Farrer & Co Women in Sport - Report - Page 14
Tactics for change:
positive action and
good governance
Farrer & Co gathered
data from 131 sports
organisations,
including commercial
clubs and 57 national
governing bodies
recognised by Sport
England, on the
composition of their
governing boards.
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National governing bodies and many
commercial clubs share the aim of a
governing board that is at least 30%
female, though the national governing
bodies are significantly ahead on this
aim (for reasons contributors outline
below). Our research on the national
governing bodies showed the following:
• Across the 57 national governing
bodies recognised by Sport England
we surveyed, an average of 35%
of the board is female
• 72% have met the 30% target and 37%
have a woman in a leadership position
on the board
• Among Olympic-recognised sports,
national governing bodies boards
have an average of 34% women
• 71% of Olympic NGBs have met a
30% target; and 37% have a woman
in a leadership position on the board.
These stats clearly
show that something
needs to change.
Lucy Pearson
Head of FA Education,
The Football Association
Farrer & Co roundtable
The data gathered from commercial
clubs shows a very different picture and
reveals how they are a significant way
behind the national governing bodies:
• 8% is the commercial club average
for board positions held by women,
in a sample that includes all football
Premier and Championship League,
rugby’s Premiership and county
cricket clubs
• Only 3% of commercial clubs have
met a 30% target, and 8% have a
woman in a leadership position on
the board.
Women in Sport – Levelling the playing field
