How to... Develop your Club

Sport is continually evolving and becoming more 'professional' with many clubs developing simply through the desire to improve. The following information is intended to give you advice on writing a simple development plan for your club to help you use your resources more efficiently, cope with change and set your own aims and objectives for the future.

A development plan is a long term plan that sets out the club's vision for the future.

The first stage is to think of 'Where we are now?' In this section you should ask yourself the following questions:

• What are our strengths?
• What are our weaknesses?
• What are our opportunities?
• What are our threats?

By asking yourself these questions you can build a SWOT analysis of your club. You cannot move forward if you don't know where you are now!

In the next stage you can start thinking 'Where do we want to be?' or your AIMS. Using the SWOT analysis part of your plan your aims should look at playing to your strengths and opportunities and building on your weaknesses and threats. Remember for your aims to be worthwhile they should be SMART:

• Specific - for example to ensure every coach is level 2 qualified
• Measurable - how will you know you have achieved your aim?
• Agreed - is everyone involved in the process and do they agree with your vision?
• Realistic - your aim should be challenging yet achievable
• Timed - how long will you need to achieve your aim?

The next step looks at 'How are we going to get there?' or the PLAN. This step looks at how you are going to achieve your aims and objectives. You may want to break each aim down into smaller targets for example per year or per person. Your action plan should consider questions such as:

• What do you want to achieve?
• How can it be achieved?
• When will it be done?
• Who is going to do it?
• How much will it cost?

The final stage of the plan looks at 'How well did we do?' or the REVIEW. Once you have your plan it should be updated and reviewed regularly (at least annually). You should report progress on achievements, issues and accomplishments to those involved in the planning process and those who carry out the plans.

Other How to... guides are available in the Resource Centre. Or if you need any further advice or guidance visit our contact us page and we'll be happy to help.