A Qualitative Study Examining How Passion Impacts Sport Board Functioning

Abstract

Passion is a highly relevant focus for sport governance researchers as it can have a considerable impact on board functioning. The purpose of this study was to explore how passion impacts board functioning in national and state sport governing bodies in Australia. This phenomenon was analyzed through the eyes of 19 Chairs, who play a central role in managing passion on nonprofit sport boards. Findings showed passion is an important emotional factor impacting sport boards. Passion was found to impact sport board functioning in several beneficial (i.e., on motivation, cohesion, and climate) and disruptive (i.e., on cohesion, conflict, decision-making) ways. This research contributes to passion research by developing knowledge on the group-based outcomes of passion and by highlighting how the context of sport—as a leisure pursuit—shapes how different domains of passion manifest in sport governance through volunteer directors and its impact on board functioning.

Keywords:

• affect
• emotions
• nonprofit sport organizations
• sport governance
• sport federations