Functions of Sports Clubs in European Societies : A Cross-National Comparative Study

This book takes a closer look at the societal functions of sports clubs by using the broad range of empirical data of a comparative study. There is a limited amount of up-to-date knowledge on the functions of sports clubs and their potential to promote public health, social cohesion and democratic participation through volunteering and thus contribute to public welfare in European societies. Most of the existing studies are country-specific and therefore do not allow for making comparisons from a cross-national perspective. In light of this, the project ‘Social Inclusion and Volunteering in Sports Clubs in Europe’ (SIVSCE) collected, analysed and discussed comparable data and knowledge across ten European countries and disseminated this knowledge to politicians, sports professionals and sports volunteers in Europe. The SIVSCE project contains comparative data of clubs as well as of members in selected sports clubs. In each country chapter, the comparative data from the SIVSCE project is put together in a coherent way. Particularly, the data of the member survey give in-depth information about the fulfillment of the different functions of sports clubs (e.g. extension of democratic participation, social integration). Providing in-depth data related to policy issues, structure and management of clubs and individual member surveys, this book will be useful for students―particularly those in sports management programmes―as well as researchers and practitioners in social science and economics. Foreword 6 Foreword 8 Acknowledgement 10 Contents 11 About the Authors 13 Chapter 1: Introduction 18 1.1 Background and Aim 19 1.2 Structure of the Book 21 References 22 Chapter 2: Conceptual Framework and Research Design 25 2.1 Conceptualisation and Multi-level Framework of Sports Clubs 26 2.1.1 Sports Clubs as Voluntary Organisations 26 2.1.2 Multi-level Framework for Analysing Socio-political Functions of Sports Clubs 27 2.2 Overview on Socio-political Functions of Sports Clubs 29 2.2.1 Health Promotion 30 2.2.2 Social Integration 32 2.2.2.1 Integration of Underrepresented Population Groups 33 2.2.2.2 Integration of Members into Sports Clubs 34 2.2.2.3 Integration Through Sports: Social Capital Research 35 2.2.3 Democratic Involvement and Participation 35 2.2.4 Volunteering 36 2.3 Research Design and Data Collection 38 2.3.1 Data Collection and Samples 39 2.3.1.1 Macro Level: Sports Club Policies and the Historical Context of Sports Clubs 39 2.3.1.2 Meso Level: Sports Clubs 39 2.3.1.3 Micro Level: Members and Volunteers 40 2.3.2 Limitations 41 References 42 Chapter 3: Belgium/Flanders: The Evolution of Flemish Sports Clubs as the Cornerstone of Society from Past to Present to Future 50 3.1 Sports Policy and Historical Context 50 3.1.1 History of Sports Clubs in Belgium 50 3.1.2 The Influence of National Government Organisations and Legislation 51 3.1.3 The Influence of Regional Government Organisations and Legislation 52 3.1.4 The Influence of Municipal (Local) Government Organisations and Legislation 53 3.2 Structure and Context 54 3.3 Sports Participation and Health Promotion 60 3.4 Social Integration 62 3.5 Democratic Decision-Making and Involvement 67 3.6 Voluntary Work 70 3.7 Conclusion 75 References 77 Chapter 4: Denmark: High Participation at the Expense of Democratic and Social Engagement? 