John O’NeillMaking Club Planning Real

The GAA Club Development Plan

Sharing Experience and Best Practice

We Will Address….• What is a GAA Club Development Plan• Why bother?• Experience of the Clubs that have prepared Club

Development Plans:– Donaghmore St Patricks – Bredagh– Kildress– Faughanvale

• Lessons and Best Practice• Tools to support you to lead the Club Development

Planning Process

What is a GAA Club Development Plan?

• Process which asks your members four basic questions:– Where are we now?– Where do we want to be?– How will we get there?– How will we know?

• Five Year View• Finishes with a written plan

Where Are We Now?• Wider context:

– County Strategy/Provincial Strategy– Local authority provision– Population – Schools– Other attractions and provision

• Club perspective:– Membership profile– Teams– Coaching numbers and capability– Cultural provision– Health and wellbeing– Finances and assets(land,club rooms and playing surfaces)– Policies and processes

Where Do We Want To Be?

• Vision and mission• Aims • Targets for each part of our GAA ethos and

activities

How Will We Get There?

• Coaching and participation activities• Promoting Gaelic culture and values• Investing in our assets• Developing the how:– Policies– Training– Processes

• Action Plans

How Will We Know?

• Deciding what to measure• Deciding how to measure it:– Numbers of people– Coaching awards– Team results– Finances

• Appointing responsibility

Why Bother…?

• Because we are only looking after the club…hand it on better that we got it whilst retaining core values

• Its at the core of good governance• Shares the vision and buys all members into it• Shares the workload…and values all of the

tasks/duties• Provides not only the destination but also the map• Because funders may ask for it

Experience of Donaghmore St Patricks….

• Preparing to undertake a major club investment in indoor sports and cultural facilities

• Expected to be asked for it….SNI• Takes time and needs a small and dedicated team to refine and drive the

process• Consultation with our spectrum of volunteers:

– Broad membership– Players– Committee

• And with stakeholders:– Schools– Playgroup– Youth club– Community organisations– Ulster Council– County Board

Lessons…..• There is no quick fix…it is a process• Good process to get new volunteers involved• Helps to integrate a varied range of activities and interests• Provides targets and ensures that things don’t drift• Don’t be afraid to let people have their say• Be realistic• You wont get it right first time…..it might be five years but it

could/should be reviewed earlier if appropriate• Beg steal and borrow….its in our genes (its what today is

about)

Resources

• Club Maith Templates on the Ulster Council Web site

• Sample Plans• Templates Provided Today