Ulster Badminton Club Development Plan

Transcription

1 Ulster Badminton Club Development Plan Ryan Prentice Club and Coaching Officer

2 Introduction. The Olympic sport of Badminton is one of the UK s top six participant sports, with a well established network of clubs, coaches and volunteers. It is one of the most inclusive sports, appealing equally to both sexes, as well as a wide range of minority groups. Badminton is popular because of its accessibility and due to it being a lifelong activity. Facilities are widely available, the sport is relatively cheap compared to other racket sports and only two people are required to enjoy a game. The sport is simple to introduce to beginners and there are no significant health or safety issues. As an indoor sport it is an attractive activity to be played throughout the year, and is a non contact sport that uses light equipment. The popularity of the game is a strength on which we can build, but unstructured participation presents both a challenge and opportunity to us. Many people who wish to play more seriously, or realise their full potential even at a modest competitive level, may be unaware of the opportunities and consequently we have a desire to strengthen the entry points into, and the pathways through, badminton in Ulster.

3 Role of the Clubs. Clubs are vital for the sustainability and development of any sport. At present there are 79 clubs affiliated with Ulster Badminton through Badminton Ireland. Our clubs play a vitally important role in developing badminton across Ulster. It is the clubs that can directly impact of their local community and provide an avenue for participation and enjoyment for players of all ages and abilities. The club environment for many children is where they are first introduced to the sport and where a love and passion for the sport is developed. As well as providing an outlet for participation and enjoyment, our clubs also have a huge responsibility for providing age appropriate activities and correct coaching to

4 all children and young players to ensure they are set off on the correct path to allow them to reach their maximum potential, whatever level that may be. As a Governing Body we have a responsibility to work with all affiliated clubs and support them in providing the best standard of service for all members regardless of age or ability. Quality clubs that provide enjoyment, positive experiences, appropriate competition and challenges, appropriate coaching and are run by dedicated volunteers are critical if clubs are to survive and develop and individuals are to realise their full potential. Through many initiatives, including Ulster Badminton s Clubmark NI Scheme and Coach Development and Education courses, we hope to support clubs and their volunteers both on and off the court over the next 4 years to make a positive impact on the badminton experience of all members. Leagues. Currently we have 8 Club based leagues across the province. The biggest of these is the Ulster League which is made of 7 divisions. All matches take place at the National Badminton Centre in Lisburn and the league contains international players, top junior players and club players of all standards. The league also attracts top players from the Republic of Ireland due to the standard of competition. There are also a number of regional leagues that provide great competitive opportunities for junior and adult players across Ulster. All leagues have different divisions to ensure clubs can enter their players into an environment that is suitable to their standard so to help ensure all players can enjoy their experiences. A list of Ulster based leagues is below: Ulster League Ballinderry League Church of Ireland League North Down League Coleraine and District League Down Junior League East Antrim League North West League

5 Volunteers. Volunteers play a vitally important role in Badminton across many different areas. Whether it is sitting on committees, organising and running competitions, administrating leagues or running / helping one of our many clubs on a weekly basis the sport simply could not survive without this work and these individuals. The most obvious volunteer on a weekly basis is the person or people that run the clubs, whether this is a chairperson, treasurer or coach. These people ensure that clubs continue to run and provide playing opportunities for its members and the local communities. Ulster Badminton as a Governing body currently offers limited training opportunities for volunteers. At present we organise annual Safeguarding Children and Young People in Sport, Child Protection Designated Officer and First Aid courses. In addition to this Ulster Badminton s Club and Coaching Officer also regularly updates clubs and coaches of beneficial courses being organised by other organisations, such as local authorities.

6 Current Position. In September 2012 Ulster Badminton began a process of self evaluation and benchmarking to establish where the organisation currently sat in regard to the following different systems across the association: Club Development Talent Coaching High Performance Governance This Sport Northern Ireland process was to help the Governing Body with strategic planning for the funding period, known as Performance Focus. This system saw each Governing Body system ranked against a number of different areas on a 5 stage marking process. This process is outlined below: 1. Not yet Established Best practice has yet to be established 2. Emerging Best practice has partially been produced 3. Established Best practice has been partially produced and partially applied 4. Embedded Best practice has been fully applied and managed 5. Excellence Best practice has been fully applied and is world leading. The diagram below shows Ulster Badminton s Club Development System position as of the self evaluation in 2012 and the target for Planning Comms & Affiliation Develop Ment needs info Support Services Education Opps Clubmark Scheme Reward & Profile Overall System Rating 2012 Emerging Established Emerging Established Established Established Established Established 2017 Embedded Embedded Embedded Established Embedded Embedded Established Established

