Strategic Forum Feedback

Summary of Feedback to Squash SA regarding the Strategic Information Forum

All those providing feedback largely agreed with the direction the Board is taking, however, many urged conservatism and a slower approach than the Board has indicated it will pursue.

Feedback:

·         Feels that the profit figures used by the Board ought to be an ‘upper level’ and a ‘lower level’ would perhaps be 10% less taking into account, for example, a loss in gaming revenue

·         Not convinced 5 Admin positions is feasible or necessary

o        Recommends a staged introduction at any rate

·         Thinks the current proposal is top heavy and ‘dramatic’ – urges conservatism

·         Requests greater clarification of roles of each person e.g. Admin Officer, Pathways Manager

Feedback:

·         Suggests an  increase in primary school students being introduced to squash/racquetball

·         Suggests that an improvement in facilities is necessary

·         Recommends implementation of a promotion and advertising strategy for the sports

·         Racquetball to be developed in new areas – Kidman Park, Next Generation, West Adelaide)

·         Make racquetball a part of the Development Officer’s role also

Feedback:

·         Positive about spending money but urges conservatism

·         Requests greater discussion before decision made whether to knock down investment properties simply to put in more car parking for Racquets SA

·         Concerned with lack of discussion of the future of SAAS/High Performance Program

·         Supportive of the Bullseye Program – but urges caution, have multiple avenues of recruitment

·         Organisational chart good but recommends a more conservative start

Feedback:

·         Suggests a look at tennis – the systemisation of the marketing of the sport, brand consistency, email and web-centric – with consistent, professional updates

o        Recommends a collation of all players’ emails so a regular newsletter about, well, ‘all things squash’ with, again, consistent branding

·         Squash SA to get in contact with former Pennant players, grass roots players, and those from other sports (cross-over, squash as an adjunct to another sport)

·         Need easy to access, instantaneous information on the Squash SA website for interested players

o        Contact details for local clubs, coaches available etc

·         Clear display of a ‘squash brochure’ at all venues – also available online for download/printing

o        Note advantages e.g. all-weather sport, very good fitness training, different types of racquets/balls to cater for different standards

·         Wall poster advertising squash to display at schools; small brochure with clubs listed to hand out

·         Suggests a collection of information from casual discussion at venues (at supper?)

o        Also the PPRA evening could allow for some feedback

Feedback:

·         Suggests a  ‘bottom-to-top’ approach in employ of new staff –try to get ‘club coaches’ first

o        After that then look to Development Officers

·         Advocates for a new Squash SA logo – professionally designed for maximum impact & exposure

·         Notes there are few court owners left and suggests this instead be ‘Club Organisers’, a broader category which would include, e.g., those on the Club Board, those organising Pennant etc

Feedback:

·         Concerned with the proposed expenditure: particularly with the employ of 4 new personnel for the promotion of Squash – too much, too soon, and may be insufficient resources

o        Start on a smaller scale – an initial appointment, closely monitored, before others

·         Notes that the game is not necessarily as beneficial fitness wise for beginners – but this applies to all sports – and also the difficulty when starting to warm up a ball

o        We do have larger balls for this very purpose, all clubs to possess them, perhaps?

·         Where will all the new players play given the minimal facilities currently available?

Feedback:

·         Happy with the focus on junior development, and urges focus on keeping them as they progress to seniors

·         Urges caution in employment of coaches/development officers

·         Suggests keeping all former players ‘in the loop’ regarding Squash – ‘opt-out’

·         Concerned with minimum requirements for committees: difficulty in filling spots

Feedback:

·         Predominantly supportive of the direction of the Board

·         Notes there is significant alignment with the core KRAs/Strategic Directions

·         Suggests that given marketing will have its own role within the new employment structure, that it ought to be a separate criterion within the Strategic Plan, not immersed within all other areas

Feedback:

