Hums, M. & MacLean, J. (2004). Governance and policy in sport organizations. Scottsdale, AZ: Holcomb Hathaway, Publishers, Inc. ISBN: 1-890871-45-1. 300 pages, paperback. Cost: $41.00 USD.

Governance and Policy in Sport Organizations appears to be written for use by professors who teach upper division undergraduate or master’s level graduate courses in sport governance or sport policy, particularly in North America. Future sport administrators and those already in the field in other parts of the world will also find the text valuable in its description of structure and function of sport organizations.

The authors have divided the text into three basic sections: the first (Chapters 1 – 4) features an introduction to sport governance (definitions, organizational structure, and constitution/bylaws/operating codes), managerial activities (vision, planning, decision making), strategic management and policy development, and ethics in the administration of sport; the second (Chapters 5 – 13) focuses on structure and function of specific sport organizations. Scholastic sport, amateur community sport, campus recreation, intercollegiate athletics, major games in amateur sport, Olympic sport, Paralympic sport, North American professional sport, and international professional sport are included. The third, Chapter 14, includes issues the authors believe pertinent to current and future discussions involving sport governance, policy, power politics, and ethical decision making that will guide sport management professionals.

The authors have skillfully woven ethical decision making and the significance of corporate social responsibility into the first section of the text. They continued to weave these basic tenets in the second section of the text. The last chapter completes the tapestry of information, ethical decision making, and corporate social responsibility to provide students with a greater understanding of the scope and role sport administrators will play in the development of sport through policy and governance.

Each chapter is similarly formatted and includes content, summary, chapter questions, and references. Missing from each chapter, however, is internet and multimedia resources readily available to both students and faculty.

Professors will find content presented in the text sufficient to meet NASPE/NASSM (National Association of Sport and Physical Education/North American Society of Sport Management) standards for sport management program approval. As governance of sport centers around missions, goals and objectives of groups through organizations, the unique perspective provided by the authors adds significantly to the existing literature in the area. Absent from the text was the power of politics in the process of governance and policy making. Including case studies by chapter of actual decisions and the processes used to change the course of sport would assist students in connecting governance, policy, and power politics. Also absent was a presentation of the processes involved in conductance of board of directors, committee/commission meetings, and general assemblies. The inclusion of the parliamentary process, along with samples of “how to” construct agendas, minutes, and other documentation relevant to meeting business would prove valuable to those in sport management.

Students and professors will find invaluable content in the area of sport governance and policy in this contemporary text. The authors’ unique organization of the subject matter will provide the next generation of sport administrators with not only substantive details but also the “bigger picture” that is reflected in those who are sport administrators.