DEVELOPMENT PLAN - 2019 Mission Statement: To provide the game of Rugby Union Football with the best facilities for all members of the Community Contents: Index 1 Background 2 The Present Position Membership 3 Seniors 3 Juniors 3 Girls and Women 3 Community Rugby Coach 3 Coaches 3 Medical 3 Referees 3 Publicity 3 Administration 4 Vice Presidents 4 Sponsorship 4 Local Community 4 Facilities 4 Development Plan -2019 Overall Aim 5 Senior 5 Junior 6 Girls and Women 7 Coaches 7 Referees 8 Administration 8 Facilities 9 Development Plan - 2019 / Page 1 of 9
BACKGROUND Burnley, which was previously known as Calder Vale Rugby Union Football Club, was re-named in 2000. The new name reflects the importance given to establishing the club as the premier Rugby Union provider in the area. Several players have achieved Lancashire and England honours. The club is affiliated to the Rugby Football Union, the Lancashire County RFU & the Manchester and District Referees Society. Various members have held senior positions in these organisations. The original Club was formed in 1926 and has shared a clubhouse, changing rooms and pitches with Burnley Belvedere Football Club and Burnley Belvedere Cricket Club since 1961. There are two rugby pitches (one is floodlit), two football pitches and one cricket field. The club also has the use of a local authority pitch across the road on the Prairie Playing Fields. All three sports operate under the name of Belvedere and Calder Vale Sports Club (B&CVSC). The grounds, clubhouse and changing rooms are owned freehold by B&CVSC. The facilities are open to the community and are used by other organisations e.g. Pendleside Rotary Club; Burnley Soroptomists Club; as a Polling Station and for local health initiatives. The club is located in the residential area of Reedley. It is alongside the main road from Burnley to Nelson and near to the M65. This ensures easy access by public and private transport. Tag Rugby and Seven-a-Side competitions are organised for various Junior and Secondary School age groups during the year. Burnley College and several of the local schools use the facilities. The Club has an excellent record of organising tours abroad and has sent teams all over the world, including USA, China, Poland, Portugal, Germany and Sardinia. In May 2013 the senior squad went to Gibraltar and Spain. In recent years the U16s have also been to France and Germany. Burnley RUFC has a proud history of entertaining touring sides from France, Poland, the Caribbean as well as numerous teams from all over the UK. Development Plan - 2019 / Page 2 of 9
THE PRESENT POSITION 1. Membership The senior playing membership is 78. The junior playing membership is 105. There are 120 social members, making an overall membership of 283. 2. Seniors There are three senior teams. The 1st XV plays in the North Lancashire Division One League and has maintained a mid-table position for the past three seasons. The 2nd and 3rd XVs play in the Raging Bull North West Leagues North Three and North Five respectively. The 2nd won the Raging Bull North West League Shield in May 2013 and gained promotion to their current league. The teams train twice a week and have a good attendance record. The club also provides specialist fitness, strength and conditioning sessions at a local gym. 3. Juniors The club has worked hard over the years to turn out junior players at all ages. There are teams for most age groups, including Junior and Senior Colts, and every team is run by at least one RFU qualified coaches. The Club is implementing a Mentorship Scheme, which aims to ensure support for 16 to 18 year olds moving from Junior to Senior Rugby. It will be administered by a Transition Officer and a team of appointed Mentors. 4. Girls and Women The club has already started to engage with local schools and organises Pitch up and Play events resulting in us being able to forward three of the girls on to the Lancashire U15 Girls squad. An application has been made to Sport Activate for a grant to support these their development. 5. Community Rugby Coach The Club has engaged a Community Rugby Coach (CRC) for the past 4 years who works with local schools and educational establishments to promote Rugby Union. The CRC also works to achieve the Rugby Football Union targets of recruiting more senior players and promoting Rugby Union for girls and women. The post is funded by contributions from Burnley RUFC, Burnley Schools Sport Partnership, Lancashire County RFU Youth Trust and the RFU. 6. Coaches A part-time professional coach has been engaged for the past 5 seasons and he will continue next season. There are currently 6 RFU Level Two Coaches & 13 RFU Level One Coaches. 7. Medical The club has access to medical facilities and direct contact with emergency services. A registered Physiotherapist attends all 1st XV matches and 12 members are first aid trained. 8. Referees The Club has 5 RFU Level ELRA qualified referees. A further 4 members referee with the Manchester and District Referees Society and one member is an Appointments Secretary for the Society. An ELRA course will be held at the Club next during the summer. 9. Publicity Match reports are published in the local papers every week and occasional publicity is given on the regional radio stations by a designated Press Officer. Development Plan - 2019 / Page 3 of 9
