STRATEGIC PLAN 2018 TO 2021 October 2018 Vision

STRATEGIC PLAN 2018 TO 2021 October 2018

Vision We will foster a positive, engaging and inclusive environment that inspires people to play, officiate, volunteer and support Hockey in the region. Agreed : The Vision for HB remains current and relevant for the future, so should remain the same OUR VISION Our plan to grow and enhance the game of Hockey for all participants

Our Values Our values that underpin our activities and indeed the way we act, plan and operate as Hockey Ballarat: • We support Inclusive Clubs • We Create a Positive and Engaging sporting culture and community • We Inspire participation & education Agreed: Our values drive the way we act…indeed the way we wish to behave as players, officials and administrators …so they are still current today. OUR VALUES Our plan is to grow and enhance the game of Hockey for all participants beyond 2016 within Ballarat and surrounding Western Victorian region

Hockey Ballarat’s Strategic Plan consists of four Key Pillars: #1 Senior Competition #2 Junior Competition #3 Representative teams and Development #4 Administration, officiating and facilities. Participation Pathway Expose – Engage – Retain - Introduce hockey to new participants , providing an avenue for them to participate, making our sport attractive, cost competitive with others, encouraging to family involvement, Provide safe competitions at all levels to enable development of skills. Ensure all abilities are catered for to encourage development through quality coaching. Encourage officiating with a pathway, develop administrators, ensure facilities and administration are of a high standard Provide relevant competitions for all abilities for life, provide a representative pathway to all the regions players and officials to the highest levels A arrest slippage of young adults away from game, development of skills, attract and retain administrators, coaches, volunteers Agreed: To meet these aspirations in the four pillars we must attract players through junior programs, provide competitions for all ages and development pathways that will engage and retain these players into adulthood and throughout their life. We must also offer facilities, sound governance and participation pathways for all through junior social and into elites Background: Appendix 1 OUR 4 PILLARS Our plan is to grow and enhance the game of Hockey for all participants

Our plan to grow and enhance the game of Hockey for all participants PARTICIPATION PATHWAY Elite • International • State • Premier league Retain - Mainstream competitions • Locally Based adult comps • Pathway for improvement to elite and representative • Healthy, Collegiate, Family based, keep young adults playing • junior competition-Schools and club based • Opportunity for Umpiring and volunteering Engage – Develop Skills, provide continual improvement Expose – Introduce our primary and secondary youth to our sport • Good coaching • Create Fun and family atmosphere • Offer multi levels and grades • Innovative competitions to suit • Provide participative pathways to elite • Use highly successful Hin 2 H • Develop school based competition at primary and secondary

