Grounds to Play. ECB Strategic Plan

Transcription

1 Grounds to Play ECB Strategic Plan

2 02

3 03 Contents 04 Foreword by David G. Collier, Chief Executive 06 Message from Giles Clarke, Chairman 09 The Pillars of our Game 10 Investments in Grounds to Play 12 Energising people and partnerships to deliver national goals at local level 13 How we will deliver Energised people and partnerships to deliver national goals at local level 17 Vibrant Domestic game 18 How we will deliver the Vibrant Domestic game 23 Enhancing facilities, environments and participation 25 How we will deliver Enhanced facilities, environments and participation 28 Successful England teams 30 How we will deliver Successful England teams

4 04 Foreword In May 2005, ECB launched our first strategic plan Building Partnerships. Many at the time described the plan as over ambitious, in part because when we launched the plan, ECB had negative reserves and funds for investment were scarce. However, we can look back with pride on having delivered the vast majority of goals within Building Partnerships. Indeed, partnerships have flourished and have been at the heart of laying solid foundations on which we can now build an exciting future. The opportunity for this investment has been driven by sound management of the game s finances with prioritised and targeted investment. Streamlining our governance; building participation by more than 20% per annum (as measured through our focus clubs and County Boards); developing women s cricket; attracting volunteers; expanding our spectator base; introducing grants and loans to clubs; developing disabilities cricket; and regaining the Ashes have all combined to produce a strong base for our next strategic plan. But the next four year cycle does provide a number of challenges. The global economy is weaker than in 2005 and during our next four year period, the UK will host the Olympics which, whilst providing undoubted sporting benefit to our nation, will compete for precious sponsorship. Cricket has through generations been an integral part of our local community. This plan seeks to build and preserve that role. Grounds to Play

5 05 If we are to sustain and grow the astounding participation growth over recent years our focus must now shift to developing our facilities and coaches from Playground to Test Arena to support that growth. During 2007, KPMG completed a review of the game s finances which highlighted the paucity of reserves at club and county level and the availability of capital to invest in facilities at all levels of the game. In 2005 I asked you to play your part, enthusiastically and actively, in creating a worldclass game in England and Wales. The response was outstanding and I look forward to your continued support as we deliver Grounds to Play. The theme of this plan therefore progresses to Grounds to Play and it is in the areas of facilities and coaches where our investment will be focussed. David G. Collier Chief Executive England and Wales Cricket Board

6 06 Message from the ECB Chairman, Giles Clarke In the last two years, in my role as Chairman of the England and Wales Cricket Board, I have had the opportunity to meet, listen and consult with a wide range of our valued stakeholders and partners. The common theme expressed is that we must build a game which values and respects all stakeholders as equals and the ECB must play a key role in delivering structures and policies from Playground to Test Arena, which enables cricket to flourish and stakeholders to develop facilities and reserves. The issue facing all venues and the community game is finding capital funds to invest and develop facilities. It is the main driving force in this new strategic plan Grounds to Play but everyone will recognise the difficult economic times and the uncertain future in which we find ourselves. Given this economic background the strategy will be continually reviewed during the next four years but the vision and direction we have identified is clear and transparent. This strategy is a major commitment to invest in all areas of cricket. It will strengthen our game and provide the opportunity to lead the cricket world in facilities, coaching, participation and volunteering. Grounds to Play

7 07 As we delivered many of the goals in our previous strategic plan - Building Partnerships - well ahead of schedule, there is a solid platform from which to launch this new strategy - Grounds to Play. Participation figures, audited by Leisure Database Company, have risen year on year in all areas of the game. The investment in the women s game has been rewarded with triumphs in two ICC global events the ICC Women s World Cup and the ICC World Twenty We have also made extraordinary strides in the areas of disabilities cricket, grassroots facilities and also investment in floodlights and drainage at many of our international and county grounds. The investment will continue at all levels of the game. I trust that this new strategy demonstrates the value of the game of cricket working closely together and the value of investment in our game Playground to Test Arena. The Board are extremely grateful to David Collier, ECB Chief Executive, and his team for the delivery of the Building Partnerships strategic plan and as Chairman I can assure you that I remain committed, as do my colleagues on the Board, in ensuring that the resources are prioritised and targeted for the benefit of everyone involved in the game. I am delighted to be able to commend this strategic plan to you all. Giles Clarke Chairman England and Wales Cricket Board

