Guildford Baseball

& Softball Club

Club Development Plan

1. Introduction a. Background & History The Guildford Mavericks Baseball Club was formed in 1992 from a merger between the remnants of the Wokingham Millers Baseball Club, and some Guildford based enthusiasts. Since that date, the club has competed in the BBF Adult Baseball leagues, with at most, two teams being fielded each year.

Membership is mostly derived from the SW Surrey and NE Hampshire areas, although some do come from farther afield. The club has always been funded by membership fees, as opposed to any sponsorship or funding income, and these fees are used solely to cover the costs of running the club.

In order to reflect the more diverse approach the club is taking, the name was changed to the Guildford Baseball & Softball club before the start of the 2014 season.

b. Club Strategy The aims of the club are as follows:  Provide the opportunity to play baseball and softball at all levels of experience, for both genders, and at any age.  Grow the games of baseball and softball in the areas covered by the membership

c. Organisation The club has a Management Committee, consisting of the following positions:  General Manager  Secretary  Treasurer  Other Voluntary Committee members (representing the Baseball, Softball and Junior Divisions)

The Committee members are elected at the Annual General Meeting by the members of the organisation to oversee the running of the club.

2. Audit

d. Financial The club is on a sound financial footing as the budget is always set to cover all annual costs. Any profit, derived from greater than expected membership or by other fundraising activities, is put back into growing the club to further the objectives stated above.

e. Administration The club is administered by the General Manager and the Treasurer with assistance from the individual Team Managers and Secretaries.

Guildford Baseball

& Softball Club

f. Legal  The club is bound by a Club Constitution, which is reviewed annually. Insurance of all playing members as well as public liability cover is arranged through the National Governing Body (BSUK).  A risk assessment is carried out for all facilities that are used.  All those working with children are required to have undergone a successful DBS check. As of August 2016, this is deemed to cover all Team Managers, Coaches and First Aiders.

g. Playing In 2013, two teams were entered into the BBF Adult Baseball Leagues, Southern Conference. Squad size was initially set at 14 players for the 1st team and 16 players for the 2nd team, to ensure sufficient playing time across the teams. As the season progressed, new members joined the club, and these were accommodated as much as possible.

Membership Trends (based on those paying to play) Membership 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 numbers Adult Baseball 43 52* 30 41 37 32 Junior Baseball 59 46 21 13 n/a n/a Softball 31 16 n/a n/a n/a n/a

* Includes numbers from Beginners Baseball course Certification Role Number BBF Level 1 Coach 6 BBF Level 2 Coach 1 First Aiders 3 DBS (CRB) Holders 12 'Child Protection in Sport and Active 2 Leisure Level 2'

h. Facilities The club has been using the following facilities for baseball and softball over the last 12 months

Facility name Event Which days Weekly hours Christs College Adult Baseball, Junior Tues, Thurs, Sat, 14 (in season) Baseball, Slow-pitch Sun Softball Broadwater School Indoor Softball, Baseball Tues, Sun 3 (off season) Training, PE Taster Sessions Kings College FISH Various midweek 7 George Abbot School After School Club, PE Taster Mon 2+ sessions, Softball County School After School Club, Taster Tues 2+ sessions TOTAL 28+

Guildford Baseball

& Softball Club

i. Club SWOT Analysis In the 2014 club development plan a SWOT analysis was carried out, and the following weaknesses were successfully addressed:  Too much of a focus on Adult baseball  Dependency on income from member’s fees  No official Softball section  Low number of junior members

Strengths:  Long standing (25+ yrs) club  Good level of coaching knowledge  Provision for adults and juniors  Provision of softball and baseball  Income derived from other sources (After School clubs, Softball, Services)  Links with local schools

Weaknesses:  Lack of volunteers to help with running the club  Only Single-A baseball is currently available  Low profile in local media  Shortage of publicity and marketing  Lack of proper playing facilities  Only mixed-gender softball, and no fast-pitch  Inability to offer regular competitive junior games  Short duration of junior season, due to holidays at end of school summer term

Opportunities:  Easy sports to attract newcomers to, especially if slow-pitch softball is used as an introduction  Mixed-gender sports, so can get more girls and women participating  The sport is something different on offer, compared to the mainstream  Aside from cricket, not too much competition by way of other summer team sports  Catchment area includes many non-UK nationals

