2016 Conference

Conference Schedule

You can link to the Preliminary 2016 Conference Overview here.

The preliminary program is available here and via the Sched app.

You can also download a draft of the conference abstracts.

*Please note that changes that take place during the conference will be made on the Sched app.*

Remember that you must be a member of NASSS to present at the conference. You can register here.

Message from Theresa Walton-Fisette, Program Committee Chair: As you will note, the conference opens with a reception on Wednesday evening. The first session will start at 8 am Thursday, November 3rd and the last session will conclude at 5:30 pm on Saturday, November 5th. As you will also not want to miss any of the conference, I suggest you plan to stay the entire time. The collection of work that has been submitted is truly impressive. I am looking forward to seeing many of you in Tampa Bay in November for another outstanding NASSS conference.

[Materials Revised and Uploaded on 10/31/2016]

Theme

Publicly Engaged Sociology of Sport

Inspired by recent momentous cultural events, the conference theme questions and considers the role of sport sociology and sport sociologists in public engagement. In the context of growing economic inequality, we see public money being siphoned into private stadiums within professional sport, corruption within international sporting organizations, and U.S. college coaches being the highest paid employees in state institutions within ‘amateur’ sport. In a time of continued and deadly racial violence, sport remains segregated and stratified in terms of sports, positions, and particularly in terms of positions of power. Even as girls and women demonstrate unflagging interest in sport in all levels and types, they are still recognized primarily for how they look rather than for what they can accomplish. We have witnessed marriage equality for all people in the United States and many places around the world, regardless of sexuality, yet ‘out’ gay male athletes remain rare in the highest levels of sport. We watch technology transform the athletic possibilities of those with a variety of physical impairments, at the same time that access to sport participation remains a barrier. Importantly, as we know, none of these brief examples work in isolation of the others. The clear, and also submerged, intersections offer fruitful examinations in much of the work that we do within our field. As Don Sabo (1995) noted in his NASSS presidential address, “Sport sociologists from the political left to the political right are embroiled by the politics of knowledge construction, and our myriad identities as theorists and researchers bring us closer to, or push us further from, the concerns and needs of community” (p. 248). Thus, what is our role beyond the study of sport? Who should be responsible for public engagement? How do we do it?

While much of our work becomes public through publication or presentation, how accessible is our work, both in terms of the language we use and where our work appears? How civically and politically engaged are we in our various publics? How much does our work inform public policies? Are our voices being heard through the media outlets from which most people gain their information? What are our moral obligations? As journalist Dave Zirin (2008) argued, in “Calling Sport Sociology off the Bench,” “The athletic industrial complex keeps throwing pitch after juicy pitch down the middle of the plate. It’s time for sports sociologists to get the bats off their shoulders and begin to shape debates within the sports world.”

In keeping with the conference theme, sessions may highlight examples of successful public engagement or areas where we might more fruitfully expand our reach. Examples of publicly engaged sociology of sport include many different approaches, such as: activism, sport for peace and development, social work, critical coaching, critical pedagogy, centers (e.g. for the sociological study of sport or for influencing public policy), engagement with the media, self authored media (e.g. blogging), and others. Session organizers are welcome to engage the theme in creative and innovative ways. This call will generate session topics for conference participants to choose from during the Call for Abstracts in April. Session organizers for included sessions are responsible for accepting or declining participants to their sessions.

Session Formats

Please note the following different format options:

  • Traditional paper presentation sessions (4 - 5 papers per session). These sessions will be open to submissions of well developed research during the call for paper abstracts.
  • Completed paper presentation sessions, whereby the entire session is pre-constituted (4 - 5 already selected papers fitting with the session topic). For these sessions, include the name, institutional affiliation, and title of each presenter along with the session abstract. The individual paper abstracts for these sessions will be due at the same time as other abstracts. These sessions can also include a commentator, who should be listed in the session proposal.
  • Panel sessions, with a focused theme to be addressed by a panel of discussants. Session organizers should include the names and institutional affiliations of panel members along with the session abstract.
  • Roundtable sessions, which can include less developed, preliminary or exploratory research. These sessions can include 4 - 5 presenters for 5 minute introductions of research, followed by discussion among those presenting and conference attendees who join the roundtable. These sessions can be open for abstract submissions or can be pre-constituted. Pre-constituted sessions should include the names and institutional affiliations of all presenters. Abstracts for pre-constituted sessions will be due at the same time as all other abstracts.

Timeline

The Call for Abstracts will be released on April 15, 2016. Deadline for submission of individual Paper Abstracts is June 30, 2016. Session organizers will notify authors of abstract acceptance and submit their completed sessions (4-5 papers/presentations) no later than July 15, 2016. Final completed session submission is due July 15, 2015.

