Learning the Spirit of Rugby

JRFCA Business Plan 2009/2010

2009 – 2010 ACTION PLAN

LEARNING THE SPIRIT OF RUGBY

The mission of the JRFCA is to provide the educational and social opportunities for all young people, regardless of ability and gender, to realise their fullest potential and play Rugby Union Football to their highest personal standard in a safe, fun and non-discriminatory environment and to promote and model the core values of rugby, good sportsmanship and a strong sense of community.

Introduction

Following a very successful 2008/9 season we now turn our energy towards a new season.

I am delighted to say that we will continue to have the services of Ben Harvey as our Academy Head Coach. His “hands on” approach has been a great support to all our coaches and players and I hope that we can build on the work that he began last season. Ben has been working on the development of some super coaching material and I am sure that the coaches and players will benefit from this work.

Once again one of our principal challenges is the cost of travelling for competitive matches and we are delighted to announce that local company DOMINION are joining us as the Academy Sponsor. DOMINION has signed a five year sponsorship deal worth in excess of £450,000 with the Academy. We are extremely grateful to Ben Cooke for his support and belief in what we do.

The Committee has many initiatives for the coming season one of which is working towards the RFU Seal of Approval. David Voisin will lead this project and we believe that it will lead to yet more improvements at the Club.

On the Child Welfare front Claire Lowe will be presenting to our members new policies and procedures that will be implemented during the coming season. We will conduct more Child Protection courses with our coaches and ensure that the safety and enjoyment of every child that trains at the Club is at the centre of everything we do. We will also work harder to ensure that parents play a more active role at the Club and that we become more of a place for all the family to spend a Sunday morning rather than providing a child minding service.

We have now completed two years of the Ronez Channel Islands Initiative and we look forward to even greater links with Guernsey during the coming season. We are also in talks with French clubs in La Manche and Ille et Vilaine and we hope to forge stronger links with French Clubs in the future.

As ever the Academy could not survive without the help and support of so many volunteers. I would like to thank them in advance for all they are about to do over the coming season and remind anybody that is interested in helping the Academy that they only have to speak to a Committee member to be given a suitable role.

We look forward to your ongoing active support in season 2009 - 2010.

Yours in Rugby,

Kevin Lemasney

Chairman of the Academy

Organisation

Founded in 1989, the JRFCA now boasts almost 500 players spread over 10 squads from U7 to U16. The Academy is run under the aegis of the Jersey Rugby Football Club and it is affiliated to Hampshire RFC.

An elected committee helps steer the Academy and each squad is overseen by a qualified Lead Coach, a number of assistant coaches and a Manager. In total there are over 70 volunteers who help at the Club each week.

The Academy enjoys the services of professional coach Ben Harvey through the sponsorship of Ashburton. Ben is also the Head Coach for the JRFC and therefore assures a consistency of rugby from U7’s through to the First XV.

Through the Clubs affiliation with Hampshire RFC the U14, U15, U16 squads compete in the Hampshire league. This entails at least six trips (per squad) to the UK (usually through Southampton airport) which costs the club and the players’ parents quite a lot of money.

The younger players also have the opportunity to travel for friendly fixtures or festivals. In total the Academy and parents spend over £125,000 on travel each season.

The Club also welcomes many visiting teams during the season.

Sponsorship

The Principal sponsor of the Academy is Dominion Fiduciary Services.

Ashburton is the sponsor for professional coaching and development.

The Channel Islands Rugby Initiative, sponsored by Ronez, enters its third year and this initiative has certainly helped to foster good relationships between the Clubs on both islands.

In total these sponsors contribute over £100,000 each season to the Academy, funds without which the Club could not afford to offer travel opportunities to its players. The Academy is also fortunate to have a host of other local companies and individuals who make donations to the Academy during the season.

Publicity

In January 2009 the Academy employed the services of local PR firm Orchid Communications. Their role is to improve communication throughout the Academy and in particular to ensure that we and our sponsors get maximum exposure for the work we are doing with the youth of the Island.

