Equal Opportunities International

Purpose – The purpose of this research is to investigate equality policy development through an examination of The Equality Standard: A Framework for Sport and consider implications for practitioners and research-based alternatives.

Design/methodology/approach – A textual analysis of The Equality Standard: A Framework for Sport.

Findings – The Equality Standard represents a shift from historic “one suit fits all” versions of equality policy creation in sports organisations. It is limited, however, by a reliance on formalised audit measures, limited encouragement of organisational involvement in creating equality policies, a reluctance to acknowledge powerful, taken-for-granted assumptions about equality, and an inability to encourage organisations to reflect on their history and culture.

Research limitations/implications – Calls for future research into the further critique of audit-based approaches to equality implementation and stronger links between academic research and practitioner experience.

Practical implications – To encourage individuals to critically examine equality within sports organisations with a view to adopting a more reflective framework of equality in which to address organisational processes.

Originality/value – This research contributes an analysis of recent equality policy development in UK sport. It uses textual analysis to examine policy in order to offer alternative avenues for policy development.