SPORT ENGLAND
16 Upper Woburn Place, London, WC1H 0QP
MR G KENWORTHY,
DIRECTOR OF COACHING, BCF
27 September 1999
Dear Mr Kenworthy,
Recognition of Chess
Your e-mail of 22 September to Sport England's website has been passed to me as I deal with recognition issues.
I am attaching for your information a general document on the recognition of new activities and governing bodies by the Sports Councils in the United Kingdom, as well as Guidelines for the Recognition of Activities which lists the criteria an activity must meet in order to be recognised. The Sports Councils do not decide what is or is not a sport.
It has been the view of the Sports Councils that chess does not meet the recognition criteria because it does not involve sufficient physical skill or effort, and the essential purpose of the activity is not a form of physical recreation. The English Sports Council reaffirmed this assessment of chess, and indeed other 'mind games', at its meeting in July.
In March the Minister for sport indicated that the Secretary of State had proposed changes to legislation to secure the recognition of chess by the Sports Councils. At this stage, it is unclear what these changes are likely to include or when they might be introduced. The English Sports Council will of course conduct a review of the recognition policy and criteria when the legislative changes are introduced.
At this point, therefore, chess remains unrecognised and does not meet the current recognition criteria.
In order to offer assistance on the issues raised in your e-mail, however, I am enclosing the Guidelines for the Recognition of Governing Bodies, which indicates what we are seeking when assessing whether a governing body (of a recognised activity) should be recognised. I am also enclosing the Principal Elements of a Constitution. The National Coaching Foundation offers advice on coaching issues (114 Cardigan Road, Leeds, LS6 3BJ. Website: http://www.ncf.org.uk) and UK Sport provides advice on drug abuse and procedures (Walkden House, 10 Melton Street, London NW1 2EB. Website: http://www.uksport.gov.uk). Specific advice and information is, of course, provided to recognised governing bodies of sport.
I hope this information is of assistance to you.
Yours sincerely
(signed) Elaine Sitch
Governing Body Services
THE SPORTS COUNCILS RCG/GEN/1
RECOGNITION OF NEW ACTIVITIES AND GOVERNING BODIES
GENERAL INFORMATION FOR APPLICANTS
INTRODUCTION
1. The four home country Sports Councils in the United Kingdom are charged inter alia (by Royal Charter all except Northern Ireland) with responsibility both to increase participation in sport and to improve the standards of sports performance throughout the country. The United Kingdom Sports Council's priorities relate to sports of UK significance and of significance in the international arena; it also has a co-ordinating role.
2. To discharge these responsibilities, the Councils work in partnership with other organisations including the governing bodies of sport by providing advice and assistance to help promote and develop a wide range of activities that will help the Councils achieve these objectives.
3. The Councils adopt a system of recognition of activities and organisations based on the following principles:
PRINCIPLES OF RECOGNITION
4. The Councils require a recognition process to:
4.1 Identify those activities with which to be associated and which should be developed.
4.2 Be able to react to requests for advice from Local Authorities and others on which activities they should promote.
4.3 Be able, in that advice, to make comments on the attributes, particularly in relation to safety, of these activities.
4.4 Be able to make a judgement about the competence of the organisation claiming to be the governing body for the activity.
4.5 Be able to make a judgement about financial and other support from the Councils.
5. Applications for recognition of a new activity will only be considered when the applicant body provides evidence that a minimum of 5,000 individuals in the UK participate on a regular basis.
6. The recognition of an activity will not automatically lead to the recognition of the governing body responsible for the activity nor will it necessarily make that body eligible for financial support from the Councils.
7. The Councils are committed to a policy of recognising only one governing body for each activity.
8. Where the applicant organisation claims to be the governing body of the activity throughout Great Britain or the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, it must make provision for the development of the activity within each of the Home Countries. It must also include a clause that allows the establishment of a federal structure to include independent governing bodies in each country as and when required, which will affiliate to the United Kingdom/Great Britain body.
STAGES OF RECOGNITION
9. The Councils operate a two-stage process of recognition:
Stage 1: recognition of an activity. Initial assessment of the application for recognition of the activity will be carried out by the Home Country in which the application originates. If appropriate, the application would then be taken forward for further assessment by an offers' group with representation from all five Sports Councils. A recommendation in respect of recognition would then be made for the consideration of the UKSC, on which the home countries are represented.
Stage 2: recognition of an organisation as the governing body for that activity. Assessment of an application for recognition of an organisation as the governing body for an activity will be conducted by the Home Country Sports Council/s as appropriate.
Martial Arts: applications for recognition of new martial arts activities will be considered only in conjunction with an assessment of the applicant body.
