Jo Van Hoecke

Governmental subsidies and coercive pressures. Evidence from sport clubs and their resource dependencies

Abstract This contribution aims to analyse the adoption of subsidy conditions by voluntary sport clubs in relation to their dependence on government funding. Using a sociological neo-institutional approach based upon Pfeffer and Salancik’s (1978) resource dependence theory and DiMaggio and Powell’s (1983) concept of coercive isomorphism, this paper analyses the possible use of sport clubs by governments as instruments of sport policy. Data for these analyses are drawn from the Flemish Sport Club Panel 2009 and the Flemish Local Sport Authorities Panel 2010. The results show that sport clubs display a variety of resources. Although subsidies from the local government are relevant resources for the majority of voluntary sport clubs, the significance of these subsidies in the overall budgets is limited. Nevertheless, the outcomes of a multinomial logistic regression model indicate that there is a relationship between the share of governmental subsidies in the total income of sport clubs and their adoption of subsidy conditions with regard to the qualification of the sport technical staff. In general, however, the effect of the coercive pressure of the government through its funding seems to be rather low. Nevertheless, local sport authorities consider subsidy regulations as an effective instrument to achieve policy goals. Policy implications are discussed.

Effectiveness of National Elite Sport Policies: A Multidimensional Approach Applied to the Case of Flanders

Abstract While the results of nations in international sport competitions are most often used as an evaluation of effectiveness of elite sport policies, they do not take into account the long-term duration of an athletic career, nor the many confounding variables influencing international success. This paper argues that output evaluation is a one-sided approach to policy assessment. It applies a multidimensional approach to the measurement of the effectiveness of elite sports policy evaluation (meso-level) by examining a four-year cycle of elite sport policies in Flanders. This study endeavors to advance the development of a framework to assess effectiveness of elite sport policies of nations. Data were collected at multiple points of the input-throughput-output and feedback cycle. It was found that in spite of the increasing elite sport expenditures in Flanders (inputs), and notwithstanding the development of the throughputs (processes), this has not as yet lead to acceptable results (outputs) at an international level.

The value of human resources in non-public sports providers: the importance of volunteers in non-profit sports clubs versus professionals in for-profit fitness and health clubs

There is a growing debate on the professionalisation of non-profit sports clubs (e.g., more paid staff) and the remuneration of sports volunteers. These voluntary sports organisations are, together with for-profit fitness and health clubs, the main types of sports providers at the grassroots level in Flanders (Belgium). They both are non-public organisations, active in the same market, but differ regarding to their objectives and their human resources (i.e., volunteers versus paid staff). Hence, the purpose of this paper is to analyse and compare the hypothetical HR-cost of volunteer work in non-profit sports clubs, based on a market price of equivalency model, with the actual HR-cost of for-profit sports providers. The results show that fitness and health clubs are found to be more efficient, in terms of the unit human resources cost. However, non-profit sports clubs have a distinctive economic structure and own rationality. Hence, it seems not appropriate to transfer the economic efficiency approach of ...

Development of a relevant quality system for gymnastics clubs: an application of the principles of total quality and service management in traditionally organised sport

To many scholars and practitioners, the introduction of service and quality management is necessary to revitalise the traditional sport system. This paper proposes a framework for analysis of quality in gymnastics clubs. The Total Quality Management (TQM) model is based on the evaluation-by-standards approach with appropriate standards of quality according to different concepts in order to monitor the adequate and desired inputs and outputs of each distinctive management and service process. The development of these standards is based on the interpretation of qualitative and quantitative data obtained from primary and existing sources. An attempt is made to capture the quality of these organisations in their totality while involving different stakeholders to obtain satisfactory information about several targets of quality evaluation. The operational quality system is now being used by the Federation for the certification of its well-functioning clubs.

