York University
Faculty of Health
Kinesiology and Health Sciences
Course Outline
Business Skills for Sport and Fitness Professionals (4430.03)
Term: Summer 2021
Lecturers: Antonio Santilli BSc., CSEP CEP, R.Kine., MBA.
Time: Monday, Wednesday 10:30am-1:30pm, Via Zoom Video Conferencing
Office Hours: by appointment
E-mail asantili@yorku.ca
*** Please note that this is a course that depends on remote teaching and learning. There will be no in-class interactions or activities on campus. ***
Take Care of Yourself:
We are all dealing with a tremendous amount of stress, anxiety, fear, and uncertainty as a consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic. Please be kind and gentle with yourselves and others during this difficult period of time. There are a number of online free resources available to help support you. If you need help, the following list of websites (this is not an exhaustive list) may be a good place for you to start:
https://good2talk.ca/
https://counselling.students.yorku.ca/
https://coronavirus.info.yorku.ca/
Welcome to York University! Bienvenue à l’Université York!
Technical requirements for taking the course:
As a result of the current pandemic, the entire course will be delivered remotely and electronic platforms will be used to deliver course materials and interact with the Course Director. Therefore, a computer or smart device with a camera and microphone is required to complete the course.
Please review this syllabus carefully to determine how the course content will be delivered, how office hours will be conducted and how assignments will be submitted.
Students must make every effort to arrange adequate internet connection, especially for tests. If a student has any concerns about their internet connection, they should seek all available options for writing their exams/tests/quizzes in a location with a stable internet connection. In the event that a student is not confident they can access a reliable internet connection, they should communicate their concerns to the Course Directors well in advance of the test/exam.
Students are responsible for being actively involved in the course, and for checking eClass regularly and frequently to ensure you have the latest information about the course. “I did not know because I was not online” or “because I did not check Moodle” are not excuses that will be accepted under any circumstances for the course.
Technology requirements and FAQs for eClass can be found here
Useful links describing computing information, resources and help for students:
Student Guide to eClass https://lthelp.yorku.ca/student-guide-to-moodle
Computing for Students Website https://student.computing.yorku.ca/
Student Guide to eLearning at York University http://elearning-guide.apps01.yorku.ca/
Learning Skills Services https://lss.info.yorku.ca/online-learning/
Zoom@YorkU User Reference Guide http://staff.computing.yorku.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2012/02/Zoom@YorkU-User-Reference-Guide.pdf
Zoom@YorkU Best Practices
https://staff.computing.yorku.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/03/Zoom@YorkU-Best-Practicesv2.pdf
Students should note the following:
Zoom is hosted on servers in the U.S.A. This includes recordings done through Zoom.
If you have privacy concerns about your data, provide only your first name or a nickname when you join a session. The system is configured in a way that all participants are automatically notified when a session is being recorded. In other words, a session cannot be recorded without you
knowing about it.
Course Description
This course will include theory and detailed practical instruction on key business and organizational processes. These will include Business Planning, Marketing, Financial Management and elements of Risk and Liability in work environments. These areas will be developed as they apply to the recreation/leisure, fitness/health and sport management industries
Prerequisite: Students must be enrolled in the Fitness Appraisal and Exercise Counselling Certificate Program, or receive permission from the Course Director.
Course Objectives
1. To develop an understanding of the theory, practices and skills that support business development in the fitness, health, recreation and sport industry.
2. To develop an understanding of the contemporary processes involved in entrepreneurship, business planning, marketing, finance and managing performance, risk and liability, and the use of the tools that support their application.
