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Club Development Overview

Cathal Brugha Swimming & Water Polo Club

Belfast City Council‘Game Changer’

Sports Development Conference10th Dec. 2014

Phil Kelly, ChairmanCathal Brugha S&WPC

Introduction

Cathal Brugha Swimming & Water Polo Club• Established 1932• Has around 150 active members• Based at Andersonstown & Falls Leisure Centres and Lagan Valley LeisurePlex• Water Polo is our priority sport• Teams at U10, U12, U14, U16, U19, Men & Women

Water Polo in Ireland

• Swim Ireland is our Governing Body• National Water Polo Committee administers water polo in Ireland• Clubs are based in all four provinces• National League & Cup Competition Programme is in place• Ireland is represented at various International Tournaments annually

1937

1974 2002

1955

1982

19922012

2014

2014

Necessity to review Club Development Planning was agreed at Club meeting on 3rd June 2010 & volunteers nominated to lead in the building of a Development Plan

BCC Sports Development Unit agreed to offer assistance Informal & formal discussions/workshops held with Club

members Current Plan reviewed & successes noted Initial recommendations drafted for inclusion in new plan Draft plan agreed with Senior Officers 20th July 2010 Draft plan agreed with Executive Committee on 25th Aug

2010 Plan agreed with Club Members & Officials on 7 Sept 2010

Club Development Planning

…a fresh start in 2010!

Club Executive Committe

e

Coaches Team Managers

Child Protection Officers

Registration & Cash Collection

Players Website Manager

Chaperones

Public Relations Officer

Etc, Etc, Etc.

Existing Cathal Brugha Club Structure

Cathal Brugha Executive Officers

Director of Marketing &

Communication

Income Generation Manager

Income Generation Team

Communication & Events Manager

Communication & Events Team e.g.

PRO, Schools Liaison Officers

Director of Coaching

(non-coaching role)

Team Coaches

Players

Club Senior & Junior Managers

Team Chaperones

Referees & Table Officials

Admin & Support Team e.g.

Registration Officers, Child

Protection Officers

New Club Management Structure

Create a Sound Finance & Admin Structure

Ensure Sufficient Facilities & Equipment were available

Improve numbers of available players & skilled Coaches

Compete Effectively & Build Strategic Partnerships

Develop & Encourage Volunteers

Achieve Sustainable Successes

Main priorities of the plan

1: Sound Admin & Finance Structurea) Fully functioning Executive

Committeeb) Adequate volunteer resourcec) Appropriate safety standards

applyingd) Financial structure compatible

with current and foreseen commitments

2: Sufficient Facilities & Equipmenta) Available & well used pool

and dry training time compatible with current and foreseen commitments

b) Available equipment is sufficient for requirements and replacement plan is in place

3: Optimum Number of Players & Skilled Coachesa) Size and strength of

‘player pool’ is sufficient to deliver good chance of success

b) Number & qualifications of coaches meets current and foreseen needs

4: Competing & Bringing Strategic Influence in all Appropriate Areasa) Competition success

goals are set & monitored for next five years

b) Strategic influence areas identified and targets set

5: Volunteer resources available to Service Training Sessions, Competition & Administration Commitmenta) Appropriate volunteer structure in

place & operatingb) Communications plan in place &

operatingc) Volunteer recognition plan in place

and operating

6: Sustainable Successa) Competition success targets are

metb) Coaching and player input is as

requiredc) Finances are sound and

sustainabled) Club administration is delivering

to an appropriate levele) Club operation is safe & enjoyable

for allf) Good communication levels are

attained

Key Priorities Identified & Outcome Objectives Specified….

‘What success l

ooks

like..’ Action Plans

Developed

to support delivery

of objectives

‘What success looks

like..’ Action Plans Developed to support delivery

of objectives

Written Plans & External Recognition…..

….current plan & annual reports are available for download from www.cathalbrughawaterpolo.com

Development Journey Milestones & Key Achievements….

2010• Decision to review

Club Development Planning

• Belfast City Council Sports Development Advice

• Planning to Plan – consult widely with Club Members

• Identify clear & achievable short term goals

• Identify clear actions to deliver required outcomes

• Early evidence of improvements

2011/12• Initial One Year plan produced to

put in place improvement enablers e.g. resources identified

• New Committee structure put in place

• BCC Large Dev. Grant (£5,000) successful

• Partnership project ‘Make a Splash’ pathway to Club water polo 

• New website & facebook page launched

•  Coach qualifications were achieved

•  Junior Coaching was Reviewed • Clubmark accreditation was

achieved and subsequent external validation was provided by Sport NI

• Substantial media & internet coverage throughout the year increased the public profile of the Cathal Brugha Club

2012/13• Coach qualifications were achieved at Level 1

Water Polo, Pool Safety, Mini Water Polo, FUNdamentals, Disability Awareness, First Aid, Child Protection, BCC ‘Out of Hours’ Training

• A ‘Level 0’ point of entry Course was created and delivered for aspiring Water Polo Coaches

• Coaching Activities & Lesson Planning Booklet has been developed and distributed to Coaches

