THE ASA TECHNICAL WATER POLO COMMITTEE

THE ASA TECHNICAL WATER POLO COMMITTEE Minutes of meeting held on Friday 18 May 2012 at SportPark, Loughborough LE11 3QF Present: Alan Booth (AB) - Chair Anne Clark (AC) SDG (Athlete Development) liaison Marcel Aarts (MA) Workforce Judith Clayton (JC) Communications/ WP Calendar co-ordination Andrew Ivison (AI) Independent Trevor Pledger (TP) Talent & WP Calendar Review Steve Smith (SS) Player representative East Chris Stephens East Midlands Jon Lane South East Gerry Lay South West Fred Fowler North East Pippa Jones North West Mike Hesketh West Midlands Pauline Stanley & Nicole Johnson Also in attendance (non-voting): Absence apologies received from: Norman Leighton Talent Development Officer, Water Polo (TDO) Craig Nicholson ASA Discipline Development Manager (DDM) Csaba Rull BS Development Officer, Water Polo (BSDO) Julie Thompson ASA Committee Administrator, Water Polo (Admin) Joanne Mountfield (JM) Competition Manager Nick Sellwood (HTD) ASA Head of Talent Development 1. Welcome & Opening Remarks 1.1. AB welcomed everyone to the meeting, and the apologies were noted. 1.2. AB requested that congratulations be recorded to Nick Sellwood upon confirmation of his appointment as ASA Head of England Infrastructure and Support, and welcomed Judith Clayton to her first meeting as a member of the TWPC with responsibility for Communications. 1.3. AB advised that he had extended a standing invitation to Dave Andrews, Chair of the British Water Polo League, to attend any future TWPC meetings, in an observer capacity. 1.4. AB invited all those present and, in particular, the Regional Water Polo representatives attending their annual meeting, to engage fully in order to ask questions and share their views on all the topics on the agenda. 2. Minutes of the Meeting held 30 September 2011 2.1. The minutes were approved as an accurate record of the meeting. 3. Matters Arising and not on the Agenda 3.1. Item 3.3 BS Water Polo Task Force: AB introduced this item, referring to the Task Force report, together with recommendations arising from the report, which had been circulated prior to the

meeting. These had been considered by the BS Board at its meeting on 26/27 April, and AB reported on his attendance at that meeting, as a representative of the BS Water Polo Committee (standing in for the Chair), as follows: 3.1.1. There had been full and frank discussions on the recommendations and the strategy for the development/ rejuvenation of the game; 3.1.2. The Task Force report had set out an ambitious agenda for change, which had subsequently been translated into a document setting out the likely costs of implementing the recommendations; 3.1.3. Planning to implement the Task Force recommendations, in full or in part, was difficult when the financial resources that might be available were as yet unknown and this work was ongoing; 3.1.4. UK Sport and Sport England would not be taking decisions on funding until the autumn, after the Olympics and Paralympics; 3.1.5. Funding may be sought from a number of different sources to support the implementation, including the Home Countries Sports Councils and governing bodies; 3.1.6. UK Sport funding for 2013-17 will be dependent upon results achieved at London 2012, specifically on an assessment of medals won and/or the potential to win medals in 2016; 3.1.7. The Leadership issue across Water Polo as a sport, not just World Class - is regarded as the central and key issue, and therefore an appointment is regarded as an essential first step; work has commenced on the search for a suitable candidate; 3.2. AB invited comments from the floor, and observations included the following: 3.2.1. That the report and analysis did not start at the bottom of the sport, but somewhere in the middle; 3.2.2. That there appeared to have been little attempt to consult more widely both within and outside the sport. 3.3. Minute 3.7 ASA Water Polo Rules & Regulations: noted that the BS Delegates group had confirmed that no updates or changes were required at the present time. 3.4. Minute 3.8 Long Term Athlete Development (LTAD) Review: AB referred to the lack of movement, over many months, on the review of the LTAD from a Water Polo specific perspective, and that this was contributing to a bottle-neck affecting progress in a number of work areas, such as the review of the calendar and competition programmes. He asked that this disappointment be fed back by AC to the SDG (Athlete Development) committee and the BS group managing this project. ACTION: AC 3.5. Minute 4.5.1 LTAD/ Long Term Player Development (LTPD) overlap issue: TDO explained that it was expected that the two pieces of work would synergise, rather than overlap and duplicate, as the LTAD started at the lower levels of athlete development, whilst the LTPD then extended this to focus on players who wished to excel in their sport. Noted that the work of Paul Metz on the LTPD was instrumental to the ASA Talent Development programme. 2

