ABSTRACT
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.