7 From the self evaluation we were able to recognise a number of strong areas within Ulster Badminton and also a number of weaker areas. A selection of these areas is included in the table below. It is important to point out that all the areas within the Club system will need to improve over the 4 year period as even the areas that are to remain Established must increase their individual score to maintain the rating. Stronger Areas. Full time Officer with a Club Development remit Strong and effective means of communication Comprehensive club database Outreach work with School and local authorities / communities Strong safeguarding and vetting information, guidance and provision Support for new clubs starting up Weaker Areas. No formal Club Development Plan Limited knowledge of development position of local clubs No process currently in place to obtain information relating to development needs on a regular basis Limited work on volunteer management and development Currently no development opportunities for club volunteers in non coaching roles Currently no club and GB communication strategy

8 Clubs and Long Term Player Development. We want and need our clubs to play an important role in the long term development of future International and medal winning Ulster badminton players. Our playing pathway clearly shows that clubs play an important role in developing young players with a passion for the sport. Club coaches have a huge responsibility of ensuring young players are exposed to age appropriate practices and that games are challenging but suitable to their level so the players are always improving and are given the best chance of reaching their maximum potential. Ulster Badminton s goal on a performance level is to create an environment that gives players the best possible chance to move onto either: The GB World Class Performance Programme, based in Milton Keynes The Ireland High Performance Programme, based in Dublin. This is the goal of the Ulster Performance Stream which is embedded within the Playing Pathway. The Performance Stream is defined as: the player development pathway recommended for Ulster players who aspire to win medals at World, Olympic, European and Commonwealth level This Player Development Pathway starts when young players are first introduced to the sport, whether that s in a school or a club setting, and it is only through a quality club environment that a player will reach the standard required to make it onto one of the programmes within the performance stream. Ulster Badminton believes in the work of the clubs and therefore part of the entry criteria into the performance stream is that players are active members of a club. The club has to be the players home and should remain a constant for them no matter what programme they are involved in. As well as being part of the entry route in the performance stream, clubs also act as catch net for any player leaving the performance stream and help to ensure they are retained in the sport.

9 Below is Ulster Badminton s Player Pathway Model: 1. Primary schools 2. Secondary schools 3. Junior Clubs 4. Adult clubs 5. Raw Performance Training 6. Emerging Performance Training 7. High Performance Training 8. Ireland/GB training

10 Club Development Plan. The purpose of this new 4 year development plan is for Ulster Badminton to plan and set out how it will support Ulster based affiliated clubs in their progression over this period. The plan will look at many off court issues such as Club management, facilities, Safeguarding and Child Protection, as well as focusing on volunteer and coach development to help with on court activities. As well as supporting existing clubs these resources will also be available for new clubs just starting out as we continually look to increase the numbers involved in the sport. The plan is about making a difference to badminton clubs regardless of their size. It is about recognising that clubs have the most important role in badminton in the province and how we can work together to get more people into the game and offer a quality experience for players of all ages and abilities. Over this 4 year period, , we have a simple vision to: Increase entry routes into the sport and into Clubs Create high quality fit for purpose badminton clubs Increase the recruitment, education and development of coaches and volunteers We see this being achieved by: Clubs contributing to the future of badminton locally Understanding the development needs of our clubs Identifying and supporting the training needs of coaches and volunteers Regular club self assessments Greater contact between clubs and Ulster Badminton. Following on from the 2012 London Olympics the duration of this plan will take in the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. This major sporting event will again capture much interest in all sport including badminton and is a great opportunity to promote the sport and our clubs. Key sporting events like those mentioned provide clubs and the Governing Body with the platform to work together to grow the sport across the province.

11 Our Mission. Over this 4 year period, , we have a simple mission to: Increase entry routes into the sport and into Clubs Create high quality fit for purpose badminton clubs Increase the recruitment, education and development of coaches and volunteers This being achieved through close links with our clubs and their involvement in many of our programmes, including: Clubmark NI Scheme Club Leaders Coach Legacy Programme Teicnic Badminton Shuttle Time Outreach work with organisations and local authorities