·         Would like a long-term commitment from the Board to stay on the Board long term (if re-elected) to see this plan (hopefully) come to fruition

·         Suggests a 2-3 city-country split of Development Officers instead of a 1-4

o        Concerned that 1 D.O. will not be able to cover the entire state

Feedback:

·         Wants greater expentidure on development and marketing

o        Ladies Pennant Competition in need of desperate, immediate attention

·         Ensure all development is in full communication and cooperation with existing clubs/coaches

Feedback:

·         Endorses having multiple professionals employed within pre-defined zones

·         Suggests that there also be a combined zone to ensure cohesion within all groups

·         Suggests we phase in all the Development Officers –employ 1 on a 3-6 month performance based contract (conservatism)

o        Can study all successes/failures within that role before employing next one

·         Suggests that, instead of an annual $50’000 expenditure ‘facilities’ grant, the Finance Committee investigate low/interest-free loans to clubs in a secured loan

o        The $50’000 could be retained as an indication of lost interest

·         Review of PPRA sessions – look for a ‘multimedia resource’ which can use actual game footage i.e. contextual learning – see let/stroke calls, equipment issues, behavioural issues

Feedback:

·         Raise demogrtaphic profile e.g. profile pieces in Messenger, placement on TV show e.g. Home & Away

·         Promote ‘as much as’, or ‘in conjunction with’ racquetball

·         Make it easier to participate socially...and to just ‘turn up’ and play – e.g. via social events?

o        Play free if bring new member to social event

o        Ladies only nights to bring women back into the game

·         Take out cheap ads in sports pages – seek all players, including out of season athletes

·         Use entertainment book e.g. 1 free session, 20% off etc – Squash SA could subsidise this

·         Actively promote Pennant reserving at all courts

o        Charge nominal fee – we pay to do other sports!

·         Have a centralised PennantMembership Co-ordinator

o        Reserves data-base, calls from interested players, organisation of reserves

·         Consider modification of Pennant structure...Quads, Triplets or Pairs

o        From a personal perspective, a pairs competition would need to be run as a North/Metro/South type competition as while people will not travel 30-45 minutes for 2 games of squash, they will travel under 15 minutes. If it were run in the same manner as Masters this could be a very good social event!!

o        People may play a second night with this structure

·         Abandon the process of paying for finals – I believe the Board has already arranged for this

·         Offer different nights – i.e. not always Tues/Wed – if sufficient interest

o        Get expressions of interest for this. Perhaps trial pairs comp in this format with different starting times and see what is most successful

·         Run a mixed team competition akin to masters for players -  an environment within which to meet people

·         Corporate Cup? Lunchtime competition, charity events etc

o        Identify structural groupings, and publish standings in the Messenger

o        Also encourage such places to nominate a Pennant team – their team name could be their company for a slightly extra fee – useful advertising!

·         Consistently encourage players to encourage friends and family to participate

·         Seek as much volunteering as possible -  especially in marketing the sport!

Feedback:

·         Concern with lack of juniors within the game

·         A need to expand the Bullseye programme – as well as to develop other like programmes for K-2 and Year 8-12 students to be more demographically appropriate

·         Ought to be, where possible, going to a school within SA every day of every term

·         Produce statistics on the success of the programme! Compare and contrast where possible.

·         Focus needs to descend with age – to a strong but lessened focus through high school and so on

·         Look for government support in taking squash to schools

·         We must follow up those who compete in the Inter-School Competition – provide details of local centres, costs, available coaches etc -  let’s keep them in the game

·         When students finish Year 12 – encourage them to reserve or compete full-time in Pennant

·         Concerned with the current format and administration of Pennant

·         Suggests greater communication between Squash SA and players

·         Need for a truly representative Pennant Committee i.e. on gender, age, ability etc

·         Allow clubs to nominate players instead of teams, then have a ‘Pennant Administrator’ (PA) organise all teams – should help avoid uneven divisions and BYES

·         PA needs to understand how the matrix and Squash work – e.g. note that juniors improve rapidly! They will also take pressure of clubs to hastily arrange teams

·         Require effective communication inter- and post- season, what the players think is a top priority. Implement some of the suggestions for the next Pennant on some level and investigate their success – the only way to discover how we can improve is to test it

·         A significant effort should be made to entice University students to play – a Club at each Uni with half-price Pennant on offer etc could be very successful! Encourage Uni Adelaide and Uni SA to build some courts – valuable on both a social and competitive level.