PAST PLANS – FUTURE GOALS AND ACTION PLANS

Our plan to grow and enhance the game of Hockey for all participants INCLUSIVE Clubs • Hockey Ballarat Clubs are the foundation of a vibrant association that includes players and supporters of all ages and abilities. 1. There will be a minimum of 4 sustainable local clubs, with representation in senior competition for men and women, that successfully attract & retrain players, coaches and volunteers. A POSITIVE and ENGAGING environment Club organisation and leadership and quality Coaching will be recognised as the key driver to achieve a positive and engaging environment for all senior players, officials and spectators. 1. Each Club will have identified leaders and effective organisational structures that facilitate regular training and competition for senior players. 2. A Club Development workshop will be held each year, so that clubs can share information regarding quality club procedures. 3. At least two Coach and Official Development workshops will be conducted each year to enhance quality coaching and officiating. 4. Clubs will actively support and promote the Member Protection policies and Codes of Conduct, relevant to senior players. INSPIRING participation *The competition will progress to a division 1&2 structure(or the like), to ensure participation is commensurate with players ability in Premiership competition. *Coaching and Officiating will have an established pathway for individuals to aspire to. 1. Premiership competition will be conducted in terms 2 & 3 and consist of a minimum of 4 teams competing in both Div. 1 & 2 for men & women. (16 teams in total) 2. An Intercity Cup competition will involve other regional associations, providing further opportunity for players. 3. Summer Competition will be conducted in terms 1 & 4 and feature social Women’s and Mixed competition, catering for both novice and experienced players. 4. Coaches and officials will be given opportunities to develop their skills through a program of Teach, Coach, Mentor that is embraced by the Clubs and lead by Hockey Ballarat. 5. All Premiership and Intercity competition games will be officiated by paid rostered officials who will represent at least 15% of the total senior playing numbers. (18 Umpires for 120 players). Goals and Action Plans Engage members in officiating, admin and volunteering, develop in club environment • A Club Development workshop will be held each year, so that clubs can share information regarding quality club procedures. Leadership from HB but use outside experts • Coaching program and pathway with protocol Umpiring pathway with protocol, not individual dependent • Clubs will actively support and promote the Member Protection policies and Codes of Conduct, relevant to senior players, officials and supporters. Inspiring Participation: • Maintain 2 divisions in men and women • Clubs asked to develop a plan to develop their numbers. • Premiership competition will be conducted in terms 2 & 3 and consist of a minimum of 4 teams competing in both Div. 1 & 2 for men & women. (16 teams in total) • Develop a plan for Intercity Cup competition which will involve other regional Western associations, providing further opportunity for players. • Summer Competition will be conducted in alternate season and feature social Women’s and Mixed competition, catering for both novice and experienced players. • All Premiership and Intercity competition games will be officiated by paid rostered officials who will represent at least 15% of the total senior playing numbers. (18 Umpires for 120 players). • Support HV’s initiative for alternative modified “social hockey” (J-Ball initiated 2018) PILLAR #1 ACTIONS Pillar #1 - Plan up to 2020 – Senior Competition

Our plan to grow and enhance the game of Hockey for all participants Goals and Action Plans INCLUSIVE Clubs • Hockey Ballarat Clubs are the foundation of a vibrant association that includes junior players and supporters. 1. There will be a minimum of 4 sustainable local clubs, with representation in at least 2 divisions of junior competition and successfully attract & retrain players, coaches and volunteers. 2. Clubs will provide a seamless pathway from Hook in 2 Hockey, to junior and then senior competition A POSITIVE and ENGAGING environment * Club organisation and leadership and quality Coaching will be recognised as the key driver to achieve a positive and engaging environment for all junior players, officials and spectators. 1. Each Club will have identified leaders and effective organisational structures that facilitate regular training and competition for junior players. 2. A Club Development workshop will be held each year, so that clubs can share information regarding quality club procedures. 3. At least two Coach and Official Development workshops will be conducted each year to enhance quality coaching and officiating. 4. Each Club will have at least one accredited coach working with each junior team. 5. A pool of trained leaders will deliver clinics (Hin 2 H and other), in Primary Schools as requested. 6. Clubs will actively support and promote the Member Protection policies and Codes of Conduct, relevant to junior players. INSPIRING participation *Hookin 2 hockey programs will introduce Primary School age children to the game and will underpin the junior competition. * Junior teams will be an integral part of the club structures and functions 1. Introductory Coaching Clinics will be offered in Primary Schools that will have a direct link to Hook in 2 Hockey and U 11 competition. 2. Hook in 2 Hockey will be conducted in both terms 1 and 4 and each Club will have at least 4 leaders who have been trained to work in the program. 3. Competition will be conducted for U 11 mixed and U 15 and U 17 boys and girls teams, during terms 2 & 3. 4. Clubs will have established links with the Ballarat schools to enhance participation in Hockey Ballarat competition. 5. We will encourage foster and support schools based competitions midweek • • • Hin 2 H will continue to introduce young people to game, supported by HV and Ballarat Clubs will support attract and retain these players introduced to the game Fill all rosters with players Institute premiership competitions in age groups inline with HV age guidelines. Develop as soon as practicable (numbers and facilities dependent) a girls only competition for junior girls starting in under 11 age group Offer young players opportunities to develop skills in academies and specialist coaching clinics for all levels of abilities in Ballarat Continue to offer opportunity for young to participate in out of area competitions and tournaments (SW games, Country week, regional representative sides and others) Supporting HV initiative social and sixers hockey to be established in 2019 1 st term Seek and secure alternative venue for junior competitions (Grammar 2018 owards, future new pitch) Support development pathways for all, from elite juniors to novices. PILLAR #2 ACTIONS Pillar #2 - Plan up to 2016 – Junior Competition

