IF some of the enormous scandals that have rocked the sporting world are anything to go by, there is a real need for the new book by Ireland’s Anne McFarland which explores Sports Governance.

Her second book, Sports Governance - A Guide for Sporting Entities, has recently been published by Orpen Press and will be distributed by the Olympic Federation of Ireland (OFI) to its constituents.

However, that aside, this book would undoubtedly prove both a welcome and an useful guide for all sportspeople – no matter what their chosen discipline – as well as sports/news journalists, commentators and legal people alike.

In penning the book over the course of this year, McFarland aimed to create a straightforward guide for the leaders of the various sporting entities and it seems she has achieved just that.

In her foreward, the president of the Olympic Federation of Ireland, Sarah Keane, wrote: “Irish athletes want to be the best in the world. We also want sport to be inclusive and to give everyone a chance.

To achieve this, all of us who are involved in sport must dedicate ourselves to making sure that our sporting entities are running as effectively as possible. In this book, Anne shows us an excellent road map. It is up to each of us to undertake the journey.”

Governance code

Sport Ireland is tasked with ensuring good governance in sport in this country and they are overseeing a process whereby all national governing bodies (NGOs) in sport must have a governance code in place by the end of 2021.

McFarland’s book is very much a guide as to how to comply with the governance code.

No doubt it will come as a welcome relief to athletes that governing bodies will be working to a code of governance – a big step forward in itself. Horse Sport Ireland, the NGO for equestrian sport in this country, is already in compliance.

McFarland also openly encourages affiliates to look closely at their governance issues – the key areas of strategy, risk, accountability and monitoring all need close attention.

Constitutions need to be updated, board size should really not exceed 11 people where possible to help ensure cohesion and written policies should be in place.

Hopeful that sports governance will gradually reach all sporting entities, right down to the smaller clubs, McFarland’s book includes a specific section in each chapter for the smaller entity.

We’ll leave the last word to the author herself.

“I do fear unfettered power in the hands of a few in any sport. I do fear the promotion of personal interests and I fear the lack of financial understanding among all members of a board.

“However, I also recognise the huge, selfless input that is made by so many individuals. My book is really written for them, to give them a guide as to how to run an efficient and effective organisation.”