Sustainability and Recreational Sports Facilities: An Exploratory Study regarding Levels of Institutional Adoption

Abstract

Sustainability is a hot topic in higher education. Buzz words such as green and renewable have helped brand modern environmentalism. A greater emphasis on facility planning, development, and management is contributing to sustainability efforts. Collegiate recreational sports programs often include facilities that pose a challenge to the green movement, due to their size and operational requirements. To identify efforts within the collegiate recreational sports industry, this study focused on assessing the state of facility sustainability. The purpose of this study was to assess levels of institutional adoption related to sustainable initiatives at collegiate recreational sports facilities. This foundational study attempted to create some benchmark data for the collegiate recreation industry within the National Intramural-Recreational Sports Association (NIRSA). The Collegiate Recreational Sports Sustainability Survey was developed to assess the variables in the study and was sent to directors of NIRSA member institutions. This study used quantitative research methods and produced primarily descriptive research. This research produced a number of key findings: institutions that led in adoption levels per their respective category type were two-year public institutions, large enrollment institutions, institutions from NIRSA Region VI, and institutions that contain large collegiate recreational sports facilities. In addition, significant differences in adoption levels existed between four-year public and four-year private institutions, between large and small enrollment institutions, and between institutions that had large and small facilities. Implications from this study include providing benchmark data, creating advisory committees, and modeling NIRSA Region VI institutions. This study establishes a foundation for further research on sustainability efforts in collegiate recreational sports.

Measuring Green Practices in Sport: Development and Validation of a Scale

“…Finally, to the similarities and relationships previously exposed, it must be added that the hotel sector has an extensive and varied body of literature on its sustainability [60], offering a broad perspective on the applicability and effect of green practices on the user. Green practices applied in the hotel sector are similar to those presented in the sustainability plans and programs of sports facilities [8,47], which suggests a possible adaptation of sports practice to hotel services.…”

“…Although they do not refer to sports practice services, there are studies such as those by Pfahl [46] and Sinnet and Gibson [47], which analyzed sustainable initiatives in sports facilities applicable to smaller clubs, defining the aspects that sports managers should take into account to implement green practices through specific objectives according to some needs and context. Although these studies consider practices that benefit the efficiency and operation of the sports facility, they ignore the green practices typical of other elements of the service, such as communication, and the environmental awareness of the instructors, among others.…”