In this episode of Basket Case Clubs, Michael and Steve simplify the process of preparing a strategic plan. The examples you'll find by Googling a 'sports club strategic plan template' will give you a place to write down some actions, but they won't inspire transformational improvements. A strategic plan should inspire! And for inspiration, you need 'emotional juice'. The fun of strategic planning is about connecting with why people join, and more importantly, what keeps them coming back. And then, forget SMART objectives - think big! Set inspirational goals or outcomes to motivate action. There aren't many showcase clubs that don't have an inspiring strategic plan...
Ep 21: "How to get grants? Forget about grants!"
Sports clubs often think that grants will save them from becoming basket cases. But as Michael and Steve explore in this episode, that's simply not how they work. The clubs that are most successful in getting grants, particularly the big ones, are the ones that look like they don't need them! They already run tight ships and so grant agencies are more willing to invest in them. Join Michael and Steve as they take you through everything from the political nature of grants and how to plan kick-ass projects, through to how to answer the questions in grant applications to give you the greatest chance of becoming a showcase club!
Ep 20: "Get off my field!" - Dealing with conflict over shared sports facilities
It makes perfect sense for field space to be shared, especially in metropolitan areas that are experiencing rapid urban sprawl. But how well it works in practice is sometimes not as effective as the theory. It could be 'season creep' causing clashes between traditional summer and winter sports, or challenges over field bookings for sports that share facilities in the one season. In this episode, Michael and Steve explore why clashes over the sharing of sports facilities can be common, and as usual, discover that it has a lot to do with people...
Ep 19: From the Gully to the Green: The inspiring transformation of Wellers Hill Bowls Club
While the old, inner-south Brisbane suburb of Wellers Hill has all but been swallowed up, the local bowls club has become a thriving hub of the community. In this episode, Michael and CPR Group's Chris Kenward interview club president Richard Tanner, who shares the simple, but powerful steps the club has taken to not only survive in an environment where most other lawn bowls clubs are struggling, but to move from strength to strength. This is an uplifting story of a club that has taken the action necessary to follow up on great ideas to turn them into reality. Wellers Hill Bowls Club is truly a showcase among basket case clubs.
Ep 18: Is our President really a psychopath?
In this episode, Michael and Steve get into the psychology of volunteers, and what makes some of them spend so much of their time fighting petty battles with each other. Why do people volunteer in the first place? And what do they really get out of the experience? There are some really easy steps that club volunteers can take to push through, so they can spend more time on value adding activities, rather than value destroying fights. With stories of some classic basket case situations and light-hearted advice for 'popping the pimple' to become a happy volunteer, this episode is sure to get you thinking.
Ep 17: "Who am I? Why am I here?": The question of relevance for the 'levels' of sports governance in Australia
In this episode, Michael and Steve shine a spotlight onto the question of relevance of each layer of the federated structure of sport in Australia, highlighting some of the difference between the 'haves' and the 'have nots'. Do we really need state associations for sport and recreation activities that can be organised socially? How do we answer the question about why clubs have to pay money 'up the line' to regional, state and national associations?
This episode marks the beginning of an exciting research project being conducted by CPR Group to help find answers to these questions. Follow us on social media and via our website to join the conversation.
Ep 16: Queensland's Associations Incorporation Act Changes: No Recycled Coleslaw!
After 13 years without change, Queensland's Associations Incorporation Act 1981 has recently undergone a comprehensive review. The resulting Associations Incorporation and Other Legislation Amendment Act 2020 was passed by Queensland Parliament on 16 June 2020. Some of the approved changes bring the Act into line with other similar legislation around the country in terms of important fiduciary and other duties of management committee members.
In this episode, Michael and Steve have a ball discussing what some of the legislative amendments mean for volunteers in the 23,000 incorporated associations across Queensland.
Ep 15: Socks and Sausages
Understanding the Value Proposition of Community Sports Clubs
Ep 14: From the BMX Track to the Boardroom
In this episode Juanita Paton, then President of BMX Queensland, joins us to talk all things BMX both on and off the track.
