Growing sailing

Growing Sailing

A Framework for Sailing Clubs’ Success in Australia Produced for Club Officials, by Yachting Australia With support from the Australian Sports Commission

Principal Partner

Introduction This Framework is written for anyone with an interest in the future of sailing in Australia, but especially for those who play a role at their club, and aspire to see it prosper.

Sailing has wide appeal to Australians, and international success, but relative to other sports, it has a low level of participation.

Most clubs want to increase this level of participation in sailing, and make sure they retain everyone who participates.

There’s oceans of information and knowledge out there to help clubs; from overseas, other sports, other clubs, and prospective sailors themselves. This resource aims to pull all that knowledge together into a practical Framework for sailing clubs.

If every club official who reads this Framework picks up just one good idea to help their club prosper, it has been a success.

This Framework aims to help clubs achieve this success through

This Framework is presented in four parts. The first provides the rationale for improving what we do. Parts two and three reflect the two perspectives above – sailors and club officials. The fourth section, the appendices, provides some ancillary information and further resources.

Much of what is presented in this resource consolidates what has been prepared, and provided to clubs over the last three years, and is available on the Yachting Australia website under the Education and Participation tabs.

We would like to thank the Australian Sports Commission for both funding support, and facilitating access to expertise and other sports, in developing this Framework.

There’s oceans of information and knowledge out there to help clubs; from overseas, other sports, other clubs, and prospective sailors themselves.

This resource aims to pull all that knowledge together into a practical Framework for sailing clubs.

Yachting Australia’s Sport Development team’s Mission is clear.

“Provide future focused leadership which delivers a sustainable sport, and strong clubs, through success in implementing The Sailing Pathway.”

1. The Sailing Pathway – adopting a sailor’s perspective, from first contact to lifetime involvement.

2. Club Development – a club official’s perspective, on how to build welcoming and vibrant clubs.

A Framework for Sailing Clubs’ Success in Australia | 01

About the Authors The team that have written this Framework established the Sport Development role at Yachting Australia, between 2011 and 2014. Together they have a unique blend of business, sport, academic and sailing, skills and experience.

Nicola Tyre is Education Manager at Yachting Australia and is responsible for elements of The Sailing Pathway up to Level 6, along with the RYA Yacht Training Program and Safety and Sea Survival Courses. Nicola has a vast background in sport development, having worked in various sports across the world. Before joining Yachting Australia in 2012 her immediate past role was General Manager of BMX, at Cycling Australia, where previously she was National Development Coordinator.

Nicola moved to Australia from England in 2008 and prior to the move was with British Cycling as Coach and Education Officer. Nicola is a qualified coach in trampolining, gymnastics, volleyball and cycling. In 2014 Nicola attended the International Long Term Athlete Development Conference in Canada.

Dr Daisy Brooke is Participation Manager at Yachting Australia. With a background working across different sports, Daisy brings sport development expertise and in-depth knowledge to assist clubs to grow and retain participants. Her work in the UK developing strategies, programs, and policies in both high-performance and participation based sport, demonstrates her capacity to build whole-of-sport frameworks.

Career highlights include developing the talent identification program for British Bob-skeleton, delivering Olympic medals at the last 4 Olympic Winter Games, authoring a government White Paper, formulating the player pathway for the Indian Tennis Federation, and developing the Tackers Junior Sailing Program, whilst employed at Yachting Victoria. Daisy holds a PhD in sports development/management and is a chartered sport psychologist.

Ross Kilborn is Sport Development Director at Yachting Australia. Ross has been a club sailor and volunteer for nearly forty years. Prior to Yachting Australia he was CEO of Yachting Victoria for seven years. His previous career was in senior management roles in several industries. He has owned and sailed many types of boat at most levels of The Sailing Pathway. He is a Qualified Club Race Officer and Instructor.

A Framework for Sailing Clubs’ Success in Australia | 03

About Yachting Australia

www.yachting.org.au Yachting Australia is the national sporting organisation (NSO) for sailing, recognised by the Australian Sports Commission.

Its members are the eight state and territory Associations who in turn have around 350 affiliated clubs. In 2014 nearly 70,000 people are registered as on water members of these clubs, and around 5% or 3500 hold some sort of recognised club position or Yachting Australia qualification.

Yachting Australia has two key roles.

Firstly to develop and manage the high performance program, and for which it has generated excellent results and recognition. The second is the development of sailing at clubs – Sport Development. The Sport Development role was established in 2011, thanks to significant funding from the Australian Sports Commission.

Yachting Australia is supported by the Australian Sports Commission.

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Specifically for clubs, Yachting Australia develops programs and policies based on international research, research from other sports and input from State Associations, for use by clubs; with implementation support coming from the State Associations. Historically these programs and policies have focused on the delivery of competition, safety, officiating, and events, to service existing club members.

This Framework consolidates Yachting Australia’s recent work to help clubs grow sailing by attracting and retaining new participants.

Contents Introduction .................................................................................................................... 01

1. The challenge – to improve The changing consumption of Sport in Australia ............................................................ 09 The changing delivery of Sport in Australia ..................................................................... 12 Participation in sailing is not increasing .......................................................................... 12 If we do what we have always done we’ll get what we always got ................................ 13 Wouldn’t it be easier to just increase our media exposure? ........................................... 13

2. The Sailing Pathway – a sailor’s perspective Rationale for the Pathway ............................................................................................... 17 Multiple Sailing Pathways ............................................................................................... 23 Introductory Racing and Green Fleet .............................................................................. 26 Club Coaching ................................................................................................................. 28 Junior and Youth progression and retention ................................................................... 29 Use of The Sailing Pathway by Club Committees .......................................................... 31 The Sailing Pathway for Instructors and Coaches .......................................................... 33 The Sailing Pathway for Race Officials ........................................................................... 36

3. Club Development – for club officials The Discover Sailing Program overview .......................................................................... 39 The Discover Sailing Program – components ................................................................. 40 The Sailing Pathway revisited – for club development .................................................... 52 What about Youth? .......................................................................................................... 57 What about the other demographic groups other than junior and youth? ...................... 60 The quick guide to growing participation at clubs .......................................................... 62 Conclusion ..................................................................................................................... 63

4. Appendices Glossary of Terms ............................................................................................................ 67 Club Benchmarking Tool ................................................................................................. 68 Resource References and Links ...................................................................................... 75 State Office Contact Details .............................................................................................76

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1. The challenge – to improve

1. The challenge – to improve

The challenge - to improve In this section we outline the challenge and the need to improve because of • The changing consumption of Sport in Australia • The changing delivery of Sport in Australia • The stagnant level of participation in sailing • Recognition that if we do what we have always done we will get what we always got Finally we explain why we think that the often proposed solution of just increasing our media exposure is not sufficient.

The changing consumption of sport in Australia The Australian Sports Commission recognise 90 National Sporting Organisations in Australia. Some of these offer multiple disciplines, for example cycling includes track, road, mountain biking, and BMX. There are many more non recognised sports and emerging new sports. There are literally hundreds of choices.

But despite increasing population and this massive choice of sports, fewer Australians are participating in traditional, club-based sport. More people are choosing to play and be active in nonorganised and social forms of sport such as gym workouts, walking and cycling.

The Australian Bureau of Statistics’ Exercise Recreation and Sport Survey (ERASS) data show that between 2001 and 2010 there was a gradual but consistent decline in the number of adults participating in organised sport in Australia. In 2001 adult participation in sport on a weekly basis was approximately 33% of the adult population. This has stagnated, down slightly to 30% in 2010 and is forecast to decline further to around 28% by 2022. A similar decline has occurred in children’s participation.

Between 2001 and 2010 there was a gradual but consistent decline in the number of adults participating in organised sport in Australia.

Participation in non-organised sport is not only bigger, but growing; The Australian Bureau of Statistics research has shown non-organised participation in sport grew over a similar period as the ERASS data, from 50% to 54%.

75%

Olym

70% TOTAL PARTICIPATION RATE

cham 65%

Loca

60%

s

55% 50%

Sport

45% 40% 35% 2001

2002

2003

2004

Organised physical activity

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

Non-organised physical activity

A Framework for Sailing Clubs’ Success in Australia | 09

PE and

The challenge - to improve Declining participation rates in traditional, organised sports demonstrates the need to adapt to this changing environment.

To reverse the trend sports must change the way they offer their products and services to suit the needs of the modern Australian consumer.

The Top 10 sports in participation numbers from the ERASS Survey 2011-12, published in December 2012 were Sport

000 Participants

Walking

4258

Gym/Fitness

3089

Swimming

1401

Cycling

1366

Jogging

1360

Golf

860

Tennis

750

Soccer – outdoor

489

Netball

410

Bushwalking

436

Sailing ranked 48th with 68,000 participants, just below skateboarding, aqua aerobics, and motor sport, and just ahead of tenpin bowling, athletics and scuba diving.

The Future of Australian Sport identified that our demographics are changing with an ageing population and different migration patterns. This research also highlighted the growing diversity of physical activity and recreation opportunities through the increase in popularity of ‘extreme’, often individual sports, such as freestyle BMX, skateboarding, kite surfing and snowboarding. The Future of Australian Sport also identified that a large number of Australians are seeking “personalised” sport for health and fitness reasons. The desire for flexible participation opportunities means people are fitting physical activity into their increasingly busy and timefragmented lifestyles to achieve personal health objectives. Participation rates in aerobics, running and walking, along with gym memberships, have all risen sharply over the past decade.

(Details of the Future of Australian Sport Research are on the Yachting Australia website under the Participation tab or at www.ausport.gov. au/information/ nsr/the_future_of_ australian_sport

In 2012 the Australian Sports Commission partnered the CSIRO to conduct research into The Future of Australian Sport.

The research identified six major trends – the Megatrends.

Trend

Explanation

1. A perfect fit

A trend to personalised sport for health & fitness

2. From extreme

The rise of lifestyle sports e.g. kiteboarding

3. Everybody’s game

Demographic, generational and cultural change

4. New wealth new development

Economic growth and sport development in existing and new countries and emerging communities

5. Tracksuits to business suits

Market pressures and new business models

6. More than sport

The attainment of health and community wellbeing and even overseas aid

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The challenge - to improve The ASC’s Market Segmentation Research, also released in 2012, explains that people now want to play sport in different ways than the traditional offerings. Much of what is currently delivered focuses on competition and performance within rigid schedules.

Sports clubs are viewed by many people as being exclusive or ‘elitist’; there is a perception that they are only interested in more competent participants that are better performers.

There is a need for more flexible sport participation offerings that focus on enjoyment and socialising. More people are now looking to access facilities and programs at times that suit them, and in a less structured environment, that is focused on what they, as the customer, want rather than what a typical traditional club is willing or capable of providing.

The research has uncovered many of the underlying reasons for the decline in traditional, organised forms of sport.

The research also confirmed that Australians are increasingly becoming time-poor and, for many, more restricted in terms of budget. There is much greater competition from other recreational activities than ever before and, as a result, families are faced with a wide range of choice to spend their discretionary time and finances.

Traditional club-based sport does continue to have a role to play because, as the ASC’s Market Segmentation research showed, over 60% of the people currently playing sport in traditional clubs really value the traditional approach. However to get more people playing sport (and retain more of the ones that are in clubs now) other approaches, formats and schedules need to be offered to meet the changing demands of consumers.

Details of the ASC Market Segmentation Research are also on the Yachting Australia website under the Participation tab and are at www.ausport.gov.au/ information/nsr/market_segmentation

There is a need for more flexible sport participation offerings that focus on enjoyment and socialising.

There is a remarkable consistency in the gemba outcomes for sailing to the ASC/CSIRO Future of Sport – Megatrends Report and the ASC Market Segmentation Research into all sports.

In 2011, the Australian Sports Commission contracted gemba, a major sports and entertainment research and marketing company, to research the trends, drivers and barriers to sailing.

The details of this research are explained in more detail in the third section of this Framework and in full on the Yachting Australia website, under the Participation tab. But there is a remarkable consistency in the gemba Report outcomes for sailing, to the ASC/CSIRO Future of Sport – Megatrends Report and the ASC Market Segmentation Research into all sports.

Sailing is experiencing the same changes as all sports. So it’s about how we can adapt faster than other sports to these changing consumer expectations.

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The challenge - to improve The delivery of sport is also changing

Just as the professionalism of sports clubs is changing, so is the nature of the professionals working in sport.

Since 2000 sailing’s participation has been stagnant despite a growth of 30% in the Australian population.

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Whilst the role of volunteers in the delivery of community sport is fundamental, increasingly the people who are managing and delivering it, are becoming professional. This is evident in sailing with an increasing number of clubs employing managers and part time administrators, instructors and coaches.

Around half of the 70,000 sailing club members in Australia belong to the top 35 clubs, all of whom have professional staff.

Increasingly Instructors and Coaches are paid positions, requiring formal qualifications and ongoing professional development. To compete sailing needs to offer engaging development opportunities to all its volunteers, officials and especially young people, including vocational pathways.

Just as the professionalism of sports clubs is changing, so is the nature of the professionals working in sport. There are at least twelve universities in Australia offering a degree level course in sport, including sport management, development and sport science. The new profession of Sport Development, has emerged in the last twenty years and offers long term careers to young people with experience in multiple sports, multiple countries and exposure to international best practice in the research into, and delivery of sport. Sports are actively competing to attract the best of these long term sports professionals, along with people with successful marketing and business careers. Sailing, especially the peak bodies, needs to compete by attracting, developing, and retaining such skilled and experienced staff.

Participation in sailing is not increasing at the same rate as our population Sailing is not exempt from the changes impacting on the consumption and delivery of Australian sport.

Long-time Australian sailors recognise the decline of fleet sizes at normal weekend club races, over the last generation. This is especially true for many off the beach clubs. Some clubs are bucking that tide, as are some forms of sailing such as twilight sailing. This is consistent with the trends outlined above.

This is not just an Australia phenomena.

Many Australian sailors will have read Nicholas Hayes book ‘Saving Sailing’.

It provides some chilling statistics on participation in sailing in the USA over the last generation, and some interesting ideas about how to reverse the trend.

There’s also a website for those interested to know more www.savingsailing.com There is not a lot of detailed statistics to exactly quantify the changes in sailing’s participation. The peak bodies, Yachting Australia and State Associations, have limited data prior to 2000, and very few clubs have good records going back that far. But overall the ABS ERASS Survey tells us that since 2000 sailing’s participation has been stagnant despite a growth of 30% in the Australian population.

The challenge - to improve If you do what you have always done, you’ll get what you always got Many club officials have strong credentials and careers in business and professions, all of which are important to successfully run a club.

But many come to their roles with limited sports experience, outside sailing, and even less knowledge of professional sports management and development.

So when it comes to managing the development of sailing within their club their experience and knowledge is less extensive; and there is a tendency to rely on personal experience, and revert to the way they were introduced to, and developed in sailing. Where this is delivering successful results it should be encouraged and recognised.

But this Framework is designed to help Club Officials, who are not enjoying the level of success with their club, that they aspire to. It aims to help them understand current sport development thinking, and apply it within their club. It provides some insights into ways of doing things, and changes that will help buck the overall sports trend of declining participation in organised sports. These insights are drawn from overseas, other sports and successful clubs.

Importantly this Framework sets out to NOT increase the burden and workload on volunteer club officials, but rather provide the insights and tools, that will make their valuable investment of time, more effective.

Wouldn’t sailing do better if we just increased the media presence and profile?

Success at the Olympics, and the America’s Cup have raised sailing’s profile in the media and with the public. But converting this to a sustained increase in participation and club membership is more problematic. The increase in sailing’s media profile has generally been across all media – everything from our main media like TV and papers, through to online and social media.

This Framework is designed to help Club Officials, who are not enjoying the level of success with their club, that they aspire to.

We have very little data to demonstrate that increased media profile has increased new participation, but there is enough from other sports to suggest success, and role models, in particular, can help. It is certainly important in engaging existing sailors.

But is national media, including increased social media, the most effective way to achieve an increase in participation? We argue not. We are not saying this is not important, and it will not help. But we think there are more effective priorities.

1. We already attract a lot of people to sailing, but it’s like there is a hole in the bucket. As quickly as we pour new participants in there is leakage out the bottom. We know from the gemba research that sailing is right up there as a sport that Australians would like to try.

