Governance and Communication Upper Great Southern Hockey Association Strategic Plan 2014-18 Governance and Communication Senior Players Junior Players Skills Clubs Facilities

Club Development Outcome Objective Strategy Key actions Strong Leadership and support To improve the level of leadership within both the Association and Clubs Develop leadership of players and affiliates from within Clubs to achieve professional Club and UGSHA management. Identify potential future leaders within club players and affiliates. Develop a leadership model that includes a Succession Plan, and annual leadership training organized at an UGSHA level. Facilitate club management training workshops. Employ a HDO for at least a 12 month term to develop all aspects of Hockey within the UGSHA. Viable Teams To ensure that participation rates of Clubs remains high Maximize the effectiveness of the UGSHA competition at all grades by maintaining or increasing the number of senior clubs and people, playing hockey from within the UGSHA area. Maintain UGSHA data base of current and past players Actively encourage all players to continue to participate for as long as possible. Promote the game of Hockey during the season from within the UGSHA region in media (all local newspapers and local radio networks) and use these opportunities to encourage players to join clubs. Monitor Club player numbers and provide assistance for struggling clubs to increase player numbers. Assist Clubs from smaller towns (Pingelly, Wagin, Dumbleyung, Brookton, Wickepin and Williams) in the promotion of hockey, continued participation, and new player involvement. Investigate the expansion of the UGSHA region into neighboring towns not presently serviced by an Association. Facilitate the integration of junior players into all senior clubs by providing a conduit (at junior registration day) for interested players to join a senior club. Encourage the participation of veterans at all levels within the UGSHA and investigate the provision of at least one Veteran’s games throughout the competition season. Role model Expose local clubs to state level clubs Increase the participation of state level clubs in Narrogin To invite a state team to play an Association eleven Invite premier League teams to play in Narrogin Competent Officials To ensure that an appropriate number and caliber of officials are available to support the competition Develop at least three umpires from each participating Club to Beginner Level standard. Provide at least one Beginner Level Umpire Course within the UGSHA during the calendar year. Provide training workshops to all clubs on rules training. Provide at least 2 umpire mentors at Beginner Level from within the UGSHA to assess train and encourage participation at all levels and grades. Ensure UGSHA supports the participation of umpires and investigates all incidents that may discourage umpires from continuing in the role. Provide a roster system that facilitates umpire development and participation. Encourage the active participation of players to umpire at junior levels and carnivals. Actively encourage retired players to continue their involvement with hockey by umpiring. Continue Green Shirt umpiring program

Skill Development Outcome Objective Strategy Key Actions Increased player skill Promote and encourage all players to develop hockey skills to their highest potential. Create opportunity for skills to be pushed and recognized UGSHA promotes selection trials for all grades and competitions. UGSHA provides at least 2 skill development activities available for all grades and ages. UGSHA provides at least 1 goal keeping clinic. To supply training opportunities for new junior and senior hockey players to develop skills.   Ensure all players have access to training times and facilities. Ensure all junior teams have access to coaches. High capacity of coaches and umpires Encourage the development of coaches and umpires To provide qualified coaches/umpires for all grades and competitions. UGSHA develops a coaches and umpire succession plan to ensure continuance of high quality coaches and umpires within the UGSHA. UGSHA provides at least one Beginner Level Umpiring Course. UGSHA provides at least one Beginner Level Coaching Course. Instigate a program for the development of umpires/coaches. Greater volunteer depth Ensure we have capable people to undertake activities of the association To provide skilled volunteers to enhance the running of the UGSHA UGSHA actively encourages and supports the participation of all players and associates to contribute as volunteers in all roles including coaching, umpiring, catering, governance etc. UGSHA supports volunteer protocols for Working with Children. Focused support Ensure we have a champion for development Provide an Hockey Development Officer Employ a HDO for at least a 12 month term to develop all aspects of Hockey within the UGSHA.

Senior Player Development Outcome Objective Strategy Key Actions Enough competitive players Ensure that within all grades and genders there is a representative number of teams from within the region that are competitive and team numbers within clubs can supply enough players on a weekly basis. Within the UGSHA promote the game of hockey and strongly encourage participation of players at all ages and grades UGSHA promotes clubs to nominate and fill sufficient players for both A and B Grade competitions. UGSHA supports a summer hockey program to foster new players UGSHA assists female junior players to participate in senior games. UGSHA develops at least one Veterans match (35 to super vets) during the season to encourage on going participation of Veterans.   UGSHA support the participation of competent juniors in the senior completion UGSHA promotes the integration of junior players to join senior Clubs. Instigate awards for juniors playing in the senior competition. Pursue playing excellence Ensure that senior players participate in competitions at their highest potential. UGSHA promotes players at all ages to represent the UGSHA in Veterans, State Country Championships and other related competitions. Identify and target opportunities for performance excellence. UGSHA maintain a commitment to support competitions. Local exposure to excellence Ensure that senior players have the opportunity to be exposed to high performance players Foster the participation of Senior players playing against visiting Metropolitan, State, National, or International teams. UGSHA seeks and promotes at least one visiting hockey team to visit the Association for a game/s. Provide opportunities for skill development, alternative game plans and tactics at club level. UGSHA seeks and secures at least one State League match for male and female each season. Alumni Establish a culture of support for players that have moved on from UGSHA. Ensure senior players leaving the UGSHA for the Metropolitan Area or other centers are encouraged to continue to play hockey and participate. UGSHA maintains a list of contacts and provides details to all interested players known to be leaving the Association. Develop a communication mechanism to keep past players in the loop on new developments and opportunities