• Cathal Brugha achieved Gold Clubmark accreditation within the Belfast City Council award scheme

• Great Britain U19 Team partnered Cathal Brugha in a training camp held in Bangor, Lisburn and Belfast in April 2013

• Jérôme Read and Laura Kerr were appointed as Water Polo Advisor and Strength & Conditioning Coach

• Member Database has been reviewed and updated

• Men’s Premier League Winners 2012/13• Awarded Ulster & Ireland Swim Ireland Club of

the Year• Ciaran McGurk Swim Ireland Junior Club Coach

of the Year

2013/14• Website, Facebook, Twitter and Flickr

regularly visited by Club members• Two new Level Two Water Polo Coaches

qualified• Junior Coaching Sessions Reviewed &

three training camps held at Falls Leisure Centre

• Jérome Reid and Laura Kerr overseen Junior development programme

• Competition highlights: Runners-Up in both Men’s & Women’s Premier Leagues & Cup Finals and 3rd place in Div 3. U11’s won Belfast League and Lisburn Cup

• Mini Water Polo Scheme delivered to six Primary Schools at Falls L.C.

• £500 donation to NI Children’s Hospice as a result of our annual Christmas morning swim

• Substantial Junior Competition Programme delivered

• Pre-season Parents Meeting

2010/11…

1 x U11 League

3 x Clubs

40 Participants

2011/12…

1 x U11 League

4 x Clubs

62 Participants

2012/13…

2 x U9 Tournaments1 x U9 League1 x U9 & U11 Lisburn Cup

2 x U11 Tournaments1 x U11 League1 x U9 & U11 Lisburn Cup

7 x Clubs

432 Participants

2013/14…

3 x U9 Tournaments1 x U9 League1 x U9 & U11 Lisburn Cup

3 x U11 Tournaments1 x U11 League1 x U9 & U11 Lisburn Cup

Belfast Primary Schools Pilot Event (400 Boys & Girls)

2 x U14 League ( 6 x teams)1 x U14 Blitz Tournaments

7 x Clubs & 6 Primary Schools

1,152 Participants

2014/15…(projected)

2 x U10 Tournaments2 x U10 Leagues1 x U10 & U12 Lisburn Cup

2 x U12 Tournaments2 x U12 League1 x U10 & U12 Lisburn Cup

Extend Belfast Primary Schools Pilot Event

2 x U14 League ( 6 x teams)2 x U14 Blitz Tournaments

1 x Irish U12 Cup (Dublin)

1,620 participants (approx.)

Cathal Brugha Junior Water Polo Competition Development Programme

{Under 14, Mini & Maxi water polo tournament & league events developed & delivered by Cathal Brugha Swimming & Water Polo Club, supported by our partners in Belfast & Lisburn City Councils

Mini & Maxi Water Polo Programme

Belfast Christmas League Champions 2013

Cathal Brugha - Social Media OutletsWebsite: www.cathalbrughawaterpolo.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/cathal.brugha.5 Flickr: www.flickr.com/photos/63279120@N05/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/cathal_brugha

Email: info@cathalbrughawaterpolo.com

Website - Facebook – Twitter - Flickr

Website, Facebook & Twitter – online from September 2012

Some Website Stats for past 12 months……….

4,166 unique visitors visited our site (3,430 )

7,938 visits (7,816 )

20,035 page visits (21,538 )

50 Countries & 424 Cities

428 Facebook followers – highest of any Club in Ireland (300)

76 Twitter followers (31)

www.cathalbrughawaterpolo.com

Media Coverage…

Junior activities Planned for 2014/15 Season

• Under 10 Mini Water Polo League - From 21ST Nov 2014 at Atown L.C.

• Under 12 Maxi Water Polo League – from 21ST Nov 2014 at Atown L.C.

• U9 & U11 League Finale on Friday 12th Dec. 2014• Under 12, 14, U16 & U19 Irish Cups – 2014/15 Season

• Mini & Maxi Tournaments in New Year at Belfast & Lisburn

• Ulster U14 League at Andersonstown – Nov/Dec 2014 & May/June 2015

• Lower Falls Primary Schools event at Falls Leisure Centre – Jan/Feb 2015

• Cathal Brugha Junior ‘Shark Camp’ at Falls LC – Feb/Mar 2015

• U10, U12 & U14 Summer Leagues (May/June) & Challenge Games • Bag Pack at Asda Andersonstown, Easter 2015• Cathal Brugha Junior (U16) Forum

• Introduce ‘Teamer’ contact software

• Sponsored Swim – February 2014

• Trips for Junior to view Senior Team games

• Increase Member numbers• Improve relationship with Schools &

Universities• Financial stability• Additional Coaching Qualifications• Increased Parental involvement• Higher level performance development• Influence future of Andersonstown Leisure

Centre development project• Improve planning for competitive success• Administration – recruit ‘Shadow’ Officers?• Explore ways to improve internal

communication• Sustain & build upon improvements gained

so far…

Challenges

www.cathalbrughawaterpolo.com

Email: info@cathalbrughawaterpolo.com