Announcing the Pioneer Institute & Nichols College Sports Management Policy College Case Competition
In recognition of the cancellation of many student internships for summer 2020, especially those in the sports management industry held concurrently with major sporting events, Pioneer Institute has partnered with Nichols College to provide undergraduate college students an opportunity to solve problems pertinent to the present COVID-19 crisis in a rewarding, competitive format.
The Institute is working to facilitate the adaptation of youth sports leagues to these challenging times for the benefit of our children’s physical and mental wellbeing. Enforcing cleanliness procedures among young athletes can be extremely challenging, and we believe this issue deserves more attention in advance of a potential resurgence of COVID-19 in the fall.
Youth sports are used to teach children interpersonal communication, discipline, perseverance, and other skills that are highly valuable in their formative years and beyond. It would be a shame if children and adolescents missed out on these opportunities because local organizations, schools, and parents were unprepared to adapt to the novel demands of the virus.
Thus, we’re inviting college students, and especially those with an interest in careers in sports management or sports medicine, to submit policy papers addressing the new challenges posed by COVID-19 in youth sports. Students are highly encouraged to register for the competition, in teams of 3-5, by July 8th at 11:59 p.m., after which Pioneer will release the official contest prompt to all the participants via email.
Final submissions are due by July 18th at 11:59 p.m. and, after an initial screening process, competitors will be asked to present their work via Zoom to a panel of judges. The winning team will receive $2,000 to split amongst team members, with up to four teams receiving at least $500 for their work. Additional rewards include publication opportunities for the students related to their submissions. Pioneer Institute will use our social media network – with access to over 200,000 followers – to promote each entry.
If you have a clear schedule and a group of passionate college students, you can sign up to participate in the competition here. May the games begin!
