PERCEIVED INFLUENCE OF MANAGEMENT PRACTICES ON SPORTS DEVELOPMENT IN NIGER STATE SPORTS COUNCIL, MINNA

Abstract

The developments of sports can be enhanced if adequate attention is given to the indices of sports development. Sports is seen as veritable tool for unity, progress and change, its development in Niger State seems to be threatened with the issues of funding, personnel, equipment, facilities as well as inappropriate trainings. Descriptive survey research design was adopted for this study. The population of this study comprised 140 participants with the target population of 140.Since the population of the study was not too large and is within the coverage of the researcher, then there was no sample as all the target population was used as respondents. Self-structured questionnaire titled; “Perceived Influence of Management Practices on Sports Development Questionnaire (PIMPSDQ)” was used to collect relevant data for the study. The instrument was validated by three lecturers in the department of Human Kinetics and Health Education, Kwara State University, Malete. Test re-test method of reliability of the instrument was established, while Pearson Product Moment Correlation was used to determine the reliability, coefficient and the reliability score of 0.87 was obtained. Mean and Standard Deviation was used to answer five research questions while the five null hypotheses formulated were tested using Linear Regressions statistic at of 0.05 level of significance. The findings revealed that influence of management practices positively contributed to sports development in Niger state sports council. The findings of the study also indicated a positive influence between funding (B = 0.970; t(139) = 24.173, P = 0.000), personnel(B = 0.673; t(139) = 6.874, P = 0.000 < 0.05), equipment(B = 0.451; t(139) = 3.660, P = 0.000< 0.05), facilities(B = 1.302; t(139) = 26.619, P = 0.000< 0.05) and sports development (B = 0.300; t(139) = 2.901, P = 0.004< 0.05).Based on these findings, the study concludes that funding, personnel, equipment, facility and training, significantly determine sports development in Niger State Sports Council. It was recommended that sport council should employ competent and qualified coaches and trainer’s personnel who will plan, organise, schedule and execute purposeful sports programme for the athletes. Considering these factors can motivate athletes to participate in sports programme and may be best done by qualified sports personnel and specialists.