Herts Badminton Association Coaching And Development
Report for Season 2003-4
Introduction
As you will have heard from colleague’s Reports and our June Newsletter, Herts Badminton has had another successful year in terms of continued provision of benefits to members, and clubs. This provision includes leagues and tournaments and support to play (or view) county and international levels by both our juniors and seniors. However, several clubs in the leagues have been struggling to put out teams. Continued provision of players at all levels depends on a steady stream coming up from the junior ranks to sustain clubs and teams. So, ‘Development’, in all its aspects, is the lifeblood of our sport.
In the past, the vast majority of the
development of our sport was carried out by our volunteer members (both HSBA
and HBA) with schools being the next most important resource. Increasingly, the government has sought to
become involved in sport to reduce ill health and social problems by promoting
lifestyle changes and to obtain international.
The government programmes can be seen as a benefit and in some cases a
threat to our sport. Clearly, the
funding of our national athletes through the World Class Programme over the
last 5 years was useful even though it was targeted to a small, top,
section. The Active Sport Programme
that provided county Development Officers and support funding in 5 sports other
than ours has meant that some of our better juniors have decided to go into
these sports instead. Because of these
types of collective influences it is no longer possible to continue as before
or ignore the schemes.
To reduce the threats and maximise our successes we have actively sought out and created opportunities from the programmes, partnerships and funding that have and continue to rapidly emerge. Importantly, this year, the East Sports Board has been consolidated and produced its Regional Development Plan identifying its intention to work through County Sports Partnerships and governing bodies ‘Whole Sport Plans’. Our Herts Sports Partnership has matured and Local Authorities through their Sports Development officers and District Sport Partnerships are aligning themselves with delivery on national and local programmes.
It is with this in mind that we briefly review each of the 10 Herts Districts, their affiliated clubs over the last year and glimpse the even more demanding but exciting season ahead.
Broxbourne
The only affiliated clubs, Stanstead Abbotts junior (26 juniors) and senior (56 seniors), play at the John Warner Centre. The junior club attained BAofE first level Club Accreditation. Several of SA’s players are in squads, junior, senior and vets, and their coaches helped at HSBA tournaments and with some District help provided Under 11 and U13 teams for
Herts Youth Games in May.
Broxbourne District Council supports a Sports Partnership where they progress concerns and plan and progress sports development: they also have an awards scheme which includes cash grants of £250 to 11-19 year olds. It is not known if SA are represented at the Sports Partnership. Turnford School will be the Hub Secondary school for the PESSCL scheme (see below) in this district starting in September. We have written to them indicating our interest in partnership development.
Dacorum
There are some 4 affiliated clubs in Dacorum, i.e., Berkhamsted Junior and Senior, Chequers and Hastoe.
Berkhamsted junior club, set up with an Awards for All grant 2 seasons ago, has provided juniors into squads and their HYG teams: Joe Webb, joint Young Volunteer of the Year, helped organiser-coach, Sue Edmanson. However, at the end of this season it struggled to find juniors Hopefully, with some support from HBA Development and discussions with Dacorum DC Sports Development the club can be revived in the Autumn. The Dacorum squad run by Frances Morrison continues to run on Wednesdays. Hastoe plays in the SW Herts League and member 18 year old Paul Draper qualified as a Leader recently.
Dacorum District Council is believed to be in the process of setting up a Sports Partnership Forum and they offer 50% grants to clubs to finance one off projects. Cavendish School in Hemel Hempstead is the hub school in the PESSCL scheme and has been operating since September 2003. We need to identify coaches who can facilitate after school clubs and club links.
East Herts
There are many clubs in East Herts most playing in the Hertford Area League. New club, Albury, All Saints and Wizard have junior sections and the last two have provided players for HSBA, Hertford Area leagues and HYG. All Saints have achieved BAofE club first level Accreditation. Several coaches have qualified in Wizard in the last year.
The District Council provides funding for capital, revenue items (start-up and running costs) and for 11-19 year olds who are near county level or above. They do not have a Sports Partnership Forum currently.
