The Hidden Reality of Running a Sports Club
What nobody tells you about Club leadership - and how to make it work!
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As a passionate individual stepping into a grassroots sport leadership role, you may find yourself blindsided by the complexity of what you've taken on. You signed up to make a difference, to improve your sport, to create better opportunities for your community – but suddenly you find yourself drowning in governance requirements, volunteer management issues, member disputes and financial pressures that you never anticipated.
I know this reality intimately because I've lived it.
For over 40 years, I've experienced grassroots sports from nearly every possible angle – starting as a 6-year-old player at the local community field, progressing through to representative player, coach and Board Director. I've served as President of a 1,000-strong local sports association, directed a national sports league and now sit on the Board of a state sporting organisation. And these were just my volunteer roles!
Professionally, I've dedicated my career to working with sports and community organisations across Australia, leading strategic change, building operational capabilities, diversifying revenue streams and strengthening governance. This unique combination of hands-on volunteer experience and professional expertise has given me a rare perspective on what makes organisations tick – and more importantly, what makes them succeed.
The State of Play
Australia has around 70,000 community sports Clubs, each playing a crucial role in their local community's physical and mental health, social connection and sense of belonging. But recent research tells a concerning story: 27% of our Clubs have experienced a decline in financial reserves over the past year, with small Clubs particularly vulnerable.
Here's what's interesting though: the Clubs that are thriving aren't necessarily the ones with the biggest budgets or the most members. They're the ones with leaders who've managed to bridge the gap between passion for sport and effective business management.
The Real Challenge
The challenges facing grassroots sports Clubs go deeper than just declining participation rates or rising costs (though these are certainly significant). The real issue often lies in the foundation of how our Clubs operate.
These are highly volatile environments filled with historical landmines, unspoken etiquette and a unique set of rules that would make any seasoned business professional scratch their head. It's a world where phrases like "you can't discipline a volunteer" and "that’s how we’ve always done it" are accepted as gospel, even when they shouldn't be.
A New Approach
This is why I've created The Sports Club Collective – a hub designed specifically for time-poor sports organisation leaders. Because you need easier access to proven tools and guidance to transform your passion into lasting impact.
The Sports Club Collective gives you access to resources that address the critical areas of Club success:
Strategic planning templates that work for busy leaders
Modern approaches to sustainable funding
Proven volunteer recruitment and retention strategies
Member engagement techniques for the digital age
No theoretical discussions or pointing out problems without solutions. Instead, you'll find practical tools, templates and guides you can implement immediately to strengthen your Club. Our resource library continues to grow based on the real challenges you face every day.
Ready to Start?
The future of grassroots sport doesn't lie in doing things the way we always have. It lies in embracing new approaches, tools and new ways of thinking about Clubs management. It's about making the complex simple, the overwhelming manageable and what seems impossible achievable.
Here's how you can access our growing library of resources:
Download our FREE Club Foundations Health Check to assess where your Club stands right now
Subscribe to access our full library of practical tools and templates
Join our Facebook community of club leaders making a difference
Follow us on LinkedIn and Instagram for regular tips and inspiration
Whether you're a seasoned president or a newly minted committee member, The Sports Club Collective is here to support your journey from passionate volunteer to confident leader.
Let's build stronger, more sustainable clubs together.
Alexandra El-Shamy is the founder of The Sports Club Collective and a recognised authority in community sports leadership. With over two decades of experience in both volunteer and professional sports management roles, she helps passionate sports leaders build sustainable, successful organisations.