SDPL recommends that the “player” is central to all developmental needs and aspirations.

The SDPL encapsulates this philosophy by assisting clubs to provide quality experiences for all players.

We have are developing a 3-year strategic plan to support grass roots clubs including the implementation of the Effective Soccer Club Administration, a volunteer strategy, a coach education program.

This information is provided only as a tool to assist your development.

In the continuously changing and fluid environment in which soccer is developed, it is essential to support and equip soccer clubs with the necessary structures and best practices to improve standards and remain sustainable.

This Club Development Manual has been produced in consultation with a number of clubs at different stages of development. It therefore reflects the needs of these clubs and provides guidance to support these needs, including;

• The Future – identifying and planning the way forward for your club.
• Methods for recruiting new players, coaches and volunteers.
• Referees
• Club Administration
• Opportunities to identify and source new methods of funding, including grants.
• Dealing with parents of children involved in your club.
• Child Protection
• Coach Education 

Effective Action Planning

Planning ahead is the easiest way to help any club develop. An Action Plan provides a framework for development that will require the co-operation of all of those within the club. A simple Club Development Plan can also open up potential grant aid opportunities that will allow you to ensure you have the finances to put the plan into action.

In producing a Club Action Plan your club will need to identify:

• What are the aims of the club within the plan?
• What are the objectives of the club within the plan?
• What methods will be used?
• Who will be responsible?
• The time-scales in which objectives can be achieved.
• The financial resources required.

Before your club writes an Action Plan you need to identify:

Where are we now?

Where do we want to be?

How do we get there?

In order for you to ascertain what stage your club is at, have a go at completing the ‘Building a quality Club’ worksheet.  It is advisable to have two or three people involved in producing the plan to ensure it meets the needs of the whole club.  Remember it is a good idea to review your plan on a regular basis but particularly at the end of season. A simple Club Development Plan can also open up potential grant aid opportunities that will allow you to ensure you have the finances to put the plan into action.

• Does your club have a written Mission Statement? _ _ _ _

• Does it make reference to:

• Affiliation _ _ _ _

• Management Committee _ _ _ _

• AGM/Additional Meetings _ _ _ _

• Accounts _ _ _ _

• Membership Procedures _ _ _ _

• Child Protection _ _ _ _

• Code of Conduct _ _ _ _

• Disciplinary Procedures _ _ _ _

• Equity _ _ _ _

• Public Liability Insurance _ _ _ _

• Do you follow the Child Protection Policy, Procedures and Practices? __
• Do you screen volunteers? _ _ _ _
•  Does your club have a Development Plan? _ _ _ _ If yes, does it include?
• Recruitment/retention policy _ _ _ _
• Mini soccer _ _ _ _
• Links with schools _ _ _ _
• Links with boys/girls soccer_ _ _ _
• Staff development programme _ _ _ _
• Development of new teams _ _ _ _
• Exit routes _ _ _ _
• Do you offer at least 5 teams, at a minimum of 4 age groups? _ _
• Is at least one of your managers/coaches qualified to certificate level? _ _ _ _
• Has a representative of your Club completed a Soccer Parent Course? _ _ _ _
• Does your club have a Schools Liaison Officer? _ _ _ _
• Does your club have a Volunteer Co-ordinator? _ _ _ _
• Does your club have a Soccer Development Plan? _ _ _ _Does it include specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, timebound targets against:
• Development of new teams _ _ _ _
• Links to schools _ _ _ _
• Volunteers _ _ _ _
• Coach Education _ _ _ _
• Disability _ _ _ _
• Referee Development _ _ _ _
• In-Service Training _ _ _ _
• Links to clubs _ _ _ _
• Links to professional clubs _ _ _ _
• Communication Plans _ _ _ _