BaseballQueenslandStrategicandActionPlanningWorkshopProgramOutcomesReportWorkshop1,Thursday16March2017,6:30to10:00pm

• Attendees:Robert,Jo,Alan,Dave,Kev,Jodie,Mark,Paul,Sally,Les,*Gareth,*ShayneWatson(*=Speakerphone)

• Facilitator:MichaelConnelly

• Apologies– asperlistreadoutbyJo

Workshop2,Wednesday22March2017,6:30to10:30pm

• Attendees:Kev,Les,Paul,Mark,Robert,Dave,Alan,*Alan,*Anne,*Gareth(*=Zoom)

• Facilitator:MichaelConnelly

• Apologies:JoButler,SallyWest

Workshop3,Tuesday11April2017,6:30to9:30pm

• Attendees:Rodney,Les,Robert,Paul,Jo,Alan,Dave,Kev,Jodie(Skype),Mark,Sally,Gareth,Shayne

• Facilitator:MichaelConnelly

• Apologies:Brett

WhatisBaseballQueensland’sWHY?• WhatisitaboutBaseballQueenslandthathaskeptyouinthesport forsolong?

• Whatdoyouthinkisthemostimportantbelieforvalueof BaseballQueenslandthatkeepsloyalmembers/customerscomingback, yearafteryear?

• Thesimplicityandcomplexityofthegame• Baseballistheultimateteamsport

• Itisagameofsacrifice• Thereisaplaceforeveryplayer• Theweakestplayercanwin thegame

• Everyplayerhasanawarenessoftheteam• Baseballisdifficult,usinga roundballwitharoundbat

• Thethrillofbaseballislinkedwithsucceedinginanenvironmentoffailure

• Perseverance – Challenge – Trust

• Theexperience – thesmiles

• Weareabigfamily

• Helpis accessible

Actions ContextandRationaleOutcome1.1:Provideclearparticipationanddevelopmentpathwaysforourplayers,coachesandofficials1.2Developaflowchartoutliningthepathwaysforplayers,coachesandofficials. Thereiscurrentlyalackofqualifiedofficials

1.3 Engagewithscorersandumpiresassociationsthroughpathwaydevelopmenttomaintainlineofsightoverallaspectsofgamedevelopment.Formaliserelationshipsbetweenalllevels.

1.4 Includegirlsinschoolrecruitmentprogrambyhavingfemaledeliverersonbehalfofthesport.

- 1.5Explorealternativeformsofthegame.E.g.corporate,social,Fast5s,10weekprograms.- 1.6Includealternativeformsofmembership.- 1.7Looktoothersportsforoptionsforelementssuchasshortseasons.- 1.8Clearlydefinethevaluepropositionsofdifferentformsofthegame(i.e.pathway

opportunitiesforformalparticipationandsocialopportunitiesforotherformsofthegame.

- Fast5sstoppedduetolackofnumbers.Morebaseballwillhelpsecurebaseballfacilitiesthatcouldbeunderthreatfromothersports.- Cricketersshouldbeatargetforfuturewinterbaseballprograms– newparticipantsinanewfocusarea- fieldingandthrowingprogramsforcricketers,startingatanelitelevelandfilteringdown.

1.9.GrowMastersbaseballparticipation.

1.10Growsocialbaseball(includingseparatinghighperformancewomen’sbaseballfromsocialwomen’sbaseball).

1.11Developanall-femalepathway(likeAFL,rugby,cricket,etc.)ratherthansimplyincludingfemalesinthemalepathway.

Actions ContextandRationaleOutcome1.2:Provideahighstandardofeducation,accreditationandtrainingopportunitiesforallourpeopleQBUAtomaintainresponsibilityforumpireaccreditation.- RDCstobettercommunicateaccreditationactivitiesavailablein

eachregion.Coursestobecommunicatedasearlyaspossible.- DeterminethenecessityofhavingRDCsinallregionsordevelop

animprovedstructureforRDCs.

Currentlyrunningapproximately25assessmentseachyear.

Includetrainingforcoachesinbeingambassadorsforthesport. Focustrainingonhowtokeepkidsinthesportbyhavingfunandlovingittobuildastrongbaseofthe‘participationpyramid’.

