SCA Plan 2013-2017 - Scottish Canoe Association

Transcription

SCA Plan 2013-2017 - Scottish Canoe Association
Scottish Canoe Association
2013 – 2017 Strategy
Helping and inspiring people to go canoeing
Helping
and Inspiring people to go canoeing
1
Contents
3 Mission, Vision and Values
4
Who we are; SCA Infrastructure
and Systems
5 A Record of Success
6
SCA Organisational Structure
7 Partnerships
8
SCA and Scottish National Policy
9 The People We Support
10
Places to go Canoeing (Access &
Environment)
11
12
SCA Strategy 2013 - 2017
13 Programme Highlights
14
Coaching Programme
15 Coaching Programme (cont)
16
Performance Programme
17 Performance Programme (cont)
18
Performance Programme (cont)
19 Performance Programme (cont)
20
Performance Programme (cont)
21 Performance Programme (cont)
22
Development Programme
23 Development (cont)
24
Events Programme
25 Staffing structure
26
Facilities required to deliver the
SCA Vision
27 Prioritisation of SCA Facility needs
28
Growing our sport through
sponsorship and branding
29 sportscotland Success Measures
Places To Go Canoeing (Providers, Clubs
and Schools)
Version 2.0 – 07/02/2013
Helping and inspiring people to go canoeing
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SCA Mission
“To help and inspire people to go canoeing
and to enable people to progress throughout
the sport”
SCA Vision
More Members
SCA Values
 Integrity
We act in a responsible and ethical
manner
 Competence
Whatever we do, we aim to do it to
an appropriate and acceptable
standard
 Leadership
We rely on our Board and
Committees to lead the
development of canoeing in
Scotland.
 Engagement
We aim to engage and cooperate
effectively with our members and
external organisations
 Responsibility
We take responsibility for our
actions
 Enjoyment
We want people to enjoy and
appreciate all aspects of canoeing
 Continuous
improvement
We are always seeking to improve
what we do and how we do it
 Sustainability
 To strengthen our membership benefits and services in order to attract
new individual members
 To increase the influence of the SCA - representing all aspects of canoeing
in Scotland
 To increase the capacity of the SCA to support the development of
recreation, education and competition
 To deliver: More Canoeing, Stronger Clubs, Better Coaching and More
Medals
More Canoeing
 To make canoeing more accessible and to increase the number of
canoeists in Scotland and visiting Scotland
 To work in partnership and to facilitate access to canoeing
 To introduce new SCA events in the different disciplines to encourage
more participation
 To effectively represent members’ views in all relevant external
consultations
Stronger Clubs
 To provide support and advice to those running SCA Affiliated Clubs to
develop well organised, well promoted, well connected and sustainable
clubs
 To develop additional SCA membership benefits and innovative ways to
join
 For club members to progress into SCA membership
 To have increased the number of volunteers involved in our sport and the
support available for them
Better Coaching
 To develop a strong coaching infrastructure in Scotland
 To support coaches at all levels and disciplines
 To improve the quality and quantity of coaching delivered in Scotland
 To make paddling safer in Scotland – through raising awareness and
training
More Medals
 Winning Olympic and World Championship medals across disciplines
 Full representation of Scottish athletes in GB teams for Olympic disciplines
 To build the SCA Performance Pathway, integrating a data management
strategy, to align the future vision with that of GB Canoeing
 To establish principle training centres for the Performance Programme in
Sprint and Slalom
We plan for the future of canoeing
and the environment
Helping and inspiring people to go canoeing
 We will achieve our mission and vision
through developing programmes to support the
people and places involved in canoeing
3
Who we are
Our Sport
The SCA is the governing body for canoeing and
kayaking in Scotland.
We are one of the four home nation associations
comprising the British Canoe Union.
It was established in 1939 and federated with the BCU
in 1979. The SCA is principally a membership
organisation comprising 3,200 individual members in
addition to a further 2,200 registered members of
Affiliated Clubs.
The sport of canoeing is diverse and has something for
everyone including: adventure, education, relaxation,
enjoyment and competition. The SCA recognises and
supports the following disciplines: sea kayaking, white
water kayaking, open canoeing, surf kayaking, canoe
polo, wild water racing, canoe slalom, sprint racing,
marathon racing, touring, freestyle kayaking, kayak
fishing, sit on top (SOT) kayaking and stand up
paddleboarding (SUP). We use the generic term
“canoeing” to include all forms of canoeing and
kayaking.
SCA membership has grown 20% since March 2006
and the number of coaching members has grown 16%
since the introduction of UKCC endorsed coaching
awards in 2007.
Infrastructure and systems
SCA Office
The SCA office in Edinburgh provides a base to service memberships, coaching course registrations and undertake
the key administration processes for the association. Meeting rooms within the sportscotland House of Sport in
which the SCA is based are often used for groups of SCA volunteers to meet and for course delivery.
Managing members’ details
The SCA has implemented a Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system for all SCA data and records as part
of a sportscotland project involving several other sports. The project has been a success in bringing together a lot of
disparate data and enabling reports and trends to be monitored.
Other Information Systems
The SCA has recently implemented several other IT systems including ones to manage events and the time and
attendance for staff.
SCA Website
The website is run and administered by a volunteer webmaster on the domain www.canoescotland.org. Accessed via
the website is a Self Service area for members to review and
update their own data as well as to book onto events and pay for
their membership.
Research and Development
The SCA uses the accurate information and data from SCA
Information Systems to analyse membership, coaching, leadership,
club and equity statistics in aggregate form. This is then used to
inform the Board’s decision planning the organisation’s future.
Branding and Marketing
The SCA is a recognisable and valued brand. The SCA will be seeking
additional ways to use the brand to raise the profile of its work.
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A record of success
Some of our Highlights include:
Coaching
Almost 1,000 candidates achieving the BCU UKCC Level 1 award
in the first four years of the award
Around 3,000 candidates completing BCU coaching, leadership,
safety or performance awards in Scotland each year
Governance
Achieving the Foundation and Preliminary Levels in the Equality
Standard in Sport (Intermediate result pending)
Achieving all eight child protection minimum operating
requirements by March 2012
Environment &
access
The inclusion of access to water as well as to land in the Land
Reform (Scotland) Act 2003 and the Scottish Outdoor Access
Code
Favourable outcome to 2009 Braan Inquiry – to protect the
opportunities to use the river for canoeing
Great Glen Canoe Trail completed in 2012
Leading environmental protection work by the SCA on
Gyrodactylus Salaris etc., other non-native species as well as the
production of SCA advice leaflets on Wild Camping, Sea Kayaking
and Human Sanitation
Events
Performance
Over 2,000 visitors to the Scottish Canoe & Kayak show and over
400 participants in Tay Descent
Establishment of the SCA Performance Programme in 2007 and
having 8 Scottish athletes selected for Junior GB teams across
Sprint and Slalom in 2012
Scottish athletes achieving at an international level including
Gold and Silver medals in 2012 Olympics and Silver medals at
the 2004 and 2008 Olympics.
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Over the last
decade the SCA
has grown its
membership
significantly.
Participation in
training and
qualification
courses,
success in the
Olympic
Pathways and
attendance at
events have
also increased.
SCA Organisation
Volunteers
SCA Staff
The SCA is a volunteer led organisation with a number of
SCA committees made up of volunteers supported by two
staff teams. The Board of Directors are responsible for
leading the strategy and direction of the association. SCA
Committees are sub-committees working under the
jurisdiction of the SCA Board. Each committee is responsible
for the development of the sport in their particular area
and organises programmes and events. The Committees
are:
•
Access
•
Canoe Polo
•
Canoe Slalom
•
Coaching
•
Marathon Racing
•
Recreational Rivers
•
Sprint Racing
•
Surf Kayaking
•
Touring
•
Wild Water Racing
There are two teams of SCA staff as follows:
 Coaching and Development Team – led by the Coaching
and Development Manager. This team manages the
delivery of the BCU coaching scheme in Scotland and the
development of and support for Affiliated Clubs and SCA
events.
 Performance Team – led by the Performance Director.
This team provides coach led training in the Olympic
disciplines of Canoe Slalom and Canoe Sprint for young
paddlers meeting specific performance criteria. Staff are
based in various locations across Scotland, some working
in partnership with other organisations and/or SCA
Affiliated Clubs.
Helping and inspiring people to go canoeing
Subject to identifying additional investment, a network of
regional development officers is planned. These staff would
support the development of the sport and work with clubs,
centres, providers, and schools in their area.
6
Partnerships
The SCA operates according to the
principles of cooperation and
partnership. We work with other
organisations in order to achieve far
more than we would on our own.
Partners (formal and informal) include
those listed below.
 British Canoe Union (BCU) – the umbrella UK body for
the sport
 sportscotland – the national agency for sport and the
Institute of Sport
 The Scottish Government through its vision for a more
active Scotland and athletes winning Olympic medals.
Also: Marine Scotland, Visit Scotland and Event Scotland
 sportscotland National Centre at Glenmore Lodge
 Local Sports Councils
 Other providers of canoeing activities
 Affiliated Clubs –volunteer clubs across Scotland
 Winning Scotland Foundation. The SCA works in
partnership with the Winning Scotland Foundation
through the Work Out For Sport scheme.
 Local Authorities and Leisure Trusts. The SCA works with
specific local authorities and leisure trusts particularly in
the delivery of the SCA Performance Programme.
 Further / Higher Education sector. Several colleges across
 Scottish Disability Sport
Scotland deliver outdoor education programmes as well
 Scottish Natural Heritage
as universities with canoe clubs
 Local Access Forums
 Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) – the
 Joint Services including the Joint Services Mountain
Training Centre
Government agency protecting and improving the
 Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme
environment
 Youth organisations. This includes a range of youth
 RNLI and HM Coastguard
groups such as the Scout Association, Girl Guiding, Princes
 Scottish Advisory Panel for Outdoor Education (SAPOE)
Trust.
 Scottish Boating Alliance and its members including RYA
Scotland and British Marine Federation
 Approved Paddlesport Providers – accredited third party
 Riparian owners, Fishery Interests and the Developers of
Renewable energy schemes
 Mountaineering Council of Scotland
(public sector and independent) providers such as
outdoor centres
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SCA and Scottish National Policy
“Scotland, where sport is a way of life”
Scotland Performs
(wealthier & fairer, smarter,
healthier, safer & stronger,
greener)
The SCA’s contribution
The SCA programmes contribute to the sportscotland
identified areas of:
 Performance sport
 Club sport
 School sport
Outcomes for Scotland
•
A More Active Nation
•
More Participation
•
More Performance
•
More Success
Canoeing is the perfect sport for encouraging
people of all backgrounds to be more active. The
age and gender profiles for the sport indicate that
there is no barrier to participation and the SCA is
actively working to remove perceived barriers for
younger people, older people, females and people
with a disability.
Our programmes are centred on the People involved in our
sport and the Places where our sport takes place. Canoeing is
relevant to the spectrum of Formal and Informal sport.
Formal Sport:
 Structured, coach-led sessions at Approved
 Paddlesport Providers, Affiliated Clubs and Schools
 Managed coaching sessions as part of the SCA
Performance Pathways and through the respective
technical committees
 Coaches and prospective coaches undergoing specific
training and assessment
Alignment with sportscotland
investment principles
sportscotland have identified four key investment
areas for sports governing bodies:
•
•
•
•
Performance
Development
Workforce
Governance

