Championship Policy and Guidance 2026

Sporting Section Championships should be the flagship event of each sporting season.

As PSUK enjoys a rich diversity of sport across all sections, it is near impossible to offer definitive rules which cater for that diversity of competition.  Accordingly this policy offers broad principles and guidance to be followed (where applicable), along with a series of ‘must do's' relating to safety, insurance and accountability. 

 


 


 

Organisation of the Event

Each Sporting Section must decide how to organise the event, this may be done by via two options:

1.

The Section Committee, establishing a dedicated Championships Planning Sub-committee to organise the event internally to the section.

2. 

The Section may allocate the event to a host force or sports club, with a dedicated liaison via a Championship Secretary.
 

If any section wishes to organise the event by other means due to the nature of their sport, that will be considered by exception report to PSUK Board of Directors

 

Planning Considerations and Guidance

The organising body should consider the following points and implement as appropriate.

Location

Events should be hosted as centrally as possible giving fair recognition of travel for all competitors, including PSNI, Police Scotland and the more remote GB Forces

Key Planning Tasks

 

 

Championship Approval and Accountability

New Events

 

Any new, or significantly altered national championships should submit a report of structure and recommended charges to the PSUK Board for approval before activation.

Established Events

   

For established championships, these can continue without annual approval.

The organising section/body should ensure that Championship planning includes a full breakdown of financial costs.  It is recommended a Championship account is established to aid ease of scrutiny. This annual balance sheet and account should be separate to any Grant Funding account and should be produced annually by each section, not only at the point of dip-sample.

Accountability

The PSUK Board of Directors sub-committee for Championship/ Events will select 5 Sports per annum (post event) to dip sample the account, detail of the planning, hosting and charges attributed to their event.

 

 

 

 

Championship Charges

The charges made for entry fees should be kept to a minimum and should cover legitimate expenses for costs associated with hosting and running the event.

The cost of entry fees must be clearly established for reference of force sports clubs or the annual dip-sample scrutiny.

The presentation evening or function should not be included in the costs presented for participation.

 

Safety, Security and Insurance

Annual national championships should be a fun celebration and flagship event for each section.  The enjoyment of the event can only be made if based upon the planning committee ensuring a safe event.

A safe event needs a number of areas of mitigation

  • The National threat level should be considered in terms of the broader safety of competitors
  • Health and safety responsibilities should be fully exercised via risk assessment for the event
  • The serving and security status of competitors, and any associated risk (covert / armed / sensitive) should be considered and any social media, championship reports, photographs or any other reporting should not present compromise.

For the planning, health and safety and insurance elements, each championship should appoint a safety officer.

This officer should follow “Guidelines for Safety Officers” as Appendix 1.

The safety officer should also establish clarity and confirmation of event insurance, this including the extent of venue/host insurance along with PSUK insurance.

Risk assessment and insurance considerations should extend across:

  • The Venue
  • Competitors
  • Officials
  • Public Liability
  • Employers Liability

For more about Event insurance click here

Insurance Policies

 

 

Medals, Awards and Perpetual Trophies

It is recommended that the planning sub-committee establishes a clear individual or team to have responsibility for trophies and awards.  It can be quite an undertaking.

There are two types of award for Championships

Perpetual Awards

These awards are often of significant status and value, and are used for annual presentation and return.  There is often significant history to these trophies – both in terms of section history, memorial and financial value.  PSUK retains ownership of these awards and record must be held of the recipients at all times.  PSUK will periodically audit these awards in terms of location, value and insurance.

Annual Medals / Trophies

These are presented to winning teams and individuals for keeping and are not returned.

These medals and trophies should be appropriate to the status of the national championships, but should not be cash awards or other expensive items.

 

 

Championship Presentation

Integral to the fun of national competition is the celebration of winners and awards. 

It is recognised that the presentation is of huge importance, but it should remain a key element supporting the enjoyment of overall event, and should not take precedence over sporting competition.

