Title: A decade of quality and performance management in Flemish organised sport

Authors: Jo Van Hoecke, Paul De Knop, Hugo Schoukens

Addresses: Vakgroep SBMA, Department of Sport Management, Faculteit Lichamelijke Opvoeding en Kinesitherapie (LK), Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussels, Belgium; Double PASS Ltd., Spin-off Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Sylvain Dupuislaan 209/2, 1070 Anderlecht, Belgium. ' Vakgroep SBMA, Department of Sport Management, Faculteit Lichamelijke Opvoeding en Kinesitherapie (LK), Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussels, Belgium. ' Double PASS Ltd., Spin-off Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Sylvain Dupuislaan 209/2, 1070 Anderlecht, Belgium

Abstract: As a consequence of a new policy regarding sports in Flanders, last decade all sports organisations have been encouraged to introduce the principles of quality and performance management in their respective systems and structures. For this, several instruments with appropriate quality standards and performance indicators have been developed with regard to process monitoring, output control and result justification. This paper aims to present some significant quality management systems and frameworks that have been implemented by the coordinating sports federations to evaluate and improve their affiliated sports clubs. Since an emphasis is laid on youth sports, the focus of this paper is on the initiatives with regard to the appraisal and improvement of youth academies. It is clear that these particular sports structures ask for a sport-specific approach with appropriate quality standards corresponding to their critical success factors. Three different projects are presented (IKGym, IKSport and Foot PASS) examining the objectives, the method, some results and the effect of the applied quality system.

Keywords: quality management; performance management; club management; organised sport; sports clubs; youth sports; youth academies; gymnastics; football; IKGym; IKSport; Foot PASS; Flanders; Belgium.

DOI: 10.1504/IJSMM.2009.029091

International Journal of Sport Management and Marketing, 2009 Vol.6 No.3, pp.308 - 329

Published online: 03 Nov 2009 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article