We also know that we have over 10,000 people a year in a recognised introductory sailing experience or courses. And who knows how many thousands more outside these recognised programs.

Both the anecdotal feedback from clubs, and the statistics tell us most don’t continue and stay. That’s what The Sailing Pathway (Section 2) can help us change. If we simply retained half these registered participants we’d be growing by nearly 10% per year.

If we simply retained half these registered participants we’d be growing by nearly 10% per year.

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The challenge - to improve

So if we are successful in generating increased media profile, and if our local marketing works and we achieve the objective of having interested people visit a club, we need to be confident about the reception they will receive, and their introduction and retention on The Sailing Pathway.

That is what Discover Sailing is all about.

2. Sailing is already seen as an attractive sport by most Australians. So why don’t we have a lot more people knocking on clubs’ doors? We think there’s two reasons

Summary

• Most Australians live too far from a club to see sailing as convenient.

Analysis of club membership suggests that most people live, or holiday within about 30 minutes’ drive of their club.

Sure many travel much further. But in a time poor world it makes sense that with limited resources for marketing, the focus should be for people in the vicinity of water and the club. Where they live is hard to change. So local marketing rather than main media is likely to be more effective.

• The changing consumption of Sport in Australia

• Most people who live close enough to a club to be in our target, do not see it as welcoming, and open to new members. Importantly they do not know how to enquire, or have the confidence to do so. That’s also part of what gemba told us. It is what we can change. That’s what Club Development (Section 3 of this Framework) is all about.

So if we are successful in generating increased media profile, and if our local marketing works, and we achieve the objective of having interested people visit a club, we need to be confident about the reception they will receive, and their introduction and retention on The Sailing Pathway. That’s what Discover Sailing is all about.

In this section we have outlined the challenges sport and sailing is facing and the need to improve

• The changing delivery of Sport in Australia • That participation in sailing is not increasing • Why we need to do different things to what we have always done • Why it wouldn’t be easier to just increase our media exposure Whether it’s just because you want your club to do better, or whether it’s because you appreciate some of the thoughts outlined in this section, we hope you think there’s good reason to read the rest of this Framework. It’s about how The Sailing Pathway can be used to attract and retain sailors, and how clubs can develop to become more welcoming and vibrant. We think these are the two most important factors for your club to consider for its future participation and membership growth.

A yacht club that offers fun for everyone, 7 days a week, with no membership requirements and visitors welcome (it’s not actually a yacht club)

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2. The Sailing Pathway – a sailor’s perspective

2. The Sailing Pathway – a sailor’s perspective

The Sailing Pathway – a sailor’s perspective In this section we outline

Rationale for The Sailing Pathway

• Rationale for the Sailing Pathway and what it is

Pathways in sport and recreation have been around for years. Think of the coloured belt system in martial arts, or the grading system in music. Yachting Australia has had a well-established pathway for its development and high performance program for many years.

Sailors could clearly see the skills they required to progress to the next step and what lay beyond it. At the introductory level, the concept of progressive steps of learn to sail courses has also been widely deployed for many years. But let’s bring it all together.

• That we have multiple Sailing Pathways • Introductory Racing and Green Fleet • Club Coaching • Junior and Youth progression and retention • Use of The Sailing Pathway by Club Committees • The Sailing Pathway for Instructors and Coaches • The Sailing Pathway for Race Officials This section is equally applicable to new participants and existing members, to young and old sailors, to dinghies and keelboats, and people of all abilities.

The Sailing Pathway is our best way to be customer centric – to see things from the customer or sailor’s perspective.

Like most of the content of this Framework, to most club officials it will make common sense, and probably reflect their own experiences. It provides a more structured and importantly, a common framework, to help new sailors progress in sailing, and clubs to deliver the sailing steps that will best retain them.

Since the early 1990s, with the increasing professionalism of sport, the concepts of long term participation and sport development have been extensively researched, and successfully implemented around the world. The concept of Long Term Athlete (or in our case let’s call it Sailor) Development is all about nurturing juniors into participants for life, whether it be as recreational club sailors or as high performers.

The Sailing Pathway provides a more structured and importantly, a common framework, to help new sailors progress in sailing, and clubs to deliver the sailing steps that will best retain them.

The Sailing Pathway is not just about developing elite athletes, it is about retaining participants of all abilities and backgrounds and providing the best opportunities and experiences for these participants to develop and to reach their individual potential.

Long Term Athlete (Sailor) Development has been adopted as the backbone of sport. Just like teachers start with addition and subtraction and basic math facts before they move to algebra before they move to calculus… or music students start with a recorder before they move to a more advanced instrument before they join the symphony. In countries like Canada it is a pillar of Government support of national sporting organisations.

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The Sailing Pathway – a sailor’s perspective

This participation pyramid is no longer widely used, and the Long Term Athlete (Sailor) Development Framework presents it more appropriately as a rectangle that sets out to retain everyone – for life.

Traditionally sport has presented a participation pyramid where sports had a wide base at the bottom of participation, in the hope that the more participants coming in, the more that should reach the tip of the pyramid at the elite level of performance. So what happened to all of the participants who do not want to compete at the elite level?

This participation pyramid is no longer widely used, and the Long Term Athlete (Sailor) Development Framework presents it more appropriately as a rectangle, that sets out to retain everyone – for life.

Yachting Australia’s Sailing Pathway is consistent with this Framework.

It provides ten steps from the initial introduction to the Australian Sailing Team. Of course for most club sailors only levels 1 to 6 are relevant and they represent the body of the rectangle.

Importantly the whole long term sailor development approach is based on attracting lots of young kids and developing them appropriately to maximise their long term participation in sport.

The Long Term Athlete (Sailor) Development Pathway presented in this rectangle reflects seven life stages of participation, where elite performance only forms part of the Framework.

Most importantly, every participant is valued as an individual and assisted in ongoing participation at a level most appropriate to them.

Olympic, Paralympic and Commonwealth Games, World, European and Commonwealth ELITE championships and international competitions Local and regional coaching and training, local and regional competitions, sports clubs and interclub leagues

Sports clubs and leisure centres

PE and recreational sports

PERFORMANCE

PARTICIPATION

FOUNDATION

For more information see – Sporting Pyramid, Tanglin Trust School, Senior Library libguides.tts.edu.sg/content.php?pid=436681&sid=3899999

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The Sailing Pathway – a sailor’s perspective The Long Term Athlete (Sailor) Development

Development & High Performance

Club Sailors & Officials Seniors

PHYSICAL LITERACY

FUNdamentals Active Start

FIRST CONTACT

Life Learn to Train

REMEDIAL PHYSICAL LITERACY

Life

for

Train to Train

Disco Sail Progr

ASC / CSIRO Future Trends in Sport AWARENESS

for

ive

EXCELLENCE

Fit

Train to Compete

etit

mp

Co Train to Win

HEALTH OF THE NATION

Active for Life

Infants Long Term Athlete Development 2.0, Canadian Sport for Life (2014) – See www.ltad.ca

7 15 32

Young kids – development of general movement skills in multiple sports and unstructured play

FUNdamentals

Overall movement skills with more structured fun based programs in multiple sports

Learning to Train

Major skills development, in several sports

Training to Train

Fitness development and talent identification

ON OF AUSTRALIAN POPULATION BY AGE

77%

Active Start

100% 90% 80%

Training to Compete Sports specific conditioning and specialisation 70% 60%

Training to Win

Peak performance

Active for Life

Fit and active for life, perhaps competitively, perhaps as an official

50% 40% 30%

A Framework for Sailing Clubs’ Success in Australia | 19

46

20% 10%

ASC S Segmen

The Sailing Pathway – a sailor’s perspective What happens if we embrace The Sailing Pathway?

Long term pathways adopted and implemented successfully deliver positive effects on the progress of participants and sport as a whole.

The table below outlines some of the shortcomings and consequences of programs being developed, but not considering the pathway or the individual.

It is important that we all learn from these and ensure we are providing the best Sailing Pathway possible.

Shortcomings

Consequences

• Too much emphasis is placed on results and competing

• Poor habits developed from over emphasis on competition and a focus on winning

• Adult training and competition programs are enforced on young developing participants

• Children not having fun as they play adult-based programs

• Programs designed for male participants are enforced on female participants • Preparation is geared to the short-term outcome – winning – and not to the process of developing the participant • Fundamental skills are not taught properly • Parents are not educated about the pathway • The developmental training needs of participants with varied abilities are not well understood • In most sports, the competition system interferes with participant development • Sports encourage participants to specialise too early in an attempt to attract and retain participants

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• A lack of systematic development in participants • High levels of drop out from the programs and sailing as a whole • Low participant and membership retention • Low junior membership numbers • Decreasing volunteer numbers affecting clubs’ ability to implement key functions • Participants pulled in different directions by school, club and state teams because of the structure of competition programs • Remedial programs, implemented by state and national team coaches, to counteract the shortcomings of participant preparation • Participants failing to reach their genetic potential and optimal performance level

The Sailing Pathway – a sailor’s perspective Yachting Australia’s Sailing Pathway Yachting Australia’s Sailing Pathway has ten clear steps that can be broadly grouped into • Learning to sail (steps 1-3) •C lub and Class racing and recreational sailing (steps 4-6) •D evelopment and High Performance (steps 7-10) We are not saying that The Sailing Pathway is an absolute literal and linear pathway.

New sailors may choose to step on and off it, or skip steps, as they feel confident and as their newly developed skills will allow. The Sailing Pathway provides a consistent and recognisable set of steps to new sailors, that enables them to progressively build the skills and confidence they need, over a period of time of their choosing. For that reason we are recommending it to all new sailors and clubs.

(Step 0: Discover Sailing Day or Experience) A visit to a club for a Discover Sailing Day or a Discover Sailing Experience.

Step 1: Start Sailing The first level of sailing, usually the Yachting Australia Learn to Sail Dinghy, or Keelboat Program (Start Crewing and Start Helming courses). Courses involve a syllabus and set number of hours, and are run by qualified instructors, at clubs that are accredited Discover Sailing Centres.

It delivers a basic level of understanding of sailing.

Step 2: Better Sailing The Yachting Australia Dinghy – Better Sailing course, or the Yachting Australia Start Skippering course in Keelboats. This level builds further skills and confidence.

The Sailing Pathway provides a consistent and recognisable set of steps to new sailors, that enables them to progressively build the skills and confidence they need, over a period of time of their choosing.

Step 3: Start Racing For people wanting to become competent sailors, this provides the more advanced skills. It is also the desirable prerequisite to progressing into racing. It’s usually called Learn to Race – Dinghy, or the Keelboat Start Racing and Spinnakers courses.

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The Sailing Pathway – a sailor’s perspective Step 4: Introductory Racing Sailing in simplified races, using the ISAF Introductory Rules, where the emphasis is on practicing skills, and social enjoyment, rather than outright competition. For kids it’s usually called “Green Fleet” and for adults in Dinghies and Keelboats it’s more social racing, and shorter races, often with pursuit starts and no use of spinnakers (often conducted in twilight sailing). Modified rules may also be used to assist people of all-abilities build confidence for racing.

Step 5: Club Racing The core activity of most clubs, conducted under the International Rules of Racing.

Once sailors have attained this level of skill they can choose from many options, including enjoying a lifetime of recreational sailing. Sailors with this level of skill can also be more confident about their ability to go sailing away from their club, undertake the specialised disciplines of Teams and Match Racing, or progress to higher levels of fleet racing. It’s the level most people decide whether to buy a boat or to crew.

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Step 6: Club Coaching and Interclub Racing Sailors wanting to progress to the front of their club fleet will normally participate in their club coaching program, run by qualified Club Coaches. They will enter class championships and large regattas away from their club. Coaching programs tailored to the needs of individual sailors are applicable to both dinghies and keelboats.

Beyond Level 6 Once sailors have acquired the skills required to sail well at level 5, there are a variety of pathways including national and International Competition, offshore racing or cruising in keelboats, Officiating as either an Instructor or Race Official, or vocational training and employment on one of these pathways.

The Sailing Pathway – a sailor’s perspective Multiple Sailing Pathways Yachting Australia presents four versions of The Sailing Pathway.

The first six steps, to the level of club based coaching, are the same in all versions. The logic for this is that a sailor who has progressed to level 6, and had a club coach enhance the skills they have learnt in the early steps, and practiced in level 4 Introductory Racing, and level 5 Club Racing, is likely to have a skill level to go anywhere on the pathway in the future. The club coach may correct some ill learned skills, or fill in some gaps, but importantly they will deliver the sailor confidence in their sailing ability. If the sailor then elects for a life of recreational sailing they are likely to be more fulfilled than frustrated.

1. The Sailing Pathway This is the generic version clearly identifying the first six steps undertaken at clubs, presented and explained above.

It illustrates that once someone has attained a competent level of sailing skill, they can progress in a variety of directions, officiating, vocational employment, offshore racing, cruising, or pursue national and international racing success.

2. The Youth and Recreational Pathway is for juniors and youth who may not want to pursue the Development and High Performance Pathway. This diagram illustrates the variety of the types of boats they can progress to, including the opportunity to crew for someone else.

It equally applies to adults in dinghies.

It could involve club racing or just recreational sailing. We talk more about this in Section 3 – Youth Retention.

Yachting Australia presents four versions of The Sailing Pathway.

The first six steps, to the level of club based coaching, are the same in all versions.

Youth Recreational Sailing Pathways High Performance

Kiteboards

Windsurfing

Single Handed Catamarans Dinghy

Double Handed Dinghy

Crewing State & National Class Racing

Teams & Match Racing

Step Social Sailing

Step

4

Step

3

Introductory Racing Start Racing

Cruising

International Racing

5

Step

6

Club Coaching & Interclub Racing

Club Racing Step

2

Better Sailing

Club Sailing

Step

1

Start Sailing

Youth/Recreational

Sailings’ Pathways

A Framework for Sailing Clubs’ Success in Australia | 23

The Sailing Pathway – a sailor’s perspective 3. The Development and High Performance Pathway is especially relevant to aspiring young sailors. In this version the well understood steps into State Development Programs through to the Australian Sailing Team are illustrated. They are explained in detail in Yachting Australia’s Youth Development Guidelines which can be found on the Yachting Australia website under the Participation tab / Pathways www.yachting.org.au/participation/sailingpathways/youth-development-and-highperformance-pathway

Step 7: State Development (or Emerging Talent) Squads For youth sailors wanting to progress to the highest level of competition, in the international classes, State development programs coach them, and support their campaign to be selected in a State High Performance Squad.

Step 8: State High Performance Squad For youth sailors, who have made it to the level of the State Sports Institute programs.

Step 9: Australian Sailing Squad and The Australian Youth Team for sailors identified with potential to attain the Australian Sailing Team.

Step 10: The Australian Sailing Team The ultimate achievement – Australian Institute of Sport and Olympic Team selection.

Step

Youth Development Pathway

10 Step

Australian Sailing Team

9 Step

8 Step

Australian Sailing Squad

State High Performance Squad

Cruising Social Sailing

7

International Class Racing

State Development Squads Step

5

State & National Class Racing

Step

6

Teams & Match Racing

Club Coaching & Interclub Racing

Club Racing Step

4

Introductory Racing

Step

3

Step

Start Racing

Better Sailing

2

Club Sailing

24 | Yachting Australia

Step

1

Start Sailing

Sailing Pathways

The Sailing Pathway – a sailor’s perspective 4. The Officiating Pathway Aims to illustrate in one page the diversity of opportunities that exist for people to be involved in sailing, whether that be Instructing, Coaching or Race Officiating.

Each of these disciplines offer their own pathway • Instructors can progress from an assistant in the Dinghy Program, through to instructing in introductory sailing skills in either Dinghies or Keelboats, and moving onto the more advanced sailing skills required at the start racing level.

They can further progress, with their own sailing success to club coaching.

• Club Coaches have the opportunity to progress to the High Performance Coaching Program.

• Race Officials can progress from Club, to State, to National and International levels in one of the disciplines of Race Official, Measurer, Judge or Umpire.

COACHING

INSTRUC TING

High Performance Coach

Chief Instructor

Each of Instructors, Coaches and Race Officials, operate at different levels of the Sailing Pathway • Instructors deliver courses at introductory steps 1-3, and ideally will be involved in supporting Introductory Racing & Green Fleet. They also deliver the Discover Sailing Experience at Step 0.