10. Once Stage 2 has successfully been achieved, the relevant Sports Council determines the most appropriate level and type of support that the activity may be offered. Such support may be advisory and/or financial depending on the current stage of development of the activity and the governing body.
11. To assist governing bodies in applying for recognition, the Councils have produced two sets of guidelines on activities and on governing bodies which detail the criteria against which activities are assessed, the application process to be followed and the information that organisations are required to submit in support of their applications.
12. Applicants are also strongly advised to seek the assistance of their National Sports Council when preparing an application.
Contacts:
England:
Sport England
16 Upper Woburn Place
London
WC1H 0QP
Scotland:
sportscotland
Caledonia
House
South Gyle
Edinburgh
EH12 9DQ
Northern Ireland:
Sports Council for Northern Ireland
House of
Sport
Upper Malone Road
Belfast
BT9 5LA
Wales:
Sports Council for Wales
Welsh Institute of
Sport
Sophia Gardens
Cardiff
CF1 9SW
United Kingdom:
UK Sport
Walkden House
3-10 Melton
Street
London
NW1 2EB
G:\DEV\GBS\Recog\gen infor for apps
29July1999
THE SPORTS COUNCILS RCG/A/1
GUIDELINES FOR THE RECOGNITION OF ACTIVITIES
ASSESSMENT CRITERIA
1. The following key points will be used by the Sports Councils to form the basis for decisions on the recognition of an activity:
1.1 Physical Skills: Does the activity involve physical skills? Are physical skills important for successful participation? Can they be developed or are they inherent in the individual?
1.2 Physical Effort: Does the activity involve physical effort? Is it important for successful participation? How important are any mechanical or other aids in comparison to skills and physical effort?
1.3 Accessibility: Is participation available to all sections of the community and not overly restricted for reasons of cost, gender or on any other grounds?
1.4 Rules and organisation: Is there an established structure to the activity with rules and, where appropriate, organised competitions nationally and/or internationally?
1.5 Strategy and Tactics: Are there strategies and tactics within the framework of the rules? Is developing and employing an awareness of them important for successful participation?
1.6 Essential Purpose: What is the essential purpose of the activity? Is it some form of physical recreation or is physical recreation a means to another, more basic purpose?
1.7 Physical Challenge: Does the activity present a physical and/or mental challenge to the participant whether against him/herself, others or the environment?
1.8 Risk: Does the activity involve any degree of risk? Is this level acceptable? What safeguards are employed by those taking part to minimise any risk?
1.9 Uniqueness: Is this a unique activity or is it a variation of another, similar activity that is already recognised?
1.10 Level of Participation: Is there a minimum of 5,000 individuals in the UK that participate in the activity on a regular basis?
1.11 Martial Arts: Applications for recognition of new martial arts activities will be considered only in conjunction with an assessment of the applicant body.
1.12 Other Considerations: are there any other political, moral or ethical considerations which the Sports Councils should take into account when considering recognising the activity?
APPLICATION PROCESS
2. Initial contact should be made with the appropriate Sports Council in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland or Wales requesting application form RCG/A/A. (See page 4 for addresses.)
3. The completed form, together with relevant supporting documentation, should be returned to the appropriate Sports Council for assessment. Applicants are strongly advised to seek the assistance of Council officers when completing the application form.
4. An assessment meeting will be held annually, normally in May. Applications must be submitted by 31st January.
ASSESSMENT PROCESS
5. Applications received by any of the Sports Councils are assessed by a joint officers group.
6. Representatives of the applicant body may be invited to attend the officers' meeting in support of their application.
7. The officers' recommendation on whether or not the activity should be recognised is considered by the Sports Councils and a decision taken.
8. The applicant body is then informed of the decision.
SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION
9. In addition to the completed application form, the following information where available should be provided in support of the application and to assist officers in the assessment process:
Description of the activity (Publicity material,
videos etc)
Handbook/Year Book
Coach Education Scheme
Award
Scheme
Constitution
Rules of the Activity
Code of Conduct/Safety
Code
Pricing Structure for participation.
Equipment
requirements.
NB: For list of contacts see page 4.
10. THE SPORTS COUNCILS RCG/GB/1
GUIDELINES FOR THE RECOGNITION OF GOVERNING BODIES
1. The following key points will be used by officers of the Sports Councils in the recognition process.
POLICY
2. The aims and objectives of the governing body must be to promote and control a form of sport or physical recreation (hereafter called "the activity") recognised by the Sports Councils.
3. The activity must be sufficiently developed for the governing body to justify the term "national". The existence of the sport in other countries, the standing of any International Federation (and the governing body within it) will be taken into account. The term "national" will be interpreted as pertaining to any of the four home countries and/or the United Kingdom.