8 08 Grounds to Play

9 09 The Pillars of our Game Building Partnerships introduced the four key pillars to develop the game of cricket: Energising people and partnerships to deliver national goals at local level Vibrant domestic game Enhancing facilities, environments and participation Successful England teams These pillars have stood the test of time during the Building Partnerships plan and will remain the core pillars within Grounds for Play. In 2005 ECB had negative reserves and a key component of the plan was to strengthen the financial position of the game. We now have 23 million of reserves, some of which have been reinvested in loans to clubs. However, it is important for the continued health of the game that counties and clubs strengthen their financial position to enable us to manage the difficult economic times ahead. Investment in facilities is one way of strengthening the health of the game. This is equally applicable to the local club as it is to a Test match arena and benefits both the facilities which our players and spectators enjoy as well as providing greater financial stability for the game. Each pillar therefore has an increased percentage of investment in coaches and facilities to provide cricket with Grounds to Play.

10 10 Investments in Grounds to Play actual v plan Planned Average Expenditure Growth % Expenditure growth % 26% 28% 5 0 Enthusing Participation Vibrant Domestic Game Successful England Grounds to Play

11 actual v plan Percentage of expenditure growth relating to increasing capital spend % Growth relating to capital expenditure % 15% 18% 0 Enthusing Participation Vibrant Domestic Game Successful England

12 12 Energising people and partnerships to deliver national goals at local level Having streamlined the management of ECB and established the County Boards, where feasible, services currently provided from the centre will be transferred to County Boards. In particular the roles of County Community Coaches and Development Managers are best delivered locally and this transition will be encouraged. Performance Related Fee Payments (PRFP) have enabled a consistent strategy to be adopted by the game and have incentivised counties. PRFP will be expanded to 44 percent of the fee payment by ECB has been well supported by Sport England through the Whole Sport Plan process but the wider youth, health, crime and education agendas fall outside the remit of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport. ECB will forge closer working relationships with a number of Government departments to deliver programmes which sit at the heart of the local community. ECB will support international diversity by seeking to bring major events to the UK, neutral Test matches and further expanding women s and disabilities programmmes. Securing the future of our game requires an increased proportion of our expenditure being invested in assets rather than revenue expenditure. This policy will deliver enhanced facilities and strengthen the financial position of clubs, counties and the ECB alike. To support this policy Team Salary Payments, support for investment in facilities and Performance Related Fee Payments will have enhanced focus in supporting investment in assets. The Partnerships formed since 2005 including those with Counties, County Boards, Government, PCA, UK Sport, Sport England, The Lord s and Lady Taverners, the Cricket Foundation, Club Cricket Conference, ESCA, Bunburys, MCC, ICC, broadcasters and sponsors will continue to be strengthened to deliver Grounds to Play. Grounds to Play

13 13 How we will deliver Energised people and partnerships to deliver national goals at local level We will enhance asset growth by: Continuing interest free loans to community clubs Expanding NatWest Cricket Force Seeking to support corporate or public sector cricket grounds under threat of closure through the EWCT Seeking to expand partnerships for Indoor Cricket We will provide leadership to focus this investment through: Performance Related Fee Payments Team Salary Payments England and Wales Cricket Trust Proposing innovative programmes to Government to address crime, health and education issues

14 14 Energising people and partnerships to deliver national goals at local level - the partnerships Building Partnerships required the co-operation and support of a wide range of parties all working to cricket s strategic plan. This will continue to be the case in the plan. Our partners include: Broadcasters and sponsors Club Cricket Conference County Boards Cricket Foundation Cricket Ireland Cricket Scotland DCMS England and Wales Cricket Trust ESCA, Bunburys European Cricket Council First Class Counties Government Hornsby Trust ICC Koninklijke Nederlandse Cricketbond (KNCB) Lord s and Lady Taverners MCC Minor Counties PCA Sport England UCCE UK Sport Each of these partners play an important role in delivering this plan led by the National Governing Body, the England and Wales Cricket Board. Grounds to Play

15 15 Energising people and partnerships to deliver national goals at local level - the roles and goals England and Wales Cricket Trust to provide up to 5 million of interest free loans to member clubs for recreational projects and to work with grounds in inner city areas to provide greater community use by Sport England to enhance the Whole Sport Plan award of 38 million by obtaining a further 10 million of lottery aid support by First Class Counties and ECB to introduce and support Team Salary Payments. ECB and Government to work in partnership to seek mutually beneficial solutions in the areas of health, diversity, crime and unemployment. Cricket Foundation to continue to deliver the Chance to shine programme. ICC to reduce the number of Global Events to two in a four year cycle plus a Test Championship play off. ESCA and the Bunburys to provide leadership for the development of schools representative cricket and the Bunbury Festival