Informal Sport:
 Ad hoc recreational paddling
 Individuals training for competitions
 Canoe journeys and individuals following canoe trails
Each of the SCA Priorities for 2017 aligns with at
least one of the sportscotland investment areas.
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The people we support
We support:
 the coaches and leaders who provide the training and guidance across
the disciplines of canoeing
 the volunteers who organise events, competitions and activities and the
board and committee members who provide leadership and support
 the experts with technical and geographic knowledge of our sport in
Scotland
Members
Members are vital to the SCA as a membership organisation. The number of
members provides the legitimacy for the SCA to engage with policy makers
on behalf of members and other canoeists in Scotland. The SCA aims to
provide an efficient service for our members and to continue to seek ways
to consult with members on topics ranging from renewable energy
development to safety on the water. Approximately 50% of SCA individual
members renew via direct debit and 25% of memberships are now serviced
online following the introduction of Self Service in 2010.
We believe canoeing offers something for everyone. We will regularly
monitor against the characteristics of age, gender, disability, ethnicity,
sexual orientation and religion and take positive action where applicable to
address inequalities or perceived barriers for particular groups. We have
increased the ratio of females completing core coaching awards from 20%
to 30% in the last five years.
Athletes
The SCA has members who are committed to one or more specific
competitive disciplines, competing within Scotland and for Great Britain. In
Sprint and Slalom disciplines, sportscotland investment enables the
employment of a number of SCA Development Coaches to provide coach led
training for athletes who meet the criteria for the relevant GB athlete
pathway.
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Governance and
Organisational
Development
Every National Governing Body of Sport
must have good governance both for its
members and for potential funders and
sponsors. The SCA Board of Directors is
committed to establishing and
maintaining the necessary policies and
procedures for the SCA to be run with
good governance - and for overseeing
the association’s activities to ensure that
the policies and procedures are
followed.
The organisational structure and
operation of the association are
regularly reviewed to ensure that they
meet the needs of members. Induction
and training programmes are carried out
for Directors, staff and volunteers. Key
topics include Child Protection, Equity
and Governance.
Coaches
More than half of SCA individual
members hold a coaching or leadership
award. These coaches and leaders are
fundamental to the future development
of the sport; delivering coaching to
thousands of paddlers across Scotland
through schools, clubs, outdoor and
activity centres. Good coaches also need
coach education and Continuous
Personal Development (CPD) and the
SCA has a strong network of educators
and tutors across Scotland. The SCA
works in partnership with the three
other Home Nation Associations in
England, Wales and Northern Ireland
and the BCU to develop and implement
the BCU Coaching Scheme.
Places to go canoeing
Access
Scotland provides some of the best
natural environments for canoeing –
including inland lochs and canals, surf
breaks, intricate coastlines, challenging
coastal crossing, and extreme white
water as well as a whole network of
whitewater rivers offering every grade
of paddling. The Land Reform 2003
(Scotland) Act and the Scottish Outdoor
Access Code provide a right of
responsible access to most land and
water in Scotland and in addition there
is access to most coastal water.
Environment
The SCA is committed to protecting the
environment in which we canoe. We
have compiled several environmental
codes to aid paddlers looking after the
natural landscape.
To go canoeing, we need:
 access to the natural water environment
 access to facilities such as swimming pools, changing rooms,
toilets, parking, boat storage and places to camp
 specific training environments and facilities/equipment in order
to run training/education courses and to excel at specific disciplines –
including the majority of competition disciplines
Facilities






