Deck 4: Developing Goals and School and Youth Sports

Question 1

Nearly four and a half million young men and over three million young women participated in high school athletics during the 2010-11 school year.

Answer 1

True

Question 2

The National Federation of State High School Associations (NF) serves as the national coordinator for high school sports, but not for activities such as music, debate, theater, and student council. NF coordinates individual state high school athletics and activity associations in 47 states, as well as similar governing bodies operating in the District of Columbia, Bermuda, Guam, St. Croix, St. Thomas, St. John, and 10 Canadian provinces.

Answer 2

False

Question 3

Little League Baseball operations are led by the president and CEO who reports to a board of directors comprised of eight district administrators elected to rotating terms by their colleagues at the periodic International Congress.

Answer 3

True

Question 4

Research by Michigan State University's Institute for the Study of Youth Sports found that kids in youth sports play to win and develop high levels of skill. A more recent study of youth football and basketball players in Connecticut verified these findings, and posits that no matter the age and sport, players cited winning as the primary reason for participating.

Question 5

Management expert Peter Drucker has suggested that "it is a secondary responsibility of the manager … to give others vision and the ability to perform," and defined vision as the clear, directed path that allows organizations to achieve a common purpose.

Question 6

A goal is a commitment to a specific outcome within a specific time frame.

Question 7

The youth football organization Pop Warner was open to instituting safety measures, like banning linemen from getting set in a three-point stance, because it results in head-to-head collisions. Such a move would alter considerably how a coach might teach certain game techniques and could contribute to other types of injuries. This is an example of the stress problem associated with goal setting.

Question 8

Some medical experts have suggested suggest that "playing tackle football at 10 years old doesn't translate to being a pro athlete. I think the ability to catch and run and throw translates to being a pro athlete. Players should develop these skills, and then we can add in the collisions later." This is an example of the measurability problem in goal setting.

Question 9

To maximize the overall impact of goals on organizational performance and to create a truly goal-based sport organization requires the following four guidelines: creating a network or system of goals; benchmarking; prioritizing among specific goals; building in flexibility.

Question 10

Flexibility is an essential performance standard for sport organizations competing in the changing environment. The key to flexibility is not to eliminate goals, but to develop a system in which goals are continually reviewed to ensure they make sense in terms of the changing environment.

Question 11

Professional organizations and services offered by the National Federation of State High School Associations include all but which of the following?

A) The National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association (NIAAA), made up of 5,000 individuals responsible for the administration of high school athletics.
B) The NF Coaches Association, comprised of 30,000 member high school coaches.
C) The NF Officials Association, which includes 130,000 member officials who benefit from liability insurance and skills instruction.
D) The NF Spirit Association, formed to assist members and coaches of cheerleading, pompom, and spirit groups.
E) All of the above
F) b and c only

Question 12

Which of the following is not part of the governance structure of Little League Baseball?

A) It is organized on five levels: local, district, region, national, and international.
B) Each league program is organized within a community, which establishes its own boundaries (with total population not to exceed 20,000) from which it may register players.
C) A board of directors guides each local league, and is responsible for the league's day-to-day operations.
D) The District Administrator organizes district tournaments, and reports to the Regional Director, of which there are five in the U.S., and four international.

Question 13

Management thinkers James C. Collins and Jerry I. Porras described a well-conceived vision as having two parts: _________________________.

