Counter Offensive: Conducting a Club-Wide Risk Audit
A call for sports clubs to adopt a comprehensive risk audit framework that proactively addresses physical, financial, and reputational threats.
"It’s not about eliminating risk but about managing it effectively.”
— Mark Webber, Australian racing driver
Situation. Every sports club faces a spectrum of risks—financial, player injuries, reputational damage, and more. While club leaders understand these threats exist, translating that awareness into a structured, proactive plan remains a major challenge.
THE COMMON APPROACH
Concept of Operations (CONOPS): Peak bodies often recommend minimal, informal spot checks—quick walks of playing surfaces or cursory equipment inspections. Clubs adopt this low-effort routine and react only when incidents occur, not if they do. This reactive stance leaves hidden risks unaddressed and exposes the club to avoidable harm.
TARGETABLE CRITICAL VULNERABILITIES (TCVs)
TCV 1: Unidentified High-Impact Hazards. Financial risks (unbudgeted claims), physical dangers (uneven fields), and reputational threats (publicised incidents) all slip through informal reviews.
TCV 2: Inconsistent Risk Oversight. Without documented assessments or a central Risk Register, volunteers lack visibility on outstanding hazards or completed mitigations.
TCV 3: Eroded Stakeholder Confidence. Sponsors, members, and regulators expect robust risk management. Surface-level checks signal complacency and undermine trust just when support is crucial.
THE COUNTER OFFENSIVE
Concept of Operations (CONOPS): Implement a formal, club-wide risk audit that systematically identifies, assesses, and mitigates every threat—physical, financial, and reputational. Embed the military principle of Security to safeguard people, assets, and the club’s standing. For a deeper exploration of security principles in sport, https://missioncomd.com.au/security
Decisive Events (DEs)
DE 1: Comprehensive Hazard Mapping. Facilitate workshops with coaches, groundskeepers, and volunteers to catalogue risks across venues, finances, and operations.
DE 2: Risk Assessment & Prioritisation. Use a simple risk matrix (likelihood vs impact) to rank each hazard. Tackle top-tier risks immediately; schedule lower-tier risks into an action plan.
DE 3: Allocate Ownership & Document Actions. Assign each priority risk to a named individual or team. Record mitigation steps, completion dates, and review intervals in a living Risk Register.
DE 4: Embed Regular Reviews. Conduct quarterly reviews of the Risk Register. Update ratings based on incident reports, seasonal shifts, and new initiatives to keep your audit alive and actionable.
What Success Looks Like: A club that completes a structured risk audit shifts from firefighting to foresight. Hazards get stamped out before they escalate, incident costs drop, and volunteer hours pivot from crisis-management to strategic growth.
In 2022, the Perth Netball Association adopted Sport Australia’s audit framework to assess four suburban courts. They uncovered cracked surfaces, poor drainage, and missing boundary markings. After resurfacing courts, installing drainage channels, and repainting lines, on-court injuries fell by 56% and insurance claims dropped by 42% within one season—freeing funds for junior development programs.
Conclusion. Relying on cursory spot checks leaves clubs exposed to costly surprises. By launching a structured, club-wide risk audit—grounded in security principles—you move from reactive fixes to offensive risk management. Protect your members, your finances, and your reputation with a living Risk Register and disciplined follow-through.
Further reading
Sport Australia, “Guide to Managing Risk in Sport,” 2020. https://www.sportaus.gov.au/participation/risk_management
WorkSafe Western Australia, “Risk Management Toolkit,” 2024. https://www.commerce.wa.gov.au/worksafe/risk-management-toolkit
Mission Command, “Security: Applying the Military Principle,” https://missioncomd.com.au/security