The OCAA Basketball championship will be more than fun and games for a large group of NC’s Sport Management students.
More than 40 second-year Sport Management students will be in the heart of the action during the first weekend in March when NC hosts the Ontario Colleges Athletic Association (OCAA) women’s basketball championship.
Sport Management Professor Mike Puillandre noted that it will be a graded assignment for students who chose to participate – although they had chance to opt out and complete an alternative assignment because the event would be held during the mid-term break.
“Students are eager to gain hands-on experience,” he said. “Most students jumped at the chance to get involved.”
Students will work between two- and five-hour shifts during the tournament. They will assist with event communications – building on the experience they gained during Fall term as part of the Sports Communications Lab at Knights games – as well as VIP hospitality services, and other event-related tasks.
Thanks to funding received, students will be awarded financial remuneration for their time and expenses.
The funds also purchased five high-end radios to facilitate communications during the event – alleviating cellphone delay.
NC’s Sport Management students were also were involved with the 2023 OCAA Curling Championships (held at the Welland Curling Club) in February and the 2022 OCAA Golf Championship (held at Legends of Niagara) in October – which were all hosted by NC for 2022-2023.
“Having SM students involved in all three championships this season has been obviously extremely helpful for us in filling gaps and enhancing the championship experience. It’s always a rewarding experience for both us and them because we get to give them a first-hand look at what goes on behind the scenes of hosting a championship, and we get to see them thrive in an experiential learning opportunity and bring their ideas to the table,” said Lindsay English, Athletics Communications and Events Co-ordinator for Athletics and Student Engagement.
“Watching them with golf and curling was a great experience as most of them didn’t know much about those specific sports and their rules.
“Watching them come in day one like a deer in headlights and leaving day three knowing how to score curling – that’s what it’s all about.”
The 2022-2023 season marked the return of the OCAA’s traditional championship format after the 2022 season saw a revised format in the form of a final four championship. The Knights last hosted the OCAA women’s basketball championship back in 2016.
The OCAA Women’s Basketball Championship will be held March 3-5, 2023 at the Welland Campus.
Sport Management is a three-year advanced diploma program within NC’s School of Business and Management, aimed at preparing sports enthusiasts for a career in the dynamic sports industry.
Related:
CEWIL funds support Sport Communication Lab for NC Sport Management students