• Coaches commence at the mid-level.

Step 6, Club Coaching, and can progress through high performance coaching at levels 7-10.

• Race Officials deliver Step 5, Club Racing and above, but also have a role to play with the Introductory Rules and Racing at Step 4.

For more information about Sailing Pathways look on the Yachting Australia website under the Participation tab.

Level

10

RYA – Yachting Australia

High Performance Coach High Performance Coach

Yacht Training Program

Senior Instructor

Level

9

8

Level

7

Level

Safety & Sea Survival

Club Coach

6

Level

5

Level

Tackers Instructor

INSTRUC TOR

Start Racing

Safety Boat

Start Racing

Level

Better Sailing

Power Boat Handling

Skipper

Level

Start Sailing

Start Power Boating

Crewing and Helming

Level

Dinghy Program

Power Boat Program

Keel Boat Program

Power Boat Handling

International

Level

4

State and National Judges Umpire Measurers Club Race Officer

3

2 1

Race Officiating

First Aid

Assistant Instructor

Officiating Pathways A Framework for Sailing Clubs’ Success in Australia | 25

The Sailing Pathway – a sailor’s perspective The first three steps – learning to sail The first three steps of The Sailing Pathway are courses, and these are generally well understood. We talk more about these in section 3. Suffice to say here that we can do a much better job of progressing people from Step 1 Start Sailing to Step 2 Better Sailing and Step 3 Start Racing (really the more advanced skills). But in this section we just want to talk more about Steps 4 and 6 which present significant opportunities for improvement.

Introductory Racing and Green Fleet – Step 4 Introductory Racing applies to adults and juniors. Let’s talk about juniors first.

Green Fleet is the transitionary step between the top of the learn to sail programs – learn to race, and ongoing participation in club racing, or other forms of club based sailing participation.

26 | Yachting Australia

Retention of juniors in sailing is all about them having fun with friends (even more so than adults), rather than competition.

It’s about a clear pathway that progresses their skills and builds their confidence about when to take the next step. Green Fleet provides that step, between learning to sail and race, and club racing or ongoing recreational sailing.

Green Fleet is a combination of games/fun based sailing and “novice” racing.

For example some time might be spent sailing around a fixed mark or to a destination (e.g. a small island, or a beach) and some time might be spent sailing around a triangular course.

The participants should ideally be in a group of 8-12 with each participant in their own boat. This group size is important because like in the junior program, any lesser number is not likely to provide the social fun to sustain most kids’ interest, and a larger group dissipates individual attention. Participants should also be about the same level of ability so that less skilled are not overwhelmed and more skilled are not bored. It’s recommended that kids participate in Green Fleet for up to 2 seasons before deciding if they want to participate in structured social sailing, club racing, or a combination of both.

Sessions for Green Fleet should be a maximum of 2.5 hours and 60% of the session should be based around games.

Off the water, Green Fleet should include social engagement with kids and parents that encourages their involvement in the club.

Green Fleet is a club based junior (primary school age) sailing activity, for kids who have completed the Tackers Program (all 3 levels) or a similar junior learn to sail program. It’s Level 4 on Yachting Australia’s Sailing Pathway, above Step 3 Learn to Race and below Step 5, Club Racing.

Any course racing should be short, probably around 20 minutes is the ideal time for any novice race for juniors.

Some starts might be “off the beach” or other novelty approaches, and some might be from a boat /line on the water.

Similarly finishes.

Primary school age juniors are more likely to enjoy, and be retained in sport, if it is less competitive and more fun/games based and social. Most other sports used modified rules at this stage before progressing to the adult rules at the youth (secondary school) age group. That’s what Green Fleet does.

Active coaching is encouraged – either by an instructor or by a Club Coach.

As Green Fleet is more likely to be supervised by an Instructor rather than a Race Official, the Instructor should be helping the sailors enjoy the experience and improve their skills. The more outside assistance and support the better!

The Sailing Pathway – a sailor’s perspective Introductory Rules, sometimes called simplified or modified rules in other sports, are a simplified set of Sailing Rules. ISAF recognise the importance of this, and have published a set of Introductory Rules.

They appear at www.sailing.org/25249.php.

It’s the ISAF Introductory Rules that should be used in any Green Fleet Introductory Racing. Basically give way to the right, and don’t run into anyone, especially from behind.

The Blue Book and the Racing Rules of Sailing should not be introduced at Green Fleet Level. They only become relevant at the Club Racing Level. Avoid Green Fleet being conducted on the same Race Course as club racing. It’s OK to be in the vicinity, but generally the course will be much shorter, smaller and closer to shore. It will use different marks to avoid interaction with other racing boats.

For Green Fleet, using the boats the kids have learnt their sailing in, is encouraged.

So if that is an OziOpti, continue to use it. Parents should not be expected to buy boats at this level, clubs should be still supplying the boats. If kids want to try other boats, that’s good, and if parents want to buy boats that is OK, but at this level they should be strictly one design.

Kids can progress to other boats, at the club racing level, and even then clubs are encouraged to have boats for kids whose parents do not wish to purchase. Leasing arrangements for a season or a session are great ways to provide boats for parents who can’t commit to buying a boat. A fee for service approach ensures the club has the necessary funds to renew and grow their fleet of club-owned boats.

Green Fleet is different to Tackers Fleet. Green Fleet is for kids who have completed Tackers 3 and want to practice and progress their sailing skills into club racing. Tackers Fleet is the practice and

play sessions that kids might do whilst they are in the Tackers Program (or the equivalent club junior program), or between the levels of the Tackers Program.

The most important thing about Green Fleet is that kids have come out of programs that are based on fun and games based learning. That is what has retained them.

So Green Fleet should be based on this principle rather than competition. That does not mean that kids don’t want to see who can go fastest and win. But it does mean the emphasis is on participation, encouragement and fun – NOT results.

Like all steps on the pathway, Green Fleet is about ensuring that all kids have such a great time and build their confidence and skills to want to progress to the next level – Club Racing – Step 5.

It’s important to remember that kids participating in Green Fleet are likely to also be involved in several other sports.

Offering a great quality Green Fleet program will ensure sailing becomes the sport of choice for participants as they progress. Season-long programs are substantial time commitment for kids and parents. By having Green Fleet programs that run for 6-8 weeks (or as holiday programs), clubs can open up more options for kids on busy sport and school schedules.

For more information about Green Fleet including an entertaining brief video, look on the Yachting Australia website under the Participation tab. You will also find there a series of videos displaying on water games that can be played to develop sailing skills.

We talk more about Introductory Racing for adults in section three. But think social and twilight racing with pursuit starts and no extras; many clubs are already doing it successfully.

A Framework for Sailing Clubs’ Success in Australia | 27

The Sailing Pathway – a sailor’s perspective Club Coaching – Step 6

Think golf or tennis club coaches.

In most sports the club coach is as fundamental as the club rooms and facilities. Increasingly in sailing, coaches are being used by sailors interested in their own development. But the idea of a club having a “Club Coach” who is available to assist all sailors to progress their skills is not yet widespread. Think golf or tennis club coaches.

Sailing, because of the high degree of technical skills required at the introductory levels, requires a significant amount of instruction at the lower pathway levels.

This instruction in basic skills and techniques, is more efficiently delivered in groups. Hence the term Instructor is applicable at Steps 1 to 3, and the Yachting Australia Instructor Qualification delivers the required skills for this.

On the Sailing Development and High Performance Pathway, the role of Coaches is also well recognised as critical to success on pathway Steps 7-10. This is the domain of the Yachting Australia High Performance Coaching Program.

But between the two, the role of Club Coach is important to all the sailors who enter into club racing, and aspire to win, or race successfully away from their club. Club coaching is about tailoring the skill development to the needs of the individuals, though it may well be conducted in small groups. This is the role of the Yachting Australia Club Coach Qualification. The prerequisite for this is a successful racing background and a likelihood of having been an Instructor – Racing – Step 3.

28 | Yachting Australia

Beyond the skill development benefits of a coach, participants find having an individual who is responsible for structuring their participation and development appealing. Like other sport and leisure options, having a key contact or person at the club assists in building social connection and increases the likelihood of people participating regularly.

The popularity of personal trainers is largely a consequence of people wanting someone to help them. Just like personal trainers, club coaches can work on a fee for service basis with small groups of participants or one-to-one. Usually the Club Coach is paid for their service, though they may choose to be a volunteer.

For more information about Club Coaching look on the Yachting Australia website under the Education tab.

The Sailing Pathway – a sailor’s perspective Junior and Youth progression on the pathway In most sports the highest rates of attrition coincide with the end of • Primary school A lot of attrition at this level is due to the selection of “preferred sports” by kids who have been rightly encouraged to participate in many sports up to this age.

Accordingly this presents all sports with the opportunity to be more successful in retention by identifying the factors that best attract and retain juniors.

2. Fitness – and this increases to become the most important from the young adult age.

3. Relaxation – is the third most important for youth and this gradually increases with age, especially from the stage of young adult.

4. Competition – this is consistently the lowest of the four factors across all age groups, and declines with age.

It’s therefore important to tackle drop out at the first point, and focus primarily on successfully retaining juniors as they transition from primary school to secondary school.

• Secondary school A lot of attrition at this level is out of all organised sport so this is a harder problem for an individual sport to reverse. Other entertainment options surpass sport. At this age school work load increases and in the later years of secondary school, young people take on part-time jobs at the weekend or after-school.

It’s therefore important to tackle drop out at the first point, and focus primarily on successfully retaining juniors as they transition from primary school to secondary school.

Of course there is also attrition between these two high drop out points, but this is likely to be for the reasons outlined below.

So what influences progression and retention of juniors to youth? The gemba Report, not surprisingly, is consistent with other sports research, in identifying the key motivations for youth to be involved in sport are, in order 1. Social Interaction – is by far the most important for juniors, and is still so for youth. The leadership of the coach is critical in providing this social engagement.

Looking specifically at sailing, the influences on ongoing participation of juniors and youth that clubs may consider are 1. Social engagement and interaction How welcoming is the club facility and environment to juniors and youth?

How does the club support social engagement for this group? Is there the opportunity to participate and sail with friends? Is it cool?

A Framework for Sailing Clubs’ Success in Australia | 29

The Sailing Pathway – a sailor’s perspective 2. Cost It is important, especially for non sailing families. How does the club mitigate the cost of sailing? Does the club offer – concessional membership fees for juniors and youth, and their families, especially non sailing families?

– club boats for ongoing use? Either free or for an ongoing fee for lease?

– scholarships for ongoing coaching support and programs?

– grants for travel costs to major events?

–o pportunities for young people to become qualified and paid assistant instructors or instructors?

3. The availability of appropriate pathway steps at the club Does the club have a Green Fleet and a Club Coaching Program to nurture sailors at levels 4 and 6? Are the Instructors (Level 4) and Club Coaches (Level 6) who support them at this level able to inspire and encourage them?

The young sailor should not need to travel away from their club to receive this coaching support. If they do, their social engagement with friends and the club may be broken. The majority of youth should have their coaching needs fulfilled at their club, with only the small minority who make it to the State Development Squad needing to travel elsewhere.

30 | Yachting Australia

4. Time commitment Does the club offer an after school time or alternative to weekly club activity, for example fortnightly sessions. Just having the flexibility of options in the club’s activity will give participants a greater sense of being able to choose how much time they can commit.

As with introductory levels of The Sailing Pathway, providing participants with people to sail with who have about the same level of ability and experience is important. This relies on the club having enough participants to suitably match people. Youth sailors experience drops in confidence in teenage years and are prone to drop out if they don’t have people of the same level as them to participate with.

There are other opportunities that sailing offers that encourage youth retention • Teams Racing, which offers the social interaction youth are seeking.

• Vocational pathways, starting from the role of an Assistant Instructor in either the Dinghy or Tackers Program. This can start as a part time school holiday role, extend through university and ultimately provide a career in the sailing industry.

We talk a lot more about Youth Retention in Section 3 – Club Development – so keep reading.

The Sailing Pathway – a sailor’s perspective The Sailing Pathway for Club Committees So how is this all relevant to club officials?

Most club officials will talk about the high drop out of people who visit their club for their initial experience or learn to sail course, and who don’t pursue their initial interest in sailing. Yachting Australia’s data tells us that of people who do an introductory Learn to Sail Program, in either a dinghy or a keelboat, less than 10% progress to level 2, the intermediate level and a similar number to level 3 – the skills to participate in a social race or be a competent sailor.

This attrition continues all the way up The Sailing Pathway and presents our greatest opportunity for growth – simply retaining everyone who participates.

Attrition could be for many reasons, and with improving information technology Yachting Australia is likely to conduct formal research into this attrition in the near future. But, in addition to the insights above, we think some reasons and some likely solutions might be 1. Clubs don’t offer the progressive steps necessary to meet the progressive development needs of new sailors.

For example there is no learn to sail course beyond the introductory level, or no social racing as a step to club racing, or no club coaching to help iron out the demotivating shortcomings in skill that contribute to attrition.

2. The Sailing Pathway is not clear to participants. New participants can’t easily see what the next steps are.

They don’t understand that sailing is a sport for life and offers a life time of learning opportunities. They don’t need to master it in the first few weeks.

They can’t see the progressive skill development that will deliver the satisfaction they are seeking as they improve.

3. Clubs compound the lack of the visibility of the pathway, or their shortcomings in providing it, by holding an expectation that someone who has done an introductory course is ready, or wants to go club racing. Whilst this deep water immersion theory might work for some people and may have worked for you in the past, it’s not the way for most people.

Attrition continues all the way up The Sailing Pathway and presents our greatest opportunity for growth – simply retaining everyone who participates.

The concept of the pathway is likely to be more relevant for some demographic groups. Kids for example who are exposed to the concept of pathways in other sports are more likely to be motivated by the progression from one level to the next. This could be one of the reasons that Tackers progression rates are around 50%. Similarly females who prefer a more structured approach to learning are more likely to respond to the concept of a pathway. Importantly the concept of The Sailing Pathway is equally relevant to a sailor with a disability. They also seek progression, even if some of the steps might need to be modified.

Pathways are important for clubs of all sizes. They are particularly important for large clubs trying to manage increasing volumes of people entering the sport.

With the framework for participation laid out in a pathway, the club can clearly allocate and forecast resources.

A Framework for Sailing Clubs’ Success in Australia | 31

The Sailing Pathway – a sailor’s perspective Sandringham Yacht Club

Discover Sailing Pathways Australian Sailing Team Australian Development Squad

Dinghy Sailing

Victorian Institute of Sport

Inter-Club Racing

Keelboat Sailing

High Performance Program › 12 Month Program › Laser 4.7, Laser Radial

› Class State, National and World Championships › State & National Youth Championships

Match Racing Program

Junior Development Squad - Advanced

Inter-Club Racing › Club Marine Series › One Design Racing

J24 Youth Program

› Summer Period › International Optimist, International Cadet

› Off-shore Racing › Match Racing

Club Racing

Junior Development Squad - Intermediate

Start Racing

Start Racing

Start Spinnakers

Start Racing

Club Racing

› Wednesday Twilight Racing

› Summer Period › International Optimist, International Cadet

› 12 Hours (4x 3 Hours) › Pacer Dinghy

› 12 Hours (4x 3 Hours) › Pacer Dinghy

› 12 Hours (2x 6 Hours) › Beneteau 7.5m Keelboat

› 12 Hours (2x 6 Hours) › Beneteau 7.5m Keelboat

› Thursday Twilight Racing

› Sunday Racing

› Wednesday Wonders › Saturday Racing

Junior Development Squad - Green Fleet

Discover Dinghy Racing

Discover Dinghy Racing

Discover Keelboat Racing

› Summer Period › Ozi Opti

› 3 Hour Experience › Pacer Dinghy

› 3 Hour Experience › Pacer Dinghy

› 3 Hour Experience › Beneteau 7.5m Keelboat

Better Sailing

Better Sailing

Start Cruising

Better Sailing

› 17 Hours › Ozi Opti

› 12 Hours (4x 3 Hours) › Pacer Dinghy

› 12 Hours (4x 3 Hours) › Pacer Dinghy

› 12 Hours (2x 6 Hours) › Beneteau 7.5m Keelboat

› 12 Hours (2x 6 Hours) › Beneteau 7.5m Keelboat

› 17 Hours › Ozi Opti

Sq Tac ke rs

Tackers 2

ua

d

Tackers 3

› Sunday Sailors

Start Sailing

Start Sailing

Start Sailing

› 12 Hours (4x 3 Hours) › Pacer Dinghy

› 12 Hours (4x 3 Hours) › Pacer Dinghy

› 12 Hours (2x 6 Hours) › Beneteau 7.5m Keelboat

Tackers 1

Discover Sailing Experience

› 17 Hours › Ozi Opti › 7-12 Year Olds

Juniors 13 - 17

› 3 Hour Experience › Beneteau 7.5m Keelboat

Adults

Adults

Little Tackers › 2 Hours › Ozi Opti › 5-6 Year Olds

www.sycba.com.au

Children 5 - 12

Private Lessons Private Sessions Private Programs

Team Building

William Angliss Resort Management

Schools

Diesel Courses

Safety Courses

Marine Radio Courses

Primary

RYA Diesel Engine Course

Level 2 First Aid

Marine Radio Operator Certificate of Proficiency

CPR Refresher

Secondary

Powerboat Courses Powerboat Handling Certificate Safety Boat Handling Certificate

Marine Radio Operator VHF Certificate of Proficiency

Tertiary Teams Racing

An example of how Sandringham Yacht Club has used the Sailing Pathway

So the critical action for Club Committees are • Consider The Sailing Pathway and your club’s current offering relative to it.

