A Game Changer
FSU’s Center for Sport, Health and Equitable Development By Josh Duke
I
magine for a moment standing on a basketball court. The lighting above casts your shadow in four different directions, each one mirroring your actions as you dribble past the half court line. In front of you, a defender gets low, stretches out their hand and steps backwards as you test their reflexes. You lock eyes with this person, watching them watch you, as a bead of sweat traces the lines on your face. For a moment, nothing else matters. Just you, your opponent and your desire to win. You do not worry about the bills or what’s for dinner tonight or even who this person is trying to stop you. You are lost in the spirit of competition. You take a step to the right to see if they will flinch, and when they bite, you crossover to the left, your fingers barely registering the worn surface of the basketball as you drive to the hoop. Adrenaline propels you as you can feel the defender recovering and trying to stop you, but you gained just enough space to make it to the basket. As you hear the sweet swooshing sound of the ball sinking through the net, you pump your fist in celebration. The game over, you shake hands, maybe even pass a few compliments back and forth. You are no longer opponents now but simply students of the game. Reality starts to set back in as you head home. The problems you put aside for an hour or two slowly fill the back of your mind. But you feel better for that brief moment of your day that you spent on the court—in body, mind and spirit, you feel stronger, refreshed, and maybe just a bit more prepared to face the challenges in your life. Sports of all kinds bring out that feeling, even when the opponent you face is your own personal best. Runners report a “runner’s high,” climbers face their own limitations as well as the mountain, and gymnasts push their bodies for the best scores from judges as well as their own satisfaction. There is just as much of an emotional
Sport management students connect via basketball with clients at The Kearney Center - Leon County’s comprehensive emergency resource center.
benefit as there is a physical one. And for that reason, the love of sports transcends social, political, economic and cultural lines. It is also partly why Florida State’s Center for Sport, Health and Equitable Development (SHED) came to be. With the understanding that sports can be a powerful force of positive change, SHED aims to help improve the Tallahassee community, particularly populations that have historically been underserved. THE LOVE OF THE GAME Florida State University is home to one of the best sport management programs in the country. One of the reasons for the program’s consistently high rankings is its focus on practical experience. Students complete internships, gain hands-on experience in the sport industry and expand their network to include experienced sport management professionals. Upon graduation, students will have acquired strong theoretical understanding of the sports industry as well as practical experience. continued on next page THE TORCH - COLLEGE OF EDUCATION MAGAZINE | 9
