Junior Development Plan 2003 - 2008

Objectives.

There are two main objectives of this development plan.

Firstly, as a guide for members of Ryde Rowing Club, to assist in achieving sustainable development of Juniors at our Club in both recruitment and retention.

Secondly, to act as a map for interested parties from outside the Club who may be offering assistance by explaining our pathways in participation and performance for athletes, coaches and associated volunteer’s administrators.

The plan was initially authorized by the Club's committee on the 6/8/01 and amended in January 2003 when it became clear that the Club would not be proceeding with an application for Project Oarsome.

This document contains sections with the following information:

• Resume of the Club to date.

• Where is the Club now?

• Where would we like to be

• How are we going to get there?

• Recruitment and retention of Juniors through the NJRP.

• Coaching structure and criteria of Project Oarsome.

• How do we know we are getting there?

• List of contacts to help the Club and Officials within.

This Junior Development plan should be considered in conjunction with and forms part of the Clubs overall development plan - 2002 to 2008.

RESUME OF RYDE ROWING CLUB.

Ryde Rowing Club was founded in 1877 and is the only Isle of Wight based Rowing Club that has been in continuous existence ever since. It is believed to be one of the oldest sporting Clubs in Ryde. The Club's original Clubhouse was on Ryde Pier from where it carried out its Social and competitive rowing activities until 1968 when the then landlords, British Rail, evicted the Club on the grounds that the pillars on which the Clubhouse was built were in a dangerous condition and beyond economic repair. Thanks to the old Ryde Borough Council the Club was re-housed in temporary accommodation in Appley Park which consisted of a Boathouse only with no changing or social facilities. In spite of this the Club experienced some of its most successful seasons on the water and laid down the foundations for the even more successful years that were to follow. Thanks to further support from the local authority, Sports Council grant aid and a major fundraising effort by the members a new Clubhouse was opened in 1975, still in Appley Park, Ryde which provided changing and social facilities in addition to a boathouse. With a new Clubhouse the Club experienced a period of growth and a significant improvement in performance with a number of Hants & Dorset and South Coast Championships won and qualification for Henley on two occasions. In the mid 1990's a further problem developed with the Clubhouse suffering from major subsidence, as a result of the construction of a sewage treatment works behind the building, for which the Club was not insured. As a result a successful application was made to the Sports Aid Foundation and the National Lottery Sports fund which has enabled the Club to re-build a new two story Clubhouse, with much improved facilities, which was opened in 1998.

The Club has an active membership of 56 members of which 37 are under 18 (66%) and 15 (27%) are female. The majority of members are recruited from the Ryde area (82%) , 10% come from the Cowes area where the Club has a second Boathouse. 8% are from the remainder of the Island with none currently mainland based. The ages of our active membership runs from 12 to 49 with a split as follows - under 18 - 66%; 18 to 40 - 29%; over 40 - 5%. (See charts in the appendix).

The Club stages a Hants & Dorset Championship Regatta annually, which is granted a permit by the Hants and Dorset Amateur Rowing Association and forms part of their Championship program. The Club also stages a number of smaller races for local Clubs, plays a major part in organizing the Rowing events at Ryde Town Regatta and Sandown Bay Regatta - and stages a Sailing Race, annually from their Appley Park Clubhouse, which has one of the longest continuous sport sponsorship, from the Merrydown Cider Company, who have supported the event for over forty years. The Clubhouse is used by a number of other local organizations for social, business and training applications - notably Ryde Inshore Rescue, Ryde High School, Wight Leisure, IW Junior Ice Hockey Club and others.

Notable achievements of the Club –

South Coast Champions.

Men’s Senior Fours - 1985, 1986, and 1987.

Men’s Junior Senior Fours - 1979, 1999.

Men’s Junior Fours - 1995, 2000.

Ladies Senior Fours - 1978, 1979, 1986. 1987.

Hants & Dorset Championships.

Men’s Senior Fours - 1985, 1986, and 1987.

Men’s Junior Senior Fours - 1979, 1984.

Men’s Novice Fours - 1962, 1975, 1993, and 1996.

Ladies Senior Fours - 1978, 1986, 1987, 1989.

Ladies Novice Fours - 1986, 1990, 1995, 1996.

Men’s Junior Pairs - 1965.

Men’s Junior Sculls - 1983, 1986, and 1992.

