Introduction

Constitutions

Meetings

Policies and procedures

Insurance

Club structures

General legal guidance

Constitution template

Junior club constitution template (Clubmark)

Guidelines for Boards and Committees

Constitutions

A constitution sets out the purpose and rules of your sports club.  It is the basic document which helps to ensure smooth and proper running of your affairs.  Typically, the constitution will set out:

• The objectives for your club (e.g. what you want to do or provide for your members).
• the different forms of membership (e.g. adult, junior, social) and perhaps their subscription rates
• The rules by which your club will operate.
• How the affairs of the club are to be managed (e.g. by officers and a committee).
• How the members control the club, usually through an annual general meeting.

All sports clubs should have a proper constitution. The accompanying templates in the Resource side panel offer very detailed examples of a constitution, however not all the elements will be relevant to every club and they should be amended or deleted as appropriate. For example 'Members of the management committee' identifies eight committee officers. Your club’s constitution may need to reduce or increase the officers dependant on the number of volunteers available to fill the positions.