Recognition is a joint process, operated by the four Home Country Sports Councils (including Sport England) and UK Sport to determine which sporting activities the Sports Councils are prepared to work with and to establish which organisations govern those sporting activities on a Home Country and UK basis.
This does not mean we decide what is and what isn’t a sport. If an activity is not on our list of recognised sports, it doesn’t necessarily mean we are unaware of it or disapprove of it. There are many reasons why an activity might not be on the list – it may be simply that no one has applied to have it recognised. Similarly, if a governing body isn’t recognised, it should not be taken as any sort of indication that the organisation is not bona fide or not well run. The Sports Councils will only recognise one governing body per sport in each home country (with some historical exceptions) and in sports where no single body can demonstrate overall influence or control, we may choose not to recognise any of its governing bodies.
Click here to see what activities and governing bodies we recognise
The recognition process
The recognition process operates in two parts:
- Recognition of a sporting activity – this must be agreed by each of the four Home Country Sports Councils and UK Sport.
- Recognition of the governing body for the sport. This in itself can be at two levels:
- Recognition of a governing body for the sport at a UK or GB level, which will be considered by all the Sports Councils in the UK.
- Recognition of a governing body for the sport within England, Northern Ireland/Ulster, Scotland or Wales, which will be considered by the relevant Sports Council for that country.
A governing body cannot be recognised unless the activity it represents is already recognised. However, it is possible for an activity to be recognised without a recognised governing body.
Criteria for recognising a sporting activity
The principal criteria against which the Sports Councils assess activities is whether or not the activity meets the definition of sport contained in the Council of Europe’s European Sports Charter 1993. This defines sport as:
“Sport means all forms of physical activity which, through casual or organised participation aim at expressing or improving physical fitness and mental well-being forming social relationships or obtaining results in competition at all levels.”
The other criteria include:
- The essential purpose of the activity
- Sustainability
- Rules and organisation
- Uniqueness
The full guidelines governing the recognition of sporting activities can be found via the link below.
Criteria for recognising a national governing body
The Sports Councils will only recognise one governing body per sport (although separate UK/GB and Home Country bodies can be recognised). When considering the recognition of a national governing body, the Sports Councils will look to see if the body is suitably positioned so that it is able to exert sufficient control and influence over its sport. This position can be reflected in the body’s membership in terms of the overall participation in its sport, its affiliation to international bodies and its governance structure.
The full guidelines governing the recognition of UK/GB governing bodies and England-only governing bodies can be found via the respective links below.
General principles of recognition
The principles behind recognition are as follows:
- The Sports Councils are keen to promote the efficient administration of sport and therefore will endeavour to link new sporting activities to existing sporting activities where reasonable;
- The Sports Councils have adopted the definition of sport contained in the Council of Europe’s European Sports Charter 1993 as one of the primary criteria they use when assessing applications for recognising sporting activities. The UK is a member state of the Council of Europe and the European Sports Charter recommends that member states base their national sporting policies on the Charter. It also recommends that their national sporting organisations take account of the Charter’s principles when setting policy.
- The Sports Councils will recognise one governing body per sport as the lead organisation for the governance, control and development of the sporting activity.
- Where the Sports Councils currently recognise more than one governing body per sport, the Councils will pro-actively encourage amalgamation over the period to March 2009. From April 2009, the Sports Councils will normally only recognise one governing body per sport.
- The recognition of a sporting activity or governing body of sport does not necessarily mean eligibility or entitlement to Sports Councils investment or services.
- Recognition of a governing body does not mean that the Sports Councils have approved or accredited the quality of the governing body’s management or development programmes. Such issues will be taken into consideration as part of any investment process.
- Whilst this process applies to all recognised sporting activities and governing bodies, the Sports Councils do not intend to undertake a review of every sporting activity or governing body currently included on the Sports Councils’ recognised list. However, individual activities and governing bodies will be reviewed where a need is identified.
- The Sports Councils reserve the right to consult with any organisation or individual when assessing applications for recognition of sporting activities or governing bodies.