Ryde Rowing Club wants to evolve its Junior section as it recognizes that the healthy future of the Club is largely dependent on its ability to continue to recruit new members into the sport at the Club. While the Club wishes to continue to recruit new members of all ages a healthy and expanding Junior section provides the best possible base for the future. The more Junior members that join the Club the better chance the Club has of retaining these members and encouraging them to stay involved with the Club and the sport, going on to compete for the Club at the highest level they can achieve - with the possibility of regional, national and even International competition - either with the Ryde Club or after moving on to University or other Clubs. With a strong Junior base there is a better chance that some of these Juniors will remain active within the Club for many years with their involvement eventually leading to them becoming the next generation of Club Coaches, Administrators and Officers and helping to ensure the Clubs ongoing existence and development.

The Ryde Club is affiliated to the Hants & Dorset Amateur Rowing Association and is committed to supporting its Coastal Championship Regatta Programme. This commitment takes up much of the Clubs available recourse in equipment, available funds, coaches, facilities and active membership during the summer months - from the beginning of May through to the end of September. The Clubs is allowed the use of Ryde Canoe Lake during the winter months - from October to April - and this is an ideal environment for an introduction of Juniors to the sport on the water via the NJRP Wet Start program. This facility is not available to the Club during the summer months when it is a commercial boating lake.

For these two reasons the Club feels that it should concentrate on its Junior program during the winter months and its Coastal program during the summer months. To some extent the Juniors could and would be integrated into the coastal program -

• as coxswains.

• through the series of Cadet Races staged.

• as Novice Crews if appropriate.

The Juniors would also be encouraged to get involved with the Clubs other Summer activities, beginning the process of full integration into the Club, and the Dry Start and Wets Start and the progressions from them would continue but on a more restricted basis.

Where is Ryde Rowing Club now in terms of Junior Development?

Ryde Rowing Club is an ARA “Go-Row” accredited Club.

As of 28/2/02, the end of the last subscription year the Club had the following members in the designated age groups.

Under 11 [Year 7 at School] - 0

Under 13 [competitive base level] - 5

Under 18 - 32

The male/female ratio is - 59% male/41% female.

The numbers competing on a regular basis are:-

Under 11 [Year 7 at School] - 0

Under 13 [competitive base level] - 5

Under 18 - 32

The breakdown of Schools attended is as follows: -

Mayfield Middle School - 2 (5%)

Bishop Lovett Middle School - 3 (8%)

Ryde High School - 24 (65%)

Other Island Schools - 8 (22%)

The Club has a wide range of equipment but hardly any that is exclusive to Juniors and much of the fleet is now old and in need of replacement: -

Coxed River Four/Quad x 3. - 1 is very old and reaching the end of its natural life.

Coxless River Four/Quad x 1

Coxless River Pair/Double x 2

River Single Scull x 1

Coxed Coastal Four x 5

Coxed Coastal Pair x 2

Coastal Single Scull x 2

Coxed Training Pair/Double x 1

Training Single Sculls x 2

Coaching/Safety Launch, Outboard and Launch/Road Trailer

The Club has ageing Boat Trailer in urgent need of replacement.

The Club owns a 17 seater Minibus.

Facilities at the Clubhouse include - Men’s and Ladies Changing Rooms including showers, Club Room, Meeting Room, and Boathouse with training area.

Training facilities include 5 Concept II Ergos - one of which is no longer fully operable; free weights and a small single person multi-gym.

The Clubroom has TV and Video, OHP & screen.

The Clubhouse has facilities for the disabled including ramp access, stair lift and disabled toilets.

The Clubs five year development plan (2002 to 2008) gives the objectives the Club has set itself for the upgrading of equipment.

Where would we like to be?

AIM Ryde Rowing Club would like to make effective use of the ARA National Junior Rowing Programme.

The Amateur Rowing Association [ARA] is the governing body for rowing in England. As part of its forward plan 1997 - 2001, the ARA had identified the need for strengthening the Junior base of its membership and in 1999 the National Junior Rowing Programme [NJRP] was introduced to facilitate this.

The components of the NJRP include -

• A revamp of the ARA's Coaching Award scheme.

• The evolution of "accredited centers" for Junior development.

• Implementation of new young person centered "fun" events.

• New resources designed for young people.

• The introduction of new skills and fitness awards for participants.

• The introduction of Project Oarsome.

How are we going to get there?

Ryde Rowing Club is affiliated to the Amateur Rowing Association and aims to make use of the National Junior Rowing Program. Due to the lack of funding and concerns over coaching resources and of committing the Club to a program they were not confident they could fulfill the General Committee decided against an application for Project Oarsome status in January, 2002. This scheme has now closed and this opportunity no longer exists as an option.

Recruitment and Retention of Juniors.

Ryde Rowing Club will aim to recruit 50 to 80 Juniors over the next 5 years using the following methods -

1. Inclusion in the ARA National Programs (NJRP).

2. Recruitment through other schemes. E.g. "Duke of Edinburgh."

3. Natural recruitment at the Club.

ACTION PLANNING.