Helping and inspiring people to go canoeing
A complete range of facilities are required to support the
development of recreational canoeing in Scotland and the various
competition pathways.
Clubs require somewhere to meet, change/shower, store equipment
and ideally a clubhouse to provide a focal point for the club and
enable land based training and/or a classroom for training courses
Recreational paddlers need places to park and accessible routes to
rivers, lochs and the sea. Their journeys are often multi-day
expeditions requiring places to camp, rest and shelter along the way
Coaches and teachers need to access a variety of water
“environments” across Scotland in order to deliver an extensive
range of coaching, personal performance and safety training courses
and assessments. It is important to be able to access suitable sites
locally and regionally in order to make training and courses
accessible to participants
Those wishing to compete need more specialised training centres
catering for their specific discipline. These include permanent slalom
courses, extended sections of white water, artificial white water
courses, polo pitches, regatta courses, play waves and specific
coastal and sea environments. Competitors also need access to
sports halls for land based training, gyms, video analysis, physio etc
There is a hierarchy of facilities required for canoeing ranging from
local club based facilities, which could be fulfilled through a
Community Sports Hub, to an International standard pumped and
including everything in between.
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Approved Paddlesport Providers
The SCA accredits Approved Paddlesport Providers (APP) through
scheduled inspections according to strict criteria agreed across the home
nations that comprise the British Canoe Union. The SCA provides listings
of APP details/courses online and in printed form and prioritises work with
APPs in preference to other providers on ad hoc projects including the Go
Canoeing campaign.
Schools
For many, canoeing arranged through their school may be their first
experience of the sport. Whilst many school children already have the
opportunity to try canoeing, the new Curriculum for Excellence provides a
wider opportunity to integrate canoeing with the learning needs of
children. The SCA is committed to working with schools, and Active
Schools to find ways to increase the canoeing opportunities for pupils in
schools.
Canoe Clubs
Canoe clubs in Scotland can affiliate to the SCA if they meet certain basic
criteria in terms of equality, governance, administrative and legal
requirements such as Child Protection (where the club is open to juniors).
Clubs vary in size and focus. Some clubs are single discipline but an
increasing number offer much more variety. Many clubs have taken
advantage of their affiliation to the SCA in order to apply for Awards for
All grants to purchase new equipment. A few clubs have substantial
premises but most clubs do not have their own club house or changing
rooms and either meet at specific paddling locations or share premises
with other organisations. The SCA is committed to finding ways to support
the development of good governance and good practices within Affiliated
Clubs. Specifically the SCA seeks ways to support the development of
volunteer club coaches and leaders and this is the main reason for the
annual Club Coach Development event
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SCA Strategy 2013 – 2017
Realising the Vision
The SCA will deliver a
Mission
To help and inspire people to go canoeing and to enable people to progress throughout the sport
series of programmes to
support the people
Vision
involved in canoeing and
the places where
Programmes
canoeing takes place.
Development
Coaching
Performance
Events
As a result, we will
Volunteers
achieve our vision of:
•
More Members
•
More Canoeing
•
Stronger Clubs
•
Better Coaching
•
More Medals
Coaches
People
Athletes
Members
Places
Enabled by:
Governance &
Organisational
Development
Staff
Partnerships
Infrastructure
& Systems
R&D
Branding &
Marketing
Programmes
We deliver 4 principal SCA
New
Performance
Training
Centres
High
Performance
Pathway
Promoting
Success and
Role Models
Athlete/
Coach
Contact Time
More
Medals
Coaching
Model
programmes
Recruitment
& retention
programmes
Professional
regulated
vocation
Better
Coaching
Coach
Education
and CPD
•
Events
•
Development
•
Coaching
•
Performance
Each programme contains a
Discipline
Specific
Competitions
More
Members
Research &
Development
range of projects to support
the People and develop the
Canoe Show,
Conferences
Workshops
More
Canoeing
Support for
Volunteers
Stronger
Clubs
go canoeing.
Well
Organised
Clubs
Third party
Routes to
Membership
Membership
Categories &
Benefits
SCA & Club
Introductory
Events
Helping and inspiring people to go canoeing
Places we need in order to
These programmes are led
and delivered by volunteers
Improved
Club
Facilities
and staff.
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Coaching
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implement Coaching Scotland 2011-2015, the sportscotland framework, within canoeing; providing
the environment and infrastructure to support the development of coaches.
support new and current coaches so that they further their expertise and qualifications and deliver
regular coaching.
deliver a comprehensive coach education and paddler development programme across all
disciplines of the sport.
undertake research and development to influence and inform future programmes and
developments.
Performance
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establish and develop Regional Excellence Hubs for Olympic disciplines, concentrate resources at
these locations and maximise coach contact time delivered to athletes with the potential to enter
into GB Canoeing programmes.
Provide multiple opportunities to meet high standard race environments through the organisation
of training days, training camps and race support for identified athletes
encourage additional clubs and volunteers to become involved with slalom, sprint and paracanoe
disciplines and mentor them by providing support and development opportunities
promote the early introduction to canoeing within schools and competition clubs
increase the amount of investment/sponsorship to allow the provision of additional resources to
run SCA Performance programmes.
Events
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continue to deliver an annual calendar of national events, such as the Scottish Canoe and Kayak
Show, Coaching Conferences and Coaching Matters series.
organise competition events in the disciplines of surf kayaking, canoe polo, wild water racing, canoe
slalom, sprint racing and marathon racing.
organise a range of non-competitive and participation based events such as the Tay Descent, Wet
West Paddlefest and Tours.
coordinate the further development of introductory events such as ‘Go Canoeing’
Supporting clubs to run their own introductory events in order to attract new members.
Development
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develop strengthen membership benefits and methods of joining / renewing.
support responsible access to canoeing facilities and respond to related consultations (access,
renewables, non-native species).
engage, support and recognise volunteers and staff to meet the changing needs of our sport.
support the development of well organised, better connected, well promoted and sustainable clubs
with great people.
develop the SCA’s communications and services to members.
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Coaching
Model
Front line
coaching
Support for
Coaches
Coaching Programme
• Implement a coaching plan that is aligned to Coaching Scotland
• Establish fully aligned and inclusive paddler and coach pathways
• Manage effective communication and monitoring systems
• Establish processes and programmes to recruit and train coaches
• Establish programmes that support coaching in the education sector
• Establish retention programmes that lead to more coaches continuing to
coach
• Manage an integrated coach education and development programme
• Maintain current and develop new qualifications in