With The Sele School (Hertford) becoming a hub PESSCL school in September, known to support badminton and with several of our active coaches - this District has great opportunities ahead. We have written to them indicating our interest in partnership development.
Hertsmere
In Hertsmere, there is one junior club, Gazelles, Potters Bar, and one senior club, Hawks, Elstree. Gazelles has provided a number of juniors to HSBA tournaments, leagues, squads and HYG for several years and this year is no exception. It is unfortunate that there is no local adult club for them to progress to.
Hertsmere District Council until a month ago did not have a sports development officer, even now the role combines ‘leisure’ activity support. Neither do they have a sports forum. They provide grants to clubs usually requiring the club to find 50%. Nicholas Breakspear School is to become a PESSCL hub in September. However, although they are known to be badminton-friendly there is currently no club with juniors locally, nor many coaches for any after schools sessions and clubs.
North Herts
North Herts has some 7 affiliated clubs, one junior club and 3 junior coaching sessions in at least, 3 separate sports centres and another new one at Knebworth. Two junior schools, in particular, The Grange and Willbury, continue to supply a high proportion of juniors to HSBA tournaments. The non-affiliated league is chaired by coach Bob Green. Jonathan Pancutt, joint Young Coach of the Year helps in several clubs and Council organised coaching here.
There is a strong Sports Development Department in NH and they provide grants to clubs and individuals. Unfortunately there is no plan for a PESSCL partnership in NH.
The new Royston sports centre is due to open in September 2005 and we, together with Royston BC, have offered to help develop badminton there.
St Albans
St Albans has no affiliated junior or senior clubs: Harpenden junior badminton club plays in HSBA leagues and there are several small non-affiliated senior clubs. Being outside our bailiwick means it is impossible to provide them with support or to create school-club links. There are approximately 4 level two coaches and a few at level one: one new Level one qualified this May (and helps at Harpenden JBC). St Albans were unable to provide teams in HYG this year due to lack of available coaches.
We returned a District Sports questionnaire supporting new sports facilities in the district.
A development project in Herts Sports Village (HSV) is in early planning to provide after school coaching in one Secondary and two Junior schools – being identified by the outgoing SDO. On funding, the website states: ‘the council is in the process of forming a new voluntary body that will distribute grant aid to affiliated sports clubs and individuals who reside in St. Albans.’ Current schemes fund up to 50% (but not individuals).
Stevenage
Stevenage Mayor and her husband attended the Primary Schools Team tournament at Stevenage Leisure Centre in February and thoroughly enjoyed the day. Stevenage has put an extra £10,000 into sport in the district this year with plans to provide for improved HYG teams and longer term effects.
SCOBE affiliated to the BAofE this year and achieved first level accreditation.
Marriotts Sports College is the first PESSCL hub school with which we have established some school club development relationship. The Council’s SDO, Matt Warren has provided £990 for this purpose and a meeting, 29th June, is to progress plans for next season.
Three Rivers and Watford – See Richard Doling’s Report
This area is looking much better thanks to Richard’s efforts.
Queens School, Bushey, is a PESSCL hub school but there are no affiliated clubs with juniors and few coaches nearby.
Welwyn Hatfield
The opening of 12 court Herts Sports Village last August, has, as well as the junior and senior squad establishment, produced many knock on benefits to members e.g., England v Holland match, Open and Restricted Tournaments, several coaching courses and the junior squad Player Support programme. The Comets juniors and seniors clubs have moved in and expanded.
However, we should not neglect the tremendous junior development work that Swifts Junior BC at Hatfield Leisure Centre continues to do. They have 110 members, many of whom are in the squads and some have played internationally. It goes without saying they also play in leagues and HYG.
Both Swifts and Comets JBC became first level accredited clubs this season.
The Goode Academy of Sport at HSV also continues to coach many of our internationals. Bill Goode rightly deserves his BAofE English Badminton Award for his lifetime coaching including many top Herts and England Internationals. Chris Fisher, joint Young Coach of the Year helps in several clubs and Council organised coaching here.