What needs doing? By whom, When and Measured by;

Apply for "Awards for all" for funding for Coaching Courses and equipment.

Ryde R. C. Rowing Sub Committee. March, 2002. Award of Grant.

Note: GRANT RECEIVED, MAY, 2002.

Renew Clubs five-year development plan.

RRC Main Committee. End of August, 2002. Publication.

Note: New 5 year development plan published in September, 2002 in anticipation of application to Project Oarsome and was amended in 2003 following the Clubs decision not to proceed.

Stage Instructors Award Course for new Coaches. And repeat at least every other year.

Wessex Regional Rowing Council. October/November, 2002.

Completion of course.

Note: IA Course held at Ryde and completed in November, 2002.

Approve and Publish revised Junior Development Plan.

RRC Rowing Sub Committee. End of March, 2003.

Approach Schools ref. Formal link and NJRP.

Ryde R. C. Rowing Sub Committee. September, 2003.

Meetings with and acceptance by Schools.

Appoint Schools and/or Junior Coordinator.

Ryde R. C. Rowing Sub Committee. October, 2003. Appointment made.

Start Dry Start activities at nominated Schools.

Appoint Club Welfare Officer.

Ryde R. C. Rowing Sub Committee. October, 2003. Appointment made.

Ensure all Junior Coaches have the appropriate CRB disclosure.

Rowing Sub Committee. By the end of December, 2003.

Notification of CRB disclosure number.

Start Dry start activities at nominated Schools.

Schools/Junior Coordinator and Ryde R. C. Rowing Sub-Committee.

January, 2004. Start of activity and registration of Students for “Go-Row”

Start Wet Start Activities.

Schools/Junior Coordinator and Ryde R. C. Rowing Sub-Committee.

February, 2004. Start of activity and award of certificates.

Recruitment via NJRP.

NJRP provides an in-built method for recruitment. Its criteria will still allow Ryde Rowing Club to establish contracted formal links with local middle schools in the maintained sector but without the specific obligations of Project Oarsome.

The following schools have shown an interest in a formal link – which the local Sports Development Officer, the local Education Authority and the ARA's Regional Developments officers are aware of: -

MAYFIELD C of E MIDDLE SCHOOL in RYDE (3 miles from Club)

BISHOP LOVETT MIDDLE SCHOOL in Ryde (1 mile from Club)

These Schools offer the most encouraging opportunities for the development of sustainable Club/School links. Project Oarsome will provide four indoor rowing machines, which will be placed in these Schools. Students from year seven will be given instruction and encouraged to take skill and fitness awards. Up to 40 pupils per year will be invited to try rowing on the water.

The Club will recruit up to 20 new Junior members on a yearly basis. We expect up to 50% loss each year from this scheme. With a structured Programme retention in this scheme is likely to be higher than before.

Recruitment through other schemes.

Rowing and Sculling is one of the options on the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme. Ryde Rowing Club will work with individuals, who wish to participate in rowing through this or any other scheme, should this be practicable to all parties. This includes local community, youth or voluntary groups.

Recruitment through Cub activities.

The Club involves itself in the local community through the -

• Cone and try it/Taster days held on Ryde Canoe Lake during the winter when this facility is made available to us by the local authority. Recruitment is via word of mouth through members - friends, relation’s etc... and adverts placed in the local library, Youth Club and Schools.

• Involvement in Isle of Wight based youth activities - for example the Annual Youth Afloat weekends held at Cowes were, when practical, the Club has static displays and hosts a Junior Ergo. Competition.

• Static display and Ergo competition held at a number of school fetes during the summer.

The Club has an adaptive rowing section linked to the Isle of Wight Social Services Family placement unit who channel and support a small number of disabled Juniors to get involved in Club activities.

The Club will welcome new members through these parochial events. New participants will be integrated into existing schemes when possible.

Coaching Structure for NJRP.

Inclusion in the NJRP requires Ryde Rowing Club to assemble a group of dedicated, ARA qualified coaches.

The diagrams attached represent the Clubs existing Coaching structure and the expanded structure that will be required.

The existing Coaching Structure is organized through the Clubs Rowing Sub Committee, which is chaired by the Rowing Captain, and is responsible to the Clubs Main Committee. The Club Captain is the Clubs nominated responsible Officer for Child protection purposes and the Water Safety is an Agenda item at every Committee Meeting with the Clubs Safety Advisor reporting into this Committee. The Rowing Sub Committee coordinates the activities of the Clubs coaches who have Squad and or specific crew responsibilities. There are two levels of coaches - the first level - qualified to Silver and Bronze and a second level qualified as Instructors who assist level one coaches in some cases. The Junior Organizer, as required by the Clubs Child Protection procedures also reports into the Rowing Sub Committee.

