Highlights
Introduction:
Our Governance section highlights the essential standards every Club should have in place to operate confidently and responsibly. From maintaining a clear and up-to-date Club Constitution, Membership Form, and Code of Conduct, to ensuring your Bank Account reflects your Club’s official name, good governance strengthens your foundations. Here, you’ll find practical templates and inspiring case studies from Clubs that have recently enhanced their governance and are now thriving as a result.
This outlines the fundamental principles for good governance in sport. Tier One standards promote transparency, integrity, and accountability, with an emphasis on the importance of diversity in leadership. These guidelines aim to ensure that Sports Clubs are run efficiently, promoting good governance that is not only legally compliant but also ethical and inclusive.
Clubs adhering to these principles are more likely to build trust with their members, partners, and funding organisations.
This section provides a downloadable Club Constitution template designed to help your Club establish clear, confident foundations. The document includes all the essential elements expected of a well-structured Constitution and can be easily edited to reflect your Club’s specific details. Using this template ensures you meet recognised standards of good governance while giving your Committee a solid, reliable framework for decision-making and future development. Remember, you need to approve a Constitution at either your Club’s Annual General Meeting, or a convened Special General Meeting.
Our Governance Case Studies highlight how Clubs across the country have strengthened their structures to become truly ‘fit for the future’. Each example shows practical steps Clubs have taken to modernise, simplify, and improve the way they operate. Explore these inspiring stories to see what’s possible for your own Club, and feel free to contact the National Development Officer if you’d like to learn more about any of the approaches featured.
A Constitution sets out how your Club is run, clarifies roles and responsibilities, and protects members by ensuring decisions are made fairly and consistently.
Key documents—such as the Constitution, Code of Conduct, and policies—should be reviewed annually or whenever significant changes occur.
Yes. Having at least three independent officers (e.g., Chair, Secretary, Treasurer) promotes transparency, avoids conflicts of interest, and supports good decision-making.
A bank account in the same name as your Constitution ensures financial transparency and simplifies grant applications, auditing, and legal responsibilities.
It should collect basic contact details plus relevant screening questions relating to safeguarding, consent, and eligibility to participate.
Templates and guidance documents are available in the Governance section of this website, along with case studies from Clubs that have recently strengthened their governance.