4. ASA Water Polo: Strategic Planning 2013-17 4.1. Strategic Development Group (SDG) Athlete Development - Update: 4.1.1. AC referred to the minutes of the recent meeting of the Chairs of the discipline Technical Committees, held 19th February 2012, and reported that it had been a very useful meeting. AB advised that he had been unable to attend as the meeting had coincided with the British Championships finals. 4.2. Merger of World Class and England Talent Programmes 4.2.1. DDM reported on the recent ASA Board decision to establish a seamless talent development operation from bottom to top of the talent pathway, in each aquatic discipline, and that the new business structure would lead to a seamless pathway between the England Talent programme and the World Class programme for Water Polo. 4.2.2. It was noted that: The work on the mergers in each discipline, and the shape and direction of the new plans, was being led by the Performance Directors/ World Class staff, and had commenced with Swimming and this work was ongoing; Each discipline was drawing up a Whole Sport Plan for submission to UK Sport/ Sport England for funding support for their programmes from April 2013; the outcome of all these plans and funding decisions would not be known until December 2012; It was envisaged that there would be more synergy between the Talent programme camps and the World Class programme; however it was noted that in Water Polo there was already good integration between the two Water Polo programmes; Other areas of the Talent programme, e.g. creating and development of the talent pool via the RTCs, are likely to remain the responsibility of the Home Countries. 5. WP Talent Programme 5.1. Current Programme Update: 5.1.1. The Talent Programme report from TDO had been circulated in advance of the meeting [attached to the minutes as Appendix 1.] 5.1.2. The good progress at the Development Clubs was noted with interest and approval. It was suggested that where this had not already been instigated, the Regional WP Managers should seek to strengthen their contacts and links with these Clubs and the programmes that were being established. ACTION: Regional Managers. 5.2. Water Polo Conference (16 June 2012) 5.2.1. DDM/ TDO provided an update on the Conference programme and in the ensuing discussion it was highlighted that, as the theme was very much focussed on Coach Development, then the promotional material and circulation lists could be adapted accordingly. TDO agreed to action some of the ideas put forward in terms of a further circulation of the information, to more closely target the potential audience. 5.2.2. DDM welcomed any input and invited any members of the TWPC to contact him with regard to a possible role at the Conference. 3

5.2.3. It was noted that the meeting for Water Polo officials is now likely to take place on a different date. 6. Communications: 6.1. Club Questionnaire 6.1.1. AB introduced this item by updating the meeting on the recent ASA Club Survey that had taken place, and by referring to the two previous questionnaires/ surveys conducted by the TWPC in 2008 and 2010. 6.1.2. In discussion it was noted that there is almost no statistical information on Water Polo clubs and how these have changed over time, and this was the reason for the focus on this project. 6.1.3. Noted that whilst the ultimate aim of the exercise might be to determine What is a sustainable Water Polo Club? - an essential first step was to gather some primary data from the Clubs that would inform how Water Polo is currently being organised across the country. 6.1.4. It was agreed that PJ and JL, having previously kindly volunteered to assist on this project, would liaise further to set up a suitable questionnaire and advise on the mechanics for the collection of data. ACTION: PJ/ JL 6.2. Newsletter: 6.2.1. AB advised that JC had agreed to join the Committee to take on this project, to produce a regular Water Polo newsletter for wide circulation to Clubs and Water Polo contacts. JC confirmed that she had received copies of newsletters produced by other disciplines. 6.2.2. It was agreed that the initial and primary focus should be on the work that goes through the TWPC, to enhance and spread communication and feedback; and also to publicise fixtures and to include Regional news. 6.2.3. Noted that the compilation of an up-to-date database of Club contacts was likely to be a necessary step in the process in order to facilitate circulation and communication processes; it was not the intention, however, to replace or dilute the existing lines of communication via the Regional Managers, and with the appropriate co-ordination both would be valuable. 6.3. Website Calendar 6.3.1. Noted that JC had also offered to act as gate-keeper for the Water Polo calendar, and would be working with DDM to produce and update the calendar information on the website, liaising with all parties and organisations to seek to produce a point of reference which contained all information about Water Polo dates/ fixtures and that was updated at regular intervals. ACTION: DDM/ JC 7. Workforce 7.1. Officials Group Development Plan 7.1.1. MA/ DDM referred to the Development Plan update, produced after a progress review held on 16 May 2012, and circulated in advance of the meeting. 4

