Governance and Leadership Development for Sports Organisations

Effective leadership and strong governance are the cornerstones of thriving sports organisations. This course offers participants a comprehensive understanding of how to lead sports entities strategically and ethically, manage decision-making processes, oversee governance structures, and foster high-performance cultures. Through practical frameworks and real-world examples, participants will develop the skills necessary to guide sports organisations towards long-term success and integrity.

Section 1: Foundations of Leadership in Sports Organisations

• Understanding leadership challenges unique to sports.
• Key leadership styles and when to apply them.
• Inspiring teams towards high performance and unity.
• Managing internal dynamics and fostering trust.
• Communicating a compelling vision and mission.
• Emotional intelligence in sports leadership.
• Dealing with crises and pressure situations.

Section 2: Building Effective Governance Structures

• Core principles of governance in the sports context.
• Designing effective boards and governance committees.
• Roles, responsibilities, and accountability mechanisms.
• Ensuring regulatory compliance and oversight.
• Balancing transparency and operational flexibility.
• Governance audits and performance evaluations.
• Responding to governance failures or scandals.

Section 3: Ethical Leadership and Integrity in Sports

• Promoting ethical behavior at all organisational levels.
• Addressing conflicts of interest and misconduct.
• Building inclusive and diverse sports leadership.
• Establishing codes of ethics and conduct.
• Navigating complex ethical dilemmas in sports.
• Ensuring fair competition and safeguarding initiatives.
• Leading cultural change towards integrity.

Section 4: Strategic Decision-Making and Organisational Alignment

• Linking daily decisions to strategic goals.
• Decision-making frameworks for uncertain environments.
• Managing short-term pressures vs. long-term vision.
• Balancing performance, business, and community objectives.
• Techniques for stakeholder-informed decision-making.
• Data-driven leadership: Using analytics in sports governance.
• Communicating strategic decisions clearly across the organisation.

Section 5: Managing Stakeholders in Sports Governance

• Identifying internal and external stakeholders.
• Building collaborative relationships with teams, sponsors, and fans.
• Government relations and working with regulatory bodies.
• Managing media relations and public perceptions.
• Techniques for conflict resolution and negotiation.
• Enhancing the voice of athletes in governance.
• Running inclusive stakeholder engagement processes.

Section 6: Financial Governance and Sustainable Growth

• Principles of financial accountability in sports organisations.
• Revenue generation through sponsorships, media rights, and partnerships.
• Cost control and budgeting for sustainability.
• Balancing commercial interests and sports values.
• Strategic investment in talent development and facilities.
• Managing financial risks and protecting organisational assets.
• Building long-term financial resilience.

Section 7: Governance of Major Sports Events

• Special governance requirements for hosting sports events.
• Organising committees: Structures, roles, and authority.
• Coordination between sporting bodies, governments, and sponsors.
• Risk management, insurance, and liability planning.
• Ensuring ethical procurement and vendor management.
• Post-event governance and legacy management.
• Learning from past event successes and failures.

Upon successful completion of this training course, delegates will be awarded a Holistique Training Certificate of Completion. For those who attend and complete the online training course, a Holistique Training e-Certificate will be provided.

Holistique Training Certificates are accredited by the British Accreditation Council (BAC) and The CPD Certification Service (CPD), and are certified under ISO 9001, ISO 21001, and ISO 29993 standards.

CPD credits for this course are granted by our Certificates and will be reflected on the Holistique Training Certificate of Completion. In accordance with the standards of The CPD Certification Service, one CPD credit is awarded per hour of course attendance. A maximum of 50 CPD credits can be claimed for any single course we currently offer.