coaching/leadership/safety
• Strengthen the network of tutors, coach educators and developers
Professionally
regulated
vocation
• Further develop the reward & recognition programmes for coaches
• Establish current and future workforce needs
• Increase the number of paid full and part time coaching posts
Research and
development
• Undertake research to inform long term decisions for coaching
The UK Coaching Framework and
Coaching Scotland 2011-2015 are the
two main external influences on the
future development in coaching. The
SCA Coaching Programme for 2013-2017
has been developed in consultation with
relevant partners. The SCA engages in
the BCU Coaching Strategy Group and
Coaching Operations Group and has a
number of volunteer technical experts
on the BCU discipline technical groups.
The SCA Coaching Programme 20132017 follows the five priority areas of
Coaching Scotland.
The Coaching Model
What we will do
What success will look like in 2017
 Implement a coaching plan that is aligned to Coaching  a coaching plan that is aligned to all of the priorities
Scotland, consulting with relevant partners
of Coaching Scotland and considers the needs of all
relevant partners
 Establish fully aligned and inclusive paddler and coach
pathways
 a paddler and coach pathway which are aligned,
inclusive and are used to inform long term
 Manage effective communication and monitoring
education, development and deployment of coaches
systems for the planning and delivery of education and
development for coaches
 effective communication and monitoring systems for
coaching that is fully implemented and is accessible
to all relevant partners with engagement across
members and partners
Front line coaching
We will focus on recruiting and retaining quality coaches, recognising and rewarding their success. We will
strengthen the link between coaches achieving qualifications and being deployed. We will actively engage with our
members and partners to inspire existing coaches to commit to and develop longer term, and support and motivate
the next generation of coaches.
What we will do
What success will look like in 2017
 Establish processes and programmes to recruit and
 established recruitment processes and programmes
train coaches that lead to the education and
that are fully delivered by the sport and relevant
deployment of coaches
partners leading to the deployment of coaches
 Establish programmes that support coaching in the
 developed programmes to support coaching in all
education sector
relevant elements of the education sector
 Establish retention programmes that lead to more
 established retention programmes that are fully
coaches remaining deployed in coaching. Examples
delivered by the sport and all relevant partners
include scholarships, subsidised training, targeted CPD
leading to the deployment of coaches
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Coaching
In Scotland the SCA will lead on the development of coaching in canoeing, providing clear strategic direction for
coaching, strengthening links between the paddler/athlete and coach pathways, and ensuring a planned approach
to the education, development and deployment of coaches in Scotland.
Support for Coaches
It is crucial to canoeing and the achievement of success that we retain and develop our best coaches. To help with
this, we will provide a range of education and development opportunities for paddlers and coaches at all stages of
the pathways. We will focus on growing Scottish talent at all levels of coaching.
What we will do
 Manage an integrated coach education and
development programme for coaches at all stages of
the coaching pathway
 Establish integrated coach education and development
programmes for participants at all stages of the
paddler pathway
 Alongside other Home Nation Associations and the
BCU, maintain current and, where relevant, develop
new training and qualifications in coaching , leadership
and safety, to industry standard
 Strengthen the network of tutors, coach educators and
developers
What success will look like in 2017
 developed and delivered an integrated coach
education and development programme for coaches
at all stages of the coaching pathway
 developed and delivered an integrated coach
education and development programme for coaches
at all stages of the paddler pathway
 industry standard training and qualifications in
coaching, performance, leadership, and safety,
maintained for all stages of the coaching pathway
 an appropriate network of tutors, coach educators
and developers covering all stages of the coach and
paddler pathways
Professionally regulated vocation
To ensure the on-going quality and retention of our coaches, future development of the Coach Update/licencing
scheme is a priority. Where applicable, we will want to see more full and part-time paid coaches delivering sport
and we will continue to raise the profile of coaching and coaches throughout Scotland.
 Further develop the reward & recognition programmes
for coaches
 Establish current and future workforce needs
(volunteer and paid)
 Increase number of paid full and part time coaching
posts
 Manage the Approved Paddlesport Provider
accreditation scheme
 Widen opportunities for other accreditations (e.g.
Adventuremark, Learning Outside the Classroom,
Curriculum for Excellence)
What success will look like in 2017
 reward and recognition programmes identified and
implemented for all stages of the coaching pathway.
 in conjunction with relevant partners has identified
current and future workforce development and
deployment needs
 developed a programme to fully meet the needs of
their sport by creating paid full and part time posts
with all relevant partners
 A network of Approved Paddlesport Providers
throughout Scotland
Research and development
To ensure the continual development and targeted support of coaches we need to understand the supply and
demand for coaching, the impact of coaches on participation and on coaching, and we need to understand what
works. We will commit to utilising this evidence to make effective decisions for coaching and sport. There are many
canoeing disciplines, recreational and competitive, and one key aim will be to understand how to help coaches seek
out opportunities to develop their skills through a wider involvement in the sport
What we will do
 Undertake research to inform long term decisions for
coaching
Helping and inspiring people to go canoeing
What success will look like in 2017
 developed and delivered its research priorities with
all relevant partners
15
Coaching
What we will do
SCA Performance
SCA Performance aims to enable talented young Scots to enter GB Canoeing programmes and go on to win Olympic
Medals in Sprint and Slalom. The performance framework is different from the development of competition across
all disciplines – which is taken care of by the respective SCA Competition committees.
Our aim is to develop talent and deliver success
To do this we invest in athletes that present a high potential to convert their commitment to reach GB Canoeing
Podium Potential Programmes, leading to medal at future Olympic Games
The 4 year cycle starting in 2013 should be seen as a transition phase leading to a competition structure sustained by
the Scottish clubs. SCA Performance is fully committed in its duty of investing in elite athletes with Olympic
potential.
SCA Performance Mission
We will make Scotland a reference in the UK and the world for Talent Development
and Performance delivery
SCA Performance Pathway
SCA Performance aims to align all forces towards a common vision to succeed. We are designing an integrated
Pathway with all performance stakeholders involved in the journey to win Gold at the Olympic Games.
Helping and inspiring people to go canoeing
16
Performance
We will contribute to make GB “To be the number 1 Olympic canoeing nation with
success and depth of excellence at every level”
Regional Excellence Hub
SCA Performance will focus its effort at key locations to enable Scottish athletes to have a competitive and wellstructured training place.
This strategy will enable us to work on the basics at home in order to maximise the efficiency of each training camp
taking place outwith Scotland to meet the National and International standards.

