Sports
Labs
In the Practical Semester at Les Roches, you’ll manage sports clubs, gaining hands-on experience and industry exposure to prepare for leadership roles in sports.
During the Practical Semester, you’ll dive straight into the world of sports management by leading and running real sports clubs, just like professional organizations. Under faculty mentorship, you’ll take on real-world responsibilities—organizing events, managing finances, securing sponsorships, and competing in university-level competitions. Every aspect, from logistics to marketing, will be in your hands, giving you invaluable experience in growing and sustaining a sports organization.
On top of this hands-on learning, you’ll gain direct exposure to the sports industry through site visits, industry partner workshops, and networking with professionals. With real-world experience, internships, and connections from day one, you'll be well-prepared for leadership roles and ready to stand out in the global sports industry.
Each week consists of approximately 20-25 contact hours, broken down into the following activities:
Week 1-2
Introduction to the sports management modules, focusing on the organization and leadership structure of the sports clubs. Students learn about operational roles and the importance of teamwork.
Week 3-4
Practical involvement in Management on the Sports Pitch, where students shadow coaches and team managers during training sessions, and participate in organizing small matches or tournaments.
Week 5-6
Management off the Sports Pitch introduces students to sports administration, including marketing, communication, and budget planning. Activities involve creating marketing campaigns and managing social media for sports events.
Week 7-8
Business Supporting Sport explores the commercial side of sports management, with students developing a basic budget for a sports event and organizing fundraising activities. Case studies on major sports franchises provide context for their projects.
Week 9-10
Sports and Hospitality covers the intersection between sports and hospitality. Students plan hospitality arrangements for a school sports event, visit sports venues, and learn about partnerships with local sports facilities.
Week 11-12
Students organize a larger event such as a 5km run or mini-tournaments (e.g., beach volleyball, basketball), taking responsibility for all logistics and operations.
Week 13-14
Sports immersion activities such as golf, sailing, or tennis, combined with workshops on performance, nutrition, and sports science, provide experiential learning opportunities.
Week 15-16
The semester concludes with project presentations where students present their event plans and management strategies to the faculty and peers.
Example of Week 1*: Establishing the Sports Clubs & Leadership Roles
Day 1: Introduction to the Sports Lab and Club Structure
09:00 - 10:30 Welcome and Introduction to the Sports Lab
Overview of the semester’s objectives, introduction to the four modules (Management on/off the Pitch, Business Supporting Sport, Sports and Hospitality), and explanation of the real-world sports club model.
10:30 - 12:00: Understanding Roles and Club Structure
Detailed explanation of various leadership roles (President, Director, Marketing, Finance, etc.), and how the sports clubs will operate.
12:00 - 13:00: Lunch Break
13:00 - 15:00: Group Discussion and Nomination of Club Leaders
Students are divided into groups (e.g., Club 1, Club 2, Club 3). Group discussions and self-nominations for leadership positions begin.
15:00 - 16:00: Introduction to Sponsorships and Club Finances
Lecture on basic fundraising strategies, sponsorships, and budget management for sports clubs.
Day 2: Voting and Assignment of Roles
09:00 - 10:30: Voting and Role Assignments
Students vote on leadership positions in their respective clubs (President, Director, etc.).
10:30 - 12:00: Workshop: Defining Club Goals and Objectives
Each club discusses and defines its mission, goals, and objectives for the semester, including potential participation in university-level competitions.
12:00 - 13:00: Lunch Break
13:00 - 15:00: Team Building and Leadership Skills Workshop
A hands-on workshop to help newly assigned club leaders and team members develop leadership and collaboration skills
15:00 - 16:00: Overview of University-Level Competitions
Presentation on upcoming university competitions, how the clubs can participate, and the benefits of external visibility for the program.
Day 3: Initial Planning and Strategy Development
09:00 - 10:30: Budget Planning for Clubs
Practical session on preparing a club budget, including expenses for competitions, training, and events.
10:30 - 12:00: Sponsorship Strategy Session
Students begin drafting sponsorship strategies for their clubs, identifying potential sponsors, and preparing pitch presentations.
12:00 - 13:00: Lunch Break
13:00 - 15:00: Marketing and Communication Workshop
Focus on building a marketing plan for the clubs, with emphasis on using social media, promotional activities, and increasing club visibility.
15:00 - 16:00: Team Discussions and Feedback
Clubs meet to review their progress on leadership roles, budgets, and sponsorships. Faculty provide feedback and guidance.
Day 4: Setting Up Club Operations
09:00 - 10:30: Operations and Event Planning for the Clubs
Introduction to the logistics of running a sports club, organizing training sessions, and scheduling events for the semester.
10:30 - 12:00: Case Study: Successful University Sports Clubs
Review and discussion of successful case studies from other university sports clubs to inspire students.
12:00 - 13:00: Lunch Break
13:00 - 15:00: Developing the Training and Competition Schedule
Students work in their clubs to create training schedules and explore potential competitions to participate in.
15:00 - 16:00: Peer Feedback and Adjustments
Students work in their clubs to create training schedules and explore potential competitions to participate in.
Day 5: Club Presentations and Final Preparations
09:00 - 10:30: Club Presentations on Roles and Initial Plans
Each club presents their leadership roles, budgets, sponsorship strategies, and training schedules to the faculty and peers.
10:30 - 12:00: Feedback and Adjustments
Faculty provide feedback on each club’s plans, suggest improvements, and answer any questions.
12:00 - 13:00: Lunch Break
13:00 - 15:00: Finalization of Club Goals and Budget
Clubs make final adjustments to their goals, sponsorship strategies, and budgets based on feedback.
15:00 - 16:00: Wrap-up and Next Steps
Summary of the week’s activities, next steps for the semester, and preparation for the upcoming weeks focused on event planning and competition participation.
*This is an example of what a week may look like and is subject to change. A full program and detailed weekly schedule will be provided at the start of the program.
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