The capacity crisis simulation

The Capacity Crisis: What Would You Do?

In professional sport, leadership decisions rarely come with easy answers. Protecting athlete well-being, meeting organizational commitments, and managing limited resources can create competing priorities—and improving one outcome may come at the expense of another.

The Capacity Crisis is an interactive leadership simulation that places you in the role of Director of Player Welfare for a fictional professional tennis organization. Through three connected decisions, you'll navigate competing stakeholder interests, experience the consequences of your choices, and reflect on the tradeoffs involved in organizational leadership.

Ready to step into the decision-maker's seat?

Watch the short video briefing below, then begin the simulation. There is no single perfect solution, and you can explore a second decision-making path if you'd like.

About the Simulation

Educator's note: This simulation was developed as an experiential learning activity for sport management education. The International Tennis Circuit and its organizational scenarios are fictional. The activity is designed to encourage critical thinking about leadership, stakeholder interests, and organizational tradeoffs rather than identify a single correct response.

For Educators

This interactive simulation was designed for sport management education and can be incorporated into courses addressing organizational behavior, leadership, decision-making, and organizational issues in sport. Whether used as an individual assignment, small-group activity, or classroom discussion, the simulation provides opportunities for students to explore competing stakeholder interests, evaluate organizational tradeoffs, and reflect on the consequences of leadership decisions.

To support classroom implementation, a collection of complimentary teaching resources is available, including an instructor guide with learning objectives, implementation suggestions, discussion questions, and assessment guidance; a reflection worksheet encouraging students to examine their assumptions and leadership perspectives; and a student learning worksheet designed to assess students' application of organizational concepts and evidence-based decision-making.

Educators are welcome to use and adapt these resources to meet their instructional objectives.

[Access the Educator Resources]

Background and References

The simulation draws inspiration from contemporary discussions surrounding athlete workload, competition scheduling, and organizational responsibilities in professional tennis. These real-world discussions provide context for the fictional leadership challenge presented in the activity.

Briggs, S. (2026, September 4). Alcaraz plans on taking breaks to avoid burnout: Spaniard criticises ATP for adding to crowded schedule. The Daily Telegraph, 8.

Wiens, K. (2024, April 23). How burnout became normal—and how to push back against it. Harvard Business Review.

Suggested Citation

Benavides-Espinoza, C. (2026). The capacity crisis: An interactive leadership simulation [Interactive simulation]. ClaudiaBAMbs. https://survivingcollege.claudiabambs.com/2026/10/the-capacity-crisis-simulation.html 

Development note

Generative AI tools assisted with aspects of the simulation's initial development, programming, and multimedia production. The educational content and final resource were reviewed and refined by the author.