Governing Bodies Of Sport Research Articles

Examining the impact of organizational and management variables on sport service delivery in Ethiopia

There is an observed general low performance of Ethiopian Sport Governing Bodies (SGBs) in service delivery. Evidence shows that the trend can be corrected with proper understanding and insight into the process of organizational and management factors of these SGBs. This study aimed to investigate the contribution of organizational and management factors as determinants in effective service delivery in SGBs. For this study, a cross-sectional research design was employed. Purposive sampling was used to choose 350 samples from 154 internal and 196 external stakeholders. The instruments used for the study were the key informant interview and the questionnaire. Pearson Product Moment Correlation Coefficient and multiple regression were used to analyze the data at the 0.05 significant level while qualitative data were content analyzed. The findings confirmed that organizational and management factor variables had a significant positive relationship with sport service delivery (organizational structure (r=0.515), organizational capabilities (r=0.701), communication (r=0.549), management practice (r=0.571), materials & resources (r=0.527) and stakeholders satisfaction (r=0.742). Management factors jointly predicted effective sport service delivery (F (3, 329)= 165.868, R2= 0.612); organizational factors had a joint significant contribution to effective sport service delivery (F(3, 329) = 148.743, R2= 0.576). Further, organizational and management factor variables had a joint relative significant influence on effective sport service delivery in Ethiopian SGBs (F (6, 326) =130.81, R2= 0.707). Interviews revealed that there are weak relations with stakeholders, an unaligned structure of regional sport bodies with federal bodies, and managers with improper experience and knowledge in sport which influences effective sport service delivery in Ethiopian SGBs. Therefore, working together with stakeholders, structural advancement, designing rules and regulations that can serve a longer time, taking correction based on feedback from stakeholders, networked structures and collaborations with local sports organizations as means of improving service delivery employing shared burden and coordinated effort are recommended. Keywords: Management, Organization, Service delivery, Sport governing bodies

From gender policies and practices to organisational performance of sport governing bodies

ABSTRACT Research question Gender policies reflect identity-conscious human resource management structures that aim to reduce unfair treatment based on gender. Drawing on signalling theory and the categorisation-elaboration model, the literature suggests that the relationship between gender policies and organisational performance is moderated by several factors (gender practices, organisational culture, decision-making quality), which have not yet been empirically studied. The purpose of this study is to investigate the presence of gender policies in sport governing bodies (SGBs) and examine their relationship with organisational performance. Research methods An online questionnaire was sent to representatives of German SGBs (n = 202). Structural equation modelling was used to examine the relationships between gender policies, gender practices (i.e. board gender diversity), organisational culture, decision-making quality, and organisational performance. Results and findings Gender policies are rarely present in German SGBs, and can only shape the organisational culture when they are connected to daily routines (in contrast to the simple presence of a written statement). Gender policies and practices are positively associated with decision-making quality and organisational performance. Implications The findings contribute to the literature by shedding light on the theoretical mechanisms (i.e. organisational culture, decision-making quality) through which group diversity affects organisational performance. Sport managers should connect gender policies to the daily work instead of simply including them in good governance guidelines, especially because they also benefit the organisation in terms of better performance. Politicians should consider mandatory regulations to make gender policies more effective.

Dual career in the workplace: co-creation of a conceptual framework by employers and employee-sportspersons incorporating corporate social responsibility and brand alignment.

The purpose of this study was to provide an evidence base and conceptual framework to inform new guidelines for achieving a balance between sports and employment commitments (i.e., dual career, DC) of the employee-sportspersons. To shape a DC discourse in the workplace, the distinct and combined views of the employee-sportspersons (i.e., the Employee), the managers (i.e., the Employer) were considered. Following a concept mapping methodology, 257 international participants (25% employers and 75% employee-sportspersons) sorted and rated 50 potential statements associated with DC circumstances and supports in the workplace. Six distinct clusters emerged, with the combined employers-employee co-creation scenario assigning 6 statements to the micro dimension (Cluster 1 = Workplace Benefits), 4 statements to the meso dimension (Cluster 2 = Role of National Sports Governing Bodies), 19 statements to the macro dimension (Cluster 3 = Dual Career Policy Development), 4 and 5 statements to the organizational dimensions (Cluster 4 = Employee-Employer Collaboration and Responsibility; Cluster 5 = Sport Career Integration), and 12 statements to the policy (Cluster 6 = Workplace Strategies for Dual Career Support) dimension. With respect to the employers, the employee-sportspersons showed higher scores (p < 0.05) for importance of clusters 2, 4, and 6, and for feasibility of clusters 2 and 6. These findings suggest priorities for changes within the DC dimensions identified, and envisage flexible models for aligning corporate brand values and corporate social responsibility strategies through meaningful and proactive DC support of the employee-sportspersons in the workplace. The findings provide a rigorously derived evidence base to inform the formulation of new DC workplace guidelines.

