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Abstract
The role of recreational sports programs and facilities has become increasingly prominent on America's college and university campuses. Budgets, facilities and staff have all increased, almost exponentially in some cases, as institutions continue to direct resources into the programs and facilities that are often utilized by 60% or more of an institution's student population. But such prioritizing of resources has not always occurred on college and university campuses in the United States. This paper provides a brief, yet comprehensive history of the development of collegiate recreational sports in America.
Collegiate Recreational Sports: A Historical Perspective
Programs of recreational sports in the United States play a more prominent role on college campuses than ever before; particularly as a means of enhancing the quality of life and as a complement to the academic experience a student receives at a particular institution (Del worth, Hanson, & Associates, 1989). Ko vac and Beck (1997, p. 12) reported that "Recreational programs and facilities are accessed by the highest percentage of students than any other program identified in the Quality and Importance of Recreational Services survey." Recreational sports programs have become increasingly comprehensive and the leadership and management of such programs correspondingly complex.
Recreational sports programs also have been said to enhance the student recruitment and retention efforts of colleges and universities. Maas asserted "it appears that higher participation levels in recreational sports correlates positively with enhanced persistence in the university" (1999, p. 15). The pilot study of the Quality and Importance of Recreational Services conducted by the National Intramural -Recreational Sports Association found that 30% of the students who responded in the study considered the availability of recreational facilities and programs "important" or "very important" in their decision to attend their chosen university (Hol sberry and Ko vac , 1 99 1 ) .
The importance of providing such programs and facilities on college campuses is increasingly evident. One of the most compelling statements regarding the accelerating growth in all facets of collegiate recreational sports programs was seen in a discussion on the future of recreational sports by Karabetsos (1991). In this seminal article, the author reiterated the notion that recreational sports programs would continue to play a vital role in higher education, particularly in the recruitment...