Understanding Directors’ and Trustees’ Duties in Sport Resources & Recordings

Please use this page to refer to the resources from our Understanding Directors’ and Trustees’ Duties in Sport workshops. You can access the slides, case studies and recordings to take in the content in your own time. If you'd like to join a live version of this training course, please sign up for the course in the training section of our website. If no courses are available, you can join the waitlist, and we will inform you once places are available.

Directors and trustees in sport take on significant legal, ethical and strategic responsibilities. Understanding Directors’ and Trustees’ Duties in Sport is designed to help current and aspiring board members clearly understand what those duties are, why they exist, and how they apply in practice within the unique context of sport.

Materials

Course Details

The live course consists of 3 x 90 minute evening workshops. In order to make this as accessible to as many people as possible, we have recorded the content of these sessions with the group discussion edited out in order to promote an open dialogue.

This series provides a practical introduction to directors’ and trustees’ duties under UK law, including the Companies Act 2006 and charity legislation, and explores how these duties interact with the realities of modern sports governance. Through real‑world sporting examples and interactive discussion, participants will build confidence in fulfilling their role responsibly and effectively.

You will explore the role of the board, the distinction between governance and management, and the expectations placed on directors and trustees when acting in the best interests of their organisation and the sport as a whole. Particular attention is given to common challenges in sport, including conflicts of interest, representing stakeholder groups, and balancing independent judgement with elected roles.

By the end of the course, participants will:

• Understand the core duties of directors and trustees and what they mean in practice
• Recognise the consequences of non‑compliance and the protections that good governance provides
• Apply directors’ and trustees’ duties confidently within a sporting context
• Gain practical insight into managing conflicts of interest, loyalty and transparency
• Better understand the responsibilities that come with board membership in sport

Who is this course for?

This is suitable for:

• Elected and independent non‑executive directors of sports organisations
• Trustees of charities operating in sport
• Aspiring board members considering taking on a director or trustee role
• Senior staff and governance professionals with board‑level responsibilities

It is particularly valuable for those who are new to board roles, transitioning into non‑executive positions, or seeking a practical refresher on their legal and governance duties within a sporting environment.

What will each session cover?

Each session is based upon the relevant sections of the legal framework of: Companies Act 2006, Charities Act 2011, Charity Commission Guidance, Charities and Trustee Investment. These are linked to A Code for Sports Governance along with other British sports governance frameworks to give a more contextualised understanding of the Duties within sport. Each session has a case study and breakout sessions to ensure that you get the opportunity to put the learning into practise.

• Session 1 - The Role of the Board
  • This session covers: 
    • Role of the Board
    • Governance vs. management
    • Collective responsibility vs. individual accountability
    • Exercising independent judgement

• Session 2 - Acting in the Best Interests of the Organisation
  • This session covers: 
    • Acting within powers
    • Acting in the best interests of the organisation / consistently with its purposes
    • Promoting success of company
    • Managing resources responsibly
    • Exercising reasonable skill, diligence
• Session 3 - Conflicts of Interest and Loyalty
  • This session covers: 
    • Conflicts of interest and loyalty 
    • Benefits from third parties 
    • Declaring interests 
    • Characteristics of elected and independent directors in a sports body

The content of all three sessions was recorded with group discussion edited out to promote an open dialogue.