[<<] [>>] by Quiller Barrett
3rd January 2003 (CqE Official News)

Council's report to the last AGM included a summary of the progress our committees had made on achieving the objectives they had set themselves for 2002. And, at its last meeting in December, Council approved specific objectives for 2003. Here are our successes, failures and the work that is still in progress. The list excludes the routine, and time-consuming, tasks that all the CA's committees continuously tackle.

Administration

2003

• Set up an IT sub-committee to review the CA's hardware and software, and recommend future requirements.
• Produce a Health and Safety policy.

Coaching

2002

• Successful Coach Qualification Courses were held at Surbiton, Southport and Cheltenham; more are planned next year.
• Revisions to the Coaching Manual have not yet been completed and the committee is still investigating the possibility of producing a coaching video or DVD.

2003

• Complete the revision of the Association Croquet Coaching Manual and draft a Golf Croquet equivalent.

Development

2002

• Grants from the CA to Budleigh Salterton, Cheltenham and Sussex County are enabling these clubs to carry out work to improve their lawns that are used for major CA tournaments. Grants were also made to some smaller clubs and to Federations.
• A working party on Gateball has not reached any conclusions; the initial impetus to promote the game at Southport has not been maintained.
• A Lawns Advisory Group has been established to help clubs.

2003

• Identify and assist clubs embarking on capital projects.
• Carry out an audit of CA-owned property lent to clubs and Federations, ascertaining extent of use.

Equipment

2003

• Consultation and completion of new protocol for testing croquet balls.

Golf Croquet

2002

• The significant growth of golf croquet continues at club and Federation levels. But entries to some CA competitions have not been as great as anticipated and the reasons for this are being sought.
• It is too early to rate the success of the automatic handicapping system for golf croquet.
• The CA is ready to work with other national bodies to produce a set of rules suitable for all levels of play world-wide, but full international co-operation is proving to be difficult.
• Work continues to train and qualify referees.

2003

• Investigate the reasons why entries to competitions are unbalanced at north/south venues. The priority will be to consolidate existing events.
• Foster an increase of golf croquet events within association croquet tournaments held by member clubs.
• Encourage top-level competition in preparation for international competitions.
• Work towards publishing one set of golf croquet rules for all levels of play that can be accepted by the major national governing bodies.

Handicapping

2003

• Publish Handicap Guidelines and Procedures for the 2003 season.
• Update the list of Handicappers and make new appointments.
• Consult clubs and individual players about establishing uniform handicapping for the one-ball game and including it in the Automatic Handicapping System.

International

2002

• The CA has increased its influence on the World Croquet Federation and now has stronger links with the NZCC, ACA and USCA. We have not yet arranged matches with emerging association croquet nations such as Canada and Egypt.
• The WCF has accepted our bid to hold the Association Croquet World Championship in England in 2005.
• An elite training squad has been set up and special coaching is being given to juniors with the potential to reach top-class play.

2003

• Continue to develop stronger links with the NZCC, ACA, USCA and individual members of the WCF management committee.
• Submit detailed plans for the 2005 World Association Croquet Championship to the WCF by September 2003.
• Run a training programme for the 2003 MacRobertson Shield GB team.

Laws

2002

• Printed versions of the Official Rulings on the Laws of Croquet will soon be available.
• Work continues on producing a new edition of the Basic Laws of Croquet and on publishing material about referee training.

2003

• Publish The Basic Laws of Association Croquet.
• Review the role, training, and examination of assistant referees.
• Prepare and publish material about the training of referees on the CA website.

Management

2002

• Inter-committee communication has improved.
• Communications between the CA's committees and our members have relied on the Secretary, the Gazette and the website. There is still plenty of scope for our committees to provide more information, and possibly interaction, on the latter.
• Council members have not reviewed as many long-term policy issues as anticipated and this is being addressed.

2003

• Create a stronger volunteering culture.

Marketing

2002

• Jeff Dawson was appointed as the new CA Agent and sales revenue continues to grow at a healthy rate.
• A very successful survey of croquet players was carried out and committees are using the results to help them plan.
• The public relations function is being strengthened.
• Work continues on creating a membership canvassing kit, on attracting more legacies, and on an awareness campaign of the benefits that CA membership can bring. A new initiative is being considered to encourage non-member clubs to join the CA. (Individual Associate and Club membership of the CA remain static at 1604 and 120 respectively.)

2003

• Develop a membership canvassing kit.
• Consider new initiatives to improve the benefits that the CA offers to members.
• Develop and implement a CA membership leaflet selling the benefits of the CA.
• Raise the profile of croquet through the effective use of PR.
• Approach manufacturers of croquet sets with a view to publicising CA member clubs.

Publishing

2002

• The CA's website has been redesigned with a new structure.
• Plans are being made to integrate the website with databases used for administration and sales.

2003

• Integrate the website with the CA Shop database.
• Archive 2002 website material as appropriate.
• Encourage other committees to take more responsibility for the content of their sections of the website.
• Support and advise the editor of the Gazette in obtaining suitable copy, and to consider on-line material where appropriate.

Tournaments

2002

• Many CA tournaments were oversubscribed.
• There has been more interest shown in Schools and Students championships.
• The Fixtures Calendar was published on schedule.
• Consultation with players took place regarding the changed format of the Open Championships and the majority were in favour of it.

2003

• Consider the initial qualification rounds of the All England Handicap Championship in order to encourage more entries.

Sport England Working Party

2002

• Little progress has been made on compiling a Strategic Development Plan for the CA.

2003

• Write a Strategic Development Plan.