The Role of Contextual Factors in Youth Participation in Organized Sport

The participation of youth in organized sport can be regarded as an established aspect of society. The present article reflects on organized youth sport in Flanders – a setting which can be regarded as typical of the western European context. The different sectors of the Flemish organizational youth sport network, in which sport can be regarded as an ‘aim’ or as a ‘means’, are described in terms of structural characteristics and participatory trends. As youth involvement does not occur in a social vacuum, developments and changes in society in general – and in organized sports in particular – have an influence on how youngsters come to participate and remain in organized sport activities. The influence of four major developments and changes (i.e. demographic, socioeconomic, sociopsychological, sport-related) is discussed. It is concluded that a concerted and quality-based youth sport approach is necessary to deal with the different developments that influence organized sport in today’s western European society.

The Quality of School Physical Education in Flemish Secondary Schools.

In this article the importance of a quality care system within school physical education is emphasized. Taking into account the fact that education is a critical part of human development and a government concern, striving towards an optimization of the quantity and quality requirements of education can be regarded as a necessity. This applies as much to the school physical education subject as to education generally. Based on the results of in-depth interviews with pupils, PE teachers, subject teachers, committees of parents, school principals and so-called ‘expert-witnesses’ from the world of sports on the actual quality of school PE in Flanders, it is concluded that school PE in Flanders faces similar problems as in many other countries (e.g. limited curricular time allocation, low subject status, inadequate financial, material and human resources). Finally, it is indicated that, in order to ensure the future of school PE, a specific quality care system must be developed.

A decade of quality and performance management in Flemish organised sport

As a consequence of a new policy regarding sports in Flanders, last decade all sports organisations have been encouraged to introduce the principles of quality and performance management in their respective systems and structures. For this, several instruments with appropriate quality standards and performance indicators have been developed with regard to process monitoring, output control and result justification. This paper aims to present some significant quality management systems and frameworks that have been implemented by the coordinating sports federations to evaluate and improve their affiliated sports clubs. Since an emphasis is laid on youth sports, the focus of this paper is on the initiatives with regard to the appraisal and improvement of youth academies. It is clear that these particular sports structures ask for a sport-specific approach with appropriate quality standards corresponding to their critical success factors. Three different projects are presented (IKGym, IKSport and Foot PASS) examining the objectives, the method, some results and the effect of the applied quality system.

Marketing in organised sport: Participation, expectations and experiences of children

From a management perspective, as well as from a pedagogical viewpoint, the experiences of young participants as clients of organised sport are of paramount importance. Knowing what customers want (expectations) and how they perceive what they receive (experiences) is the best way to design effective sport services. The purpose of this study was to collect and analyse data on sport participation as well as the experiences of children in different sports organizations,; in particular sports clubs, municipal sport agencies and schools (extracurricular sports program). A random sample of 564 children, aged 9–12 years, was selected. A questionnaire consisting of closed questions about participation and open ended questions relating to experiences was administered to these children. In addition, individual in‐depth and focus group interviews were carried out in order to delve deeper into childrens perceptions about each of the different sport organisations. The results indicate that in Flanders the most popular sport organisation for children is the sports club, followed by the school with its extracurricular sport programs. One fifth of the children are not involved in sports in an organised way. An inductive data analysis of the textual data yielded four major categories of quality dimensions: program/activities, organisational/logistical aspects, guidance, and enjoyment. One of the crucial aspects this young target group cited was the need for diversity in sport programs. The children indicated that negative experiences regarding guidance are an important reason that they drop out. Among other things, it is concluded that, despite the different possibilities for sports participation related to the different sports structures, it seems to be difficult to attract the least engaged children into sport.

Youth and organized sport in Flanders : Past and future developments

Schools and clubs in Flanders have tended to have a proactive policy toward organized sport for youth. Nevertheless, a review of organized sport in clubs and schools revealed that the needs of youth participants have not always been catered for. This article offers some suggestions regarding how to enhance the benefits that Flemish youth can derive from participating in organized sport.