Central Highlands Pickleball Club Sponsorship & Commercial Partnerships Policy

1. Purpose

Central Highlands Pickleball Club Incorporated (CHP) welcomes appropriate sponsorship and commercial partnerships that support the Club, its members, activities and development.

Sponsorship can assist CHP to:

  • Reduce the cost of activities for members.

  • Purchase equipment.

  • Improve playing opportunities.

  • Support competitions, Rumbles and tournaments.

  • Support junior and player-development programs.

  • Promote pickleball within the Central Highlands community.

  • Develop facilities and Club programs.

The purpose of this policy is to ensure sponsorship and commercial arrangements are entered into transparently, responsibly and in the best interests of CHP.

2. Scope

This policy applies to sponsorship, commercial partnerships and similar arrangements involving CHP, including:

  • Financial sponsorship.

  • Event sponsorship.

  • Equipment sponsorship.

  • Prizes and awards.

  • Donated goods or services.

  • Venue support.

  • Advertising arrangements.

  • Naming rights.

  • Promotional partnerships.

  • Discounts or benefits provided to CHP members.

  • Other in-kind support.

It applies whether an arrangement is initiated by CHP, a sponsor, a member or another organisation.

3. General Principle

CHP may enter into sponsorship arrangements where the Committee considers the arrangement:

  • Supports the purposes and activities of the Club.

  • Provides reasonable value or benefit to CHP or its members.

  • Is consistent with CHP's values and community role.

  • Does not compromise the independence or integrity of the Club.

  • Does not create an unreasonable financial, legal or reputational risk.

  • Is appropriate for a sporting organisation that includes junior participants.

CHP is not required to accept a sponsorship simply because financial or other support has been offered.

4. Approval of Sponsorship

Sponsorship arrangements must be approved by the CHP Committee or by a person acting under authority appropriately delegated by the Committee.

The Committee may consider:

  • The identity and reputation of the proposed sponsor.

  • The nature of the sponsor's products or services.

  • The value of the sponsorship.

  • The obligations placed upon CHP.

  • The proposed duration.

  • Branding and advertising requirements.

  • Exclusivity arrangements.

  • Potential conflicts with existing sponsors.

  • Potential conflicts of interest.

  • The impact upon members.

  • Child-safety considerations.

  • Financial and legal implications.

  • The reputation and interests of CHP.

For significant sponsorship arrangements, approval should be recorded in the Committee minutes.

5. Suitable Sponsors

CHP welcomes partnerships with businesses and organisations that are compatible with the Club's activities, values and community role.

Examples may include:

  • Local businesses.

  • Sporting organisations.

  • Health and fitness businesses.

  • Pickleball and sporting-equipment suppliers.

  • Hospitality and accommodation providers.

  • Professional services.

  • Community organisations.

  • Appropriate national businesses and brands.

A sponsor does not necessarily need to be directly connected with pickleball.

6. Sponsorships That May Not Be Appropriate

CHP may decline sponsorship where the Committee reasonably considers that association with the sponsor could be inconsistent with the Club's values, responsibilities or reputation.

Particular consideration should be given to sponsorship involving:

  • Illegal products, services or activities.

  • Tobacco or vaping products.

  • Inappropriate or exploitative products or services.

  • Businesses or organisations whose activities may create a significant conflict with CHP's child-safety responsibilities.

  • Material that is discriminatory, offensive or inconsistent with CHP's Code of Conduct.

  • Organisations whose involvement could reasonably damage the reputation or integrity of CHP.

The Committee may also decline a sponsorship for any other reasonable Club-related purpose.

7. Alcohol and Gambling Sponsorship

Because CHP includes junior participants and promotes healthy sporting participation, sponsorship involving alcohol or gambling businesses requires particular care.

The Committee must consider:

  • The nature of the proposed promotion.

  • Whether juniors are likely to be exposed to the advertising.

  • The activity or event being sponsored.

  • Applicable legal or governing-body requirements.

  • The reputation and values of the Club.

CHP may determine that particular forms of alcohol or gambling sponsorship are inappropriate even where they would otherwise be lawful.

8. Independence of CHP

A sponsorship arrangement does not give a sponsor authority over the governance or operation of CHP.

Sponsors must not determine:

  • Committee decisions.

  • Membership decisions.

  • Player selection.

  • Team selection.

  • Disciplinary outcomes.

  • Complaints.

  • Club elections.

  • Member voting.

  • Coaching decisions.

  • Competition results.

  • Other matters properly determined by CHP.

A sponsor may provide input concerning matters directly relating to the sponsorship arrangement, but final Club decisions remain with CHP.

9. Member and Player Selection

Providing sponsorship to CHP does not guarantee a sponsor, its employees, representatives, family members or associates:

  • CHP membership.

  • Preferential access to sessions.

  • Selection for a Rumble or competition.

  • Tournament entry.

  • Team selection.

  • Coaching opportunities.

  • Committee appointment.