We will encourage the development of
facilities meeting standards required to
allow talented athletes and support staff to
get the most out of their commitment,
thanks to:
o
o
o

Developing Regional Excellence Hubs at key
locations to enable Vision and Horizon
programme athletes to train effectively and
avoid unnecessary travel time and cost.
Helping the development of competition
clubs, leading by example and through the
mentoring programme
Ensuring training locations are accessible to
Paracanoeing to prepare for the Scottish
Paracanoe Development.
The needs of the athletes will govern how the


Training places:


Regional Excellence Hubs are structured

We will encourage the development of a
Performance Support Staff network
o
o

Involving Key volunteers with the support of
SCA employed staff
Developing a growth mind-set with clear goals
and responsibilities
Helping and inspiring people to go canoeing
The SCA manages training centres to
maximise the quality of athlete training and
their time management.
The SCA manages, coordinates or partners at
least:

2017 target
National Training Centre
Long term plan
Regional Excellence Hub
5
Competition Clubs
10
For each Regional Excellence Hub, the SCA
has secured the necessary access to facilities
with arrangements that work for the athletes
and coaches.
Regional Excellence Hubs present a
concentration of all required facilities close
to a school or the most frequently used
training site.
Sprint paddlers have access to a proper
regatta course in Scotland
Slalom paddlers have access to an artificial
whitewater course, suitable for training and
national competition in Scotland.
17
Performance
Ensuring the quality of the home based Daily Training Environment
What we will do
What success will look like in 2017
SCA Performance - Coaching Staff
Performance Programmes
The current structure of competition canoeing in Scotland has led SCA Performance to focus on the early stages
(discovering, learning and improving) of the athlete pathway in order to secure sufficient Scottish competitors to
feed the Performance Pathway.
SCA Performance now moves towards 2 core programmes (Vision and Horizon) focused on talented athletes and
2 structural programmes (Club mentoring and School) to build sustainability and in-depth research of
excellence.
Vision programme: a fast track
programme aiming to enable Scottish
athletes to access the GB Podium
Potential Programme
Horizon programme: a mainstream
programme to build high level
competition skills to enter GB Teams
Mentoring Club Programme: a
mentoring process to develop and
support clubs
School Programme: an early opportunity
to promote canoeing with a competition
aim
Helping and inspiring people to go canoeing
18
Performance
Our coaching resouces are stretched to both
support athletes stepping into the GB Team and
programmes as well as to provide support for new
talented athletes going through the pathway.
Over the next 4 years we will refocus our coaching
effort onto nominated athletes, in disciplines in
which we currently succeed, in order to sustain the
success from 2012 Junior GB selections in both
sprint and slalom.
We are also keen that our staff who work at the top
end of our pathway colaborate with GB Canoeing, in
order to ensure a smoth transition between our
national programme and the one manage by GB
Canoeing.
In addition to this reinforcement, we aim to engage
with clubs so that they deliver the first stages of the
pathway and develop new Olympic disciplines (Sprint Canoe, Paracanoe and Ladies’ Canoe in Slalom)
 We will employ coaches based in the Regional Excellence Hubs, managing athletes nominated to the core
programmes
 We will develop partnerships with identified competition clubs to help them access professional coach
contact time
 We will cultivate and support volunteer coaches
 We will engage the SCA coaches in a continuous professional development process, reaching Level 3 and
above BCU UKCC coaching qualifications.
Vision & Horizon Programmes
GB Canoeing is targeting 7 Medal in 2016 and a full range in 2020, promoting that the currency for medals is
Gold. Moreover the performance supporting model is shifting from a pyramid to a high rate conversion into
selection and medals. More focus on performance achievement at key events leads the SCA to design a new
athlete development approach
Coach Contact Time
We work with high calibre people
to deliver coach led training to
paddlers targeting world class
Race Environment Contact
Time
We organise training camps and
support races to give paddlers
experience to prepare and
succeed at major events
Daily Training Environment
This is our commitment to raise
the standard of local training in
Scotland
R&D
Encourage paddlers to dream of success and then help them to get back down to earth
in order to deliver Junior and U23 world class success in Olympic disciplines
What we will do
 We will align our performance pathway with GB





Canoeing to ensure a smooth transition from our
programmes to GB Programmes
We will support the athletes in their daily
training, optimising their training environment,
giving clear guidance and goals.
We will support the athletes to meet the race
environment standards, organising training
camps opportunities in the best locations in
Scotland, UK and the world to get the skills and
feel for future major events
We will support athletes during the key events to
ensure their integration into GB Team and their
further international success
We will ensure a professional and evidence
based approach in our selection and operational
processes.
We will work with the coaches, sportscotland
Institute of Sport and universities to create sport
specific protocols combining scientific and sport
specific approaches
Helping and inspiring people to go canoeing
What success will look like in 2017