Our plan to grow and enhance the game of Hockey for all participants INCLUSIVE Clubs *Hockey Ballarat Clubs will support and promote the Representative Teams through West. Vic Hockey, Senior and Junior Country Championships and the Junior State Championships. 1. Players from all Hockey Ballarat clubs will be eligible for selection in West. Vic Hockey teams playing in Victorian League for men and women and U 16 junior girls and boys competition. 2. Players from only Hockey Ballarat clubs will be eligible for selection in teams competing in Junior and Senior Country Championships, for Open Men and Women, Junior boys and girls and Masters. 3. Players from other regional competitions in western Victoria playing in will be eligible for selection in West. Vic Hockey teams playing in Victorian League for men and women and U 16 junior girls and boys competition. A POSITIVE and ENGAGING environment *The Representative Teams and Development programs will be highly valued by clubs and players providing an aspirational pathway to higher level competition. 1. All Representative Teams and will be coached by accredited coaches, selected for their excellent coaching practice and ability to enhance performance. 2. The Development Program for U 14’s will be coached by accredited coaches, selected for their excellent coaching practice and ability to develop junior players. 3. The Selection policies for Representative Teams will clearly defined and promoted by clubs to all players. 4. A major naming rights sponsor will provide a direct financial contribution for Representative teams and Development and a major partner will provide VIK travel for all teams. INSPIRING participation *Representative Teams will provide opportunities for the best players in the region to play at the highest level possible in Senior and Junior competition, without having to leave the region. Goals and Action Plans • Work with HV in developing “Western Region concept” • Support establishment of academy in Ballarat to support development in all Western Centres (Portland, Warrnambool, Hamilton and Ballarat) • Instigate a close and mutually beneficial relationship with West Vic Hockey who will provide pathway for Ballarat and Western athletes to representative and elite competition and who provide access to Victoria’s highest levels hockey for juniors and seniors. • Support WV on quest for Premier League and in meeting LEC Appendix 4 PILLAR #3 ACTIONS Pillar #3 - Representative and Development Plan

Our plan to grow and enhance the game of Hockey for all participants Goals and Action Plans * Hockey Ballarat will lead three sub-committee’s to direct the operations of the club competitions and the representative and development programs. *Hockey Ballarat will manage the administrative procedures to ensure efficient operations of the association, effective communication and good governance. 1. Hockey Ballarat will be well respected by its Clubs as a well run organisation that has led the Strategic Plan to ensure the growth of the game. 2. The Senior and Junior Competition sub-committees will have representation from and engage with all the clubs. 3. The Website will be the central point of contact for all club, player and community information, including news, fixtures, results, ladders and player administration. A POSITIVE and ENGAGING environment *Develop the programs, , facilities and infrastructure to ensure the growth of the game and the community has a valued home. 1. While significant progress has been made to develop the facility at POW planning is required to accommodate the growth 2. The Representative Teams and Development sub-committee will manage highly respected programs that showcase the best players and develop others to ensure highlevel competition is available, without having to leave the region. 3. An marketing program will promote the sport, consistent with the Hockey Ballarat Vision. 4. Hockey Ballarat has a successful sponsorship program that provides benefits across the Association and for sponsors. INSPIRING participation Hockey Ballarat will be responsible for developing and maintaining stakeholder relationships and promoting the sport in the local and broader region 1. Hockey Ballarat will be well respected by its Stakeholders, including Hockey Victoria, the City of Ballarat, Schools, sponsors and other sports. 2. Hockey Ballarat will conduct at least one regional event to showcase hockey from across the Western Victoria region. 5. Efficient systems will ensure the promotion and use of the facility by the broader community. 6. Modern facilities are required to attract and retain participants and HB will always plan on meeting needs. • Working with Children, all clubs to be compliant with State regulations • Continuous improvement of governance, support to clubs. • New pitch required before 2021, work on location and financing. Appendix 3 • Lobby for facility development support from all levels of Government. • Form committee to work on marketing, sponsorship and finance to secure Association alternative streams of finance other than player subs. • Support HV with Regional Plans for the West and other initiatives that are applicable. PILLAR #4 ACTIONS Pillar #4 – Administration, Officiating and Facilities Plan Beyond 2018