12 Achieving our Mission: Increase entry routes into the sport and into clubs for players and volunteers. Active Communities to support the Sport NI Active Communities programmes, working with AC coaches, both racquet sport and multi sport coaches, to help create the maximum number of participant opportunities possible. Ulster Badminton will also work with these coaches to create links with their programmes and local clubs to help ensure all programmes lead to something more sustainable. Local Authorities Ulster Badminton will support all Try It events / one off or short term sporting events to raise awareness of the sport and the local clubs and how players can get involved. Ulster Badminton will also work with LA s to provide qualified coaches from local clubs to help facilitate holiday coaching programmes and fun weeks. Ulster Badminton over the period, will introduce pay as you play schemes across local authority leisure facilities that will be supported by local clubs with the aim of attracting new and former players to the sport without the financial barrier of membership fees. Holiday Programmes As an organisation in conjunction with schools and local clubs we will organise holiday programmes for children and young people to introduce them to the sport and to promote local clubs. Ulster Schools Badminton Association (USBA) we will continue to support and offer advice to the USBA programmes and teachers. We will also work to increase the number of member schools in the association and also look to ensure all these schools are linked with a local club. Primary Schools Ulster Badminton recognise that getting children involved in the sport at a young age is vital if we are to attract new players into the sport. We will therefore look to work with Primary Schools across Ulster to development badminton programmes (fun days / festivals etc) in local areas where schools can come together and children can enjoy the sport in a relaxed setting. Ulster Badminton will ensure local club involvement in all programmes so a pathway is created for each child. University Outreach Programmes we will work with local universities to support their sport outreach programmes that deliver badminton coaching to primary and post primary schools across the province. Sports Leaders Over the period, , we want to work with Sport NI and post primary schools across Northern Ireland on the Sport Leaders programme to create a group of new young leaders that can work within local schools, clubs, and local areas to develop the sport.

13 Create high quality fit for purpose badminton clubs During the period Ulster Badminton would like to introduce and develop the following programmes and areas within our affiliated clubs. Clubmark NI Scheme this scheme is about helping clubs to develop and by working towards accreditation, will assist clubs to adopt and implement effective policies and procedures and to deliver relevant and appropriate opportunities for participation and development in a safe environment. The scheme will also ensure accredited clubs will comply with minimum operating standards. Teicnic this Badminton Ireland skills based programme focuses on the technical progression of players, particularly those in a junior club environment. The programme consists of 7 levels and each level provides clubs with a well structured, easy to follow, progressive programme that club coaches and volunteers can deliver to their players. Ulster Badminton will work with clubs across the province to deliver free training courses to help develop a consistent approach to player development across province. Shuttle Time Ulster Badminton will work with all affiliated junior clubs to ensure that were appropriate, the club has a minimum of one coach qualified to Shuttle Time level. Annual Updates through communication with club volunteers and coaches we need to develop simple mechanisms where Ulster Badminton can attain annual development updates on the current position of clubs. Support and Guidance to provide clubs with support and guidance on all aspects of club development, including sourcing and applying for funding and also to encourage them towards our Clubmark NI scheme. Understanding of Performance Pathway with our Player Pathway now established and our Performance Stream now growing across Ulster, we now must ensure there is a clear understanding of each stage of the programme by all clubs. As previously mentioned our clubs are key to ensuring players start off on the correct path and as our programme develops, we will further rely on club volunteers and coaches to complete player reviews on players with the potential to be on one of these programmes. It is therefore important that clubs understand this process and what as a Governing Body we are looking for. Recognition to work with our affiliated clubs to ensure that they are getting suitable recognition for the work they are doing. Whether this is at Badminton Ireland, Sport NI or local authority level.

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15 Increase the recruitment, education and development of coaches and volunteers Coaching Network to develop a network of coaches from across the province of all levels and experiences to help when reviewing and proposing future coaching objectives. The network will also give Ulster Badminton a group of people on the ground helping to promote workshops and courses to attract new coaches into the sport. Club Coach CPD Opportunities Identify areas of continuous professional development for all coaches involved in the pathway from schools and clubs up to performance. To deliver regular workshops regionally around the country catering for the needs of the coaching population. When identifying the training needs for CPD the Coaching Network will be used. Coach Education to work with Badminton Ireland and Sport NI to deliver an annual programme of Coach Education. This will include sport specific badminton coaching awards and qualifications and generic workshops such as Safeguarding Children and Young People in Sport and Designated Safeguarding Children s Officer. Coaching Database to develop and maintain a database of all active coaches in Ulster. Club Coach Co-ordinators to introduce Club Coach Co-ordinators into our affiliated junior badminton clubs. Teicnic Programme to use the Teicnic programme to train and develop coaches of all levels to deliver a well structured, progressive and age appropriate coaching programme to young players in a club environment. Coach Recognition to work with Sport NI and Badminton Ireland to ensure all coaches are recognised for the work they are doing in their clubs and throughout the province. Club Leaders during the period Ulster Badminton will work closely with Sport NI to support the Club Leaders programme by encouraging clubs to participate in the training. The programme aims to develop those club volunteers that deal with areas off court. Club Leaders offers workshops in the following subjects: Understanding your Club Finances Paye and Employment Status Developing a Business Plan Organisation Structures Cash Flow and Budgeting Marketing Strategies Financial Policies and Procedures

