Motivations of Sport Volunteers in England: A review for Sport England

This review is the first to combine the findings of commercial reports and academic research into the motivations of sports volunteers with general theory understanding volunteers and volunteering. This provides a broader understanding of volunteering in sport. It provides a useful resource for anyone in the planning, management and delivery of sports volunteering and a stepping stone for further research

"The poor cousin of inclusion" : Australian Sporting Organisations and LGBT+ diversity and inclusion

This article contains an analysis of some of the main drivers of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT+) diversity and inclusion in a selection of sporting organisations. Anchoring the analysis within the context of critical diversity management, some of the key theoretical approaches to LGBT+ diversity and inclusion are discussed. Drawing upon current theoretical debates and discussions on the enactment of diversity and commitment/resistance to diversity within sport, the article foregrounds LGBT+ diversity and discusses the merits of the business case for promoting LGBT + diversity. Is the Australian sport sector doing enough to improve policies and practices for LGBT+ participants? This article critically assesses how Australian Sporting Organisations (ASO) move from engagement with LGBT + diversity to the full inclusion of LGBT+ people, and concludes with insights into future directions for scholarship

[In Press] Commitment, resistance and indifference toward diversity amongst community cricket volunteers

Individual commitment to diversity and its link to organizational commitment and change amongst community sport volunteers, is a key debate in the scholarship of sport (Cunningham 2008; Spaaij 2011; Spaaij et al. 2013; Spaaij, Magee, and Jeanes 2014; Melton and Cunningham 2014; Jeanes et al. 2018). Yet details about driving factors and processes which influence volunteer commitment to diversity are relatively unknown (Storr et al. 2020). This article critically examines the attitudinal commitment of volunteers engaging with participants who have intellectual disabilities. Extending the work of Herscovitch and Meyer (2002), the author analyses the attitudinal commitment of 21 volunteers in a community cricket club in Victoria, Australia. Approximately half of the sample showed a mind-set committed to diversity, with the remainder holding indifferent or resistant attitudes. The author concludes that by identifying resistant or indifferent attitudes, clubs can improve inclusion practices amongst volunteers. By changing organizational structures, the link between individual volunteer and whole of organization commitment to diversity can be strengthened, guaranteeing better participation outcomes for people with intellectual disabilities

Game On: LGBT+ Inclusion in Australian Tennis

Tennis is a popular sport in Australia. Tennis Australia is committed to diversity, in particular adult participation, and recognizes LGBT+ inclusion as an important area of growth and development. Evidence suggests that LGBT+ people attempting to participate in sport often find themselves in environments that are unwelcoming, hostile and discriminatory. This study explored the lived experience of LGBT+ participation and engagement with tennis, and a set of recommendations (targeted initiatives) has been developed for Tennis Australia to promote and enact LGBT+ inclusion. To gain a comprehensive insight into the perception of tennis amongst the LGBT+ communities we employed a qualitative research design drawing on the methods of semi-structured interviews, focus groups and participant observations. We conducted a total of 44 interviews - current players of tennis (N= 27) and those not currently engaged with tennis (N= 17). In addition, we conducted 3 focus groups and over 50 hours of observations at various LGBT+ tennis tournaments in Sydney, Hobart, Perth and Melbourne. The report is structured into four themes offering a depth of discussion to inform Tennis Australia, about approaches for creating a more inclusive experience for LGBT+ tennis players. This is one of the first pieces of Australian research documenting the positive impact that playing sport, specifically tennis, has on the lives of LGBT+ people. It highlights the importance of fostering social LGBT+ connections, maintaining health and wellbeing, while enjoying a hobby without fear of judgement, hostility, or discrimination

Why sport hasn’t made much progress on LGBTI+ rights since the Sochi Olympics

Athletes from Western nations have various protections, and many now share equal rights in most aspects of the law. But when they travel to compete in countries with regressive human rights records, these protections can be lost

“We are a sport for all Australian's” : exploring the non-performativity of institutional speech acts around LGBTI+ diversity in Australian sporting organisations

LGBTI+ rights have been widely discussed in Australian society. The recent postal survey surrounding marriage equality resulted in many sporting organisations making public 'institutional speech acts' (Ahmed, 2012) surrounding their commitment to LBTI+ diversity. This paper explores the non-performativity of several leading sports organisations' institutional speech acts and their commitment to LGBTI+ diversity; drawing upon the work of Ahmed (2012; 2017) and Cunningham (2008; 2011 a; 2011 b; Melton & Cunningham, 2014). This paper reports on social media and policy analyses of the organisations and their public support and institutional commitment to LGBTI+ diversity. We find that the claims made by several sporting organisations around their institutional commitment to LGBTI+ diversity have not been supported by actions. The disjuncture is particularly apparent when national benchmarking criteria, such as the Pride in Sport Index are considered. This paper argues that the organisations are playing 'institutional catch up' regarding their commitment to LGBTI+ diversity. Here, there are distinct differences between what the institution says they do, and what they actually do. We argue that a lack of institutional commitment to LGBTI+ diversity is displayed through 'non- performative institutional speech acts' (Ahmed, 2006; Bury, 2015). These speech acts are not supported by deeds, have no impact, and serve to contradict the public commitment to LGBTI+ diversity. We conclude by contending that if sports organisations are to improve their Pride in Sport Index scores, they must enact policies which seek to make their sport more inclusive for LGBTI+ Australians across all levels of sport