16 16 Grounds to Play

17 17 Vibrant Domestic game ECB s guiding vision is to develop cricket from Playground to Test Arena. The player pathway is athlete focused and provides a guide for players supporting the health of the game throughout England and Wales. A Vibrant Domestic game is represented by: Primacy of Test match and LV County Championship cricket providing the ultimate test of cricketing skills. A First Class game which encourages and rewards player development and success and creates a continual supply of cricketers for England Under 19, Lions and England full International teams. One day domestic cricket which provides the commercial income at county level to sustain development programmes and investment in Championship cricket. Expanding disabilities and women s cricket by showcasing international and double header Twenty20 matches Establishing Friends Provident T20 as a world class competition played primarily on Fridays and Sundays to attract new spectators and income to venues. Support scholarship programmes for overseas winter training to enhance the talent pool of young cricketers. Increase the pace of integration between First Class Counties, Minor Counties and County Boards to ensure a consistent pathway from youth to senior county level. Rewarding the development of year old cricketers who mature into first class cricketers and increase the percentage of cricketers developed through the system who represent England.

18 18 How we will deliver the Vibrant Domestic game We will ensure that prize money in the LV County Championship reflects that this is the premier competition. We will increase the percentage of Team England earnings in favour of Test cricket as opposed to one day cricket. We will increase PRFP for the development and playing of England qualified Under 26 cricketers to ensure a healthy England team. We will play a T20 and a 40 over competition to provide the commercial income for Counties to sustain the County Championship programme. We will expand our investment in England Women s cricketers involvement in Chance to shine and support double header televised T20 cricket. We shall ensure broadcast coverage of club, community, women s and youth cricket as a pre-requisite to broadcasting agreements. We shall reward County Boards and First Class Counties for integrated youth programmes. We will fund scholarship programmes each year so that players can embark on international training visits and extended courses at the National Cricket Performance Centre We will focus on expanding our officials to match participation growth. We will increase rewards for counties (first class and non first class) who produce year old cricketers who develop into first class cricketers. Grounds to Play

19 19 Vibrant Domestic game - key drivers A Vibrant Domestic game requires the effective delivery of: The player pathway Enthused umpires and coaches A first class game delivering players for selection for England teams Vibrant domestic one day cricket to sustain counties commercial income Integrated youth representative teams Marketing and promotion of the domestic game with central themes and local delivery Quality facilities and quantity to meet demand An opportunity for all young players at County Academies.

20 20 Grounds to Play

21 21 The Vibrant Domestic game - roles and goals Roles and Goals: ECB - to champion a play-off match for Test Championship with ICC ECB and Counties - to invest 3m in rewards for development of young England players and enhance the quality of academies ECB and Counties - to develop a plan for promotion of domestic cricket, to make available LV County Championship cricket highlights through the Internet and to lobby Editors of the national press to reinstate coverage of domestic cricket. First Class Counties - to develop promotional programmes for families and schools at domestic cricket with a minimum of one such promotion per annum per County. County Boards, First Class and Minor Counties - to integrate the selection and management of youth representative teams with the County Academies by Umpires, Scorers and Coaches Association - to obtain sponsorship support in order to double the investment in umpires, scorers and coaches by 2013.

22 22 Grounds to Play

23 23 Enhancing facilities, environments and participation Participation is central to the health of the game. In order to sustain participation levels the game needs substantially enhanced investment in facilities and coaches. Whilst cricket has received the largest single award from Sport England for its recreational programmes, the sums involved in the Whole Sport Plan are dwarfed by the income received from media rights. These rights equate to more than seven times the investment of Sport England. As a result, maintaining income from broadcasting rights is central to cricket s strategic plan especially for the recreational game. The focus of this plan will therefore be on providing facilities to sustain participation levels rather than a focus on a substantial increase in participation. The additional challenges of the global economy are also reflected in this plan with cricket playing a key role in the health, police, education and diversity agendas at both local and national level in partnership with Government. Providing coaching opportunities for recently retired cricketers should also assist with both demand for coaching and the transition from a playing career to new areas of employment for players. The 2011 tour by India will be a focus for diversity programmes and a focus for more children of ethnic descent to participate in the player pathway.

