Evaluating Risk Management Practices in Fitness Centers: Perspectives from Facility Managers

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.16937366

Keywords:

Risk management, fitness facility, fitness industry, fitness manager, exercise professionals

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the risk management practices in fitness facilities in Turkey from the perspective of facility managers. The study was designed as a general survey research, one of the quantitative research methods. The study participants comprised 263 managers working in Turkey's three most prominent cities. As a data collection tool, "The Risk Management Scale in Health and Fitness Facilities" developed by researchers was used. As a result, it is seen that the managers have high scores for risk management practices in their facilities in all sub-dimensions. Their facilities' highest risk management practices are in member services, structure, and design, then policy, respectively. It is determined that there are positive and high-level relations between the most policy-oriented practices of facility managers regarding risk management, followed by their practices towards structure and design and member services.

References

Altun, M., Birtürk, A. & Soykan, A. (2020). Türkiye ve dünyada fitness salonu müşteri beklentileri: sistematik bir derleme. Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart Üniversitesi Spor Bilimleri Dergisi, 3(1), 34-47.

American College of Sports Medicine. (2012). A.C.S.M.'s Health/Fitness Facility Standards and Guidelines (4th Edition). The U.S.A.: Human Kinetics, 30-40.

Ammon, R., Jr. (1993). Risk and game management practices in selected municipal football facilities. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, University of Northern Colorado.

Appenzeller, H. (2005). Risk Management in sport, issues and strategies (2nd Edition). North Carolina: Carolina Academic Press, 12-20.

Ashe, M.C., Miller, W.C., Eng, J.J. & Noreau, L. (2009). Older adults, chronic disease and leisure-time physical activity. Gerontology, 55(1), 64–72. https://doi.org/10.1159/000141518

Balady, G.J., Chaitman, B., Driscoll, D., Foster, C., Froelicker, E., Gordon, N., Pate, R., Rippe J. & Bazzarre, T. (1998). Recommendations for cardiovascular screening, staffing, and emergency policies at health/fitness facilities. Circulation, 97(22), 2283–2293. https://doi.org/10.1161/01.CIR.97.22.2283

Barrett, P. & Baldry, D. (2003). Facility management (2nd Edition). United Kingdom: Blackwell Science Ltd., 8-48.

Bates, M. (2008). Health fitness management (2nd Edition). Champaign (I.L.): Human Kinetics, 287–353.

Blair, S.N. (2009). Physical inactivity: the biggest public health problem of the 21st century. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 43(1), 1–2.

Carroll, R. (2011). Risk management handbook for health care organization. The USA: John Wiley & Sons, 1–27.

Centers for Disease Control. (2001). Effects of physical activity on health and disease: a report from the Surgeon General. Centers for Disease Control. The U.S.A., 9.

Çağırgan, M. (1997), Risk yönetimi, Yüksek Lisans Tezi, İstanbul Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Enstitüsü, İstanbul.

Çıngı, H. (1994). Örnekleme Kuramı. Beytepe: Hacettepe Üniversitesi Fen Fakültesi Basımevi.

Çimen, Z. (2002). Spor hizmetlerinde toplam kalite boyutları. İstanbul Üniversitesi Spor Bilimleri Dergisi, 2(1), 37-48.

Çobanoğlu, H.O., Sevil, G. (2015). Sporda risk yönetimi: üst düzey futbolcuların risk değerlendirmeleri üzerine bir araştırma. Celal Bayar Üniversitesi Beden Eğitimi ve Spor Bilimleri Dergisi, 8(2), 1-15.

Dugalic, S. (2011). Risk management in sports and sports organizations. Sport – Science and Practice, 2(3), 67–78.

Eickhoff-Shemek, J. (2008). The legal aspects: building a comprehensive risk management plan. A.C.S.M.'s Health & Fitness Journal, 13(1), 35-38. DOI: 10.1249/FIT.0b013e31819173a9

Eickhoff-Shemek, J., Herbert, D.L. & Connaughton, D. (2009). Risk management for health/fitness professionals: legal issues and strategies. Baltimore, MD: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, p. 37.