“Who Am I to Tell Them How to Coach?”—An Analysis of Coach Developers’ Professional Identity Formation

Coach developers play a critical role in the development of coaches. However, coach developers themselves remain under-researched, in particular the socially mediated process of becoming a coach developer is poorly understood. Eleven coach developers working across Regional and National Sports Governing Bodies took part in a series of interviews and in situ observations over the course of 12 months. Engaging a reflexive thematic analysis, this paper focuses on the power relations that contour the transitions into coach developer roles. Specifically, the analysis depicts an identity-making process in which power is exerted through different sites and modalities that structure and regulate coach developers’ practice and roles through shared discourses. In efforts to secure their positions and maintain legitimate identities, coach developers operated within an uncritical selective culture, which saw them wield, maintain, and enhance the power provided to them. Building on existing research, we examine the contested nature of what it means to be a coach developer, specifically showcasing the navigation of inherently unstable professional learning cultures and critiquing coach developer training. This work begins to address calls for the voices of coach developers in their research, while identifying the reproduction of a cultural orthodoxy, and the lack of effective in situ coach developer training. Implications from the research suggest that further support and development are required in the training of coach developers in situ, as well as the need for research to interrogate the language and discourse framing the role.

The politicisation of sport and the principle of political neutrality: a contradiction in terms?

Recent events have once again shone a spotlight on the principle of political neutrality invoked by many Sports Governing Bodies to justify their inaction in response to political issues in the world of sport. The war in Ukraine and the hosting of the FIFA World Cup in Qatar have tested the political neutrality of both FIFA and the IOC. The consequences of this stance have led to FIFA overlooking a number of human rights issues in Qatar and the IOC ignoring human rights concerns in host states, awarding Russia and China recent versions of the Winter Olympics. This article outlines the most salient examples of the politicization of sport, exposing the myth upon which the principle of political neutrality is based. The aim is to offer a clear understanding of the processes behind the politicization of sport, the attraction of sport to governments of all political hues, and its use in ‘sportswashing’ activities and ‘soft power’ acquisition. Such an analysis of sport politics provides a glimpse behind the veneer of apoliticality enshrined in the principle of political neutrality and hence a better basis for scholars of sports law to understand the politically sensitive cases arising in sport in the present day.

ISU and Superleague judgments: sports governance in the market-driven era

Sport is becoming more and more attractive for private entities that desire to launch and exploit their own competitions outside the calendar (and control) of international federations. Today, breakaway leagues appear in different disciplines with increasing frequency. This poses a problem for sports governing bodies (SGBs) as they see in the newcomers a threat to the sporting values, purely mercantile intentions, and freeriding. Acting as regulators – and gatekeepers – of their respective disciplines, SGBs tend to hinder the entrance of third-party organisers. And, by doing it, they often fall under competition law scrutiny. The judgments in the ISU and Superleague cases in December 2023 became the legal apex of the confrontation between SGBs and breakaway leagues. The Court opted for an efficiency-oriented, economic approach. But will SGBs sustain the challenge of the new, market-driven principles of sports governance?

