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THE NUGC PLAYER DEVELOPMENT PATHWAY MISSION STATEMENT The Nottinghamshire Union of Golf Clubs in delivering the Player Development Pathway will make every effort to: Honour each individual in their personal choices Support self understanding and self esteem Promote self reliance and self organisation Support self discovery, self development, curiosity and imagination though engouragement and positive motivation Avoid judgement, criticism and prejudice Strive to promote personal development SUMMARY The NUGC Player Development Pathway offers:
* NB: [Players will receive half the sum allocated sum when competing in the Tournament, and the balance upon qualifying for the final day of play, or upon reaching the matchplay stages of specific events.] To be eligible to receive the above privileges, players must consistently demonstrate a commitment to the concept of the NUGC Player Development Pathway, and including NUGC team events. Player’s commitment will be reviewed bi-annually.
INTRODUCTION: For a number of years the NUGC has confined its coaching investment to the development and coaching of its junior players. Significant sums of money have been invested annually, and upon reaching the age of 18 years, players fell outside of any coaching and training programmes offered by the NUGC, and as such were frequently lost to the County as they fell outside the area of focus of those responsible for team selection. Consequently, any investment made was largely lost to the County, particularly when a player had not quite reached the desired standard to represent Nottinghamshire at either the first or second team levels. In order to generate a constant flow of suitable representative players, capable of replacing ‘veteran’ players who have reached the end of their County playing careers, the NUGC Council and Executive Committees approved the introduction of a carefully developed training structure, through which it is proposed to monitor the progress and development of players of all ages, and also through performance approved County and other events. This will become a seperate department of the NUGC, which will be known as the Player Development Pathway, organised and administered by the Director of Coaching. The leading players in various catogories will be invited to join the Player Development Pathway, and those who show total commitment to the scheme will be invited to attend a limited number of training days, and a number will become entitled to receive other specific benefits to assist their ongoing development. The County Captain and Second Team Captain will give serious consideration to the selection of the leading players, utilising the applicable NUGC Order of Merit, when choosing their representative teams, and to show preference to emerging players over ‘veteran’ players as they come to the end of their County playing careers. Order of Merit points will be calculated, and allocated, to Mens, Seniors and Junior sections of the NUGC, and the Order of Merit will be maintained and published on the NUGC website, and considered at NUGC Selection Committee meetings. THE PLAYER DEVELOPMENT PATHWAY: The Player Development Pathway, has been based upon similar Development Programmes offered by other sporting bodies. e.g. Cricket, tennis, etc. The model has six stages and a basic outline of the activities encompassed within each stage is explained below. A detailed programme of events has been prepared for each stage of the Player Development Pathway, to avoid repetition. Stage 1: - The Fundamental Stage - Schools and Golf Club Links Nippers’ - Males & Females - Age 7 - 11 years It is planned to introduce children to the game of golf through a series of initiatives. By co-operating closely with the Nottinghamshire Schools Golf Association, to establish links between golf clubs and schools through school visits and the creation of ‘taster sessions’ at schools and golf clubs, where children may experience an introduction to the game with the emphasis on fun. Having developed an active interest children may be encouraged to join the Nottinghamshire Nippers’ Tour. The main objective of this Stage is do encourage young children to experience and learn the fundamental skills of the game of golf, using a positive, well structured and fun approach. Golf will be introduced with the emphasis on fun and skill development, incorporating an element of competition within each age group, using simplified and easy to understand rules. THE NOTTINGHAMSHIRE NIPPERS' TOUR: A series of five meetings are held each year, known as the Nottinghamshire Nippers Tour, with competitions for players within the five age groups 7 - 11 inclusive. An Order of Merit has been established and is published on the NUGC website. At each of the five meetings a series of short golf clinics will be offered to the participants in each age group, delivering basic technique by qualified PGA professional instructors, graded according to ability and varied to avoid becoming repetitive. Upon the completion of the annual tour, a Nippers’ Mini Ryder Cup will be staged between Nottinghamshire and the neighbouring County of Shropshire & Herefordshire, offering the children the opportunity to experience competition, whilst retaining the emphasis of fun and participation. Players graduating from the Nippers’ Tour will be encouraged to re-cycle old equipment which they have outgrown, by donation, or sell at a discounted price, to new players on the Tour. Stocks to be held together with the Nottinghamshire County Golf Partnership stocks. The Nottinghamshire Nippers' Tour will continue to be organised by the Junior Section of the NUGC. Stage 2: - The Learning to Play & Practice Stage The main objective of this Stage is to learn, and develop, specific golf skills and the etiquette of the game, which will form the cornerstone of player development. Players will compete on full size golf courses, and receive