- The Sports Councils reserve the right to review this process at any time.
Guidelines on the recognition of sporting activities
Guidelines on the recognition of UK/GB national governing bodies
Guidelines on the recognition of English governing bodies
Further information and application forms
For further details and application forms, please contact Sport England:
By email at recognition@sportengland.org
By telephone on 08458 508 508
Or write to:Sport England
3rd Floor, Victoria House
Bloomsbury Square
London WC1B 4SE
If you or your organisation is not based in England, you should instead contact the appropriate Home Country sports council as follows:
Governing bodies of sport
Aikido
British Aikido Board
American Football
British American Football Association
Angling
National Federation of Anglers
National Federation of Sea Anglers
Salmon & Trout Association
Aquathlon
See Triathlon
Archery
Grand National Archery Society
Arm Wrestling
No recognised governing body in England
Artistic Skating (Roller)
See Roller Sports
Association Football
The Football Assocation
Athletics
UK Athletics
England Athletics
Australian Rules Football
No recognised governing body in England
Badminton
Badminton England
Ballooning
British Balloon and Airship Club
Ballroom Dancing
See Movement and Dance
Basketball
England Basketball
Great Britain Wheelchair Basketball Association
Baseball/Softball
Baseball Softball UK
Baton Twirling
No recognised governing body in England
Biathlon
British Biathlon Union
Bicycle Polo
See Cycling
Billiards
No recognised governing body in England
BMX
See Cycling
Bobsleigh
British Bobsleigh Association
Boccia
No recognised governing body in England
Bowls
British Crown Green Bowling Association
English Bowling Association
English Bowling Federation
English Indoor Bowling Association
English Women’s Bowling Association
English Women’s Bowling Federation
English Women’s Indoor Bowling Association
English Short Mat Bowling Association
British Isles Bowls Council
British Isles Indoor Bowls Council
Boxing
British Boxing Board of Control
Amateur Boxing Association
Camogie
No recognised governing body in England
Canoeing
British Canoe Union
Caving
British Caving Association
Chinese Martial Arts
British Council for Chinese Martial Arts
Clay Pigeon Shooting
See Shooting
Cricket
England and Wales Cricket Board
Croquet
The Croquet Association
Curling
English Curling Association
Cycling
British Cycling
Cyclists Touring Club
Dance Sport
See Movement and Dance
Darts
No recognised governing body in England
Disability Sport
Disability Sport England
British Wheelchair Sports Foundation
Cerebral Palsy Sport
British Blind Sport
British Deaf Sports Council
British Paralympic Association
Diving
See Swimming and Diving
Dodgeball
No recognised governing body in England
Dragon Boat Racing
British Dragon Boat Racing Association
Duathlon
See Triathlon
Equestrian
British Show Jumping Association
British Equestrian Federation
British Horse Society
Riding for the Disabled Association
The Pony Club
Exercise and Fitness
See Movement and Dance
Fencing
British Fencing Association
Fives
Eton Fives Association
Rugby Fives Association
Floorball
No recognised governing body in England
Flying
The Royal Aero Club of Great Britain
Popular Flying Association
British Microlight Aircraft Association
British Model Flying Association
Folk Dancing
See Movement and Dance
Futsal
See Association Football
Gaelic Football
No recognised governing body in England
Gliding
British Gliding Association
Golf
The Golf Foundation is responsible for the development of junior golf.