24 24 Enhancing facilities, environments and participation With the recent increased levels in participation many local clubs are now at capacity in terms of provision for youth coaching and matches. Part of the challenge is administering and managing the growth in club members and casual coaching. At the same time unemployment in the next cycle is predicted to be higher than in the previous strategic plan period. ECB will therefore seek to develop apprenticeship programmes for club administrators and groundsmen to assist local clubs as well as assisting a broader community agenda. The Cricket Foundation s Chance to shine programme has been an outstanding success in reintroducing cricket into state schools. ECB will prioritise investment in the programme. Sponsorship of youth competitions has been prioritised. With the visit of India in 2011 and Australia in 2013 the successful Cricket in the Park events will be expanded. Cricket has a One Game philosophy. In 2011 we will in particular focus on a diversity agenda to provide further impetus to the broad cultural mix which cricket has embraced. As an expansion to the Women s cricket coaching programme, ECB will investigate the feasibility of offering ambassador coaching roles to recently retired men s cricketers for coaching projects for young people. The ECB Major Match Group will reinforce the Board s policy of taking major matches around England and Wales to encourage participation and interest in the game. In order to invest in facilities ECB will continue to ensure that there is a balance between the financial health of cricket and the accessibility to a majority audience within broadcasting contracts. During broadcasting will represent 73% of cricket s income and will play the key role in investment in community programmes and facilities. Indoor cricket facilities will be sought to provide an expansion of the indoor cricket programme. The growth of the Internet will be reflected in increased investment in websites and broadcast of LV County Championship matches. To further expand club/ school links and position the cricket club at the heart of the community, ECB will provide 1.5 million per annum capital improvement grants to local clubs that make their club facilities available to the local community and to local schools. The ECB, PCA, MCC, The Lord s and Lady Taverners and Cricket Foundation will work together to seek to expand community programmes. Grounds to Play

25 25 How we will deliver enhanced facilities, environments and participation: Increasing the focus on enhancing and increasing the number of cricket facilities. ECB will seek to support the development of three new grounds each year with priority to inner city areas. ECB will propose apprenticeship programmes to Government for administrators and groundsmen. ECB will expand NatWest Cricket Force targeting 2000 clubs by ECB will fund Chance to shine as a priority. Sponsorship of youth competitions will be prioritised. Cricket in the Park will be operated in 2011 and 2013 Indoor cricket facilities will be encouraged. Investment will be increased in websites and broadcast of domestic cricket through this medium. A year of cricket diversity will be held in recently retired cricketers will be offered coaching in the community roles by Sport England s support of cricket through the Whole Sport Plan will focus on participation growth and funding -of facilities. ECB will work with Counties to promote family days and school days at domestic cricket. Creating a new grant aid fund to enhance club facilities for local community use.

26 26 Grounds to Play

27 27 Enhancing facilities, environments and participation - roles and goals : Enhancing facilities, environments and participation - roles and goals: Cricket Foundation and ECB - ECB to deliver 4m of grant aid to Chance to shine plus 10m from the Whole Sport Plan award to Chance to shine England Indoor Cricket League - create a minimum of 8 centres by 2013 NatWest Cricket Force - to expand to 2000 clubs and 100,000 volunteers per annum by 2013 Focus Clubs - to expand to 2000 focus clubs by 2013 Women s players - to double the number of women s and girls players by 2013 Cricket in the Park - to engage 5,000 families of diverse ethnic origin in Cricket in the Park in Sport England - to deliver an incremental 10 million in lottery grant by 2013 Disabilities players - to maintain the development and double the number of disabilities players by 2013 ECB - to support 12 new cricket grounds by 2013 Players - to offer 18 recently retired men s players coaching roles funded by ECB by 2013 Government - to propose to and work with Government to deliver apprenticeship programmes for club administrators and groundsmen PCA, Lord s Taverners, MCC and Cricket Foundation - to develop a One Game programme for the expansion of community cricket EWCT - with ECB donations create a 6 million grant aid fund by 2013 (or for the period of this plan) to enhance club facilities for use with the local community.

