts ranging from players to the senior management. For example, the problem generated by a player’s misconduct should be evaluated in terms of originality to determine the specific person liable for such a challenge (Harper and Donnor 15). This will ensure practical analysis and each causative agent for both management and player.
Implementation
The ultimate solution to these challenges lies with the nature of university-level leadership such as the body of trustees, president, and athletic directors.
These groups are responsible for ensuring an effective reporting platform for sporting misconduct to the influential body of trustees.
If the misconduct goes beyond the body of trustees and directors, they should bear the consequences.
These implications may result in practical personal responsibilities for the president, athletic directors, and trustees. They become more responsible in their oversight activities of the ethical misconduct within their sports and programs.
Both rewards and responsibilities should be extended beyond individual players, resulting in a change in the behavior, thus improving the sporting conduct.
The NCAA should work independently to promote effective execution of various responsibilities, such as establishing responsibilities and determining the charges in case of misconduct.
Evaluation
The measurement tool will be the nature of player conduct both out of pitch and while on pitch. To determine the impact of the predetermined solutions, there is a need to set a specific time frame based on the punitive measures being in place. Such as forgiving players or any other party based on the idea that human being is not perfect. Measurement tools depend on the nature of the chronic context in which behavior can be spontaneous. Setting specific guidelines such as the duration of a specific event, the framework, and frequency of distribution determines the critical consideration in implementing the various solutions.
The NCAA may also focus on hiring coaches and investigating leaders who have professional etiquette. The results will focus on improving sporting activities through professional qualifications and ensuring better conduct for players and managers. There will be an improvement in players’ behavior if the solutions are well implemented without any biases.
Work Cited
Harper, Shaun R. and James K. Donnor. Scandals in college Sports. Taylor & Francis, 2017.
Macpherson, Ellen, and Gretchen Kerr. “Sports fans’ responses on social media to professional athletes’ norm violations.” International Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology, vol. 19, no. 1, 2021.
Grant Sheppard established and founded the World Sports Ministry in 1999. Since its creation, this ministry has grown globally, and as a result, millions of lives have transformed (Mujika, 2021). The mission of the World Sports Ministry is to equalize sport for all people, of all ages, genders, and nationalities; therefore, the organization creates the appropriate conditions for training. In addition, the Bible supports the provision of training sessions to sport’s participants (King James Bible 2017, 1 Cor. 9:24). Issuing various resources such as food, school supplies, and guidance to youngsters shows support of the organization to all the attending children. I presume through this training these children engage in sports activities, get to know each other, and form friendship ties that are essential in the actual world. In my opinion, this policy of the WSM is a great step forward in the development of soccer and other sport types as equality is a common goal that many organizations are trying to reach.
Sports also consist of the spirit, mind, and body. Mujika (2021) explains the issue in the same way Nelson Mandela does, namely, sport can change the world, inspire and unite people in a way that nothing else can. Despite Nelson Mandela not being an actual member of World Sports Ministries, its representatives continue preaching his popular quotes. I agree with this statement as by playing sports people get distracted from their daily routine, problems, relax mentally and psychologically, and strengthen the physical state of the body. I think that soccer being watched by many fans has the power to unite people from all walks of life, races, and religions. The World Cup is viewed by many people; therefore, it enchants the attention of practically every sports fan. Additionally, sharing the interest in this sport type with others can form relationships that enable fans to convey God’s loving message.
Influencing people to participate in sports has proved to be a big success. Therefore, soccer is not aimless, it is not just running for running but this sport type aims to send a message to God through its fans and their beliefs (New International Bible 2017, 1 Cor. 9:26). Dave Hannah founded and created the Athletes in Action in 1966 (Bishop, 2017). After forming the first wrestling team in 1966, they traveled in various nations such as Germany, Australia, Czech Republic, among others preaching the Gospel and representing the United States. I agree with the WSM’s aim to provide not only individual but also collective growth. A society introduced to God’s message shows higher potential and love than separated individuals. Recently, the ministry announced that they would build a facility worth 24 million dollars to construct a sports complex that will be opened in a couple of years (Bishop, 2021). From my point of view, sending God’s message via sport is a good way of engaging people in religion and ubiquitous love.
