SAQA All qualifications and part qualifications registered on the National Qualifications Framework are public property. Thus the only payment that can be made for them is for service and reproduction. It is illegal to sell this material for profit. If the material is reproduced or quoted, the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) should be acknowledged as the source.
SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY 
REGISTERED QUALIFICATION: 

Higher Certificate in Sport, Recreation and Fitness Management 
SAQA QUAL ID QUALIFICATION TITLE
96790  Higher Certificate in Sport, Recreation and Fitness Management 
ORIGINATOR
Exercise Teachers Academy PTY Limited 
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY NQF SUB-FRAMEWORK
CHE - Council on Higher Education  HEQSF - Higher Education Qualifications Sub-framework 
QUALIFICATION TYPE FIELD SUBFIELD
Higher Certificate  Field 02 - Culture and Arts  Sport 
ABET BAND MINIMUM CREDITS PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL QUAL CLASS
Undefined  120  Not Applicable  NQF Level 05  Regular-Provider-ELOAC 
REGISTRATION STATUS SAQA DECISION NUMBER REGISTRATION START DATE REGISTRATION END DATE
Reregistered  SAQA 1141/23  2021-07-01  2024-06-30 
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2025-06-30   2028-06-30  

In all of the tables in this document, both the pre-2009 NQF Level and the NQF Level is shown. In the text (purpose statements, qualification rules, etc), any references to NQF Levels are to the pre-2009 levels unless specifically stated otherwise.  

This qualification replaces: 
Qual ID Qualification Title Pre-2009 NQF Level NQF Level Min Credits Replacement Status
67698  National Certificate: Sport Management  Level 5  Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L5  162  Complete 

PURPOSE AND RATIONALE OF THE QUALIFICATION 
Purpose:
The purpose of this qualification is to prepare qualifying learners for work in the field of sport, sport and recreation management, and sport administration. Graduates will be able to work in schools, sport clubs or private institutions; in a range of areas which include but are not limited to sport events, sports, recreation and facility management, single and/or multi-sport clubs, sport team management and community based sport development and mass participation programmes. On completion, qualifying learners are able to:
  • Promote principles of good governance in sport organisations to support operational sustainability.
  • Plan, coordinate, and ensure safety in the implementation of sport tournaments and/or events.
  • Demonstrate knowledge of business and finance management.
  • Maintain operations in a sport organisation or structure.
  • Promote and develop social development programmes through sport.
  • Promote athletes and manage media.

    Qualifying learners will be able to work in areas such as:
  • Sport team management.
  • Sport event or tournament management.
  • Sport or fitness facility management.
  • Sport sponsorship management.
  • Financial management in the sport environment.
  • Sport project management.
  • Sport organisation management.
  • Volunteer management.

    Rationale:
    Sport and the associated industries of leisure, recreation, and fitness have entered a period of rapid growth. Recent skills audits conducted by the Culture, Arts, Tourism, Hospitality and Sport Sector Education and Training Authority (CATHSSETA), highlight the need for capacity building in sport to promote competence in managing sport organisations, tournaments and events, sport teams and sport facilities.

    South Africa is being given more opportunities to host sport events at a national and international level and this qualification provides professionals who can work at the level of competence required for international sport events. Sport marketing with sport sponsorships represents a multi-million-rand industry and the current range of television channels dedicated to sport is evident of sport's reach and the public demand for sport in terms of access.

    The role of sport in South Africa also continues to grow in social and economic importance, particularly in terms of integrating healthy lifestyles in the workplace and communities. This qualification has been designed to meet this demand. Managerial abilities are needed in a variety of contexts, ranging from private fitness facilities, sport clubs to local government initiatives in sport and recreation. Increased pressure to deliver effective and efficient management and marketing of sport entities, athletes, facilities, and events comes from participants, federations, spectators and the media as well as athletes with special needs. This qualification will fulfil the need for scarce skills in sport and critical skills in governance and management. 
    		•

    LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
    Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL):
    The institution's policy for Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) caters for a number of categories:
  • Recognition of informal work-based knowledge and skills to enable access to the qualification.
  • Recognition of prior formal learning will allow a learner to earn credits to enable access to the qualification.
  • Recognition of prior informal learning to enable achievement of the qualification.

