Sports management requires respecting traditions while managing current challenges and leading the organization into the future. The top tips for sports management are to respect the past culture, manage present needs through best practices and crisis management, and lead the future by taking risks and creating a unique identity. Success also requires succession planning, maintaining high professional standards, recruiting and retaining the right people, clarifying roles and responsibilities, committing to continuous improvement, and focusing on sustainable success rather than relying on performance cycles.

1. Sports Management: The Ten Top Tips of Great Sports ManagementRWayne GoldsmithTHE COACHING BRAINwww.sportscoachingbrain.com

2. Great Sports Management is about...RESPECT – the past: the traditions and unique culture of the organisation;MANAGE – the present: the current needs and challenges of the organisation;LEAD – the future direction of the organisation.

3. Sports Management Tip 1 – Respect.Respect the past.Sporting organisations are like tribes.They have traditions and unique cultures which are important to fans, sponsors and the community.But...don’t let the traditions of the past stand in the way of a successful future.

4. Sports Management Tip 2 – Manage.Manage the present.Adopt best practice management techniques and strategies in all aspects of the business.Be great at problem solving, crisis management and media management.

5. Sports Management Tip 3 – Lead.Lead the future.Be first.Take risks.Be unique.Be different.Be yourself.Back yourself.The future of the organisation is your responsibility.

6. Sports Management Tip 4 – Succession.Succession planning is critical – it’s not about winning...it’s about creating a sustainably successful, competitive environment.Plan for success through smart succession planning with players, coaches, management, staff.

7. Sports Management Tip 5 – Standards.Be a Managthlete!You expect your athletes to be professional, disciplined, hard working, committed, dedicated and the best at what they do.Demand the same of yourself.

8. Sports Management Tip 6 – Team.The 3 Rs of Sports Management HR....Recruit the right people.Retain the right people.Remove the wrong people.Your people are your strength – “find and fire” to enhance the overall performance of the organisation.

9. Sports Management Tip 7 – Clarity.90% of the problems in Sporting organisations are caused by a lack of role clarity.Clarify ROLES.Clarify RESPONSIBILITIES.Clarify ACCOUNTABILITIES.Clarify REPORTING.Clarify EVERYTHING.

10. Sports Management Tip 8–Break the Cycle.Avoid the Performance Clock – i.e. Reject the commonly held belief that success in sporting organisations comes in cycles. The whole point of sports management is to create a sustainably competitive and successful performance environment.

11. Sports Management Tip 9 – Change.Continuous Improvement is critical.Last year’s practices are not even likely to produce last year’s results – you will go backwards!You need to be committed to continuous improvement and accelerated change.

12. Sports Management Tip 10 - $$$$$Money, facilities & resources are rarely the REAL limiting factors in sport.People and organisations who think and act poorly, think and act just as poorly with more money, a new gym, a bigger office, more resources etc.Change yourself. Change the way you think. Change the organisation: then chase the money.

13. Sports Management is....Sports Management is like politics.Many talk about it but....Few really understand it.Respect.Manage.Lead.

14. Wayne Goldsmith – The Coaching BrainFor more information go to www.sportscoachingbrain.com or call +61 414712074.