Key considerations for the presentation

  • It should be hosted in a format which maximises attendance.  The event is for the enjoyment and recognition by section members, and should not be prioritised for other interests.
  • Consulting the broad section membership is recommended, and should offer the range of options from informal buffet or BBQ with parallel presentation through to more formal meal and presentation.
  • Expensive banquets or similar expensive formats are not supported.  It should be borne in mind that individuals and sports clubs pay for the enjoyment of the event. 
  • The cost of the event should be commensurate with the status of the championship and must not be funded from competition entry fees.

If any event secures sponsorship and is to adopt a different structure or investment, this should be reported by exception to the PSUK championship and events Chair for consideration and approval prior to hosting.


 

 

 

Sponsorship and Support

Sponsorship is a legitimate means to support a section or championship if that support is tested against, and aligned with, PSUK Strategic priorities.
 

The Strategic Priorities for 2026 are

  • Increase the profile, reach and impact of Police Sport UK across serving and retired members in the UK.
  • Maximise the role of Police Sport supporting physical, social and psychological health and well-being, in our overall efforts to promote the benefits of sport to Policing.
  • Maximise the support and regulation of National Police Championships as the flagship of approved sporting sections.
  • Maximise efforts to attract those younger in service to participate, working with Force Sports clubs, key stakeholders and partners to develop a breadth of offer, pathway and support at grass roots.
  • Maximise participation through transparent agreements and structures defining local competition, inter force competition, regional competition, National Championships and international competition.

Any section considering approaching sponsors should have the security and reputation of the service primarily in mind.

The following points must be considered and deemed compliant by the national sporting section committee before any sponsor relationship is established.

The sponsorship should

  • Support PSUK Strategic Priorities
  • Promote Police Sport to members, our communities and businesses by professionalising team appearance, enhancing the experience and pride in participation. 
  • Provide support which will not provide compromise or conflict to the police service. 
  • Support PSUK Sporting Section, it is not sponsorship of a particular force. No enhanced policing service, commercial advantage or access to staff for a business advantage can ever be offered. 
  • Champion the critical role Police Sport plays in supporting the well-being of serving and retired staff who provide protection to our communities. Support to PSUK helps support the thin blue line. There can be no expectation of any form of direct service benefit, business advantage or enhanced policing service. 

Any sponsorship of a national championship should be clearly presented in accounts and available for audit.  Sponsorship should only be for the enhancement of the event, no individual or person gain is acceptable.

 

 

 

Balances, Reserves and Roles

It is accepted that sporting sections which organise their own championships (rather than a sport club or force), may want to hold a working balance in a Championship Account for the efficient annual planning and booking of a championship event.

This holding balance is seen as legitimate for the booking of venues, pitches, grounds or similar that need full or deposit payment in advance.

Similarly, other services such as programmes, pin badges, function related costs may also need advance payments to secure them in advance, and before any entry fees are drawn down.

A working balance of up to £5000 is seen as appropriate relative to the size and scale of a particular championship.

Entry fees must not be elevated to secure this working balance. 

Fund raising efforts (raffles, football cards, side pool competitions) can be made but they should not be paid for by entry fees or by sports clubs.  This profit can be held as a working balance, and when exceeding the balance of £5000, to be invested by the section in actions delivering PSUK strategic priorities.

Key Roles

PSUK operates across all sections by the commendable efforts of an army of volunteers.  The section championship planning sub committee (as recommended in this policy) is to be based upon unpaid volunteers.

Only in exceptional circumstances can a sporting section consider paying a modest honoraria to an individual that performs a role which involves effort far beyond that which would be considered reasonable in terms of supporting the section and championship.

 

 

 

Have questions about running a Championship? 

Whether you're looking for guidance on planning, organising, hosting requirements, or the overall process, the Police Sport UK team is here to support you every step of the way.

Get in touch with us at enquiries@policesport.uk to discuss your enquiry, receive further information, or speak with the appropriate member of the team.

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