Club Development

Objectives

• Minimize the detrimental effect to competitiveness of teams
• Communicate clearly and effectively
• Maximize family confidence in club leadership

Step 1 - Implementation plan

1. Research which age groups would consist of which players under the new cutoff
   1. Use the Age Group Template Tool
   2. Highlight challenging age groups
2. Determine which model to follow to minimize costs and maximize benefits
   1. Look at the Club Options for Age Group Change
   2. Involve relevant stakeholders
      1. Directors
      2. Board
      3. Coaches?
      4. Managers?
   3. Decide which option best fits the player age group splits and the club philosophy
      1. Put it in writing
   4. Create written policies regarding exceptions and other issues
      1. Playing up policy
      2. School grade/birth year mismatches
      3. Jersey duplicates

Step 2 - Communication Plan

1. Decide a timeline for communicating the plan
   1. Different stakeholders at different times?
   2. Get buy-in from coaches before communicating to parents?
2. Decide mechanism for communicating to parents
   1. In person meetings
      1. Club wide
      2. Coach to team
      3. Individual
   2. Zoom meetings
   3. Email
   4. Web page
   5. Socials
3. Create mechanism for hearing concerns/questions

Step 3 - Implementation Plan

1. Determine methods to reduce the fear over the age group change
   1. Opportunities for players and coaches to meet/work together in the new formations
   2. Opportunities for parents to meet new coaches
2. Process to ensure that players understand the tryout process
3. Process to handle exceptions/exception requests