    The policy caters comprehensively for RPL with assessment instruments designed for the assessment of evidence from informal learning environments as well as mechanisms for the evaluation of learners' formal learning and the applicability of credit transfer to the Higher Certificate in Sports, Recreation and Fitness Management.

    The minimum entry requirements are:
  • National Senior Certificate granting access to Higher Certificate studies.
    Or
  • National Certificate (Vocational) at Level 4 granting access to Higher Certificate Studies. 
    		•

    RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? 
    Y 

    QUALIFICATION RULES 
    This qualification consists of compulsory modules at Level 5 totalling 120 Credits.

    Modules:
  • Sport, Recreation and Fitness Business Organisations, 25 Credits.
  • Sport, Recreation and Fitness Facilities, 25 Credits.
  • Events and Tournaments for Sport, Recreation and Fitness, 25 Credits.
  • Mass Participation Programmes, 15 Credits.
  • Team management and Touring Logistics, 10 Credits.
  • Introduction to Sport Sociology, 10 Credits.
  • Introduction to Sport Informatics, 10 Credits. 
    		•

    EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES 
    1. Manage a sports tournament.
    2. Co-ordinate athlete and team support.
    3. Manage a sport or fitness facility.
    4. Apply administration and business management skills.
    5. Engage in community sport development.
    6. Conduct sport specific marketing.
    7. Demonstrate Information Management skills. 

    ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 
    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1:
  • Designed and develop a sports tournament programme for a community.
  • Provide a secure environment to conform to legislative requirements and ensure safe participation.
  • Plan and implement a volunteer strategy to achieve event outcomes.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2:
  • Applied codes of good conduct to ensure team discipline and appropriate behaviour.
  • Coordinate the logistics of a sports team to ensure that all necessary support services are available.
  • Facilitate public relations and media liaison to promote athletes and sports teams.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3:
  • Explain management principles in the context of facilities and their equipment.
  • Develop a marketing plan to enhance public relations of a facility.
  • Describe operational functions in accordance with best practice.
  • Describe in knowledge of human resources and their purpose the context of facility management.
  • Apply the appropriate governance principles to the oversight and management structures to ensure sustainable facilities.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4:
  • Implement sound financial and business principles to comply with best operating practices.
  • Implement safety and risk management practices to conform to legislative requirements.
  • Apply principles of sport law and good governance in accord with local and international protocols.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 5:
  • Identify or establish community structures to address sport development issues.
  • Manage participants with disability within the sport or fitness environment.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 6:
  • Conduct and analyse market research for a marketing plan.
  • Develop a sponsorship proposal to approach potential funders.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 7:
  • Apply information management skills within sport and recreation projects.
  • Integrate information technology in the creation of marketing campaigns, managing projects and communication between various parties.
  • Use social media technology to manage information in sport and recreation projects.

    Integrated Assessment:
    Integrated Assessment at the level of qualification (Level 5) provides an opportunity for students to show that they are able to integrate theoretical concepts, and apply such concepts to procedures, thus achieving the knowledge and skills that are coherent to the purpose of the qualification. Integrated Assessment judges the quality of the observable performance and the quality of the critical thinking and problem solving that underpins performance.

    Formative and summative assessment instruments elicit the knowledge, thinking and decision-making that underpins learners' performance. Formative and summative assessment includes a range of methods which ensure that learners provide evidence of their theoretical knowledge and demonstrate the relevant level of applied knowledge in the context of management and administration practices.

    The ratio between action and interpretation (formative and summative assessment) is not fixed, but varies according to the modules within the qualification. Nevertheless, because this is a vocational qualification, the expectation is that assessment instruments evaluate learners' abilities to apply their knowledge; ensuring that practice is informed by current business and management theories.

    Knowledge is assessed formatively throughout the learning process. Summative Assessment takes the form of end of semester written exams or assignments and applied knowledge is assessed with simulations, and practice-based projects.

