Making small sports clubs manageable and economically sustainable – a study on clay target shooting in Italy

Abstract

This paper examines the case of clay shooting clubs in Italy by focusing on their main characteristics. An analysis has been conducted on a sample of 200 clay target shooting clubs. Results show that most clubs only offer shooting practice, being rather insensitive to the usability, comfort and aesthetics of the environment in which shooting sessions are performed. Confirming the above, findings from the cluster analysis revealed that the most effective clubs are those with a larger size, good organization and management, they have the ability to attract shooters, while providing a wide range of services that contribute to additional revenues and financial viability. This research adds to the sports management literature in two main ways. First, it conducts an in-depth analysis of the management of non-profit sports clubs. Second, it brings to the fore two options in how better management approaches could be developed.

Keywords:

• management
• strategy
• sports clubs
• small clubs
• clay target shooting

DISCLOSURE STATEMENT

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

ORCID

Fabio Musso http://orcid.org/0000-0002-5189-2956

Barbara Francioni http://orcid.org/0000-0001-8782-6814

Notes

1 The three disciplines can be distinguished as follows. In trap shooting, the targets are launched from a single “house” or machine, away from the shooter. In skeet shooting, targets are launched from two “houses” in somewhat “sideways” paths that intersect in front of the shooter. Sporting clays include a more complex course, with many launch points. There are variations within each group.

2 The number of clay shooting clubs in Italy is 421, most of which are of small size, with a limited number of shooting fields. The most numerous type of clubs offers 2 or 3 fields, which represent 40.7% of the total. Those with only one shooting field are 36.8% of the total. Together, smaller clubs (up to 3 fields) count for 77.5% of the total. Only 14.0% and 8.57% of clubs respectively offer 4–5 fields and more than 5 fields (Italian Clay Target Shooting Federation – FITAV, 2013).

Additional information

Funding

The research was funded by the Italian “Comitato Nazionale Caccia e Natura” (CNCN).