The Vision programme converting 40% of
its athletes to GB Podium Potential
programme

Scottish athletes regularly entering final at World and
European Championships

40% of the athletes nominated in the
Horizon programme meet the criteria to
step into the Vision programme

Each Year, we continue to have athletes
selected into GB Junior Teams

SCA Performance enters into measured
and controlled processes.
19
Performance
We create processes and
protocols enabling our
organisation and the paddlers to
raise their awareness of the work
delivered.
Club Mentoring Programme
SCA Performance supports competitive
clubs through a mentoring programme delivered by highly qualified and
motivated people
We aim to raise the profile and standard
of Scottish canoe clubs.
The role of the club is to discover the
talent of tomorrow and increase
participation in competition at all divisions
and levels
What we will do
 We will provide education material to support
What success will look like in 2017
 We have produced best practice worksheets to
School Programme
SCA Performance uses a unique approach to engage
with the next generation. We tailor our approach to
each specific school’s needs and approach to sport
The aim is to link with schools to promote an early
introduction to a sport full of potential - providing
young Scots with life skills and values such as fair play
through to canoeing specific skills
This strategy also ensures that the paddlers will arrive
at the optimum time in the performance pathway to
take every step leading to the highest level.
What we will do
What success will look like in 2017
 We present canoeing as a outstanding educational
tool
 We will work with clubs to ensure a transition
between canoeing introduction courses and
engagement with competition structures
Helping and inspiring people to go canoeing
 Most of the competition clubs are linked with one or
more schools so that children from 8-10 years old
engage with the club competition structure
20
Performance
present the most update best practices to support
volunteer coaches
gross roots development and young competitors
 We will work with clubs to help develop a model to
willing to become top athletes.
grow their capacity to organise daily training
sessions throughout the year
 Club have the capacity to contribute to the
 We will facilitate joint club training camps
sustainable employment of professional coaches
 We will organise monthly mentoring days for
volunteers and coaches to engage in continuous
 The competition structure is supported by Scottish
personal development
Clubs
M
Development Programme
Development covers a wide range of areas including volunteers,
M
governance, membership, sponsorship and clubs
Membership Development
As a membership organisation we are only as strong as our collective members. The SCA aims to enhance the
membership offering
What we will do
What success will look like in 2017
Access and Facilities
What we will do
 Promote the Scottish Outdoor Access Code and assist
Local Access Forums and the National Access Forum
with the interpretation of water access
 Introduce ‘Canoe Friendly’; a scheme to recognise
and promote the use of businesses by canoeists
 Work with partners to develop canoe trails and other
ad hoc access improvements particularly to make
existing sites more accessible to all
 Work with other organisations, Affiliated Clubs or
Approved Paddlesport Providers to support the
development of artificial white water facilities: regional, national and international standard
 Maintain and develop the national, regional and
local/club white water sites in Scotland such as: Alva,
Grandtully, Aberfeldy, Seaton Park and Inverness
 Continue to develop the camping/parking/changing
facilities at the Grandtully campsite including
introducing an online booking and payment system
 Develop further environmental codes and advice
 Support volunteer networks to providing advice on
specific inland and coastal locations
 Engage in consultations related to renewable
developments offshore or inland including hydro,
wind and tidal power
Helping and inspiring people to go canoeing
What success will look like in 2017









Well educated land managers, Local Authority
Access Officers and access takers across Scotland
Canoe friendly recognised throughout Scotland,
similar to Cycle Friendly, Dog Friendly etc.
New sheltered water trails and well maintained
existing trails
To provide the facilities needed by members,
groups, clubs providers and the Performance
Programme
In order to allow people to book specific pitches
online and to take the payment electronically and
send confirmation emails automatically
River levels integrated onto the SCA website rather
than on standalone site
A range of codes for environmental protection
available to download from the SCA website
To have a network of knowledgeable and dedicated
members who advise on offshore renewable
developments as well as inland hydro proposals
To be a respected and consistent consultee for
proposed offshore and inland developments. Fast
and effective advice to developers; information for
paddlers. Develop a fast response for developers,
and a new guidance service for paddlers
21
Development
 Further add to the range of membership benefits to
 3,600 individual members
retain current and attract new members
 Investigate membership sales through third parties
 Some combination of Clubs, Providers and Retailers
and/or via their products and services
promoting and selling individual SCA membership –
either packaged with other products/services or
 Continue to implement comprehensive Customer
standalone
Relationship Management (CRM) systems to manage
SCA contact with members, clubs, providers and others  Effective systems to manage, record and report on
membership. Integration of systems so that the so
 Introduce differential membership fees (e.g. direct
that events can be handled by the same systems for
debit members or those renewing online)
membership and coaching
 Promote awareness of the needs of paddlers with a
 Reduced cost of servicing SCA members by
disability to encourage clubs and committees to plan
encouraging members to pay by direct debit and
for accessibility and inclusion
supply the SCA with a valid email address
 Raising awareness of Scotland as a one of the best
places for canoeing including Great Glen Canoe Trail,
white water rivers (including dam release information)
some of the best sea kayaking in the world
Volunteers
What we will do
 Develop and implement effective systems to recruit,
retain and recognise volunteers. This includes raising the
profile of key volunteers and highlighting their
achievements
 Support volunteers through training and support
 Provide training to volunteers in areas including Equality
 Support Affiliated Clubs to implement and manage child
protection processes
What success will look like in 2017
 Fully populated committees of volunteers developing
their respective areas and delivering the overall SCA
plan
 Annual awards to recognise volunteers
 Informed, educated and motivated volunteers
 All clubs with children achieving the Minimum
Operating Standards (MORs) for Child Protection
Club Development
Clubs are where many people first get involved with the sport. Well organised, well connected, sustainable clubs will
attract more participants into the sport and enable them to progress in their chosen discipline(s)
What success will look like in 2017
 Operate a club affiliation programme with defined,
minimum standards for affiliation
 Support clubs to achieve good governance and good
standards of operation
 Work with a selection of clubs to explore opportunities
for clubs to employ coaches within their club
 Assist Affiliated Clubs to develop effective school/club
links and stronger links between clubs, local providers
and Active Schools
 Support Affiliated Clubs to develop appropriate
facilities to support their activities - aligned with the
overall SCA facilities plan (including Community Sports
Hubs
 Encourage clubs to run local events under the auspices
of the SCA in order to support cross discipline
development and attract new club and SCA members
 A network of stronger, established clubs offering a
full range of canoeing disciplines
 3,000 club members in 90 clubs
 Well run clubs with committees that understand the
club committee responsibilities and vastly exceed
the minimum standards for affiliation
 Clubs with the capability to employ suitably qualified
coaches
 More opportunities for young people to try
canoeing. More opportunities for all to progress
after their initial canoeing experience
 10 new club facilities developed by club committees
across Scotland
 A programme of local club-run SCA events together
with SCA technical committees and other clubs –
helping to provide the opportunities for paddlers to
try out and get started in different disciplines
Organisational Development
What we will do
 Implement effective processes to safeguard children
taking part in canoeing and meet all related legislation
 Implement further initiatives to reduce barriers to
participation, deliver equality awareness training as
appropriate and monitor the diversity of members
 Work and share knowledge with the other BCU Home
Nation Associations and clarify the relationship with BCU
 Good governance, systems and processes in order to
meet the requirements for Development Audits
including effective financial management and reporting
 Aim to establish a regional network of Development
Officers across Scotland (subject to investment)
 Monitor and evaluate our activities and services
 Utilise a range of formats to communicate with
members and the wider canoeing audience
 Explore, and pursue where applicable, opportunities for
additional Modern Apprenticeships within clubs and/or
Approved Paddlesport Providers and other employment
training opportunities (e.g. Internships)
Helping and inspiring people to go canoeing
What success will look like in 2017
 Continue to meet all Minimum Operating
Requirements (MORs) for Child Protection
 Have been awarded the Advanced level of the
Equality Standard
 Best practice shared and clear service agreement and
charges
 Fit for Purpose audit – Limited Assurance
 A network of staff to support the Affiliated Clubs and
Approved Paddlesport Providers, linking with
education, assisting in the running of coached
sessions in clubs – including the delivery of regular
slalom and sprint disciplines
 Effective feedback mechanisms to track
satisfaction/success and inform future development
 A range of digital and physical communications
 Additional Modern apprentices placed in canoeing in
Scotland and Interns completing specific projects e.g.
analysis, communication
22
Development
What we will do
Events Programme
There are a huge number of canoeing events each year ranging from recreational tours to ranked, discipline
specific competitions and from coach education events to mass participation festivals. In addition the SCA
organises an annual weekend Canoe Show comprising a trade fair as well as a conference with talks and
workshops. Events are mainly run by SCA committees, often in collaboration with their English/British
counterparts particularly where there are ranking divisional competitions.
SCA events are open to SCA members. Some events are also open to non-members if they take out day
membership. The SCA operates a policy of refunding day membership fees (within a certain period) against an
initial membership fee in order to provide an easy route for non-members to consider joining the SCA for the first
time.
Introductory Events
What we will do
What success will look like in 2017