Eraslan, A., Alvurdu, S. & Bıyıklı, T. (2020). Fitness ve wellness eğitmenliği: Kavramsal bir yaklaşım. Gazi Beden Eğitimi ve Spor Bilimleri Dergisi, 25(2), 127-139.

Eraslan, A., & Çimen, Z. (2022). Sağlık ve Fitness Tesislerinde Risk Yönetimi Ölçeği: Geçerlik ve Güvenirlik Çalışması. Spor Bilimleri Araştırmaları Dergisi, 7(1), 132-148. https://doi.org/10.25307/jssr.1055834

Ferrand, A., Robinson, L. & Valette - Florence, P. (2010). The intention to repurchase parado: a case of the health and fitness industry. Journal of Sport Management, 24, 83-105. https://doi.org/10.1123/jsm.24.1.83

Finch, C., Donaldson, A., Otago, L. & Mahoney, M. (2009). What do users of multi-purpose recreation facilities think about safety at those facilities? Sport Health, 27, 31–35.

Gray, S.E., Keyzer, P., Norton, K., Joachim, D., Sekendiz, B., Coyle, I. & Finch, C. F. (2015). The role of equipment, the physical environment and training practices in customer safety within fitness facilities: the perspectives of fitness industry employees. Journal of Fitness Research, 4(2), 26–33.

Halpern-Felsher, B.L., Millstein, S.G., Ellen, J.M., Adler, N.E., Tschann, J.M. & Biehl, M. (2001). The role of behavioral experience in judging risks. Health Psychology, 20(2), 120-126. https://doi.org/10.1037/0278-6133.20.2.120

Kasperson, R.F., Renn, O., Slovic, P., Brown, H.S., Emel, J., Goble, R., Kasperson, J.X. & Ratick, S. (1998). The social amplification of risk: A conceptual framework. Risk Analysis, 8(2), 177-187. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1539-6924.1988.tb01168.x

Kim, S. (2014). An analysis of risk management practices and legal considerations in South Korean club sports. Doctoral Thesis, University of New Mexico Health Exercise and Sports Sciences, Mexico.

Kruk, J. (2014). Health and economic costs of physical inactivity. Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention, 15(1), 7499–7503. https://doi.org/10.7314/APJCP.2014.15.18.7499

Kuijpers, W., Groen, W.Gg., Aaronson, N.K. & Harten, W.H.V. (2013). A systematic review of web-based interventions for patient empowerment and physical activity in chronic diseases: relevance for cancer survivors. Journal of Medicine Internet Research, 15(2), 37. 10.2196/jmir.2281

Leahy, G. (2020). Tactical fitness research: TSAC report. the NSCA’s Quarterly, 55(6), 1-12.

Maclntosh, E. & Law, B. (2015). Should I stay or should I go? Exploring the decision to join, maintain, or cancel a fitness membership. Managing Leisure, 20(3), 191–210. https://doi.org/10.1080/23750472.2015.1025093

Özkan, S.E. (2013). Türkiye’deki fitness merkezlerinde hizmet kalitesi beklentilerinin incelenmesi, Yüksek Lisans Tezi, Bahçeşehir Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Enstitüsü, İstanbul.

Parasannan, A. (2018). Global Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers Market Research, Allied Market Research. Web: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/fitness-and-recreational-sports-center- market adresinden 6 Kasım 2019’da alınmıştır.

Penedo, F. J. & Dahn, J. R. (2005). Exercise and well-being: a review of mental and physical health benefits associated with physical activity. Current Opinion in Psychiatry, 18(2), 189-193.

Prentice, R.L., Willet, W.C., Greenwald, P., Alberts, D., Bernstein, L., Boyd, N.F., Byers, T., Clinton, S.K., Fraser, G., Freedman, L., Hunter, D., Kipnis, V., Kolonel, L.N., Kristal, B.S., Kristal, A., Lampe, J.W., McTriernan, A., Milner, J., Patterson, R.E., Potter, J.D., Riboli, E., Schatzkin, A., Yates, A., Yetley, E. (2004). Nutrition and physical activity and chronic disease prevention: research strategies and recommendations. Journal of the National Cancer Institute, 96(17), 1276-1287.

Risk Management Guide for Community Sports Organizations (R.M.G.C.S.O.). 2010 Legacies Now, Canada.