3. To participate in learning groups as a means of completing assignments for the course.
Section 1 – Introduction
June 28 (1, 2) Review Course Outline
Introduction to Learning
Groups
Course Assignment
Finding Business Opportunities
Chapter 2-pp 35-55
Section 2 – Organizing a Business
June 30 (3, 4)
July 5 (5, 6)
Exploring Options
Know your Real Business
Opportunity Selection
Big Picture
Legal Concerns
Chapter 1 – pp 1-24
Chapter 2 – pp 55-59
Chapter 3 – pp 72-80
Chapter 3 – pp 80-86
Chapter 8– pp 200-230
Section 3 – Marketing
July 7 (7, 8)
July 12 (9, 10)
Marketing Strategy
Profiling Your Target Market
Competitive Intelligence
Comp. Intelligence cont’d
Pricing and Promotion
Chapter 6 – pp 145
Chapter 4 – pp 93-111
Chapter 5 – pp 120-127
Chapter 5 – pp 127-136
Chapter 6– pp 144-165
July 14
No Class, Entrepreneur Profile Assignment due
Section 3 – Marketing (con’t)
July 19 (11, 12)
Distribution and Location
Chapter 7 – pp 174-192
Section 4– Financial Management
July 21 (13, 14)
July 26 (15, 16)
July 28 (17, 18)
Personal Financial Vision
Using the Planning Process to Prepare a Budget
Key Financial Documents and Their Purpose
Key Financial Documents and Their Purpose
Financing Your Business
Buying a Business
Buying a Franchise
Chapter 10 – pp 262-284
Chapter 10 – pp 284-294
Chapter 11 – pp 308-333
Chapter 13 – pp 370-384
Chapter 14 – pp 397-414
Section 5 – Risk and Liability
August 2 (19, 20)
Bankruptcy
Risk Management Issues
Chapter 8 – pp 230-232
Chapter 9 –pp 240-253
Business Proposal Presentations
August 9
This class allows students to prepare and present a business proposal making use of the information provided during lecture. This proposal will include information on the business idea, the industry, the competitors and the marketing mix. An outline will be provided that teams must follow for their 10 minute presentation.
August 12-19 (TBA) Final Exam All class work and assigned readings covered from after midterm exam to date
Course Evaluation
The evaluation for this course includes both an individual and group learning components:
Individual IN
Individual
Entrepreneur Profile Assignment July 14 35%
Students will be asked to write up a profile on an entrepreneur. The full details of the assignment will be discussed in class and an outline/rubric will be provided. Students will be given a series of questions that they can use as the basis of their research and will be asked to use their research to compose a report on their chosen entrepreneur.
Final Exam TBA (Aug 12-19) 40%
The final exam will be held during the examination period after the end of classes. The exam will be marked on content and format. Examination format will be discussed in the class. The exam will not be conducted on campus and will be administered remotely
In order to preserve the academic integrity of this course, all exams/tests/quizzes completed on eClass will utilize the sequential method of questioning. This means questions are presented one-at-a-time. Once a student moves on to the next question that is considered the final answer. It is not possible to return to a question to review it. Please ensure that you have selected an answer before you move on to the next question. If you don’t know the correct answer take a guess since there is no penalty for wrong answers Exams will be timed such that you will have a specific amount of time to answer each question. These are closed-book tests, meaning students are not permitted to use notes or other assistive resources during an exam.
Students may book an office hours appointment to discuss their tests and study strategies with the instructor, but due to the nature of online exams and the risk of questions becoming available unfairly to those who have not completed the tests, specific test questions will not be made available for viewing. Please be aware that the instructors will personally examine all test questions after the completion of the test to ensure that no issues exist with respect to grading or question clarity. If the instructors do identify any issues, student grades will be automatically corrected accordingly.
Any conflicts with the examination days or other necessary accommodations must be reported at least 1 week before the last lecture for the final exam. Accommodation request form must be given in person to course director by email. The only acceptable conflicts that will be considered for deferred exams will be academic or medical in nature. Vacation or family celebrations are not acceptable REASONS TO MISS AN EXAM. If no conflicts or special accommodations are reported, then you will be expected to be present at the designated time and date for the exam.
Any student missing examinations must provide an ‘“Attending Physician’s Statement” and a “ Deferred Standing Agreement” within 5 days after the date of the exam. If the aforementioned forms are not provided, the student will receive a mark of “0” on the exam. Students missing exams with proper documentation will be given a makeup exam at a suitable time and date. The manner in which the missed test is made up will be at the discretion of course director. If you have missed a test for illness or other acceptable reason, it is your responsibility to keep your schedule open for a possible make-up test.
Note: The format of the deferred final exam will not likely be the same as the regularly scheduled final exam.
If you begin a test and it is interrupted due to technology issues (i.e. lost internet connection), email the Course Director asantili@yorku.ca) IMMEDIATELY. On a case-by-case basis, instructors will either re-open the test or assign a deferred test. Emails will be monitored during test times.
Learning Groups
Course Project
1.1 Business Proposal Presentation August 9 25%
1.2 Peer evaluation August 16 *5%
*Peer evaluation can affect presentation grade by up to +/- 5%
In teams of 5 or 6, students will present a Business Proposal. The parameters within which the proposal will fall under be reviewed during the class. A project outline will be provided. Given the shorter nature of the term and the online nature of the course, you will be assigned a group to work with. A total of 25% of the evaluation for this course is based on learning group work. The expectation is that the groups, once formed, will make every effort to make the group work effectively. Group members will assess the performance of their team members after the group presentation. Each student will submit a peer evaluation for each member of their group. Any student that does not submit a peer evaluation will forfeit 5% of their grade on the assignment. Evaluations are due no later than a week after presentations have been given
If a group has difficulty with a non-contributing member, the group must alert the course director. It is the responsibility of the learning groups to arrange meetings with the course director by July 19. Following the meeting, non-contributing members will either re-commit to group goals or withdraw from the group. Any student that withdraws from a group will meet with the Course Director to determine a further course of action.
