Shifting dominant logics? The organisational field of Finnish sport clubs in the 2010s

Abstract

This research, which draws upon the new institutionalist approach, investigates the changing dominant logics of voluntary sport clubs in Finland. Data were collected by conducting 41 semi-structured expert interviews with sport clubs and obtaining club documents. Results reveal a widening range of roles, networks, and participant pathways, as well as an increasingly formalised operation and diversified language-use. As a result, many clubs have experienced challenges in maintaining their legitimacy when operating in new domains that diverge from their traditional operations. The findings reflect growing expectations placed upon sport clubs and their shifting roles across the public, private and third sectors. Further, it is argued that understanding the logics of all three sectors have become necessary in order for sport clubs to run successfully. The findings will be of interest to federations, institutes providing tertiary education, as well as to clubs that are in the process of refining their profile.

Keywords:

• Sport club
• new institutionalism
• organisational field
• dominant logics
• Finland

Acknowledgements

The author gratefully acknowledges the insightful comments from Ben Powis, Kola Adeosun, Anna-Liisa Ojala, Sandy Adam, Polina Baum-Talmor and the anonymous reviewers. Thanks also go out to the students who carried out the interviews.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

Notes

1 The first-snow ski track is created by using snow stored from the previous winter in autumn before the weather allows cross-country skiing in natural conditions.

2 The Quality Assurance Program (Seurojen laatujärjestelmä) of the Football Association of Finland consists of five levels. The objective of the program is to comprehensively develop the operation of football clubs.