Strategic Plan for Canoe Polo in Australia

Draft prepared by the Paddle Australia Canoe Polo Technical Committee for consideration by the Paddle Australia Competition Committee

October 2019

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BACKGROUND WHAT’S IN THE CANOE POLO PLAN REFRESHING THE CANOE POLO PLAN

In October 2018 Paddle Australia released the It is acknowledged that there are limited The Canoe Polo Plan will be a dynamic ‘Strategic Plan for Paddling in Australia’ (the resources available to meet objectives. document. The Paddle Australia Canoe Polo “SPPA”). This document was developed based Accordingly, the Canoe Polo Plan will not seek to Technical Committee will meet each year with on an extensive consultation and collaboration address every component of the SPPA but will the express purposes of reviewing progress with the paddling community across Australia. A rather focus on a smaller number of key, against the Canoe Polo Plan and considering copy of the SPPA is available on the Paddle strategic priorities. what changes, if any, are required to its Australia website. priorities. The Activities and Actions that Canoe Polo will This ‘Strategic Plan for Canoe Polo in Australia’ undertake under this plan are broken down into This process will align with the rolling nature of (the “Canoe Polo Plan”) is a complement to the Strategic Areas, numbered to correspond with the whole of the SPPA, which will similarly be SPPA. It seeks to align the objectives and the seven (7) Strategic Areas referenced in the updated annually. Part of the purpose of the priorities of Canoe Polo with the SPPA while also SPPA, as follows: Canoe Polo Plan is to inform these whole of sport recognising that the operational model for Canoe discussions and to contribute to the ongoing 1 Providing participation opportunities for all Polo clubs and competitions can be different dialogue around improving the standing of the those wanting to join our community, from the other disciplines. sport of paddling within the Australian whatever their age, background or ability community. As the only team focussed discipline within 2 Promoting and supporting pathways for paddling, Canoe Polo provides elements of team Comments to the Canoe Polo Plan are welcome those seeking to be the best they can be in spirit, community and fun which are different to via email to [email protected]. their chosen area those experienced in the other disciplines. These are a strength of our sport. The mission in the 3 Developing our competitions into events that coming years must be to grow this community demand attention and involvement and to provide opportunities for as many people as possible to discover what Canoe Polo has to 4 Developing a network that seamlessly offer. connects and delivers services to the entire paddling community

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1 STRATEGIC AREA: Providing participation opportunities for all those wanting to join our community, whatever their age, background or ability • There is a growing understanding that ‘introduction to paddling’ products based on Canoe Polo are seen as more attractive than individual paddling programs for school aged children. There is an opportunity for Canoe Polo to promote introductory programs such as PaddleBall which introduce children to Canoe Polo at the beginning of their introduction to paddling. • We must seek opportunities to allow paddlers from other disciplines to try Canoe Polo. • Water access and development of infrastructure are issues that already limit participation in some areas. This challenge will continue as population increases. Plans are needed to address this in the medium to long term • Priority must be given to the development of permanent Canoe Polo facilities. These will provide hubs for the local Canoe Polo communities and reduce the costs associated staging competitions • Canoe Polo cannot thrive without strong Clubs. A key focus for governing bodies within Canoe Polo must be to engage with and help develop local Clubs

Activities Actions Measures/Status PACPTC Actions PACPTC Measures/Status

1.1 Implement Paddle Full roll out of Paddle Oz and Sporting Schools providing Seek to include Canoe Polo Ensure process for accessing Oz, the National Junior Sporting Schools, partially reliant on $200,000 in grant support for targeted programs within the funding is promoted to the CP Paddling Program, digital platform development paddling to schools in existing Move It Aus funding community by end Nov ensuring suitability as 2021/22 Assist Canoe Polo Clubs in paddling offering under lodging applications to deliver the SA Sporting Schools PaddleBall programs by end initiative Dec Utilise Canoe Polo Clubs to deliver Paddleball programs to 300 children by end June 1.3 Target specific Investigate opportunities to run Discuss at November meeting markets and engage competitions with other paddle of the Competition actively with target disciplines Committee