Following each Academy fixture a match report (usually accompanied by photographs) is sent to the JEP and to the local TV and radio stations. The Club has had very favourable press over the past number of years and sponsors appreciate the fact that they are usually mentioned. The Academy also frequently places Thank You advertisements in the JEP to thank match day or trip sponsors.

Recent achievements

The 2008/9 season was a very successful one for the Academy.

• The three teams who competed in the Hampshire leagues all finished in the top five and will play in the top divisions next season;
• The Academy had 11 players representing the Island at Hampshire County Level;
• The 2008/9 season finished with Jersey taking all but one of the Siam Cups in the U7 to Youth ages;
• The Ronez Initiative with Guernsey goes from strength to strength.;
• As mentioned earlier the Academy has secured a major sponsorship deal for the next five years;
• Our U11 Squad won the Harlequins Rugby Festival;
• Our U7 Squad won the Havant Festival;
• Our U9 Squad reached the finals of the Teddington Tournament;
• Our U10 A Squad were Runners Up at the Marlow Festival of Rugby and their B, C and D Squads also tasted success;
• Our U12 Squad were Runners Up in the Tigers Land Rover Competition and won a trip to Twickenham to perform a lap of honour.

Committee

At the AGM a Committee is elected to run the Academy for the coming twelve months.

The Committee for the 2009/10 season comprises-

Post / Officer
Chairman / Kevin Lemasney
Past Chairman
& Fixtures Secretary / Nigel Metcalfe
Vice Chairman / Open
Club Secretary / Open
Membership secretary / Julie Laffoley
Treasurer / Jane Baines
Marketing & Sponsorship / Adrian Colston-Weeks
Head Coach / Ben Harvey
Quarter Master / David Voisin
Child Welfare Officer / Claire Lowe
Festivals and events / Tim Mitchell
Liaison with Youth Section / Denis Van Der Vliet

The Island Rugby Development Officer also attends Committee meetings.

For more details go to - Contacts

Coaching and development

Our Head Coach Ben Harvey, leads a number of dedicated volunteer coaches who look after coaching at all age levels. Ben has introduced a system of continuous development for our coaches and there is clear progression for all players from U7 right through to the First XV.

Each Squad has a designated Lead Coach. These coaches are qualified to at least Level 1 and further guidance and development is provided to them during the season by Ben Harvey.

The Lead Coaches are assisted by a number of Assistant Coaches and Helpers. These coaches are usually qualified to at least Level 1 and opportunities also exist for them to develop their skills throughout the season.

Each season the committee prepares a programme of professional development for the coaching personnel and courses are offered in Coaching Skills, Refereeing, First Aid and Child Welfare.

Squad managers

Each squad has a designated Manager who acts as a vital link between the Coaches, Committee and Parents. The Manager ensures that all registrations are in order, that travel arrangements are done in an efficient and timely fashion and that parents are aware of what is happening with their children and in the Club.

The Lead Coaches and Squad Managers for the 2009/10 season are -

Lead Coach / Age Group / Manager
Andy Cotton / U7 / To be appointed at the beginning of the season
Paul Griffin / U8 / Mike King
James Strong / U9 / Nicky Le Bihan
Phil Dennett / U10 / Lisa Clarke
Tony Taylor / U11 / David Voisin
David Kaye / U12 / Claire Lowe
Scott Spencer / U13 / Paul Johnson
Pat Dean / U14 / Stuart Colley
Guy Hinks / U15 / Alan Williamson
Nathan Kemp / U16 / Chris & Mandy Fuller

For more details go to - Contacts

The Channel Islands initiative

In an effort to foster closer links betweens Jersey and Guernsey the Academies of both Islands’ Club’s have agreed to work closely together at U7 to U13(inclusive) age groups.