·         Create a DIVISION 5 – fits in well with enticing new players to the game, book out 3-4 courts at a centre at a time where this is feasible, have it serve as the opposite to Masters, under 30s only

·         Praises SAAS, Geoff and the High Performance Program

·         Need to have some ‘home centres’ for SAAS players – they will enjoy playing in a team together

·         An internal SAAS/Elite Junior competition on Friday nights, perhaps, would be fantastic

o        Young students more likely to be allowed out late on a Friday night

·         Urges the necessity of a super-centre, with a full-time coach a necessity

o        Look at Badminton HQ at Lockleys for a good example of a ‘State facility’

·         Also need to look at pushing for all gyms to build squash courts, even if only 2, it may not be a big money spinner but it is a niche market

·         The same applies to Community Rec Centres, look at the success of Turramurra!

·         Use a Yearly Survey to review all aspects of Squash – always look for improvement in all areas – take criticism in stride and look for any common elements to the criticism

Feedback:

·         Supportive in principle of the new direction, and urges the need for quick results

·         Supports the concept of a ‘grants program’

·         Notes the need to provide transport to and from centres

March Meeting

We have received some very valuable feedback from the Strategic Forum. We are grateful to those that took the time to comment on our strategic plan and put forward some great ideas for growing squash in our state. See next post for a summary of the feedback.

The newly structured committees are ready to go and will be advertised to all clubs and players. The committees will have at least one Board member on them so we can keep in touch with everything that is going on. Plus it means we get to join in the fun of dreaming up and implementing new squash initiatives.

Some of you may have noticed that the pennant results have been going on the matrix a little late. Squash SA has been under pressure trying to find temporary support to fill the admin role until the formal position is filled. Please bear with them during this transition period. The results were late during round three in order to hold the rankings for the re-rank at round 4.

Glass Court update: We have decided to seek expressions of interest for the glass court.

Recruitment update: We’ve have over 40 applicants for the four positions we have advertised with some promising candidates. Interview panel will consist of Lynn James (HR consultant), Mandy Neller, Richard Tisher, Cheryl Johnstone, Phil Sinnott, & Jack Wass.  Now we’re getting all these new staff… where are we going to put them? The Board has been investigating several options such as upstairs at South Adelaide, Tennis SA (North Adelaide) or some other centralised location.

Facilities Update: Mark Goldstone (President) and Phil Sinnott (General Manager) have been busy drumming up interest for new squash courts all over Adelaide. They have met with the education department, the principles of the super schools, State Sports Park and the City of Playford, all with positive results. The Campbelltown Leisure Centre upgrade is looking good having now received state support. We have also been invited to talk to the architects regarding the squash court requirements. The first draft of the Adelaide Shores Complex is now available. Port Augusta is also a big sports development. There are so many opportunities, it’s very exciting!

Other Items

• The Board has given in principle support to Roxby Down squash club’s request for assistance for a new junior fitness program.
• The Board will support the new banded fee structure proposed by Squash Australia (this is the fee paid by Squash SA to Squash Australia for membership). The new fee structure is designed to make things easier for the smaller states to raise the money required.
• In response to concerns raised by the squash community, Squash SA will formulate a policy that applies to the sale of squash equipment by Squash SA staff.