‘I’m not the police’: practical strategies for sport coach mentors to develop trust and trustworthiness

ABSTRACT This paper examines trust and trustworthiness in sport coach mentor-mentee relationships. Specifically, we investigate the place and importance of trust from the mentor’s perspective and establish how trustworthy impressions are actively developed. Guided by theoretical ideas addressing trust relations, we conducted 18 online, two-to-one semi-structured interviews with nine mentors affiliated with two National Governing Bodies (NGBs) of sport. Data were subjected to a phronetic, iterative analysis, which involved inductive and deductive sensemaking and an interactive writing process. Key findings suggested a) that the mentors defined trust as a crucial construct in the development of mentee motivation, learning, and engagement, b) establishing trustworthy impressions was important for the mentors’ material and non-material interests, c) mentors reported how mentees were initially aloof due to an apparent distrust of NGBs, and d) mentors used numerous interactional strategies to create trustworthy impressions. These included i) deformalising mentor-mentee relationships, ii) actively demonstrating reliability as mentors, iii) using mutually beneficial lies to simultaneously secure buy-in and build mentee confidence and self-esteem, iv) illustrating their own fallibility as sport coaches, v) considering the value of displaying their own coaching competency, and vi) developing mentees’ competencies through empowerment. The findings offer practical strategies for NGBs and other [non]sporting bodies to support mentors in creating trustworthy impressions and building successful mentoring relationships.

Legitimating innovation through category positioning: a case study of The Hundred cricket competition

PurposeIn response to increasing competition for consumer attention, sport governing bodies have innovated short-format, action-oriented versions of traditional sports to attract new fans. This article explores how sport governing bodies (SGBs) manage the need for innovations to both conform to existing stakeholder expectations whilst offering novel benefits in comparison to competition (i.e. legitimate distinctiveness).Design/methodology/approachCreated by the English Cricket Board (ECB), The Hundred competition was used as a case study to explore the conformity-differentiation tension through a legitimacy lens using document and media analysis.FindingsSeven themes were created to explain how the ECB managed legitimacy tensions: rule modification, team creation, scheduling, game-day experience, broadcasting, gender equity and sponsorship. In each theme, differentiation and conformity were traded-off by the ECB to prioritise pragmatic legitimacy with broadcasters and sponsors.Practical implicationsFor sport management professionals, the Hundred demonstrates the commercial value of differentiating new sporting events from competitors via hybrid broadcasting partnerships, embedded gender equity and designing game-day experiences that attract hard-to-reach consumer demographics.Originality/valueSGBs must trade-off legitimacy between sources when innovating to survive, and when faced with conflicting expectations, commercial imperatives determined whether to conform or differentiate.

Conditions and mechanisms of trust within boards of voluntary sport governing bodies

ABSTRACT Trust is considered beneficial for team work, as, for example, in boards of sport governing bodies (SGBs). However, strong trust within teams can also limit creativity and encourage corruption. Dealing adequately with trust, hence, seems to be a challenge for organisations and decision-makers involved. To better understand the complex phenomenon of trust in the SGB board context, the study examines the conditions and underlying mechanisms of trust within SGB boards. Referring to systems theory and the social function of trust, the empirical design of the study follows a constructivist approach. To ensure indepth insights into the multifaceted issues of trust, the study comprises data from organisational documents and semi-structured interviews with 16 volunteer board members of German state-level SGBs. The data was analysed by content analysis according to Mayring (2015). Findings indicate low reliability of decision-making structures, with personal trust serving as a functional equivalent to the weak formal regulations set out by the organisations. In this respect, system trust seems to be based on a common sense of mutual personal trust on the board. The findings also highlight trust-relevant conditions and mechanisms of trust and reveal how these affect the functioning of the board. By demonstrating the functionality of trust for establishing reliable expectations within boards of voluntary SGBs, the paper complements the literature on good governance, leadership, and voluntary engagement in sport organisations.

Expert Perceptions on Anti-bribery and Corruption Policies in Sports Governing Bodies: Implications for Ethical Climate Theory

Anti-bribery and corruption in sport governing bodies is a little explored area in academic literature. This paper addresses the gap in the literature through expert perceptions on the current state of anti-bribery and corruption policies in international and national sport governing bodies as seen through an ethical climate theory lens. Thus, this paper addresses the question of how and why enhancing anti-bribery and corruption in sport internal controls can mitigate financial corruption and improve ethical climates. Semi-structured interviews were undertaken with 17 forensic accountants and anticorruption experts to garner their opinion on strengths and weaknesses of current policies in sport governing bodies and ascertain the link between anticorruption, accounting controls, and ethical climates. The transcripts were analysed using thematic analysis and the results showed a consistency of opinion with regards to the policy improvements required for a robust anti-bribery and corruption programme within sport governing bodies, with multiple implications for ethical organisational climates.

