These are the six top-read stories from 2021. If you missed them, take a moment to peruse the key takeaway from each below.
1. Washington and Lee University Rec Center a Beacon for Student Health and Wellness
In an exciting move to bolster their collegiate athletic, physical education and recreation programs, Washington and Lee University asked CannonDesign to help renovate the outdated indoor athletics facility into a modern, cutting-edge space for students and staff.
The result — which opened in Fall 2020 — is the dynamic Richard L. Duchossois Athletic and Recreation Center, spanning 161,000 square feet across five floors.
A Key Takeaway:
The new center has created opportunities for growth. “An example is our decision to swap racquetball for squash courts. Right now, our squash courts are very active with recreational play. But we designed the courts and support spaces all to collegiate regulations. We have the infrastructure, scoreboards and everything necessary to explore squash as a varsity sport in the future,” said Bryan Snyder, the assistant athletic director and head volleyball coach. Read it.
2. Holistic Health Trends 2021
Holistic health “considers the whole person — body, mind, spirit and emotions — in the quest for optimal health and wellness” not just medical treatment, according to WebMD. As students are more aware of their immunity, and bodies in general, because of COVID-19 we see a shift from the traditional mentality of “gains” or “bikini body” toward mental health and self-care in the fitness industry.
According to the CEO of MindBody, the platform has seen customers make their mental and emotional health more of a priority by seeking out more classes like yoga and those that focus on mindfulness.
Equinox Media CEO Jason LaRose explained, “We’ve seen an incredible uptick in meditation since the beginning of the pandemic” with a 25% increase in meditation classes. He continued, “It’s a testament of how people’s thinking around overall wellness has been expanded.”
A Key Takeaway:
Mental health, exercise as medicine and intuitive eating are all part of the shift. Read it.
3. Top 2021 Fitness Trends
Each year, the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) conducts a worldwide survey to collect data on trends in the fitness industry.
For 2021, the top trends were:
- Online training
- Wearable technology
- Body weight training
- Outdoor activities
- High-intensity interval training
- Virtual training
- Exercise is medicine
- Strength training with free weights
- Fitness programs for older adults
- Personal training
A Key Takeaway:
“The ACSM Top Fitness Trends just hit its 15th year with this list of 2021 fitness trends. It’s worth saying the largest jump in trend history happened this year when online training went from No. 26 in 2020 to No. 1 in 2021. COVID-19 had many effects and I will confidently say it changed consumer behavior in the health and well-being industry permanently,” said Steven Trotter, the associate director for wellness and fitness at East Carolina University and principal for Globetrotter Wellness Solutions. Read it.
4. Rice University: The Secret of Success
The two-story, 102,000-square-foot facility has won two awards, including the “Outstanding Sports Facilities” from NIRSA and a “Facilities of Merit” from Athletic Business Magazine.
It boasts 9,000 square feet of dedicated space for cardio and weight equipment by Matrix Fitness, Marathon Fitness, Woodway, Core Health and Fitness, Interactive Fitness, Life Fitness, and Troy Barbell and Fitness. There are four multipurpose rooms, an outdoor rental center, an oasis-like outdoor natatorium, two gyms and more. Plus, the campus has another 46,000-square-foot recreation facility.
Programs like ReCentering Services — ad hoc sessions focused on stress relief and recover — and the Wilderness Retreat — a mindfulness retreat that takes place after a six-week prep course — have set the department apart.
A Key Takeaway:
“The secret to our success lies both in our willingness to say ‘yes’ to new opportunities and to see our setbacks as opportunities for growth,” said Tina Villard, the senior associate athletic director and Recreation Center director. “The more you listen to and respect the evolving needs of your community, the better able you will be to serve it.” Read it.
5. Overcoming Esports Challenges 2021
At the beginning of 2020, Campus Rec published the article, Finding a Home for Esports, discussing where it belonged on campus.
In this story, two Campus Recreation directors shared updates on the current challenges their esports programs are facing.
To no surprise, the industry is still discussing the topic of where esports belongs on campus. The article dives into esports culture, the future of streaming and more.
A Key Takeaway:
“There’s a lot to benefit from for schools to get over the negative stigma some administers may have regarding what esports is,” said Robb Bolton the director of Campus Recreation and Esports at Pepperdine University. “There’s a huge world of opportunity for both students and their careers, and for the university.” Read it.
6. Is Your Department Experiencing the Great Resignation?
According to the U.S. Department of Labor, 3.6 million people quit their jobs in May, a rate of 2.5 percent. Campus recreation is not impervious to this resignation trend. It is not solely wage, industry or experience-level related but a multitude of factors.
As this article is being written, there are more job postings on bluefishjobs.com (n= 210) and higheredjobs.com (n= 69,621) than I can ever recall seeing. If I was a job seeker, I would love all of the possibilities. As a hiring manager with multiple vacancies and smaller than usual applicant pools, I am simply hopeful. With the right approach, this trend can give us an opportunity to hire fresh energy and skillsets. It can also shift how talent is sourced and accommodate the evolving needs of our team.
Katie White, author of the article and the associate director of programming and assessment at Towson University, shares five ideas to stop the great resignation. Two are conducting a workplace culture audit and reconsider office hours.
A Key Takeaway:
“Research demonstrates that opportunities for creativity and innovation lead to higher job fulfillment and satisfaction. So, who knows but in an effort to reenergize your team, you may just reenergize yourself in the process,” wrote White. Read it.