Ep 13: Big Thinking - The winning formula for Towers Jockey Club
How big picture thinking motivates big picture change.
Ep 12: We're all in this together
Michael Fisher joins us to discuss some of the challenges faced by club volunteers, from the perspective of a state sporting organisation employee. During his time at Queensland Cricket, Fish developed some great personal relationships with people throughout the sport. He also gained insight into the value of building a positive, inclusive organisational culture and collaborating to achieve success from the local to national levels.
Ep 11: A seat at the board table
If you drop into a supermarket to buy a loaf of bread, do you hold a meeting with the family before you pop out? Of course you don’t. But if you can stretch out this, admittedly, simple analogy, this basic principle is how many clubs are still run when committees are involved.
Committees are, of course, generally well meaning. They are volunteers who are passionate about their club. But passion and pragmatism are two different things. In a modern business, emotion needs to be left at the door. There must be clarity of purpose and a long-term, well-structured plan to drive that entity forward.
In the episode, Underwood Park Netball Association (UPNA) President, Rachael McCurdy chats with Michael about the efficiencies created at UPNA by moving the club from a committee structure to a board.
Ep 10: From factions to fusions
In this episode Michael is joined by Rodney Gaunt, a baseball stalwart and the President of Western Districts Baseball Club in Brisbane.
Rodney takes us through some of the challenges he has faced as President and how good communication can help create a welcoming club and positive culture, where members are informed, understand club values and expected behaviour and everyone feels safe, treated fairly and included.
Ep 9: Time is money
We have all heard it - and said it ourselves, or thought of it at different moments in our life. Time is money. Regardless of sector or industry, to thrive on today's commercial battlefield, embracing the emerging technologies, trends and cultural shifts is crucial.
If your club is looking to secure a sustainable commercial future, investing ample time, money and energy into your digital transformation strategy is a wise move.
In this episode Steve and Michael discuss how your club can use technology to help make better decisions and improve operations.
Ep 8: From quarantine to kick-off: emerging from the COVID-19 lockdown and kick-starting your club
We welcome the update on Friday 8th May from National Cabinet on the three-step plan to ease the current restrictions in place as a result of COVID-19 and in this episode Michael and Steve discuss COVID-Safe Plans for clubs and how we will continue to work with sport to assist in implementing a safer return to training and competition activities in alignment with State and Territory advice.
Ep 7: The seven most expensive words in business
“This is how we’ve always done it”
We know that past success is no guarantee for the future, especially when the only constant is change; but that doesn’t stop many clubs from being completely resistant to new ideas. If you’re currently stuck in this sort of culture, you know how frustrating it can be.
In this episode Michael and Steve discuss some steps that can help you effectively present your thoughts and (hopefully) get the gears in motion.
Ep 6: Mergers & Amalgamations: what's our shirt going to look like?!?
Steve and Michael generously share their lived experience and deep insights into club mergers and amalgamations and discuss the risks, barriers and opportunities.. as well as the big issues like - what will the new uniform look like??
Ep 5: Constitution Says No!
At CPR Group, we 'get off' on writing constitutions. But, we recognise that not everyone is the same (luckily)...
In this episode, Michael and Steve discuss some important considerations in getting your club or association constitution right, as well as some pitfalls to avoid.
Ep 4: Shooting baskets, kicking goals.
Sharon and James from Suncoast Spinners Wheelchair Basketball join us to chat about how they've successfully transitioned from basket case to showcase. By getting their house in order, this club has been able to increase confidence, improve governance and access major federal government funding to support their innovative Reverse Inclusion program. This program gets able-bodied people participating in sports that were traditionally designed for people with a disability.
Ep 3: We don’t know where anything is!
Did you finally pull out your asset register and realised you don’t know where anything is? Michael and Steve discuss club houses rotting from the inside out, missing mobile phones and asset registers.