28 28 Successful England teams Successful England teams Our target is for England teams to retain the Ashes and to win an ICC Test Championship event, ICC World Cup or ICC Twenty20 World Cup by We will incentivise Counties who develop England players. We will ensure that the National Cricket Performance Centre at Loughborough remains the most advanced state of the art facility in world cricket. We will invest in central contracts, the Lions squad and a development squad to provide further experience for potential England players. We will support an England Lions playing programme which mirrors the format of cricket played in ICC competitions. We will invest in a programme of matches and development to support our Women s teams be the best prepared teams in world cricket. We will provide leadership programmes to develop potential future County and England captains. We will integrate the coaching techniques of the England Team with county cricket by inviting County Coaches/Directors of Cricket to be involved with England programmes. We will provide the necessary resources to support the Strength and Conditioning and Medical programmes to ensure they are the best in world cricket. We will invest in a programme of matches and development to support our disabilities teams be the best prepared teams in world cricket. We will work with England players to adopt personalised playing programmes to reflect the agreed playing maximum of 105 days cricket per annum. Players representing England will be provided with up to 10 match days within the limit of 105 days to participate in other events. ECB shall lobby ICC to play ICC Global Events twice in a four-year cycle plus a Test Championship play off match every four years. The Home international programme will be limited to either 7 Test, 10 ODI and 2 T20 matches; or 6 Test, 13 ODI and 2 T20 matches per annum. Focus will be placed on the England Under 19 team with a target of winning the world event in Grounds to Play

29 29 Successful England teams Successful England teams The key partners in the player pathway for Team England are the First Class Counties. The objective in this 5 year plan is to enhance communication and the sharing of best practice between Team England and Counties to ensure that players transition smoothly from domestic to international cricket. A minimum pool of 50 England qualified players under the age of 26 regularly playing domestic first class cricket is required to operate a competitive England Lions team. Rewards for the development of these players should be enhanced. The national performance centre must be the world s leading facility and have available the world s leading coaches and science and medical teams. The introduction of the IPL and Champions League further challenges player workload, whilst reducing income to ECB and Team England. In order to manage workload a maximum of 10 playing days per year should be accommodated outside the Team England playing schedule for those players participating in more than 95 days per annum of international match cricket. The women s team must gain experience of venues in which Global Events are to be scheduled. In order to replicate international tournament formats, the England Lions must play at home and abroad replicating ICC tournament playing conditions. Developing future Captains of both England and Counties is seen as a priority and this will be led from the National Cricket Performance Centre. The disabilities team must gain experience of venues in which Global Events are to be scheduled. It is imperative that to balance playing programmes there are no more than two ICC Global Events in a four year cycle.

30 30 How we will deliver Successful England teams - roles and goals Team England - to win the final of the ICC World Cup, Test Championship or ICC Twenty20 World Cup by First Class Counties - the goal is to have a minimum of 50 Under 26 England qualified cricketers playing first class cricket by 2011 and by % of those players to be in the top half of either the bowling or batting first class averages. National Cricket Performance Centre - to invest 1 million between to ensure the facility remains state of the art and to engage coaches and managers who are widely respected as the best in their area of expertise. Alignment with First Class Counties - to engage one first class coach per winter to work with an England team and to invite First Class County coaches to work in co-operation with Team England coaches. England Under 19 - to win the 2012 Under 19 World Cup. ICC - to reduce player workload by only having one global event every other year. Women s cricket - to support the marketing and promotion of the world champion women s team and to increase the performance resource attributed to women s cricket. Grounds to Play

31 31 Successful England teams How we will deliver Successful England teams By expanding the pool of Under 26 England qualified cricketers to a minimum of 50 playing regular first class cricket by By providing substantially increased incentives to counties (first class and non first class) who develop England players in the age group By providing a development pathway from Under 19 to development squad to Lions to England team. By providing an annual programme of matches for the Lions squad at home and abroad playing to ICC event formats. By producing a programme of tours and home series for our women s squads on a four-year cycle. By producing a programme of tours and home series for our disabilities squads on a four-year cycle. By developing leadership courses for future captains. By creating world class strength and conditioning and medical programmes. By employing world class coaches at the National Cricket Performance Centre. By reducing the number of ICC Global events. By limiting Home International series and focusing on quality. By setting clear targets for the Under 19 team.

32 ECB England and Wales Cricket Board Lord s Cricket Ground London NW8 8QZ T: F: E: info@ecb.co.uk From Playground to Test Arena March 2010 Front cover photography courtesy of Andrew Richard Mills.