From Strategy to Action: Supporting the professionalisation of sport organisations through the definition of work-based competencies and the development of fit-for-purpose training for Sport Administrators Erasmus Project

Project Title

From Strategy to Action: Supporting the professionalisation of sport organisations
through the definition of work-based competencies and the development of fit-for-purpose training for Sport Administrators

Project Key Action

This project related with these key action: Cooperation for innovation and the exchange of good practices

Project Action Type

This project related with this action type : Strategic Partnerships for vocational education and training

Project Call Year

This project’s Call Year is 2015

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: Health and wellbeing; Recognition, transparency, certification; New innovative curricula/educational methods/development of training courses

Project Summary

Sport is becoming increasingly recognised as a sector having a potential to positively impact on the realities and challenges faced by our society and the expectations from national governments are growing.
In order to meet its huge potential and bring positive change in society (health, social inclusion, employability), the sport sector needs a workforce of people involved in sport organisations (e.g. sport federations, clubs) with the right skills and competences, supported by a fit-for-purpose programme of education, training and professional development.

The S2A Sport project took place during 30 months and focussed on the skills needed by sport administrators working in paid and volunteer roles in the delivery of sport.

Based on the cultural and terminological differences, a common definition of sport administration was agreed by the partnership:
“Sport administration embraces the processes and/or activities of running an organisation operating within the sport sector at all levels; it includes a variety of tasks across a wide range of functions in accordance with the purpose and direction of the organisation. More specifically, Sport Administration functions are implemented by all those individuals, both paid and unpaid (volunteers) who work to ensure the effective running of a sports organisation.”

These persons acting is the area of sport administration have a key role in the processes and activities of running a sport organisation and so in the development of the whole sport sector at local, regional, national, European and international levels.

Main activities and responsibilities of these individuals are different depending of the country and type of organisation, and the main reason of this project can be explained by the fact that there was a recognised gap between the competences of sport administrators and those expected and required to fulfil their mission and respond to the need from the sector.

What are the main tasks and activities of sport administrators on a daily basis? What are the competencies and skills that they need to perform efficiently in their position? Is there a fit-for-purpose education and training offer responding to the expectations from the sector? These were the main questions that the S2A Sport project, bringing a partnership composed of 8 national partners and 4 European networks, have been trying to bring a response.

The work program implemented an innovative methodology developed by EOSE in response to the main education and employment challenges in the sector and aligns with the main EU policies and tools in the fields of sport and vocational education and training.

This methodology, known as the « 7 Step Model » (http://eose.org/approach/7-step-model/), provided the opportunity to implement seven specific working steps and various consultation activities (internal/external) to conduct an analysis of the characteristics of the labour market in sport administration, to define main activities and tasks carried out by these persons within sport organisations (e.g. responsibilities, level of performance, career pathways), to develop detailed occupational standards to describe skills and knowledge required for competent performance at work in sport administration, and to provide information and advice to produce fit-for-purpose courses that meet the needs of the labour market.

A pilot training programme week was organised during the final part of the project to test and assess some of the learning outcomes and approaches proposed by the project together with a sample of 40 sport administrators coming from different countries and cultures. This testing gave the possibility to collate feedbacks from participants and enhance the proposed content of the project’s outputs and ensure a response to their expectations and needs.

Several transnational projects focussed on the position of coaches or players but the S2A Sport project is the first one to centre the attention on those individuals having central positions in the running of sport organisations across Europe.

This initiative has been perceived positively in a sector that is recognised to be dynamic and growing, and as mentioned earlier having a potential to positively impact on the economy, health and social inclusion dimension of a country.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 334474 Eur

Project Coordinator

EUROPEAN OBSERVATOIRE OF SPORT AND EMPLOYMENT & Country: FR

Project Partners

• NATSIONALNA SPORTNA AKADEMIYA VASSIL LEVSKI
• MYKOLO ROMERIO UNIVERSITETAS
• EOSE SERVICES (UK) LIMITED LBG
• UNIVERSITE CATHOLIQUE DE LOUVAIN
• SUOMEN URHEILUOPISTON KANNATUSOSAKEYHTIO OY
• INTERNATIONAL SPORT AND CULTURE ASSOCIATION
• UNIVERSITA DEGLI STUDI DI CASSINO E DEL LAZIO MERIDIONALE