[In Press] Are we there yet? : (illusions of) inclusion in sport for LGBT+ communities in Australia

This paper reports findings from five recent studies related to gender and sexuality in Australian sport. It offers a challenge to widespread claims that exclusionary practices such as homo/bi/ transphobia have been reduced or eliminated within sport settings. We suggest there remains much to be done towards ‘inclusion’, and that the concept itself is perhaps an illusion. Drawing on ‘diversity work’ theory we suggest inclusion is yet to be fully realised in sport-based research circles, and we argue that claims about the advanced progress in inclusion for LGBT+ people are problematic. Structures of language, institutional organisation and misaligned practices act as blocks to inclusion and fuel discrimination. We conclude by offering suggestions about where these can be addressed in sport and in research

Exploring Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) Inclusion in Australian Cricket

Cricket Australia and Cricket Victoria commissioned the Institute of Sport, Exercise and Active Living (ISEAL) at Victoria University to examine the current climate, attitudes and initiatives towards LGBT inclusion within Australian cricket. The aims of this research were to explore: The current attitudes towards the inclusion of LGBT players, coaches, volunteers and employees in Australian cricket; The experiences of LGBT people in Australian cricket, including both professional and community players, coaches, volunteers and employees; The beliefs and attitudes of cricket leaders (i.e. coaches and officials) from clubs, leagues and associations towards LGBT inclusion; How LGBT inclusion can be improved and promoted effectively within Australian cricket

[In Press] 'Game to play?' : barriers and facilitators to sexuality and gender diverse young people's participation in sport and physical activity

Sport settings have long been documented as exclusionary environments for sexuality and gender diverse (SAGD) people and a key location of discrimination. Sport is associated with well-being, and increasing physical activity for disadvantaged groups is a key aim for many governments. This study reports on 13 semi-structured interviews with young SAGD people aged 18–24 in Australia that explore their attitudes to and experiences of sport and physical activity. We found that SAGD young people are ‘game to play’: they hold strong desires to participate in sport and physical activity, and articulated how sport could be more inclusive. Using Bourdieu's concept of ‘capital’, we outline how young SAGD people identify sport as a ‘field’ that requires and fosters various types of capital. We explore barriers they identified that prevent the accumulation of physical and social capital associated with sport participation and physical activity, and their insights for how this may be fostered. The ‘field’ of sport presents as an exclusionary environment, which allows for both explicit bullying and more subtle discriminatory practices. Passive assimilation approaches are not enough to provoke substantial change and active intervention is required to decentre the heteronormativity underpinning these spaces, which has implications for policy and practice to advance the inclusion of SAGD young people in sporting environments

Game to Play? Exploring the Experiences and Attitudes Towards Sport, Exercise and Physical Activity Amongst Same Sex Attracted and Gender Diverse Young People

Research highlights that same-sex attracted and gender diverse young people (SSAGD) are at significantly greater risk of mental ill-health than their cisgender peers. This is largely due to discrimination, bullying and prejudice based on homophobia and transphobia they experience on a daily basis in families, in schools, at work, in the health care system, in sports, and in the broader community more generally (Robinson, Bansel, Denson Robinson, Ovenden & Davies, 2013; Beyond Blue, 2014; Smith, Jones, Ward et.al, 2014; Byron, Rasmussen, Toussaint et.al, 2016; Strauss, Cook, Winter et.al, 2017; Kang, Robards, Luscombe, Sanci, Hawke, Steinbeck, Jan, Kong, Usherwood, 2018). This pilot study, conducted with same-sex attracted and gender diverse young people (SSAGD) aged 17-21 in NSW was conducted in order to contribute to positively addressing the increased inclusion of SSAGD young people in sport and physical activities. Young SSAGD people in this research expressed a strong desire to participate in sport and physical exercise, and an awareness of the benefits, however most had experienced numerous forms of discrimination in sport and exercise, especially in PE at school. It is critical that steps are taken to address the violence and discrimination that SSAGD young people experience in sport and exercise environments, including tackling homophobia, biphobia, transphobia and heterosexism. The sporting sector can help make a difference to the health and wellbeing of SSAGD young people by providing equitable and safe access for every young person, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity. If young people have positive and affirming experiences in exercise, sport and PE, this can lead to healthy lifelong habits around sport and exercise, and can inspire a new generation of people to play sport