Advancing the sport for development field: Perspectives of practitioners on effective organisational management

Abstract

The purpose of this qualitative study was to examine the perspectives of SFD practitioners on how SFD organisations can be more effectively managed for sustainability and meaningful impact. With a goal to respond to the call that SFD research should reflect on its effectiveness and the managerial direction in which it is going, we engaged with a variety of SFD practitioners to seek out their voices as well as to illuminate their reflections on and inputs to the field. Thirty practitioners from 29 SFD organisations participated in the study. Practitioners’ advice for effectively managing SFD organisations included enhancing sustainability, having a passion for sport and SFD, gaining experience before taking action, engaging in professional training, establishing academic partnerships, developing a professional and entrepreneurial mindset, and utilising online resources. Practical implications, recommendations, and future research directions are discussed.