Development Successes & Challenges 2017

Successes Membership Growth – now 900+, 17 polo clubs (65 first claim swim & polo clubs. 165 new members – biggest 1 year gain Number of Competitions & new U18 Girls competition Growth of Team Managers at Clubs -> teams show up! Officials: 70 registered D Refs, 24 C+, new Club Table course New University Clubs – SSS partnership: Stirling U, Strathclyde West District Clubs Growth Growth of juniors – especially girls

Challenges Competitions Officials Communications How un-competitive some games are Mixed boys and girls in U16/17 Home games mean less training Two tiers of teams in some comps Assigning officials ahead of time & with enough experience Developing existing grade D Refs Getting all clubs to commit to having sound table officials Teaching officials how to deal with coach’s and player’s misconduct Communications Relaying information to Scottish Polo community

Challenges Coaching Performance Lack of Coaches teaching younger players strong core skills Lack of training time to improve fitness & skills & tactics Most of coaches with International coaching experience in East District Need for senior coaches to mentor younger coaches Cost of training & competing Lack of performance coaches – especially in West and at universities Volunteer coaches competing against paid coaches Scotland U16/18/21 Squad members not training to LTAD principles & hours

Polo Membership

Female growth from 20 to 40% of total SASA polo membership Overall SASA membership is 58% Female – Nov 2017

Growth of Females in Scottish Polo Growth quicker than males Substantial increase during 2017 Under 19 girls growth likely from success of U18 league as well as development tournaments Nearly doubled active female referees who are SASA registered in 2017 – many at Universities

Edinburgh Academy started 2012, Aberdeen 2014 U14 Development tournaments started in 2013 Girls U18 Scotland IRs started 2010; U16 - 2013 ; U14 - 2015

WPDO emphasis moved to Central Belt with little continued support for North – some decline Midlands shows small growth across all categories

WPDO emphasis moved to Central Belt West district a bit more than doubled in past 3 years, universities account for senior growth Junior growth in West from new junior clubs Some senior growth is in Volunteers: TMs, Coaches, Teachers, Officials, Admin

Delegates went from 2 to 9 in 2017

Reffin’ Brilliant Grade D & Grade C run by Stirling Uni Oct 17 to grow West Referees Mandatory SASA membership to be on Refereeing courses in 2016 & 2017 as many of University referees were not SASA members before – agreed to by SSS Should Officials Development & Training be a District Function as it is with swimming?

Development goals to 2021 Player Pathway Staffing Improving Scottish Domestic Competitions – strive for 8 highly competitive Senior & U18 teams Underpinned by robust U16, U14, minis LTAD informed pathway: Daily Training environment for top juniors Juniors playing weekly official matches (40) Age and Gender appropriate competitions Improving appearance & organisation of Scottish Domestic competitions Improving percentage on GBR squads Development of current coaches into better coaches – better geographic spread of high level coaches Officials: more professional in appearance, control, and experience. LEN or FINA level refs Growth in experience of Administrators: Team Managers, Competition coordinators

2018: Polo Taster Sessions Scottish Swimming emails to current & lapsed club swimmers from your club’s geographical area Club provides in and out of water Coaches, Recruitment flyers, Admin Neal handles registration – but hands details to club sec for follow up SASA designed to retain swimmers

2018: City / Regional Plans New resources: Skills & Drills cards City plans customised to needs being put into action. Edinburgh Started Glasgow – Dec 2017 mtg Aberdeen – Jan 18 mtg Stirling, Fife, Dundee & more? Keys: Local Authority with proper Polo Facility buys into Plan at City council level: LTS, Club support & Schools Facility Access for club & comps Co-branded of marketing Tasters for swimmers Core PE S1-2 (Teacher CPDs) & Active Schools Clubs SASA Resources available New resources: Skills & Drills cards Diagram & Rules (draft pictured) Promotional Videos