For the best experience, we recommend using a laptop or desktop. Make sure your volume is turned up or use your headphones so you don’t miss helpful cues and key insights throughout the course.
Sound on and screen ready!
Understanding club governance:
Laying the foundations for success
Get started
Introduction
Laying the foundations for success
Committees vs boards – who leads and how
Why strong governance matters
Putting governance into action
Next
Introduction
Next
Laying the foundations for success
Clubs come in many shapes and sizes, but every club needs a structure that helps people work together, make decisions, and stay accountable. Organisational structure is simply how a club arranges its people, roles, and processes so responsibilities are clear and the club can run effectively. There are three common models: Which one are you?
Community sports clubs
Business-style clubs
Sole-traders
A sole trader club is one that’s owned and managed by a single individual who makes all the decisions and is personally responsible for the club’s finances and operations. However, volunteers play a pivitol role in these organisations too!
Governed by a board of directors or trustees with legal duties under company or charity law. They may employ staff and operate like a business day to day, but are still heavily reliant on volunteers and may also have committees.
Usually run by a main committee elected by members, supported by sub-committees or working groups. Leadership is collective, and volunteers carry most responsibilities.
Next
Laying the foundations for success
Internal structures
Now that you've identified your club model, let's take a look at what the internal structure might look like for each of them. Select your club model to find out more:
Community sports club
Business-style club
Sole-traders
Next
Committees vs boards – who leads and how
Leadership and oversight
Every organisation, large or small, needs structure and shared responsibility to run smoothly and make good decisions. Committees and boards provide this by guiding decisions, setting direction, and ensuring the club runs safely, fairly, and sustainably. Their role isn’t to do everything themselves, but to create the conditions for others - coaches, volunteers, and staff to deliver the club’s vision. Click to explore how committees and boards differ, and the part each plays in helping your club thrive. 👉
Next
Committees vs boards – who leads and how
Committees and boards share the goal of strong governance, but they work in different ways. One focuses on day-to-day operations, the other on long-term strategy and accountability. Click each window to dive deeper into the roles each plays in a club.
Boards
Committees
Next
Reflection: Who leads your club?
Every club has people who make things happen, the ones who steer direction, keep things running, and make sure decisions stick.Strong governance isn’t about titles, it’s about clarity, knowing who leads, who decides, and who supports. Take a moment to think about your own club:
- Who currently takes the lead on decisions?
- Is responsibility shared fairly, or does it sit with one or two people?
- How confident are you that roles and boundaries are clear to everyone?
+ Mini task
Next
Understanding club governance
Next
Why strong governance matters
Committee types
StandardCommittees
Operational Committees
Sub-Committees
Working Groups
Working groups are short-term teams formed for specific projects, drawing on relevant skills and disbanding once the task is complete.
Sub-committees support the board on areas like finance, facilities, marketing, or governance, and report back rather than managing daily operations.
The committee or board is the club’s central leadership body, responsible for setting strategy, overseeing finances, risk, and compliance.
Operational committees deliver club activities like competitions, events, volunteering, and welfare, reporting to staff or the manager rather than the board.
Next
Why strong governance matters
Board types
Non-Executive Board
Trustee Board
Executive Board
Advisory Board
Offers specialist insight and guidance to strengthen decision-making but has no formal authority or legal responsibility.
Combines governance with operational decision-making; members often include senior staff or directors actively involved in running the club.
Common in charities or CIOs, trustees focus on governance, compliance, and safeguarding the organisation’s purpose and assets.
Provides independent oversight and expertise, guiding strategy and holding the executive team to account without managing daily operations.
Next
Putting governance into action
Why strong committees and boards matter
Good governance isn’t about paperwork, it’s about people, purpose, and progress. A strong committee or board gives your club structure, direction, and accountability so decisions are made with confidence and the right support is in place to deliver them. Click to see more about why they matter to your organisation 👉
👉 Tap 'Next' to explore a real-world example of effective governance.