• Assess what levels on the pathway you want your club to be really good at – not all clubs are going to be able to deliver all 6 levels. And most clubs won’t want to contemplate above level 6.

• Assess at what levels on the pathway you have the greatest attrition levels and therefore opportunities for improvement.

• From this assessment, decide what you can do to reverse the trends.

For example if your highest attrition is P eople doing level 1 Learn to Sail courses, and not progressing – work on making them aware of, and encouraging their progression into step 2 32 | Yachting Australia

People completing all 3 levels of the learn to sail courses and not progressing to regular club racing – work on your Introductory Racing, Step 4, or crewing opportunities or social engagement People dropping out of club racing – work on your club coaching program, Step 6 or recreational sailing options • Assign responsibility for managing different levels of the pathway to appropriately skilled people (e.g. Discover Sailing Centre Principal Steps 1-3, Instructor Step 4, Club Coach Step 6).

Of course, there are many other factors that may contribute to progression and attrition. But we talk more about this in Section 3.

The Sailing Pathway – a sailor’s perspective

Instructor & Coaches Pathways

The Sailing Pathway for Instructors and Coaches Step Step Step 10

Qualification(s)

Step

10 10 10 10 10 10 Step Step Step 9 9 Step Step 9 Step Step Step 9 Step 9 9 9 Step Step Step 8 8 Step Step 8 Step Step Step 8 Step 8 8 8 Step Step Step 77 Step Step 7 Step Step Step 77 Step 77 Step Step Step 6 6 Step Step 6 Step Step Step 6 Step 6 6 6 Step Step 55 Step Step 5 Step Step Step 55 Step Step 55 Step Step 4 Step 4 Step 4 Step Step Step 4 Step 4 Step 4 4 Step Step 3 Step 3 Step 3 Step Step Step 3 Step 3 Step 3 3 Step Step Step Step Step Step Step

Performance Participation

2 2 2 2 2 2 2 11 11 111

Step Step Step Step Step Step Step Step

Step Step Step Step Step Step Step Step Step

Australian Sailing Team / Olympic Australian Sailing Team Head Coach Australian Sailing Team Lead Coach

Role Training athletes to compete to the top of their class with the ultimate focus on gold medals

Australian Sailing Team Class Coach

Performance

State HighPerformance Squad

Performance Coach Performance Squad Coach Performance Program Coach

State Development Squad

Club coaching & inter-club racing Club Coach

Club racing

Performance coaches focus on refining athletes’ skills and are results driven

Club coaches play a key role in supporting members to grow and develop their skills and knowledge of sailing

Simplified rules (Green Fleet for juniors)

Start Racing

Racing Instructor Dinghy Racing Instructor Keelboat Racing Instructor Windsurfing Racing Instructor Safety Boat Instructor Instructor

Better Sailing

Dinghy Instructor Keelboat Instructor/Keelboat Skipper Instructor

Start Sailing

Instructors are crucial in delivering the best possible first experience into sailing.

They develop the fundamental skills of sailing allowing the participants to successfully progress along the Sailing Pathway.

Windsurfing Instructor Powerboat Instructor

• Pathway Step specific – Level 3 to 4 and Instructors and Club Coaches play a major 4 to 5 and 6 to 7 (for aspiring youth). role on steps 0-6 along the pathway, and For more information please go to therefore it is crucial theyhttp://www.yachting.org.au/education-training/instructors/ understand the Instructors can have the biggest impact key underlying principles of each step. and influence on progression from steps 3 to 4 and 4 to 5 and coaches on steps 5 to Pathways generally have vulnerability 6 and steps 6 to 7. zones which we need to be aware of: • Age specifics – as discussed above in the transition from junior to youth and towards the end of youth.

A Framework for Sailing Clubs’ Success in Australia | 33

The Sailing Pathway – a sailor’s perspective For Instructors, some of the things you should be aware of for new sailors on each step of the pathway are Step 0: The Initial Experience • This is a participant’s very first experience of sailing.

Step 4: Introductory Racing

• Needs to be easy to get involved in, removing all of the perceived barriers to sailing.

• Modified racing and competition structure is crucial to provide an enjoyable and inclusive environment conducive with development.

• This is about having a fun, social and enjoyable introduction to the sport.

• This is your chance to pass on your passion for sailing more than your technical skills.

• Continued support from the instructor is important to ensure they are not pushed too hard too quickly and that they still enjoy their competitive experience without too much emphasis on winning.

• Providing simple information on the next steps to stay involved and having an easy process to progress into step 1 is crucial.

• Participants are provided with opportunities to enjoy socialising and developing their skills outside of a competitive environment as well.

Steps 1-3: Introductory Courses

• Providing information and guidance on the future opportunities available to them either socially or competitively to ensure continued involvement in sailing.

• These steps are based around the program specific syllabuses, which are structured to gradually build upon the FUNdamental skills of sailing and allow smooth progression into the next steps.

• Group size and management is important, to facilitate social opportunities.

• A game focused/learner discovery approach to instructing should be taken.

• Recognise the different needs of participants (adults, children, and all abilities) and adjust courses to allow participation for everyone is important.

• Embrace that participants will be trying other sports and understanding how this can benefit the participant.

• The promotion of safety and confidence at these early steps should be a priority.

34 | Yachting Australia

• It is really important that the transition into introductory racing is done at the right time, as if they are not yet ready this will have detrimental effects on their development and could result in drop out.

• Perhaps help them identify crewing opportunities and other people who are interested in taking that same step with whom they can share the discovery.

Once a new sailor has progressed to Step 5 Club Racing, the role of the Club Coach becomes key and some of the things they should be thinking about are outlined below.

Step 5: Club Racing • Club racing is the core activity of most clubs across Australia.

• This is an important step on the pathway where participants will make the decision regarding their future path within sailing.

The Sailing Pathway – a sailor’s perspective • Once participants have attained this level of skill they can choose from many options, including enjoying a lifetime of recreational sailing.

• The support that the club and coaches provide at this level to continue to progress them along the path they have chosen is crucial.

• If they are interested in buying a boat it may involve helping them in this process including introducing them to others in the club who can help.

Step 6: Club Coaching • Club coaching is for any participants who wish to continue to develop their skills.

• This is participant focused and is tailored by the coach upon the specific skill development required of that individual, and does not follow a syllabus.

• Considers the specific training requirements of the sport of sailing and considers the individual’s developmental stage.

• Coaches equally play a crucial role in supporting participants who wish to remain within the participation stream and continue to develop their skills and knowledge of sailing.

Other good instructing and coaching practices that can assist with the successful implementation of the sailing pathway: • General good practice principles, including individual feedback, keeping practice varied, and maintaining participant engagement in non-sailing activities at the club. The aim is that the participant identifies with the overall club, and not just sailing, to decrease the likelihood of drop out.

• Educating all participants on the variety of ways they can be involved in the club including volunteering opportunities available to them, allowing them to understand the wide array of future pathways in sailing.

• Considers the participant’s goals i.e. to develop key racing skills at club or state level or supports the key developmental areas required to progress into state squads and into the performance stream.

• The coach plays a crucial role in preparing the participant for step 7 (moving into training to win in the LTAD model), and ensuring they are physically and mentally ready for this transition.

A Framework for Sailing Clubs’ Success in Australia | 35

The Sailing Pathway – a sailor’s perspective The Sailing Pathway for Race Officials If you are a Race Official and have read this far you will have already identified some implications for you • The nature of participation is changing.

Most people want more flexible and shorter time commitments. So long races that take up a whole, or even half a day, on a weekend are less attractive.

Sailing clubs have generally responded well to this trend by conducting multiple short races, and introducing racing at more flexible times, such as after work on Friday, or mid-week.

36 | Yachting Australia

Summary of The Sailing Pathway In this section we have explained the Sailing Pathway, and how it is relevant for everyone involved in sailing • Rationale for the Pathway • Multiple Sailing Pathways • Introductory Racing and Green Fleet • Club Coaching • Junior and Youth progression and retention • Use of The Sailing Pathway by Club Committees

• Introductory Racing, Level 4 on The Sailing Pathway, and green fleet for kids especially, requires some adjustments to thinking. ISAF provide Introductory Rules to simplify the rules of sailing and make it easier for new sailors to progressively enter racing.

For Race Officials this may introduce the need for extra on water management and support. Again in some ways clubs and sailors are already doing this. Twilight sailing at many clubs is an example where the Racing Rules of Sailing are not rigidly observed by all competitors. Green Fleet for kids, explained elsewhere, is demonstrating the merits of such an additional activity in progressing and retaining juniors.

• The Sailing Pathway for Instructors and Coaches

Hopefully the content of this Framework equips more Race Officials with the knowledge and insights as to what drives participation, and that will stimulate more innovation in club sailing activities and racing, that respond to these trends.

In the next section we talk about attracting new participants, retaining them, and club development, and how The Sailing Pathway is the backbone of success.

• The Sailing Pathway for Race Officials Looking at sailing in the context of a pathway helps two important groups of people • Sailors – who can understand and assess their current sailing activity and decide future aspirations and progression.

• Clubs Officials – who can understand and assess their current club sailing activity, and identify what strengths, gaps and opportunities they may have in terms of what they offer their sailors with varying skill levels.

3. Club Development – for club officials

3. Club Development – for club officials

Club Development – for club officials The Discover Sailing Program Overview

This section is designed to help club officials appreciate some of the levers and tools they can apply to increasing participation and membership. These tools are all embedded in The Discover Sailing Program. Its backbone is The Sailing Pathway.

It’s a complex picture so in this section we explain the components of the Discover Sailing Program.

• The Discover Sailing Program introduction and purpose – overview

The Discover Sailing Program aims to attract new participants, and engage them for their first few years, until they become club members.

• The Discover Sailing Program – components • The Sailing Pathway revisited – for club development

We use the term Club Officials in a broad sense, including club committee members, race officials, instructors and coaches, often now referred to as Gold Members.

But it also extends the many other volunteers that make clubs and sailing tick. They are the people that can make a difference to progression and retention of new sailors on The Sailing Pathway.

• What about Youth?

• What about the other demographic groups other than juniors and youth?

• The quick guide to growing participation at clubs • Conclusion

Growing Club Membership Discover Sailing Days National and Local

discoversailing .org.au Website

The Discover Sailing Program and Brand

Discover Sailing Experiences

Juniors & Families

Club Website

Crewing No need to own a boat

Ongoing Club Participation

Courses Dinghy & Keelboat over 3 levels

The Sailing Pathway Welcome

Discover Sailing Promotional Messages & Materials

Club Prioritisation & Plan

Step

1

Club Local Marketing

Step

2

Step

3

Step

4

Step

Step

5

6

Discover Sailing Hosts The ask me anything person Inclusion – Sailability – Member Protection

Case Studies of Success

Casual Visitor Twilight Sailing Social Sailing Green Fleet Connected Regular Crew Boat Owner Volunteer Instructor Committed Member Race Official Coach RYA Courses

gemba Report Safety and Risk Management (incl. Member Protection)

The Discover SailingProgram A Framework for Sailing Clubs’ Success in Australia | 39

Seniors

HEALTH OF THE NATION

40 | Yachting Australia

AGE

60-65

Clubs can use a basic benchmarking tool developed

by Yachting Australia, and Non-organised only Club participants included in Section 4 of this Framework to assess their current status, and to help them in their decision making, when considering if participation and membership growth are priorities.

50-54

45-49

40-44

35-39

30-34

25-29

20-24

The decision to prioritise growing participation and membership should come from the club general committee or Board.

Other people in the club will be involved in assisting with planning and implementing, but having leaders in the club endorse the Discover Sailing program and a focus on participation as a priority is critical.

55-59

With most clubs being volunteer run and stretched for resources, it’s important to consider what competing priorities might exist when planning to increase participation. Events, club racing, and infrastructure development are all things that may compete for priority.

18-19

10

9

8

7

6

5

For a club to really benefit from everything The Discover Sailing Program has to offer, it first has to determine if participation and membership growth are priorities and if so, how they go about developing a plan to implement the program at their club.

14-17

20%

The Program is relevant to people of all 10% backgrounds, ages, and abilities but does 0% also have particular focus on priority target groups outlined by the Australian Sports Commission – children of primary school age and their families, and Subtotal inclusion of organised people of all-abilities.

gemba Report on Sailing

ASC Sport Segmentation

Club priority & planning

13

The program is underpinned by the 60% Research Reports50% referred to in the first section of this Framework and the gemba 40% Report in particular.

30%

ASC / CSIRO Future Trends in Sport

12

70%

Discover Sailing Program

11

Discover Sailing is not just a brand or logo, or website – it is an entire program within the sport at the national, state, and club level that seeks to significantly improve the communication and delivery of sailing to people who are not currently participating.

The program recognises that sailing competes with other sports and leisure options and needs to raise the quality and relevance of the activities that are 100% delivered, and communicate them in such 90% a way that meets the expectation 80% of a consumer driven society.

PROPORTION OF AUSTRALIAN POPULATION BY AGE

Active Start

The Discover Sailing program was developed as an Australia-wide initiative to engage and align Yachting Australia, the State Associations, and Clubs in a common objective of increasing participation in sailing at affiliated clubs. It is primarily an attraction strategy to involve the broader public in sailing by developing plans, policies, and programs that overcome barriers to participation in the sport, and leverage the attractive attributes of clubs and sailing. Its success will be measured by the number of people progressing to ongoing participation and club membership.

AWARENESS

FUNdamentals

The Discover Sailing Program introduction and purpose

FIRST CONTACT

Life for Life Fit for ive etit mp Co Learn to Train

Club Development – for club officials

REMEDIAL PHYSICAL LITERACY

Active for Life

Club Development – for club officials The gemba Report In 2012 The Australian Sports Commission funded a large scale market research project to identify the attractions of, and barriers to, participation in sailing.

The research also sought information from existing club members as to what their motivations and drivers were for involvement in the sport. Collectively the responses provide the evidence-base Yachting Australia used to generate The Discover Sailing Program.

Evidence-base program design and implementation drives the work of contemporary sport peak bodies.

It provides the most effective and accurate way to work to promote and develop a sport with limited resources.

The full gemba Report and an executive summary for clubs are available on the Yachting Australia website www.yachting. org.au/participation/discover-sailing/thegemba-report

The gemba Report is perhaps the most valuable knowledge that sailing has ever had. We no longer need to rely on opinions.

Yachting Australia has the information on which to base national programs and initiatives and clubs have immediate insights into what they can do to increase participation and grow membership.

For clubs the simple summaries are reproduced below.

As well as highlighting the barriers to participation in sailing at clubs, the gemba Report makes clear recommendations on how to better deliver and promote sailing to the general public with an interest in sailing and, particularly, to the target demographic group – primary school aged children and their young families living in the vicinity of clubs.

The gemba Report is perhaps the most valuable knowledge that sailing in Australia has ever had.

We no longer need to rely on opinions.

