SP5040 - Sport Facility and Operational Management

What will I learn on this module?

In this module your focus will be sport facility and operational management. These areas are intrinsically linked and are usefully explored together. The module will focus on issues and skills relating to strategic planning, marketing, programming, management of operations, finance, technology, security and information. The module will provide you with the opportunity to critically consider the operation of sport facilities, by integrating concepts and theories from sport specific, leisure management and business literature.

How will I learn on this module?

You will attend a series of lectures and seminars to highlight the key concepts, theories and models in relation to sport facility and operations management. Staff will encourage you to actively engage in classroom learning and to become co-producers of knowledge. These sessions are supported be the Electronic Learning Platform (eLP) where you can review key ideas from lectures and seminars. Guest lectures will supplement and enhance the learning environment to link theory with practice. You will undertake practice in presenting through seminar activities and gain feedback from tutors and peers. There will be the opportunity to work in smaller groups with discipline specific members of staff who will facilitate context driven discussion and learning. You will also be set independent tasks informed by key literature to complete outside of class time to further develop your understanding of the taught content.
The online reading list will provide guidance to key texts and journal sources to support your learning. You will attend a tutorial to discuss your proposed structure and content for the written assignment. In addition to class-room based activities this module also includes fieldtrips to sports facilities.

How will I be supported academically on this module?

Module information, assessment requirements and expectations, and important module announcements will be made through the eLP. Material to support your learning will be uploaded in advance of sessions. You will be provided with content verbally and guided through tasks during timetabled sessions. A dedicated assessment session will afford you the opportunity to ask assessment related questions in class. The Module Leader is there to support you with any queries that you may have about the module content, and all staff members provide tutorial time outside of class time. Module tutors will provide you with the necessary information on how to arrange a tutorial. You will have the opportunity to receive formative feedback on your development during the module, and you will receive feedback on summative work to help you identify areas of strength and areas for development. There will be the opportunity to discuss your feedback with a member of staff during a tutorial. Constructive feedback will be provided by peers and tutors in practice presentation sessions to develop these key skills. Group and individual tutorials will allow students to discuss their assessment ideas with staff and obtain feedback. Prior to summative assessments module staff will deliver an assessment briefing session. After assessment one, feed-forward will be provided by staff to assist with assessment two. There is also further academic skills support available from the University Library services.

What will I be expected to read on this module?

All modules at Northumbria include a range of reading materials that students are expected to engage with. Online reading lists (provided after enrolment) give you access to your reading material for your modules. The Library works in partnership with your module tutors to ensure you have access to the material that you need.

What will I be expected to achieve?

Knowledge & Understanding:
1. You will analyse a range of processes undertaken in sport facilities and consider the management of resources;
2. You will consider the relevant theories applied to the understanding of operational and sport facility management

Intellectual / Professional skills & abilities:
3. You will reflect and consider the use of technology in operations management.

Personal Values Attributes (Global / Cultural awareness, Ethics, Curiosity) (PVA):
4. You will consider and plan for constantly changing sport and leisure provision demand patterns.

How will I be assessed?

Summative assessment: Written assignment of 2000 words. Students will need to discuss and make recommendation(s) for a sport facility of their choice in relation to a specified area of sport facility management and operation. This will be followed by a reflection on the relevance of key concepts, principles and theories addressed in the module and the academic literature. (100%) MLO 1, 2, 3 & 4.

Formative assessment will include a tutorial to discuss proposed content, structure and key references for the assignment. Students will have the opportunity for discussion of content and feedback by tutors and peers in seminars.

Summative Feedback
You will receive written or audio feedback on your summative assessment to help you identify areas of strength and areas for development. There will be the opportunity to discuss your feedback with a member of staff during a tutorial.

Pre-requisite(s)

N/A

Co-requisite(s)

N/A

Module abstract

Sport Facility and Operational Management’ provides you with the necessary skills and knowledge to be able to work in sport facilities. You will explore the key facets of operational and sport facility management and develop a critical insight into the work of a sport facility manager. You will consider how sport and leisure facilities are used for event purposes, for profit and also how they can serve the wider community. There are also insights given to the global nature of sports facilities and how they serve a global audience. In addition, you will also consider how appropriate sports facilities are for their environment and examine sustainable ways for sport and leisure to be consumed in appropriate facilities. The assessments are authentic and specifically relate to key issues and skills that those engaging with sport facilities require. Research is embedded in the module through work with the Active People Survey, engaging with research outputs and evaluating data collected on a chosen sport facility. To ensure theory is linked with practice the module benefits from guest lecture sessions and visits to sports facilities in the region.

Course info

Credits 20

Level of Study Undergraduate

Mode of Study 3 years Full Time

Location City Campus, Northumbria University

City Newcastle

Start September 2025

Fee Information

Module Information

All information is accurate at the time of sharing. 

Full time Courses are primarily delivered via on-campus face to face learning but could include elements of online learning. Most courses run as planned and as promoted on our website and via our marketing materials, but if there are any substantial changes (as determined by the Competition and Markets Authority) to a course or there is the potential that course may be withdrawn, we will notify all affected applicants as soon as possible with advice and guidance regarding their options. It is also important to be aware that optional modules listed on course pages may be subject to change depending on uptake numbers each year.  

Contact time is subject to increase or decrease in line with possible restrictions imposed by the government or the University in the interest of maintaining the health and safety and wellbeing of students, staff, and visitors if this is deemed necessary in future.

 

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