Next
Putting governance into action
Scenario: The 'Overgrown' Committee
Results
Next
Reflection: What defines good governance in your club?
Now that you’ve explored the different club models, structures, and the roles of boards and committees - think about your own setup.
- Who currently provides oversight and direction?
- Is the balance between strategic leadership and day-to-day management right?
- How could you empower others to take more responsibility?
Good governance grows through reflection and small, consistent improvements. Clarity builds confidence, and confidence builds stronger, more sustainable leadership.
+ Mini task
Next
FAQ's
What if no one wants to join the committee?
How can we make meetings more engaging for everyone?
Do we have to have a formal board or committee?
How big should our committee or board be?
Do we have to share decisions with members?
Where can we find leadership or trustee training?
Next
Ready to put your knowledge into action?
Audio
We’ve put together a set of practical resources to help you take the next steps with confidence:
Decision-making framework toolkit
Governance foundations checklist
Terms of reference template
Meeting pack toolkit
Boards vs Committees comparison toolkit
Click ‘Save and exit’ at the top right, and we’ll send your action pack straight to your email inbox!
How can we make meetings more engaging for everyone?
Answer: Keep them focused and interactive. Start with quick updates, celebrate successes, and involve different members in leading agenda items. Use visuals or short summaries rather than long reports to keep energy up.
Where to go for support: Check the Effective meetings toolkit in the action pack for agendas, icebreakers, and summary templates.Guides and templates will be available at the end of this course.
What if no one wants to join the committee?
Answer: People often want to help they just need clarity and confidence. Break big roles into smaller, manageable tasks. Offer mentoring or shadowing so new volunteers can learn gradually. Recognise contributions publicly and show the real impact of their involvement.
Where to go for support: Use the Volunteer recruitment resources in the action pack or visit Sport England’s Volunteer Hub.
Guides and templates will be available at the end of this course.
Mini task
Sketch a quick version of your club’s structure, just a few boxes and arrows:
- Who’s at the centre?
- Who do they rely on?
Then ask yourself:
- Does this match how decisions are actually made?
Good governance starts with visibility. When everyone knows their role, confidence and accountability grow together.
How big should our committee or board be?
Where to go for support: See the action pack at the end of this course for role outlines, examples and the Committee effectiveness checklist.
Answer: Big enough to cover key roles, but small enough to stay agile. Most clubs work well with 6–10 people who bring a mix of skills and perspectives.
Mini task
Sketch your current leadership or committee structure.For each person or role, note:
- Their main responsibilities, strategic, operational, or advisory
- Where key decisions are made
- Any overlaps or gaps that could be improved
Then identify one small action you could take to strengthen your governance this year, for example:
- Clarifying responsibilities for a key role
- Streamlining decision-making
- Improving how actions and outcomes are followed up
What is the role of the committee?
A committee ensures the smooth, transparent, and inclusive running of a community club by:
- Providing strategic direction and monitoring progress
- Developing and upholding the club’s vision, mission, and values
- Staying informed about club operations and sector issues
- Ensuring legal and constitutional obligations are met
- Managing risks and overseeing finances
- Engaging with and representing the membership
Business-style club
Key Feature: Professional hierarchy with clear reporting lines, financial accountability, and role-based management for efficiency and growth.
What is the role of the board?
A board provides strategic oversight, governance, and accountability for an incorporated club or organisation by:
- Setting and safeguarding the organisation’s long-term vision, mission, and values
- Approving strategic plans, budgets, and major policies
- Ensuring legal, regulatory, and fiduciary duties are met
- Overseeing financial health, risk management, and compliance
- Monitoring performance and evaluating impact
- Appointing and supporting senior leadership or management
- Ensuring transparency, integrity, and accountability to regulators and stakeholders
Do we have to share decisions with members?
Where to go for support: See the Communication and transparency guide in the action pack for simple reporting templates.
Answer: Yes, sharing key decisions and updates builds trust and accountability. Post short summaries or minutes by email, noticeboard, or newsletter so members know what’s happening.
Do we have to have a formal board or committee?