BACKGROUND

Ballarat Hockey has for many years undergone steady and continuous development from just a local men, women's and junior competitions to fielding 14 local teams, an expanding number of junior competitions, including under 11’s, under 14’s and under 16’s along with West Vic’s 8 representative sides in Vic State league and metro junior competitions. Presently in Ballarat we have > 800 registered players that are registered with some 400 -500 participating across all our competitions. But in addition we in Ballarat and in the Western District have players in Premier League in Melbourne aspiring to play in the strongest competitions in Australia and indeed aspiring to represent Australia in our high achieving men and women's teams currently ranked 1 and 3 in the world! All clubs and players of course solely use our community’s one synthetic pitch facility at Prince of Wales Park!! No wonder when you drive past 7 days a week, that is every day, you will see the facilities being constantly used. We are completely an amateur association with no player remuneration and our aims are well understood amongst our hockey family. PARTICIPATION PATHWAY - EXPOSE, ENGAGE AND RETAIN. This means offering kids a sport, support their development, provide them a pathway to be the best they can and aspire to be, to retain them playing a sport throughout their adult life while contributing to those following after them into our sport by volunteering, umpiring and coaching. Hockey Victoria consider Ballarat the important gateway to developing the game further in our western district’s communities with associations in Warrnambool, Hamilton, Portland , Grampians and Colac. Hockey remains relatively undeveloped in Ballarat when compared to many towns equal to or smaller by having more facilities, more numbers playing and a greater profile. Hockey Ballarat and indeed Hockey Victoria support West Vic’s and Hockey Ballarat’s push to have teams in the Premier League. Our constraints that preclude being invited to the Premier League are lack of available facilities, lack of playing numbers in Ballarat, lack of some governance and administration frameworks. HOCKEY BALLARAT WEST VIC Our association is the umbrella organisation which provides the governance, the planning, the facilities and coordination that sees our strategic plan for Hockey Ballarat come to life. “Our Plan” - Is to grow and enhance the game of Hockey for all participants “Our Vision” – Together with our Clubs, we will create a positive and engaging environment that inspires people of all ages to keep coming back “Our Values” – Inclusive Clubs, A Positive and Engaging environment Inspiring Participation Our Recent action plans have been to: • Offer “Hook into Hockey” program in primary schools to expose and attract participation in Hockey. In 2016 some 1000 children will participate in the introductory program of Hin 2 H • Provide with and through our clubs a development and pathway for juniors by providing coaching, competition. • Continue to strong local men's and women's competition is vital to retention and participation of our adults. Our clubs are active in providing this successful competition • Encouraging volunteer participation in umpiring and administration has been an integral part of our development and is an action that is often overlooked in sports, including ours. West Vic has succeeded since its inception in 2005 in providing that pathway for Ballarat’s and indeed Western Districts young men and women to reach their playing potential. WV provides that entry point into the elite level of competition in Australia for our young men and women hockey players. The development of WV has been nothing short of remarkable with the WV group now in Vic League 1 in Men and Vic League 2 in women knocking loudly on promotion to the “Premier League’. To achieve this next goal a set of objectives which have to be reached both on and off the field. This is to meet LEC which set by Hockey Victoria The junior program and development pathway involves WV junior teams playing in Melbourne metro underage competitions every week. Those young men and women who aspire to play and progress as juniors to higher levels have embraced this pathway. This has led to Victorian representative selections and players playing in Premier League clubs in Melbourne. . WV gives the chance to play locally to train and have home games rather than travelling to play and train in Melbourne APPENDIX #1 HOCKEY IN BALLARAT Our plan to grow and enhance the game of Hockey for all participants