Junior Player Development Outcome Objective Strategy Key Actions Enough competitive junior players To ensure that good participation rates for juniors. Ensure that within genders there are enough players to represent existing teams from the region at Primary, Lower and Upper grades.   To secure addition extra participation from outside the UGSHA catchment area. Promote the game of Hockey at primary and secondary schools within the Region and encourage participation. Foster local involvement of senior players in the promotion of junior hockey within schools and club level. Promotion of the Association game quality with a high standard facility. Flexible fixturing for outside players. HDO to visit schools in these areas outside of UGSHA region. HDO runs the “In schools Program.” UGSHA continues to develop “Hooked in2 Hockey” in all towns and fosters the progression of players into higher grade competitions. UGSHA becomes involved in the “After Schools Activities” program. Individual development Ensure that junior players continue to develop skills Create opportunities for skills development in junior players. Provide at least one skill development program for both goalies and field players annually. Provide a current Hockey player’s manual to all new players. Provide coaches at all grades with a minimum Community Level coaching qualification. Encourage a coordinated approach for the development of players through the NSHS Hockey Academy. UGSHA Development Officer maintains regular contact, liaison and seeks input into gap based skill development identified at junior level. Create opportunities Commence a regional lower high school competition within the great southern wheat belt Work with schools to have a lower high school carnival on the turf in Narrogin UGSHA supports a summer hockey program to foster new players. UGSHA assists female junior players to participate in senior games. Pursuit of excellence Ensure players have the opportunity to progress Provide opportunities for all players to participate in Carnivals, Regional and UGSHA State Championship teams. Appoint UGSHA Junior coaches for 7/8,9/10 and 11/12 Club Championship competitions by the commencement of the season. Ensure all players have equal opportunities to participate in Carnivals, training and selection try outs and that the selection process is transparent. Nominate at least one team for each age and gender class for each Club Championship competition. Actively nominate skilled players for Regional competition trials. Commence a regional lower high school competition within the region

Junior Player Development (cont.) Outcome Objective Strategy Key Actions Junior umpires Ensure all junior players have the opportunity to become competent umpires. Create opportunities for junior players to have exposure to umpiring opportunities Provide at least one umpire development session for junior players. Provide sufficient current Hockey rules booklets to all volunteering umpires. Develop a pool of junior umpires sufficient to umpire at least every primary match held on a weekly basis throughout the season. Foster the annual completion of Level Beginner level umpiring course for all Hockey Academy students studying at NSHS. Provide skilled junior umpires at Club Championship Level for 7/8 &9/10 competitions and where possible 11/12.   Focused support Ensure we have a champion for development Provide an Hockey Development Officer Employ a HDO for at least a 12 month term to develop all aspects of Hockey within the UGSHA.

Corporate Governance and Communication Outcome Objective Strategy Key Actions Appropriate governance Ensure the association operates both legally and ethically Association Constitution, and by-laws reflect the nature of the UGSHA and current rules of Hockey UGSHA considers currency of Constitution and by-laws at Association AGM. To do continual review of the by-laws each season. Promote an UGSHA Code of Conduct to players and spectators.   Significant profile Hockey is seen as a lead sport in the region Promote and market the UGSHA and the game of Hockey within the region Continue the promotion of the Communications Plan that covers all aspects of UGSHA communication. Upgrade the UGSHA web site to provide a digital library of information pertinent to the Association and Hockey. Investigate the use of social media for promotion purposes. Promote achievements of teams, players and the UGSHA in the regional media particularly the print and radio. To use the IMGSTG website to its full capacity to promote the Association.

Facilities Outcome Objective Strategy Key Actions Existing high class facilities Ensure the continued access to high class playing surfaces Provide and maintain one wet turf facility Maximize the use of the turf facility throughout the season for all grades and competitions. Develop fixtures at all grades that maximizes the use of the turf and also provides all teams with turf training times.   Ensure access to additional playing surfaces around the region Provide and maintain an appropriate network of quality grass fields around the region. UGSHA supports regional clubs with negotiations with Shires to provide high quality playing surfaces and facilities. Local clubs to be responsible for their condition of their fields. Ensure facilities around the Bevan George Stadium remain a community showpiece UGSHA regularly liaises with Narrogin Town Council and the Narrogin Leisure Centre management group to maintain turf facilities and the Bevan George Pavilion. UGSHA supports and actively controls No Smoking rules and liquor licensing rules for the hockey facilities. Upgrade liquor license to include Sunday’s Upgrade high class facilities Ensure there is a plan for the upgrade of facilities around the Develop and implement a facilities upgrade plan for the Bevan George Stadium by 2014. Develop a facilities upgrade plan by 2016 Improve the lighting. Secure a new scoreboard and goals Upgrade players bench Upgrade technical bench Replace the wet turf Investigate options for replacing the wet turf. Implement a replacement plan. Future high class facilities Plan for future facilities To continue to investigate the West Bank Shelter and Change rooms at the Turf. Liaise with Town council to develop the concept form new facilities on the western side of the wet turf