Thursday 10th April 2008

An Introduction to Club Development Planning

Club Development Planning

The concept of 'club development planning' or 'business planning' is growing ever more important within community club cricket.
As part of ClubMark accreditation each club must complete and implement an ECB Development Plan Club Development Planning - Development - ECB

The plan will be signed off by Mick Glenn once he is satisfied that the plan is realistic and relates directly to the needs of your club

It is recommended that a Development Committee is formed to write and implement the plan as well as update it by 30th September each year. It is important that the plan is not seen as a means to obtaining accreditation, but as a tool to drive committee meetings and to help your club move forward.

What is a Focus Club?

A Focus Club is one that has been identified for a clear strategic reason, and one that is committed to long-term junior development. Each Focus Club will be expected to do various things in return for ECB resources.

• Achieve Clubmark accreditation
• Work with their District Development Group, to ensure integrated community links
• Produce a long-term development plan - to increase capacity and improve quality
• Link with local school and community networks
• Commit to monitoring and evaluation, demonstrating the impact made locally

Benefits of being a Focus Club

Working in partnership with key external sports development agencies the DCB will be able to offer Focus Clubs dedicated time, expertise and advice to assist in:

• achieving Community Amateur Sports Club status - saving money on rates bills
• achieving Clubmark accreditation
• recruiting key and specific volunteers to help junior programmes
• training/support for coaches, umpires, scorers, groundsmen and other volunteers
• gaining additional support by creating links with local partners
• providing coaches and/or coaching to create partnerships with local schools
• technical advice to help better plan and deliver coaching and match programmes
• technical advice to help better plan and deliver facility improvements
• lobbying key partners to help support activity and/or facility developments
• offering support and advice on raising funds from local and national sources
• providing, where possible, direct funding and or priority for indirect funding