Key providers of Sports Development

The range of sports development providers is quite diverse and together

with agencies they interact with to deliver sports development
programmes, they create a framework of providers. There are many types
and levels of key providers and these are;

 National organisations

 Local authorities

 Governing bodies

 Voluntary organisations

 Private sector providers

 Professional providers

The original sports council was founded in 1972. The sports councils which
developed later were themselves reorganised in 1997. Today we have five
independent sports councils. The UK sports council, known as UK sport
looks after issues to be dealt with at UK level. The councils in England,
Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are responsible for sport in their
own countries. (World of sport examined, P. Beashel et al. 1997.)

National organisations

“Sport England is the government agency responsible for building the

foundations of sporting success, by creating a world-leading community
sport system of clubs, coaches, facilities and volunteers.” (Sport BTEC
level 3)

“We invest National Lottery and

Exchequer funding in organisations
and projects that will grow and sustain participation in grassroots sport
 and create opportunities for people to excel at their chosen sport.”
(www.sportengland.org)

So their focus is around three outcomes;

1. Growing the numbers of people participating in sport

2. Sustaining these numbers

3. Improving talent development to help more people excel.

“The participation in sport is increasing and as of today one million people

are taking part in more sport. More children and young people taking part
in five hours of P.E and sport a week. These targets accounted for 15% of
Sport England’s investment.” (www.sportengland.org) This is where the
5x60 programme is introduced, trying to encourage people to take part in
5 hours of P.E or sport a week, 5 lots of one hour sessions set up by the
people working for the 5x60 programme.

Sustain is also part of the outcomes that Sport England base their focus
around. They aim to help people to be more satisfied with their sporting
experience. There are 25% less 16-18 year olds dropping out of at least
nine sports; badminton, basketball, football, hockey, gymnastics, netball,
rugby league, rugby union, tennis. These targets account for 60% of Sport
England’s investment. (World of sport examined)

The final outcome which Sport England base their focus on is excel. They
have improved talent development in at least 25 sports. This target
accounts for 25% of their investment.

Sport England plays a big role in the London 2012 Olympics, increasing
participation, serving sport and local communities after the medal has
been won. “The Aquatics Centre will host the swimming and diving events
at the Games and will be an iconic landmark during the event.”
(www.sportengland.org) Their £40 million investment into the Aquatics
Centre is focused on ensuring that the facility can be adapted for use by
the community after the games.

Governing bodies

Governing bodies of sport are organisations that oversee a particular sport

in terms of its management, rules, structure and development. They
operate locally, regionally, nationally and internationally. (BTEC sport level
3)

• International governing bodies

Football is governed by FIFA, and in Europe its governed by EUFA and

both organisations have similar aims for sport in terms of its development.
Their aims can be summarised as; Promoting, Protecting and developing
the game of football.

www.fifa.com states that “Special Olympics today announced the launch

of a new global initiative to expand football opportunities for players with
intellectual disabilities.” This is part of their promoting and developing
aims within football, as Football is one of the major sports in Special
Olympics, with more than 300,000 players participating world wide.

“With 208 associations affiliated to FIFA today, world football's governing

body has rightly been dubbed the "United Nations of Football. As
representatives of FIFA in their countries, they must respect the statutes,
aims and ideals of football's governing body and promote and manage our
sport accordingly.” (www.fifa.com/aboutfifa)

The EUFA share the same aim of promoting and developing with FIFA and
state that “The UEFA Club Licensing and Financial Fair Play Regulations
have been widely supported by all clubs and stakeholders, during the long
and considered consultation and approval process. UEFA has full
confidence that the clubs are increasingly aware of the nature of the
financial fair play rules, which aim to encourage clubs to balance their
incomes and expenses over a period of time covering 4-6 transfer
windows.” (www.uefa.com)

National Governing bodies (NGB’s)

NGBs are essentially infrastructure organisations for community sport.

They exist to organise, regulate, and encourage more people into their
sport or activity. (www.navca.org.uk)

These governing bodies exist for most sports in each country and usually
have ‘mission or vision’ statements which in turn drive their aims and
objectives. The FA national game strategy sets out its purpose, values,
strategic goals and targets with four key goals;

1. Growth and retention

2. Raising standards & addressing abusive behavior
3. Developing better players (specifically ages 5-11)
4. Running the game effectively.

(BTEC sport level 3)

Private sector providers

“The private sector in sport is comprised of commercial companies,

opposed to government(public) sector or voluntary sector. This sector is
interested in commercial and financial success of the companies ahead of
sporting achievements.” (www.blurtit.com)

Sports and participants can still gain from these types of businesses as
they might provide new venues and sponsorship and administer leagues
or run activity camps. (Sport Btec level 3)

Some businesses get involved with sport as sponsors. They do this to

promote their brand and products at all events involved with the
athlete/sport they sponsor, so that overall sales are boosted giving the
athlete/team a share of their products. Sponsorship can be seen as a
positive for the businesses as their company is being advertised in big
events on famous, successful athletes/teams, with the public noticing the
brand from all aspects of the media. However, sponsorship can be
negative for the athlete or team as they can be dropped at any time, for
example if they continue to be unsuccessful. On the other hand, the
sponsorship money funds coaches, facilities and equipment the team or
athlete might need.
“Much funding for the organising committee of the 2010 olympics comes
from the private sector. A total of £2 billion will be raised from the
sponsorship, broadcasting rights and selling merchandise.” (Sport Btec
level 3)

BIBLIOGRAPHY

World of sport examined, P. Beashel 1997.

Sport BTEC level 3, Mark adams, Ray barker, Adam Gledhill, Chris lydon,
Chris mulligan, Pam phillippo, Louise Sutton. Essex 2010

www.sportengland.org

www.fifa.com/aboutfifa

www.uefa.com

www.navca.org.uk

www.blurtit.com