What is club culture?

Club culture is the shared values, behaviours, and attitudes that shape how your club operates. It influences:

• how members, volunteers, and visitors feel
• how decisions are made
• how inclusive and safe your environment is 

Why it matters

A strong, positive culture:

• attracts and retains members
• creates a safe and inclusive environment
• builds trust and respect
• supports tamariki and rangatahi to enjoy sport for life

Poor culture can lead to:

• conflict and poor behaviour
• loss of members and volunteers
• reputational damage

Ask: What does your club stand for? What do you want people to feel when they join?

Inclusive leadership

Great club culture doesn’t happen by accident. It’s built through leadership, planning and everyday actions.

Your board sets the tone and must:

• model inclusive behaviours
• ensure compliance with health and safety laws
• monitor club culture through reporting and feedback
• promote diversity, equity and inclusion

Best practice for boards

Follow these standards to build a strong and inclusive governance team:

• Directors should have a mix of skills, experience and backgrounds
• No one gender should make up more than 50% of the board
• Include both elected and appointed directors
• Use a transparent process to identify and appoint board members
• Ensure directors are independent, regardless of how they joined
• Provide governance training for all board members

These standards are based on the https://www.sportaus.gov.au/governance/principles and supported by https://sportnz.org.nz/resources/the-boards-role-in-organisational-culture/.

Key actions for your club

• Set clear values – agree what your club stands for and share it widely.
• Lead by example – committee members and coaches should model positive behaviour.
• Create safe spaces – make sure everyone feels welcome, regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, or ability.
• Listen and respond – encourage feedback and act on concerns.
• Celebrate diversity – include tikanga Māori and local community values where possible.
• Promote wellbeing – prioritise enjoyment and development over winning at all costs.

Downloadable templates

Code of conduct - Sport NZ

Complaints policy - Sport Integrity Commission

Resources

The Board's role in organisational culture

Balance is better - Youth sport guidance

Inclusivity hub