Yachting Australia has the information on which to base national programs and initiatives and clubs have immediate insights into what they can do to increase participation and grow membership.

gemba summarised the barriers to people getting into sailing as: The Barrier

The Symptoms

The Image of Sailing

Inaccessible, exclusive, Yacht Clubs are not welcoming and for older people only

The Costs

Boat ownership, maintenance, storage costs, membership, expensive for a family

The Focus on Racing

Clubs are focused on racing and not interested in social, relaxed activity rather than competition

The Time Commitment

Club Racing is historically conducted over half a day at weekends and not what consumers want, shorter forms of sailing activities

The Financial Commitment

Clubs generally require Annual Membership. Consumers generally stay away from annual membership commitments – and want ‘pay for sail’, instalments, introductory memberships

The Lack of Information and Communication

Consumers often don’t know where to go and whom to ask for information in a yacht club. It needs to be made easier for them A Framework for Sailing Clubs’ Success in Australia | 41

Club Development – for club officials Key recommendations from the gemba Report for sailing clubs wanting to grow participation and membership Recommendation

Actions

Improve the image of Clubs – make them more welcoming and inclusive

• External signage welcoming visitors (not Members Only signs) • Website home page welcome to, and contact/information for visitors • “Hosts” to receive and assist visitors (ask me anything) and mentors to support people to progress from the initial pathway steps • Participate in the national Discover Sailing Day and regular local Discover Sailing days • Provide and promote the new Discover Sailing Experience

Help reduce the entry costs – provide club boats for example, and promote crewing opportunities

• Make any club learn to sail boats available for use at other times for either introductory club racing or social sailing • Consider seasonal rental or leasing of boats • Prioritise boats that are easy, modern, and lower cost such as OziOptis, Bic Opens, and Hobie Waves • Make crew matching with boat owners easy and effective • Display lists of crew wanted and available prominently at the club and on your website

Help reduce the initial commitment – for example introductory, flexible, and concessional memberships

• Promote introductory membership • Provide all program participants (e.g. learn to sail) free introductory membership • Consider concessional membership for specific community groups that enjoy concessions in other entertainment options

Increase the emphasis on relaxed social racing – rather than just competition

• Promote destination and picnic sailing. Cruising in company • Understand and employ the ISAF Introductory Rules Step 4 on The Sailing Pathway

Reduce the time commitment • Short quick racing – shorter forms of participation are • Attractive time slots e.g. after work, twilight sailing on what a time poor community wants weekdays and weekends Improve the information and communication – make information more available and appropriate to newcomers, and make sure the pathways are clear

• Provide obvious information and links on the home page of your website • Use the images and content of The Discover Sailing website to adopt the language and messages most attractive to Australians • Adopt The Sailing Pathway and identify and promote the levels most suited to your members and potential members

42 | Yachting Australia

Club Development – for club officials

The gemba Report recommended some “product and service” changes and some new ones, that we will now explain.

Discover Sailing Days Club Open Days have been around in many States and Clubs for many years, with many different names – and we know they work.

Now called Discover Sailing Days, they can be conducted at any affiliated club.

They provide an opportunity for the club to showcase sailing as fun, safe, and affordable – a great day out for families, groups of friends, and people who have always wanted to discover sailing. They are free to participants and can be run throughout the year by clubs. Not only do Discover Sailing Days promote your club’s activity on the day – they send a strong message to the local community that you are welcoming to new participants and people who would like to find out more. A message they will hopefully retain throughout the year.

There is also a national Discover Sailing Day, usually in late October, when all clubs are invited to be part of a day of collectively bringing sailing to the attention of the general public. The leverage of the national day allows clubs to work together to achieve a greater profile for sailing. The national day is typically held in October each year to allow clubs to promote their introductory pathway steps such as Discover Sailing

Experiences and Learn to Sail courses, for the coming summer.

Discover Sailing Days open clubs to the public, showing them just how friendly and welcoming clubs are and what a fun sport sailing is. The day is delivered by club volunteers who have a passion for growing participation and membership at their club.

The main target group is young families.

However, the day is open to everyone including people of all-abilities. The aim of the day is to create an appetite and awareness of what clubs offer and to get people started on The Sailing Pathway – a Discover Sailing Day is a Step 0 activity. The logical next step for participants is an introductory Experience or Learn to Sail Course or for the more adventurous, crewing opportunities.

The types of activities that are offered on successful Discover Sailing Days are social, non-competitive sailing where participants are taken out for a sail with an experienced sailor or instructor, beach games, tours of the club, and are given information about the Experiences, Courses, crewing, and volunteering at the club. Discover Sailing Days are not about teaching people to sail or even about selling memberships – these are things that happen further along the pathway. The participant needs to come away from a Discover Sailing Day having had a great introduction to sailing, and the club and information about how to take the next step.

A Framework for Sailing Clubs’ Success in Australia | 43

Club Development – for club officials One of the most important recommendations from the gemba Report was having an ‘ask me anything’ person at the club who was dedicated to assisting people to get involved in sailing. We call these people ‘Discover Sailing Hosts’.

Yachting Australia provides clubs with a guide to delivering the Discover Sailing Day and has template marketing materials that can be used by any club. There is also an online registration system that the club can use to register to be involved in the day, and for participants to pre-register for the day. Having an online registration process saves valuable volunteer time and makes the day more accessible to participants. It also makes it easy for the club to follow up the interest of the people who attended.

For more information about how to deliver Discover Sailing Days; all the video case studies, information, templates, and guidelines can be found on the Yachting Australia website under the Participation tab.

Free

AUSTRALIA-WIDE

Discover Sailing Day

Welcome

SUNDAY 27 OCTOBER 2013

Discover Sailing Days are an important component of the Discover Sailing Program. They are designed to both attract participants to the club on the day, and to send a strong message to the local community throughout the year that clubs are open and welcome new participants.

Enjoy a FREE day of sailing with friends and family at clubs across Australia

The Australia-wide day has been developed based on the successful experience of the NSW BIA Try Sailing Day and the Victorian/WA Go Sailing Day. Its design, presentation, key messages and structure are based on the recommendations of the gemba Report about what Australians seek in sport and sailing. This emphasised that it is the social aspect of sailing rather than the competitive aspects that are most important to new participants. We encourage clubs to run as many Discover Sailing Days, in addition to the Australia-wide one as they can manage, and certainly to coincide with local community activities, festivals, tourist seasons etc.

We also note this will be important for some clubs in some locations, such as Darwin who run on a counter season pattern.

Discover Sailing Day is your chance to visit a club and get out on the water. Come along and see how much fun sailing can be!

Visit discoversailing.org.au to find out more.

Yachting Australia’s commitment to increasing participation in clubs is reflected in the preparation of this guide.

Yachting Australia’s role is to help the State Associations support clubs in the planning and execution of this Day.

Time: Club: Address: Contact: Website:

Tel:

The most effective promotion of this day, and all the other Discover Sailing initiatives will be through 1. Word of mouth – club members and visitors having great experiences and inviting and telling friends to visit your club to Discover Sailing 2. Local area marketing – clubs engaging with their local community and promoting sailing and what their club offers As always Yachting Australia seeks your feedback via your State Association, through either great case studies about what works or suggestions on what could make the Discover Sailing Day or the overall Program more successful for your club in attracting participants and retaining them.

Good luck with your day!

Daisy Brooke Participation Manager Yachting Australia

Discover Sailing Hosts gemba research showed that going to a club or trying to find out about sailing can be very daunting. In fact most people would not do it.

One of the most important recommendations from the gemba Report was having an ‘ask me anything’ person at the club, who is dedicated to assisting people to get involved in sailing.

We call these people ‘Discover Sailing Hosts’. This is a critical role on Discover Sailing Days and you may need many of them. But it is a year round role.

The role of the Host is to promote, communicate, and encourage new participants to get involved with Discover Sailing activities at the club. There are many volunteers involved in running clubs but they are mostly busy running the onwater activity, learn to sail programs, and core club activities. Discover Sailing Hosts, are on shore, at the club and are the first point of contact for new participants and people wanting to find out more.

Discover Sailing Hosts provide personalised, easy to understand information, and a welcoming approach.

Not only is a Discover Sailing Host a first point of contact, they also mentor and support new participants through the first stages of The Sailing Pathway (typically from entry to level 4 or 5).

44 | Yachting Australia

Club Development – for club officials Discover Sailing Experiences and Courses

“Ask me anything”

Experiences

Discover Sailing Host

love you to We woueldyou continu h us!r sailing wit

Fun is just the start..

Club: Contact:

Tel:

Email: Website:

Typically the Discover Sailing Host(s) name and contact details will be prominent on club signage and websites, as many people will want to talk to someone at the club outside of club hours. It can be very hard for an outsider to contact someone at a club who can really help them.

Typically Discover Sailing Host(s) are enthusiastic person(s) from within the club who • Create a great first impression • Communicate effectively • Understand the barriers to participation outlined in the gemba Report • Encourage and supports participants to progress on The Sailing Pathway • Have time to commit to helping people interested in getting into sailing Yachting Australia provides guidance and information to assist clubs in identifying suitable Discover Sailing Hosts and the online training needed to induct the Hosts into their role. It’s on the Yachting Australia website under the Participation tab.

Learn to sail programs have existed forever and the gemba research showed they are very important to providing a structured way for people to be introduced into sailing.

However, gemba also identified that the way the courses were presented, delivered, and marketed didn’t appeal to the public.

The language used (for example, Get into Small Boat Sailing – GISBS) was seen as dated and overly complex and the branding didn’t convey fun and excitement (we used words like “training” instead of courses).

They further identified that the first level of course available needed a preceding shorter offering, that gave people a sample of what a course might be like, so they could make the decision about taking on a longer course. For many people it could be just about doing multiple experiences.

Acting on the recommendations of gemba, Discover Sailing now includes a new “product” called a ‘Discover Sailing Experience’ – a 3 hour introductory experience delivered at accredited Discover Sailing Centres with qualified instructors, available in dinghies or keelboats. The appeal of the Discover Sailing Experience is the ability for it to capture people who were not quite ready for a full course, but who want to have an instructor-led introductory practical session. A Discover Sailing Experience is a good option to progress people who have attended a Discover Sailing Day and want to do more sailing.

Acting on the recommendations of gemba, Discover Sailing now includes a new “product” called a ‘Discover Sailing Experience’.

The ability of the Discover Sailing Experience to be delivered to a small group of friends or work colleagues is important, because people are likely to participate in a sport they are new to if they can do so with other people they know.

A Framework for Sailing Clubs’ Success in Australia | 45

Club Development – for club officials Of course, the Experience can involve a group of individuals who have booked a session. The main concept is that the group is small, the session is very hands-on and practical, with qualified and motivated instructors delivering it, and it provides a step towards participating in a course in the future. As with the Discover Sailing Day, the aim is not to teach people to sail, it’s to give them a practical experience, introduce them to instructors and galvanise their interest in moving to the next step, likely a course.

Courses Discover Sailing Courses are for new participants who have not sailed, those who have attended a Discover Sailing Day, or people who have completed a Discover Sailing Experience. They are designed to develop fundamental sailing skills over progressive levels of courses. Steps 1-3 of The Sailing Pathway are learn to sail and learn to race courses in dinghies, keelboat, powerboat, or windsurfers.

The vast majority of Australia’s clubs already offer such courses.

The benefits for participants of undertaking a course are that it provides them with quality assurance of delivery through a syllabus, a qualified instructor, sessions that are designed to meet skill development needs, and connects them with other new participants. The social interaction and emphasis on delivery in a style that builds passion for the sport are the key factors that lead to ongoing progression on The Sailing Pathway.

Discover Sailing Centre Accreditation Although the content of courses has not changed the presentation, names, branding, and focus on quality of delivery has. All these changes are driven by a need to be more customer centric, to people who may have had little or no exposure to sailing before. All the changes have been informed by the gemba Report.

46 | Yachting Australia

Club Development – for club officials To ensure a level of quality assurance, risk and safety management, a club or commercial entity that wish to deliver Discover Sailing Experiences or Courses, are required to be an accredited Discover Sailing Centre. A Centre becomes accredited to deliver one or more of the nationally recognised programs: dinghy, powerboat, keelboat, or windsurfing.

To deliver the Tackers program, a Discover Sailing Centre needs to be accredited for the dinghy program and having successfully applied to deliver Tackers.

Yachting Australia and the State Associations provide resources, guidelines, and templates to assist Discover Sailing Centre deliver programs effectively and safely.

But Tackers is a chance for the sport to work collectively to significantly increase the number of kids participating, and lifting the overall quality of delivery, so that more kids continue on The Sailing Pathway.

The Tackers program, as with everything in the Discover Sailing program, was developed in-line with research from overseas, other sports and clubs. In addition, the program was piloted with clubs to work on the details of how best to deliver it. The result of those processes and the investment made by Yachting Australia, and the Australian Sports Commission, has generated an exceptional level of resources for clubs and instructors.

A summary of benefits and details of being a Discover Sailing Centre, the process to become one, and the resources available, are all on the Yachting Australia website under the Education tab.

Tackers The gemba research, and other sport development research, consistently positions juniors (aged under 12) as the highest priority target population for sports to capture. The programs that best accommodate and cater for this age group differ from those for older kids or adults.

The size of the junior demographic and the importance of this age group to ongoing growth of the sport are the basis on which Yachting Australia prioritise the Tackers program.

The importance of having a recognised, consistent junior entry-level program in sailing can’t be understated. We must compete effectively with all the other sports junior programs. Auskick, Milo Have a Go, Aussie Hoops, Hot Shots, to name a few. Some clubs offer very good junior programs and they can continue to do so.

Tackers is guided by its mission and values, which are the starting point for any club wanting to consider if the Tackers program is for them. Tackers is based on eight core values.

1. Kid centric – recognises kids’ learning styles and behaviours are different to adults 2. Non-competitive – fun and social A Framework for Sailing Clubs’ Success in Australia | 47

Club Development – for club officials The objective of the ‘Tackers’ program is to attract a significantly increased number of primary school age children to sailing, especially those who would not otherwise, and have them participate in an initial “fun” sailing experience before progressing on a pathway, to a full learn to sail course over 3 levels, then non competitive participation, and long term club membership.

3. Professional young instructors provide leadership

The Tackers Benefits to Clubs are summarised as

4. Program delivery consistent at every location

• Investing in the biggest growth potential market for increasing club membership in both the short and long term – primary school aged children (and their families).

5. Branded modern presentation – in all regards 6. Targets kids outside existing club membership 7. Value for money relative to other sports – all inclusive fee 8. Graduated pathway over several steps & seasons – fundamental skills foundations and enthusiasm for long term participation A consistently strong junior participation program with high volume of participants and high retention rates is really what Tackers is achieving. It does require time and resource commitment from Centres but ultimately yields rewards for the club and the sport as a whole.

Tackers operates in all states and territories and at most of the major clubs in Australia.

An important part of the Tackers Centres’ success is large school holiday programs, leveraging the attractive beach and club environment, at a time when competition from other sports may be less, and parents are looking for stimulating activities for their children, whilst they either work or relax.

• A higher rate of retention into further programs and ongoing activity than most clubs standalone kids sailing programs.

• Recognition by parents, especially nonsailing parents, of sailing as a safe and attractive sport seeking new participants.

• Being part of a program aiming to raise the community profile of sailing and promote the sport against other national sports programs.

• Attractive to schools as part of a national sports organisation and based on children’s learning principles.

• Access to intelligence about early childhood learning and development, sports pathways, and retention in sport.

• Professionally presented and branded program that has credibility with sponsors e.g. Whitworths, for the purchase of club boats and scholarships for kids to participate e.g. Buoyed Up at Canberra Yacht Club and Noosa Yachting and Rowing Club.

• Sustainability – a long term program with clear roles and responsibilities that avoids the cyclical success of some parent run programs.

• Attraction of families who are not otherwise into sailing with parents often becoming involved in either learn to sail programs or other club activities.

• A clear pathway option for youth retention through their induction and training as Tackers Instructors.

48 | Yachting Australia

Club Development – for club officials • The support of State base Tackers Leaders who are able to assist the club in implementing and managing Tackers programs to ensure success.

• Access to additional related Tackers Programs – Tackers Introduction – Tackers Introduction for Schools –L ittle Tackers.

