Sport governing body
Encyclopedia
A sport governing body is a sports organization that has a regulatory or sanctioning function. Sport governing bodies come in various forms, and have a variety of regulatory functions. Examples of this can include disciplinary action for rule infractions and deciding on rule changes in the sport
which they govern. Governing bodies have different scopes. They may cover a range of sport at an international level, like the International Olympic Committee
and the International Paralympic Committee
, or only a single sport at a national level, like the Rugby Football League
. National bodies may or may not be affiliated to international bodies for the same sport. The first international federations were formed at the end of the 19th century.
International Federations are responsible for one sport (or a group of similar sport disciplines, such as aquatics or skiing
). They create a common set of rules and organise international competitions. The promotion of the sport is also a task of an international federation. Trusts are organizations or groups that have control over money that will be used to help someone else, such as the Youth Sport Trust
. National Federations have the same objectives as an international federation, but within the scope of one country, or even part of a country, as the name implies. They support local clubs and are often responsible for national teams. National Olympic Committee
s and National Paralympic Committee
s are both a type of National Federation, as they are responsible for a country's participation in the Olympic Games
and in the Paralympic Games
respectively. However, a national governing body or NGB is different from a national federation.
Multi-sport event
organizers are responsible for the organization of a certain event which contains more than one sport. The best known example is the International Olympic Committee
(IOC), the organizer of the modern Olympic Games
. General sports organisations are responsible for sports related topics, usually for a certain group, such as the Catholic or Jewish sports groups. General sports organisations can also exist for the army and other groups, but they usually are medium-sized, as they do not have that much of a budget to work with.
Professional leagues are usually the highest level of play in sport, particularly if they consist of the best players around the world in a certain sport. Because of this, they usually work with national and/or international federations, but there is usually a separation between the different federations. Most professional leagues usually do not have amateur divisions, as the amateur
divisions are mostly run in separate leagues. In addition, most professional leagues are related to other leagues, as players usually attempt to play in the league with the highest level of play. Because of this, promotion and relegation
can occur; or, in league systems without promotion and relegation, clubs in professional leagues can have a team in the minor leagues. This enables them to shuffle players who are not doing well to the minor leagues, which will inspire them to contribute more to the team by playing better.
Sport
A Sport is all forms of physical activity which, through casual or organised participation, aim to use, maintain or improve physical fitness and provide entertainment to participants. Sport may be competitive, where a winner or winners can be identified by objective means, and may require a degree...
which they govern. Governing bodies have different scopes. They may cover a range of sport at an international level, like the International Olympic Committee
International Olympic Committee
The International Olympic Committee is an international corporation based in Lausanne, Switzerland, created by Pierre de Coubertin on 23 June 1894 with Demetrios Vikelas as its first president...
and the International Paralympic Committee
International Paralympic Committee
The International Paralympic Committee is an international non-profit organisation and the global governing body for the Paralympic Movement. The IPC organizes the Paralympic Games and functions as the international federation for nine sports...
, or only a single sport at a national level, like the Rugby Football League
Rugby Football League
The Rugby Football League is the governing body for professional rugby league football in England. Based at Red Hall in Leeds, it administers the England national rugby league team, the Challenge Cup, Super League and the Rugby League Championships...
. National bodies may or may not be affiliated to international bodies for the same sport. The first international federations were formed at the end of the 19th century.
Types of sport governing bodies
There are many types of sport governing bodies. This is because sports have different levels of difficulty, so they can try to organise the people playing their sport by ability and by age. The different types of sport governing bodies are all shown below.International Federations are responsible for one sport (or a group of similar sport disciplines, such as aquatics or skiing
Skiing
Skiing is a recreational activity using skis as equipment for traveling over snow. Skis are used in conjunction with boots that connect to the ski with use of a binding....
). They create a common set of rules and organise international competitions. The promotion of the sport is also a task of an international federation. Trusts are organizations or groups that have control over money that will be used to help someone else, such as the Youth Sport Trust
Youth Sport Trust
The Youth Sport Trust is a British charitable trust which aims to support the education and development of young people through physical education....
. National Federations have the same objectives as an international federation, but within the scope of one country, or even part of a country, as the name implies. They support local clubs and are often responsible for national teams. National Olympic Committee
National Olympic Committee
National Olympic Committees are the national constituents of the worldwide Olympic movement. Subject to the controls of the International Olympic Committee, they are responsible for organizing their people's participation in the Olympic Games...
s and National Paralympic Committee
National Paralympic Committee
National Paralympic Committees are the national constituents of the worldwide Paralympic movement. Subject to the controls of the International Paralympic Committee , they are responsible for organizing their people's participation in the Paralympic Games.The Paralympic Games are a major...
s are both a type of National Federation, as they are responsible for a country's participation in the Olympic Games
Olympic Games
The Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...
and in the Paralympic Games
Paralympic Games
The Paralympic Games are a major international multi-sport event where athletes with a physical disability compete; this includes athletes with mobility disabilities, amputations, blindness, and Cerebral Palsy. There are Winter and Summer Paralympic Games, which are held immediately following their...
respectively. However, a national governing body or NGB is different from a national federation.
Multi-sport event
Multi-sport event
A multi-sport event is an organized sporting event, often held over multiple days, featuring competition in many different sports between organized teams of athletes from nation-states. The first major, modern, multi-sport event of international significance was the modern Olympic Games.Many...
organizers are responsible for the organization of a certain event which contains more than one sport. The best known example is the International Olympic Committee
International Olympic Committee
The International Olympic Committee is an international corporation based in Lausanne, Switzerland, created by Pierre de Coubertin on 23 June 1894 with Demetrios Vikelas as its first president...
(IOC), the organizer of the modern Olympic Games
Olympic Games
The Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...
. General sports organisations are responsible for sports related topics, usually for a certain group, such as the Catholic or Jewish sports groups. General sports organisations can also exist for the army and other groups, but they usually are medium-sized, as they do not have that much of a budget to work with.
Professional leagues are usually the highest level of play in sport, particularly if they consist of the best players around the world in a certain sport. Because of this, they usually work with national and/or international federations, but there is usually a separation between the different federations. Most professional leagues usually do not have amateur divisions, as the amateur
Amateur
An amateur is generally considered a person attached to a particular pursuit, study, or science, without pay and often without formal training....
divisions are mostly run in separate leagues. In addition, most professional leagues are related to other leagues, as players usually attempt to play in the league with the highest level of play. Because of this, promotion and relegation
Promotion and relegation
In many sports leagues around the world, promotion and relegation is a process that takes place at the end of each season. Through it, teams are transferred between divisions based on their performance that season...
can occur; or, in league systems without promotion and relegation, clubs in professional leagues can have a team in the minor leagues. This enables them to shuffle players who are not doing well to the minor leagues, which will inspire them to contribute more to the team by playing better.