Dear all,
Firstly, a big thank you. The Executive Committee commented on how great it was to have so many coaches, parent’s representatives and other volunteers present last night. We were at the Club to discuss some up and coming events that I will refer to in a minute.
The Executive are keen to make our committee meetings punchy and straight to the point so they are meaningful and not ‘just something you have to attend’. It is an opportunity to provide information, to make collective decisions and then most importantly deliver the messages to you, our Royals community. What do I mean by Community? It’s you, our players, parents and guardians, coaches, touchline managers, first aiders, the list goes on, we need you to know what we are doing so we are all on the ‘same page’.
Here are those key messages from last night –
1) All head coaches and assistants will be required to complete a Blackbrook Royals JRLFC ‘Coaching Application form for 2017’ indicating which team they wish to coach. This affords the Executive Committee and opportunity to ensure everyone is a RFL qualified coach, holds valid DBS and Safeguarding accreditations.
2) A Panel of our experienced Royals coaches were asked to consider a ‘paper’ that Ste Wood (U13 Coach) has written. His report outlines a ‘player pathway’ from cubs to U18 and Open Age. This is still in draft but has been agreed in principle. Further details will follow soon, in essence it is putting a framework in place to maximise participation, fun, talent identification and player progression – coaches working in tandem towards that goal.
3) Communication – This is where the Executive Committee needs your help in identifying effective communication channels & techniques. The way this should work is quite simple but there is a concern that messages are not getting through, if this is the case then we will not be on the ‘same page’ as I alluded to earlier.
The communication flow should be two way:
Exec –> Committee –> Coach/Parent Rep -> Parent/Guardian/Player and vice versa if messages need to go the other way.
Please let me know if you are not receiving messages, we need to get this right. Currently we have Facebook, Twitter, our Website, WhatsApp, Text, E-mail and our new Brook Bulletin.
4) Blackbrook Royals JRLFC ‘Events’ – Your support of Royals events is essential to ensure we deliver our ‘vision’.
a) We aim to be recognised as one of the countries’ leading clubs in junior rugby league
b) We will strive for excellence not only on the pitch but also through our coaching, volunteering and links in to the local community
c) We will work with Blackbrook Rugby & Recreational Club to deliver quality facilities that allow us to achieve our shared goals.
All those present last night were in agreement, the message to everyone is very clear. When your child registers to play for the Royals it is also on the understanding that participation in ‘key events’ is a given.
You may ask why we need bike rides, Halloween parties and fun days when we are paying subscriptions? The answer is twofold – We need support at these events to ‘pay our way’ and keep subscriptions at the level they are, the lowest in the North West Region with no signing on fees. Secondly to build upon that community spirit and make the Royals not just a place for our juniors to play rugby league but for us all to enjoy.
It’s difficult to define ‘community spirit’ but I found this the most apt:
“The bonds people create within a group ‘generates a kind of electricity’, producing a feeling of collectiveness which reinforces the groups goals” – replace the word group and insert Royals and I think that sums it up nicely, don’t you? If you were present at the fun day, the Club tidy and titivate day and the bike ride you will know what I mean.
So the two events coming up are:
1) The Halloween night Friday 28th October 2016 at Boardmans Lane
2) And finally our Flagship event, Sportsperson Evening on Friday 11th November 2016 also at Boardman’s Lane (Two comedians, 3 course meal and lots more)
I will provide you will more information about these events and how you can purchase tickets.
The next meeting is Wednesday 19th October 2016; this is when the Executive have asked the coaches and parent reps to update us on the ‘take up’. Please bear in mind point 4, your support is vital to in ensuring continued success of the Blackbrook Royals JRLFC – we are good but we can be so much better.
Thanks all.
Graham Roberts
Chair
Blackbrook Royals JRLFC