Organise an annual Go Canoeing campaign to introduce
beginners to the sport
To have established an annual programme which
results in newcomers then joining an Affiliated Club,
joining the SCA and/or taking further instruction with
an Approved Paddlesport Provider
Recreational Events
What we will do
What success will look like in 2017




To have at least one calendar event per month for both
of inland and sea, with options across the year for each
of the three trip grades
To have this as an annual event with good participation
from the tour organisers and regular participants
(ideally 50% or more each year)
Mass Participation Events
What we will do
What success will look like in 2017



Further develop the Tay Descent event and increase the
number of participants across all disciplines
Continue to organise the Wet West Paddle Fest for white
water kayaking and explore options for additional events
of this kind at other times of year

To reach 600 participants taking part in Tay Descent
from across the UK and beyond
To maintain the popularity of this event and increase
participation as far as practicable within the confines of
the venues. Ideally to host another similar event at an
alternative location
Competitive Events
What we will do
What success will look like in 2017


Continue to deliver annual programmes of events and
competitions across: Surf, Polo, Slalom, Marathon, Sprint
and Wild Water Racing
More participants at the events and increase the
number of people who take part in more than one
discipline
Events for Coaches
What we will do
What success will look like in 2017


Deliver an annual or bi-annual Coaching Conference
attracting coaches from all disciplines
To have built a sense of community and cohesion
amongst coaches and to have up skilled the coaches
that attend the conferences
Other Events
What we will do
What success will look like in 2017


Continue to develop and organise the Scottish Canoe &
Kayak Show with a mix of retailers, workshops and other
attractions
Helping and inspiring people to go canoeing
2,200 attendees by 2017 and 70 blocks of exhibitor
space booked
23
Events
Increase the number of inland and sea tours to provide a
good variety of tour locations and grades appropriate for
a wide range of participants
Plan a weekend of safety training for tour organisers and
participants to practise rescue techniques, as part of the
annual touring calendar
Staffing Structure
SCA Staffing comprises two teams: Development and Performance
Helping and inspiring people to go canoeing
24
Facilities required to deliver the SCA Vision
Helping and inspiring people to go canoeing
25
Prioritisation of SCA Facility needs
The facility needs are listed and shown in the preceding diagram. Basic facilities are needed across Scotland to
enable people of all backgrounds to take to the water.
Club Facilities
Whilst some canoe clubs and SCA Competition Committees currently make do with what is available, improved
facilities are needed to continue to make the sport more accessible to participants regardless of age, gender, ethnic
origin, belief, ability and sexual orientation. Whilst a group of e.g. young male Scottish adults might not mind
changing in a car park with no toilet available, this lack of basic facilities will act as a barrier to other potential
participants. Some clubs have already invested in new facilities. Others, through a lack of available site and/or
money still struggle. As an example, one canoe club in the central belt established almost 80 years ago and currently
with over 200 members does not have running water or a toilet. This club has had to move premises several times
and has been unable to find a suitable base. As a minimum the SCA would like to see each club having somewhere to
store equipment, somewhere to change and accessible toilets. Owning a car and your own equipment should not be
a prerequisite for taking up canoeing. Clubs such as Inverness Canoe Club have already indicated their intention to
move to a new site and set up their own facilities. The SCA supports Inverness and other clubs who strive to do the
same.
Recreation and Touring Facilities
Even if people belong to a club that has adequate facilities, a lot of canoeing takes place on rivers, lochs and the sea
further afield. There is a growing group of paddlers who tour and they need places to park cars, places to camp and
access to fresh water and toilet facilities. With the development of much of the land near water, the ability to park
and camp is diminished. There are already a number of hotspots around Scotland that the SCA seeks to alleviate
through negotiation and partnership. There are key rivers and lochs that paddlers use as well as key starting points
and overnight locations for those sea kayaking. Examples of sea kayaking car parking issues (not an exhaustive list)
are:
 Skye - Kilmarie Bay
 Connel - Falls of Lora
 Mallaig - for Skye, and Lochs Nevis & Hourn
 Arduine
 Loch Sunart
 Seil Island - Atlantic Bridge
 Mull - Ulva ferry west side
 Seil - Cuan Sound ferry
 Fionnphort - for Iona
 Ardfern - whole peninsula
 Port Appin
 Crinan - both for sea, and also Crinan canal
 Oban - Ganavan bay
 Tarbert -both sides of village
Training and Competition Facilities
Whilst club facilities and those used by Approved Paddlesport Providers are key in order to get people started in the
sport and going canoeing regularly, there are a whole range of other facilities (mainly based on specific types of
water) that are required for the various competition disciplines. These are often used by club groups too but are also
used for squad training and local, regional and national competitions. As well as the two Olympic disciplines of
Slalom and Sprint, facilities are required for Canoe Polo and Freestyle. Although Surf is weather dependent, there is
a lack of accommodation and other facilities close to the main surfing locations.
Performance Facilities
In addition to the priorities for facilities outlined above, specific sites are needed for Sprint and Slalom in order to
provide the appropriate daily training environment for athletes on Olympic Pathways. These facilities are defined in
more detail within the Performance section of this document.
A priority for Slalom athletes (as well as the benefit for recreational paddlers) remains an artificial whitewater course
in the central belt – close to a centre of population. The Pinkston project will be a great asset to canoeing in the west
of Scotland overall and it will specifically benefit the Slalom Olympic Pathway. The Pinkston project, or even better a
full length international standard course, will allow Slalom athletes to train in representative water conditions in
Scotland and not be disadvantaged compared to athletes in England and Wales.
Helping and inspiring people to go canoeing
26
Growing our sport through sponsorship and branding
Website: www.canoescotland.org
Facebook: www.facebook.com/ScottishCanoeAssociation
Twitter: @scottishcanoe
Managing the brand
 The SCA is a brand that is recognised and supported by the canoe world to link our different communities of
practice. To manage its brand and maximise the development of its brand the SCA has to create communication
support through paper, electronic and internet.

