Facilities Strategy 2011 - 2017 Building a future for British Baseball and Softball 1 Table of Contents © BaseballSoftballUK 2011 Facilities Strategy 2011-2017 Table of Contents Introduction and Context Welcome and Foreword ........................................................................................................... 3 Facilities Vision: 2011-2017 ....................................................................................................... 4 Facilities Mission: 2011-2017 ..................................................................................................... 4 Facilities Aims: 2011-2017 ........................................................................................................ 4 Facilities Outcomes: 2011-2017 .................................................................................................. 6 Current Provision and Why Change is Needed ................................................................................. 7 Alignment to Strategic Outcomes – Grow, Sustain and Excel Headline Outcomes ............................................................................................................... 13 Strategic Interventions .......................................................................................................... 14 Higher and Further Education .................................................................................................. 14 New Adult Leagues ................................................................................................................ 15 Children and Young People ...................................................................................................... 15 Club-Focused Prioritisation ...................................................................................................... 15 Local Facilities – the Impact of Growth ...................................................................................... 17 The Need for Local Facilities ................................................................................................... 19 What, Where, How and When: 2011-2017 Baseball and Softball Priorities ................................................................................................. 22 Actions 2011-13 ................................................................................................................... 26 Actions 2011-17 ................................................................................................................... 33 Actions 2014-17 ................................................................................................................... 34 Evidence Open Consultations ............................................................................................................... 38 Focus Group ........................................................................................................................ 39 Audit and Mapping of Facility Stock ........................................................................................... 41 Technical Elements of dedicated baseball and softball facilities ..................................................................... 43 Appendices Appendix A - The Role of the Facilities Strategy ............................................................................ 45 Appendix B – BSUK Facilities Steering Group ................................................................................. 46 Appendix C - Strategy Review Process ........................................................................................ 48 Appendix D - Softball Facilities in London ................................................................................... 50 Appendix E - Developing Facilities Partnerships within the UK Landscape ............................................. 51 Appendix F - Independent Facilities Inquiry .................................................................................. 54 Appendix G - Facilities Modelling .............................................................................................. 55 Author: John Boyd, Joint CEO and Head of Development For the BSUK Board and Facilities Steering Group Published in April 2011 following 18 months of consultation and preparation. 2 Table of Contents © BaseballSoftballUK 2011 Facilities Strategy 2011-2017 Introduction and Context Welcome and Foreword It gives me great pleasure to launch this important strategic document. Baseball and softball are sports in which our clubs do not generally own their facilities and we have all had the experience of participating and competing in less than ideal conditions. However, this is now changing – slowly but surely. We are seeing an increasing number of diamonds with dedicated features, driven by our most progressive clubs and leagues working together with Local Authorities and/or with BSUK – even if the dream of having a permanent dedicated high-quality facility remains out of reach for all but a few. The transition from renters to owners is one that will not happen overnight and indeed will not happen at all for the vast majority of clubs and leagues. So there is a strong need to work with partners to upgrade and enhance facilities we currently use as well as creating new facilities where we are able to do so. This document is the first comprehensive Facilities Strategy for our sports and it provides an excellent resource – not just for our member clubs but for our partners in the provision of baseball and softball facilities and development. The ultimate aim of the Strategy is to meet the demands of all levels of the sports development continuum from foundation to excellence. And while the strategy will be of significant interest to those involved in our sports, it is just as important that it reaches others in schools, Local Authorities and the public and private sector who have the ability to help us provide the facilities and development we need. I hope this document will be of use to every club, league and team. It is essential that we continuously review and update standards and progress in all areas of our sports and this publication is a one-stop shop as far as facilities plans are concerned. I hope you will refer back to it often. Geof Ellingham Chair, BaseballSoftballUK 3 Table of Contents © BaseballSoftballUK 2011 Facilities Strategy 2011-2017 Facilities Vision: 2011-2017 In its 2009-13 Whole Sport Plan, BSUK offered an aspiration for: THE RIGHT FACILITIES PROVIDED IN THE RIGHT PLACES AT THE RIGHT TIME AT AN AFFORDABLE PRICE Facilities Mission: 2011-2017 To build and enhance a range of facilities capable of effectively hosting local, regional, national and international baseball and softball competition and development activity, and to provide guidance and support to influence the development of local facilities to increase satisfaction and participation in both sports in the UK. Facilities Aims: 2011-2017 • Promote sport-specific and priority use of park facilities so that: ◦ Pitches are properly marked. ◦ Permanent or seasonal backstops are provided routinely. ◦ Team seating is provided where possible. ◦ Appropriate access for baseball and softball needs is provided at affordable cost to participants in the sports. • Develop a support package for the improvement of local facilities, including: ◦ Information on approaches to different types of facility providers. ◦ Minimum standards and technical specifications. ◦ Information on processes (planning, grants, construction etc). ◦ Benefits to facility providers from baseball/softball provision. ◦ Recommended ranges for pitch hire fees. • Support clubs and leagues to secure and create sustainable facilities by offering direct help with: ◦ Security of tenure and other negotiations with facility providers. ◦ Local and national grants. ◦ Arrangements with private facility administration agencies. ◦ Support for relationships with contractors and grounds staff. ◦ Business plan models. 4 Table of Contents © BaseballSoftballUK 2011 Facilities Strategy 2011-2017 • Provide appropriate outdoor facilities for courses, regional and national competition, The Academy and elite training by establishing: ◦ Dedicated regional baseball facilities in the North and South of England. ◦ A dedicated centre for fastpitch softball in the South East of England. ◦ Enhanced playing surfaces and field equipment at major slowpitch softball tournament sites around the UK. ◦ National elite training centre facilities for baseball and both softball formats (together or separately). Note: All or most of the facilities listed above should include suitable permanent multi-purpose ancillary service structures and adaptable indoor spaces for meetings, courses, catering and office space. • Provide appropriate indoor facilities for courses, winter league competitions, The Academy and elite closed-season training by: ◦ Establishing minimum requirements. ◦ Detailing feasible use modifications. ◦ Providing financial models. ◦ Providing a register of potential sites. Note: Baseball and Softball Academy sessions are run from October-March, outside the normal playing season, and often need to be held indoors. • Create facilities appropriate for hosting high-level competition in the UK in baseball and both softball formats (together or separately), including: ◦ Top quality dedicated playing surfaces (including appropriate maintenance provision). ◦ At least two diamonds built to international specifications. ◦ Water and electricity provision to diamonds.