more comprehensive instruction, graded according to the various levels of ability, and delivered by qualified PGA professional instructors. Players in the Under 12 age category, will be recruited from the Nippers’ Tour, and through the recommendation of golf clubs affiliated to the NUGC. Players in the remaining categories in this group will be invited to attend an Assessment Day, at which PGA professional instructors will assess the potential of players, and will recommend suitable participants for inclusion in the Player Development Pathway. County Regional ‘Taster Sessions’ will also be organised regularly throughout the year to encourage young persons to experience the game of golf at an early age. A number of Training Days will be organised at the National Golf Centre, Woodhall Spa, Lincolnshire, for each of the age groups. Competitions are organised annually by the NUGC Junior Section, within the County, and together with a number of Inter County matches between other County Unions for each of the respective age groups. According to the ability demonstrated the NUGC will contribute a nominal sum to the expenses of players demonstrating sufficient aptitude to compete in National events organised by the sport’s Governing body. It is anticipated that advice and assistance will be made available to young players relating to educational needs, and advice will be made available to those contemplating turning professional, either as a player or teacher. At this Stage players will be introduced to basic individual fitness and lifestyle skills. Stage 3: - The Training to Compete Stage The main objective of this Stage is to generate a continuous supply of suitable representative players, capable of replacing ‘veteran’ players who are coming to the end of their County playing careers, through the consolidation and optimisation of fitness preparation, individual skills and overall performance. The capacities of all the players at this Stage should be well established, and players should be ready for more intense competition, both at County and National level. Training is characterised by high-intensity periods of practice, and individual coaching, supplemented by frequent group training sessions. Players in in this group will be invited to attend a personal assessment with the Director of Coaching, who will assess the potential and commitment of players, and will recommend suitable participants for inclusion in the programme. A number of training days which will be held at the National Golf Centre, Woodhall Spa, Lincolnshire, for each of the age groups, and specialist coaches and instructors will be used to emphasise specific areas which may require attention, including golf course management. Competition are organised annually within the County, together with a number of Inter County matches between other County Unions for each of the respective age groups. An Order of Merit is maintained on the NUGC website indicating the relative performance of players in strokeplay and matchplay events. According to the ability demonstrated the NUGC will contribute to the expenses of players demonstrating sufficient aptitude to compete in National events organised by the sport’s Governing body. It is anticipated that advice and assistance will be made available to players relating to educational needs, and advice will also be made available to those contemplating turning professional, either as a player or teacher. Stage 4: - The Competitive Stage This is the final Stage of player preparation. Players capacities have now been fully established and players are trained to compete in major National, County competitions and team events. A number of training days will be organised at the National Training Centre, Woodhall Spa, Lincolnshire, with PGA instructors to emphasise specific areas which may require attention, including golf course management. Competitions are organised annually within the County, together with a number of Inter County matches between other County Unions. An Order of Merit, based upon approved County and some National events, is maintained and published on the NUGC website indicating the relative performance of players in strokeplay and matchplay events. According to the ability demonstrated the NUGC will contribute to the expenses of players demonstrating sufficient aptitude to compete in National events organised by the sport’s Governing body. At this Stage it is intended to encourage players to become involved in serving as mentors to younger players and to consider becoming involved in future administration within golf clubs and the County Union. Stage 5: - The Retirement Stage One objective of this Stage is to provide some elements of training for participants, with a training day organised at the National Golf Centre, Woodhalls Spa, Lincolnshire, with PGA instructors to emphasise specific areas which may require attention. Competitions are organised annually within the County, together with a number of Inter County matches between other County Unions. An Seniors Order of Merit is maintained, based upon approved Seniors County and some National events, indicating the relative performance of players in strokeplay and matchplay events. However, the main objective of this Stage is to encourage players to become involved in serving as mentors to younger players and to retain and train suitable players for sport administration within golf clubs and the County Union. Stage 6: - The Disabled Groups Stage It is proposed to organise an integrated golf learning package for disabled persons, and inviduals with learning disabilities, at suitable venues across the County, using suitably qualified PGA professional instructors.
EDUCATION & CAREER CONSULTANTS:
Mentors, PGA professionals, and volunteers will be expected to undergo and complete a Criminal Records Bureau and Independant Safeguarding Authority checks as may be necessary. RC - 02.2010
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