ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on national governing bodies of sport (NGBs) as a pivotal arm of sport development in the UK. It explores a little of their origins and emergent role now in 2020 across a varied landscape for the sector in over 100 sports. Funding, administration, research, and leadership roles are all vital for the NGB in an environment where there is a flux in the constant cycles of government change. The chapter looks at how an NGB functions, the typical roles people and the organisation take on, and the behind-the-scenes running of what are increasing polarised organisations. Some NGBs are vast in scope, size, and remit with considerable income earning potential, others remain micro-organisations with constant fear of financial pitfalls over their heads.
