Reference Publications

Internet resources for sports and fitness programming - Web sites - Directory

Parks & Recreation, Nov, 1997 by Francis A. McGuire, Lawrence R. Allen

This site provides a directory of sports services and products available online. The site includes four primary sections: a free online newsletter, Online Sports, providing information about companies involved in the sport industry; a sports career center that includes a resume bank as well as job listings; a sports business center; and a site devoted to sports resources and newsgroups. The primary focus of this site is sport merchandise, although it also provides many links to other sport sites of interest.

The Canadian Sport and Fitness Administration Centre (www.cdnsport.ca)

This is the Home Page of the Canadian Sport and Fitness Administration Centre, a not-for-profit agency. The Centre's purpose is to "facilitate the work of the Canadian government and national sport and active organizations as they provide Canadians with a strong national sport and active living system." The site provides links to many Canadian sport sites, ranging from badminton to wrestling. These links transport the user to the pages focusing on individual sports and provide information useful to all individuals involved in the provision of sport. There are other links related to sport worldwide. For example, the one to the Sport Information Resource Centre (www.sirc.ca) will allow the user to access a wide range of sports information.

SearchSport (www.oldsport.com/search/main.htm)

This is the search page of the SearchSport site. As with several of the sites reviewed this month, this site contains links to a wide variety of sports.

Sporting Goods Manufacturing Association (www.sportlink.com)

This site features information provided by the Sporting Goods Manufacturing Association. A highlight of the site is access to Active and Ageless, a 200-page directory of more than 1,000 listings of groups and organizations with fitness programs for adults over age 50. Sportlinks also includes a product search procedure providing a mechanism for identifying manufacturers of sports-related products. In addition, there are job listings and links to a few nonprofit organizations involved in sport.

Fitness Link (www.fitnesslink.com)

This site bills itself as "The Health and Fitness Source," and its goal is to be the health and fitness source. It succeeds in reaching that goal. Fitness Link is designed to provide information for the fitness professional as well as the fitness participant. The site is comprehensive with hundreds of links, as well as many fitness-related articles. The FitnessLink Index includes eight sections, each with a multitude of links: FitnessLink Features; Links, Links, Links; Mind/Body Connection; Nutritional Information; Your Fitness Program; Exercise; Lifestyle Changes; and, Fitness Pro's Center. There are links to more than 30 professional organizations, including the American College of Sports Medicine, the National Federation of Professional Trainers, and the National Strength and Conditioning Association. The site also provides links to fitness associations and organizations, ranging from the Amateur Athletic Union to the Wilderness Medical Society. There are links to providers of fitness-related services and products, links to a vast array of information sources, links to continuing education opportunities for professionals, and links related to children and seniors. This site is one of the most comprehensive we have found and provides an outstanding array of information.