Women representation and organisational characteristics in sport governance: Implications for gender policy and practice

ABSTRACT Drawing on hegemonic masculinity and critical mass theory, this study investigates the representation of women board members in sport governing bodies (SGB) and the extent to which boards can be assigned to subgroups based on the number and share of women board members. The study examines the organisational characteristics of SGBs with low, medium, and high representation of women on the board. Data were gathered from the websites of German national and state sport associations and federations (n = 930), including information about the size and gender composition of the board and several organisational characteristics (e.g. type of sport, headquarter location, membership figures). On average, SGBs have 1.8 women on the board reflecting a share of 20.1%. Three groups of SGBs emerged from the cluster analysis: Organisations with low (0.08 women; share of women: 0.3%), medium (1.63; 18.4%), and high representation of women (3.87; 42.6%) on the board. These clusters differ significantly regarding organisational characteristics. Specifically, SGBs with low representation of women have on average smaller boards and represent non-Olympic sports or ‘typically masculine’ sports. Sport federations are more frequently represented in the clusters with medium and high representation of women on the board. SGBs in the third cluster represent ‘typically feminine’ sports like dancing or equestrian and have the most women and youth memberships. The findings help sport policy makers target respective groups of organisations with interventions to implement gender policies and explain the important role of such policies for attracting new women board members or gaining legitimacy from public institutions.

Fair Competition and Inclusion in Sport: Avoiding the Marginalisation of Intersex and Trans Women Athletes

Despite the reality of intersex individuals whose biological markers do not necessarily all point towards a traditional binary understanding of either male or female, the vast majority of sports divide competition into categories based on a binary notion of biological sex and develop policies and regulations to police the divide. In so doing, sports governing bodies (SGBs) adopt an imperfect model of biological sex in order to serve their particular purposes, which, typically, will include protecting the fundamental sporting value of fair competition. Yet, one potential consequence of enforcing such an approach would seem to be the exclusion or marginalization of individuals whose biological development does not fit within the binary model, whether due to genetics or through a choice to undergo medical intervention to better represent a chosen gender identity. Any such exclusion or marginalization will inevitably tend to undermine another fundamental value of sport, that of inclusivity. In the context of those with differences of sex development, SGBs appear to be faced with a difficult problem: dealing with a conflict between two fundamental values of sport. Different approaches to this problem have been suggested, with some academics proposing that sports organisations, in general, ought to prioritise fairness above, while others suggest the need to ‘balance’ competing values or even to prioritise inclusion over fairness. However, it is argued that any of these approaches are, in principle, justifiable as any sport should be free to prioritise or balance its own values. What seems more important for any SGB is the need for a rational and transparent justification of regulations that pursue fair competition at the expense of inclusivity. Furthermore, where fair competition and inclusivity are fundamental values, any such justification would seem to demand adherence to some basic norms. First, the regulations should be built on (and articulate) a consistent and principled basis of what ‘fair competition’ means in a particular sport. Second, any regulations should only exclude or restrict participation to the minimum degree necessary to achieve the sense of fair competition so articulated. Third, SGBs should be transparent about what their values are and where their priorities lie so that participants and other stakeholders are able to make an informed choice as to whether they wish to participate in, support, or be associated with a particular sport. With reference to the adoption of the Eligibility Regulations for Athletes with Differences of Sex Development (the ‘DSD Regulations’) by the International Association of Athletic Federations (IAAF), this article seeks to evaluate whether the approach of the IAAF satisfied these basic requirements.

Selected Issues of (Good) Governance in North American Professional Sports Leagues

In recent years, sport governing bodies (SGB) have been the subject of serious questions regarding their governance structures and decision-making processes. SGB that fail to implement regulatory mechanisms and to improve their governance structures and processes risk being confronted with severe ethically sensitive issues outside and inside the fields, which may eventually result in negative publicity and reduced demand (e.g., fans, sponsors) or financial support (e.g., from governments). This study examines selected regulations and practices of North American professional sports leagues in light of good governance principles. By adopting a qualitative research design, we investigate if there is a need for reforms to be employed by the leagues to comply with core dimensions of governance and thus reduce the risk of not being prepared to deal with ethically sensitive issues that may come up. Our critical analysis suggests that essential reforms need to be employed by the leagues to comply with core principles of good governance. In terms of democracy, professional leagues need to recognise stakeholder interests, implement innovative participation mechanisms, and apply diversity and inclusion policies for board composition. On transparency, it is required to publish internal regulations and financial information despite lax regulations on disclosure policies in the United States. Concerning accountability, professional leagues should separate their disciplinary and executive branches to avoid the concentration of power and potential conflict of interest in the relationship between the commissioner and team owners.