Outcome1.3:StreamlinetheadministrationofgrassrootsbaseballandprovideeasyaccesstoprofessionaldevelopmentandtrainingprogramsRe-establishaclubsupportofficerroleintheBaseballQldoffice. Encourageknowledgesharingbetweenclubs.

Provideongoingeducationforclubandregioncommitteemembers. - Programregulartrainingopportunitiesandincludetheminthecalendar.ProvideAGMsupportaroundcommonclubAGMtimes.- Hostaninductionseminarover2or3nightsinApriltohelpcommitteestoprepareforthenextseason.- Expandtheexistingworkshopprogramforregistrarstomakeitavailabletocommitteesaswell.

Makeuseoftechnologywherepossibleinthedeliveryofadministrationandgovernancetrainingandmentoringforclubsandregions.

- Usevideoconferencing(e.g.Zoom,GoToMeeting)forregulartrainingandmentoringopportunitiesforclubsandregions.- Providewaysforclubstobeableto‘dialin’towhateverservicestheyneedwhentheyneedit.

Ensurethatadministrationandgovernanceresourcesavailabletoclubsandregionsareup-to-dateandassimpleaspossible.Makeuseofavailableresourcesfromothersourceswhereappropriate(e.g.NPSR,DSRWA,PlaybytheRules,othergovernmentandcommercialproviders).

- Simplifyresourceswherepossible,sothatinformationcanbeprovidedtocommitteemembersinaprogressivemannerratherthanbombardingnewvolunteerswithtoomuchinformationatonce.- Updatethe‘GreyBook’– ClubSupportManual.Simplify(e.g.compartmentaliseormodularise)contentasappropriateandreintroduceittoclubs.- EnsurealleducationandsupportitemsontheBaseballQueenslandwebsitearerelevantandup-to-date.

Actions ContextandRationaleDevelopanapproved‘startuplist’fornewcommitteemembers.

I.e.aone-pagerinductionhow-tolist.Developastandardseason‘playbook’thatdoesn’tleavetheclubsrelyingonlastminuteBQdecisions

DevelopacalendarthatreflectswhatBaseballQld,clubsandregionsneedtoknow.

E.g.clubAGMdatestoguidethedeliveryofgovernanceandadministrationsupportfromtheBaseballQldofficetoclubs.

Identifythebestandeasiestwaystocollectrelevantinformationfromclubs(e.g.onlineforms,automateddataentryfromelectronicminutestemplates).

Understandwhyinformationisneededandhowitistobeusedtoensurethattherightinformationiscollected.

CommunicatebroadlywithALLclubsandregions. Modernisecommunicationprotocolstoensurethatimportantinformationisreadilyavailabletoeveryone.DemonstratethatweareallBaseballQldthroughfulltransparency.

Createsolid,reliablegovernanceandadministrationsystems. - Allthesport’speopleshouldbeabletorelyonsystemsregardlessofwho’sdoingthejob.ThisshouldfreeuptheboardandcommitteestobeabletoremaininnovativeatBaseballQld,regionandclublevels.- “Systemsarebetterthansweetheartdeals.”

Clearlydefinethesport’smembersandcustomers. Players,viatheirclubaffiliation.Outcome1.4:Recruit,retainandrewardournetworkofloyalvolunteers– andnevertakethemforgranted!Empowerourvolunteerssothattheyfeelvalued.Rewardourvolunteerswithknowledge.

- Improvedprofessionaldevelopmentopportunitiesandknowledgeforcommitteesislikelytoimprovevolunteerretentionrates.- InvitevolunteersatalllevelstoPDopportunitiessothattheycanbereadytotakeoncommitteerolescomfortablyinthefuture.- Betterclubswillcreatebettercommunities,wherepeoplewillwanttobeinvolved.

CapitaliseonNPSRvolunteertrainingopportunitiesforallofthesport’svolunteers.

CapitaliseonPDopportunitiesforvolunteersthatareavailablethroughNPSR.

Bettersharevolunteerworkloads. - Toretainvolunteersmeansavoidingburn-out.- RetentionrateofBanditsvolunteersisveryhigh(c.90%).Volunteersfeelownershipandpartofthebrand.- Developatemplate‘changeover’letter/procedure,toencourageincomingcommitteememberstothankoutgoingcommitteemembers.