Where to go for support: Visit Club Matters Governance Guidance for simple templates and examples, and check your club’s constitution. Guides and templates will also be available at the end of this course to help you get started.
Answer: Not always. What matters is that someone takes responsibility for leadership, decision-making, and accountability.
Small clubs often start with a simple committee; larger or incorporated clubs may have a formal board with legal duties.
Community-sports club
Key Feature: Shared decision-making. The committee is accountable to members, and roles are divided to ensure sustainability and inclusion.
Increased participation & reach
- Within six months, the new offer led to a significant rise in membership
- 40% of new members were from families who had never engaged with sport before, demonstrating that demand was always there, it just needed to be accessible
Improved inclusion & reduced barriers
- By shifting sessions to a local community centre and reducing cost, the club removed key barriers such as transport, timing and affordability
- Families from previously underrepresented or higher-deprivation areas began to feel welcomed and included
Better relationships with community partners
- Schools, community centres and parents felt listened to and involved in the solution
- This strengthened local trust, opened doors to future collaborations and created a shared sense of ownership
Proof of impact leading to funding & growth
- Because the club could clearly demonstrate increased reach and social impact, they successfully secured a small Sport England grant to expand the programme
- Insight-driven decision-making now became part of how the club planned future sessions and funding bids
Result
Sole-trader
Key Feature: One person holds full responsibility and authority. All decisions and accountability flow directly to the sole trader.
Purpose
Sets the strategic direction of an organisation
Legal status
Exists in incorporated organisations (companies or CIOs). Members are trustees/directors with legal duties
Common in unincorporated community organisations. Committee members may carry personal liability depending on the structure.
Accountability
Accountable to regulators (e.g., Companies House or the Charity Commission)
Accountable to the organisations members through meetings and the constitution
Decision making scope
Makes strategic and financial decisions
Makes operational and programme decisions
Focuses on the day-to-day running of the organisation
Committee
Boards and Trustees
Category
Composition
Often larger (6-12 people) and volunteer based
Example in practice
Community sports charity with a Board of Trustees
Community-run club operating as an unincorporated association
Usually smaller (5-10 people) and skills-based
Why it matters to you: Today’s clubs face more pressure than ever- tighter budgets, higher expectations, and the need to be more inclusive and resilient. When governance is weak, decisions stall, volunteers burn out, and opportunities are lost. When it’s strong, your club earns trust, secures funding, and builds the foundations to thrive for years to come.
Where can we find leadership or trustee training?
Where to go for support: Explore the action pack available at the end of this course or visit Trustees’ Week (NCVO) for free online training and leadership tools.
Answer: Leadership skills can be developed through short workshops or mentoring.
Understanding club governance
Jess Melville
Created on September 26, 2025
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Transcript
For the best experience, we recommend using a laptop or desktop. Make sure your volume is turned up or use your headphones so you don’t miss helpful cues and key insights throughout the course.
Sound on and screen ready!
Understanding club governance:
Laying the foundations for success
Get started
Introduction
Laying the foundations for success
Committees vs boards – who leads and how
Why strong governance matters
Putting governance into action
Next
Introduction
Next
Laying the foundations for success
Clubs come in many shapes and sizes, but every club needs a structure that helps people work together, make decisions, and stay accountable. Organisational structure is simply how a club arranges its people, roles, and processes so responsibilities are clear and the club can run effectively. There are three common models: Which one are you?
Community sports clubs
Business-style clubs
Sole-traders
A sole trader club is one that’s owned and managed by a single individual who makes all the decisions and is personally responsible for the club’s finances and operations. However, volunteers play a pivitol role in these organisations too!
Governed by a board of directors or trustees with legal duties under company or charity law. They may employ staff and operate like a business day to day, but are still heavily reliant on volunteers and may also have committees.
Usually run by a main committee elected by members, supported by sub-committees or working groups. Leadership is collective, and volunteers carry most responsibilities.