80 4.1 Sports Policy and Historical Context 80 4.1.1 History and Political Goals for Sports 81 4.1.2 The Funding Structure for Sports Clubs 82 4.2 Structure and Context 83 4.2.1 Sports Participation and Health Promotion 88 4.3 Social Integration 90 4.3.1 Integration of Different Population Groups 91 4.3.2 Integration of Members into Sports Clubs 93 4.4 Democratic Decision-Making and Involvement 96 4.5 Voluntary Work 98 4.6 Conclusion 104 References 105 Chapter 5: England: A Long Tradition, Adapting to Changing Circumstances 107 5.1 Sports Policy and Historical Context 108 5.1.1 Clubs 108 5.1.2 National Governing Bodies of Sports 109 5.1.3 Government 110 5.1.4 The Influence of History on the Characteristics of English Sports Clubs 110 5.1.5 Qualification of the Methods 111 5.2 Structure and Context 112 5.3 Sports Participation and Health Promotion 117 5.4 Social Integration 118 5.5 Democratic Decision-Making and Involvement 124 5.6 Voluntary Work 126 5.7 Conclusion 130 References 132 Chapter 6: Germany: Sports Clubs as Important Players of Civil Society 135 6.1 Sports Policy and Historical Context 135 6.2 Structure and Context 138 6.3 Sports Participation and Health Promotion 144 6.4 Social Integration 146 6.5 Democratic Decision-Making and Involvement 150 6.6 Voluntary Work 153 6.7 Conclusion 159 References 161 Chapter 7: Hungary: Potentials for Civil Initiatives in Sports 164 7.1 Sports Policy and Historical Context 164 7.2 Structure and Context 168 7.3 Sports Participation and Health Promotion 174 7.4 Social Integration 176 7.5 Democratic Decision-Making and Involvement 181 7.6 Voluntary Work 184 7.7 Conclusion 189 References 192 Chapter 8: Netherlands: Sports Clubs at the Heart of Society and Sports Policy 196 8.1 Sports Policy and Historical Context 196 8.2 Structure and Context 199 8.3 Sports Participation and Health Promotion 203 8.4 Social Integration 206 8.5 Democratic Decision-Making and Involvement 211 8.6 Voluntary Work 214 8.7 Conclusion 218 References 219 Chapter 9: Norway: The Ambiguity of Sports Clubs and Nonsports Social Functions 223 9.1 Sports Policy and Historical Context 223 9.2 Structure and Context 225 9.3 Sports Participation and Health Promotion 230 9.4 Social Integration 232 9.5 Democratic Decision-Making and Involvement 236 9.6 Voluntary Work 239 9.7 Conclusion 243 References 245 Chapter 10: Poland: Small Local Sports Clubs with High Social Engagement 247 10.1 Sports Policy and Historical Context 247 10.1.1 Funding Structure and Sports Policy Towards Sports Clubs 249 10.2 Structure and Context 250 10.3 Sports Participation and Health Promotion 256 10.4 Social Integration 258 10.5 Democratic Decision-Making and Involvement 263 10.6 Voluntary Work 265 10.7 Conclusion 271 References 272 Chapter 11: Spain: Conviviality, Social Relationships and Democracy at the Basis of Spanish Sports Clubs’ Culture 274 11.1 Sports Policy and Historical Context 274 11.2 Structure and Context 276 11.3 Sport Participation and Health Promotion 281 11.3.1 Social Integration 283 11.3.2 Vulnerable Groups 283 11.3.3 Social Relationships 285 11.4 Democratic Decision-Making and Involvement 289 11.5 Voluntary Work 291 11.6 Conclusion 296 References 297 Chapter 12: Switzerland: Autonomous Sports Clubs as Contributors to Public Welfare 299 12.1 Sports Policy and Historical Context 299 12.2 Structure and Context 302 12.3 Sports Participation and Health Promotion 307 12.4 Social Integration 309 12.5 Democratic Decision-Making and Involvement 313 12.6 Voluntary Work 315 12.7 Conclusion 320 References 321 Chapter 13: Exploring Pan-European Similarities and Differences in Club-Organised Sports: A Cross-National and Cross-Temporal Comparison 324 13.1 Introduction 325 13.2 Material and Method 326 13.3 Participation in (Club-Organised) Sports 329 13.4 Health-Related Club Participation 333 13.5 Club-Organised Sports Participation and Social Integration 335 13.6 Volunteering in Club-Organised Sports 338 13.7 Summary 342 References 350 Chapter 14: The Contribution of Sports Clubs to Public Welfare in European Societies. A Cross-National Comparative Perspective 353 14.1 Introduction 354 14.2 Sports Clubs’ Contribution to Public Welfare 354 14.2.1 Sports Participation and Health Promotion 355 14.2.2 Social Integration 356 14.2.2.1 Integration of Underrepresented Population Groups 357 