A National Governing Body (NGB) is an organization that governs and administers a sport on a national basis, whether that is for the whole of the United Kingdom, for Great Britain, or for one of the Home Countries individually. NGBs are non-profit, non-governmental organizations responsible for promoting and developing a particular sport within a nation. They control key assets such as national team brand, support youth and elite level national teams for both genders, develop Olympians, collaborate with International Federation of the particular sport, national Olympic Committee and IOC to qualify athletes and national teams to participate in international events. NGBs are viewed as the custodians and guardians of their sport and are expected to deliver the following functions within their area of jurisdiction:
- Control and regulate the environment of its sport.
- Administer the practice and participation of its sport.
- Develop its sport.
- Influence both its members and the wider community.
NGBs are responsible for defining their sports policies and are typically organized with legislative and executive branches at the top. The legislative body is usually referred to as a congress or general assembly of the international federation and is responsible for defining its sports policies. On the other hand, the executive branch, which is often referred to as the council or executive committee, consists of elected members by the legislative branch and is responsible for directing, managing, and representing their federation.