Giveeverybodytheopportunitytobeeducated. ShareIPwherepossibleandappropriatebetweenclubs,regions,BaseballQldandotherstatesforthebenefitofthegame.

Actions ContextandRationaleOutcome2.1:Useourtargetof3-5%growtheachyeartodriveeverythingwedotoincreaseparticipationinQueensland

15-20%participationgrowtheachyear

Improveplayerretentioninthesporttoallowgrowth.

Explorealternativeformsofthegameandalternativeformsofmembership,asabove.

- Developandclearlydefinepathwaysinthesport.Beveryclearonwhateachpathwayincludes.- Considershorterseasonsandmultipleseasonsperyear.Couldshorterseasonsworkinparallelwiththetraditionalfullseason?Playersmayvotewiththeirfeet.- Asktheregionsandclubstobeinvolvedinthisdiscussionasthesportmovestoimplementation.- AdvocatetoBaseballAustraliatogrowthegame.Needclearunderstandingoftheinsuranceissue.

Createamatrixofwheregrowthispossible. I.e.indifferentclubsorregions.

Workmoreongettingbaseballintoschoolsports.

Encouragegreatercollaborationbetweenallregions.ThetournamentsthattheregionsruncouldbeanothersubcommitteeofBaseballQld,liketheGBLsubcommittee.Thatwayyouwouldhaveaccesstomorevolunteersfromallregionstohelpgetthemworkingcollaboratively.

Outcome2.2:Growparticipationatthegrassrootslevelbyfocusingheavilyon‘ClubSupportandClubDevelopment’initiativesOnfield- asperpathwaydevelopmentat1.1Offfield- aspergovernancesupportat1.3

Actions ContextandRationaleFocusonthequalityproductofbaseballtomaximiseretention.

Centralisethejuniorlocation– moretournamentstyledays.

Outcome2.3:WorkcloselywithBaseballAustralia(BA)andoursevenregionalassociationstoprovideprofessional,userfriendlyandcosteffectiveprogramsacrossQueensland

ExpandwithalternativeformsofthegameincollaborationwithBA,regionsandclubsandotherstates.

- ContinuetoimprovecollaborationwithBAonallissues.

- PutsolutionstrategiesforwardtoBA,ratherthanalistofproblems.- Implementbettersystemsfordatacollection.

- Understandthechangingrelevanceofregions.

- Clearlydefinetheroleofregions.

- RegularlydemonstratethevalueprovidedtoregionsbyBaseballQld.

Actions ContextandRationaleOutcome3.1:Identifymarketingstrategies,innovationsandpromotionstoenhancetheprofileandrecognitionofthesportinQueensland

LeverageexistingpartnerswiththeBanditstofilterdowntoBaseballQld.

- LeverageofftheBrisbaneBanditsbrandtobenefitthewholesport.- E.g.merchandiseandclothingpartners.- ThisisnotaboutturningBaseballQueenslandintotheBandits,butbetteraligningthebrands.- DemonstratetoallmembersthestructureandlinkbetweenBaseballQueenslandandtheBandits(andtheABLandBA).

GenerateimprovedinvestmentintoQueensland’sbaseballfacilities.

- Hiringaccesstofacilities,e.g.toAsianteams.

- Exploresponsorshipandnamingrightsopportunitiesforfacilities.

DevelopastrategicdirectionforfacilitiesinQueensland.Needbetterlong-termstrategicinfrastructureplanning.

- E.g.whatwouldahomeofbaseballlooklike?

- ConsiderSportandRecreationPlanningProgramfundingtostartthestatewidefacilityplanningprocess.

Buildanassetdeck- definetheassetsthatthesporthassothattheycanbepackagedtobesold.

Createagirls-onlypathway.

Createagirls-onlypathway. - Workharderatmediarelationships.

Showcasetournamentsofjuniorplayers.#NAME?

Outcome3.2:WorkstrategicallywiththeBrisbaneBanditsbrandtoraisetheprofileofthesportandincreaseparticipationatthegrassroots

E.g.meettheplayereventsatjuniortournaments. YouthactivationsatBrisbaneBanditshomegames

FindmorewaystointegratetheBanditswiththekids. Youth activations atBandits home games

Actions ContextandRationaleOutcome3.3: Developlongtermrelationshipswithtargetedcorporatesponsorsandkeystakeholders– andservicesponsorships.

