Formation of a club system in sports: experience of different countries

This article analyzes the processes of forming a club system in sports, which serves as a key element in organizing sports activities in many countries. It examines contemporary models of sports club functioning in the context of globalization. The relevance of this issue is driven by the fact that, under globalization and digitalization, the sports sector faces new challenges such as unequal access to resources, financial instability, the introduction of new technologies, and the need to adapt to modern socio-economic conditions. Therefore, it is essential to study and analyze the experiences of different countries. Particular attention is given to comparing approaches to club-based sports organization in European countries. The study demonstrates, through examples, that the club system serves as a foundation for increasing public engagement in sports, developing school, university, and professional sports, and fostering achievements in high-performance sports. The article also analyzes the characteristics of club systems in developed European nations. It is found that the European model is dominated by community-based clubs built on the principles of inclusivity and voluntary participation, whereas in the United States, a commercial approach prevails, emphasizing individual athlete development and profit generation. Additionally, the article explores the formation of the club system in Ukraine and examines the contemporary challenges facing sports clubs. The development of the club system in Ukraine is progressing slowly due to numerous political and economic factors, the ongoing war, reluctance to move away from traditional (Soviet-era) approaches to sports development, a lack of experience and a critical mass of individuals who understand the essence of the club system and its role within the national sports framework, as well as the fragmentation of empirical research on the establishment and effective management of sports clubs. Finally, the article proposes recommendations for adapting successful international practices to the Ukrainian context to further develop the national club system.