9. Publicity (continued) The Club has its own website, http://www.pitchero.com/clubs/burnleyrugbyclub/, which is kept up to date by designated officers. The Club also communicates on the social media sites Facebook and Twitter and is also overseen by nominated officers 10. Administration The Club has a written Constitution and is managed by a General Committee. The Club participates in the management of B&CVSC through four elected members serving on the Executive Committee. There is a, which manages the affairs of the Junior section. There is an Annual General Meeting at the end of each season when reports and the audited accounts are received. The Officers and the Committee are also elected at this meeting. The Club has a Child Protection Policy and an Equal Opportunities Policy. There is a dedicated Safeguarding Manager and all Coaches and Junior Officials have been CRB checked. A formal Disciplinary System is in place. 11. Vice Presidents The Club has a database of over 300 Vice Presidents who receive regular communications about events at the Club. Two lunches are held before 1st XV matches at the start and end of each season, which have an average attendance of 90. Afterwards the majority watch the match. 12. Sponsorship The Club has two major sponsors as well as a number of local firms and businesses who make donations to the Club for the general running expenses and also specific events. Their generosity is acknowledged by an annual pre-match lunch. 13. Links with the Local Community The Club has a formal agreement with UCFB whereby their Rugby team plays its matches in BUCS competitions at Holden Road and uses the changing rooms and clubhouse. The Burnley College Rugby team plays its matches in BCS competitions at Holden Road and uses the changing rooms and clubhouse. The Burnley Schools Sport Partnership holds regular events and festivals for schools of all ages at Holden Road. 14. Facilities There are two pitches available to the club within the present complex. The Club presently contributes towards the payment of the maintenance of the costs for these to B&CVSC. An extensive drainage programme was undertaken on the two pitches during the summer of 2013 with the aid of a grant from Sport England. One pitch has floodlights and the second has training lights. A third pitch is available across the road at the Prairie Playing Fields, which is a Burnley Local Authority facility. The Club has access to indoor training facilities, which are used during adverse weather conditions. The present clubhouse was originally built in 1962 and there have been several extensions the latest of which was the addition of a conservatory to the clubroom in December 2013. The changing facilities are of a lower standard than is currently recommended and an old container is used for storing the training equipment and match-day flags, post protectors etc. The scrum machine is housed in a secure hut. Development Plan - 2019 / Page 4 of 9
DEVELOPMENT PLAN 2019 1. Overall Aim To work and develop alongside, and in accordance with, the RFU Strategic Plan, the Lancashire County RFU Development Plan and all Local Sports Development Plans 2. Seniors Aim To maintain three senior teams, and run an additional team, whilst creating a gateway from Juniors, via Colts & into the Seniors. Encourage Previous Players to Return Recruit 5 Players per from the Local Community Maintain Links with UCFB Maximise on RWC 2015 Publicity Develop Above Initiatives Maintain and Improvement the Fitness of all Players Maintain and Improvement our Existing Players Retention of Players Tag & Touch Rugby Competitions Increase Player numbers to 120 Recruit 5 Players per Hold Two Events Linked to RWC Run a 4th XV Maintain a Fitness Programme & Quality Training for All Players Arrange for North Lancs Development Centre Coaches to Attend the Club on a Regular Basis Limit Leaving due to Injuries including provision of Physiotherapy Services Captains & All Members Retired Committee Members & CRC RWC Champion & All Members Captains & All Members Club Coach Other Coaches & Captains -2015 2015 2015-2016 Club Coach July Club Coach Captains & Team Secretary To Organise Regular Events each Summer Club Coach Develop a Veterans Team 3 Matches per Club Coach Develop an under 24 s team 2 Matches per Club Coach Regular Club Tours Arrange a Bi-annual Tour Designated Tour Organiser July League Promotion To Gain Promotion to a Higher League Club Coach and Designated Assistant April 2015 Development Plan - 2019 / Page 5 of 9