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17 Club Communication Sub Plan To enable us as an organisation to improve and be successful in our mission we must improve how we communicate with our affiliated clubs, their coaches and their members. This communication needs to be two way with all parties having a clear understanding of what we as an organisation are trying to achieve and how they can assist us. As an organisation we need to be approachable and our members should feel comfortable when getting in contact with us. Website to have a Club Development section on the website that is visible and is regularly updated with relevant club information. The site will also contain photographs, contact information and job descriptions of Ulster Badminton staff so clubs know who they can contact. Club Resources to have relevant resources on the Ulster Badminton website for clubs to utilise including all resources and templates needed for the Clubmark NI process. Club Development Plan to publish Ulster Badminton s Club Development Plan on the website. Development Services to use the website and other means of communication to ensure all clubs are aware of the services that are available through Ulster Badminton and the support we can offer. to distribute a monthly mail shot to all affiliated clubs detailing upcoming courses and workshops and also including information on activities of other clubs. Regional Workshops to hold regional workshops on an annual basis that includes practical demonstrations for club coaches and an open forum for discussion on club development matters. Twitter to engage with all clubs and members who have access to a Twitter account. Over the next 4 years we will look to maximise this form of social media as a tool to promote the organisation and the work we are carrying out.

18 Ulster Badminton Club Development Plan April 2013 March 2014 Year 1: CLUB DEVELOPMENT PLAN ( ) Club Development Action Target Timescale Responsibility Annual Club Audit Response from 50% of January 2014 clubs Club Development Plan Completed and on Ulster March 2014 Badminton website Clubmark Accreditation 3 Clubs Accredited March 2014 Scheme 3 Clubs working towards accreditation Workshops 2 x Club Coach Development 1 x First Aid 1 x Safeguarding 1 x Designated Officer March 2014 Year 2: CLUB DEVELOPMENT PLAN ( ) Club Development Action Target Timescale Responsibility Annual Club Audit Response from 75% of December 2014 clubs Club Accreditation Scheme 5 Clubs Accredited 3 Clubs working towards March 2015 Workshops (Development workshops to include discussion forums) Club Communication accreditation 3 x Club Coach Development 1 x First Aid 1 x Safeguarding 1 x Designated Officer 1 x Club Leaders Develop and update Club Development Section of the website. March 2015 Develop Sept 2014 Update ongoing Update Club Contact Information September 2014

19 Development Monthly mail shots via to all Club contacts Continue to promote School Club Links September 2014 March 2015 Continue to assist with new and existing club developments March 2015 Work with LA s with participation schemes and holiday programmes to promote local clubs and attract new participants into the sport. March 2015 Year 3: CLUB DEVELOPMENT PLAN ( ) Workshops (Development workshops to include discussion forums) Club Communication Club Development Action Target Timescale Responsibility Annual Club Audit Response from 90% of December 2015 clubs Club Accreditation Scheme 8 Clubs Accredited 5 Clubs working towards accreditation Assist Clubs with re- March 2016 accreditation 3 x Club Coach Development 1 x First Aid 1 x Safeguarding 1 x Designated Officer 2 x Club Leaders Develop and update Club Development Section of the website. March 2016 Develop Sept 2015 Update ongoing Update Club Contact Information September 2015 Development Continue to promote School Club Links March 2016

20 Continue to assist with new and existing club developments Work with LA s with participation schemes and holiday programmes to promote local clubs and attract new participants into the sport. March 2016 March 2016 Year 4: CLUB DEVELOPMENT PLAN ( ) Workshops (Development workshops to include discussion forums) Club Communication Club Development Action Target Timescale Responsibility Annual Club Audit Response from 100% of December 2016 clubs Club Accreditation Scheme 12 Clubs Accredited 6 Clubs working towards accreditation Assist Clubs with re- March 2017 accreditation 3 x Club Coach Development 1 x First Aid 1 x Safeguarding 1 x Designated Officer 3 x Club Leaders Develop and update Club Development Section of the website. March 2017 Develop Sept 2016 Update ongoing Update Club Contact Information September 2016 Development Continue to promote School Club Links March 2017 Continue to assist with new and existing club developments March 2017 Work with LA s with participation schemes and March 2017

21 holiday programmes to promote local clubs and attract new participants into the sport.