During the 2007/8 and 2008/9 seasons many squads travelled between the Islands. The players and coaches participated in joint coaching sessions and in 2009/10 with the guidance of JRFC Professional Coach Ben Harvey and the Rugby Development Officers on both Islands we hope to forge new friendships between players, coaches and clubs.

It is hoped that the initiative will:

• Encourage a healthy and appropriate competitive ethos in the players to strongly reflect the social aspect of the game of Rugby,
• Increase participation and develop the game through joint coaching and match practice,
• Develop a closer partnership to develop easier travel and higher playing standards in both Islands,
• Ensure that coaching, refereeing, child protection and other courses being organized on either Island will be opened to the other and
• Enable the sharing of fixture lists and participative opportunities.

The initiative is being sponsored by Ronez whose Jersey based Managing Director Mike Osborne had the following comment to make "Ronez are delighted to be supporting this venture and as a business operating in both Jersey and Guernsey we believe this a great way to put a little bit back into both communities. We have a strong association with Rugby, notably through our parent group companies' sponsorship of the Leicester Tigers, and we look forward to supporting the fantastic energy amongst the juniors in Jersey and Guernsey to develop the top players of the future".

Child Welfare

The Academy takes the protection of each and every child in its care very seriously. Claire Lowe is our Child Welfare Officer and she can be contacted at any time by parents or players who feel that they have a concern.

For more details go to – Child Welfare or

Website

The Academy website on provides a wealth of information to players, coaches, managers, visitors or anybody interested in the spirit of rugby.

The Academy is sponsored by DOMINION

Page 1 of 10

JRFCA Business Plan 2009/2010

Key Objectives for the 2009/10 season

Key Objective / Target/What will success look like / Key Risk
1. / Spirit of Rugby
Above all else we want our members to enjoy the game of rugby in a safe, friendly and professional environment. / Happy children and young adults throughout the season. / In our quest for excellence or our ambition to win we lose sight of the importance of enjoying what we are doing.
2. / Organisation
A full Committee will be elected at the AGM in June and they will have a full squad of lead coaches, managers, support coaches and other volunteers in place when the season begins in September. / Each of the 10 squads will have a Lead Coach, a Manager and an appropriate amount of coaches and volunteer helpers throughout the season. / Not enough qualified volunteers come forward.
3. / Coaching
The Professional Coach, Ben Harvey, will ensure that the agreed coaching continuum will be followed throughout the season.
He will also ensure that the cadre of coaching staff at the Academy continue to develop and that coaches are given every opportunity to develop their coaching skills and coach the appropriate age groups. / Each age group will know what they are striving for throughout the season and achieve those goals.
All coaches will have the opportunity to develop their coaching skills and will have the opportunity to coach at different levels. / Coaches not following the agreed continuum.
Coaches unwilling to develop or move between age groups.
4. / Hampshire Leagues
The Academy will enter three squads (U14, U15 & U16) into the Hampshire League. / A top three finish in the top league in each age group. / Lack of players to travel
Lack of funds to assist travel.
5. / Channel Islands Initiative & Siam Cup
The Academy will continue to work closely with the Guernsey Academy to foster relationships between the Islands.
In 2010 Guernsey will host the Siam Cup and we would hope for success in all age groups.
In 2009/10 we hope to develop closer links with the eight rugby clubs in La Manche, Normandy. Talks have already taken place with Club officials and we have played some great rugby at several age group levels with the Granville Club. / Continued co-operation between the Committee, Coaches and Players at U7 to U12 age groups.
10 Siam Cups.
Fixtures both here and in La Manche with Norman Clubs. / Lack of funds to assist travel.
Guernsey is unable to put out teams at certain age levels.
Lack of funds to assist travel.
Administrative problems with the RFU.
6. / Financial
The Academy depends on the generous support of its sponsors to help with travel costs. The Committee will continue to work closely with the Academy’s sponsors to make travel affordable for all players and their families.
The Committee will also negotiate with the RFU and the Hampshire County Clubs for a more equitable arrangement regarding home fixtures.
Continue to contribute to a reserve fund. / Continued support from our sponsors to help make travel more affordable.
At least three home fixtures during the season
A Reserve Fund of £35,000 built up by the end of the season to provide security for the Academy in the event of the sudden loss of a sponsor. / That we lose a key sponsor.
Hampshire and the RFU insist that we play all our fixtures away from home.
Increasing demands on the resources limit the ability to put funds aside.
7. / Our Club our Future
The Committee will continue to work with Dale Ibottson to take the Academy forward over the coming years.
A key element to this in 2009 will be our intention to work towards and achieve the RFU Seal of Approval. / A five year strategy for the future direction of the Club.
Obtain the RFU Seal of Approval. / Lack of support to develop or implement the plan.
Lack of resources to obtain the Seal of Approval.
8. / Community project
During the coming season we the Academy would like to contribute something to the wider community in Jersey.
The Committee is exploring various possibilities and will present some suggestions when the season gets under way in September. / A meaningful contribution to the Island community, especially to those less fortunate that those who enjoy the Academy. / Biting off more than we can chew but in association with strategic partners we can overcome any risk.