Questions

Direct any questions to the Conference Committee Chair, Theresa Walton-Fisette at NASSS2016@kent.edu

Tampa Bay +1 Initiative

In partnership with the Diversity and Conference Climate Committee Chair, Dr. Algerian Hart, the 2016 Conference Committee is pleased to continue the “+1” initiative. The goal of this initiative is to expand the audience for the NASSS conference to include those who have never attended the NASSS conference or who have not attended for some time. NASSS members are encouraged to invite a +1; this can be a colleague, student, peer, or friend who has never been to NASSS and to invite them to register and participate in the conference. As you are considering organizing a session and/or submitting an abstract, we encourage you to bring to your +1 to Tampa Bay!

Share the Call

Feel free to distribute this Call for Sessions and the coming Call for Abstracts with your colleagues, other academic networks, organizations and listservs.

Registration

November 2-5, 2016, Tampa, Florida

Note: In order to present at the conference participants must be current on their NASSS membership and need to register for the conference. To sign up or renew your NASSS membership, visit our Membership Page.

Conference Rates:
Early Bird Pricing [By September 30th, 2016]
Professional : $220.00
Student : $95.00
One Day : $110.00

 

Hotel, Travel & Dining

Hotel Information

The 2016 Conference Hotel site is the Hilton Downtown in Tampa, FL. As of September 20th, the room block has been filled. If you have not booked a room, you can still contact the Hilton in case of a cancellation or a change; however, the room rate cannot be applied after September 30.

*Professional members who are planning to attend the conference are encouraged to stay in nearby hotels.
*Grad students can sign up for our Grad Student room share in hope of being matched up with another student who wants to share the cost of a room in the conference hotel.

Hotel info:

Hilton Downtown Tampa
211 North Tampa Street
Tampa, Florida 33602, USA
Tel: +1-813-204-3000
Reservation Link:http://www.hilton.com/en/hi/groups/personalized/T/TPANTHF-NASSS-20161031/index.jhtml?WT.mc_id=POG

Travel Information

Ground Transportation
The NASSS Grad Students have created a voluntary Ground Transportation Google Doc to help NASSS members make some travel buddies and cut down on travel consumption. The Monday-Thursday tabs are for ARRIVALS and Saturday/Sunday for DEPARTURES. Consider it networking to bookend your conference.

Supershuttle from the Airport = $12 one way // Taxis = $25 flat rate from the airport

Dining in Tampa

For dining recommendations, check out this list put together by NASSS Graduate Student Nick Schlereth.

Grad Students

The NASSS Conference is a great place for grad students to meet each other and to interact with faculty in their field. Here are some of the programs and events that will help grad students get the most of the conference.

Grad Student Room Share

Sharing a room can help with your expenses and allow you to meet other students. If you'd like to take part in our room share program, please fill out the survey below. You will be matched with other students to help share the cost of your room at the conference hotel ($159/night). Once pairings have been made you and your roommate(s) will be introduced through email. You all are then responsible for reserving and paying for your room. *The deadline to reserve a room at the conference rate is September 30th, so you may want to reserve a room now and then make arrangements once you are matched.

Room Share Sign Up: https://utexas.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_5stNIOfqXqirOZv

Take a Student to Lunch

This program is a valuable way for grad students to connect with faculty. We had 49 faculty members volunteer to participate in this year's Take a Student to Lunch event. The event will take place from 1:00-2:15PM on Thursday, November 4th. Please sign up using the survey below. You can list up to 5 faculty with whom you would like to have lunch.

TASTL 2016 Student Sign Up

Sign up ends Friday, October 21st. We will send out matches over that weekend.

Please contact grad rep Sam Twito (twito@utexas.edu) with any questions about either program

Proposed Changes to the Bylaws

Proposed Bylaw Changes for November 2016

NASSS Bylaws - Approved November 2015

The above documents include an outline of the proposed changes to the bylaws as well as the most recent version of our bylaws passed in 2015. Please note there are 3 proposed changes to the bylaws (with rationale) and 2 new amendments to the bylaws. Each of the 5 amendments (3 changes, 2 new) will be voted on during the business meeting held during the conference on Friday night. I appreciate your review of the proposed changes.

According to the current bylaws:

Section 2: Bylaws.

These Bylaws may be amended at any annual meeting by two-thirds of the votes cast by members with voting rights present or represented by proxy. Amendments may be proposed by any member with voting rights in NASSS. Proposed amendments must be submitted in writing, with supporting arguments, to the President no later than ninety (90) days before the opening of the annual meeting. The President shall review all proposed amendments but make no substantive changes in a proposal without the consent of the originator. The President shall electronically notify every member of amendment proposals no later than thirty (30) days before the opening of the annual meeting.

2015 Conference

36th Annual Conference:

Sports at/on the Borderlands: Translations, Transitions, and Transgressions

November 4-7, 2015

Santa Fe, New Mexico

Santa Fe +1 Initiative: In partnership with the Diversity and Conference Climate Committee Interim Chair, Dr. Algerian Hart, the 2015 Conference Committee is pleased to announce the “Santa Fe +1” initiative. The goal of this initiative is to expand the audience for the NASSS conference to include those who have never attended the NASSS conference or who have not attended for some time. NASSS members are encouraged to invite a +1; this can be a colleague, student, peer, or friend who has never been to NASSS and to invite them to register and participate in the conference. As you are considering organizing a session and/ or submitting an abstract, we encourage you to distribute the announcements and Calls to your networks, and bring to your +1 to Santa Fe!