Schneider, R.C., Stier, W.F., Kampf, S., Haines, S.G. & Gaskins, B.P. (2008). Factors affecting risk management of indoor campus recreation facilities. Recreational Sports Journal, 32, 114-133. https://doi.org/10.1123/rsj.32.2.114

Sekendiz, B. (2011). An investigation of risk management practices in the health and fitness facilities in Queensland: minimizing the likelihood of legal liability, Doctoral Thesis, Bond University Faculty of Health Sciences and Medicine, Queensland.

Sekendiz, B. (2014). Implementation and perception of risk management practices in health/fitness facilities. International Journal of Business Continuity and Risk Management, 5(3), 165–183.

Sekendiz, B., Gass, G., Norton, K. & Finch, C. (2014). Cardiac emergency preparedness in health/fitness facilities in Australia. The Physician and Sports Medicine, 42(4), 14–19. https://doi.org/10.3810/psm.2014.11.2087

Sekendiz, B., Norton, K., Keyzer, P., Dietrich, J. & Coyle, I.R. (2018). Emergency preparedness in fitness facilities: bridging the gap between policy and practice. International Journal of Business Continuity and Risk Management, 8(1), 71-85.

Sharp, L. A., Moorman, A. M., & Claussen, C. L. (2010). Use of waivers and exculpatory clauses. Sports law: a managerial approach, 2nd ed. The U.S.A.: Holcomb Hathaway Publishers.

Shaw, R., Kobayashi, K.S.H. & Kobayashi, M. (2004). Linking experience, education, perception and earthquake preparedness. Disaster Prevention and Management, 13(1), 39-49. https://doi.org/10.1108/09653560410521689

Slovic, P. (1987). Perception of risk. Science, 236(4799), 280–285. DOI: 10.1126/science.3563507

Spengler, J.O., Anderson, P.M., Connaughton, D.P. & Baker, T.A. (2009). Introduction to sports law. Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics.

Şimşek, M.Ş. & Çelik, A. (2018). Yönetim ve organizasyon (20. Baskı). Konya: Eğitim Yayınevi.

Tharrett, S. J., McInnis, K. J. & Peterson, J. A. (eds.) (2007). ACSM's health and fitness facility standards and guidelines, 3rd ed., Human Kinetics, Champaign, IL.

Trost, S.G., Blair, S.N. & Khan, K.M. (2014). Physical inactivity remains the greatest public health problem of the 21st century: evidance, improved methods and solutions using the “7 investments that work” as a framework. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 48(3), 169–170. http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2013-093372

Yıldız, K., Polat, E., Sönmezoğlu, U. & Çokpartal, C. (2016). Fitness merkezi üyelerinin algıladıkları hizmet kalitesinin belirleyicileri üzerine bir analiz. Niğde Üniversitesi Beden Eğitmi ve Spor Bilimleri Dergisi, 10(3), 453-464.

Yıldız, S.M., Duyan, M. & Günel, İ. (2018). Hizmet kalitesinin müşteri memnuniyeti üzerine etkisi: fitness merkezlerinde ampirik bir uygulama. Spor Bilimleri Araştırmaları Dergisi, 3(1), 1-8. https://doi.org/10.25307/jssr.344971

Wachinger, G., Renn, O., Begg, C. & Kuhlicke, C. (2012). The risk perception paradox- implications for governance and communication of natural hazards. Risk Analysis, 33(6), 1049-1065. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1539-6924.2012.01942.x

Wei, P.C., Hung, H.C., Yang, H.C., Hsu, Y.J. & Ma, Z. (2010). Examination of influence of service quality on membership renewal in fitness centers in San Francisco Bay Area. Journal of Service Science, 3(2), 13-24. https://doi.org/10.19030/jss.v3i2.366

Wong, G. M., & Masteralexis, L. P. (1998). Legal principles applied to sport management. Principles and Practice of Sport Management, Aspen, Gaithersburg, MD.

Downloads

Published

2025-08-25

How to Cite

Eraslan, A., & Çimen, Z. (2025). Evaluating Risk Management Practices in Fitness Centers: Perspectives from Facility Managers . Acta Scientiae Et Intellectus, 11(1), 1–17. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.16937366