  • Preferential treatment in any other CHP activity.

Normal CHP policies and eligibility requirements continue to apply.

10. Conflicts of Interest

All sponsorship arrangements are subject to the CHP Conflict of Interest Policy.

A Committee member or other decision-maker who has an actual, potential or perceived conflict of interest relating to a proposed sponsor must disclose that conflict.

Examples include where the person:

  • Owns the sponsoring business.

  • Is employed by the sponsor.

  • Has a significant financial interest in the sponsor.

  • Has a close personal or family relationship with the sponsor.

  • May receive a personal benefit from the arrangement.

Any material personal interest must be managed in accordance with the CHP Rules of Association and Conflict of Interest Policy.

No person should use their CHP position to secure an improper personal benefit through a sponsorship arrangement.

11. Sponsorship From Member-Owned Businesses

CHP welcomes sponsorship from businesses owned or operated by Club members.

A member's involvement with CHP does not prevent their business from sponsoring the Club.

However:

  • The relationship must be disclosed where relevant.

  • Any conflict of interest must be appropriately managed.

  • Sponsorship should provide reasonable value to CHP.

  • Approval should occur through the normal Committee process.

  • The sponsor must not receive inappropriate preferential treatment.

The existence of a relationship does not itself mean that a sponsorship is inappropriate.

12. Financial and In-Kind Sponsorship

Sponsorship may be provided through:

  • Money.

  • Equipment.

  • Products.

  • Professional services.

  • Venue access.

  • Printing or signage.

  • Prizes.

  • Uniforms.

  • Technology.

  • Advertising.

  • Other agreed goods or services.

Where sponsorship is provided in kind, CHP should reasonably understand the nature and value of the benefit being provided.

In-kind sponsorship should not be represented as a cash contribution unless money has actually been provided.

13. Sponsorship Benefits

Depending upon the arrangement, CHP may provide sponsors with benefits such as:

  • Logo placement.

  • Website acknowledgement.

  • Social media acknowledgement.

  • Event signage.

  • Naming association with an event or activity.

  • Recognition in Club communications.

  • Promotional opportunities.

  • Display of promotional material.

  • Other agreed benefits.

Benefits provided should be proportionate to the sponsorship and approved by CHP.

14. CHP Name, Logo and Branding

CHP retains control over the use of its:

  • Name.

  • Logo.

  • Branding.

  • Images.

  • Website.

  • Social media presence.

  • Other Club intellectual property.

A sponsor must not use CHP branding in a manner that suggests CHP endorses a product, service or position beyond the agreed sponsorship arrangement.

Use of CHP branding may be subject to prior approval.

CHP may require incorrect, inappropriate or unauthorised use of its branding to cease.

15. Sponsor Branding

CHP may display sponsor names, logos and promotional material as agreed.

The Club retains reasonable control over:

  • Placement.

  • Size.

  • Frequency.

  • Context.

  • Duration.

  • Suitability.

CHP is not required to display promotional material that becomes inappropriate, inaccurate or inconsistent with this policy.

16. Members Are Not Required to Support Sponsors

CHP may encourage members to recognise and support businesses that support the Club.

However, membership of CHP does not require a person to:

  • Purchase from a sponsor.

  • Use a sponsor's services.

  • Provide personal information to a sponsor.

  • Participate in sponsor promotions.

  • Endorse a sponsor.

Any member discount or promotional offer should be optional.

17. Member Information and Privacy

Sponsorship does not give a sponsor automatic access to CHP membership information.

CHP will not provide member contact details, personal information or membership databases to a sponsor merely because that organisation sponsors the Club.

Any collection, use or disclosure of personal information must comply with applicable CHP privacy requirements and law.

Where members choose to participate directly in a sponsor promotion, the sponsor may collect information from them under the sponsor's own applicable terms and privacy arrangements.

18. Junior Participants

Additional care must be taken where sponsorship or advertising is associated with junior activities.

Sponsorship must not be used to:

  • Exploit junior participants.

  • Pressure juniors to purchase products or services.

  • Obtain inappropriate access to children.

  • Circumvent CHP's child-safety requirements.

  • Collect children's personal information without appropriate authority.

  • Promote material inappropriate for children.

The CHP Child Safety & Junior Participation Policy applies to sponsorship activities involving children and young people.

19. Photography and Promotional Content

Where a sponsorship arrangement involves photographs, video or promotional content featuring CHP participants, applicable CHP privacy, consent and child-safety requirements must be followed.

A sponsorship arrangement does not automatically give a sponsor unrestricted rights to photographs or recordings of CHP members.

Particular care must be taken with images of junior participants.

20. Written Agreements

Significant sponsorship arrangements should be documented in writing.

Depending upon the arrangement, an agreement may identify:

  • The parties.

  • Sponsorship amount or benefit.

  • Duration.

  • Payment arrangements.

  • Sponsor benefits.

  • Branding rights.

  • Event naming rights.

