Whitehaven AFC Football Development Plan
Where are we now?
At the present time the football club has been successful in securing ownership of the ground through purchase from the County Council, and by attracting grants to enable the building of a third generation all weather facility. This will form the basis of our development for the next 5 years.
We have 11 teams at present, consisting of seven junior teams and 2 open age teams, a ladies team, and an over 35's team. All junior games are contested on the new facility and the scope is there for further development and use.
Sponsorship and funding has enabled the club to fulfil away fixtures in the Wearside League and provide new kit on a regular basis. A weekly ticket draw is operated throughout the season, and this, along with the sales in the bar are our major contributors to the running of the club. With the proposed new facility, it is intended that the club will find itself in sustainable position at the end of a 5 year trading period.
We have encouraged parents and players to undertake Level 1 coaching badges, and it is envisaged that this will be enhanced in the next few years. Our teams are well run by volunteers, and the increase in numbers supporting us in this way is seen as crucial to our continued development.
The appointment of our Facilities Manager and Development Officer has been key to the success of the club and it is envisaged that he will continue to contribute to this by attracting new business and establishing links with schools and other agencies.
We wish to be seen as providing equal opportunities for all to participate in sport, but we are struggling to provide such opportunities due to poor changing facilities, which are unsuitable for the disabled, and for female changing. In addition, they do not meet recent changes outlined by the F.A. At present we DO hold training sessions and festivals for girls, but these have to be carefully organised with recognition of our legal responsibilities.
The club has just been awarded Community Charter Standard Status, a tribute to the hard work and effort already undertaken
The Five Year Development Plan
The following plans have been decided upon following a review of what we currently provide and what we wish to achieve in the future. These areas have been agreed upon at board level and enjoy their support.
1.Recruit and retain players and volunteers
Named person to organise: Committee member
Actions:
- Open days to target particular groups, i.e. different age groups of boys and girls. This can also involve parental meetings at the beginning and end of the season to inform and enthuse parents. It is planned to introduce a handbook to achieve such development and to produce a regular newsletter.
- Encouraging parents and/or volunteers to undertake Level 1 coaching awards at our club or attend training days. This can be supported by helping on match days or festival days.
- Formation of girl's / ladies teams and provide access for disability groups' use.
- Advertisements both within the club and externally to attract suitable volunteers and increased participation of players. This can be extended to schools by flyers and posters, and developing an internet website.
Success criteria and timescale:
Production of club handbook - By beginning of season 2008/09
Formation of girl's / ladies teams - During season 2007/08
Completion of clubhouse improvement including changing rooms - By mid 2009
36 extra Level 1 coaches - By 2013
Website development - By Dec 2007
2. To improve and sustain the development of coaches
Named person to organise: Dave Moore and Development Officer
Actions:
- Attract new coaches to the club by methods outlined previously and link with volunteer recruitment.
- Encourage existing Level 1 coaches to progress to Level 2 and above.
- Increase the total number of Level 1 coaches at the club by encouraging players to take their badges.
- Run coaching courses at the club.
Success criteria and timescale:
36 extra Level 1 coaches - By 2013
Formation of a coach's register to keep records of active coaches - From the beginning of season 2007/08
The training of 10 extra Level 2 coaches by 2012. This will begin in season 2007/08
The award of at least one Level 3 Coaching award By 2012
3. To improve the facilities at Whitehaven AFC
Named person to organise: Bill Robson, Shaun Hocking and Facilities Manager
Actions:
- To meet with required agencies as necessary. These include Westlakes Renaissance, Sport England and any other funding body which may enhance our project.
- To oversee the development of the new changing facilities.
- To improve general access to the STP and the club.
Success criteria and timescale:
Key to this development will be the building of totally new facilities, i.e. new clubhouse, changing rooms, facilities for the disabled and office requirements. This will enable the club to target those groups identified in the business plan whose access is severely restricted due to the inadequate facilities provided.
Plans to be drawn up and acceptable to funding agencies - By December 2007
Applications for funding confirmed - By March 2008
Detailed design and tender - By September 2008
Construction from - October 2008
Completion - Summer 2009
4. To increase participation in football
Named person to organise: Football Development Officer
Actions:
- In conjunction with the designated Head of Youth, F.A. Football Development Officer and school groups, to encourage schoolchildren who wish to participate in playing football to have the opportunity to do so at our club.
- To increase the number of teams to include mini soccer, juniors and girl's teams, and to provide equal opportunities for all.
- Develop strong links with schools by increasing the contacts already established and provide a way into the club.
- To increase the number of ‘taster' days, targeting infants and girls. Flyers and posters to be used on these days.
- Hosting coaches/skills days during holiday periods and holding tournaments or festival days.
Success criteria and timescales
Monitoring the increased usage by the target groups. This can be compared with numbersusing the facility and be undertaken on aquarterly basis. Begun 2006 and to continue.