Definethevalueofthesport’sassets.E.g.socialmedia,website,fences,events,streaming.

Continuallydemonstratevaluetosponsors.

Identifywhatwecandonowandthengrowtheseoffersas,forexample,largerfacilitiesbecomeavailabletohostAsianteams.

Outcome3.4: EstablishstrongmediapartnershipsandfocusheavilyonsocialmediatoincreasetheawarenessofoursportinQueensland

Developandmaintainarelevantsocialmediastrategy.- Capitaliseonsocialmediaasacost-effectivepromotionstrategy.

- Thesportneedstofillthecurrentvoidintheareasofmediapartnershipsandsocialmedia.

Providesocialmediaeducationtoclubsandregions. Provideaone-pagerforclubsonsocialmediamanagementatclublevel.

Provideeducationtoplayersonbestuseofsocialmedia.

Actions ContextandRationaleOutcome4.1:Useoursurplusfundsinaverystrategicwaytoempowerourclubsandenablethemtoenhancetheirserviceofferingtomembers

Employtheclubliaisonposition.

Ensuretemplates(forallaspectsofcluboperations)existforalltoaccess.

Continuetoidentifyareasofwasteandreallocatefundingappropriately.

Outcome4.2:Providestrategic,proactiveandinnovativeleadershipandsoundgovernanceprocessesandsystemsatastate,regionalandclublevel

Crossreferences:

- 1.3item4

- 4.1item1

Strategicplanningatalllevelsshouldbeconsistent.

Celebrateoursuccesses.Demonstratethevalueofaffiliation– thebenefitsofaffiliationforregions,clubsandtheirmembers.

Outcome4.3:Createnewandalternativerevenuestreamswhilemaximisingcurrentrevenues

Leveragestate/nationalbuyingpowerforclub/game/uniformsupplies.

Includeinthisaccesstoclub/Banditsmerchandiseforclubsupporterstoaccess.

Actions ContextandRationale

Outcome4.4: Developa‘SportsTourismStrategy’thatisaimedattheAsianmarket

ContinuetobuildontherelationshipsthatBaseballQldhasbuiltintheAsianmarket.

Ensurethatallsportstourisminitiativesthatareestablishedincludereciprocation,assportstourismisatwo-waystreet(i.e.localteamsshouldtraveltoAsiaaswellaswelcomingAsianteamstoQueensland).

Outcome4.5: Employateamofhighly-motivatedprofessionalsandrewardthemaccordingly

Achievethisbyfirstdecidingwhatskills/positionsarerequiredandrecruittothehigheststandard.

Outcome4.6: Identifyandretainhighvaluecommercialpartners

Sponsorshipdealsshouldallbestrategicandwellplanned,notadhoc,toavoidsponsorshipconflicts.

ClubsneedtoseethebenefitsofthelargerpartnershipsandsponsorshipsthatBaseballQldhasinplace,fortheclub,thesponsorandthestatebody.

Provideasummaryofexpectationsandbenefitsatalllevelsinthesportforeachcommercialpartnershipandsponsorshipagreement.

Guidingprinciples

Everythingwedoisaimedatachievingourstated‘vision’

Creatingateamworkculturethatisunderpinnedbypassionateanddynamicleadership

Equalfocusonthegrowthofourpeopleandfinancialviabilityandsustainability

AdesiretomakebaseballamainstreamsportinQueensland,and

AcultureofaccountabilitybasedonmeasuringKPIs

Workshop1introductorynotes:Introduction• Acknowledgefrustration

• Remembereachofushasthesamepassionforbaseball

• Goaloftheworkshopprogramistoendupwithadraftstrategicandactionplantosendaroundforfinalcomments

Elephantsintheroom• Money– thingshavenotbeendoneappropriately

• StaffinglevelsatBQ– nottherightnumberofstaffandnottherightpositionstobenefitbaseball

• Retentionrates– lotsofnewpeoplecomein,butlotsgoouteveryyearaswell

• Growournumbersthroughbetterretention

• DataislackinginthisareaduetotheshortcomingsofIMG

• Dropoutlevels:

