A Fair Game for All? How Community Sports Clubs in Australia Deal With Diversity

Abstract

Diversity and equality are key issues confronting sport. This article draws on findings from qualitative research carried out in Australia to critically examine how diversity is understood and valued in community sport. The findings suggest that there is a discrepancy between the policy objectives of government and sport organizations and the way in which diversity is understood and responded to in practice. Diversity management is not being adopted widely among local sports clubs. The idea of a moral imperative to cater to people with diverse backgrounds and abilities is largely absent; rather, the dominant discourse is underpinned by a business rationale which interprets diversity in terms of benefits and costs to the organization. This businessdriven approach is often detrimental to the social policy objective of ensuring equitable outcomes in sport. A fundamental reconsideration of the rationale and practice of managing diversity in sport is therefore necessary.

“The individual at the centre” – a grounded theory explaining how sport clubs retain young adults

“…To analyse the power, therefore, means to visualize the standards that govern how sport clubs retain members, and who and what these standards influence, for example, offered activities, factors that encourage young adults to remain at their sport clubs. Scholars have shown that, in practice, sport clubs often emphasize one side of diversity over others in ways that often overlook or ignore the intersections between gender, culture, (dis)ability, and racial/ethnic inequalities (Spaaij et al, 2014). …”

“…The reduction of diversity to a few of its many dimensions can also reflect the struggle that many clubs have expressed to operationalize diverse populations in the real world (Spaij et al, 2014). Even if a sport club believes in diversity as an institutional value, there can still be conflicts or disagreements over which types of diversity are desirable (Spaaij et al, 2014). It seems that diversity in the sport clubs was interpreted through the lens of white, middle-class, “non-disabled” individuals.…”

Purpose and Perceived Benefits for the Inclusion of Disability Sport Topics in the Introduction to Sport Management Course

“…Diversity is arguably one of the most important social and political issues facing sport organizations (Cunningham & Fink, 2006;Spaaij et al, 2014). Not only is managing diversity an important challenge for sport organizations but how diversity is dealt with both within and across sport organizations affects opportunities for persons with a disability in sport and their overall well-being (Spaaij et al, 2014).…”

“…Such a focus on diversity in sport management relates in part to the proliferation of several key trends: (a) increased heterogeneity of the workforce requiring the need for employees to work with those who are different from themselves, (b) pressure for social justice, a moral obligation of organizations to accept all employees, and a growing emphasis on social inclusion of participants regardless of individual differences, and (c) the belief that promoting diversity can make good business sense and enhance organizational success by providing an organization with alternative viewpoints and opening up new markets through increased membership and revenue generation (Cunningham & Fink, 2006;Spaaij et al, 2014;Thomas & Guett, 2014).…”

Experiences and Perceptions of Young Adults with Physical Disabilities on Sports

“…Sport provides an interesting case to study in terms of diversity as there is a tension between performance (winning) and participation (recreation). Sports clubs contest competitions with the goal of winning which can work against the inclusion of people with diverse backgrounds and abilities (Spaaij et al, 2014).…”