4. The governing body must be constituted and operating on democratic lines and should normally satisfy the following requirements:
4.1 It must posses a written constitution and committee structure acceptable to the Sports Councils.
4.2 Where the applicant body claims to be the governing body of the activity throughout the United Kingdom or Great Britain, it must make provision for the development of the activity within each of the Home Countries. It must also include a clause that allows the establishment of a federal structure to include independent governing bodies in each country as and when required, which will affiliate to the United Kingdom/Great Britain body. Failure to match or live up to these requirements may result in the loss of recognition.
4.3 It must maintain and demonstrate an agreed level of management and financial accountability.
4.4 It must ensure that a relevant level of financial support is raised from within the activity itself to sustain its core administrative responsibilities.
4.5 To demonstrate stability, the length of time over which the governing body has been in operation will be taken into account. It must have completed three or more years' operation, followed by an annual general meeting in each of the three years and the production of audited balance sheets together with statements of income and expenditure for each of the three years.
4.6 It should exercise responsibility for the control and development of an activity which could not be satisfactorily controlled by an existing recognised governing body.
4.7 It must make its services and membership available to all, and there must be no restrictions on grounds of race, creed, colour, occupation, religious or political affiliation, gender or ability. Equal opportunities should be positively promoted.
4.8 The number of members affiliated to the body must in the view of the Sports Councils be reasonable in the context of the activity controlled.
4.9 The governing body must be non-profit distributing.
EXAMINATION OF EACH GOVERNING BODY
5. The following questions will be posed by officers of the four Sports Councils in examining each governing body (hereafter called the organisation):
Constitution and Management
5.1 What are the stated aims and objectives of the organisation?
5.2 Are they designed to promote and control the recognised activity?
5.3 Do the constitution, rules, management structure and financial arrangements meet with the expected standards of the Sports Councils?
5.4 Does the organisation include in its Constitution clauses acceptable to the Sports Councils relating to the abuse of drugs?
5.5 Does the constitution specify procedures for identifying and handling any proven drug abuse?
5.6 Has the organisation taken any measures to safeguard its financial interests and those of its officers, for example by ensuring that:
5.6.1 its Trustees are indemnified
5.6.2 it is a company limited by guarantee or
5.6.3 it has provided for the indemnity assurance of its officers?
Structure and Organisation
4.7 Is the body the only organisation controlling and promoting the activity in the country?
4.8 If not, what are the respective membership strengths domestically of this and any other claimant organisation?
4.9 What are the respective affiliations of each organisation to international bodies?
4.10 How many people are estimated to take part in the activity?
4.11 What is the registered membership of the organisation?
4.12 What is the geographical spread of registered members and potential further spread taking account of such factors as facilities, cost, commercial support?
4.13 What is the organisation's structure?
Promotion of the Activity
4.14 What programmes does the organisation have to introduce the basic skills of the activity to beginners? (Foundation level)
4.15 What programmes does the organisation have to encourage participation in the activity? (Participation level)
4.16 What programmes does the organisation have to provide opportunities for participants to improve their performance in the activity? (Performance level)
4.17 What programmes does the organisation have to cater for the needs of elite performers? (Excellence level)
4.18 To what extent does the organisation ensure that the activity caters for differences in height, weight, age and gender of participants?
4.19 How does the organisation cater for people with disabilities?
4.20 Does the organisation have a leadership and/or coaching award scheme? How is it structured?
4.21 Does the organisation have a domestic competitive structure? How is it structured?
4.22 Does the organisation compete at international level? If so, at what level and how frequently?
4.23 Does the organisation have an officials' training programme? If so, how is it structured?
Safety
4.24 Does the organisation actively encourage an awareness and observance of safety standards and rules for participants, spectators and in respect of equipment and facilities?
4.25 Does the organisation provide insurance cover for its members? If so, what type?
General
4.26 What would be the likely effects on the future development of the activity if the organisation gained recognition? What would be the effects if it did not?
NB: Guidelines for a basic constitution that meets Sports Council requirements are available on request from any of the Sports Councils.
APPLICATION PROCESS
5. Initial contact should be made with the appropriate Sports Council in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland or Wales requesting application form RCG/GB/A (see page 4 for addresses).
6. The completed application form, together with any supporting documentation, should be returned to the appropriate Sports Council for assessment.
Applicants are strongly advised to seek the assistance of Council officers when completing the application form.
8. An assessment meeting will be held annually, normally in May. Applications must be submitted by 31st January.
ASSESSMENT PROCESS
9. An application for recognition is received by one of the Sports Councils.
10. Officers of the Council undertake an appraisal of the governing body using the guidelines set out in paragraph 5.
11. The application, together with the officers' appraisal, is considered by a panel of senior officers from the five Sports Councils to determine whether a recommendation should be made to recognise the governing body.