• 8to12-year-oldkids(User-payssystem,allaboutexperience.Playersleaveiftheyhaveabadexperience,e.g.badcoaching,gethitbyaball)

• 16to20yearolds(Leavewhentheygetjobs,foreducationorpartners.Sometimesaninadequacywithanunder16havingtofaceanunder19pitcher)

• Seniorbaseball(Thereisaperceptionthatsomeleavebecausethesportistooexpensive,orbecauseofchangingcompetitionstandardsandlevels,orbecauseofalackofapathwayforsomeclubs)

Workshop1introductorynotes:(Cont)Elephantsintheroom

• ThepositionofClubLiaisonOfficerwasverysuccessful.Needapositionlikethistofocusonretentionthrougheducatingparents,committeesandcoachesaboutretention.Thechangeoverofpersonnelinclubsmeansthatthiswouldbeanongoingneed.Howtogiveagoodexperiencetotheusertokeeptheminthesport

• Needtoincreasegirls’participationrates

• Value– Domembersgetvalueforwhattheypay?

• Thereisaperceptionofalackofvalueamongseniors

• Softballisabout1/3thecostofseniorbaseball

• Facilitiesareexpensive

• SeniorbaseballinBrisbaneoperatesonahome-and-awaymodel,withlotsofclubsneedingtomaintainexpensivefacilities

• Feesarepaidtoclubs,regions,BQandBA

• Questionstoconsider:

• Doweneedto‘addvalue’orbetterpromotethevaluethatalreadyexistsinwhatwearedoing?

• Doesdataexistthatsupportstheassumptionthatsomepeoplethinkthatthesportistooexpensive,oristhisanideathatexistsonly‘betweenourownears’?

• Ifwearetheambassadorsofthesport,howimportantiswhatwethinkwhenwecommunicatethevalueofbaseballtoourmembers?

• Tounderstandthevaluethatalreadyexistsinbaseball’sofferinQueensland,howdoesthecostofbaseballcomparetoothersports?

Workshop1introductorynotes:(Cont)Elephantsintheroom• Needtoexplorealternativeformsofthegametogrowthebusiness

• Clubscanbetterlearnfromeachother

• Thereisadegreeofmistrustbetweenclubs,regionsandBQ

• Bringinexpertsandaskforadvicewhereitisneeded.Thiscanincludeinternalandexternalpeoplethatcancomeandhelpallofus

• Thereismistrustintheplanningprocessnothavingbeenextendedbeyondtheboardpreviously

• Thestrategicplanneedstofilterdowntoregionsandclubs

• Nothinghappenedfromthepreviousplan

• Paulhasrestructuredtheofficetocreateabetterworkenvironment.Nowtheofficeteamisworkingtomaketheofficebetterabletomeettheneedsofthesport’sstakeholders

• Paul’spriorities:

• Sharedcommunicationsplanandstrategytoimprovecommunicationwitheachclub.Otherstateshavebeenopenaboutsharingideas(e.g.anappropriateformatforPaul’smonthlyCEOreporttotheboard)

• Collaborativeretentionmodel,intowhicheveryonecanbuy

• Fixthepreviousfailuresoftheoffice.Theofficehasfailedmembers.Needtomaximisetrustbetweentheofficeandallstakeholders.E.g.Officestafftoallhavefriendlyphonemanner

• Needashort-termandlong-termstrategicplanningfocusforthesport

• Theofficeneedsacommercialfocus

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LevelofServiceGraph

Workshop3Elephantsintheroom:• Needtokeeprebuildingtrust– theimportanceoforganisationalhealth

• Memberswantstrongleadership

• TherehasbeenagreymixbetweenBaseballQueenslandandlocalbaseballcompetitionmanagementinBrisbane

• Perceptionisreality

• Needtodefinedelegatedresponsibilitiesofsubcommittees

• Systemsarebetterthansweetheartdeals.TherehavebeensomeinconsistentdecisionsoverthelastcoupleofweeksfromtheGBLsubcommittee

• GBLrulesneedtobecleanedup.Perhapsthenseekalegalopiniononthem

• NeedbetterseparationbetweenGBLandBaseballQueensland