1.0 Executive Summary s3

1.0 Executive Summary

On 22 June 2012, Cathal Brugha Swimming & Water Polo Club submitted a 3yr Development Plan to Belfast City Council as part of a funding application under the Councils Large Development Grant scheme. The plan was also submitted to Swim Ireland as part of our application for accreditation under the governing body Clubmark Award scheme.

This report outlines performance against objectives which have been identified within year 1 of this plan, and provides a synopsis of the past years activities to members attending our AGM and other stakeholders.

1.1 Action Plan Tasks

Our 2011/14 Development Plan identified five key areas for priority attention and these were:

1.  To put in place a Coaching Pathway

2.  To put in place a sustainable Player Pathway

3.  To develop a sustainable player Recruitment/Retention programme

4.  To put in place a Volunteer Programme

5.  To establish effective & sustainable Governance arrangements

Within the first year (2011-12) of the development plan 44 specific tasks/objectives were identified and at year end 34 of these tasks have been completed: that is a completion rate of 77%. However, as development opportunities identified themselves and priorities changed much more was accomplished, in addition to the specifics of the plan as it was originally drafted pre 2011/12.

The extent and detail of our activities and achievements throughout the year is laid out chronologically within Section 4 of this report.

All told, the Cathal Brugha Club has had a terrific year in terms of Club management, public profile and external validation of our management set up, despite experiencing some disappointing competition results in the pool which, given the improved structures and team preparation environment, can only get better over time.

1.2 Key Successes

In terms of key successes over the 2011/12 year, these are listed below, in no particular order of importance or impact:

1.  Our application for BCC Large Dev. Grant (£5,000) was successful and BCC’s continued support of partnership project initiatives e.g. ‘Make a Splash’ pathway to Club water polo, mini water polo league & ‘showcase’ events is here acknowledged

2.  Our new Website and Facebook page went live and is now an essential communication tool, which is well used both internally and externally

3.  Coach qualifications were achieved at Level 1 Water Polo, Pool Safety, Mini Water Polo, FUNdementals, Disability Awareness, Child Protection, First Aid, BCC ‘Out of Hours’ Training

4.  A ‘Level 0’ point of entry Course was created and delivered for aspiring Water Polo Coaches within Cathal Brugha

5.  Junior Coaching was Reviewed; training sessions were improved, coaching activities were amended to reflect LTAD programme, Coaching Activities & Lesson Planning Booklet has been drafted and will be launched at our Coaching Conference

6.  Clubmark accreditation was achieved and subsequent external validation was provided by Sport NI

7.  Substantial media & internet coverage throughout the year will have increased the public profile of the Cathal Brugha Club

8.  Cathal Brugha played a leading role in successful negotiations between Ulster Water Polo and Swim Ulster to secure an innovative and much needed partnership arrangement. This was evidence of our strategic influence to promote a positive water polo environment beyond the ‘boundaries’ of the Cathal Brugha Club’s ‘normal’ activities

9.  Cathal Brugha led the development of Ulster region Dev. Plan for 2012/13

10.  A Competency & Essential Skills programme was developed within Cathal Brugha which included a baseline assessment of all junior players

11.  Four Cathal Brugha boys & girls were selected on Ireland Junior Team and four men selected on Ireland Senior Team

12.  Ciaran McGurk was awarded Junior Club – Coach of the Year in Belfast Sports Awards in Belfast City Hall

13.  Ten Coaches from Cathal Brugha attend Child Protection Course

14.  Cathal Brugha awarded Ulster Club of the Year and Ireland’s Club of the Year at Swim Ireland Annual Awards in Belfast City Hall

15.  Cathal Brugha’s Clubmark journey was used as the preferred ‘case study’ at the Swim Ireland Annual Congress

16.  Cathal Brugha 80th Anniversary Dinner at Balmoral Hotel

17.  Cathal Brugha won the first ever mini water-polo league at Andersonstown Leisure Centre, in December 2011. We also finished in the top Four Play Offs in the National League Men’s Division One and were beaten finalists in the Men’s Irish Senior Cup. Our Women’s Team, although depleted through unavailability of some key players, performed well in all competitions. Our Under 16 and Under 19 Teams are in a development phase and competed well under the circumstances. Our Division 3 team, although winning the division last year, made the courageous decision to remaining in Div 3 and to use this league to develop junior players. The single gender U14 Cup had not yet been played at the time of writing this report.

Contents

2.0 Report on the implementation of our 2011/12 Plan

Priority Areas

The following table identifies the priority areas as set out in our original 2011/12 year Action List and provides a commentary on the implementation status of each objective.

2.1 Priority Area 1 is to establish a Coaching Pathway which will provide a structured and planned approach to coaching advancement.

Priority Areas Contd….

2.2 Priority Area 2 is to clarify to all concerned how our water polo players can progress from introductory level right through to representation on the Cathal Brugha senior team and potentially with National squads.

Priority Areas contd….

2.3 Priority Area 3 is to develop a sustainable player Recruitment & Retention programme within the Club.

Priority Areas contd….

2.4 Priority Area 4 is to put in place a Volunteer Programme for the Club which includes methods by which we recognize the work & contribution of volunteers