Sport federation investment in health promotion: The healthy club project implementation

Research on health promotion has largely investigated the activities of sports clubs, but less is known about the support provided by sports federations. The present study aims at analysing the success and barriers of the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) Healthy Club Project scaling up process. A case study design incorporating document analysis, observation and 8 interviews was used. Data analysis was based on deductive coding using the viable system model. The results indicated a three-level structure (national, county, club). Six employees at the national federation level support the work of 32 volunteer County Health and Well-being Committees and 439 clubs. The strengths are the identification of a single national reference point for clubs and Counties, the learning process and openness to innovation, and the enhanced workforce through a County officer appointment acting as role model. The challenges being faced are resources allocation, the level of engagement of the County and club board, and the training of volunteers. The strengths of the management system include the composition of the steering committee and the proper use of evaluation. Key scaling up levers and barriers of the present program could inform other sport organisations on the scaling up process of their programmes.