This study was on risk behaviours and innovative strategies in sports management for tertiary institution athletes in Cross River State, Nigeria. The descriptive survey research design was used in the study. The population for this study comprised 773 respondents: 20 experts (Academics in the Department of Human Kinetics and Health Education, UNN) and all 753 student-athletes in public tertiary institutions in the state. The entire population of 773 respondents was used for the study. Completed copies of the questionnaire (PRBSQ) were checked for completeness of information, and from the 753 copies distributed to the student-athletes, 16 copies were not properly completed; therefore, 737 copies were analyzed. All statistical analyses were done using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 23. The results show that most of the tertiary institution athletes engaged in excessive alcohol consumption and tobacco use in the school premises or campus (40.2%) and places of residence/ hostels (31.9%). The Chi-Square test that was conducted examined the difference in the spatial pattern of risk behaviours among tertiary institution athletes based on age. There was a significant difference in the spatial pattern of tobacco consumption among students- athletes by age. Based on the findings of the study, it is recommended that school authorities should assist student-athletes to keep away from risky behaviours such as excessive tobacco consumption and drug abuse by ensuring that these substances are not sold within the school premises.