Diploma in Sport Management

Purpose

The use of the Diploma in Sport Management is

• To provide learners with the knowledge, skills and attitudes necessary to pursue a successful career in the field of sport management, recreation and marketing and public relations.
• To assist learners in realising their full potential in sport management and recreation.
• To equip learners, within the context of any junior to a middle management position in any sector of the sport and physical recreation industry, to apply integrated operational, managerial and developmental skills and knowledge, which leads to the sustainable development of the operation.
• To use coaching and officiating skills at the grassroots level.

Qualifying learners will have a broad insight into sports management and a fundamental understanding of sport management principles and theories. Those who achieve this qualification will be competent inconsistently using a variety of technical, managerial and personal skills and strategies in the everyday running of a sports enterprise. The successful learners will have developed a sound base for progression into management and industry leadership positions, and exploiting entrepreneurial opportunities.

Lastly, the qualification is designed to allow qualifying learners to enter the sports industry in a variety of both private and public sector sports organisations, as well as allowing them entry into the field of marketing, due to them also majoring in Marketing.

Rationale

The qualification offers an opportunity to talented sportspeople to obtain a formal business qualification geared towards a career in the many facets of today's growing sport, leisure and fitness industry globally. With the current rapid development of sport as an industry in South Africa, there is a need for trained sport managers and marketers. Within the last decade, sport has become a big industry, both globally and within South Africa. Sports Management has grown tremendously as a profession, field of study and from an economic point of view. The sports industry in South Africa is growing and creating more jobs and business opportunities.

Sport and recreation is a significant unification and motivational factor within social contexts, overflowing with economic benefits. Sport not only contributes significantly to any country's economy but has the amazing ability to overcome all cultural and racial divisions within a country and unite the people. As such, in South Africa, it is of paramount importance in the fight for a peaceful and united nation. Sport has the unique ability to transcend race, gender, age and socio-economic issues. People from all walks of life and cultures can come together for sports events and join with one another. Sport can help in building relationships among nations.

The qualification aims at equipping young learners with the skills necessary to take sport in South Africa to the next level, thus further enhancing the ability of sport to bring positive change within our country and abroad. The development of sport and recreation, through the encouragement of the study of its management, becomes crucial to our country's overall development.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

Prior learning is possible, subject to the requirements of the qualification and as per the institution's policy for Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL).

Learners may use RPL to demonstrate competence for admission into this qualification. Qualifying learners to utilise RPL to achieve in part this qualification through recognition of the prior learning processes. Assessment of vidence of prior learning is through recognised methods.

Entry Requirements

The minimum entry requirement for this qualification is

• National Senior Certificate, NQF Level 4 granting access to Diploma studies.

Or

• National Certificate Vocational, NQF Level 4 granting access to Diploma studies.

Or

• Senior Certificate, NQF Level 4.

This qualification consists of the following compulsory and elective modules at Levels 5 and 6 totalling 360 Credits.

Compulsory Modules, Level 5, 140 Credits

• Sport Management 1, 25 Credits.
• Sport and Physical Recreation Studies 1, 25 Credits.
• End-user computing, 30 Credits.
• Public Relations 1, 20 Credits.
• Marketing I, 20 Credits.
• Personal Selling 1, Module 1, 10 Credits.
• Personal Selling 1, Module 2, 10 Credits.

Compulsory Modules, Level 6, 220 Credits

• Sport Management 2, 30 Credits.
• Sport and Physical Recreation Studies 2, 40 Credits.
• Marketing 2, 30 Credits.
• Public Relations 2, 20 Credits.
• Sport Management 3, 25 Credits.
• Sport and Physical Recreation Studies 3, 25 Credits.
• Marketing 3, 25 Credits.
• Sport Experiential Training, 25 Credits.

1. Perform general sports-related middle management responsibilities.
2. Apply marketing principles in the sport and recreation environment.
3. Apply public relations and media studies principles in the sport and recreation environment.
4. Execute responsibilities in other elected sport and physical recreation aspects.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1

• Apply the management functions of planning, organising, directing of staff and control.
• Compile annual budgets and monitor income and expenditure within such budgets.
• Appraise performance and take corrective actions and decisions on the outsourcing of security about responsibilities or performing such duties in-house.
• Develop security systems to safeguard staff, facilities and equipment to stay within the budget constraint.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2

• Conduct environmental scanning and competitor analysis to identify opportunities and threats.
• Conduct an internal audit to identify strengths and weaknesses.
• Apply market-forecasting techniques to determine potential demand.
• Understand marketing research procedures to conduct feasibility studies.
• Obtain consensus on marketing objectives.
• Conduct market segmentation to analyse the potential market.
• Apply criteria to select segments as target markets.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3

• Position the offering in the perception of the target market as having a differential advantage over competing products/services.
• Develop product/service features to meet the requirements of target markets.
• Develop a distribution network to allow access to target markets.
• Formulate pricing and discount policy.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4

• Understand and apply sociological theories to the sports environment.
• Apply principles of psychology for a variety of sports situations.
• Execute psychological techniques to enhance sports performance in a variety of sports situations.

Integrated Assessment

Various forms of assessment are used such as continuous learning, written examination showing mastery of theoretical/academic components of learning, tests, assignments and six months experiential learning in practice.

Formative assessment

The institution utilises this form of assessment during instruction to find out how they are progressing.

Summative assessment

The institution uses a summative assessment to evaluate learning at the end of an instructional unit by comparing it against some standard or benchmark. The summative assessment is through semester examinations and end of year examinations.