Award Winners

Barbara Brown Student Paper Award - Doctoral student

Matt Hawzen: “Reading Tim Tebow: Sporting celebrity, whiteness and the cultural politics of morality in America”

Barbara Brown Student Paper Award – Masters student

Matt Crockett: “A Spatial Ethnography of the CrossFit Gym”

Sociology of Sport Journal Outstanding Article Award

Samantha King, Scott Carey, Naila Jinnah, Rob Millington, Andrea Phillipson, Carolyn Prouse, and Matt Ventresca

“When is a Drug Not a Drug? Troubling Silences and Unsettling Painkillers in the National Football League”

Gary Sailes NASSS Graduate Diversity Scholarship Award - Doctoral Student

Bahar Tajrobehkar

Gary Sailes NASSS Graduate Diversity Scholarship Award - Master’s Student

Alexander Deeb

Distinguished Service Award

Mary Jo Kane

2015 Outstanding Book Award

Alan Klein: Dominican Baseball: New Pride, Old Prejudice, Temple University Press, Philadelphia, PA

 

Conference Program Committee
Conference Program Committee
ChairCheryl CookyPurdue Universityccooky@purdue.edu2014-2015
MemberJason LaurendeauUniv. of Lethbridgejason.laurendeau@uleth.ca2014-2015
MemberMike MessnerUSCmessner@usc.edu2014-2015
MemberAlgerian HartWestern Illinois Univ.A-Hart2@wiu.edu2014-2015
MemberNicole LaVoiUniv. of Minnesotanmlavoi@umn.edu2014-2015
MemberElizabeth CavalierGeorgia Gwinnett Collegeecavalie@ggc.edu2014-2015
Member (Site Mgr)Maureen SmithSacramento Statesmithmm@csus.edu2013-2015
Local Host MemberJohn BarnesUniversity of New Mexicojbarnes@unm.edu2014-2015

Future Conferences

2017 NASSS Conference

November 1 – 5, 2017
Windsor, Ontario, Canada (directly across river and accessible from Detroit, MI, USA)
Conference Hotel: Caesars Windsor

Hotel Website: https://www.caesars.com/caesars-windsor/hotel

Past Conferences

Year Site Theme
2016 Tampa Bay, FL Publicly Engaged Sociology of Sport
2015 Santa Fe, NM Sports at/on the Borderlands: Translations, Transitions, and Transgressions
2014 Portland, OR The Sporting Arena: Academics, Activists, and Activism[s]
2013 Quebec City Constructs of Globalization and Cultural Competencies: Navigating a Changing Global Economy
2012 New Orleans, LA Sport in Place
2011 Minneapolis, MN Revolutionizing Sporting Bodies: Technologies in Practice
2010 San Diego, CA Producing Knowledge, Producing Bodies: Cross-Currents in Sociologies of Sport and Physical Culture
2009 Ottawa Sport and Bodily Culture in Hard Times
2008 Denver, CO Sport and Peace/Social (In)Justice
2007 Pittsburgh, PA Beyond Other Boundaries: Sport Within/Against/Across Borders
2006 Vancouver Reimagining Community/Re-envisioning Sport
2005 Winston-Salem, NC Sport/Empires/Globalization
2004 Tucson, AZ Interdisciplinary Dialogues
2003 Montréal, Québec Sport and Human Rights
2002 Indianapolis, IN Sports Organizations: Their Role in Social and Economic Development
2001 San Antonio, TX Marginality, Power, and Sport
2000 Colorado Springs, CO Sport and Social Justice: What have we learned? What shall we do/teach?
1999 Cleveland, OH Sociology of Sport at the Millennium: Making a Difference
1998 Las Vegas, NV Ways of Seeing: Evaluating Sport Sociology
1997 Toronto Border Crossings: Sports, Bodies, and the Third Millennium
1996 Birmingham, AL Civil Rights/Human Rights: Intersections of Difference
1995 Sacramento, CA Cultural Diversity and the Sport Experience
1994 Savannah, GA Overcoming Inequalities in Sport
1993 Ottawa Political Economy of Sport
1992 Toledo, OH Sub/Versions: Rethinking Resistance/Re-making Sport
1991 Milwaukee, WI The Body and Sport as Contested Terrain
1990 Denver, CO Reflections and Projections
1989 Washington, D.C. Exploring New Directions for Sport Sociology and Philosophy
1988 Cincinnati, OH Sport in the Social Context
1987 Edmonton, Alberta Sport and Social Deviance
1986 Las Vegas, NV National and International Sociological Perspectives on Sport
1985 Boston, MA Sport and Social Change
1984 Eugene, OR In conjunction with the Olympic Scientific Congress
1983 St. Louis, MO Sport and Social Institutions
1982 Toronto, Canada The Sociological Imagination: Issues in American and Canadian Sport
1981 Ft. Worth, TX Social Theory and the Future of Sport Sociology
1980 Denver, CO (No Theme)