Next
Laying the foundations for success
Internal structures
Now that you've identified your club model, let's take a look at what the internal structure might look like for each of them. Select your club model to find out more:
Community sports club
Business-style club
Sole-traders
Next
Committees vs boards – who leads and how
Leadership and oversight
Every organisation, large or small, needs structure and shared responsibility to run smoothly and make good decisions. Committees and boards provide this by guiding decisions, setting direction, and ensuring the club runs safely, fairly, and sustainably. Their role isn’t to do everything themselves, but to create the conditions for others - coaches, volunteers, and staff to deliver the club’s vision. Click to explore how committees and boards differ, and the part each plays in helping your club thrive. 👉
Next
Committees vs boards – who leads and how
Committees and boards share the goal of strong governance, but they work in different ways. One focuses on day-to-day operations, the other on long-term strategy and accountability. Click each window to dive deeper into the roles each plays in a club.
Boards
Committees
Next
Reflection: Who leads your club?
Every club has people who make things happen, the ones who steer direction, keep things running, and make sure decisions stick.Strong governance isn’t about titles, it’s about clarity, knowing who leads, who decides, and who supports. Take a moment to think about your own club:
+ Mini task
Next
Understanding club governance
Next
Why strong governance matters
Committee types
StandardCommittees
Operational Committees
Sub-Committees
Working Groups
Working groups are short-term teams formed for specific projects, drawing on relevant skills and disbanding once the task is complete.
Sub-committees support the board on areas like finance, facilities, marketing, or governance, and report back rather than managing daily operations.
The committee or board is the club’s central leadership body, responsible for setting strategy, overseeing finances, risk, and compliance.
Operational committees deliver club activities like competitions, events, volunteering, and welfare, reporting to staff or the manager rather than the board.
Next
Why strong governance matters
Board types
Non-Executive Board
Trustee Board
Executive Board
Advisory Board
Offers specialist insight and guidance to strengthen decision-making but has no formal authority or legal responsibility.
Combines governance with operational decision-making; members often include senior staff or directors actively involved in running the club.
Common in charities or CIOs, trustees focus on governance, compliance, and safeguarding the organisation’s purpose and assets.
Provides independent oversight and expertise, guiding strategy and holding the executive team to account without managing daily operations.
Next
Putting governance into action
Why strong committees and boards matter
Good governance isn’t about paperwork, it’s about people, purpose, and progress. A strong committee or board gives your club structure, direction, and accountability so decisions are made with confidence and the right support is in place to deliver them. Click to see more about why they matter to your organisation 👉
👉 Tap 'Next' to explore a real-world example of effective governance.
Next
Putting governance into action
Scenario: The 'Overgrown' Committee
Results
Next
Reflection: What defines good governance in your club?
Now that you’ve explored the different club models, structures, and the roles of boards and committees - think about your own setup.
- Who currently provides oversight and direction?
- Is the balance between strategic leadership and day-to-day management right?
- How could you empower others to take more responsibility?
Good governance grows through reflection and small, consistent improvements. Clarity builds confidence, and confidence builds stronger, more sustainable leadership.+ Mini task
Next
FAQ's
What if no one wants to join the committee?
How can we make meetings more engaging for everyone?
Do we have to have a formal board or committee?
How big should our committee or board be?
Do we have to share decisions with members?
Where can we find leadership or trustee training?
Next
Ready to put your knowledge into action?
Audio
We’ve put together a set of practical resources to help you take the next steps with confidence:
Decision-making framework toolkit
Governance foundations checklist
Terms of reference template
Meeting pack toolkit
Boards vs Committees comparison toolkit
Click ‘Save and exit’ at the top right, and we’ll send your action pack straight to your email inbox!
How can we make meetings more engaging for everyone?
Answer: Keep them focused and interactive. Start with quick updates, celebrate successes, and involve different members in leading agenda items. Use visuals or short summaries rather than long reports to keep energy up.
Where to go for support: Check the Effective meetings toolkit in the action pack for agendas, icebreakers, and summary templates.Guides and templates will be available at the end of this course.
