By Nick Todorovich
Nearly 130 attendees and representatives from National Governing Bodies (NGB) took part in the 2013 NIRSA Collegiate Sport Club Symposium on June 12-14 in St.
Louis, Missouri.
Held at the Drury Hotel in downtown St.
Louis, 128 attendees from 89 Institutions participated in the Symposium’s offerings: 15 educational sessions, two roundtables, NGB panel session, welcome social and dinner, and facility tour of Busch Stadium.
A Sport Club Symposium attendee talking to National Governing Body, International Quidditch Association
A total of eight NGB’s participated in the panel session:
- Association of College Unions International
- International Quidditch Association
- National Collegiate Roller Hockey Association
- Ultimate Players Association
- USA Cycling; USA Hockey-Adult Ice Hockey Programs
- USA Triathlon
- United States Tennis Association
All eight NGB’s shared their goals, rules and policies, student development practices, budget, league and national tournament information, current practices in risk management, level of communication, and student expectations. Attendees were able to ask questions during the session as well as follow up directly during the welcome social.
“We were thrilled to have NGB’s join us at this year’s symposium,” said co-Chair Mary Yemma, North Carolina State University. “It was great to see our attendees and NGBs interacting as this open communication will help with our sport club leagues and national tournaments.”
Throughout the event, educational content addressed risk management, recruitment, program development, student staff supervision, budgeting, university resources, and equity, diversity, and inclusion. During the roundtables, attendees shared their successes and failures about technology, athletic training, concussion management, staff background checks, fund-raising, financial accounting and officer transition. Keynote speaker Dr. Scott Brooks, Professor of Sociology and Black Studies at the University of Missouri, led off the Symposium and shared his model for developing sports professionals, illustrated how sport club programs can get the most out of their academic partners, and provided insight of how to gain support throughout campus by recruiting students, faculty, and staff.
Those who arrived a half-day early ventured 630 feet in an enclosed tram to the top of the nation’s tallest monument—the Gateway Arch—to see breath taking views of the city. On the last evening, all attendees took a facility tour of Busch Stadium—home of the 11-time World Series champions St. Louis Cardinals. Attendees walked along the outfield and dugouts, threw pitches in the bullpen to Cardinals catchers, and took photos with the 2011 World Series trophy.
The 2013 Program Committee was comprised of Shane Bennett (co-Chair), Southern Illinois University Carbondale; Mary Yemma (co-Chair), North Carolina State; Shannon Dere, University of Arkansas; Alan Glick, Virginia Tech; and Angela Petrie, Syracuse University.
“This was a great Symposium and I really appreciate the attendees participation and commitment to making their own programs better,” said co-Chair Shane Bennett, Southern Illinois University Carbondale. “We began some great conversations in St. Louis and hopefully we can grow those into action items for the future of Sport Clubs nationally.
To see photos from the event, check out the Collegiate Sport Club Symposium Facebook album.
