Guiding Principles for Effective Sports Governance

Sports Governance Definition

Autonomy is a key concept that drives governance in sports, both for Olympic and non-Olympic sports.

This has principally been developed by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and is one of the Fundamental Principles of Olympism set out in the Olympic Charter.

Recognizing that sports occur within the framework of society, sports organizations in the Olympic movement chart the rights and obligations of autonomy, which include freely establishing and controlling the rules of sports, determining the structure and governance of their organizations, enjoying the right of elections free from any outside influence and the responsibility for ensuring the principles of good governance be applied.

Governance Structures in Sports Organization

There are different governance structures you may adopt within your sports organization.

These different structures will have significant impacts on how decisions are made in your organization.

They are helpful in making sports organizations think about their broad mode of operation that suits their mission and vision before developing specific formal policies that define organization structure and roles.

There are two broad board structures (or models): policy and administrative.

• Policy boards develop policy and strategy for an organization and then hire an executive director and staff to implement the policy and conduct the day-to-day operations of the organization.
• Administrative boards are more hands-on in managing the organizations with the support of committees and staff.

UK Code for Sports Governance

At the heart of the UK Sports Governance Code are five basic Principles of good governance. These set out high-level statements of good governance and provide the structure of the Code.

• The Code then lists a set of Requirements within each of the five Principles. These Requirements are mandatory subject to the Tier into which each investment is placed and, in the case of Tiers 2 and 3, the setting of bespoke timelines for implementation. A separate booklet with dedicated guidance has been produced for Tier 1 organizations.
• The Commentary is not mandatory and is included to provide further advice, guidance, and support to organizations by demonstrating how they can evidence compliance with the Requirements.
• Some terms have specific meanings when they are used in the Code. These defined terms can be found in the Definitions section at the back of the UK Sports Governance Code.

UK Sports Governance Principles are:

1) Structure: Organisations shall have a clear and appropriate governance structure led by a Board that is collectively responsible for the long-term success of the organization and exclusively vested with the power to lead it. The Board shall be properly constituted and shall operate effectively.

2) People: Organizations shall recruit and engage people with a diversity of background, thought, independence, skills, and experience to take effective decisions that further the organization’s goals and best serve their communities, stakeholders, and wider society.

3) Communication: Organizations shall be transparent and accountable, engaging effectively with stakeholders and nurturing internal democracy.

4) Standards and Conduct: Organizations shall uphold high standards of integrity, promote an ethical and inclusive culture, and engage in regular and effective evaluations to drive continuous improvement.

5) Policies and Procedures: Organizations shall comply with all applicable laws and regulations; consider the social and environmental impact of their decisions; undertake responsible financial strategic planning; and have appropriate controls and risk management procedures.

AU Sports Governance Principles

AU Sports Governance Principles can be used throughout the Australian sports sector, from small local clubs to large national organizations, but the details and explanations tend to be most applicable to national sporting organizations and state/territory sporting organizations.

Those principles are implemented via 35 standards and measured by 140 measures.

The AU Nine Sports Governance Principles are:

1) The spirit of the game – values-driven culture and behaviors

An organization’s culture and behaviors should be underpinned by values that are demonstrated by the board and embedded in its decisions and actions.

2) The team–aligned sport through collaborative governance

Across a sport, boards should work together to govern collaboratively and create alignment to maximize the efficient use of resources and implement whole-of-sport plans.

3) The gameplan – a clear vision that informs strategy

The board is responsible for overseeing the development of the organization’s vision and strategy as well as determining what success looks like.

4) The players – a diverse board to enable considered decision-making

A board should be a diverse group of people who collectively provide different perspectives and experiences to facilitate more considered decision-making.

5) The rulebook – documents that outline duties, powers, roles, and responsibilities

An organization should clearly define and document its structure and the duties, responsibilities, and powers of members, directors, committees, and management.

6) The playbook – board processes that ensure accountability and transparency

Through effective processes and continual review of its performance, the board is able to demonstrate accountability and transparency to its members and stakeholders.

7) The defense – a system that protects the organization

To proactively protect the organization from harm, the board ensures the organization has and maintains robust and systematic processes for managing risk.

8) The best and fairest – a system for ensuring integrity

An organization should have measures and protocols to ensure the integrity of the sport and safeguard its participants.

9) The scorecard – embedded systems of internal review to foster continuous improvement

The board must have an appropriate system of internal controls to enable it to monitor performance, track progress against strategy, and address issues of concern.

For more details:

• UK Code for Sports Governance: https://www.dhirubhai.net/posts/melbagoury_uk-code-for-sports-governance-activity-7112407401114267648-B6MN?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop
• AU Sports Governance Principles: https://www.dhirubhai.net/posts/melbagoury_au-sport-governance-principles-activity-7112417403761774595-sfUP?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop

? All Rights Reserved to Sports Governance Academy , Sport England & Australian Sports Commission .

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