Ladies Golf Union
Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St.Andrews
English Golf Union
English Ladies Golf Association
Gymnastics
British Gymnastics
Handball
England Handball
British Handball Association
Hang Gliding and Paragliding
British Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association
Harness Racing
See Equestrian
Health and Beauty Exercise
See Movement and Dance
Highland Games
No recognised governing body in England
Hockey
England Hockey
Horse Racing
British Horse Racing Authority
Horse Riding
See Equestrian
Hovering
Hovercraft Club of Great Britain Ltd
Hurling
No recognised governing body in England
Ice Hockey
Ice hockey UK
English Ice Hockey Association
Ice Skating
National Ice Skating Association
Jet Skiing
See Sailing and Yachting
Judo
British Judo Association
Ju Jitsu
British Ju-Jitsu Association Governing Body
Kabaddi
No recognised governing body in England
Karate
English karate governing body no longer in operation
Keep Fit
See Movement and Dance
Kendo
British Kendo Association
Kneeboarding
See Water Skiing
Korfball
British Korfball Association
Lacrosse
English Lacrosse Association
Land-Sailing/Yachting
See Sand and Land Yachting
Lawn Tennis
Lawn Tennis Association
Life Saving
Royal Life Saving Society
Luge
Great Britain Luge Association
Model Aircraft Flying
See Flying
Modern Pentathlon
Modern Pentathlon Association of Great Britain
Motor Cycling
Auto-Cycle Union
Motor Sports
Motor Sports Association
Motor Cruising
See Sailing and Yachting
Mountain Biking
See Cycling
Mountaineering
British Mountaineering Council
Movement and Dance
Margaret Morris Movement
Medau Movement
Keep Fit Association
The Fitness League
English Amateur Dancesport Association
English Folk Dance and Song Society
The Laban Guild
Netball
England Netball
Octopush
See Sub Aqua
Orienteering
British Orienteering Federation
Parachuting
British Parachute Association
Petanque
No recognised governing body in England (application awaited from the English Petanque Association)
Polo
Hurlingham Polo Association
Polocrosse
See Equestrian
Pool
English Pool Association
Powerboating
See Sailing and Yachting
Powerlifting
See Weightlifting
Puck Hockey (Roller)
See Roller Sports
Quoits
No recognised governing body in England
Rafting (White Water and Wild Water)
See Canoeing
Rackets
Tennis and Rackets Association
Racketball
See Squash
Rambling
Ramblers Association
Long Distance Walkers Association
Real Tennis
Tennis and Rackets Association
Roller Sports
British Roller Sports Federation
Rounders
National Rounders Association
Rowing
Amateur Rowing Association
Rugby League
Rugby Football League
Rugby Union
The Rugby Football Union
Sailing and Yachting
Royal Yachting Association
Sand and Land Yachting
British Land Sailing
Shooting (Air, Clay Target, Crossbow, Muzzle Loading, Pistol, Rifle and Target)
British International Clay Target Shooting Federation
Clay Pigeon Shooting Association
English Target Shooting Federation
Great Britain Target Shooting Federation
National Rifle Association
National Smallbore Rifle Association
Show Jumping
See Equestrian
Skateboarding
No recognised governing body in England
Skater Hockey (Roller)
See Roller Sports
Skiing
Snowsport England
Snowsport GB
Skipping
No recognised governing body in England
Snooker
No recognised governing body in England
Snowboarding
See Skiing
Softball
Baseball/Softball UK
Sombo
British Sombo Federation
Speedway
See Motor Cycling
Speed Skating (Roller)
See Roller Sports
Squash
England Squash
Stoolball
No recognised governing body in England
Sub Aqua
British Sub-Aqua Club
Surf Life Saving
Surf Life Saving Association
Surfing
English Surfing Federation
British Surfing Association
Swimming and Diving
Amateur Swimming Association
Table Tennis
English Table Tennis Association
Tae Kwon Do
British Taekwondo Council
Tang Soo Do
United Kingdom Tang Soo Do (Soo Bahk) Federation
Tenpin Bowling
British Tenpin Bowling Association
Trampolining
See Gymnastics
Triathlon
British Triathlon Association
Tug of War
Tug of War Association
Ulimate (Frisbee)
No recognised governing body in England
Volleyball
Volleyball England
Wakeboarding
See Water Skiing
Water Polo
See Swimming and Diving
Water Skiing
British Water Ski
Weightlifting
British Weightlifters Association
Windsurfing
See Sailing and Yachting
Wrestling
British Wrestling Association
Yoga
British Wheel of Yoga
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