Marlborough RFC The Common, Frees Avenue, Marlborough, Wiltshire, SN8 1DL 01672 514717 www.marlboroughrugbyclub.co.uk

A new Club Development Plan (2007/08 – 2010/11) (Work In Progress, draft 10/2007)

1. Audit / Where are we now?

Strengths

Weaknesses

· Facilities: o Clubhouse is reasonably new (8 years old) · Volunteers: o Small team of highly committed volunteer helpers · Family feel · Playing - Senior o 1^st XV ‘on the up’ / 2^nd XV re-established o Paid coach · Junior Section: o Strong U7 – U13; ~ 20 players / age group · Finances: o Reasonable war chest o Sponsorship relationships – Burmah Castrol; Hills; Musgrave Management Services · Supporting bodies o Good relationship with Marlborough Town Council (landlord) o Good relationship with Kennet SDO (Amanda Cox); Wiltshire RDO (Simon Culley); Wiltshire GB co-ordinator (Jo Gay)

· Little interaction with wider rugby community beyond playing – Marlborough seen as ‘loners’? · Finances / Administration: o Subsistence existence o Losses in last two financial years o Over-reliance on a couple of sponsors – sporadic / opportunistic; not planned o Management systems are weak · Facilities: o Clubhouse footprint is tightly defined & only 2 changing rooms (~ 44 (22 x 2) changing spaces) o Lack of storage facilities o Portable flood lights – makes winter training difficult o Pitch maintenance could be improved · Volunteers: o Too few volunteer helpers o Poor record at retention of retiring players in club activities · Junior Section / School liaison: o Junior section only extends U7 – U13 o Poor links to local schools – secondary & primary o Too few coaches & volunteers; coach recruitment & development is poor

Opportunities

Threats

· Interest in rugby growing nationally – Marlborough is ideal ‘rugby territory’ · Government keen to increase participation in sport to address health & fitness of population · Increase non-playing income – facility rental, sponsorship · Increase playing strength – build on re-establishment 2^nd XV · Bridge current gap between juniors and seniors · Build links to schools (St Johns need more playing field facilities) – secondary & primary · Use ClubMark and Seal of Approval to provide template for upgrade of management systems

· Players (both juniors and seniors) lost to other sports · Lack of Youth (U14 – Colts) section adversely affects recruitment at mini & midi level · Junior section players lost to other clubs · Pace of change is too great?

2. Vision / Where do we want to go?

Vision:

• To be the club of choice for anyone wanting to experience rugby in North Wiltshire

Social:

• Build on success of 40^th anniversary ball held in 2007 – hold a major club social event each year (not always a ball). Target to ensure representation from across the clubs various sections (juniors, seniors, VPs, ex players, etc.) to promote a ‘one-club’ feel
• Senior tour planned for May 2008
• Players awards night to be re-established in 2007/08
• Junior section to hold annual prize giving and BBQ to celebrate the success of the players
• Junior section tours to be investigated
• Secure volunteers to run the kitchen and bar on Sunday mornings – done, September 2007

Players – Junior Section:

• Increase player numbers – target of 20 players per age group from U7 through to U13 and re-establish U14 – U16 & colts teams. Aim for seamless club (U7 – Seniors) by 2012/13?
• Ensure good links with county teams & coaches to ensure development pathway for elite performers
• Increase number of volunteer helpers – net gain of 2 new volunteers per season
• Introduce RFU Proficiency Awards scheme in 2007/08
• Secure Seal of Approval Status by 2008/09
• Build links with local schools – secondary (St John’s, Marlborough); primary (St John’s catchment area)

Players – Senior Section:

• Increase player numbers – playing base of > 50 (?) players required to run two teams
• 1^st XV – Consolidate promotion to D&W Division 1 (N) in 2007/08
• 2^nd XV – Consolidate entry to D&W Division 3 (N) in 2007/08
• Launch ‘Marlborough 10s’ pre-season tournament in 2007/08
• Establish Vets team (Marlborough Wizards?) in 2008/09, target 4 games per season

Coaches:

• Appoint dedicated Club Coach Coordinator (CCC) – role currently performed (poorly!) by the club chairman – target end of the 2007/08 season
• Increase number of coaches – Minimum of one Level 1 coach per age group (TAG for U7s & U8s). Minimum of two Level 2 coaches within the Junior section at any one time (one Mini / Midi; one Youth) – ideally secure additional Level 2 qualification every other year
• Need to ensure Marlborough meets the player : qualified coach ratio of 10:1
• Build long-term succession plan for coaches
• Strengthen ‘reward & recognition’ for coaches – more stash

Referees:

• Confirm club links to local Referees society – Darren Greening; Hadden Graham
• Secure one RFU accredited referee for the mini / midi section plus one for the youth section – target start of 2008/09 season

Volunteers / Management:

• Improve the professionalism of the club and the management & delivery of the ‘rugby experience’ at Marlborough – use ClubMark & Seal of Approval
• Widen the network of volunteers – don’t just rely on the ‘Usual Suspects’!
• Complete Skills Audit – started September 2007
• Complete Job Descriptions for all key roles
• Appoint dedicated Club Volunteer Coordinator (CVC) – role currently performed (poorly!) by the club chairman – target end of the 2007/08 season
• Increase non-playing income (i.e. facility rental, sponsorship, grants, donations, tax rebates, VP subscriptions, etc.)

Equity / Medical / Welfare:

• Provide a welcome pack for new members – in preparation, October 2007
• Adopt RFU Equity Policy
• Attend “A Club for All” workshop
• Attend an scUK “Equity in your Coaching” workshop
• Adopt codes of conduct for: players; coaches; officials; members; spectators; volunteers
• Access to first aid equipment at all coaching sessions
• Minimum one person from the Youth section who has attended a First Aid training course
• Adopt Emergency procedures
• Collect relevant information on medical conditions of players
• Appoint Club Welfare Officers – Neil Callaghan; Louise Whatley
• Adopt a disciplinary procedure
• Ensure emergency contact lists are in place and ensure confidentiality procedures
• Adopt RFU Child Protection Policy – done, September 2007
• Member of each age group coaching set up to attend an RFU Guide to Child Protection & Best practice program
• At least four members of youth section (one coach) to attend a child protection training course
• Ensure all adults with regular supervisory contact with young children to undertake CRB disclosure

Club Links:

• Build links with local schools – secondary (St John’s, Marlborough); primary (St John’s catchment area)
• Secure partnership agreements with above schools

Promotion & Publicity:

• Appoint press officer – Mark Adams, September 2007
• Ensure regular e-mail & newsletter contact with all club members
• Maintain up to date web site
• Increase publicity in local schools, pubs, sports clubs, etc.

Facilities:

• Improve pitch management & maintenance
• Instigate six monthly risk assessment procedure
• Clubhouse extension to address storage area and increase changing facilities (+ 2 changing rooms?)
• Consider conversion of roof space to increase social area

Legal / Administration:

• Concert to CASC status – 2007/08?
• Review of checklist suggests that Marlborough is okay on this

Tournaments, Competitions, Matches & Festivals

• Ensure compliance with Continuum & Structured Season

VPs:

• Increase VP numbers to 100 by 2009/10
• Re-introduce annual VPs lunch & golf day?

Development Plan

Development Area:		Social			Version:	1
Evidence Checklist		Action Plan				Evidence
Criteria	Evidence	How	Who	When	Cost	Tick & date

Development Area:		Players			Version:
Evidence Checklist		Action Plan				Evidence
Criteria	Evidence	How	Who	When	Cost	Tick & date