Seniors and West Vic Hockey Ballarat believes “Participation in sport” brings lifelong benefits to our community’s children, young adults and adults. In turn it benefits the community as a whole by providing healthy past time. To this end it is simply a numbers game of exposing kids to our sport, engaging them with comps and then under taking their development to engage and retain them as life long players of sport. Existing programs • Doubling the number of Junior teams every year • BAS schools competition can be grown if playing facilities were available • Hook in to Hockey (Hin 2 H) is a success throughout Australia and with correct support we will expose 2000 primary age children to hockey at least once a year with in school programs and then follow up club competition which ensures retention. However constraint is facility availability. Where to next? • Proposal is to foster expanded school based competitions in Both Primary and Secondary schools. This will be to initiate primary schools programs and to add teams to existing high school BAS hockey competition. However constraint is facility availability. • Intention is to liaise with and partner other Western associations to develop a junior tournament culture and development of players through shared coaching development. Hockey Ballarat intend to take the lead and indeed is being supported to do. • Provide pathway for continual improvement through coaching, umpire development, representative hockey and Hockey Ballarat and West Vic believes we have to offer multiple pathways to encourage and retain youth and adults playing our Olympic sport. To this end West Vic and Hockey Ballarat have a thorough understanding of what is required including a formal MOU. Requirements – What we need? • Facilities – Numbers playing drive this – It’s a numbers game, Provide flexibility and collegiality to attract an retain • Strong Clubs to support juniors and to provide the pathway to lifelong participation • Volunteer – Need to foster administration, umpires, and coaching • Supportive community – Council support, Improved profile Elite • International • State • Premier league Retain - Mainstream competitions • Locally Based adult comps • Pathway for improvement to elite and representative • Healthy, Collegiate, Family based • junior competition-Schools and club based • Opportunity for Umpiring and volunteering Engage – Develop Skills, provide continual improvement Expose – Introduce our primary and secondary youth to our sport • Good coaching • Create Fun and family atmosphere • Offer multi levels and grades • Innovative competitions to suit • Provide participative pathways to elite • Use highly successful Hin 2 H • Develop school based competition at primary and secondary Existing programs • Strong local competitions is a must with participation of a range of abilities through multiple grades • Representative sides playing at highest level in Victoria. 6 teams today. • Providing the pathway to elite and representative hockey from Balllarat home base for Western District Players. Where to next? • The addition of further grades and teams in the Local Association competitions • Aspiration and plans to compete in “Premier League” • LEC set minimum hurdles for on field and off field • Facilities have to be improved, to reach a minimum standard • Expansion of involvement with Western Victorian Associations of Ballarat being the hub for Western District representative hockey and pathway to elite for players for all Western Victoria. Centre of excellence – Academy. Requirements – What do we need? • Numbers drive our thoughts. Minimum participation numbers are set in LEC • Need additional playing facilities. Cannot expand local competitions as playing slots are unavailable from Friday night through to Sunday night as well as slots for training, junior competitions mid week. • Develop a centre where we can attract support and cooperation with Western District associations. Are working on MOU’s which will include tournaments • Need to expose Ballarat to Premier League and International Hockey lift the profile. Need to enhance facilities. Equivalent towns like Albury, Launceston and several towns in WA and Queensland have done this. • Need statewide tournaments in Ballarat. Presently cannot hold tournaments due to lack of pitches. • Need Council and Community support for an amateur participative sport. APPENDIX 2 PLANNING FOR GROWTH Juniors

