The role of external partners in shaping the organizational capacity of collegiate sport clubs: a Delphi study

Research questionCollegiate sport clubs (CSCs) are prominent sport outlets for college students yet struggle to achieve their goals due to unique challenges in the collegiate context (e.g. membership restrictions, university regulation). Little is known about how the university, recreational sport department and sport governing bodies (SGBs) impact CSC capacity. This study examines how the university (i.e. external partner) influences the management of CSCs and how external partners (e.g. university, SGB) support and/or constrain clubs' organizational capacity.Research methodsA 3-iteration Delphi study was conducted with 17 expert panelists in CSC management across the USA.Results and findingsThe panel disagreed on the organizational practices influencing clubs' capacity at the departmental level, yet agreed at the university level, emphasizing mitigating university liability. The panel lacked consensus on the constraints limiting clubs' capacity, suggesting these were institution specific. When describing ideal organizational management practices that support club capacity, panelists agreed staffing, communication and collaboration across external partners are critical.ImplicationsTheoretical implications address the influence of the external environment on organizational capacity in the context of CSCs. Recommendations for practice include reciprocal representation across external partners, collaborative decision-making, and negotiation of constraining regulative policies to promote club autonomy and support.