A) Core ideology and envisioned future
B) BHAGs and envisioned future
C) Core purposes and core values
D) Envisioned ideology and core purposes

Question 14

As a result of the Great Depression in America and the difficult conditions for youth at that time, a number of private and parochial sports organizations emerged to promote youth participation in sports. These included each of the following except:

A) Pop Warner youth football
B) The Catholic Youth Organization (basketball, boxing, and softball)
C) American Youth Soccer Organization
D) The Amateur Softball Association

Question 15

The "S" in "S.M.A.R.T." stands for:

A) Systematically formulated
B) Specific enough for focus and feedback
C) Structured for simplicity and success
D) Singularly focused on the task at hand

Question 16

The "T" in "S.M.A.R.T." stands for:

A) Tested and verified
B) Theory-based
C) Trusted by all stakeholders
D) Time-framed

Question 17

Successful sport organizations concentrate on how each individual can best contribute to reaching the goal. In the case of the 220-member Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools (TAPPS) and the data collected from its membership survey, member schools and board members can make the case that eliminating discriminatory practices will not conflict with the goal of competition and winning valued by players, coaches, and other stakeholder groups, but, based on the elimination of the negative results of discrimination (such as litigation), can actually reinforce these other stated goals. This is an example of which specific benefit of "S.M.A.R.T." goals?

A) A blueprint for performance
B) A basis for feedback
C) Focuses attention on the right agenda
D) A basis for cooperation and teamwork

Question 18

In October of 2012, the 220-member Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools (TAPPS) announced that it had adjusted its bylaws to accommodate the religious observances of all its member schools for the 2012-13 school year. A statement issued by the organization explained that as its' membership has grown, "so has the uniqueness of TAPPS member schools … to provide the opportunity for all of our member schools to participate in team sports, the TAPPS Executive Board believes that accommodations are necessary to protect the Sabbath and religious days of observance of our schools." This is an example of which specific benefit of S.M.A.R.T. goals?

A) A blueprint for performance
B) A basis for feedback
C) Providing a criteria for decision makers
D) A basis for cooperation and teamwork

Question 19

In Pop Warner football, individual coaches must now not only manage the traditional elements of conditioning, skills mastery and game strategy, but they also must limit the amount of "contact" that can be incorporated into each team activity. This is an example of which of the following problems with goal setting?

A) Stress
B) Measurability
C) Too narrow a focus
D) Too many goals

Question 20

To deal with multiple goals in the case of home-schooled children and high school athletic competition in Virginia, opponents, including many Democratic state legislators and some local school boards and parent groups, argue that not only would home-schooled participants not be required to meet the same academic criteria as public school athletes, but also that home-schooled participants might take team slots from enrolled public school participants. In addition, Republican lawmakers were looking to promote the measure, while Democrats were seeking to defeat it, based on the political agendas of each faction, since Democrats tend to have stronger support from teacher and educationally aligned union groups, which did not support the concepts behind the bill. This is an example of which of the following guidelines for creating a goal-based sport organization?

A) Creating a network or system of goals
B) Benchmarking: setting goals from the outside in
C) Prioritizing among specific goals
D) Building in flexibility

Question 21

The development of youth and school-based sports in America during the twentieth century provides an excellent example of the power of vision and what is possible when people share a sense of direction they are committed to pursuing. Using the facts from this example, explain the relationship between the vision for sport development, and its relationship to the goals of the organizations that developed them.

Question 22

The acronym "S.M.A.R.T." identifies the key criteria for effective goals. Explain how Shattuck-St. Mary's School can formulate a "S.M.A.R.T." goal for the organization to follow in the creation and establishment of its soccer program (making sure to explain how the goal meets each of the acronym's elements).

Question 23

In the chapter we discussed the issue of how the Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools (TAPPS) is dealing with issues of membership of non-Christian religious schools. Assume that TAPPS administrators have created a S.M.A.R.T. goal to deal. Explain which of the four common problems associated with goal setting will be the most challenging for administrators to face as they take on this issue.

Question 24

It is highly likely that you participated in school or youth sports. Think back to a specific negative occurrence you faced during participation, describe it, and explain how a specific S.M.A.R.T. goal would have helped organizers eliminate any similar occurrences in the future.

Question 25

In the chapter we discussed the challenges faced by the Virginia High School League (VHSL) in dealing with the issue of home-schooled athletes. Explain which of the guidelines for creating a goal-based organization would be most critical for organizers and administrators to consider as they deal with this issue.