The general objective of this study was to analyze the municipal sports departments of the Sertão de Canindé microregion, in the state of Ceará (Brazil), focusing on characterizing the profile of managers based on five administrative dimensions: sociodemographic characteristics, organizational structure, functions performed, regular activities developed, and demands for professional training. The investigation focuses on the period from 2017 to 2020, prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, internationally recognized as a pre-pandemic context. The methodology adopted was based on a quantitative, descriptive, and exploratory approach, using a specific questionnaire as a data collection instrument, answered by a sample of six municipal secretaries from the state of Ceará. For the descriptive and statistical analysis of the variables, the Microsoft Office Excel 2020 and SPSS 2020 software were used. The main results showed a homogeneous sociodemographic profile, composed exclusively of men, aged between 41 and 45 years, married, and born in the municipalities themselves. There is a significant absence of women in leadership positions, which highlights the persistence of gender exclusion patterns. Managers are mostly appointed based on political criteria and are affiliated with political parties, working in limited operational structures, with a shortage of employees and deficiencies in assessment, control and institutional communication mechanisms. However, there is a clear perception, on the part of the secretaries themselves, of the need for technical training, especially in the areas of public administration and event organization. It is understood that the continuous qualification of sports administration in the public service is essential to comply with the guidelines established by the Federal Constitution of 1988. In this context, it is essential to invest in research that analyzes the profile of managers and their practices at the regional level, in order to support the monitoring, improvement and appreciation of public sports policies, reaffirming sports as an expression of citizenship and an instrument of social development, as provided for in the Constitution.
A Wed, study studied this question.