(In)justice on Ice: Valieva and International Sport Governing Bodies’ Justice Duties Toward Underage Athletes

ABSTRACT After two years of discussions and revisions, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) published the 2021 World Anti-Doping Code on June 16, 2020. Among the most significant additions to this iteration of the Code was the inclusion of new categories of athletes subject to differential treatment by WADA, including the “protected person” category. In this paper, we examine the recent case of figure skater Kamila Valeryevna Valieva, the first athlete given differential treatment due to her being categorized as a “protected person.” We apply a relational justice framework to the case to provide a nuanced, descriptive analysis of the case generally, and the application of the “protected person” category in particular.We first describe details of the athlete, her performances and anti-doping rule violation, and the “protected person” category, to provide context. We then describe and analyze the relations between several institutional actors, principally WADA and the International Court for the Arbitration of Sport (CAS), the athlete and her team, and other figure skating athletes at the Beijing Winter Olympic Games. To do so, we use two concepts of justice, conservative and ideal, and their component parts, entitlement, desert, and need.Our description and analyses demonstrate that (1) WADA’s notions of justice are essentially conservative, while CAS acted toward more ideal notions, creating a fundamental disagreement in what was owed and to whom. We show (2) that CAS’ decision may have nonetheless caused harm to the athlete, raising questions about the efficacy and capability of the “protected person” category. Finally, (3) our analyses show the influence that notions of justice necessarily have these actors shape each other, thus change the sporting institutions and activities themselves.

Is Sport Coaching a Social Sustainable Profession for Women? Analysing the Experiences of Women Coaches in Spain

While there are several studies showing the importance of social sustainability in different settings (e.g., Democracy and Governance: the Role of Sport Governing Bodies, urban planning, architecture) there is a lack of studies investigating social sustainability in the sports coaching profession, and even less research has specifically addressed women coaches. Using Barron and Gauntlett’s model of social sustainability (2002), the purpose of this study was to analyze the women coaches’ experiences of their profession and the extent to which it is a sustainable livelihood for women coaches. Semi-structured interviews with 20 women coaches were conducted from a variety of sports and performance levels. From a social sustainability perspective, the women coaches’ experiences were analyzed using Barron and Gauntlett’s principles of equity, diversity, interconnectedness, and democracy and governance to ascertain their quality of life. Our findings reveal that women coaches face multiple barriers and difficult working conditions in their profession, yet they continue to be committed to coaching largely because of the strong positive interpersonal relationships and social interactions they have with their sporting community. This study shines a light on the extent to which coaching is a livable and sustainable profession for women coaches today and highlights the importance of considering social sustainability principles to improve the experiences of women in the sports coaching profession.

Lost in translation? The European Convention on Human Rights at the Court of Arbitration for Sport

The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) is not known as a human rights court. Instead, its primary focus is on applying and interpreting the regulations of international (and sometimes national) sport governing bodies (SGBs). It is only recently that the intersection between the CAS jurisprudence and human rights has become of interest in the academic literature and public debates. In particular, the Mutu and Pechstein decision of the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) in October 2018 made clear that the CAS does not escape the indirect scrutiny of the Strasbourg court. Nevertheless, until today, very few publications have been dedicated to the interplay between the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) and the CAS. This paper aims to contribute to remedying this want by charting the CAS awards in which a reference to the ECHR or a decision of the ECtHR was made and tracing the impact and function of such references in the CAS jurisprudence. The findings highlight the various functions of the references to the ECHR in CAS awards, the discrepancies between some of the interpretations of the ECHR advanced by the CAS and the ECtHR’s own understanding of the Convention, and the limited success of appellants to challenge SGBs’ decisions on the basis of the ECHR. The paper concludes by arguing that the CAS would need to be institutionally reformed in order for human rights to act as an effective check on the transnational power of SGBs in CAS proceedings.

