Sports policy systems in regulated Rhineland welfare states: similarities and differences in financial structures of sports clubs

Abstract

This article addresses the resource dependencies of voluntary sports club in two Rhineland welfare states with differences in their organizational arrangements of sports (e.g. the centralization of the Sport for All policy). On the basis of the VOCASPORT typology of sports policy systems and the resource dependence theory the composition of the revenues of non-profit sports clubs in Flanders (Belgium) and Germany is analysed and related to organizational contingency factors as well as similarities and differences in the sports policy systems. Data are used from the Flemish and the German panel survey of non-profit sports clubs. The results show that Flemish and German sports clubs differ regarding size, year of foundation and offered sports, but are very similar with regard to their financial structure. Both Flemish and German sports clubs strongly depend on third sector income, regardless of organizational factors. No remarkable differences were found with regard to the dependency on state income. The results suggest that sports clubs in the selected Rhineland welfare states, regardless of the organizational arrangement of the sports system they operate in, depend on third sector resources and have considerable decision-making autonomy.

Keywords:

• organizational arrangements
• resource dependence theory
• Rhineland welfare state
• sports policy system
• voluntary sports clubs

Acknowledgements

The research into sports clubs in Flanders, ‘The Flemish Sports Club Panel 2009 (VSP09)’, is supported by the Flemish Government within the framework of the Flemish Policy Research Centre for Culture, Youth & Sport. The results of the VSP09 are written down in a general report by Scheerder and Vos (2010), with the co-operation of Prof. Dr. D. Breesch (V.U. Brussel), Prof. Dr. S. Késenne (University of Antwerp & KU Leuven), Prof. Dr. J. Van Hoecke (V.U. Brussel) and Prof. Dr. B. Vanreusel (KU Leuven). The German Sport Development Report is financed by the German Olympic Sports Confederation, the 16 federal state sports confederations, and the Federal Institute of Sports Sciences (reference number IIA1-080902/07-08).

Notes

1. Belgium is divided into two large regions, Flanders and Wallonia, which have considerable independence. For example, both regions have separate responsibilities with regard to sports (e.g. sport policy planning, recognition and subsidizing of sports federations). Flanders is the Dutch-speaking part of Belgium lying to the north of the Dutch–French language border. The Language Laws of 1962 officially laid down this line of demarcation. Flanders is characterized by a strong civic involvement in sports and commitment to the Sport for All ideology. Like in most Western European countries, in Flanders sports have been traditionally dominated by non-profit sports clubs, driven by voluntary work.