Threats:  Perceived as an American sport  Lack of publicity or visibility  High cost and lack of facilities, specifically available space, in this part of the country  Clashes with cricket in the summer, for the use of playing fields

Guildford Baseball

& Softball Club

3. Aims The last 3-year period, has seen the following aims accomplished from those stated in 2014:  Continue to grow the Junior baseball programme, so that there is the option to split into age groups (i.e. numbers of 16 in each age group) by the end of the season  Grow Junior numbers at Bronco (U-13) and Teeball (U-11) levels in order to be able to run in-house games each week  Demonstrate an ability to develop junior players from a level of having no knowledge of the game, to being able to progress to the next level within the programme, and eventually to the adult level  Introduce Softball as part of the clubs regular programme of activities  Increase membership to be able to two teams in the BBF leagues  Introduce regular Beginners Baseball, in order to provide an easier way into the game for adults  Locate facilities to enable baseball and softball to be played, while more suitable options are developed

The following are the aims for the period from 2016 through 2021

Within 1 year  Attain Clubmark Accreditation  Schedule regular competitive games for U-14  Grow numbers in U-11 section by 50%  Increase competitive playing time for 14–16 year olds  Grow weekly slow-pitch softball game into a 4-team competition  Increase visibility both of our Club and of these sports in the local area  Develop links with the local community to help improve recognition of the Club and the sports  Fill all voluntary positions within the Club by increasing number of volunteers  Increase number of Level 1 and Level 2 coaches

Within 3 years  Continue to replenish junior membership to replace those moving up to adult baseball  Improve and increase the facilities by developing a new ground, and improving any existing facility. Will need a minimum of two adult diamonds and one junior diamond  Aim to field teams at AAA, AA and A levels in the BBF Leagues  Make Softball a self-sufficient section and participate in tournaments  Co-opt more parents into the running of the Junior Club

Within 5 years  Increase in Adult Baseball membership to 75+, so that four teams can be fielded  Double Junior Baseball membership (U-14 and below)  Introduce Fast-pitch Softball  Seek sponsorship and other revenue generation activities to cover 50% of costs  Provide playing facilities that meet recommended NGB standards for baseball and softball

Guildford Baseball

& Softball Club

4. The plan

Aim Objective Responsible Timeframe Cost Status Attain Clubmark Submit updated club development plan David Jones August 2016 n/a In progress Accreditation in order for BSUK to sign off

Facility development Continue work with Normandy PC on Michael Burdett 2016/17 off n/a In progress MFF and open discussions with Kings (General season College. Develop relationship with GBC Manager)

Schedule regular Organise games on regular basis in Michael Burdett Before 2017 n/a Not yet competitive games for U- 2017, with Brighton, Herts, Soton, (U-14 Manager) season started 14 Bracknell and Tonbridge

Grow numbers in U-11 Target Primary schools for taster U-11 Manager Starting £500 Not yet section by 50% / Continue sessions in 2017 and any other evens March 2016 started to replenish Junior related to these age groups Membership Increase competitive Enter an U-20 team into BBF Single-A Team Manager 2017 season £1600 Not yet playing time for 14-16-year comprised mostly of 15-19 yr. olds, started old’s with some overage, adult experience managing it Grow weekly slow-pitch Identify 4 managers. Organise teams. Softball 2017 season £200 Not yet softball game into 4-team Promote league. Run through May-July Committee started competition / make self- Establish softball committee sufficient Enter local softball tournaments Promote corporate softball events

Increase visibility both Develop relationship with local media. Working Party 2016-2017 tbc In progress of our Club and of these Create and use publicity material. sports in the local area Stage or attend relevant events Increase links with local schools and sports centres Market Softball to local companies

Fill all voluntary positions GM to delegate more of the activities Michael Burdett Before 2017 n/a In progress at club by increasing Aim to run each section under it’s own (General season number of volunteers / Co- mgmt. team Manager) opt parents Provide training, coaching and support for volunteer roles Aim to field teams at AAA, Increase adult baseball membership Working Party Ongoing n/a In Progress AA and A levels in the BBF Run more Beginners courses Leagues Produce easy transition from juniors to adults Increase marketing and publicity

5. Review This document is to be updated every off-season and reviewed annually at the AGM, or ad hoc, as required, by the Committee.

Last update: December 2016