• Australia-wide Promotion – including website, videos etc. and listing on the Discover Sailing website dedicated to people who are new to sailing and want to find out more.

• Promotional Materials – for use in the community such as banners, posters, brochures, templates for school newsletters etc.

• Merchandise for the sailors – that is attractive to every participant at every level.

• Sailing games for kids – videos (for the public all the information is on the Discover Sailing website www.discoversailing.org.au/tackers) Tackers is about taking sailing beyond the traditional sailing demographic.

One of the best examples of this is the Buoyed Up with Tackers program conducted at both Canberra Yacht Club and Noosa Yachting and Rowing Club. Buoyed Up raises funds to pay for juniors, who would not otherwise have the opportunity, to progress through all three levels of Tackers, over several years, and ultimately become assistant Instructors and Instructors, and importantly lifelong participants in sailing.

Full details of Buoyed Up, including video explanations for clubs and potential donors are on the Yachting Australia website under the Participation / Tackers tab.

The financial dividends to the club from juniors is huge and long term. If the average investment per year of a member is $1000 at your club, including membership, storage, food and beverage, and a junior has a 50 year sailing life then each retained junior is worth $50,000.

Retaining a whole fleet of 20 Tackers is worth $1 million.

• Full Instructor Induction, qualification and ongoing development.

• Instructor and Leader uniforms.

• Program Resources for Instructors – full set of Instructor Manuals with syllabus and related games including videos Participants – such as activity sheets, photo frames etc Families – The parents’ guide and promotional items such as fridge magnets.

There’s an ocean of more information for Clubs on the Yachting Australia website about Tackers, under the Participation tab • Tackers Explanation and videos • Club Information Guide and Application

A Framework for Sailing Clubs’ Success in Australia | 49

Club Development – for club officials Inclusion of people of all abilities and Sailability The inclusion of people of all-abilities in sailing is important. Nearly 20% of Australians are registered as having a disability so this is a substantial number of people to encourage to participate in sailing. Sailing has an innately accessible nature – it is possible for a vast range of abilities to get out on the water.

The successful participation of people of all-abilities has been achieved by the volunteer driven development of the Sailability program. Sailability is an international program that was introduced and expanded through volunteers within Australia from the late 1990s. It’s estimated that 10,000 people every year enjoy sailing through the work of Sailability.

The majority of sailors in Sailability participate in a recreational experience.

However, there is increasing recognition and demand from people of all-abilities who want to broaden their participation opportunities to progress on The Sailing Pathway. To provide more options to be available to people of all-abilities, The Discover Sailing Program has focused on opening opportunities for children with a disability to participate in Tackers, older children and adults in Discover Sailing Experiences and Courses, and families and groups in Discover Sailing Days.

Sailability programs continue to offer a first step into the sport for people of all-abilities but there are now options available that give the individual participant the chance to progress on The Sailing Pathway. Royal Perth Yacht Club provides a great case study on this.

50 | Yachting Australia

As part of The Discover Sailing Program clubs are asked to consider how they can become more inclusive. This extends beyond just the programs or sailing options available, and includes how the club markets itself, welcomes people of all-abilities, enables them to become full and active members, encourages their participation as volunteers, and acknowledges the contribution they make to the diversity of the club. All of these things will assist clubs in building their participation and membership, by increasing their appeal to a broader range of people.

On the Yachting Australia website, under Participation you will find a range of resources, including videos, that will help you understand how your club can benefit from being more inclusive, and how you can achieve this.

(For the public all the relevant information is on the Discover Sailing website www.discoversailing.org.au/sailability).

Club Development – for club officials M NO

S

ABILITY

MI N OR OD

R PEOPL EW I

M

TH

D IS

ODIFICATION

IFIC

Y FO NL

ATIONS

O

n o i s u l c In M

SPECTRU

NO N

NS I

AB

P

AR

ILI TY

TIO CA

ROLE ING Y LA

M A JO R M O D I FI

PRIM LY FO R

S DI H PEOPLE WIT

No modifications

For example, a sailor who is hearing impaired competes in local club racing in the main fleet with no modifications to the boat or the rules

Minor modifications

For example, a sailor who is paralysed uses a class of boat different from others used in a learn to sail program but otherwise participates fully in the course

Major modifications

For example, a sailor with an intellectual disability who undertake a learn to sail course through one-to-one tuition over a longer period of time, as opposed to in a group of mixed ability over a set period of time

Primarily for people of all-abilities

For example, sailors of all-abilities and their able-bodied volunteers combine to form skipper and crew combinations for the purpose of developing an inclusive sailing opportunities at a local club

Only for people of all-abilities

For example, sailors with an intellectual disability competing in the Special Olympics

Non-playing role

People of all-abilities can be officials, instructors, club presidents, volunteers, spectators A Framework for Sailing Clubs’ Success in Australia | 51

Club Development – for club officials Crewing The gemba research indicated boat ownership to be a significant barrier to people getting into sailing. Yet we know that the majority of club members do not own boats. Crewing is probably sailing’s cheapest option for new participants.

We know that the majority of club members do not own boats. Crewing is probably sailing’s cheapest option for new participants.

Promoting crewing opportunities for people who have enjoyed their initial Day, Experience or Course is a no brainer.

Provided that initial involvement has been successful, and provided people are properly matched to boats and skippers.

With boat owners consistently looking for crew, crewing is an obvious avenue through which more people can participate in the sport – especially those who do not own or have plans to own a boat.

Not wanting to commit to owning a boat extends beyond just the financial investment needed. People from outside of the sport are reluctant to buy boats because of the requirement to commit to having it, and using it regularly, lack of knowledge on both buying a boat and the maintenance required, lack of space to store the boat, and the perceived hassle of selling the boat in the future. But by crewing they can learn all about these things over time.

Promoting Crewing successfully relies on the successful matching of crew to boat owners. For example, matching a person who has completed introductory learn to sail courses in the keelboat program, with someone who wants crew for a recreational, non-competitive sailing activity is a good fit. As participants become more experienced and confident they may want to progress to crewing in twilight sailing or racing. Matching new sailors to boats and skippers, based on a mutual understanding of The Sailing Pathway is important for success.

52 | Yachting Australia

For people new to sailing, stepping onto a boat as crew is daunting. They may not know any of the other crew and may be unsure of what they need to do. Yachting Australia recommends participants complete introductory learn to sail courses before they get involved with crewing.

However, some people may want to move straight into crewing.

To assist potential crew, there are tips and guidelines on the Discover Sailing website for new participants, and on the Yachting Australia website, under the Participation tab for skippers. The information covered explains the basics of crewing, and for skippers some guidelines for welcoming novice crew.

The Sailing Pathway As the whole of section 2 of this Framework was about The Sailing Pathway – we are not going to repeat it here. But in reading this section we hope you see how the Pathway underpins everything that Discover Sailing is about, and why we say it is the backbone.

– How prospective sailors can be progressed from their initial Day or Experience to ongoing learning, through courses and participation including crewing and introductory racing – How clubs can organise their activities to fulfil the expectations of prospective members – the new sailors Whilst there is a lot in Section 2 about Juniors, and Youth, we hope it’s now also obvious how the pathway is relevant to other demographic groups.

More information on The Sailing Pathway is on the Yachting Australia website under the Participation tab.

Club Development – for club officials The Discover Sailing brand logo and key messages gemba was clear that one of the major barriers to entry to clubs, is lack of good information and communication. That is why Yachting Australia has developed a brand and logo that can be used by all clubs to promote sailing.

If enough clubs adopt it, the public will recognise it, and its key messages.

Each club can still retain its identity, but promotion of sailing can have the critical mass to achieve public recognition.

The word “training” is not very consistent with the key messages above either.

So you’ll notice in all our public communication we only talk about courses and programs.

More explanations of the key messages, images and downloadable resources such as the logo and marketing collateral are on the Yachting Australia website under the Participation tab / Discover Sailing.

The Discover Sailing website

The brand was professionally designed to reflect the key values gemba identified as attractive to Australians; sailing is fun, friendly, adventurous and responsible (safe).

What are the key messages Discover Sailing promotes? (and what should they not be?)

– The key message is about sailing’s attractive values; that sailing is fun, friendly, adventurous and responsible (safe). These are the words or concepts that should drive all your club communication.

– We know there are lots of other attributes such as being a sport for life. But this is generally not something that will motivate someone to contact a club.

– We also know that most people don’t want to buy an Annual Membership.

So maybe promoting “membership” is not putting your best foot forward.

Promote the introductory activities of The Sailing Pathway and the social enjoyment of your club. Remember new people want social sailing over racing.

– The language we use is also very important. So we are always using sailing rather than yachting. It’s less exclusive, and more friendly and fun.

gemba was equally clear that the way most people research how to get into sailing is to “google it”. Visiting or contacting a club was way down the list of options. And yet a google search does a very poor job of returning good information about sailing and clubs.

That’s why Yachting Australia developed the Discover Sailing Website – to provide good information and connect people to clubs – and their websites. The target audience for this website is anyone with an interest in discovering sailing – not club members.

A Framework for Sailing Clubs’ Success in Australia | 53

Club Development – for club officials It’s also why Yachting Australia has invested in search engine optimisation (SEO) – so the Discover Sailing site is returned reasonably high up the page on most key word searches. We know that very few clubs have invested in their website being very friendly to non-members, or in SEO.

The Discover Sailing website has also enabled Yachting Australia to remove all public information about discovering sailing from the Yachting Australia website.

The Yachting Australia website now focuses on all the resources and information that help clubs, and their members.

So how does that help your club? As long as your cub information is up to date it can point people to • Your club website and contact details (which hopefully has information for people interested in finding out about sailing at your club on the front page) • Contact details for your Discover Sailing Host – probably the most important thing! The person they can contact to find out more and seek personal advice • The activities your club conducts – not the Classes of boats you sail but whether you have a junior program, how you go about inclusion etc • Upcoming activities, such as Discover Sailing Days, and Learn to Sail Experiences and Courses The Discover Sailing website has also enabled Yachting Australia to remove all public information about discovering sailing from the Yachting Australia website. The Yachting Australia website now focuses on all the resources and information that help clubs, and their members.

Promoting your Club Most clubs tell us that most new sailors come from either 1. Introductions by existing members or 2. Their local community – remember, what we said in section one, probably within a thirty minute drive of the club.

54 | Yachting Australia

So we hope it is obvious how your club marketing promotion, with its likely very limited budget, should work – through existing members and in your local community.

We see four important avenues for your club’s marketing promotion 1. Use your existing members to encourage families and friends.

Activities like Discover Sailing Days are a great opportunity to prompt them to do what they have always just talked about – inviting friends and families and work colleagues to Discover Sailing.

2. Promote in your local community – sail where the wind is • as we have said earlier make sure your club external signage promotes visitors being welcome and the opportunities to discover sailing • local media and newspapers are nearly always willing to promote sailing – sailing offers great colourful pictures and stories • local letterbox drops have been used very effectively by clubs to promote their opportunities to Discover Sailing, especially Days, Experiences and Courses • local newsletters – especially schools for junior programs and Tackers. But also local government newsletters and websites to their communities 3. Your website – as we have said earlier “googling it” is the most likely way to find out about sailing clubs • Make sure your details are up to date on the Discover Sailing website (via the myClub and myCentre systems)

Club Development – for club officials • Make sure the front page of your own website has plenty of highly visible access for information for prospective new sailors, including your Discover Sailing Hosts.

4. Most importantly once you have had

2001

with a prospective new sailor 2002 contact 2003 2004 2005 2006 and consistent with what we have said

We are not going to provide a long discussion here about the merits of social media like facebook, twitter and youtube.

Suffice to say social media is likely to be more important for some demographics like youth (but not appropriate for juniors) and is going to be more important for 2007 existing 2008participants 2009 and2010 engaging members than attracting brand new ones.

Organised physical Non-organised physical activity earlier aboutactivity improving engagement and progression – think about your communication with new participants – what can you be communicating to get them more involved in the social aspects, of the club and taking further steps on The Sailing Pathway.

Most clubs have good regular communications with club members – but what about all those people on the fringe – thinking about coming in?

To help you with your promotion Yachting Australia provides on our website under the Participation tab

MEMBERS:

• A range of downloadable documents – brochures etc that the club can add its own contact details to – such as the Discover Sailing Host(s) name(s) and contact details

The traditional target of most club communication

• The Discover Sailing Brand – downloadable in various formats and guidelines for its use • The Key Messages that you should use to be most effective – as summarised above

• Banners, brochures and other promotional available from the Yachting Australia on line shop that are either free or available at our cost price www.yachting.org.au/onlineshop • Access to The Creative Parrot who have done the design and print work for Discover Sailing, Tackers and Sailability

PARTICIPANTS: The growth target • Days • Experiences • Courses • Tackers • Crew • Introductory • Sailability • Kiteboarders

The Creative Parrot Creative Design & Advertising Studio 221, 87 Gladstone Street South Melbourne VIC 3205 T (03) 9690 4321 F (03) 9690 4323 E info@theparrot.com.au W theparrot.com.au

A Framework for Sailing Clubs’ Success in Australia | 55

Club Development – for club officials Safety and Risk Management Remember that gemba reported that sailing is not seen as a safe sport and this might be especially true for parents.

So in your communication with prospective and new sailors make sure you emphasise that we are a responsible and safe sport.

We are not going to reproduce here all the Safety and Risk Management Resources available from the Yachting Australia website, under Sport Services tab, but your club should have them in place, and your club personnel should be familiar with them • A current Risk Assessment and Management Plan • An up to date Emergency and Incident Management Plan • Operating procedures We know that clubs have a good safety culture and self-regulation of safety – but visitors, new and prospective sailors don’t, so assure and explain to them • Personal safety such as Life Jackets • Risk Assessment and Management – dangerous things around the club and on boats

What about demographic groups other than juniors (primary school age)? gemba, and nearly all other sports knowledge, positions juniors as the priority of any sport or club wanting to increase participation. There are two compelling reasons for this 1. It is as juniors that most people develop an affinity for a sport, or are likely to make a decision about what they will play as a youth, and for the rest of their life.

2. In the case of sailing, it increases the likelihood of them returning as a participant later in life. Unlike some sports who pursue juniors to build their long term fan base, sailing has the additional opportunity for future participation.

The other reason that juniors are so important to sailing is that they come with families. It’s the demographic group that gemba places as sailing’s second priority and what “Saving Sailing” is all about.

And that is why The Discover Sailing Program prioritises juniors and families.

• Operating procedures including such things as safety observation towers, safety boats and communications such as radios • The training and qualification of your personnel – instructors, race officials etc Safety of all participants underpins The Discover Sailing Program.

56 | Yachting Australia

Like all sports, sailing faces a drop off point at the end of juniors which we talked about in Section 2 – junior and youth progression and retention.

Sailing, unlike many sports, offers the opportunity for family involvement.

Club Development – for club officials But clubs need to ensure their offer to youth and families is attractive and that’s what the rest of this section is about.

Equally your club may have sufficient resources to pursue groups in addition to juniors and families.

What about youth (secondary school age)?

We are not saying that clubs should not pursue non sailing youth, and conduct Learn to Sail Programs for them, especially where it’s done through schools. It’s just that at this point it’s going to be harder to attract them away from their existing sports into ongoing participation, and therefore they are not the highest priority. Juniors and their progression and retention are.

But if your club has sufficient resources – pursue youth. Youth Learn to Sail Programs can be based on The Sailing Pathway and the Yachting Australia Dinghy Program.

We have already talked extensively about junior to youth progression and retention in section 2. But here are some further ideas about what might help retain the juniors as youth sailors, and the new youth you attract.

First, have a think about all the things that contributed to your successful junior program, and see how to sustain them for youth. The same factors, reflected in the Tackers values are likely to be relevant if you have decided to prioritise attracting youth as first time sailors.

The Cost The gemba Report (page 35) clearly identified the top two barriers for youth as being

Sailing presents youth with two major costs. Annual Club Membership Fees can be a major barrier, especially for youth of non-sailing families, who cannot access Family Memberships, which often provide junior and youth concessions.

But the larger cost barrier is the boat.

Clubs with an ambition to retain youth need to provide boats. This could be • Fee for use basis – this is the model of many successful US Community Sailing Clubs. Simply ring up or log in to book a boat and a sailing session e.g. Newport Community Sailing Centre.

