Summer Sport Management & Leadership Academy

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The McCormack Center recently completed another successful Summer Sport Leadership Academy, a two-week pre-college program in its fifth year featuring educational workshops, site visits, and leadership training for dozens of driven high school students. The Academy provides a college-style learning environment coupled with experiential learning to students interested in pursuing careers in the professional sports industry.

Hosted at Isenberg from July 10-21, the 2017 Academy grew year over year from 32 to 50 students,  featuring a diverse population from across the U.S. as well as from Saudi Arabia, Puerto Rico, Italy, and China. Students received sport management training from McCormack’s full-time faculty, staff, and alumni, with classroom lectures and group case competitions touching on sport analytics, sponsorship, agency, law, and marketing.

Professional sports agents, presidents of event management agencies, and directors from Kraft Sports Group (New England Patriots/Revolution) were among the speakers gracing the curriculum. Students also visited Six Flags, Gillette Stadium at Patriot Place, and the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame. In partnership with UMass Amherst’s Continuing Professional Education (CPE) department, the Academy housed students in the spacious, state-of-the-art Commonwealth Honors College, with meals provided at UMass’ #1 nationally ranked Hampshire Dining Commons.