Questionnaires distributed for feedback - Begun Easter 2007
Increase number of schools using the facility - By end of 2008
Establish mini soccer centre based at the club - Easter 2009
Increase the number of professional clubs using the club as a base for coaching children - By summer of 2008
Many of these initiatives will link previously identified developments contained in the plan. Wherever possible, these links will be strengthened.
Our vision.
Aims
•1.1 Our vision is to provide the highest quality sporting facility and make this available to the local community as well as our own members, with the emphasis on youth. This can be achieved by holding quality coaching sessions at the new facility by qualified coaches. Children and the local community will be encouraged to attend by visiting schools and holding open evenings. Youth games will be held during the summer to encourage more children to come and use the facility. The football club, it is hoped, will benefit in the long term with more talented players being produced through the system.
•1.2 Through the ongoing programme of development of teams and facilities we will provide a continuously improving environment in which everyone can actively participate. We will be sending our coaches on more advanced courses to improve their ability and techniques, to the benefit of the teams and players.
•1.3 Our vision is dependent on receiving the necessary funding to assist in any such development and also by generating our own income streams.
Objectives
•2.1 To provide quality facilities in which all groups can participate, with the club building a new clubhouse with top of the range changing rooms. These will include female changing facilities and disabled access.
•2.2 To maximise the number of people using the club and making it possible for female participation. Again this can be achieved by visiting schools and giving talks, handing out flyers and holding open days at the club. Currently we have 2 of the local secondary schools using our club for school matches, and there is the potential for extending this usage to include girl's football.
•2.3 To increase the opportunity for youth development through quality coaching. We are committed to a plan of action to increase the number of Level 1 coaches at the club, and to encourage those who already have this qualification to undertake their Level 2 awards and beyond.
•2.4 To attract young people who play football in quality surroundings, irrespective of ability. This will be done by introducing mini soccer to the youngest children and organising coaching sessions and mini tournaments to develop skills. The emphasis for all of these sessions will be on enjoyment and participation.
•2.5 To develop the club into one of the most progressive clubs in Cumbria. This can be achieved by including all of the above in a cohesive plan of development, along with making the most of the considerable expertise which already exists within the club. The building of a new clubhouse with top of the range changing facilities would enhance this vision and enable further development of the senior team, and ultimately the club, by progressing into the Northern League.
Targets
To double the size of the youth section within 5 years. In addition, we plan to develop the club by forming further female teams and enabling participation by disabled and disadvantaged groups. We are currently in the process of starting our female teams and are confident we can achieve this successfully. To encourage both male and females to come to the club, we will be holding sessions at the club under the auspices of a number of professional clubs. These clubs will be coming to us during the summer and holding sessions on our pitch to encourage children to come and use our club.
• To introduce girl's teams in the next 12 months, and to further develop the ladies team which has gained membership of the North Lancs League. This will build on the existing links with secondary schools who have responded positively to the sessions and matches provided specifically for them.
• To achieve promotion to a higher league for the senior team via the football pyramid system. We can achieve this by recruiting better and more experienced players attracted by the quality facilities provided, as well as by sending our coaches on more advanced courses to improve the quality of sessions provided.
• To develop stronger links with schools, promoting the club and its facilities within the next 24 months. As a club we have already run school competitions and tournaments for primary and secondary aged children. These can be extended and improved by developing our links with schools. This can be achieved by going into the schools which haven't participated yet to deliver sessions, or by encouraging the schools to come to the club for the sessions.
• To increase the number of volunteers at the club. We mean to offer parents the opportunity to go on the Level 1 coaching course, thus involving them and making them feel they are part of the club. We plan to develop all participants in further F.A. training courses, (first aid, child protection etc.) and to sustain a high number of participants through advertising and direct contact. A Volunteer Co-ordinator will be appointed by the club to explore other ways of encouraging people to contribute to the life of the club.
Rolling Programme of Development
• It is envisaged that our existing facilities will be improved by working in co-operation with existing governing bodies, Local Authorities and external funding agencies so that our vision of a Premier Community Facility can be achieved.
• The introduction of programmes for coaches, team managers, volunteers and officials in conjunction with the F.A. will be implemented. The club will be introducing a club handbook containing all the club rules and regulations, which will be given to all members of the football club and updated every year.
• Participation in the ‘Football in the Community' programme will be extended and enhanced. We will be holding mini soccer days encouraging children to come and enjoy the game. Both sexes and all age ranges will be catered for and encouraged to come.
• We will be strengthening existing links between local clubs. We will be running football festivals, football competitions and holding coaching sessions, inviting local clubs to come and participate in the sessions we have available. Other clubs will be permitted to use the ATP if their pitches are unplayable and if the facility is available. The facility will be made available for representative games and cup finals.