What if no one wants to join the committee?
Answer: People often want to help they just need clarity and confidence. Break big roles into smaller, manageable tasks. Offer mentoring or shadowing so new volunteers can learn gradually. Recognise contributions publicly and show the real impact of their involvement.
Where to go for support: Use the Volunteer recruitment resources in the action pack or visit Sport England’s Volunteer Hub. Guides and templates will be available at the end of this course.
Mini task
Sketch a quick version of your club’s structure, just a few boxes and arrows:
- Who’s at the centre?
- Who do they rely on?
Then ask yourself:- Does this match how decisions are actually made?
Good governance starts with visibility. When everyone knows their role, confidence and accountability grow together.How big should our committee or board be?
Where to go for support: See the action pack at the end of this course for role outlines, examples and the Committee effectiveness checklist.
Answer: Big enough to cover key roles, but small enough to stay agile. Most clubs work well with 6–10 people who bring a mix of skills and perspectives.
Mini task
Sketch your current leadership or committee structure.For each person or role, note:
- Any overlaps or gaps that could be improved
Then identify one small action you could take to strengthen your governance this year, for example:What is the role of the committee?
A committee ensures the smooth, transparent, and inclusive running of a community club by:
Business-style club
Key Feature: Professional hierarchy with clear reporting lines, financial accountability, and role-based management for efficiency and growth.
What is the role of the board?
A board provides strategic oversight, governance, and accountability for an incorporated club or organisation by:
Do we have to share decisions with members?
Where to go for support: See the Communication and transparency guide in the action pack for simple reporting templates.
Answer: Yes, sharing key decisions and updates builds trust and accountability. Post short summaries or minutes by email, noticeboard, or newsletter so members know what’s happening.
Do we have to have a formal board or committee?
Where to go for support: Visit Club Matters Governance Guidance for simple templates and examples, and check your club’s constitution. Guides and templates will also be available at the end of this course to help you get started.
Answer: Not always. What matters is that someone takes responsibility for leadership, decision-making, and accountability. Small clubs often start with a simple committee; larger or incorporated clubs may have a formal board with legal duties.
Community-sports club
Key Feature: Shared decision-making. The committee is accountable to members, and roles are divided to ensure sustainability and inclusion.
Increased participation & reach
- 40% of new members were from families who had never engaged with sport before, demonstrating that demand was always there, it just needed to be accessible
Improved inclusion & reduced barriers- Families from previously underrepresented or higher-deprivation areas began to feel welcomed and included
Better relationships with community partners- This strengthened local trust, opened doors to future collaborations and created a shared sense of ownership
Proof of impact leading to funding & growthResult
Sole-trader
Key Feature: One person holds full responsibility and authority. All decisions and accountability flow directly to the sole trader.
Purpose
Sets the strategic direction of an organisation
Legal status
Exists in incorporated organisations (companies or CIOs). Members are trustees/directors with legal duties
Common in unincorporated community organisations. Committee members may carry personal liability depending on the structure.
Accountability
Accountable to regulators (e.g., Companies House or the Charity Commission)
Accountable to the organisations members through meetings and the constitution
Decision making scope
Makes strategic and financial decisions
Makes operational and programme decisions
Focuses on the day-to-day running of the organisation
Committee
Boards and Trustees
Category
Composition
Often larger (6-12 people) and volunteer based
Example in practice
Community sports charity with a Board of Trustees
Community-run club operating as an unincorporated association
Usually smaller (5-10 people) and skills-based
Why it matters to you: Today’s clubs face more pressure than ever- tighter budgets, higher expectations, and the need to be more inclusive and resilient. When governance is weak, decisions stall, volunteers burn out, and opportunities are lost. When it’s strong, your club earns trust, secures funding, and builds the foundations to thrive for years to come.
Where can we find leadership or trustee training?
Where to go for support: Explore the action pack available at the end of this course or visit Trustees’ Week (NCVO) for free online training and leadership tools.
Answer: Leadership skills can be developed through short workshops or mentoring.