Management in PE and Recreation: The Ten Top Tips of Great Management in

PE and Recreation

Jaffry Zakaria

Jabatan Sains SenamFaculty of Sport Science & Coaching

UPSI, Tg. Malim

Great PE & Recreation Management is about...

• RESPECT – the past: the traditions and unique culture of the organisation;

• MANAGE – the present: the current needs and challenges of the organisation;

• LEAD – the future direction of the organisation.

Management Tip 1 – Respect.

• Respect the past.• Sporting organisations are

like tribes.• They have traditions and

unique cultures which are important to fans, sponsors and the community.

• But...don’t let the traditions of the past stand in the way of a successful future.

Management Tip 2 – Manage.

• Manage the present.

• Adopt best practice management techniques and strategies in all aspects of the business.

• Be great at problem solving, crisis management and media management.

Management Tip 3 – Lead.

• Lead the future.

• Be first.

• Take risks.

• Be unique.

• Be different.

• Be yourself.

• Back yourself.

• The future of the organisation is your responsibility.

Management Tip 4 – Succession.

• Succession planning is critical –it’s not about winning...it’s about creating a sustainably successful, competitive environment.

• Plan for success through smart succession planning with players, coaches, management, staff.

Management Tip 5 – Standards.

• Be a Managthlete!

• You expect your athletes to be professional, disciplined, hard working, committed, dedicated and the best at what they do.

• Demand the same of yourself.

Management Tip 6 – Team.

• The 3 Rs of Sports Management HR....

• Recruit the right people.

• Retain the right people.

• Remove the wrong people.

• Your people are your strength – “find and fire” to enhance the overall performance of the organisation.

Management Tip 7 – Clarity.

• 90% of the problems in Sporting organisations are caused by a lack of role clarity.

• Clarify ROLES.

• Clarify RESPONSIBILITIES.

• Clarify ACCOUNTABILITIES.

• Clarify REPORTING.

• Clarify EVERYTHING.

Management Tip 8–Break the Cycle.

• Avoid the Performance Clock – i.e. Reject the commonly held belief that success in sporting organisations comes in cycles.

• The whole point of sports management is to create a sustainably competitive and successful performance environment.

Management Tip 9 – Change.

• Continuous Improvement is critical.

• Last year’s practices are not even likely to produce last year’s results – you will go backwards!

• You need to be committed to continuous improvement and accelerated change.

Management Tip 10 - $$$$$

• Money, facilities & resources are rarely the REAL limiting factors in sport.

• People and organisations who think and act poorly, think and act just as poorly with more money, a new gym, a bigger office, more resources etc.

• Change yourself. Change the way you think. Change the organisation: then chase the money.