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As a reaction to the Flemish policy to improve quality in sports, the Flemish Ministry of Sports and the Governmental Sport Administration (BLOSO) decided to establish a quality (evaluation) system. The objective was to help sports clubs and federations with the introduction of quality management in their respective sports. In response to this large-scale project, and with the background of the recently developed Instrument for the Evaluation of Gymnastic clubs (IKGym), a more generally applicable model for the evaluation of traditional sports clubs has been developed. This evaluation tool, named IKSport, was tested in 1,657 sports clubs. IKSport is as a computer information system designed to introduce “Total Quality Management” in sports clubs. It provides insight into the intrinsic value of the management systems of sporting organisations. The evaluation of management quality is made using a clustering of item weights into seven checklists. Most Flemish sports clubs seem to have adequate scores on these checklists. The main weaknesses were found in strategic planning and marketing management and the structure of the clubs. Organisational culture and atmosphere were strengths based on this study of Flemish sports clubs. Based on the results of this evaluation a specific plan can be developed to help these clubs improve their management systems. In this way, the government hopes to improve the quality of the traditional sport system in Flanders.

As a reaction to the Flemish policy to improve quality in sports, the Flemish Ministry of Sports and the Governmental Sport Administration (BLOSO) decided to establish a quality (evaluation) system. The objective was to help sports clubs and federations with the introduction of quality management in their respective sports. In response to this large-scale project, and with the background of the recently developed Instrument for the Evaluation of Gymnastic clubs (IKGym), a more generally applicable model for the evaluation of traditional sports clubs has been developed. This evaluation tool, named IKSport, was tested in 1,657 sports clubs. IKSport is as a computer information system designed to introduce “Total Quality Management” in sports clubs. It provides insight into the intrinsic value of the management systems of sporting organisations. The evaluation of management quality is made using a clustering of item weights into seven checklists. Most Flemish sports clubs seem to have adequate scores on these checklists. The main weaknesses were found in strategic planning and marketing management and the structure of the clubs. Organisational culture and atmosphere were strengths based on this study of Flemish sports clubs. Based on the results of this evaluation a specific plan can be developed to help these clubs improve their management systems. In this way, the government hopes to improve the quality of the traditional sport system in Flanders.

This paper has tried to show how the principles of TQM have been introduced in the Flemish sport structures by means of a wide application of the IKSport model. Although every country has its own sports structures and cultural characteristics, the main standards of management practice in traditional sports clubs are similar. To give the reader a better understanding of the standards that were used in IKSport, an overview of the results of a large-scale project (1,657 sports clubs) was given. The general model can be applied in other settings with minor adaptations to address the local context. However, with regard to the operational aims, it must be emphasised that the main objective of the study was not to put an average score on the quality of Flemish sports clubs; rather it was to advise clubs about the necessary means to optimise their management systems. Sports clubs were free to participate. As a consequence, this project probably reached primarily well-structured sports clubs of considerable quality. Nevertheless, the acquired information gives an idea of the main strengths and weaknesses of (well-structured) sports clubs that can be used for recommendations about sports policy. Total Quality Management: A Race without a Finish Line This project represents remarkable progress in the Flemish policy to introduce quality (management) in sport at a basic level. However, for it to be effective, it must continue. To achieve that end, all sports federations (89) and municipalities (244) involved in this project received a CD-ROM containing the instrument. Delegates from federations were trained to carry out interviews and received a portable computer. Moreover, as a consequence of this study, sports federations receive additional subsidy from the Flemish government for quality-related projects. In the future, subsidies might be divided among clubs on the basis of (some standards of) IKSport. In the Netherlands, all necessary measures have been undertaken in order to implement this system. Together with other club supporting projects, (e.g., PrinS) an ongoing project by NOC and NSF to assist (voluntary) sports organisations with professional advice) and SPIN (a close network of sport offices in the Netherlands to handle all sports-related problems in an efficient way), this wide implementation of IKSport*NL is intended to contribute to the realisation of one of the central aims of NOC and NSF: to enhance the service quality and professionalism in these particular sport organisations