    Practical projects show how learners work with events, preparing for, implementing and evaluating a sport event according to agreed needs and goals.

    Practical demonstrations are designed to ensure skills e.g. communication and public skills when presenting a sponsorship proposal. Learners demonstrate the communication skills required to work with others in a team.

    Experiential learning: Learners spend time completing practical work-based hours, completing activities. They are placed at fitness facilities, schools, sport clubs and municipal recreational environments. Hours are logged in their log book and signed off by supervisors. Such evidence is evaluated for the achievement of the qualification. 
    		•

    INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY 
    This qualification has been benchmarked against Sport, Recreation, and Fitness Management qualifications in Australia, New Zealand, and the United States of America, and shows a substantial degree of similarity. The concept of including managerial competencies into qualifications with a focus on the sport, recreation or fitness, is common to these qualifications. The addition of areas of specialisation is part of the qualification in Australia.

    The current qualification also falls within the scope and accreditation levels of the North American Society for Sport Management (NASSM). This organisation is actively involved in supporting and assisting professionals working in the fields of sport, leisure and recreation.

    The Commission on Sport Management Accreditation (COSMA) is a specialised accrediting body whose purpose is to promote and recognise excellence in sport management education in colleges and universities at the baccalaureate and graduate levels. Institutions, students, employers, and the general public all benefit from the external verification of quality provided through COSMA's accreditation process. They also benefit from the process of continuous quality improvement that is encouraged by COSMA's developmental approach to promoting excellence in sport management education. Within the scope and accreditation requirements the current qualification is able to link to international courses on Sport Management and Marketing.

    The addition of an understanding of inclusion and practical experience in managing persons with disabilities is unique to South Africa and may be regarded as a reflection of the commitment to equity in the South African Constitution. Equally, the inclusion of social development through sport is found within various organisations and courses especially those organisations linked to The Danish Institute for Sports Studies; an independent research institute set up by the Danish Ministry of Culture.

    Some of the benchmarked institutions are the following:
  • University of Technology Sydney: Graduate Certificate in Sport Management (Australia).
  • The International Institute of Sport Management (India), Post Graduate Program in Sports and Wellness Management.
  • Auckland University of Technology (New Zealand), Certificate in Sport and Recreation.

    Finally, a study was also conducted by ETA College to understand the current sport market needs, trends and growth. The benchmark study includes an overview of different learning programmes in South Africa and other countries relating to Sport, Recreation and Fitness Management. 
    		•

    ARTICULATION OPTIONS 
    This qualification offers the following articulation possibilities.

    Horizontal Articulation:
  • Higher Certificate in Fitness, Level 5.
  • Higher Certificate in Group Fitness Trainer, Level 5.

    Vertical Articulation:
  • Diploma in Sport and Recreation Management, Level 6.
  • Advanced Certificate in Sport, Recreation and Fitness Management at level 6. 
    		•

    MODERATION OPTIONS 
    N/A 

    CRITERIA FOR THE REGISTRATION OF ASSESSORS 
    N/A 

    NOTES 
    N/A 

    LEARNING PROGRAMMES RECORDED AGAINST THIS QUALIFICATION: 
    When qualifications are replaced, some (but not all) of their learning programmes are moved to the replacement qualifications. If a learning programme appears to be missing from here, please check the replaced qualification.
     
    NONE 


    PROVIDERS CURRENTLY ACCREDITED TO OFFER THIS QUALIFICATION: 
    This information shows the current accreditations (i.e. those not past their accreditation end dates), and is the most complete record available to SAQA as of today. Some Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionaries have a lag in their recording systems for provider accreditation, in turn leading to a lag in notifying SAQA of all the providers that they have accredited to offer qualifications and unit standards, as well as any extensions to accreditation end dates. The relevant Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionary should be notified if a record appears to be missing from here.
     
    1. Exercise Teachers Academy - Cape Town 


    All qualifications and part qualifications registered on the National Qualifications Framework are public property. Thus the only payment that can be made for them is for service and reproduction. It is illegal to sell this material for profit. If the material is reproduced or quoted, the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) should be acknowledged as the source.