The list below details the Recognised governing bodies for each of the Home Countries. In some cases there is no Recognised governing body for the sport in any of the Home Countries or there is a UK or Great Britain body which has jurisdiction for some or all of the Home Countries.
List of UK Recognised NGBs and Sport List (Last updated June 2025)
The Sport and National Governing Body (NGB) Recognition Process is currently closed to all new applications whilst the UK Sports Councils (Sport England, Sport Northern Ireland, sportscotland, Sport Wales and UK Sport) undertake a review of the recognition policy and process.
Update 29 May 2025
The Sport and National Governing Body (NGB) Recognition Process is currently closed to all new applications. We expect to re-open the process by Spring 2026. Please check back here for further updates.
Our original intention was to re-open the process in Summer 2025. However, the need to ensure that the new recognition policy is suitable for all involved, and in order to comply with statutory consultation timelines, it has been necessary to re-schedule this.
We appreciate that this delay may be frustrating to NGBs that are eager to apply for recognition. In the meantime, we encourage them to continue developing their sports and their organisation’s governance. The previous Recognition Policy (2017) UK-recognition-policy-2017 and its associated Applicant Guidance Document will provide an understanding of the criteria we previously required NGBs to meet in order to become recognised. There is also some really helpful information on the Sports Governance Academy website that offers guidance on good practice.
In the meantime, we would encourage you to continue developing your sport and your NGB’s governance. You may wish to refer to the previous Recognition Policy (2017) and its associated Applicant Guidance Document to gain an understanding of the criteria we previously required NGBs to meet in order to become recognised.
There is also some helpful information on the Sports Governance Academy website and our Good Governance page provides further guidance on codes and good practice.
If you have any queries about Recognition, email recognition@sportni.net
