Strategic Plan for Canoe Polo in Australia 
                                        
      
      
           Strategic Plan for Canoe Polo in Australia 
                                        
                                        
              Draft prepared by the Paddle Australia Canoe Polo Technical Committee 
                                for consideration by  
                        the Paddle Australia Competition Committee 
                                        
                                  October 2019 
                                                     
     PACPTC                                                           Page 1 
                                                             Strategic Plan for Canoe Polo in Australia 
             BACKGROUND                                                WHAT’S IN THE CANOE POLO PLAN                              REFRESHING THE CANOE POLO PLAN 
             In October 2018 Paddle Australia released the             It is acknowledged that there are limited                  The Canoe Polo Plan will be a dynamic 
                                                                       resources available to meet objectives.                    document.  The Paddle Australia Canoe Polo 
             ‘Strategic Plan for Paddling in Australia’ (the 
             “SPPA”).  This document was developed based               Accordingly, the Canoe Polo Plan will not seek to          Technical Committee will meet each year with 
             on an extensive consultation and collaboration            address every component of the SPPA but will               the express purposes of reviewing progress 
             with the paddling community across Australia.  A          rather focus on a smaller number of key,                   against the Canoe Polo Plan and considering 
             copy of the SPPA is available on the Paddle               strategic priorities.                                      what changes, if any, are required to its 
             Australia website.                                        The Activities and Actions that Canoe Polo will            priorities.   
             This ‘Strategic Plan for Canoe Polo in Australia’         undertake under this plan are broken down into             This process will align with the rolling nature of 
             (the “Canoe Polo Plan”) is a complement to the            Strategic Areas, numbered to correspond with               the whole of the SPPA, which will similarly be 
             SPPA.  It seeks to align the objectives and               the seven (7) Strategic Areas referenced in the            updated annually.  Part of the purpose of the 
             priorities of Canoe Polo with the SPPA while also         SPPA, as follows:                                          Canoe Polo Plan is to inform these whole of sport 
             recognising that the operational model for Canoe          1   Providing participation opportunities for all          discussions and to contribute to the ongoing 
             Polo clubs and competitions can be different                  those wanting to join our community,                   dialogue around improving the standing of the 
             from the other disciplines.                                   whatever their age, background or ability              sport of paddling within the Australian 
             As the only team focussed discipline within                                                                          community. 
             paddling, Canoe Polo provides elements of team            2   Promoting and supporting pathways for                  Comments to the Canoe Polo Plan are welcome 
             spirit, community and fun which are different to              those seeking to be the best they can be in            via email to polo@paddle.org.au. 
             those experienced in the other disciplines.  These            their chosen area 
             are a strength of our sport.  The mission in the          3   Developing our competitions into events that 
             coming years must be to grow this community                   demand attention and involvement 
             and to provide opportunities for as many people 
             as possible to discover what Canoe Polo has to            4   Developing a network that seamlessly 
             offer.                                                        connects and delivers services to the entire 
                                                                           paddling community 
                                                                        
                                                                        
                                                                        
             PACPTC                                                                                                                                                          Page 2 
                                                                    Strategic Plan for Canoe Polo in Australia 
              1     STRATEGIC AREA: Providing participation opportunities for all those wanting to join our community, whatever their age, background or ability 
              •     There is a growing understanding that ‘introduction to paddling’ products based on Canoe Polo are seen as more attractive than individual paddling programs for school aged 
                    children.  There is an opportunity for Canoe Polo to promote introductory programs such as PaddleBall which introduce children to Canoe Polo at the beginning of their 
                    introduction to paddling. 
              •     We must seek opportunities to allow paddlers from other disciplines to try Canoe Polo. 
              •     Water access and development of infrastructure are issues that already limit participation in some areas. This challenge will continue as population increases. Plans are needed 
                    to address this in the medium to long term  
              •     Priority must be given to the development of permanent Canoe Polo facilities.  These will provide hubs for the local Canoe Polo communities and reduce the costs associated 
                    staging competitions 
              •     Canoe Polo cannot thrive without strong Clubs.  A key focus for governing bodies within Canoe Polo must be to engage with and help develop local Clubs 
                     
                Activities                 Actions                                  Measures/Status                   PACPTC Actions                        PACPTC Measures/Status 
                1.1 Implement Paddle       Full roll out of Paddle Oz and           Sporting Schools providing        Seek to include Canoe Polo            Ensure process for accessing 
                Oz, the National Junior    Sporting Schools, partially reliant on   $200,000 in grant support for     targeted programs within the          funding is promoted to the CP 
                Paddling Program,          digital platform development             paddling to schools in            existing Move It Aus funding          community by end Nov 
                ensuring suitability as                                             2021/22                                                                 Assist Canoe Polo Clubs in 
                paddling offering under                                                                                                                     lodging applications to deliver 
                the SA Sporting Schools                                                                                                                     PaddleBall programs by end 
                initiative                                                                                                                                  Dec 
                                                                                                                                                            Utilise Canoe Polo Clubs to 
                                                                                                                                                            deliver Paddleball programs 
                                                                                                                                                            to 300 children by end June 
                1.3 Target specific                                                                                   Investigate opportunities to run      Discuss at November meeting 
                markets and engage                                                                                    competitions with other paddle        of the Competition 
                actively with target                                                                                  disciplines                           Committee 
              PACPTC                                                                                                                                                                            Page 3 
                                                                      Strategic Plan for Canoe Polo in Australia 
                groups including youth,                                                                                   Develop Schools engagement             Confirm status of existing MA 
                women and older-aged                                                                                      strategy for Canoe Polo                school engagement programs 
                Australians                                                                                                                                      by end Nov 
                                                                                                                                                                 Develop roadmap for 
                                                                                                                                                                 developing Schools 
                                                                                                                                                                 engagement strategy at next 
                                                                                                                                                                 PACPTC meeting 
                1.4 Develop initiatives      Gather examples of best practice          Report developed as basis for      Audit of Club facilities, including    Equipment Officer to liaise 
                to reduce barriers, such     and share amongst clubs and other         next steps                         storage options                        with STCs to complete audit 
                as equipment rental          interested parties                                                                                                  by end Feb 
                and storage facilities                                                                                    Determine medium term Canoe            Draft asset management plan 
                                                                                                                          Polo asset rejuvenation plan           by end April 
                                                                                                                          Determine costs for potential          Provide costings for 
                                                                                                                          future purchases, including            permanent pontoons by end 
                                                                                                                          pontoons, for future funding           Oct 
                                                                                                                          applications to government             Complete list of canoe Polo 
                                                                                                                                                                 costings by end April 
                1.5 Press for increased      Gather information and share best         Report available. Best             Permanent facilities                   costings for permanent field 
                access to water and the      practice on the development of            practice shared on on-going                                               by end Nov 
                development of               access to new bodies of water             basis 
                appropriate facilities       Lead and support initiatives for the      Facility development guide         Determine opportunities to access      Seek advice from  MAs by end 
                                             development of facilities for             developed with arguments           state government infastructure         Nov 
                                             paddling generally and slalom and         supporting increased water         grants 
                                             sprint facilities in particular           access 
                                                                                                                          Determine whether opportunities        Seek advice from  MAs by end 
                                                                                                                          exist to partner with state            Nov 
                                                                                                                          government recreation camps 
                1.7 Club Development                                                                                      Draft Club Development Strategy        First draft available for 
                                                                                                                                                                 consideration at next PACPTC 
                                                                                                                                                                 meeting 
                                                                                                                          Develop Club Accreditation             First draft available for 
                                                                                                                          System                                 consideration by end May 
                                                     
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