It's Your Club! The Management of Sports Clubs

Sports clubs and voluntary organisations, in many cases, have become large and complex entities with strong membership numbers and significant budgets. Yet they are still operated by people who are essentially volunteers and, although they do so with the best motivations, far too often they are not equipped to deal with many of the areas in which they are involved. 

IT’S YOUR CLUB!, based on many years of practical experience of club committees, boards of directors and national councils, addresses many of the situations that cause problems for the officers of such clubs. It covers all aspects of the administration that supports the operation of the various functions of the club, explaining aspects of committees and their roles, the roles of the main officers, the importance of governance, the advantages of strategic planning, how leadership and management play different roles and how current legislation, such as child protection, affects the modern voluntary organisation.

The political, economic and social environment in which sports clubs now operate has changed significantly and clubs need to adapt to ensure that they not only survive but are equipped to facilitate change and further development. IT’S YOUR CLUB! provides the definitive text on the leadership and management of sports clubs and will give club officers the confidence to make decisions vital to their club’s viability. 

1 Introduction

2 The Operational Environment

3 Club Structures

4 Committees

5 Club Officers

6 Governance

7 Organisational Strategy

8 Leadership and Management

9 Marketing

10 Fundraising & Finance

11 Operations & Administration

12 Planning Events

13 Communication

14 Change

15 Organisational Behaviour

16 Growth

17 Conclusion

Appendices

1 National Governing Bodies & Representative Organisations

2 Club Constitution

3 Safety Statement

4 Covid-19 Policy

5 Child Safeguarding Policy

6 Bullying & Harassment Policy

7 General Data Protection Regulations Policy

8 Garda Vetting Policy

9 Volunteer Policy

10 Complaints & Grievance Policy

11 Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Policy

12 Role of Welfare Officer / Designated Liaison Person

13 Job Descriptions for Key Roles

14 Financial Statements

15 Club Handbook

16 Strategic Plan

17 Marketing Plan

18 Planning an Event