Exploring how voluntary sports clubs implement external advisory inputs

Given a shortage of volunteers, voluntary sports clubs (VSCs) are facing an increasing demand for external advisory programs to help effectively deal with challenges, but this help does not always lead to successful problem-solving. Therefore, this paper analyzes the factors that are critical for the implementation of external advisory programs. Three critical interfaces were theoretically defined – (1) receiving and processing, (2) adopting and transferring, (3) structural embedding – that determine the process of implementation of advisory inputs. Using a case-study design, semi-structured interviews were conducted according to the framework with team leaders from 10 Swiss football clubs participating in their federation’s advisory program to improve the clubs’ volunteer management. The result shows that different factors could hinder or promote implementation included receiving and processing the advisory inputs, reflecting and adapting, and assessing its structural embeddedness within the club. The findings provide valuable information about critical factors for implementation of advisory programs that are relevant for VSCs to succeed as well as for the federations to develop sustainable advisory concepts for their clubs.