‘I felt I’d lost myself – not really knowing who I was’: coach developer learning as negotiating identity through engagement, imagination and alignment

ABSTRACT Across the sporting landscape, there has recently been increased interest in how best to facilitate Coach Developer (CD) learning. The framework of Landscapes of Practice (LoP) encourages us to consider how CD learning can be better understood through consideration of individual negotiated identity as a process of engagement, imagination and alignment. This Participatory and Appreciative Action and Reflection (PAAR) investigation explores the journey of two cohorts of CDs (n = 24) through a bespoke formal learning programme commissioned by a National Governing Body (NGB) of sport in the UK. Over a period of three years, data were captured through reflective materials, focus groups, individual interviews, field notes and professional discussions. Here we discuss three major categories namely, (a) (pre)dispositions to the course; (b) epistemological development, criticality and theoretical congruity; and (c) the learning community. CDs’ identities were highly individualized and there was evidence of deeply meaningful, and negotiated, identity work going on within each individual. We found that consideration of their engagement, imagination and alignment with the course helped to better understand the (re)negotiation of their identities as they deepened their understanding. By specifically addressing the CDs’ (pre)dispositions to the course we were able to offer the learners a more relevant and relatable programme to which they could choose to align – or not. Future research should explore the role and functions of the different forms of social learning leadership in longitudinal courses such as this and seek to better understand how these individuals shape the identities of the learners they support.

Social Media Education Provided by National Governing Bodies of Sport: An Examination of Practices for Youth Olympic Games and Olympic Games Athletes

Social media provides athletes with many opportunities as well as challenges. Scholars have argued for proactive, educational social media training instead of traditional policy and punishment models, yet research on this topic is limited. Therefore, this study sought to understand the social media training/education national governing bodies (NGBs) provided to athletes ranging from Youth Olympic Games (YOG) to Olympic level, and to examine NGB communication employees’ perceptions regarding athletes’ social media use and their organization’s social media training. Utilizing uses and gratifications theory, a sequential mixed method was employed involving a survey of U.S. NGBs and in-depth interviews with NGB communication personnel. While most NGBs used proactive, educational social media training for Olympic athletes, few did the same for YOG athletes. NGB employees felt social media use posed significant benefits or gratifications to athletes, and education and training helped to enhance those benefits as well as minimize the challenges, or failed gratifications, athletes experience on social media.

The Paradox of Gender Diversity, Organizational Outcomes, and Recruitment in the Boards of National Governing Bodies of Sport

Diversity have become a desired value in sport organizations. However, regardless of the aspiration towards more gender diverse leadership, women leaders remain a minority. Diversity and its impact on group performance has also increased interest among scholars. Building on information/decision-making theory and the concept of the right fit, this paper introduces a new theoretical model that sheds light on the contradiction of gender-biased recruitment/selection processes in sports organization boards and the impact of diversity on organizational outcomes. The model is partly tested with survey data from the Finnish National Governing Bodies of Sport (NGBs). This paper shows that, because of the gender-biased recruitment/selection process, the benefits of gender-diverse organization boards may not be fully actualized, which not only affects the functioning of sports organizations, but may also limit women’s inclusion on sports organization boards.

The Institutional Position of Athletes in the Governance Networks of the Olympic Movement in Canada, Germany and the United Kingdom

Athletes are increasingly playing a role as actors within the sport political arena. Against this backdrop, questions regarding the representation and power of athletes as stakeholders of the Olympic Movement have been raised by academics as well as the media and, above all, the athletes themselves. The aim of this study is to add to the discussion on athlete representation and power by investigating the institutional position of athletes in the governance networks of the Olympic Movement in three different national contexts. Traditional forms of athlete bodies, i.e. Athletes’ Commissions, as well as independent organizations are analyzed regarding their current manifestations and historic developments. To paint a comprehensive picture of institutional power of athletes, Social Network Analysis is utilized to assess power from a network perspective. The qualitative and quantitative results reveal differing degrees of inclusion of athletes into the decision-making structures of National Sport Governing Bodies. From the comparative design of the study, it is possible to show that the underlying principles defining a national sport system influence the position and role of athletes in terms of board membership in National Sport Governing Bodies and the manifestation of organizations representing the athletes’ interest.