Going Forward with a Plan

Strategic Forum

It was a big month for us in Feb. All the hard work, analysing and planning the Board has been doing for the past 4 months was unveiled at the Strategic Forum on the 15th Feb. This was our big chance to present our new Strategic Plan for the next 5 years of squash to the community and make sure that we're on the right track. 34 people attended and it was great to see a range of interested parties from players to court owners, Life Members and representation from Squash Australia. Big thanks to everyone who took the time out to come along and give us their thoughts.

Our President  (Mark Goldstone) and General Manager (Phil Sinnott) gave a great presentation of the plan which is available on the Squash SA website as is the full Strategic Plan - Be sure to check it out! We received some valuable feedback on the night and in emails and letters in the following weeks. The main gist of the feedback has been that the new direction and focus areas are on track. People are happy that we are spending more money on squash, however there is some concern that we may be spending too much if we go ahead and hire all four of the proposed new Development Officers straight away. I'll get back to addressing this concern a little later. We also got some good feedback from Squash Australia to say that our strategic direction is a good fit with the Squash OZ Strategic Plan. It's good to hear that we will be heading in the same direction. We also received some great ideas from the squash community about how to increase participation. Keep those ideas coming.

Board Meeting

Ok so back to that point of worry from the Strategic Forum - too many staff straight away. Well, we heard your concern and spent a good while going over all the numbers again in the Feb Board Meeting (projected cash flow, staffing structure, future project cost etc...) What we ended up with is a more conservative Organisational Chart that drops two of the Development Officers (we will start with just North and South) and reducing   the Marketing Manager position to a  part time role. We also made a few tweaks to the way we run the Racquets SA business to make some savings. The result was a budget that covers the new organisational structure and leaves room for the carpark upgrades at Racquets SA and future investment in new squash facilities, and takes into account conservative gaming trends. We are now in a great position to move forward with recruiting. And yes recruiting has begun for the Marketing  Manager, Membership  Services Manager, Pathways Manager, and  Competitions /  Administration Officer.

To make sure Squash SA and Racquets SA are keeping up with regulations an OH&S audit was performed by Stewart Allan (Board Member). Stewart has extensive experience in OH&S as part of his day job and found a number of items that needed attention including updating the OHS policy for Squash SA, developing policies in some areas and looking at larger work areas for the staff at Squash SA.  Stewart is preparing the official report and then we can get to work making the necessary changes.

The glass court has come up again in this meeting. It's currently being  hired  by Canberra for the Australian Open and that is its first paying gig since it was bought. The question is - should we keep it? The problem is we no longer have a team to put it up and take it down. And getting it up in a public place like a shopping mall or Rundle Mall is logistically very difficult because of the large set-up times and other constraints on structures in public places. We could sell it and use the money to set up more permanent courts... What do you think??

Other items:

• The Racquets SA car park upgrade is under way with demolition plans lodged with the council. 
• The 'Terms of Reference' for the committee restructure are complete and the door is open for all those who would like to get actively involved in squash by joining a committee. Of course all previous committee members are more than welcome. So get your name in and make a difference!
• The Squash Facilities Study has been put on hold in view of the regional facilities opportunities.
• Mark Gold stone (President) and Phil Sinnott (General Manager) will be  attending the Squash Australia AGM. This is a chance to catch up with all the other states and  attend National Workshops.

New squash court opportunities

It's amazing what happens when you start asking around. We are pursuing a number of opportunities to build new squash courts as part of multi-function sports centres. Keep in mind that these are just proposals at this stage but we are actively pursuing them.

• Adelaide Shores was earmarked for a State Squash Facility but we're now looking at a regional facility shared with other sports. We are proposing a build of 6 courts with movable walls. They would provide the shell and we would do the fit out and run the squash activities.
• Playford Council is renovating an existing community rec centre and they are open to putting in some squash courts - the same deal as Adelaide Shores.
• Campbelltown Rec Centre is being upgraded and we have put in a proposal for courts there as well. I know Campbelltown Club would love to have some courts in their area again!