Conditions and mechanisms of trust within boards of voluntary sport governing bodies

Trust is considered beneficial for team work, as, for example, in boards of sport governing bodies (SGBs). However, strong trust within teams can also limit creativity and encourage corruption. Dealing adequately with trust, hence, seems to be a challenge for organisations and decision-makers involved. To better understand the complex phenomenon of trust in the SGB board context, the study examines the conditions and underlying mechanisms of trust within SGB boards. Referring to systems theory and the social function of trust, the empirical design of the study follows a constructivist approach. To ensure indepth insights into the multifaceted issues of trust, the study comprises data from organisational documents and semi-structured interviews with 16 volunteer board members of German state-level SGBs. The data was analysed by content analysis according to Mayring (2015). Findings indicate low reliability of decision-making structures, with personal trust serving as a functional equivalent to the weak formal regulations set out by the organisations. In this respect, system trust seems to be based on a common sense of mutual personal trust on the board. The findings also highlight trust-relevant conditions and mechanisms of trust and reveal how these affect the functioning of the board. By demonstrating the functionality of trust for establishing reliable expectations within boards of voluntary SGBs, the paper complements the literature on good governance, leadership, and voluntary engagement in sport organisations.