100 people attended the recent conference for sports clubs in the South West entitled Keeping ahead of the Game. The conference took place at the College of St Mark & St John in Plymouth and aimed to:
- raise the profile of sports clubs in the South West
- bring a range of sports clubs together from a wide variety of sports, to examine the role sports clubs play in the wider sports development system
- examine the impact sports clubs have on the development of players and explore the future potential for supporting and improving player pathways
- explore the potential for improving networks between clubs at a local, county and regional level
- ensure that clubs are aware of the resources available to support development and feel confident in accessing and getting the best out of those resources
The day was Chaired by Ged Roddy, Chair of the South West Regional Sports Board, who introduced morning presentations from
- Stephen Baddeley, Director of Sport at Sport England who gave an overview of the wider sports system and the role of sports clubs within that system (click here)
- M. Patrice Bardin, Director of Football at Le Bon Conseil, Paris who illustrated an example of good practise from France. Patrice explained how Le Bon Conseil operates in Paris. The benefits of linking and working alongside other sports and other activities and how people (especially young people) are introduced to sport and physical activity and the opportunities available for people to progress in their chosen sport (click here)
- Jim Clarke, Regional Director of Sport England South West identified the strengths and weaknesses of current practice in the region, reviewed the largely European alternatives and concluded that cloning is neither possible or appropriate, and that a South West solution is therefore necessary. He concluded with a review of the potential for the hub and satellite model promoted in the regional plan (click here)
Afternoon workshops were well attended and included
Workshop 1:
The Hub & Satellite concept – examples of good practise in the South West.
Presented by Mary Hodgson, Project Manager, Carn Brae Hub Club & Chris Mather, Community Sport Tutor, College of St Mark & St John
This workshop gave an insight to two projects currently being developed in the region, including overall aims of their scheme, partnerships involved and particular areas of focus (click here).
Workshop 2:
Long Term Athlete Development
Presented by Ronnie Heath, Coach Development Officer, Somerset Activity & Sports Partnership
This workshop examined the importance of an athlete centred approach to club development. It looked at the principles of LTAD and the benefits of clubs taking this approach.
Workshop 3:
Social Enterprise
Presented by John Stevens, Organisational Development Consultant, Gloucestershire Sports Partnership
Long term sustainability is crucial to successful club provision. This workshop introduced the concept of social enterprise, looked at the benefits and considered how clubs could capitalise.
Workshop 4:
Community Amateur Sports Clubs
Presented by Mary Groom, Bates Wells & Braithwaite
This workshop explained CASC, looked at the benefits and explained how clubs can apply (click here)
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