Community sports fields and atmospheric climate impacts: Australian and Canadian perspectives

ABSTRACT

Purpose: This paper presents a study of atmospheric climate impacts on community-level sports clubs’ (CLSC) in Australia and Canada, their vulnerability and resilience, and organisational responses.

Design/Methods: A qualitative methodology was used with a multiple case research design. Data (interviews, documents) was collected from a sample of 23 CLSC organisations managing grass turf sport fields exposed to climatic extremes in temperate regions of both countries.

Findings: CLSCs in both nations experienced vulnerability to climate impacts. Direct damage to playing fields resulted from extreme climate events. Indirect impacts include higher injury risks, interrupted and/or cancelled competitions, insurance risks, plus higher operating and capital costs. Adapted management was evident for water resources, playing turf, and organisational policies.

Practical Implications: Provides insights into the changing practice of sport management at the community-level.

Research Contribution: The results challenge the assumption that climate is a static and benign resource for sport. This study demonstrates impacts of climate extremes on sport in the northern and southern hemispheres, the potential for adapting sport management practices, and developing resilience.

KEYWORDS:

• Adaptation
• climate
• impacts
• sport
• vulnerability

Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the La Trobe Business School Internal Research Grants Scheme at La Trobe University; and the Department of Sport Management at Brock University. We would also like to thank our colleagues, Professor Tim Bartram and Associate Professor Emma Sherry of the La Trobe Business School, and Dr. Karl Braganza from the Australian Bureau of Meteorology, for their constructive advice and comments.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by La Trobe University: [grant number La Trobe Business School Internal Grants Scheme].