Welwyn Hatfield DC provides grants to individuals (several of our juniors were recipients) and clubs. A new Sports Partnership Development Officer has, after a gap of 11 months been recruited and he plans to set up a Sports Partnership Forum.
Sir Frederick Osborne is likely to be the PESSCL Hub school this District and tey hope to build a new sports hall to facilitate this. We have written to them to investigate our Partnership role in both of these developments.
Countywide
Coaching
This year we have organised a Coach Part 1 Award (12 attendees, 6 from Herts), a Leaders Award (12 attendees, 10 from Herts) and helped Watford organise one Leaders (6 attendees, 3 from Herts) and HSP one Community Sports Leaders Award Badminton Module (7 attendees all Herts). Many of these are active in clubs and sports centres.
Several coaches attended our ‘BISI Familiarity’ and ‘Fitness for Badminton’ sessions.
The BAofE coaching award scheme has been radically changed in line with the National Coaching Certificate: the new ‘Assistant’ and ‘Level 2’ will replace the current Leaders and Coach Part 1 in August.
Development
Much ‘development’ is carried out by our volunteers without them considering it as development. On a slight downside, this year, the BAofE membership figures show that for the first time in 7 years our membership, 1179, dipped by 1%, but over the 7 years it is up 63%.
Recognising Young Achievers
Last year, to recognise and encourage the efforts of our rising junior volunteers and coaches we established the ‘Young Coach of the Year’ and ‘Young Volunteer of the Year’ awards. As you will have seen in the Newsletter, there were more entries this year, all very worthy, but the winners of the Coaching Award goes jointly to Chris Fisher and Jonathan Pancutt and the Volunteer Award, also jointly, to Dave Westwood and Joe Webb. We thank them for their considerable efforts.
The Importance of Working in Partnership
Our commitment over several years to the Herts Sports Partnership is beginning to see some payoffs. This season has seen:
1 A doubling of our Herts Youth Games entry from U13 to U11 and U13 – all funded by HSP.
2 Inclusion in the HSP 5-year ‘Player Support programme for squads, again HSP funded':
some 40 of our U12 juniors are eligible, with more to follow each year
3 The opportunity to input to all the Work Groups strategies e.g.
School-Community Sport. Organisers, Coaches and Administrators,
and actions, e.g. the Service to Sport Awards, and access the
Coaches Resource Centre, Travellers Lane, Hatfield.
4 Information at meetings (and now via Newsletter) on PESSCL
and other national and Local programmes, allowing us to prepare
and participate
5 The opportunity to network (in the wider sense) and share
interests with other county NGBs, clubs, SDOs, etc. The
identification of, and speaking with, key personnel at HSP meetings
has saved many hours.
6 A presentation at our 2003 HBA AGM by Neil Deans, HSP Club
Development Officer, on opportunities for development.
7 The ability to feed the winners of our Volunteers and Coaches of
the Year Award winners almost automatically into the similar
Service to Sport Award HSP and Sport England schemes .
None of these and many new programmes would be possible outside of HSP. Regular attendees include Gill Bartlett, Malcolm Fraser and Marion Conway, and they also attend some of the workgroup sessions. But several other club organisers have dropped in and their support is invaluable. You don’t need to be a regular attendee. There are 150 HSP members, so by increasing our numbers we can expand our access and influence that would otherwise be impossible, and of course, would go to the expansion of other sports. Please help if you can.
Season 2004-05
Undoubtedly, with increasing government funding coming into sport we need to stay aware and be proactive through HSP. Probably the most important scheme is PESSCL in which each of the 10 Herts hub sports college secondary schools will establish, with up to 7 other secondary and 42 Junior schools, after-school sport and club links. At least 3 hubs are already known to support badminton – which with sufficient resources could mean 150 new after-school clubs! There are major opportunities and threats from this scheme: if we don’t make use of our opportunities then other sports will. The challenge for us is to find people who are available in the day, and who are interested in becoming coaches to help create the after-school clubs. We have indicated above where we need them, if you can help please make contact with us.