Dr. Eric Forsyth, professor and internship coordinator of sport management at Bemidji State University, recently participated in the Global Sport Business Association (GSBA) Conference held Feb. 21-24, 2025, in Miami, Florida.
The GSBA is an international conference that invites scholars to present research on pressing issues in sport management. Forsyth was honored to deliver two presentations:
- “Important Issues Facing Intercollegiate Athletics from the Perspectives of Practicing Athletic Administrators”
- “A Content Analysis of Interscholastic Sport Management Research”
Presentation Highlights
Important Issues Facing Intercollegiate Athletics
Forsyth’s first presentation stemmed from a national study examining the key issues collegiate athletic administrators face daily. Inspired by his prior research on interscholastic athletics, the study identified 41 major issues categorized into seven areas:
- Athletic administrator issues (7)
- Coaches’ issues (9)
- Financial issues (7)
- Participation issues (6)
- Sportsmanship issues (4)
- Title IX issue (1)
- Other issues (7)
Of these, 10 were deemed the most critical for the future. Statistical significance was found among issues within four collegiate divisions (Division I Football Championship Subdivision, Division I Football Bowl Subdivision, Division II, Division III). As a next step, Forsyth and his team plan to conduct interviews with athletic administrators from these divisions in the spring and summer of 2025 with the goal of presenting findings at the 2026 GSBA Conference.
A Content Analysis of Interscholastic Sport Management Research
Forsyth’s second presentation analyzed research trends in interscholastic sport management. Building on a previous study that reviewed eight academic journals and found only 0.5% of articles focused on interscholastic sports, this expanded study reviewed 100 journals listed by the North American Society for Sport Management. The findings revealed that of 37,107 published articles, only 348 (0.9%) focused on interscholastic sport issues. This study has been accepted for publication in the Journal of Amateur Sport and is currently in press scheduled for release later this year.
Additional Scholarly Contributions
North American Society for Sport Management Conference Presentation
In addition to his GSBA participation, Forsyth recently presented at the North American Society for Sport Management Conference (May 29-June 2, 2024, in Minneapolis). His co-authored presentation addressed key issues in interscholastic sports based on insights from athletic administrators. The study categorized 87 issues into 11 areas, identifying 13 as the most critical. Statistically significant concerns were identified in eight sections prompting a follow-up study involving administrator interviews.
Encyclopedia Contribution
Forsyth contributed an entry on “Athletic Director” to the second edition of the Encyclopedia of Sport Management (Edward Elgar Publishing) following his previous participation in the first edition. His expertise in interscholastic and collegiate athletics led to this invitation.
Empirical Journal Publications
His recent research, published in Applied Research in Coaching and Athletics Annual (Vol. 39, 2024), examines interscholastic athletic director priorities before and after economic recessions and the COVID-19 pandemic. This 18-year study identifies 16 key issues across seven categories, providing historical context and insight into the evolution of athletic administration challenges.
Textbook Chapter Contribution
Since 2011, Forsyth has been a contributing author for Contemporary Sport Management, now in its eighth edition (2025). His chapter on “Interscholastic Athletics” aligns with his research interests, making his contributions a vital part of this leading sport management textbook.
Newly Published Textbook
Forsyth served as an editor and co-author of the introduction for the second edition of National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association’s Guide to Interscholastic Athletic Administration (2025) published by Human Kinetics. This resource supports the National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association’s mission to advance education-based athletics.
Impact and Future Research
Forsyth’s extensive research, authorship and conference presentations continue to shape the discourse on interscholastic and intercollegiate athletic administration. His contributions provide valuable insights into the evolving challenges of sport management, reinforcing his reputation as a thought leader in the field. Moving forward, his planned follow-up studies and forthcoming publications will further enhance understanding and best practices in athletic administration.
