Abstract
In a time marked by rapid change, complexity and heightened accountability within the sports sector, program evaluation is critical in ensuring the effectiveness of both sports programs and organizations. Despite its importance, many sport-for-development organizations lack sufficient knowledge and resources (e.g., funding, time) to carry out evaluation, reflecting a broader trend referred to as low capacity for evaluation. To address evaluation capacity gaps, researchers and practitioners highlight “evaluation champions” as key figures that can drive organizational learning and accountability to improve existing evaluation approaches. Evaluation champions are individuals or organizations that actively promote and exemplify best evaluation practices, provide training and support, and mentor peers in program evaluation. However, limited attention is devoted to profiling evaluation champions within the sports sector, making accessibility to evaluation champions limited for sport-for-development organizations operating at lower levels of capacity for evaluation. Therefore, this research aims to provide an illustrative case study of a Canadian sport for development-specific evaluation champion (i.e., Lay-Up Basketball) with a specific emphasis on the impact of their evaluation practices, priorities and approaches. Recommendations and lessons learned from Lay-Up Basketball’s evaluation practices are shared to guide other sport-for-development organizations that engage in evaluation. For instance, recommendations include (a) incorporating creative data collection measures (e.g., photography and filmmaking), (b) taking a team approach to evaluation, and (c) recognizing that evaluation is a process that evolves over time. Findings ultimately add to the ongoing work in Canada to support sport organizations in increasing their capacities for effective program evaluation.