Recruitment
• The club is committed to raising the profile of the club and recognises the need to recruit and retain quality personnel. The success of the Senior team could be an important factor in developing this commitment, as is the good management and successful marketing of the facility.
• The club will seek to attract such people on an on-going basis, irrespective of the proposed development being successful, and a structured method of achieving this aim should be included in the development plan.
The club is committed to attracting the best players it can for all its Football teams. The highest quality pitch and top of the range changing facilities should help us attract good quality players.
Youth Development
•6.1 To meet the club's visions and targets we will seek to attract young players of both genders to enjoy football in quality surroundings. The methods previously outlined in this document are considered to be the best way to do this.
•6.2 Through links with local primary and secondary schools we will seek to provide quality coaching sessions throughout the year.
•6.3 Our aim is to provide opportunities for mini soccer by increased contacts with primary schools and the local community. We would offer our facilities for tournaments and competitions. This would increase the number of children coming to our club and using our facilities and in turn encourage them to join one of our teams.
•6.4 Where possible, and in line with development policies, we will endeavour to add more teams and coaches to the club. As a club we already encourage parents to get involved with teams. We are hopeful that by giving them the opportunity to study for their coaching badges the club will increase its range and pool of expertise.
•6.5 We will encourage all of our young players to play at the highest level possible. This may include being involved in representative games in their particular age group or attending a professional club's Centre of Excellence.
•6.6 We will provide the opportunity for our players to progress through the age groups, thus making it possible to represent the senior sides when the coaching staff deems the player ready. Developing youth players through into the first team is a very important aspect of development to the club. Many of our first team have been through our youth system and progressed. We would wish this to continue since it gives our youth players a goal and something to achieve.
Development of Players and Coaches
•7.1 We are committed to a programme of coach education as we believe it is just as important for the coaches to develop as it is for the players to develop. All our coaches will be required to attain Level 1 and will have the opportunity to achieve Level 2. The club itself will pay for the coaching courses so that all benefit from having good quality coaching.
•7.2 All personnel connected with the club will be encouraged to attend courses relevant to both their and the club's interests.
•7.3 All courses will be assessed by members, in accordance with the club's equal opportunities policy and not be barred for the reasons outlined within that document. We will actively seek increased use of facilities by the disabled and ethnic minorities. The new clubhouse will facilitate this.
Community Involvement
•8.1 The club wishes to see its facilities used by all community groups and develop strong links with those groups. Adverts, opening evenings, positive marketing through the internet, and taster sessions will all encourage the community to use our facilities. The club has already held its first mini soccer event, inviting teams from across the community to take part, and we plan to repeat the event at different times of the year. Links are already established with "The Hub", (a local social enterprise initiative funded through regeneration funds) who are actively involved in the marketing and promotion of the facility and providing support and expertise.
•8.2 The club wishes to see the improved facilities being enjoyed by all sporting clubs in the area, irrespective of ability. Our mini soccer festivals are an opportunity to encourage teams to do this.
•8.3 The club is committed to allowing recreational football to be played on its grounds. This includes disadvantaged groups and age groups outside our normal users. For example we now support a west and North Cumbria Muslim 5 a side competition.
•8.4 All of these targets should be achievable within 12 to 36 months of the new facilities being built and will be incorporated into the development plan.
Club Effectiveness
•9.1 The club will identify key partners in the community to work with to help reach the development targets including:
- Schools
- Copeland Borough Council
- West Lakes College
- Cumbria County Council
- Cumberland FA
- Carlisle United Community Development
- Local Businesses
- Sports grant agencies
•9.2 The club will identify key funders and funding sources to support the requirements of the club development including:
- FSIS
- Football Trust
- Sports Action
- National Lottery
- Neighbourhood development funds
- Regeneration funds
- Small grants for the charitable sector
- Private sector
The club has been successful in the construction of the artificial pitch and we are now planning the stages for the provision of a new clubhouse which will incorporate new changing facilities to serve the new artificial pitch and main pitch. The new changing facilities are key to the implementation and success of the majority of this development plan. Our [plans include floodlights and a stand for the grass show-pitch, which would enable the club to progress up the football pyramid and provide further possibilities and developments.
This document is not finite and should be reviewed regularly to take into account any changes which may occur and should be viewed as a working document.
Action plans to ensure the plan is successful should accompany any of the key targets and objectives and show how each is to be achieved. They should be understandable, achievable and realistic, with the appropriate timescales and persons responsible for their delivery noted.
Social Inclusion.
10.1 The club wishes to develop its continued success with NACRO, WCAZ, Ethnic groups and the Police by making our facilities available for whatever reason. Links have already been established and preliminary work undertaken with these groups who have provided positive feedback. Contact has also been made with "Healthy Lifestyle" groups, and these are earmarked for further project developments, including summer camps, which will provide exercise and sporting activities. The emphasis will be on enjoyment and good health.