To support the Junior Rowing Program the Coaching Structure will need to be expanded.

It is envisaged that the new Coaching Structure will consist of two sections - in order to support the Clubs on going commitment to the Hants & Dorset ARA Coastal Programme and other competition for its Senior Members - there will be a Senior Section - and to support the NJRP - a Junior Section. Both sections will be coordinated by the Clubs Rowing Sub Committee - reporting into RRC's Main Committee and chaired, as now by the Rowing Captain. The Senior section organization will be similar to the present format with squad and/or individual Crew Coaches who would normally be qualified to ARA Bronze or Silver award, assisted in some areas by ARA Instructors. The Junior Section, which would probably include the adaptive section, would have a Junior Coordinator, and/or School Coordinator who would preferably be qualified to ARA Bronze or Silver Level but at least to ARA Instructor level. There would be a number of Coaches to assist the Dry and Wet start programs who would be ARA Instructors. It would be our intention to recruit some of these Coaches from the nominated schools who would be offered the opportunity to complete the required coaching courses. There is a possibility of local funding being made available through the Community Sports Coach scheme that could be used to fund a part-time Coaching position - with the appointment probably filling the role of Schools Coordinator and providing week day, day time, opportunities for Wet Start activities.

The Club Captain will continue to fulfill the role of Responsible Officer in line with the Clubs child protection procedures and the Clubs Safety Advisor would continue to report to the main committee where Water Safety would remain an Agenda item.

A Club Welfare Officer will be appointed who will not be involved in Junior Coaching in line with agreed Child Protection procedures.

The Club will try to maintain a minimum number of 6 active and qualified Coaches. To sustain and promote this Coaching structure the Club will target certain groups for Coach education, provided within the Club and regionally, with the help of our RCDO

• Current Club coaches who are unqualified.

• Parents of incoming Juniors.

• Other Club Members who are not yet coaching.

• Students under taking relevant qualifications. i.e. P.E.

• Staff at the Schools.

In order to support the expanded Coaching Structure the Club will request that the Wessex Regional Rowing Council to authorize an annual or bi-annual Instructors Award course based on Ryde R. C. depending on demand. The course would be open to all Island Rowing Clubs providing some provision for Coach education for the whole Island.

HOW DO WE KNOW WE ARE GETTING THERE?

Performance Pathways.

Ryde Rowing Club aims to develop pathways for its young rowers to follow. These pathways will allow students to develop skills necessary in competition and non-competitive environments. Using the ARA's Awards Scheme the Club will be able to offer curriculum-based learning in all aspects of rowing and sculling. We will be able to monitor the progress of our young members using the diagrams attached, from year 7 onwards. Modules on specific issues such as safety will be mandatory. All modules will be taken until year 9 when students will move from "fun" events to formal ARA or Hants & Dorset ARA regional or national competitions.

(See diagram in appendix)

Contacts.

Sport & Recreation Manager, IW Council Lee Matthews. Sport & Recreation Manager, IW Council Sports Unit, Guildhall, High Street, Newport, Isle of Wight. PO30 1TY.

Telephone – 01983 823818.

Wessex Regional Rowing Council Chairman.

Colin Eales. 13, Victoria Grove, Southsea, Hants. PO5 1NE Tel. 02392 811354 . E Mail. otto.eales@freeinternet.co.uk

Wessex Regional Rowing Council Hon. Secretary.

Colin Fagan. 3, Park Avenue, Lymington, Hants. SO41 9GX.

Tel. 01590 674816. E-Mail. fagan@genie.co.uk

Grants Officers.

Gareth Cook 55 Malvern Gardens, Hedge End, Southampton, SO19 2UL

Tel. 01489 795585 E Mail. Gareth.cook@talk21.com

Wessex Region Coaching Development Officer.

Vicky Spencer-Foad Sport England, Colman House, Kings Street, Maidstone, ME14 1DN

Tel. 01622 693981 E Mail. spencerfoad@ara-cdo.freeserve.co.uk

Divisional Representative.

Mike Green 51 Riverway, Christchurch, Dorset, BH23 2QQ

Tel. 01202 482258 E Mail. Mike@megreen.co.uk

APPENDIX.

Attached –

1) Pie Charts. Membership statistics – 2002.

2) Pie Charts and Block Diagrams. Junior Development – Ryde R. C. now.

3) Chart showing current Coaching structure.

4) Chart showing envisaged coaching structure.

5) Overview of the pathways through the seven-year plan.

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