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Submission by Bill Unkles, Camberwell Hockey Club on 27 March 2009.
2. Better place sport and physical activity as a key component of the Government's preventative health approach
- Examine Government frameworks to ensure an on-going focus on grassroots and community sport and physical activity.
In 2004, Camberwell’s Women’s and Men’s Clubs amalgamated. This has greatly improved the co-operation and support provided across the clubs. Aside from administrative improvements, there have been other benefits. The most subtle but possibly most important is the removal of a ‘them and us’ culture. Also by bringing the clubs together there is a greater understanding of the club’s finances. The men’s club had previously been responsible for the ground trust, a poor understanding of the separation of the Ground Trust and the men’s operations had previously been a source of friction. The women’s club had a very poor year in 2006. This has been turned around with the women being assisted with direct administrative, coaching and playing assistance from the men’s and junior sections. While the club has had a men’s Veteran’s A grade team for many years, in 2002 it fielded its first entry level team in the summer and winter competitions. In 2003 we added an extra women’s veteran team. The men’s veterans have been players drawn from parents of junior players, this, in turn, encouraged former senior club members to rejoin the club or recommence playing. This year Camberwell will be fielding teams in the A, B.C,D and E grade competitions. The key to this development has been the provision of a supportive and friendly environment, with skills development provided by experienced players. Many if not most of the veterans playing at Camberwell had little or no experience of hockey before participating in the Veterans programs. The involvement of veterans and especially parents as players has strengthened the club considerably. These players are now more interested in assisting in other areas of the club such as team management for juniors and senior teams, coaching, committee participation and with occasional labour such as working bees. They have also assisted the club with fund raising and sponsorship as well as filling in for senior teams who are occasionally short of players. This model of participation for all age groups and sexes in a family club is a cornerstone of the club’s success on and off the field.
- Examine Government programs to increase participation rates in sport and physical activity, including analysis of existing programs.
The government should ensure that sports receiving funding ensure that all particpants are given equal opportunitiy to participate in their sports. This means that players should all be given a fair amount of playing time for each game. That club's teams have equal access to home ground facilities. That players are graded approppriately to ensure a god experience is had by the participants. Gov't should ensure sports administrations foster these ideas.
- Identify and recommend opportunities to break down barriers to participation at junior, adult and senior ages with a view to making it simpler and easier for Australians to participate in the sport or physical activity of their choice, including for women, the disabled and Indigenous people.
Camberwell Hockey Club started operations in 1938 and is now one of the leading clubs in Victoria. The club has produced many Olympians and national players in Men’s and Women’s Hockey. These players have emerged from a club with a strong culture of developing community participation in hockey. The club strongly believes that the best players emerge from a competitive environment that provides opportunities for players at all skill levels to develop their skills to the best of their ability. The Club caters for competition players from the age of 7 to 70(plus) with 21 Junior Girls Boys and Mixed teams with some 300 registered players , 6 Senior Women’s teams for 130 players, 8 Senior Men’s teams 160 players, 2 Women’s veterans teams with 30 players and 8 Veteran Men’s teams with 120 players. The club also offers a Minkey program for 4 to 9 year olds in the summer months as a pathway to playing in Juniors. This program is similar to the Hook’n 2 Hockey program. In 2004, Camberwell’s Women’s and Men’s Clubs amalgamated. This has greatly improved the co-operation and support provided across the clubs. Aside from administrative improvements, there have been other benefits. The most subtle but possibly most important is the removal of a ‘them and us’ culture. Also by bringing the clubs together there is a greater understanding of the club’s finances. The men’s club had previously been responsible for the ground trust, a poor understanding of the separation of the Ground Trust and the men’s operations had previously been a source of friction. The women’s club had a very poor year in 2006. This has been turned around with the women being assisted with direct administrative, coaching and playing assistance from the men’s and junior sections. While the club has had a men’s Veteran’s A grade team for many years, in 2002 it fielded its first entry level team in the summer and winter competitions. In 2003 we added an extra women’s veteran team. The men’s veterans have been players drawn from parents of junior players, this, in turn, encouraged former senior club members to rejoin the club or recommence playing. This year Camberwell will be fielding teams in the A, B.C,D and E grade competitions. The key to this development has been the provision of a supportive and friendly environment, with skills development provided by experienced players. We would recommend a similar approach to this issue.
- Recommend strategies to increase the effectiveness of the promotion of sport by the Federal Government to better communicate positive health and activity messages to the broader community.
No response, other than as illustrated by previous section.
3. Strengthen pathways from junior sport to grassroots community sport right through to elite and professional sport.
- Examine the capacity of the system to ensure optimal and efficient delivery of the athlete and coach pathway for any given sport.
Our club strong prefers to develop and reward its own players rather than actively seeking good players from other clubs for its “elite” teams. Clearly we will not turn away players who seek to join the club but we believe that the development of our own players leads to greater player loyalty and satisfaction. It also creates a strong intra-club culture of improvement as players can see the rewards for effort and not feel they may be displaced by the next recruit. Similarly the club recognises the need for all clubs to be able to retain players of great skill for the development of their own clubs and to ensure a healthy competition.At the junior level the club expects it’s A and B grade players to perform at a high level and endeavours to provides commensurate coaching support. This is difficult in an amateur environment with the pressures facing young people from study and work. In general, the club expects its young senior players to contribute to the development of the juniors. Like all clubs the transition form Juniors to senior player is difficult, particularly after year 12. The typical junior player finishes at this level in Year 11. Making the commitment to senior hockey and doing year 12 is difficult for many and a number of our players either stop playing sport , change to other sports or go to different clubs especially those at university. The club has actively tried to develop year 12 teams with mixed success. These tend to work best where there is as strong core from a single junior team. It should be noted retaining elite State League and Pennant And B players has not been as problematic. The junior section, in particular tries to ensure all teams have equal access to the home ground. This requires regular work with Hockey Victoria, who generally are supportive of our approach. This approach ensures players and parents of the lower grade teams are valued for their contribution and we believe has been vital to maintaining high levels of participation at Camberwell Hockey Club. We believe the strong participation across all ages and sexes provides a good springboard for development of elite players. Our Club has regularly provided players for the state senior and junior teams and the VIS. We believe this approach reflect the objective regarding pathways.
- Recommend the most effective support and recognition for the coaches, officials, umpires, administrators and volunteers who keep our community clubs alive.
Central administrattions must develop targetted programs for supporting club initiatives in umpire, coach nad official development. In particular providing regualr access to trainers nd training sessions at the clubs where possible.
- Examine how relationships between the Commonwealth Government and National Sporting Organisations, State Sporting Organisations and Australia’s peak representative bodies at key multi-sports competitions may be strengthened to deliver better performance outcomes.
No response
5. Identify opportunities to increase and diversify the funding base for sport through corporate sponsorship, media and any recommended reforms, such as enhancing the effectiveness of the Australian Sports Foundation
No response
Page last updated: 27 March, 2009