3. Juniors To have teams covering all age groups, including a colts and a girls team. To train and encourage all children to the highest degree. Retain RFU Accreditation Maintain Links with Local Primary/Junior Schools + 6th Form Colleges Recruit 20 Junior Players Each Year Maximise on RWC 2015 Publicity Retention of Junior Players Develop Junior Tag Rugby Competitions Achieve All Necessary Objectives Advertise and Run Sessions for Schools and Colleges Open Access to Club from Deprived Areas by Assisting with Transport where Possible Hold Two Events Linked to RWC 2015 Provide a Good Quality of Coaches, Facilities & Social Events Target Local Schools Junior CRC & Coaches CRC & Coaches Junior Director RWC Ambassadors & CRC & Coaches Junior Director CRC & Coaches Junior Director 2015 Maintain Teams at All Age Levels Retain and Recruit Players CRC & Coaches Maintain Junior and Senior Colts Provide Good Coaching and Encouragement CRC and Coaches Senior Colts Tour Bi Annual Tour Junior Director & Sept 2015 Administer Mentorship Scheme Ensure Support for 16-18 Year-Olds Moving from Junior to Senior Rugby Transition Officer & Appointed Mentors Development Plan - 2019 / Page 6 of 9
4. Girls and Women To have a women s side playing regularly. To have girls aged 12-16 regularly training and playing at the club. Set up Training for Girls Liaise with Other Local Clubs to Develop a Women s Team Establish a Burnley RUFC Women s Team Retention of Girls & Women Players Girls 12-16 yrs old to Train and Play Apply for Appropriate Grants Liaise with Colne & Nelson, Pendle and Clitheroe Rugby Clubs Appoint a Coach & Separate Committee Provide a Good Quality of Coaches, Facilities & Social Events CRC CRC, CRC, CRC, Chairmen s Onwards -2015 September 2015 5. Coaches To increase the number of RFU qualified coaches To maintain a part-time professional coach. Recruit Players/Parents to Train & Coach Identify Managers Improve the Standard of All Coaches Establish a Coaching Plan Uniform Coaching Techniques Four New RFU Certified Coaches per Annum Maintain a Manager for All Teams Encourage Coaches to attend at least Two CPD Sessions per Maintain a Coaching Plan to Help Coaches with Coaching Programme To Achieve a Uniform Club Coaching Programme Coach + Senior & Junior Committees Senior & Junior Committees + Coaches CCC & NW Dev Centre CRC & Junior Coaches Club Coach September July Development Plan - 2019 / Page 7 of 9
6. Referees To have sufficient RFU qualified referees to cater for each team and games played. To have at least two members refereeing for the Manchester and District Referees Society. To Train two New Referees per Annum To Encourage Referees to Join Manchester & District Society As Appropriate As Appropriate CRefC & CCC CRefC & CCC 7. Administration To review and evaluate each position on the committee and allocate specific single or joint responsibilities for each person, whilst ensuring that the correct skills are available or developed. To ensure that the club is run efficiently. To Run ELRA Courses One Every Two Years CRefC & CCC July Approve the Development Plan Update Specific Job Descriptions for All Committee Members Develop Skills of the Existing Committee Review the Action Plan Twice a Year Look at Long-Term Viability of the Development Plan Create Annual Action Plan Set Realistic Targets, Objectives and Enhance the Plan Annual Review to Give Clear Tasks to All Committee Members Identify Appropriate Courses/Events for Members to Attend Ensure that Tasks are Being Achieved Having a Meaningful Development Plan In the Light of Changes Establish Priorities for the Ahead & Secretary Annually August January & End of End of Each End of Each Development Plan - 2019 / Page 8 of 9
8. Facilities To assess the future needs and legal requirements of the Rugby section in conjunction with B&CVSC. To review realistically the standard of pitches, changing and clubhouse facilities. Assess the Facility Requirements to Submit to B&CVSC Assess all the Requirements for Men s, Women s and Junior Rugby to Submit to B&CVSC Assess the Provision of Disabled Facilities Review Sponsorship Package Document Assess Existing Sponsorship and New Opportunities Approve a Facilities Development Plan Approve a Development Plan Ensure Correct Provision of Disabled Facilities in Light of Recent Requirements For All Sections of the Club To Raise Sufficient Revenue to Provide for Activities of the Club Task Group + Task Group + Task Group + Sponsorship Director & Task Group Sponsorship Director & Task Group December December December August Development Plan - 2019 / Page 9 of 9