Research question: The paper aims to build knowledge on the trade-offs and unintended consequences of professionalization in the context of sport policy advocacy. Two questions are addressed: (1) What institutional roles make up the sport policy 'advocacy team' and what trade-offs are inherent in the formation of this team? (2) How do the unintended consequences of this trade-off precipitate a cross-level diffusion of professionalization? 

Research methods: Data from interviews with 46 staff and elected representatives of 19 Swedish Regional Sport Federations form the empirical base. 

Results and findings: The formation of the advocacy team points to an efficiency/democracy trade-off. An uninteded consequence of this is a cross-level difussion of professionalization that undermines the general standing of elected boards. 

Implications: Management should consider the trade-offs inherent in professionalization reforms, because in some cases they may contain the seed of their own reconstruction and reflect ill-considered management practice.