Governance in sport is more than just documents. Summary of the webinar with Agata Chlastawa

The sixth webinar of the CSR in Sport Academy focused on governance, transparency, and responsible management in sports organizations. The guest speaker was Agata Chlastawa – CSR Coordinator and Organizational and Legal Specialist at Miedź Legnica. The webinar concentrated on practical aspects of building transparent processes within a sports club and showed how governance can be developed step by step without implementing costly or overly complicated solutions.

The meeting also demonstrated that governance in sport should not be perceived solely as a set of procedures or formal obligations. Above all, it is a way of organizing work, communication, and building trust in a sports organization.

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Governance as the foundation of responsible management

One of the key topics discussed during the webinar was the explanation of what governance actually means in a sports organization. Agata Chlastawa emphasized that governance relates to how a club is managed, supervised, and held accountable for its actions.

Governance includes:
• transparency in decision-making,
• accountability of management,
• compliance with legal and ethical standards,
• control mechanisms,
• clear procedures and organizational rules.

The speaker highlighted that a well-structured governance system helps build a club’s credibility, increases stakeholder trust, and reduces the risk of organizational or reputational issues.

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How did the changes at Miedź Legnica begin?

A large part of the webinar focused on the experience of Miedź Legnica and the club’s process of improving transparency. The starting point was an analysis of social responsibility practices among sports clubs, in which the club initially achieved lower results than expected.

As Agata Chlastawa explained, the issue was not a lack of activities, but rather insufficient communication and poor organization of information. Many documents, procedures, and solutions were already functioning within the club, but they were not publicly accessible or properly presented on the website and in the club’s communication channels. This became the starting point for gradually organizing the governance area.

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From simple changes to greater transparency

One of the most important messages of the webinar was that effective governance activities can begin with very simple steps.

The speaker recommended starting with:
• a detailed review of the website,
• verifying whether contact information is up to date,
• organizing regulations and procedures,
• identifying people responsible for specific areas,
• supplementing information about the organizational structure and club operations.

At Miedź Legnica, a list of missing elements and potential improvements was prepared. The club gradually expanded website sections by adding:
• information on social responsibility activities,
• personal data protection documents,
• child safeguarding policies,
• contact details for specific employees and departments,
• regulations and procedures applicable within the club and academy.

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The website as a governance tool

An important topic discussed during the meeting was the role of the website in building transparency within a sports organization.

Agata Chlastawa emphasized that a website should function as a “knowledge hub” for the organization – a place where stakeholders can easily find the most important information about how the club operates.

By organizing its website, Miedź Legnica improved access to key information for fans, parents of players, and other stakeholders. The club also improved communication with its environment, which helped reduce organizational problems and the number of inquiries directed to employees. Expanding the website and organizing documents also increased the transparency of the organization’s operations, strengthening its credibility and reputation.

Agata Chlastawa stressed that transparency and easy access to information help build greater trust in sports organizations and allow stakeholders to better understand how clubs operate.

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Governance requires cooperation and patience

The webinar also showed that implementing governance solutions involves many organizational challenges. Agata Chlastawa pointed out that sports organizations often face a lack of understanding of the need for change, difficulties in accessing documents, and the need to update existing procedures. Additional challenges may include lengthy approval processes and organizational or technical costs connected with implementing new solutions.

However, the speaker emphasized that successful governance activities primarily require a well-planned process, patience, and consistency. Cooperation between different departments within the organization and regular updates of documents, procedures, and published information are also crucial.

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Governance starts with small steps

One of the key conclusions from the webinar was that governance does not have to mean an organizational revolution. Many improvements can be introduced gradually, starting with organizing existing resources and improving communication. The speaker also highlighted that sports organizations should actively communicate their CSR activities and regularly evaluate and summarize their initiatives.

The webinar served as a practical guide on how to build a more transparent and responsible sports organization without implementing expensive solutions.

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CSR in Sport Academy

The CSR in Sport Academy is a series of nine online meetings featuring experts and practitioners from the sports industry. Each webinar provides practical examples, experiences, and recommendations that organizations can implement in their own activities.

Next week, participants will meet another speaker – Maja Gasik.

There are still three webinars ahead, and registration remains open.

If you were unable to attend the webinar, you can catch up by watching the full recording here. A complete transcript is also available, allowing you to revisit the key conclusions and recommendations at any time.

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