Author(s)

James Ferguson^1,2

¹Ferguson Management, Canberra, Australia.
²VTara Sports, Pty. Ltd., Canberra, Australia.

Many countries, states, or regions within countries, wish to improve their sports systems in the interests of the benefits sport offers for their communities. Sporting success contributes to a sense of national or state pride. It offers commercial opportunities through business involvement, promotion, the construction of facilities and manufacture of equipment. At the community level it promotes physical and mental health for people of all ages. The purpose of this paper is to examine the issues involved in the establishment, improvement, or maintenance of a national, state, or regional sports system for the benefit of its citizens. Experience gained through working with sports systems in a number of countries shows that there are two related components essential to an effective sports system. The first is a broad community base of recreational participants. The second is a graduated progression of competition leading to state or national representation by the most talented athletes with the objective of improving the elite sporting performances of the state or nation. The connection between these two objectives is the need for clear pathways through which talented athletes can progress from the community to the elite level. The quality of coaching, constant competition and appropriate facilities are vital at both levels. At the community level, widespread participation by children and an emphasis on basic skill development are vital. At the elite level, specialized coaching, intense competition, sports science and athlete welfare are important. This paper will examine the operations of these two components. The research is based on the author’s practical experience in formulating and managing the Australian sports system as Executive Director of the Australian Sports Commission for over 10 years and, subsequently, his work in assisting a number of countries in the introduction, operation, or improvement of sports systems.

Sports Systems, Community Sport, Junior Sport, Coaching, Competition, Facilities, Sports Science, Management

Ferguson, J. (2022) Establishing Sports Systems: A Practical Approach. Open Journal of Social Sciences, 10, 75-98. doi: 10.4236/jss.2022.105007.