AIA constitutes various tabs, including Get Involved, Athletes, Coaches, Donate and About. Parts of the Get Involved tab include Trips, On Campus, Premier Events, By Sport and Campus. I tried the Donate tab and learned that it allows people to fund and donate to mission trips and youth camps. Athletes all around the world require a community in which they can develop aggressively and connect with a higher purpose during and also after their competitive careers. As a result, AIA has dedicated itself to assisting athletes in their spiritual, mental, and physical development. From my point of view, it is a good way of supporting athletes and maintaining their psychological health, as well as establishing broad-based connections with the majority of sportsmen.
References
Bishop, L. (2021). Athletes in Action plans a $24 million athletic facility expansion. Dayton Daily News. Web.
King James Bible. (2017). King James Bible Online. Web.
Mujika, I. (2021). Sports science is a team effort. International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance, 16(4), 463. Web.
New International Bible. (2017). New International Bible Online. Web.
African sports are compared to the African culture and are as ancient as the beginning of humankind. Since the dawn of time, several cultural and native sports have existed in Africa as an aspect of culture or way of life. Wrestling, racing, fighting with sticks, hunting with spears and arrows. Bullfights, dances, and board games are just a few of the indigenous sports activities that have been in Africa since antiquity and are still popular today. On the other hand, modern sports have grown in popularity and are now practiced for both recreational and professional purposes. Football, also referred to as soccer is the most popular sport in majority of African countries. This essay will focus on African sports and the role of Christianity in their development.
Christianity Trends in African Sports
While history roots the relationship between religion and sports, it continues to play a profound role in shaping present-day society. The article of makes a significant addition to the religious, social scientific, and theological study of sport by providing an inter-disciplinary analysis of this connection from a worldwide viewpoint. It examines the dialectical relationship between sport and Christianity in various civilizations, ranging from Africa to South America to Asia, as well as Europe, the United Kingdom, and the United States. It focuses on significant subjects such as race, gender, and sexuality and includes comments from prominent experts in the area. It also examines violent sports such as boxing and reflects on disability sports theology and sporting celebrity as a cult. Overall, worldwide Perspectives on Christianity and sports is exciting reading everyone interested in sport study, religion, and sociology.
Role of Christianity Trends in African Sports
Religion has always been a component of sports, but its presence in the modern day is difficult to deny. ‘Global Perspectives on Sports and Christianity’ journal argues that the emergence of conservative Christianity in politics has empowered sportspeople and coaches to speak out, as it has become commonplace to debate religious ideas (Parker & Watson, 2017). Both sides of the preaching and not preaching debate compete for attention in sports. The more we observe players’ vulnerability and sports corruption, the more each side feels compelled to speak out in favor of or against religion in sports. Due to the Popularity of conservative Christianity in politics, discussion holdings on religious opinions concerning sports have become common. Football programs in most African colleges and universities have chaplains in their teams who assist in helping counseling players (Weir, 2016). Additionally, the Bible also speaks about sports by noting that athletes cannot win unless they abide by the rules of their sport. (King James Bible, Tim.2.2.5). The general emphasis of this verse is on rewarding the winner in sports, particularly racing.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Sports are a crucial source of knowledge of life. In addition, it has been discovered that human beings support a shared interest in both sports and religion. Through sports and religion, a community is built, relationships are formed, and everyone’s behaviors are changed as a result of their religious or team’s beliefs. Athletes and supporters may become united and identified by having the same ideas and ideals, all while adhering to traditions that have been passed down through the decades. Whether a person has played a sport or practiced religion for a long time, the sport or religion has become an essential part of their lives.
References
Parker, A., & Watson, N. J. (2017). Sport, celebrity and religion. Global Perspectives on Sports and Christianity, 195-208. Web.
King James Version Bible. (2017). Oxford University Press. (Original work published 1611)
Weir, J.S. (2016). Sports chaplaincy: A global overview (1st ed.). Routledge.