|  | Resources | No.56 May 2009 |
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Book Information: The World of Recreation and Fitness Leadership Reviewed by Gayle Workman |
Patricia M. Leith, Debra L. Austin, and Jillian Robertson The World of Recreation and Fitness Leadership Sport Books Publisher, (2008) Toronto, Canada ISBN 978-0-920905-15-9 (407pp) Price: $86.95 This first edition text by Leith, Austin, and Robertson, addresses the skills necessary for a career in the field of recreation, leisure and fitness. The book provides an excellent overview of the subject matter and is an appropriate choice for first or second year undergraduate students specialising in leisure, recreation or sport management. The textbook is organized into four distinct units: 1) Leadership: Theories, skills and group development; 2) Facilitation of Recreation and Leisure: Recreation and leisure, needs assessment, event coordination and promoting participation; 3) Physical Fitness and Well-Being: Mentoring, nutrition, vitality, fitness and evaluation; and 4) Injury Prevention and First Aid: Risk management, injury management and fitness safety. The author’s purpose is to inform readers about leadership and group dynamics, teach skills for the planning and implementation of sporting events, to discuss current knowledge in fitness, nutrition and wellbeing and to provide tools for risk management and handling medical emergencies. The first unit focuses on leadership theories, the nature of the group, tools for facilitating group discussion, mediating differences, reaching decisions and achieving consensus. It also reviews communication skills, conflict resolution, time management and group development. Unit Two includes the importance of balancing work and play, providing a historical overview of recreation and the benefits, barriers and factors that affect our engagement with recreational interests and pursuits. Mentoring for health and wellbeing is also discussed. Unit Three covers needs assessments, fitness appraisals and data collection tools and evaluations. Setting goals and techniques for developing, coordinating and implementing the event plan is reviewed, along with tournament organisation, methods for promotion and evaluating the event. Also included is a section on nutrition, weight management and fitness training principles. Unit Four, the final segment, covers risk management and procedures, environmental safety, negligence and liability, injury prevention and fitness safety practices. Emergency response, types of injuries and cardiovascular events are also discussed. The text finishes with a review of human anatomy, growth and development along with exercise prescriptions. This book is well-written, organised, comprehensive, clear and easy to read. It is an excellent resource, filled with colour photographs and illustrations, interesting facts, detailed tables and figures, web resources, useful forms, a variety of activities and practical examples. Students will particularly appreciate the chapter summaries, section for key terms and test review questions. The appendix offers a brief segment on careers and career opportunities along with a glossary and references. In summary, this reader-friendly text is a practical volume for the beginner student and contributes to the interwoven fields of recreation, leisure, fitness and sport. Clearly, it was not written for, nor would it be suitable for, a more informed audience, such as graduate students or upper level undergraduates in sport management, recreation or leisure. However, for students considering a career centered on physical activity, this book hits the mark. Contact Gayle Workman School of Human Performance and Leisure Science Barry University Miami, Florida, USA Email: gworkman@mail.barry.edu icsspe.org/index.php?m=15 Book Information: The World of Recreation and Fitness Leadership Reviewed by Gayle Workman