Counter Offensive: Building a Dynamic Risk Register

“Plans are worthless, but planning is everything.”
— Dwight D. Eisenhower

Situation. Your club knows risks exist—financial, physical, reputational, operational—but without a structured system to track and manage them, hazards are forgotten, ownership is unclear, and mitigation efforts stall. A living Risk Register is the missing link between awareness and action.

THE COMMON APPROACH

Concept of Operations (CONOPS): Most clubs treat risk documentation as a one-time compliance task. A spreadsheet is created, then buried. Risks are vaguely described, rarely updated, and never assigned. When issues resurface, no one knows who was responsible or what was done. The register becomes a static relic, disconnected from real decisions.

TARGETABLE CRITICAL VULNERABILITIES (TCVs)

1. TCV 1: Static or Outdated Risk Records
   – Risks are logged but never revisited. This leads to blind spots, duplicated effort, and a false sense of security.

2. TCV 2: No Assigned Ownership
   – Without clear accountability, mitigation actions stall. Risks linger unresolved, exposing the club to liability.

3. TCV 3: Disconnected from Club Strategy
   – Risk data isn’t used to inform budgets, event planning, or governance—missing its potential as a strategic tool.

THE COUNTER OFFENSIVE

Concept of Operations (CONOPS): A dynamic Risk Register transforms risk management into a living system. It tracks hazards, assigns ownership, and evolves with your club’s operations. When built correctly, it becomes a strategic asset—supporting decisions, protecting members, and reinforcing governance. For a deeper look at how risk fits into your club’s broader mission, see https://missioncomd.com.au/security.

Decisive Events (DEs). To implement this counter-offensive, achieve the following DEs:

1. DE 1: Build the Register Framework with AI Support
   – Use AI tools to generate a custom Risk Register template with essential columns:

   • Risk Description

   • Area of Impact

   • Likelihood & Impact Score

   • Mitigation Actions

   • Owner (Name/Role)

   • Due Date

   • Status (Open, In Progress, Closed)

   • Review Date
     This ensures consistency, scalability, and ease of use across your club’s operations.

2. DE 2: Populate and Assign Ownership
   – Host a workshop with committee members, coaches, and volunteers. Identify risks across facilities, finances, and events. Assign each risk to a named individual or role, and set deadlines for mitigation. Ownership turns awareness into action.

3. DE 3: Embed Review and Revision Cycles
   – Schedule monthly or quarterly reviews. Update risk ratings, add new hazards, and close resolved items. Treat the register as a living document—integrated into committee meetings and strategic planning.

What Success Looks Like. A club with a dynamic Risk Register knows what could go wrong—and what’s being done to prevent it. Hazards are tracked, mitigations are completed, and decisions are made with clarity.

In 2023, the Central Coast Mariners Supporters Club adopted a cloud-based Risk Register with assigned owners and monthly reviews. Within six months, unresolved safety issues dropped by 68%, and budget priorities aligned with their top 10 strategic risks—leading to improved sponsor confidence and fewer incident claims.

Conclusion Risk management isn’t just about identifying threats—it’s about tracking them, assigning responsibility, and following through. A dynamic Risk Register gives your club the structure it needs to move from reactive fixes to proactive governance.

This counter offensive puts you in control—protecting your members, your finances, and your reputation.

Further reading

1. Sport Australia, “Guide to Managing Risk in Sport,” 2020. https://www.sportaus.gov.au/participation/risk_management

2. Institute of Community Directors Australia, “Creating and Using Risk Registers,” accessed July 2025. https://www.communitydirectors.com.au/tools-resources/risk-management

3. WorkSafe WA, “Risk Management Toolkit,” 2024. https://www.commerce.wa.gov.au/worksafe/risk-management-toolkit

4. Mission Command, “Security: Applying the Military Principle,” accessed July 2025. https://missioncomd.com.au/security