Boards and Committees of Management

Your club’s constitution and rules should set out club structure in relation to a board and/or committee of management.

A club’s board enables the organisation to be run effectively by applying good governance principles and practices. The board’s role is to govern and should not be involved in management or operational decision-making. The trend today is for sport clubs and associations to have far smaller boards with greater use of management committees.

Board composition

The board should comprise of people with an appropriate range of skills that align with the clubs current and future business.

 Generally, they should:

• Have the ability to think laterally
• Have good communication skills
• Be financially literate
• Be able to understand and relate to stakeholders
• Be ethical, honest and trustworthy
• Be a team player
• Care about the club

 Members of the board should be given title of Director, and if elected or appointed a portfolio, the title of that portfolio e.g. Director of Finance. The board should not bind itself to out of date terminology such as Treasurer or Secretary. Ensure there is an independent chair.

More information

Your state or national body is a good first port of call.

• The Sport Governance Tool Kit can assist your club to improve its governance practices and systems. It has been developed to assist State, Regional and grassroots community sporting organisations.  It contains the Sports Governance Capability Framework (Framework) which will assist your club.
• The Clearinghouse for Sport connects people in sport to a world of ideas, experiences and knowledge.
• Institute of Community Directors  have resources to assist boards and community committee of Management.
• The Australian Institute of Company Directors have a Not-for-profit Resource centre and Training course for Boards and Committee of Management
• Governance Institute of Australia have resources and training to assist Not-for-Profit Boards and Committees of Management