Structure

In the UK there is no single recognised legal structure required for national governing bodies (NGBs) of Sport. Some countries like France and Germany have a specific legal structure which makes the governance requirement for all NGBs the same.

National governing bodies of sport in the UK can choose the legal form that suits them the best. The possible legal forms include:

  • unincorporated associations
  • trusts
  • limited companies
  • community interest companies
  • charitable incorporated organisations.

Each legal form places different requirements and law on the organisation. Therefore, the board structures and requirements will vary in accordance to which legal structure an NGB has chosen.

For example if the NGB is a registered charity then it will be regulated by the charity commission and certain requirements will be mandatory in relation to trustees.

But if the NGB is registered as a company, then it will need to comply with the 2006 Companies Act and it will be regulated by Companies House.

National governing bodies will, in the majority of the cases, operate as a not-for-profit organisation.

In this sense any surpluses will be reinvested into the NGB for the purposes of the NGB, rather than being driven by the need to maximise profit for shareholders and/or owners.

Regardless of bring not-fot-profit the NGB will still have to conform to the same legal requirements as private for-profit companies organised within the same legal structure.

To put your organisation on a proper footing with HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC), you need to make sure that it has the right legal structure.

It's worth thinking carefully about which structure best suits the way your organisation operates, as this will affect:

  • the tax and National Insurance that you pay
  • the records and accounts that you have to keep
  • your financial liability if the business runs into trouble
  • the ways your business can raise money
  • the way management decisions are made about the business.

Below and on the pages in this section (which you can access on the left hand menu) you will find information on the pros and cons of each legal structure for you and for any clubs that sit under your structure.

You will also be able to access examples of consitutions from other NGBs to help you benchmark your own governing document.

Downloads:
application/pdf iconGovernance and Organisational Structures.pdf
A guide for trustees and board members to help choose the legal and governance structures for an organisation.
application/pdf iconClub Structures Guidance.pdf
A guide to the pros and cons of different legal forms and structures for sports clubs.
application/pdf iconThe FA Club Structures.pdf
A guide to club structures by the FA for football clubs.
application/pdf iconVolleyball England Articles.pdf
The Volleyball England articles of association
application/pdf iconClay Pigeon Shooting Association Articles.pdf
Clay Pigeon Shooting Association articles of association.
application/pdf iconScottish Hockey Union Constitution.pdf
The Scottish Hockey Union articles of association.
application/pdf iconRFU Employment Law Guidance for Clubs.pdf
This document gives employment law guidance to rugby clubs and was commissioned by the RFU.
application/pdf iconSample Articles for an NGB and Guidance Notes by Farrer & Co.pdf
The Sport and Recreation Alliance commissioned a set of model articles to be created for sport with guidance notes on how to adapt them.
application/msword iconModel Articles for Sport for editing.DOC
The model articles for sports organisations in a form which can be edited.
Related Links:
Choosing legal structure
A guide to setting up an organisation and choosing the right legal structure.
Social enterprise
A guide to the different legal structures that are available when setting up a social enterprise.
Setting up a charity
A guide to registering and setting up a charity.
Governing document
Choosing and preparing the governing document for a charity.
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