Thinking of setting up a sports club? That’s great news!
Clubs are the lifeblood of sport in Wales which is why we want to provide a helping hand. This website is jam-packed full of guidance and free to download policies and planning tools.
But, first things first, we’ve picked out the 14 essential steps to get you started…
Before you make any decisions
Step 1: Decide what type of club you’re going to be
Be clear about what you want for the future of the club – what do you want the club to achieve? Who are you aiming to reach? What type of club atmosphere do you want? This is your Vision or Purpose.
Step 2: Ask for help!
There are plenty of people out there who are ready and willing to help you. Those you can count on include your National Governing Body and Local Authority’s sports development team. It’s a good idea to speak to these trusty partners early on before you make any firm decisions about your new club.
Step 3: Is there anything else like it in the area?
Work out if there are similar clubs nearby, offering the same things that you intend to – you can find out by speaking to your local sports development team, local library and community centre. Your National Governing Body will have a list of clubs you can check too.
Step 4: Is there demand?
It’s important to work out if there’s a demand for what you’re offering in your area. Find out by asking people locally and don’t forget your Local Authority sports development team and National Governing Body will have good guidance too. You can also visit the Sport Wales website which has information on latent demand:
What next?
So you’ve decided what type of club you want and you know there’s local demand. Now it’s time to put the basics in place…
Step 5: Club Committee
A Committee is made up of different officials that are responsible for the day-to-day running of the club. The role of officers will vary from club to club, depending on its sport and size. Find out what a basic club structure looks like and for example role descriptions of committee members.
Step 6: Club Name
It goes without saying that if you’re setting up a new club, it needs a name! And your name is important in how you attract members. Once you have a club name, you can open a bank account, make funding applications and start promoting yourself. Hooray!
Step 7: Registering your club
Hopefully you will already have been in discussions with your National Governing Body and Local Authority but it will be important to notify them officially of your club – its name, its regular venue and its key contacts – so they can add your details to any club directories. This will make it easier for new recruits to find you. Now you are on the map!
Step 8: Affiliation
Affiliation to your National Governing Body will enable your club to enter competitions and can offer training and qualifications for your coaches and officials. It may also provide benefits such as safeguarding support and access to funding. There is a cost to affiliate but in most cases, it proves invaluable to clubs.
Step 9: Club Structure
You have a few choices when it comes to the structure of your club – incorporated, unincorporated, CASC, charity or social enterprise? This is a big decision because it affects the legal status of your club. Take time to do your homework before you take the plunge.
Step 10: Constitution
A constitution is also often called a governing document. Every club needs one. It helps things run smoothly. It spells out the rules by which your club will operate and how it will be managed. There is more information about constitutions – including examples – here.
Step 11: Sorting your finances
For your club to be a success, you need to get your finances in order. We have a whole section dedicated to this. But here are the basics on getting started with your finances.
Step 12: Insurance
All clubs must be insured adequately to cover the activities it delivers. Often, National Governing Bodies can offer this, provided you affiliate to them. Here's guidance on getting the right insurance in place.
Step 13: Risk Assessment
Before any members undertake activity at your club, make sure you’ve read our Risk Assessment section which covers health & safety, fire safety and data protection.
Step 14: Recruit
Hooray, you’ve done all your homework. Now it’s time to start recruiting volunteers and members. Take a look at our Club People section. The Promoting section also has useful tips on how to spread the word about your new club.