See www.sailnewport.org • Season Lease – offering a fixed fee, payable in instalments for use of an individual boat during the season • No fee at all – sailing scholarships for youth sailors • Providing two handed classes that require a crew makes sense – reducing the cost per person of the equipment.

Promoting crewing, the cheapest way to sail is important for all age groups but especially youth.

If you are challenged by the prospect of raising funds to buy boats investigate • Providing a tax deductible option to your members by registering a project with the Australian Sports Foundation www.asf.org.au • Recognise the value of the advertising space on the sails of your club boats to both members and local businesses who may be willing to sponsor.

1. The cost 2. Not having the required equipment

A Framework for Sailing Clubs’ Success in Australia | 57

Club Development – for club officials The Quality of the Coach

Over 80% of youth who leave soccer do so because of their coach – Football Federation of Australia.

Yachting Australia has no data or research to establish how important this issue is to youth sailors. But young Instructors who engage with kids are a key to the higher rates of retention of juniors in Tackers.

We think it’s highly likely that the quality of the Coach, and the relationship with the youth sailor is a major retention factor for them.

It’s also why Yachting Australia has redeveloped the Club Coach Program, to ensure the people delivering Step 6 on The Sailing Pathway - Club Coaching – have the requisite skills to develop and retain sailors.

We talk elsewhere about the importance of Club Coaching – but this is about the Club Coach as a person. Clubs need to be clear about what they want of their Club Coach, and the personal attributes they seek, and carefully recruiting to fulfil this.

It’s also likely to be important for the Club to identify the Class(es) of boat for which it wants to provide a club coach and club coaching program, rather than leaving a void that necessitates the sailor going away from the club to fulfil the desire and need for class based coaching.

Lack of Pathway Options Recognise that youths highest motivation for participation in sport is social, followed by relaxation and then fitness with competition a distant fourth.

Competition will be important for some youth sailors and our existing clubs structures and format accommodate them well. This is all about participating in Club Racing, the Club Coaching Program, and further on the Development and High Performance Pathway.

58 | Yachting Australia

But the majority of youth sailors are going to be looking beyond competition and racing.

Too much emphasis on competition We think we have been clear on this!

Clubs need to invent alternatives to traditional race formats. This could include – Destination sailing – Speed or different styles of sailing The video referenced on page 59, under Types of Boats, gives some interesting perspectives on this.

A win-win option for youth sailors and their clubs is the instructor pathway.

Hundreds of youth sailors around Australia are actively involved in sailing as instructors (there are over 300 in Tackers alone). Many are doing so for a small hourly rate – their ongoing participation in sailing providing an alternative to casual employment elsewhere, such as working at the local supermarket or fast food outlet. Along the way they have had the enjoyment of learning further skills, such as power boat operators, and life skills such as first aid. And an interesting observation – these young instructors seem to enjoy “hanging out” with one another, reinforcing the importance of that social engagement.

So clubs should think about how to actively involve their youth in their learn to sail or officiating programs

Club Development – for club officials Need for social engagement The evidence is overwhelming – “social” is the main reason young people participate in sport. Clubs should consider the extent to which they are welcoming to youth • How attractive are the facilities? Is there an attractive area where youth can hang out? (probably away from their parents)

Otherwise the market should decide.

When it comes to boats clubs need to consider the “cool” options presented by other sports, especially the emerging ones like skateboarding and fortunately kiteboarding.

• What about the club social program – does it provide for appropriate social activities for youth (again with options that do not involve parents) Teams sailing involves more social interaction than fleet racing. Especially when conducted in school based teams, there is both a social aspect of being part of a team and in the time spent between races socialising with your team and other team members. Two other great things about schools team racing • The equipment is supplied and the cost to the participant is low • It’s partly conducted in school time – removing the lure of other recreational interests So if your club is serious about youth retention – seriously consider a proper schools team sailing program.

Types of Boats

The Junior and Youth Recreational Sailing Pathway emphasis that youth may want to progress to planing dinghies, with asymmetrical kites, skiffs, foiling boats, catamarans, windsurfers and kiteboards.

Even small keelboats with their friends.

Clubs need to think about how they facilitate this.

If you have time to view a thought provoking video from US Sailing on this subject, go to youtube and search for “Adding Adventure Sailing to your junior program” or go direct to www.youtube. com/watch?v=8WWzPvyJByk (though we suggest its more for youth than juniors).

Canberra Yacht Club has one of Australia largest junior and youth memberships and offers young sailors a fleet of eight club Hobie Waves for recreational sailing.

We don’t have a lot to say about Classes or boats. It’s only for sailors wanting to progress beyond Pathway Level 6, Club Coaching that Yachting Australia specifies boats and classes.

We do recommend one design classes for their appeal to non sailing families (easy to understand and buy bits for), lower costs of ownership (purchase minus resale value), their sheer numbers (important for social activity) and their neutralising the risk of cheque book based competition.

A Framework for Sailing Clubs’ Success in Australia | 59

HEALT

gemba Report on Sailing

ASC Sport Segmentation

Club Development – for club officials What about other demographic groups?

The second major point of attrition after the junior youth isand towards the endGames, If your junior and youth participation Olympic,toParalympic Commonwealth of youth andWorld, secondary as the Europeanschool, and Commonwealth levels are as you would like them, and ELITE championships andparticipation international competitions following chart of by age you have their families involved, there’s group shows (Source ABS ERASS). other demographic groups you can Local and regional coaching and training, pursue. These may be based on age local and regional competitions, PERFORMANCE group or gender.

100% 90%

sports clubs and interclub leagues

60% 50%

Sports clubs and leisure centres

40% 30% 20% 10%

Non-organised only

55-59

50-54

45-49

40-44

35-39

30-34

25-29

20-24

18-19

13

14-17

12

PE and recreational sports

11

9

Subtotal organised

10

8

7

6

5

0%

Club participants

The point about this is that sailing’s challenge is similar to other sports – the high drop off towards the end of secondary school. Again we think the likely factors influencing retention are outlined above.

Recognise that females are less than 30% of sailing participants, other than in the Tackers program, where there PARTICIPATION is gender balance, so females are a significant growth opportunity in all other age groups. There is good information about what females seek in sport that FOUNDATION is different to males, including a more inclusive and structured pathway. gemba identified young mums as a group having one of the highest interests in discovering sailing – and again that’s why young families are such a priority.

AGE

70%

60-65

80%

The good news for sailing is that if their exposure to the sport as junior and youth has been great they are more likely to

If you are targeting other age groups recognise the principal motivations for playing sport. Competition is not in the top 3 for any age group.

return later.

CURRENT SPORTS PARTICIPATION 84% 11

95%

88%

80%

77%

8 18

6 15

7 15

22

28

34

32

45

46

45

46

Aged 16-29

Aged 30-44

Aged 45-64

Aged 65-75

11

19

21 27

82%

21 33 20

42

Total Population Fitness

27 Aged 5-15 Relaxation

Social

Competition

Q. How important are each of these things to why participate in each of these sports?

Base: Total Participate in Sport: n=9.247 60 | Yachting Australia

EXCELLENCE

Beyond Youth

Train to Wi

Train Comp

Train to Tra PHYSICAL LITERACY

AWARENESS PROPORTION OF AUSTRALIAN POPULATION BY AGE

REMEDIAL PHYSICAL LITERACY FIRST CONTACT

2010

ASC / CSIRO Future Trends in Sport

Infants

Club Development – for club officials You will also want to consider the barriers to participation in sport as identified by gemba (pages 35 & 36 of report).

Age Group

Top Barrier

Second

Juniors

Having to become a member

Youth

Fourth

Fifth

Not having the Lack of available required equipment facilities

Not knowing where to participate

Cost

Cost

Not having the Not knowing where required equipment to participate

Lack of available facilities

Not having anyone to participate with

Families

Cost

Lack of available facilities

Not knowing where to participate

Not having the Not having anyone required equipment to participate with

Young Adults

Not knowing where to participate

Cost

Lack of available facilities

Not having anyone to participate with

Older Families

Cost

Lack of available facilities

Commitment to a season

Not having the Not having anyone required equipment to participate with

Working Professionals

Cost

Not having the Not having anyone required equipment to participate with

Empty Nesters

Not having anyone to participate with

Cost

Retirees

Cost

Not having the Existing injuries required equipment

Sailing has responded to the above barriers in many ways, and this is explained in more detail in this Section about the Discover Sailing Program • Twilight sailing, and crewing for someone who owns the boat, is the strongest area of participation growth for many clubs.

Not surprising, it is low cost, it avoids the need to have much equipment, and provides the other people to participate with, and the emphasis is on social relaxation rather than competition.

• Introductory and Day membership is increasingly available at clubs, reducing the cost barrier and providing an alternative to annual membership.

• Tackers and Green Fleet places a much higher emphasis on social fun, and relaxation, than competition and requires all participants to be made a temporary member of the club.

It removes the cost of boat ownership.

Third

Lack of available facilities

Not having the Not knowing where required equipment to participate Not having anyone to participate with

Not having the required equipment

Having to become a member Commitment to a season Having to become a member

But all the components of the Discover Sailing Program, such as Days, Hosts, Experiences and Course can be tailored by a club to specifically suit the target demographic group they are pursuing. For example this could be an Experiences for females or crewing for young professionals.

Case Studies We are progressively building a library of case studies about what is working at clubs and they appear on the Yachting Australia website under the Participation tab. They are in both documents and videos. The videos tell two great stories about how The Discover Sailing Program has worked for one of Australia’s largest clubs and one of the smaller clubs.

A Framework for Sailing Clubs’ Success in Australia | 61

Club Development – for club officials The Quick Guide to successfully growing participation at clubs If you do not have time to read the gemba report or everything else in this Framework, here’s the one page short cut.

• Open your club to the community – put up the welcome signs and take down the members only ones

1. Prioritise juniors (7-12 years old)

• Offer Discover Sailing Experiences and Courses – ideally targeted to groups of a similar demographic

• Create a great Junior Learn to Sail Program. If not Tackers make sure it embodies everything Tackers is about.

Understand the eight values of Tackers.

• Encourage an involvement of Tackers’ non sailing families in the club. Offer them a cheap introductory membership, open access to all your social facilities and activities, and if they are interested in sailing; Discover Sailing Experiences and Courses 2. Implement The Sailing Pathway for juniors and youth. Retain all the juniors you attract by offering • The three introductory levels of The Sailing Pathway • Green Fleet and Introductory Racing • Boats – any way so they do not need to buy their own • Club Coaching (level 6) • An emphasis on social engagement over competition • Parental involvement with the social aspects of the club and maybe sailing 3. If you want to attract a demographic other than or in addition to juniors and their families • Appoint Discover Sailing Hosts – to welcome and host any new visitors and mentor them and help retain them • Conduct Discover Sailing Days – your own, or participate in the national one

62 | Yachting Australia

• Implement The Sailing Pathway so people can see their progression into ongoing sailing • Promote social sailing over competition • Promote fun and relaxation over competition • Create an introductory membership category – remove the big barrier of annual membership • Use the Discover Sailing brand, logo and messages to promote your club in the local community and through your members – member get member is likely to be most successful • Offer crewing opportunities, only when people are confident about their ability to do so, and match potential crew with boat owners carefully.

• Provide club boats for people to use – right up to the level of club racing Finally, seek the support of your State Association – they can help you with everything in this Framework.

Conclusion We wrote this Framework with confidence there would be some insights that might help your club increase participation and ultimately membership.

Writing and reading this was the easy part. We encourage you to take the next steps and convert it to action. You are also welcome to debate the ideas we put forward. The more debate the more good ideas shared.

Your State Association is there to help you. They have the expertise to assist you, and can connect you to other clubs on the same course, willing to share their experiences and success.

State Associations are also familiar with the extensive range of resources available from Yachting Australia including on the Yachting Australia website, and from the on line shop, that provide tools and materials to make it easier for clubs.

We would like to thank all the clubs who have contributed their ideas and successes to this Framework and the many who made their images and photos available. We would also like to thank Peter Davis, President, Sport Performance Management, Colorado, USA, for taking the time to review and feedback on this Framework prior to its publication.

Finally, if you have a success story about what your club is doing, please make it available to your State Association so it can be shared with the other clubs around Australia. There’s already case studies of success on the Yachting Australia website under the Participation tab.

Thank you for taking the time to read this Framework. We hope that it helps your club to help thousands more Australians – Discover Sailing.

A Framework for Sailing Clubs’ Success in Australia | 63

4. Appendices

4. Appendices

Appendices Appendix 1: Glossary of Terms Clubs are affiliated with State Associations.

Discover Sailing Centres are accredited to deliver the Discover Sailing Experiences and Learn to Sail Courses and powerboat Courses, in accord with standards and guidelines.

Education the development of human potential (preferred term over training).

Juniors (primary school age) are different to Youth (secondary school age).

Course the specific course within a Program (e.g. Dinghy Start Sailing).

Program the overall program that comprises a series of courses (e.g. Dinghy program).

Club Officials includes club committee members, race officials, instructors and coaches – the people who influence the future of their club and therefore the sport.

Safety Boat A boat appropriately equipped with safety gear and manned by experienced people with appropriate qualifications including the Safety Boat Operator certificate (preferred term over rescue boat).

Sailing the preferred term over yachting in all public communication.

Sailability the program for the inclusion of people of all abilities on The Sailing Pathway and in all club activities.

The Sailing Pathway The ten progressive steps commencing at novice to long term fulfilled sailor.

State Association The member States and Territories of Yachting Australia – also referred to as MYA’s (Member Yachting Associations).

Instructors deliver steps 1 to 3, and support step 4 on the pathway, and follow a program syllabus.

Club Coaches deliver step 6, and supports 5, on The Sailing Pathway, and coach based on the individual requirements.

Tackers the official junior participation program of Yachting Australia.

Discover Sailing Program the entire program of Yachting Australia participant attraction and retention strategies for clubs.

A Framework for Sailing Clubs’ Success in Australia | 67

Appendices Appendix 2: Club Benchmarking Tool

Introduction to the “Club Benchmarking” Tool This document is a simple guide for club committees to benchmark themselves against best practice amongst other sailing and sports clubs.

Clubs can assess and decide the level of achievement they aspire to for all or any criteria. It can assist clubs assess their priorities for their forthcoming planning period.

It is presented in the form of a matrix of many criteria, including governance, policy and program adoption, against three standards of achievement, where Gold is the highest.

Yachting Australia’s role is to continue to develop resources and templates that State Associations can provide to clubs to assist clubs to increase their level of achievement on any criteria.