14.2.2.2 Integration of Members into Sports Clubs 357 14.2.3 Democratic Decision-Making and Involvement 359 14.2.4 Voluntary Work 360 14.2.5 Summary and Discussion: Status of Sports Clubs’ Contribution to Public Welfare 361 14.3 Potential Explanations for Similarities and Differences in the Contribution to Public Welfare 363 14.3.1 Macro-Level Explanations 364 14.3.1.1 Historical Context of Sports Clubs 364 The Gymnastics and Sports Movement 364 The Formation of Sports Systems in Different Political Systems 365 Democratic Tradition and Strength 366 14.3.1.2 Political Opportunity Structure for Sports Clubs 367 Political Aims and Goals 367 Public Subsidies 368 Sports Infrastructure 369 Welfare State Typology 370 14.3.2 Meso-Level Explanations 371 14.3.2.1 Constitutive Elements and Typical Features of Sports Clubs 372 Orientation Towards the Interests of Members 372 Democratic Decision-Making Structure 372 Voluntary Work 373 Autonomy 373 14.3.2.2 Organisational Capacity of Sports Clubs 374 Human Resource Capacity 374 Financial Capacity 376 Planning and Development Capacity 377 14.3.2.3 Structural Characteristics of Sports Clubs 378 Club Size 378 Single-Sport or Multisport Clubs 379 Sports Activities 379 Urbanisation 381 14.3.3 Micro-Level Explanations 381 14.3.3.1 Social Background of Members 382 14.3.3.2 Member Motivation and Engagement 382 14.3.4 Cross-Level Explanations of Sports Clubs’ Contribution to Public Welfare 384 14.4 Points of Awareness to Enhance Sports Clubs’ Contribution to Public Welfare 386 14.4.1 The Balance Between Political Steering and Autonomy of Sports Clubs 386 14.4.2 The Supply of a Sufficient Sports Infrastructure 387 14.4.3 A Diversification of Sports Offerings in Sports Clubs 388 14.4.4 Potentials and Trade-Offs of Professionalisation in Sports Clubs 389 14.4.5 The Role of Different National Contexts 390 References 390 Front Matter ....Pages i-xvii Introduction (Siegfried Nagel, Karsten Elmose-Østerlund, Bjarne Ibsen, Jeroen Scheerder)....Pages 1-7 Conceptual Framework and Research Design (Siegfried Nagel, Karsten Elmose-Østerlund, Bjarne Ibsen, Jeroen Scheerder)....Pages 9-33 Belgium/Flanders: The Evolution of Flemish Sports Clubs as the Cornerstone of Society from Past to Present to Future (Joris Corthouts, Bart Verschueren, Elien Claes, Jeroen Scheerder)....Pages 35-64 Denmark: High Participation at the Expense of Democratic and Social Engagement? (Karsten Elmose-Østerlund, Bjarne Ibsen)....Pages 65-91 England: A Long Tradition, Adapting to Changing Circumstances (Geoff Nichols, Matthew James)....Pages 93-120 Germany: Sports Clubs as Important Players of Civil Society (Svenja Feiler, Christoph Breuer)....Pages 121-149 Hungary: Potentials for Civil Initiatives in Sports (Szilvia Perényi)....Pages 151-182 Netherlands: Sports Clubs at the Heart of Society and Sports Policy (Jan-Willem van der Roest, Resie Hoeijmakers, Remco Hoekman)....Pages 183-209 Norway: The Ambiguity of Sports Clubs and Nonsports Social Functions (Ørnulf Seippel)....Pages 211-234 Poland: Small Local Sports Clubs with High Social Engagement (Monika Piątkowska, Sylwia Gocłowska)....Pages 235-261 Spain: Conviviality, Social Relationships and Democracy at the Basis of Spanish Sports Clubs’ Culture (Ramon Llopis-Goig, María P. García-Alcober)....Pages 263-287 Switzerland: Autonomous Sports Clubs as Contributors to Public Welfare (Siegfried Nagel, Pascal Stegmann, Rahel Bürgi, Markus Lamprecht)....Pages 289-313 Exploring Pan-European Similarities and Differences in Club-Organised Sports: A Cross-National and Cross-Temporal Comparison (Jeroen Scheerder, Kobe Helsen, Karsten Elmose-Østerlund, Siegfried Nagel)....Pages 315-343 The Contribution of Sports Clubs to Public Welfare in European Societies. A Cross-National Comparative Perspective (Karsten Elmose-Østerlund, Bjarne Ibsen, Siegfried Nagel, Jeroen Scheerder)....Pages 345-385