West Vic and Hockey Ballarat Aspiration to enter Premier League Hockey Ballarat and West Vic are committed to offering a pathway to allow our players to reach their potential while playing our great sport in Ballarat. West Vic aspires to having a team playing the “Premier League” in Victoria. This is the highest level of rostered competition in Victoria and equal or better than competitions in other States. Hockey Ballarat are right behind that aspiration. Hockey Vic have set benchmarks that are required for a Club to participate in the Premier League. These are shown in the Schematic. In Detail: • League Entry Criteria (LEC) is a clear and measurable set of standards for all HV affiliates in the Premier League and Vic League structure. • The standards are separated into “On Field” and “Off Field” standards. v The “On Field” standards directly relate to regular season performance of a team that may be vying to gain or retain PL status. v The “Off Field” standards relate to Club Management and Participation. The Club Management standards are designed to drive sustainable practices in relation to affiliates’ governance. On the other hand, the Participation standards relate to an affiliate’s ability to attract, develop and retain future top tier players, while remaining relevant to the local community by providing entry level participation options. Further, the LEC is intended to drive a clear synergy between the ongoing work undertaken by both the Hockey Victoria and the affiliates, across multiple areas. The schematic illustrates the key elements of LEC: POW do not yet meet the facilities guidelines for changerooms, broadcast provision and lighting WV and HB do not reach the number required for the PL LEC APPENDIX 2 BALLARAT’S WEST VIC FOR PREMIER LEAGUE League Entry Criteria

Ballarat’s growth in Hockey player numbers requires additional facilities in the very near future. The reasons are: • At Capacity now • POW Hockey Centre is now at 7 days continuous winter use. This includes competitions Friday night, Saturday Competitions 8. 30 am -7. 0 pm, Sunday 8. 30 – 7 pm. junior competitions and training 4 am-9. 30 pm Monday to Thursday • Growing the sport – • With concerted efforts with Hin 2 H we are now not able to supply competition slots for more club based junior teams • Indeed there is no more room Saturday and Sunday for Senior men and women’s and representative competitions • Premier League for Ballarat on near horizon. WV plans this to occur within 3 years. • LEC require a number criteria in Facilities which include playing surface specification • Off ground facilities • Broadcast facilities • Hockey Victoria is supporting HB as the development hub to support hockey in Western Victoria • Support with player development for all Western District Associations (Hamilton, Warrnambool, Colac, Grampians and Portland • Ballarat needs to hold Tournaments and Invitational International games to develop the game , to lift Hockey’s profile and most importantly promote Ballarat as a centre of excellence for Hockey in the West. To do this must have: • Multiple pitches are required • International fixtures cannot be staged today (unlike Bendigo, Albury, Albany) • Most towns equivalent or smaller size have multiple pitches (Albury, Launceston Bundbury) Our Community’s Options for provision of additional playing surfaces at POW. The POW complex and Hockey Ballarat as a partner has always had plans for multiple hockey pitches and in fact these were drawn on plans and included in strategic plans over many years. This has now been made very difficult with the compromising on space around the present facility with the following: ü Installation of Croquet and Tennis facilities and ü Car parking for BAC While we understand why this occurred it has now compromised Hockey Ballarat’s ability to grow. Ballarat and the Council must now actively engage to find solutions for the provision of additional facilities so we can grow our sport and the community can continue to reap the benefits from active participation. The options for the provision of much needed additional pitch facilities are summarised for discussion in a HB’s preference sequence : v Installation of Hockey pitch in car park next to Clubrooms as originally planned. This would necessitate rerouting road to the south of BAC and or shifting tennis. Preferred option because of location, history & recent development, clubrooms and would be tournament ready But unlikely and Greenfield site of 2 pitches and option for 3 to be considered v New purpose built facility elsewhere as has occurred with Soccer and North Ballarat oval development. In 2019 it is lively to be built on council land in Southern end of Victoria Park v Support construction of Ballarat’s High School pitch on High School site. Contract to use Grammar’s facilities. HB consider this as an interim approach. Downside is distance between facilities. APPENDIX 3 FACILITIES Facilities Planning – We need additional facilities NOW