NGB Development
National Governing Bodies are the building blocks of international sports. They are a necessary component in pursuit of Olympic aspirations. More immediately, they represent an ideal pathway to sustainable sport development.
Roundnet Belgium getting the crowd ready at the first European Grand Slam.
Roundnet’s continued high growth trajectory is dependent on coordinated groups working together to promote participation, create inclusive opportunities to play, and develop top level athletes to represent their countries. The International Roundnet Federation’s goal is to foster strong NGBs and create a shared vision for success at a global level.
Role of NGBs
The role of the NGB is twofold. The first role is developing sport engagement and participation domestically. This includes introducing roundnet in school and youth programs, promoting awareness through inclusive events, developing regional clubs/groups, creating cohesive series of events that connect players from different parts of the country, and hosting a national championship.
The second role of NGBs is to represent their country on the international stage. This includes developing and selecting national teams, promoting international participation through hosting and attending sanctioned events, and being a representative of their country’s perspective within global forums.
Goal of NGBs
Not surprisingly, the specific goals of NGBs closely mirror the role they serve.
Increased participation, diversity, and opportunities to play
Growth of tournament series and national championship
Success at international events
However, these specific goals all support a concrete milestone — being recognized by the National Olympic Committee and/or the national highest sporting authority of the Country. With this recognition comes increased awareness, legitimacy, and government funding opportunities to support continued growth.
How the IRF helps NGBs
The IRF represents a shared mission to take roundnet to the highest level. For NGBs, this gives more purpose to everything they are already working towards and raises the ceiling for what’s possible. It defines a clear path to success that encourages collaboration that was previously impossible.
When the scope gets bigger, the stakes get higher. The IRF helps NGBs reach their full potential by providing greater awareness, exposure, and esteem for the sport as a whole. The connection to an International Federation strengthens the role of National Federations. World Championships and other marquee events make international competition more meaningful.
As such, the IRF illustrates the legitimacy and direction of roundnet. These efforts support NGBs ability to gain traction, be taken seriously, and command funding by the highest sporting authorities in their countries. This is a synergistic relationship because as NGBs grow, the strength of the International Federation increases opening up aspirational opportunities such as inclusion in the World Games or Olympics.
Additionally, the IRF creates a global forum for the sport. This means improved international communication, shared resources, aggregated best practices, and coordinated strategic planning that furthers the collective goals. It also means providing a standard for rules, formats, and qualifications that allow international competition to thrive.
While NGBs share a vision with the IRF, they work independently to execute that vision within their country. Autonomy is important to create laboratories of democracy, letting the best ideas, processes, and practices rise to the top. Together we can take roundnet to the next level.
