Use this central website directory to find out more about England's major sporting organisations.
Student resources
Sport England receives enquiries on various aspects of sport in England, particularly from those studying sport. We have prepared a guide to help you find the answers to some of the most common queries. click here
Please note that we do not produce information on individual sports as each sport has a governing body responsible for the organisation of the activity, including national and local provision.
Governing bodies of sport
A list of activities recognised by the national Sports Councils with direct web links to national governing body sites.
Other sports organisations
Links to other bodies or organisations concerned with sport, physical education and recreation.
Other sports councils within the UK
Sports bodies for Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales and the UK.
Other sites of interest
Organisations not directly connected to sport that may prove useful.
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 Events
British Wheelchair Sports Foundation
Cerebral Palsy Sport
British Blind Sport
British Deaf Sports Council
British Paralympic Association
English Federation of Disability Sport
Diving
See Swimming and Diving
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
Folk Dancing
See Movement and Dance
Flying
The Royal Aero Club of Great Britain
British Microlight Aircraft Association
British Model Flying Association
Light Aircraft Association
Fives
Eton Fives Association
Rugby Fives Association
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 Horseracing Authority
Horseriding
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
British 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
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
Unihoc
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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Other sports organisations
links to other bodies or organisations concerned with sport, physical education and recreation.
Adventure Activities Licensing Authority
Association for Physical Education
An Association for advisers, lecturers, inspectors, consultants, advisory teachers and other professionals with qualifications in physical education, sport and dance.
British Blind Sport
Provides sport and recreation for blind and partially sighted people
British Olympic Association
British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences
BASES is the professional body for all those with an interest in science, sport and exercise.
British Institute of Sports Administration
British Paralympic Association
The British Paralympic Association (BPA) is the organisation responsible for selecting, preparing, entering, funding and managing British teams which compete at the Summer and Winter Paralympic Games
British Universities Sports Association
British Wheelchair Sports Foundation
The national organisation for wheelchair sport in the UK.
Central Council of Physical Recreation
Umbrella organisation for the national governing bodies of sport.
Child Protection in Sport Unit
A partnership between the NSPCC and Sport England which provides advice, training and information to help organisations minimise the risk of child abuse during sporting activities
Civil Service Sports Council
Commonwealth Games Federation
Responsible for promoting the Commonwealth Games held every four years.
Countryside Recreation Network
Gives access to information and people concerned with countryside and related recreation matters.
Disability Sport Events
Formerly the British Sports Association for the Disabled, Disability Sport is about creating opportunities and making sport available to everyone, regardless of their ability.
English Federation of Disability Sport
English Institute of Sport
A nationwide network of support services for elite athletes.
European Sponsorship Association
ESA provides information and expertise on all types of sponsorship activity including sport, broadcast, the arts, music, environmental and charity. It runs training and seminar programmes, works closely with the EU on sponsorship issues and provides social and networking opportunities.
Federation of Sports & Play Associations
Fields in Trust (National Playing Fields Association)
A national organisation which has specific responsibility for acquiring, protecting and improving playing fields, playgrounds and playspace.
Football Foundation
A new organisation set up by the Government, with Sport England, the Premier League and the Football Association, to create one single source of money to fund grass roots football.
Institute of Sport, Parks and Leisure
ISPAL is the professional body - for sport, parks and leisure professionals.
Institute of Sport and Recreation Management
The Institute of Sport and Recreation Management (ISRM) is the national professional body for sport and recreation facility management.
Institute of Sports Sponsorship
A member organisation for sponsors of sport.
London Federation of Sport & Recreation
National Council for School Sports
The NCSS is the national forum for school sports associations.
National Water Safety Forum
The forum is the natural body in which organisations involved in water safety will participate in order to have a strong voice with government on water safety issues.
Parasport
A new web based resource in conjunction with professional services firm Deloitte to provide a shop window for the disabled community to promote and foster understanding of what sports might be available to them
Peak Performance Sports
Sports Psychology, mental training & mental toughness resources to enhance athlete confidence focus & composure.
Pool Water Treatment Group
An independent, UK based, non-commercial organisation, operating since 1984 and dedicated solely to raising standards in swimming pool water treatment.
Special Olympics Great Britain
Brings competition; learning, training and sheer pleasure to thousands of people with a learning disability in Great Britain
SPRIG
SPRIG is an organisation which promotes information sources in leisure, tourism and sport.
Skills active
Skills Active is the Sector Skills Council for Active Leisure and Learning.
Sports Aid
Sports Aid grant aids young sports people.
Sporting Champions
A scheme which uses sports stars to inspire young people.
sports coach UK
Sportsmatch
Sportsmatch is the Government's scheme to encourage the commercial sponsorship of grass roots sports.
Sports Turf Research Institute
Carries out research into sports turf and agronomy.
Sports Writers Association of Great Britain
Student Activities Safety Association
Informaton and advice on how to carry out student activities safely.
Welsh Sports Association
Women's Sports & Fitness Foundation
Works to improve and promote opportunities for women and girls to participate in sport in the UK at every level.
Youth Sport Trust
Promotes sport for young people through the TOP programmes.
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Other sports councils within the UK
Northern Ireland
Sports Council for Northern Ireland
Scotland
sportscotland
Wales
Sports Council for Wales
UK
UK Sport
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Links to other sites of interest
This page provides links to bodies or organisations that are not necessarily sports organisations, but may well be of interest to visitors to this site.
Education
National Grid for Learning
Government
Department for Children, Schools and Families
Department for Communities and Local Government
Department for Culture Media and Sport
Department for Enterprise, Business and Regulatory Reform
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA)
Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills
Department for Transport (DFT)
Department of Health
HM Treasury
Home Office
Environment
Natural England
Environment Agency
Health
National Institute for Health & Clinical Excellence
Local government
Chief Cultural & Leisure Officers Association
Local Government Association
Info4local is a portal that provides local authorities with quick and easy access to information from more than 65 government departments, agencies and public bodies. It has many useful facilities including daily e-mail alerts, useful links and sections on ‘Leisure and culture’ and ‘Health, well-being and care’.
Lottery distributing bodies
Arts Council of England
Big Lottery Fund
Community Fund
Heritage Lottery Fund
Millennium Commission
New Opportunities Fund
Sport England
Tourism
VisitBritain
VisitBritain UK Industry
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