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CONNACHT DEVELOPMENT PLAN
2001/2006

MISSION STATEMENT
The Connacht Branch of the ITTA is committed to providing opportunities for people of all ages and abilities to play Table Tennis to their full potential. The Connacht Branch's long-term mission is that all of Connacht: - Galway; Mayo; Sligo; Leitrim and Roscommon are involved in Table Tennis.

The 2001/2002 CONNACHT COMMITTEE OFFICIALS
Chairman:- Cliff Rowe
Secretary:- Emer O'Connell
Treasurer:- Kariem Sabir
P.R.O.:- Teresa Egan
Assistant Treasurer:- Martin Folan
Junior Management Representative:- Eamon Nealon
Senior Management Representative:- Ollie Adamson

CONNACHT PLAN SUMMARY

  1. The Connacht Branch oversees Table Tennis in: Galway, Mayo, Sligo, Leitrim and Roscommon.
  2. Each Connacht County should have it's own Committee to look after their schools , Junior and Senior Leagues and Local Events.
  3. Each Connacht County should keep a Register of Junior and Senior Players and a copy should be given to the Connacht Branch at the start of each season with Affiliation Fees. The Connacht Branch Committee could then issue Individual Membership Numbers.
  4. Each Connacht County should present their Annual Report at the Connacht A.G.M. and submit their plans and proposals for the following season.
  5. Each Connacht County should have their own ITTA approved Coach.
  6. Connacht should have a minimum of Two Qualified Tutors.
  7. Each Connacht County should be represented on the Connacht Branch Committee so that the Connacht Branch could then concentrate on Connacht Affairs and continue the work of getting more Connacht people interested in playing Table Tennis.


OPPORTUNITIES
  • Continue promoting Table Tennis through the Media. Last season the Connacht PRO made contact with 14 Newspapers and 3 Radio Stations in Connacht.
  • Some Schools are playing Table Tennis and other schools are being encouraged to start.
  • The Code of Ethics & Good Practices for Children in Sport issued by the Irish Sport Council will reassure parents, guardians of children and Clubs that the Connacht Branch agree that Children's safety in sport is of utmost importance.
  • The Impetus should be maintained to keep Table Tennis on the Connacht Map and in the public eye.

    GOALS & OBJECTIVES
  • To have the Five Counties of Connacht Represented on the Connacht Branch Committee.
  • To have Table Tennis Players in the Five Counties of Connacht.
  • To have the Connacht Branch Committee deal with all Connacht Branch matters.
  • To get a Major Sponsor or Sponsors for Connacht Events and Connacht Players.
  • To have more ITTA Trained Coaches in Connacht preferably one in each County.
  • To have a minimum of Two Qualified Tutors to cover the Province.
  • To continue promoting Table Tennis through the Media.
  • To get Table Tennis Television Coverage.

    OBSTACLES TO ACHIEVING GOALS AND OBJECTIVES
  • The majority of the Connacht Branch Committee members are at present also on other Table Tennis Committees and are doing work which could be done by these other Table Tennis Committee.
  • The Connacht Branch Committee cannot devote their time to Connacht Branch matters as they are double & treble jobbing trying to get everything done.
  • Too few people are willing to go on Committees and devote some time to administration.
  • Many Volunteer Administrators and Coaches reach burnout and leave the sport.
  • Connacht does not have many qualified Connacht Coaches.
  • Connacht does not have any Qualified Tutor.

    SPONSORSHIP PLAN
  • A Major Sponsor is needed each year to sponsor the Connacht Senior and Junior Inter-Provincial Teams for Travel, Accommodation and Gear expenses.
  • Sponsors are needed to sponsor the Major Tournaments in Connacht.
  • Sponsors are needed to sponsor Travel and Accommodation expenses for players so that they can compete in Ranking Tournaments around Ireland and thus improve their own ranking positions.
  • Major Sponsors are needed every four years to host the Senior and Junior Inter-Provincials.

    CONNACHT RESOURCE REQUIREMENTS
  • Technology requirements - Telephone. E-mail, Webpage for Communication with the Five Counties of Connacht, the ITTA, the Media etc.
  • Personnel requirements - Time & Commitment, Good Communication & Inter-Personnel Skills, Secretarial Skills, Interest & Ability to Complete Jobs/Assignments, Tutors, Coaches etc.
  • Resource requirements - Affiliations, Sponsorship, Personnel, Training & Development coaches, Funding from the ITTA; Time & Commitment, Interest etc.
  • External requirements - Communications/Publicity/Technology/Training & Development required to promote and encourage the game of Table Tennis throughout Connacht.

    RISKS & REWARDS
    RISKS
  • The proposed Connacht Development Plan may Appear Daunting
  • Too few People/Players willing to Commit their Time & Energy to help Develop Connacht Table Tennis
  • Present Connacht Branch rapidly reaching Burnout as they are Double/Treble Jobbing.
  • Only a few players who are willing to give of their time to help promote Connacht Table Tennis.

    ADDRESSING RISKS
  • When the Connacht Branch are dealing with Connacht Matters - the Officials can then deal exclusively with their respective tasks and the Connacht Counties can look after their own respective areas.
  • Encourage players and/or supporters to promote the game by helping at Committee level because if they do not help out the game will deteriorate again.
  • Perhaps some of the players' friends or families might wish to show their support at committee level, by playing in the leagues or by encouraging our children and young people to play. This game can be played by any child from 8 to 88! Table tennis is a game for life!

    REWARDS
  • The Connacht Branch could Promote Table Tennis throughout Connacht.
  • There could be more players in each Connacht County.
  • There could be Inter-Connacht Counties Leagues for both Juniors and Seniors players.
  • The Connacht Branch could spend more Time seeking Sponsors.
  • The Connacht Branch could arrange Training & Development Courses through the ITTA.
  • Connacht could have a minimum of two Qualified Tutors.
  • Each Connacht County could have their own ITTA approved Coach.

    KEY ISSUES
    SHORT TERM
  • Promote Table Tennis in all the Connacht Counties
  • Encourage the Counties to form their own Committees with at least one Representative on the Connacht Branch
  • Ensure that all Table Tennis Clubs know about "The Code of Ethics & Good Practices for Children in Sport" issued by the Irish Sports Council and are aware of it's implications.
  • Funding is needed from the ITTA to Implement the Connacht Development Plan.

    LONG TERM
  • Have Table Tennis in each of our Five Connacht Counties.
  • Have Inter-Connacht Schools Leagues Competitions.
  • Have Inter-Connacht County League Competitions.
  • Get another Ranking Tournament for Connacht
  • A full-time paid ITTA administrator is needed in Connacht to promote Table Tennis.
  • Have an ITTA approved Coach in each of the Connacht Counties
  • Have a minimum of Two Qualified Tutors to cover the Province.

    FUNDING:- is needed for the Development of Table Tennis in Connacht which can be got from:-

    The ITTA -
  • To implement the Connacht Plan for the Development of Table Tennis in Connacht.
  • To promote Table Tennis thoughout the Five Connacht Counties at both Junior and Senior Level.

    SPONSORSHIP:-
  • is needed to stage the Major Connacht Events
  • to host the Junior & Senior Inter-Provincials every four years;
  • Senior & Junior Inter-Provincials Travel, Accommodation,Connacht Gear Expenses;
  • to help Players improve their Games and Rankings.


    Prepared by Teresa Egan, PRO for Connacht Table Tennis e-mail gtdae@eircom.net