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groups including youth, Develop Schools engagement Confirm status of existing MA women and older-aged strategy for Canoe Polo school engagement programs Australians by end Nov Develop roadmap for developing Schools engagement strategy at next PACPTC meeting 1.4 Develop initiatives Gather examples of best practice Report developed as basis for Audit of Club facilities, including Equipment Officer to liaise to reduce barriers, such and share amongst clubs and other next steps storage options with STCs to complete audit as equipment rental interested parties by end Feb and storage facilities Determine medium term Canoe Draft asset management plan Polo asset rejuvenation plan by end April Determine costs for potential Provide costings for future purchases, including permanent pontoons by end pontoons, for future funding Oct applications to government Complete list of canoe Polo costings by end April 1.5 Press for increased Gather information and share best Report available. Best Permanent facilities costings for permanent field access to water and the practice on the development of practice shared on on-going by end Nov development of access to new bodies of water basis appropriate facilities Lead and support initiatives for the Facility development guide Determine opportunities to access Seek advice from MAs by end development of facilities for developed with arguments state government infastructure Nov paddling generally and slalom and supporting increased water grants sprint facilities in particular access Determine whether opportunities Seek advice from MAs by end exist to partner with state Nov government recreation camps 1.7 Club Development Draft Club Development Strategy First draft available for consideration at next PACPTC meeting Develop Club Accreditation First draft available for System consideration by end May

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2 STRATEGIC AREA: Promoting and supporting pathways for those seeking to be the best they can be in their chosen area • Well-defined athlete pathways are essential not only in encouraging participation and retention but also for the success of our HP program. • Canoe Polo athletes may start out their paddling journey in a variety of paddling disciplines. Partnership with other paddling disciplines will be to our advantage. • High performance programs must be strategically implemented and transparently communicated to the community • A lack of quality coaches is a significant issue that needs to be addressed during the plan period. • There is a high reliance on volunteers at all levels of the sport. Recruitment, retention, recognition and reward are all areas that require action and, if not addressed, have the potential to impact negatively on our sport

Activities Actions Measures/Status PACPTC Actions PACPTC Measures/Status

2.1 Develop athlete Continue work to develop long-term 4-year development plans in Deliver high performance training Confirm program of state based pathway for all pathway plans for all disciplines, place aligned to 4-year RSP opportunities development camps in Qld, SA and disciplines to encourage working across these disciplines to Tas by end Nov more participation, optimise opportunities where Deliver U21 national training better retention and appropriate squad program during 2020 improved performance Develop long term calendar for Finalise 2020/21 calendar by end international tours Apr 2.2 Develop, document Encourage and support Australian 50% increase in number of Encourage and support Australian Liaise with CACSPTC by end of Dec and promote clear officials to gain ICF qualifications Australian ICF Technical officials to gain ICF qualifications to learn from the development of pathways for officials and to participate in international Officials and to participate in international the Sprint officials’ course and volunteers events events Finalise Australia Canoe Polo Officials Couse by end June Ensure there are two Australian representatives at the 2021 ICF accreditation course held at Oceania Championships

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Encourage and support the Confirm numbers of referees at development of Canoe Polo each level by end Oct referees Determine 12 month target for the training of referees by end Dec Hold referee exams at Summer Series events 2.3 Focus on the Review and agree framework for Framework finalised, agreed Finalise and promote Level 1 Finalise the Canoe Polo specific development of coach general and discipline specific and fully documented coaching course module of the Level 1 Coaching pathways, education pathways for coaches Course by end Dec and mentoring program Ensure that appropriate training and Quality coach training and Introduce coaching requirements Confirm and promote coaching mentoring opportunities are in place mentoring widely available for National level competitions requirements for a) National for coaches at all levels, including Championships and b) Summer support and resource materials Series at next meeting

