Data on Gaussian copula modelling of the views of sport club members relating to community sport, Australian sport policy and advocacy

In Australia, community sport plays an essential role in the objectives of national sports organizations and local and national social policy more generally. The opinions of senior community sport club officials (n=53) in rural New South Wales concerning sustainability, policy and advocacy matters impacting upon community sports clubs (CSCs) were identified. Participants were surveyed to establish the level of influence of top-down sport management structures alongside rudimentary views on a coalition to advocate for community sport. Gaussian copula graphical models (GCGMs) were applied to demonstrate the raw and partial correlations between participant responses. While frequently associated with finance, science and medicine, the application of copulas is increasingly common in research in sport where there are multiple variables and relationships involved. GCGMs have been used in, for example, analysis in soccer and across physical education in general.