Sport and active leisure provision

Public Sector Provision

Refers to the facilities and services provided by the government or local authorities, such as public swimming pools, parks, and sports halls.
These facilities are generally affordable and aim to encourage participation by all.
Many public sector leisure facilities offer a range of programmes and activities, designed to encourage active living and participation in sport.
Funding comes from local authorities, schools, or the government, with contributions from the National Lottery contributing to larger projects.

Private Sector Provision

Private sector facilities might include private gyms, leisure centres, and golf clubs.
These facilities are usually more expensive to use, providing premium experiences for their members.
They are usually profit-driven, and may therefore invest heavily in providing a high quality of service and maintaining top-of-the-range facilities.
Some businesses in the private sector may also offer sponsorship for sports teams and events.

Voluntary Sector Provision

This includes sports and community clubs, often run by volunteers, for instance, local football or netball clubs.
Membership is usually cheaper than private facilities, and can often be more social and community-focused.
This sector relies on funds generated from membership fees, fundraising activities and sometimes grants from local authorities or organisations.
The role of the volunteer is integral in this sector, contributing a vast amount of time and energy to keep clubs running and accessible.

The Role of National Governing Bodies (NGBs)

Each sport will have a National Governing Body responsible for regulations, promotion and development.
NGBs can provide training courses for coaches and officials, set rules and safety regulations, and organise events and competitions.
They also play a key role in identifying and nurturing talent, with support systems for athletes on a regional and national scale.
Examples of NGBs include The Football Association (FA), the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) and England Netball.

Sports Development Continuums

Understanding the Sports Development Continuum can help to identify different stages of sports participation: Foundation, Participation, Performance, and Elite.
The ‘foundation’ stage refers to learning basic skills and understanding of a sport, usually at school or grassroot level.
The ‘participation’ stage is where individuals continue to play and enjoy sport, often through community clubs.
‘Performance’ is the stage where individuals and teams fine-tune their skills and take part in higher level competition.
At the ‘elite’ level, athletes are at the top of their game, representing their sport at the highest level - often nationally or internationally.

Local and National Sports Policies

Sports policies are developed to encourage greater participation, promote health and safety, and focus on talent development.
These policies, such as the UK government’s ‘Sporting Future: A New Strategy for an Active Nation’, outline strategic direction and commitment for provision and development of sport.
The impact of these policies can lead to changes within sports provision, from grassroot participation through to elite performance.