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3 STRATEGIC AREA: Developing our competitions into events that demand attention and involvement • There is a pivotal role for the PACPTC in leading the development of the sport. Roles and responsibilities must be clarified so that there can be future alignment of objectives at all levels of Canoe Polo • Good competitions are the lifeblood of Canoe Polo and the development of strong Canoe Polo competitions should be an ongoing focus. • It is recognised that the operating models for Canoe Polo competitions differ from those of other paddling disciplines. Organisational roles and the delegation of commercial responsibilities must be transparent and understood • Our major competitions have to be built to promote our sport and athletes to the public, with our core fan base being the paddling community itself. There needs to be attention paid to the promotion of these competitions • A high standard of technical delivery, and transfer of knowledge between events, is needed to optimise the development of Canoe Polo. We have a heavy reliance on volunteers and need to ensure that the organisation and regulation of competitions reflects this

Activities Actions Measures/Status PACPTC Actions PACPTC Measures/Status

3.1 Review the purpose Align our events with our overall A documented strategic Investigate opportunities for Re-connect with Sports of our major events and strategic direction, create a long- direction for our events is in investment in future National Marketing Australia and align programs and term event strategy and establishing place and regularly reviewed Championships provide brief by end Nov structure to purpose a clear purpose for all National and Engage with ongoing PA project to Make contact with Lake State events assess feasibility of hosting Barrington to confirm multiple paddle events in feasibility to host by end Oct Tasmania in 2022 Engage in PA Competition Committee discussion at November meeting 3.2 Promote our major Identify broadcast partner for major Maybe outside scope of plan Investigate options around Plan for 2020 National events to showcase our events in Australia, considering due to limited resources streaming of major competitions Champs to be presented at sport and our athletes broadcast requirements as part of next TC meeting event strategy.

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3.3 Build competition Review governance arrangements Governance and management Identify Equipment Officer for Develop job description by and event capacity to and clearly identify the role of of events clarified, including PACPTC end Nov ensure consistent Technical Committees in the role of Technical Committees Advertise position and paddling offering planning and execution of events identify successful candidate by end Dec Confirm a NSW representative for Identify NSW Committee the PACPTC member by end Nov Support the development of Include discussion at next Canoe Polo in Western Australia meeting Confirm governance structures for Finalise PACPTC Terms of PACPTC Reference by end Nov Confirm roles for the administration of competitions by end Dec Improve communications Finalise communications plan between PACPTC and state with STCs by end Jan Technical Committees

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4 STRATEGIC AREA: Developing a network that seamlessly connects and delivers services to the entire paddling community

• There is a clear benefit to our community in having standard documents and manuals available to be shared • It is necessary that communication channels between national, state and local are all open – this is especially relevant for Canoe Polo as it includes national level Club based competitions • Individual paddlers and local Clubs must feel part of a national Canoe Polo community

Activities Actions Measures/Status PACPTC Actions PACPTC Measures/Status

4.3 Develop and Review and promote relevant Structure and information to Establish a central repository for Confirm access to Canoe Polo maintain a ‘resource generic and sport specific be incorporated discussed Canoe Polo information dropbox as well as hub’ for use by PA, information. Agree likely on-going and agreed, with schedule for parameters for use by end of MAs, Clubs and others content, structure and platform for further populating hub in Oct ‘resource hub’ place 4.4 Introduce and Formalise arrangements for the Annual planning and review Develop Communications Plan for Revised plan to be considered deliver regular forums review and updating of the 4-year process agreed, documented Canoe Polo at next meeting for planning, review RSP with the engagement of all and promoted and information stakeholders exchange Consider the introduction of a Decision taken on Establish an opportunity for Host community event at National Conference, addressing introduction of a National Canoe Polo to come together for 2020 National Championships content, timing and frequency Conference strategic discussion for discussion of Strategic Plan

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