12. The panel may decide to invite representatives of the governing body to attend the meeting at which the application is considered.
13. The panel's recommendation is referred to the Co-ordinating Group of Chief Officers and then to the United Kingdom Sports Council for confirmation of its recommendation.
14. The appropriate Council advises the applicant body, together with the other Sports Councils, of its decision.
SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION
15. In addition to the completed application form, the following information, where available, should be provided in support of the application and to assist officers in the assessment process:
*Constitution
*Annual General Meeting
minutes
*Audited Balance Sheets including Income and Expenditure
statements
Annual Reports
Handbook/Year Book
Coach Education
Scheme
Award Scheme
Rules of the Activity
Code of Conduct/Safety
Code
Pricing Structure for Participation
Equipment requirements
Publicity material (video, magazine etc)
*These items are required for at
least the previous three years' operation.
Please note that in their absence the application will not be assessed.
For list of contact addresses please see page 4.
THE SPORTS COUNCILS
PRINCIPAL ELEMENTS OF A CONSTITUTION
1. NAME
Plus any necessary definition or clarification
2. OBJECTS
For example:
(a) To be the governing body for the sport in the
territory (define)
(b) To foster, develop and control
(c) International
competition and representation
(d) Promotion of championships
(e)
Establish and safeguard rules for competition etc
(f) A catch-all
clause
3. MEMBERSHIP
(a) Define different classes and qualification (eg payment of subscription) ordinary or club or individual (main membership base) should all have equal voting rights. Members should be required to conform to the qualification and undertake a willingness:
(i) to support the objects of the body
(ii) to
provide facilities for the sport if this is appropriate and,
(iii) to abide
by the rules of the governing body.
(b) Define voting rights of different classes of members.
(c) Honorary membership?
(d) Provide a means for application for and resignation from membership, especially in relation to the liability for subscription on non-timeous resignation.
4. MANAGEMENT STRUCTURE
(a) General management power given to a Council or Executive Committee.
(b) Council membership and how elected (ideally at an Annual General Meeting of the body):
(i) office bearers and term of office? Limitation
on number of successive terms?
(ii) other council/executive members - query
representative of different branches of sport or areas within the territory
(iii) power to co-opt and fill casual vacancies
(iv) definition of and
limitation on (?) eligibility for election
(v) how nominations for election
handled
(c) Frequency and venue or venues for meetings of council - prior notice on agenda and papers to members
(d) Quorum for council
(e) Specific powers of council - ideally a lengthy and appropriate list but should include eg doping control if appropriate, a borrowing power, power to employ staff, power to prohibit and deal with rule infringements, disciplinary powers over members, powers to appoint committees and sub-committees, power to deal with bye-laws, power to form limited companies to further the objects of the body and to nominate Directors and Shareholders for them where appropriate, power to effect such insurances as may be deemed appropriate and a catch-all
(f) Disclosure of interests
5. MEETINGS
(a) Requirements for Annual General Meeting
(i) notice and accompanying papers
(ii)
quorum
(iii) mandate/proxy
(iv) voting procedures
(b) Extra-Ordinary General Meetings
(i) number of members to call
(ii) timetable
for response
6. CHAIRMAN
(a) Office Bearers in order to chair meetings
(b) Casting vote
7. REMOVAL OF COUNCIL MEMBERS
For example, bankruptcy, absence without permission, arising from resignation or becoming of unsound mind
8. FINANCE
(a) Financial year
(b) Audit and auditor
(c) Annual subscription and sanction for non-payment
(d) Annual returns
(e) Honoraria
(f) Trustees ex-officiis (to hold title and to sue and be sued on behalf of the governing body) and relative indemnity indemnifying Trustees and Office Bearers of the governing body against personal liability for actions and on behalf of the governing body.
9. REPRESENTATIVE QUALIFICATIONS
Eligibility - may be linked to international Federation rules.
10. DISCIPLINE
(a) Instigation of complaint
(b) Referral to panel or sub-committee and decision
(c) Provision for appeal to Council/Executive
(d) Power to impose sanctions and make sentence effective
(e) Council decision on appeal final
11. DUTIES OF CLUBS
Information to governing body's Secretary re Office Bearer changes etc plus (?) obligation to deliver annual return and/or accounts on their being requested.
12. CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT
(a) Requirements for proposals and seconding (or more?).
(b) Time limit for lodging
(c) Proportion of votes at General Meeting to amend, query 2/3rds.
13. WINDING UP / DISSOLUTION / DISPOSAL OF FUNDS
REF: SSC Financial & Legal Advisory Panel (November 1991)
SJM/CMC (ELEMENTS.SJM)
12 11 1991
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