Sport for Community Relations: Some Issues and Observations

David HassanUlster Sports Academy

University of Ulster

Sport and its Uses

Tendency to expect too much from sport – it is largely temporary and peripheral with limited actual outcomes

Ironically one of its effective uses is as a platform for the expression of identities, which can prove divisive

What the last 20 years in N Ireland has demonstrated is its very possible for otherwise conflicting identities to co-exist – identities are remarkably resilient

The Historical Role of Sport

Separate sports – different schools, cultures and communities meant sport itself became exclusionary

Different identities – sports became entrenched in difference and certain NGB’s knowingly or otherwise perpetuated a sense of ‘them’ and ‘us’

The lack of knowledge about ‘their’ sports reinforced the view that ‘we’ knew nothing about ‘them’ and ‘they’ moved in different circles to ‘us’

Sport can lead the way and create a sense of optimism where previously it was absent….

There are always problems with change…

Evidence that sport can evolve …

Benefits of wider thinking…

Sport becomes a ‘hook’ to open up opportunities to engage ‘hard to reach’ groups

Players socialised into one sport might actually be much more suited to another

Creates a common investment – everyone has some ‘skin in the game’

Ripple effect amongst policy makers, those willing to invest and other civic bodies

Identity need not be exclusive. They’re probably glad they made the switch…

All politicians recognise the value of sport….

Common needs and expanding social roles…

Few sports escape the politics of division..

Sport has the potential..

Symbolic, but this is an incremental process of change

Identities are not compromised, only strengthened by embracing others

Possibly start by forming an advisory board where others have the opportunity to speak up

Key is to demonstrate that real change is taking place not simply the production of a ‘feel good factor’

Monitoring and evaluation: Better practice, better evidence

(Mieir, 2009)

1     China (CHN) 51 21 28 100

2     United States (USA) 36 38 36 110

3     Russia (RUS) 23 21 28 72

4     Great Britain (GBR) 19 13 15 47

5     Germany (GER) 16 10 15 41

6     Australia (AUS) 14 15 17 46

7     South Korea (KOR) 13 10 8 31

8     Japan (JPN) 9 6 10 25

9     Italy (ITA) 8 9 10 27

10     France (FRA) 7 16 18 41

Beijing 2008 Medal Table

Monitoring is not evaluating (Mieir, 2009)

The reality of M&E (Mieir, 2009)

M&E as a burden

M&E often funder-driven and serves for accountability (positive results only)

Lack of motivation leads to a lack of quality

Lack of time and/or money

Lack of knowledge and experience

Copius consulting

Designing for M&E

Sport’s difficult claims and objectives need to be simplified KPI’s, performance targets, goals

Does the programme have objectives?

Are these objectives SMART? Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, Timely

How can we design monitoring systems to be innovative and creative?

Drawing upon participation in the process

An acceptance that qualitative data can be sufficient to demonstrate impact

Example: Attitudes towards community

Traditional

SurveyMeasured before and after an interventionCommonly measured by attitudinal surveyUnwieldy paper based surveysDoes not fit reality of sport provision

Creative/Innovative

Graffiti WallMeasured before and after an interventionFlip-chart or other paper is used to record thoughts and feelings about one or more topicsCan be as unwieldy to set-upCan fit sport session planning – no instructor needed

StoriesMeasured before and after an interventionAudio/visual recorder collects stories from participantsFlexible collection: at sport session or at home

Participants can interview each other

Relevant questions to ask

What are the aims and objectives of the programme?

What monitoring tools are being used to measure these?

Are these traditional or creative research tools?

List and describe their strengths and weaknesses?

How can this process be carried out to more adequately represent what is going on?

Empowerment as a goal

Means giving someone more power than they had previously

Transferring power to the individual by promoting self-regulating and self-motivating behaviour through innovative sport practice, such as self-managing sport teams, enhanced individual autonomy, etc.

Thank You

d.hassan@ulster.ac.uk