Any requests for remarking any course materials must be received by the lecturer within 7 days of grades being posted. The request must be made in a 1 page memo outlining the group’s/student’s specific concerns.
Final grades may be adjusted to conform to the University’s grades distribution profiles
Academic Integrity
In this course, we strive to maintain academic integrity to the highest extent possible. Please familiarize yourself with the meaning of academic integrity by completing SPARK’s Academic Integrity module at the beginning of the course. Breaches of academic integrity range from cheating (i.e., the improper crediting of another’s work, the representation of another’s ideas as your own, etc.) to aiding and abetting (helping someone else to cheat). All breaches in this course will be reported to the appropriate university authorities, and can be punishable according to the Senate Policy on Academic Honesty.
Test Banks
The offering for sale of, buying of, and attempting to sell or buy test banks (banks of test questions and/or answers), or any course specific test questions/answers is not permitted in the Faculty of Health. Any student found to be doing this may be considered to have breached the Senate Policy on Academic Honesty. In particular, buying and attempting to sell banks of test questions and/or answers may be considered as “Cheating in an attempt to gain an improper advantage in an academic evaluation” (article 2.1.1 from the Senate Policy) and/or “encouraging, enabling or causing others” (article 2.1.10 from the Senate Policy) to cheat.
Eproctoring
An online proctoring service may be used to deliver the final exam, which are administered through the Learning Management System (e.g. Moodle). Students are required to have access to minimum technology requirements to complete examinations. If an online proctoring service is used, students will need to become familiar with it at least five days before exam(s). For technology requirements, Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) and details about the online proctoring service visit – [https://registrar.yorku.ca/online-exams]. Students are required to share any technological (IT) accommodation needs with the instructor as soon as they are able.
Aids During an examination
The final exam is a closed book exam which means no external aids (notes, books, calculators, or other reference materials) are permitted. Electronic mobile devices other than the one computer or tablet being used to write the test/exam are not allowed during a test or examination. Students are required to turn off and secure all electronic communication devices while a test/exam is in progress. Any student observed using more than one electronic device during a test/exam may be reported to the Undergraduate Office for a potential breach of Academic Honesty.
Work completed by students is expected to be submitted on time, as per instruction, and be original work. Copying previous/current assignments/projects or protected material from books and Internet web sites will not be condoned.
To promote academic integrity in this course, students may be required to submit their written assignments to Turnitin (via the course Moodle page) for a review of textual similarity and the detection of possible plagiarism. In so doing, students will allow their material to be included as source documents in the Turnitin.com reference database, where they will be used only for the purpose of detecting plagiarism. The terms that apply to the University’s use of the Turnitin service are described on the Turnitin.com website.
If you are uncertain about your responsibilities in completing your academic requirements for this course, or you are not sure of appropriate practices in completing assignments and tests, you are encouraged to go to the York website on Academic Integrity (http://www.yorku.ca/academicintegrity) to read the section “For Students”. This site includes a tutorial that is intended to help students learn about the central aspects of academic integrity. We suggest you complete the tutorial. All students are expected to familiarize themselves with the following information, available on the Senate Committee on Curriculum & Academic Standards webpage http://www.yorku.ca/secretariat/senate_cte_main_pages/ccas.htm
• York’s Honesty Policy and Procedures
• Course requirement accommodation for students with disabilities
• Student Conduct Standards
• Religious Observance Accommodation
Course Text
1. The text for this course is: “Small Business, an Entrepreneur’s Plan” 7th Cdn Ed., Ron Knowles, Thomson/Nelson, 2014.
Course Material
1. Class Notes (Powerpoint) and other course information will be posted
2. Additional Reading: These will be provided under separate cover either during the class as resource material or posted on the class site.
Course Materials Copyright Information
These materials are designed for use as part of this course at York University. Third party copyrighted materials (such as book chapters, journal articles, music, videos, etc.) have either been licensed for use in this course or fall under an exception or limitation in Canadian Copyright law. Copying this material for distribution (e.g. uploading material to a commercial third-party website) may lead to a violation of Copyright law. Intellectual Property Rights Statement.