  • Exclusivity.

  • Responsibilities of each party.

  • Intellectual property.

  • Renewal.

  • Termination.

  • Other relevant conditions.

Smaller or informal sponsorships may be documented through correspondence, Committee records or another appropriate method.

21. Exclusivity

CHP may agree to reasonable sponsorship exclusivity where the Committee considers this beneficial to the Club.

Any exclusivity arrangement should clearly identify:

  • The relevant product or business category.

  • The period of exclusivity.

  • The activities or events covered.

CHP should avoid unnecessarily broad exclusivity arrangements that could prevent the Club from obtaining other beneficial sponsorship.

22. Sponsorship of Individual Players

A sponsorship arrangement between CHP and a sponsor does not automatically create sponsorship of individual CHP players.

Likewise, an individual player's personal sponsorship arrangement does not automatically create a relationship between that sponsor and CHP.

Players representing CHP may be required to comply with reasonable team uniform, event branding or competition requirements.

Any conflict between personal sponsorship and CHP sponsorship should be raised with the Committee.

23. Naming Rights

CHP may offer naming rights for appropriate:

  • Events.

  • Competitions.

  • Awards.

  • Programs.

  • Activities.

Significant naming-rights arrangements require Committee approval and should ordinarily be documented in writing.

Naming rights do not transfer ownership or control of the relevant CHP activity to the sponsor.

24. Changes in Circumstances

CHP may review an existing sponsorship where circumstances materially change.

This may include:

  • Significant reputational concerns.

  • Change in ownership or activities of the sponsor.

  • Breach of the sponsorship agreement.

  • Conduct inconsistent with CHP values.

  • Child-safety concerns.

  • Legal or regulatory issues.

  • Failure to provide agreed sponsorship.

  • Misuse of CHP branding.

The Committee should act reasonably having regard to any contractual obligations.

25. Termination

CHP may terminate or decline to renew a sponsorship in accordance with the applicable sponsorship agreement or where otherwise lawfully entitled to do so.

Where practicable, significant sponsorship agreements should specify termination rights.

Termination of a sponsorship does not necessarily imply wrongdoing by either party.

26. No Automatic Renewal

Sponsorship arrangements do not automatically continue indefinitely unless expressly agreed.

CHP may review sponsorship arrangements before renewal and consider whether they continue to represent an appropriate partnership for the Club.

27. Donations

A genuine donation provided without an expectation of commercial benefit may be treated differently from sponsorship.

The Committee may accept appropriate donations in accordance with CHP's financial processes.

Where a donor seeks advertising, naming rights, promotional benefits or another commercial return, the arrangement may be treated as sponsorship for the purposes of this policy.

28. Transparency and Record Keeping

CHP should maintain appropriate records of significant sponsorship arrangements.

Records may include:

  • Committee approval.

  • Agreements.

  • Financial contributions.

  • In-kind contributions.

  • Sponsor benefits.

  • Conflict-of-interest declarations.

  • Relevant correspondence.

Sponsorship income and expenditure must be managed through CHP's normal financial governance arrangements.

29. Complaints or Concerns

Members may raise concerns about a sponsorship arrangement with the CHP Committee.

Concerns will be considered reasonably having regard to:

  • This policy.

  • CHP's contractual obligations.

  • CHP's Rules of Association.

  • Other applicable CHP policies.

  • The interests of the Club.

The existence of disagreement with a sponsor's lawful business activities does not automatically require CHP to terminate a sponsorship.

30. Relationship With Other CHP Policies

This policy should be read together with:

  • CHP Rules of Association.

  • CHP Conflict of Interest Policy.

  • CHP Code of Conduct.

  • CHP Member Protection Policy.

  • CHP Child Safety & Junior Participation Policy.

  • CHP Committee Protection Policy.

  • CHP Privacy Policy, where applicable.

  • Other relevant CHP policies.

31. Relationship With the Rules of Association

This policy operates subject to the CHP Rules of Association and applicable law.

Nothing in this policy gives a sponsor powers or rights that would otherwise belong to:

  • CHP members.

  • The Committee.

  • A General Meeting.

  • Another person or body under the Rules of Association.

Where there is any inconsistency between this policy and the Rules of Association or applicable law, the Rules of Association or law prevails.

32. Policy Review

This policy will be reviewed annually or earlier where required due to:

  • Changes in CHP's sponsorship activities.

  • Changes to applicable requirements.

  • Experience with existing sponsorship arrangements.

  • Identified governance or reputational risks.

Our Principle

Sponsorship should support the Club, it should never control the Club.

CHP welcomes businesses and organisations that want to contribute to the growth of pickleball and our community.

In return, CHP will seek to provide fair recognition and value to those organisations while ensuring that the interests of the Club and its members remain our priority.

Version: 1.1
Effective Date: September 2025
Last Review Date: August 2026
Responsible Body: CHP Committee
Approved by: CHP Committee
Review: Annually or as required