Budget 2009/10

Income / £ / £
Membership subscriptions / 35,700
Sports Council Grant (for the calendar year 2010) / 15,000
Total Sponsorship (1) / 100,000
Donations / 2,500
Bank interest / 100
Miscellaneous income / 1,000
Income from sale of kit / 500
Total / 154,800
Expenditure
Contributions to Squads for travel (2) / 82,600
Family memberships to the Club / 2,400
Siam Cup / 5,000
Cost of Head Coach (3) / 12,500
Food for visiting teams / 2,500
Pitch costs / 5.000
Entertainment / 1,000
Balls / 3,000
IT charges / 1,000
Kit for new members / 1,500
Equipment / 2,500
Advertisements / 1,500
Marketing & Communication (including sponsors expenses) / 12,500
Hampshire / 1,500
Bank charges / 100
Contribution to Guernsey for Ronez Initiative / 2,500
Trophies & Medals / 1,000
Development of coaches / 5,000
Allocation of funds to reserve / 10,000
Total / 153,100
Excess of income over expenditure / £1,700

Notes on budget

1. Dominion, Ashburton and Ronez

2. Contribution to each of the 11 age groups to assist with off Island travel

3. Academy contribution towards the cost of employing Head Coach, Ben Harvey

Sponsorship

The following table outlines the possibilities open for potential sponsors. Adrian Colston0-Weeks will continue to look after marketing and sponsorship and interested parties should contact him in the first instance.

Principal sponsor
≥ £50,000 per season / Head Coach Sponsor
≥ £15,000 / Special initiative sponsor
≥ £5,000 / Trip or Match Day supporter
≥ £1,000
Match Jerseys / Logo on front / n/a / n/a / n/a
Shorts / Logo on shorts for all players / n/a / n/a / n/a
Training tops / n/a / For Coach only / n/a / n/a
Balls / Logo on all balls / n/a / n/a / n/a
Pitch side banners / 2 (8 * 3) banners / 1 (8 * 3) banner / Opportunity to rent at £350 pa / Opportunity to rent at £350 pa
Balcony banners on Sunday mornings and match days / 1 (16 * 3) banner / n/a / n/a / On the day of the event only
Goal post padding / Logo on each face / n/a / n/a / n/a
Lunches for senior league home matches at the Club House / Four tables of 10 at senior match home fixtures
& one table of ten at home Siam Cup lunches / One table of 10 at a senior match home fixture & two places at home Siam Cup lunches / n/a / One table of 10 on the day of the event if a luncheon is being held
Website mention / Mention of support & logo / Mention of support & logo / n/a / A story will run on the Academy website news section
Brochure for touring sides / Mention / Mention / n/a / n/a
Press statements, match day reports and club advertisements / Always / When referring to Coach / Thank you advertisement / Post event thank you advertisement

The Academy also welcomes contributions form local companies and individuals to the Academy during the season.