3. Recognition Policy process overview The recognition policy covers the following processes: Applications The application process covers how an unrecognised organisation can apply to become the recognised NGB for a jurisdiction. The application process is separated into two the pre-application and the full application. The pre-application is designed to ensure the applicant organisation meets the basic criteria prior to progressing to full application stage. The full application is a more detailed part of the application process which allows an organisation to demonstrate why it should be the recognised NGB and ultimately leads to a decision on recognition. Reviews The recognition review process covers how a recognised NGB is monitored against the minimum criteria for recognition. De-recognition The de-recognition process covers how a recognised NGB can be Discipline change A discipline is a branch of a sporting activity comprising one or more events (for example track cycling is a discipline of cycling). The discipline change process details how a recognised NGB needs to update its status following any changes to disciplines.
The location of the applicant’s headquarters or registered office is the deciding factor determining which Home Country Sports Council will carry out an assessment. For example if an organisation has its headquarters and registered office in England, the assessment of its application will normally be carried out by Sport England. The UK Recognition Panel will consider all pre-applications. It will decide if pre-applications involving the recognition of new sporting activities are rejected or are passed to full application. All decisions relating to the recognition of NGBs will follow the protocol set out in paragraph 54. The Sports Council Boards will consider all full applications following recommendations made by the UK Recognition Panel. All decisions relating to the recognition of NGBs will follow the protocol set out in paragraph 54. All decisions relating to the recognition of new sporting activities will follow the protocol set out in paragraph 54. The jurisdiction of the NGB is the deciding factor determining which Sports Council Board(s) will approve the decision to recognise an NGB as follows: Jurisdiction in one Home Country only – the relevant Home Country Sports Council. Jurisdiction in Great Britain – Sport England, sportscotland and Sport Wales. Jurisdiction in the United Kingdom – England, sportscotland, Sport Wales and Sport Northern Ireland. Olympic or Paralympic sports and NGBs – UK Sport, Sport England, sportscotland, Sport Wales and Sport Northern Ireland. Regardless of the jurisdiction of the applicant NGB, decisions relating to the recognition of new sporting activities will always be made by all four Home Country Sports Councils (plus UK Sport where the application relates to an Olympic or Paralympic sport). The decisions of the Sports Council boards there is more than one Sports Council Board approving a decision) must be unanimous for an application to be approved. Where unanimity has not been reached, the application will be referred to the Sports Councils’ Chief Officers Group to allow for further discussion and review. Chief Officers will reconsider the application taking account of the merits or issues discussed by each respective Board when reaching their separate decisions. If a consensus is then reached, Chief Officers will make a recommendation to their respective Boards for their consideration. For the avoidance of doubt, unanimity will continue to be a requirement for the application to be approved. 8. Recognition Review Purpose