1. PlannIng & PrIorITIsIng Criteria

Bronze

silver

gold

governance

An Incorporated Association

By laws for sub committees

Regular reviews of rules and by laws

Elected and effective

Conducts induction and performance reviews

Includes women, young people and people of all abilities

Has a three year plan

Regularly reviews performance Has long term plan (five years against plan or more)

Has an annual budget

Reviews financial reports against budget regularly

❏ Bronze ❏ Silver ❏ Gold Board / Committee

❏ Bronze ❏ Silver ❏ Gold Planning

❏ Bronze ❏ Silver ❏ Gold Financial

❏ Bronze ❏ Silver ❏ Gold Board / Committee roles

❏ Bronze ❏ Silver ❏ Gold Membership

❏ Bronze ❏ Silver ❏ Gold

• More than one year’s membership fees in reserves

The Committee has clearly All roles are filled by defined roles for its important appropriately skilled people functions

The Committee has a succession plan and candidate for all roles

Membership rules welcome everyone. There are no prerequisites for membership

Club fees structure offers concessions for community groups of disadvantage

• Club fees structure favours families, young people, and people of all abilities • Temporary or Introductory membership is available

❏ Bronze ❏ Silver ❏ Gold Funding

• Has five year financial plan

Club has some sponsorship from local community, or income in addition to fees

Club has a registered Australian Sports Foundation Project – offering tax deductible status for donations

Club has significant sponsorship or commercial income

1 JUNE 2014

68 | Yachting Australia

Appendices

2. PlannIng & PrIorITIsIng (FaCIlITIes & Tenure) Criteria

Bronze

silver

Club Tenure & leases

Has a long term lease with landlord for all occupied land

Landlord values the clubs role Contributes to, and is on the foreshore recognised in, landlord’s long term precinct plan

Existing facilities are well maintained and presented

Has indentified timing and cost of facilities renewal for next 20 years

Has addressed funding of facilities renewal

Existing safety boats, and club owned sailing boats are well maintained and presented

• Has indentified timing and cost of safety and club sailing boats renewal for next 10 years

• Has addressed funding of safety and club sailing boats renewal

❏ Bronze ❏ Silver ❏ Gold Club Facilities renewal

❏ Bronze ❏ Silver ❏ Gold Club Boats – safety & sailing

• Provides club boats for up to club racing level for juniors, youth and families

❏ Bronze ❏ Silver ❏ Gold accessible Facilities

❏ Bronze ❏ Silver ❏ Gold environment

gold

Club facilities are welcoming to families, juniors, youth, females and people of all abilities and backgrounds Has assessed all club facilities for accessibility for people with mobility difficulties Has an energy use and resource disposal plan to reduce environmental impact

Has a plan to ensure all facilities are attractive to all demographics and are accessible for people of all abilities

All facilities are attractive to all demographics and accessible for people of all abilities

• Has a rain water storage or recycling system

• Generates solar energy

• Recycles feasible rubbish

❏ Bronze ❏ Silver ❏ Gold 3. rIsk & saFeTy ManageMenT safety & risk Management Plan & emergency Procedures

❏ Bronze ❏ Silver ❏ Gold safety officer

❏ Bronze ❏ Silver ❏ Gold

• Offers seasonal leasing of sailing boats to members

• Has no negative impacts on local environment from waste or discharge

Has a risk management plan Club conducts proactive and Incident Management training of its volunteers on Plan less than three years old. safety and operations Club officials and members are all aware of it

Risk management & OHS Plans Policies & Procedures are reviewed and updated and communicated annually

Has access to a recognised person with expertise in safety at clubs

Has a team of people responsible for safety at the club and a member who is a National Equipment Auditor

Has a designated safety coordinator with assigned responsibilities or authorities, and a method of reporting and investigating all major incidents

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A Framework for Sailing Clubs’ Success in Australia | 69

Appendices

Criteria

Bronze

silver

gold

Inclusion

All club activities welcome people of all abilities

Club has adopted specific Inclusion Policies

Club actively involves people of all abilities in all activities and roles

Has a trained membership protection information officer

Has effectively avoided escalation of any MPP issues.

Actively promotes the inclusion of women in all aspects of clubs activity

Has adopted a formal plan for an increase in female representation in all aspects of club activity

Has 40% of Committee as female

Actively promotes responsible consumption of alcohol

Has no financial sponsorship from alcohol companies

❏ Bronze ❏ Silver ❏ Gold

All regulations are met, signage is displayed and volunteers and staff are appropriately trained.

smoking

Complies with state smoking

No smoking is allowed in vicinity of club building

Actively promotes no smoking

Offers healthy eating alternatives

Promotes healthy eating

Promotes wearing sun smart clothing & hats

Provides adequate shaded areas

❏ Bronze ❏ Silver ❏ Gold Membership Protection Has adopted a membership Policy (to minimise Protection Policy discrimination & harassment)

❏ Bronze ❏ Silver ❏ Gold Women

❏ Bronze ❏ Silver ❏ Gold responsible alcohol

❏ Bronze ❏ Silver ❏ Gold regulations Healthy eating

Food handlers are

❏ Bronze ❏ Silver ❏ Gold appropriately trained sun smart

Offers sunscreen to members

❏ Bronze ❏ Silver ❏ Gold at no cost 4. neW ParTICIPanTs gemba report

Committee has read the gemba report summary for clubs

Committee has considered the Committee has substantially gemba recommendations adopted the gemba recommendations

❏ Bronze ❏ Silver ❏ Gold

Committee has identified participation as one of its priorities

Committee has a plan and identified responsibilities for increasing participation

Committee is achieving participation growth consistent with plan

Discover sailing Branding

Adopts the “Discover Sailing” logo and brand.

Links to, and promotes the Discover Sailing website on club website

❏ Bronze ❏ Silver ❏ Gold

Uses the recommended Discover Sailing messages and key words in all promotion

• Actively promotes the Discover Sailing brand at the club

❏ Bronze ❏ Silver ❏ Gold Prioritising participation

• Ensures club profile is up to date on the Discover Sailing website

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70 | Yachting Australia

Appendices

Criteria

Bronze

silver

gold

Discover sailing Day

Participates in the national Discover Sailing day and attracts significant community interest

• Follows up all enquiries received at Discover Sailing day

• Conducts other Discover Sailing days and activities for the local community

Displays and promotes the sailing pathway to all members and prospective members

Integrates the sailing pathway Offers a sailing activity at in the clubs sailing activities. each of levels 1-6 on the Has identified its pathway pathway to all members priority levels

Has an appointed person(s), Discover Sailing Host(s), to receive and follow up all enquiries about club participation and membership

Conducts an induction program for all new members and attendees at learn to sail courses

Runs a mentoring program that links a new member to an existing member mentor

Is a recognised Discover Sailing Centre delivering the Dinghy Program Levels 1 & 2

Delivers dinghy program level 3 – Better sailing

Delivers dinghy program levels 4 & 5 – Start Racing

❏ Bronze ❏ Silver ❏ Gold The sailing Pathway (1-6)

❏ Bronze ❏ Silver ❏ Gold Discover sailing Hosts

❏ Bronze ❏ Silver ❏ Gold Discover sailing Courses learn to sail – dinghy (Pathways steps 1-3)

• Achieves a good volume of follow up activity in Discover Sailing Experiences, Courses and Crewing

anD/or

❏ Bronze ❏ Silver ❏ Gold learn to sail – keelboat (Pathways steps 1-3)

❏ Bronze ❏ Silver ❏ Gold Juniors – Tackers (Pathways steps 1-6) Juniors ages 7 – 12

❏ Bronze ❏ Silver ❏ Gold Instructors

Is a recognised Discover Sailing Delivers the Keelboat Program Centre delivering the Keelboat – Start Skippering, Racing and Program – Level 1 Start Crewing Learn Spinnakers Courses and Level 2 Helming

Delivers the YA – RYA Keelboat Scheme and the Safety and Sea Survival Course

Is a recognised Discover Sailing Centre delivering a junior/primary school age program or Tackers

Runs a green fleet program for juniors (level 4 pathway)

Runs a junior coaching program (level 6 pathway) beyond green fleet reflecting bronze/silver and gold fleets

Only uses YA qualified instructors

Supports instructors in attaining their qualification

Encourages all instructors to undertake development and attend YA/State forums etc

❏ Bronze ❏ Silver ❏ Gold Vocational career paths Promotes the availability of vocational career paths in ❏ Bronze ❏ Silver ❏ Gold sailing and boating to youth

Has had youth progress to Conducts or hosts vocational sailing and boating vocational training programs

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A Framework for Sailing Clubs’ Success in Australia | 71

Appendices

Criteria

Bronze

silver

gold

schools

Promotes & provides opportunities to discover sailing to local schools

Conducts Learn to sail programs for local schools

Has involved local schools in club activities. Hosts a secondary schools teams sailing activity

Welcomes other aquatic users

Encourages wind surfing and kiteboarding

Conducts windsurfing & kiteboarding activities

❏ Bronze ❏ Silver ❏ Gold other aquatic interests

❏ Bronze ❏ Silver ❏ Gold sailability

❏ Bronze ❏ Silver ❏ Gold Females

❏ Bronze ❏ Silver ❏ Gold Power Boat education

❏ Bronze ❏ Silver ❏ Gold Volunteer attraction & recognition

Conducts a Sailability program Conducts a Sailability program Sailability fully integrated into – recreational sailing based on YA dinghy program all club activities in addition to recreational sailing Has policies in place that ensure equal treatment of females

Conducts a female specific introductory program

Conducts female specific events and activities

Requires all on water volunteers & staff to hold YA Power Boat Handling certificate

Conducts recreational boating course for the public eg. start powerboating

Conducts additional boating training eg. navigation or radio

• Has a volunteer attraction, induction & retention program

• Funds the training to achieve qualifications for volunteer instructors, race officials and coaches

Nominates volunteers for State service to yachting awards and life membership

❏ Bronze ❏ Silver ❏ Gold

• Recognises volunteers with an annual awards / celebration activity

Crewing

Actively promotes crewing

❏ Bronze ❏ Silver ❏ Gold opportunities recreational sailing

❏ Bronze ❏ Silver ❏ Gold

Offers a coaching program with a qualified coach for all sailors

Has identified “preferred” classes for its coaching program and promoted to those class associations

Is recognised by class Associations as a preferred club for their coaching

Has a qualified club coach

Club coach is involved in state coach development Network

Club coach is supporting development of club coaches

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72 | Yachting Australia

Converts crew to club members

Has mid-week alternatives to Has a recognised active non club racing eg. twilights social racing group of members racing eg. cruising

❏ Bronze ❏ Silver ❏ Gold Coach Development (level 6)

Has a crew matching service (to match crews and boats)

Offers alternatives to traditional weekend club racing

❏ Bronze ❏ Silver ❏ Gold 5. saIlor DeVeloPMenT Coaching Programs (level 6 )

• Provides uniforms

Appendices

Criteria

Bronze

silver

gold

youth Development

Has achieved members in state development squad (Level 7) in last year

Has achieved members in state sailing team (Level 8) in last year

Has achieved members in Australian Squad or team (Level 9 or 10 ) in last year

❏ Bronze ❏ Silver ❏ Gold

Signage is welcoming to visitors (no members only signs)

Fence boundaries and buildings are open and accessible in daylight hours

Facilities and buildings design make it easy & welcoming for visitors

state association interaction

Attends state general meetings

• Attends state conferences & forums

Contributes to state planning and performance assessment via surveys & meetings

❏ Bronze ❏ Silver ❏ Gold 6. CoMMunICaTIon & CoMMunITy Presentation

• Has members on state board or committees

❏ Bronze ❏ Silver ❏ Gold awards recognitions and nights

Conducts own annual awards

Nominates members for state/ YA or community annual awards

Has members recognised in state / YA or community annual awards

Website serves mobile phones, devices & tablets

Links on website to social media

❏ Bronze ❏ Silver ❏ Gold

Has up to date website that displays upcoming events, courses etc for members and information for visitors

social Media

Has presence on Facebook

Promotes activities through Facebook

Has a digital media plan and uses other social media

❏ Bronze ❏ Silver ❏ Gold Website

❏ Bronze ❏ Silver ❏ Gold Communication with community

Has designated community PR Produces regular local person and PR plan community media releases

Has strong working relationship with local media

Encourages community groups Has relationship with local to use and share facility council and their media

Is part of wider community programs eg. festivals

Distributes regular e-newsletter to members.

Distributes regular hard copy newsletter to members

Conducts regular member information nights integrating social activity

Captures details of all visitors and non-members at club

Has a plan for communication with them

Communicates regularly opportunities to get more involved with the club

Enters all members and renewals in MyClub promptly

Records member email addresses in MyClub

Uses MyClub to promote the Club & its activities including via the event calendar

❏ Bronze ❏ Silver ❏ Gold Community partnerships

❏ Bronze ❏ Silver ❏ Gold newsletters & Communication with Members

❏ Bronze ❏ Silver ❏ Gold Communication with non-members

❏ Bronze ❏ Silver ❏ Gold MyClub

❏ Bronze ❏ Silver ❏ Gold

6

A Framework for Sailing Clubs’ Success in Australia | 73

Appendices

7. CoMPeTITIon & eVenTs Criteria

Bronze

silver

Major events

Assists conduct of major events at other clubs through the provision of resources – boats and volunteers

Actively contributes to Conducts major events organisation the organisation of major events at other clubs

Recognises dates for major state regattas on club calendar (no more than I per month)

Promotes major state regattas Does not schedule racing on sailors dates of major state regattas

Conducts local schools training in teams sailing

Conducts schools teams sailing regattas for local schools

❏ Bronze ❏ Silver ❏ Gold state sailing regattas

❏ Bronze ❏ Silver ❏ Gold schools Teams sailing

❏ Bronze ❏ Silver ❏ Gold race officials & Training

gold

Supports local schools to participate in state schools teams sailing regattas

Conducts all club racing under Has qualified state race officer Has qualified national race qualified club race officer as member officer as member

❏ Bronze ❏ Silver ❏ Gold results and scores

Posts all results on the club notice board

Posts all results on the club website

Posts all results on the club’s social media (Facebook, Twitter) and via SMS

Uses a yardstick, class based handicap (CBH) or performance handicap system (PHS) for mixed fleet racing

Uses the state recognised yardstick, CBH or PHS for mixed fleet racing

Uses the state recognised yardstick, CBH or PHS for mixed fleet racing and actively provides feedback into the development and maintenance of the handicaps

Conducts rules seminars for members

Has members on state race officiating committee

Educates members in rules for teams & match racing

❏ Bronze ❏ Silver ❏ Gold Handicapping

❏ Bronze ❏ Silver ❏ Gold rules education for Members

❏ Bronze ❏ Silver ❏ Gold WHere To FInD ouT More Visit www.yachting.org.au/participation for more information on how to develop your club or centre.

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74 | Yachting Australia

Appendices Appendix 3: Resource References and Links www.discoversailing.org.au – for the public; information and communication about discovering sailing and clubs

Tackers  Benefits for Clubs  Club Information and application Guide  Buoyed Up

www.yachting.org.au – The Yachting Australia website; for club officials with explanations of the programs and resources to help their implementation Education Tab Discover Sailing Centres  Information and Application  Operating Standards and Guidelines

 Sailing Games – videos  Case Studies  Newsletters  Parents Guide Sailability  Explanation for Clubs  Benefits for Clubs  Newsletters  Case Studies

Programs and Courses

 Volunteer Induction Resources – videos

 Dinghy, Keelboat, Powerboat, Windsurfer

Case Studies

Instructors  Becoming and Instructor  Instructor Resources Club Coach Participation Tab Discover Sailing  Club Implementation Guide  Program Outline  Discover Sailing Brand (download) Guidelines and Messages  Discover Sailing Day resources  Discover Sailing Hosts resources  Sports Market Research – CSIRO Future of Sport – ASC Sports market research  gemba Report  Case Studies

The Sailing Pathways  The Sailing Pathways  Green Fleet including videos  Development and High Performance for Youth Sport Services Tab Safety  C lub Safety and Risk Management Resources Officiating  Becoming and Official  AF Introductory Rules Saving Sailing www.savingsailing.com Long Term Athlete Development www.ltad.ca ASC Market Research www.ausport.gov.au/information/nsr A Framework for Sailing Clubs’ Success in Australia | 75

Appendices State Office Contact Details

ACT

NSW

NT

QLD

Email office@nsw.yachting.org.au Phone (02) 8073 4900 PO Box 684, Double Bay NSW 1360 1C New Beach Road, Darling Point NSW 2027 Email NT@yachting.org.au Phone (08) 8985 5914 PO Box 127, Parap NT 0804

Email Office@qldyachting.org.au Phone (07) 3393 6788 PO Box 5462, Manly QLD 4179 578 Royal Esplanade, Manly QLD 4179

SA

Email execofficer@yachtsa.org.au Phone (08) 8410 2117 PO Box 6135, Halifax Street, Adelaide SA 5000 1st Floor, 300 Morphett Street, Adelaide SA 5000

TAS

Email tas@yachting.org.au Phone 0413 377 017 PO Box 3210, West Hobart TAS 7000 Level 4, 11 Morrison Street, Hobart TAS 7000

VIC

WA

Yachting Australia

76 | Yachting Australia

Email YACT@canberrayachtclub.com.au Phone (02) 6273 4777 PO Box 7169, Yarralumla ACT 2600

Email sailing@yachtingvictoria.com.au Phone (03) 9597 0066 Unit 2, 77 Beach Road, Sandringham VIC 3191

Email ywa.office@wa.yachting.org.au Phone (08) 9386 2438 Box 3073 PO Broadway, Nedlands WA 6009 In the grounds of the Royal Perth Yacht Club, Australia II Drive, Crawley Phone (02) 8424 7400 Fax (02) 9906 2366 Level 1, 22 Atchison Street, St Leonards, Sydney NSW 2065 Postal Address: Locked Bag 806, Milsons Point NSW 2061

Yachting Australia Locked Bag 806, Milsons Point NSW 2065 www.yachting.org.au