7.1.2. Reported that a lack of Tutors was once again being identified as a blockage to running more courses for Officials. Agreed that MA would assist with the co-ordination of Tutors where possible, and asked to be copied in on relevant emails on setting up courses. ACTION: Regional Managers/ MA 7.1.3. Agreed to circulate again the document showing the Officials development pathway and how to progress through the various levels of qualification. ACTION: DDM 7.1.4. Provision of guidelines for young officials: further work had been done on this and TDO will be meeting with two key officials to finalise this document prior to it being circulated to the wider Water Polo community. 8. Competition Programme Update JM had provided a written report from the Competition Group, and highlighted: 8.1. National Age Group Championships (NAGs) 2013: 8.1.1. Junior - under 19 (born 95), Youth - under 17 (born 97) and Academy - under 15 (born 99) 8.1.2. Dates currently being reviewed with England Talent and venues to be booked through ASA Events. 8.1.3. Requested England Talent dates to be published on website for all to access. Schedule to be presented at ASA TWPC in September 2012 and entry forms to be circulated and dates published on ASA website in October 2012. 8.1.4. A number of event and format changes being considered, in consultation with Officials Groups, ASA Events and following feedback from Regions. 8.1.5. Full results of all National Age Group Championships from 2012 are available on the website via this link: http://www.swimming.org/britishswimming/calendar/view/list/ (select event to access results.) 8.2. Inter-Regional Water Polo Championships (IRs) 8.2.1. 2012 Junior - under 20 (born 93), Youth - under 18 (born 95) Academy - under 16 (born 97) 8.2.2. 2013 Junior - under 20 (born 94), Youth - under 18 (born 96) Academy - under 16 (born 98) 8.2.3. Academy events have been completed for 2012. 8.2.4. Full results of all Inter-Regional Championships results are available via this web link: http://www.swimming.org/northwest/disciplines/asa-inter-region-results 8.2.5. Entry forms circulated for Youth events, awaiting return by 31 May 2012. 8.2.6. Dates currently being reviewed with proposed England Talent programme and venues to be booked. 8.2.7. Schedule to be presented at ASA TWPC September 2012. 8.2.8. Discussion on the following points: Regional budgets and support for Regional teams attending the IRs - noted that Regions were prioritising according to current team/ age group strengths and development plans. Comments on how IR teams were displaying steadily improving levels of performance, and that other Regions were now starting to catch up with the North West. Benefits of the Beacon programme at Crystal Palace apparent, with players from Invicta now coming forward. 5

8.3. Proposal to develop a new Inter Regional Competition System 8.3.1. CR referred to his paper, circulated prior to the meeting, which recommended that a new IR competition system be introduced from September 2012. This was due to the success of the competition and the wish to see it continue to develop and expand, the aim being to provide the greater number of quality games that the best younger players required for their ongoing player development. 8.3.2. Whilst there was full support for the thinking behind the proposal, and agreement that in an ideal world this would indeed be Plan A, it was felt that there were cost implications for Regions and/ or parents, and that the next step was to calculate the costs of the proposals. As Regions would need to agree their budgets 12-18 months in advance, it was noted that this could not commence until September 2013 at the earliest. Plan B was to continue with the existing arrangements. 8.3.3. Noted once again during these discussions that the lack of progress on the Water Polo LTAD was not helpful. 8.3.4. Agreed that CR/ JM should continue their discussions and report back to the next meeting. Action: CR/JM 8.4. Possible integration/ links between ESSA Schools and Inter-Regional competitions 8.4.1. After further discussion of the possible opportunities and options AB requested a full update report for the next meeting. ACTION: JM/ CR +TP (Peter Nield.) 8.5. Calendar & Competition Prioritisation: 8.5.1. Full discussion was deferred to the next meeting when SS volunteered to produce a paper for consideration by the Committee. ACTION: SS 8.6. Trophies 8.6.1. The list of the current holders and whereabouts of ASA Water Polo trophies was noted. AB requested that any further information be passed to the Committee Administrator. 9. Water Polo Regional Reports 9.1. AB thanked all those responsible for their Regional Reports and updates, these continued to provide very useful information on current activities. 9.2. Noted that reports had been received from all of the Regions except London. Agreed to follow up with London Region following confirmation of the appointment of a new Regional Director. ACTION: DDM 9.3. PJ on behalf of the North East asked for an outline or job description of the WP Regional Manager (volunteer) role, as this post was presently unfilled in the Region. ACTION: DDM 10. BS Water Polo Committee 10.1. Minutes of the meeting held 18th February 2012 noted. 11. ASA Health & Safety Forum 11.1. Nothing to report. 6

12. Any Other Business - 12.1. None 13. Date of Next Meeting 13.1. To be confirmed The meeting ended at 22.00 7