The SCA is willing to live closer to media, and network opportunities to help people know about canoeing and
especially to promote the commitment and the outstanding result of our Scottish paddlers.

The complexity of the different branches of our sport, together with the numerous sources of exposure leads the
SCA to nominate a sponsor coordinator that should build the different support, identify the key target, work out
the different policies, and communicate our network (internal and external) to upgrade SCA brand.
Defining the sponsorship offers
 The SCA through its facilities, squads, and equipment own numerous opportunities for sponsoring support. Our
organisation needs to set a hierarchy and target level for each of the different sponsorship opportunities in
order to enable specific partners to decide on their level of support

As well as branding support, the SCA has “savoir-faire” that can attract partners. We are able to set-up a safe
environment to welcome organisations and their staff into wild and unknown water environments. We have
exceptional experiences to showcase, either competition (Gold and Silver Olympians) or adventure through
other forms of canoeing.

The SCA is convinced that to enable its development and to improve on past and current achievements we need
to encourage all canoeists to support the work being undertaken
What we will do
 We will manage a website that showcases our talent




outstanding achievement, and presents a range of
partnership opportunities
We will consolidate presentation support and regular news
to send to media and partners
We will use potential branding space on equipment and
facilities to sell advertising to sponsors
We will coordinate all sponsoring agreements to leverage
the different partnerships and to ensure the alignment with
our policies and external regulation
We will reach out to SCA members/partners and work in
partnership with them to build the brand of our sport
Helping and inspiring people to go canoeing
What success will look like in 2017
The SCA signed up sponsors and investors
partnership:
 The SCA as a whole
 The overall SCA Performance Programme
 The individual sprint and slalom programme
of the SCA Performance Programme
 Other specific disciplines and activities during
National, Regional or Local events
27
sportscotland Success Measures
sportscotland success measures*
SCA contribution to sportscotland’s success
Major progress is made in all key areas required for the
development of a world class sporting system.
The SCA is committed to supporting the “people” involved
in running our sport and to working to facilitate access to
places to go canoeing.
Two Scottish Canoe Slalom athletes will compete at London
2012 in 3 categories.
2011-2015 is the most successful 4 year cycle for Scotland
in terms of performance outcomes (London 2012, Sochi
2014 and Glasgow 2014).
All our supported performance athletes are the best ever
prepared for all targeted events through the provision of
quality services.
An increasing number of Scottish Governing Bodies are fit
for purpose and fit for performance.
Major progress in growing sustainable levels of
competent and skilled coaches, officials, administrators,
specialists (paid and voluntary) within Scotland.
A greater and more integrated role for outdoor and
adventure sport, maximising Scotland’s unique attributes
and heritage.
Stronger club networks with greater community
involvement.
Increased sports opportunities for children and young
people through schools and improved access to the
school estate.
Organisation development strengthens the impact of our
work and we are driven by continuous quality
improvement.
The SCA Performance Programme has reached new levels
of success. In 2012 40% of the GB Junior Canoe Slalom
Team is Scottish (6 athletes) and a further 2 Scottish
athletes have been selected for the GB Junior Canoe Sprint
Team.
The SCA Board is committed to good governance and
effective business processes and continual improvement.
Coach-led training is the key for both recreational and
competitive canoeing. There continues to be positive
growth in the number of people taking coaching, personal
performance and safety awards in Scotland. The SCA
continues to seek out opportunities to increase the amount
of coaching delivered as well as to recruit new coaches and
leaders.
Through the SCA’s efforts, water access forms an important
aspect of the Land Reform Act (Scotland) 2003 and the
Scottish Outdoor Access Code. The SCA continues to work
for greater access for canoeists and has taken the lead by
organising key events/festivals including the Wet West
Paddlefest and Tay Descent.
Vibrant and well run clubs across Scotland have been a key
area for SCA support. The SCA continues to provide
opportunities for clubs to improve and expand their
offering to new members and the wider community as well
as providing help and advice to club committees.
The SCA is committed to equal opportunity and one of the
priority areas concerns young people going canoeing. One
of the new areas of focus for this SCA Strategic Plan is the
work to be carried out forging links between clubs and
schools and integrating canoeing into the Curriculum for
Excellence
Continuous improvement has long been one of the core
SCA values and the organisation is always planning for the
successful future based on lessons learnt in the past. The
introduction of the SCA CRM system and other systems for
managing events has increased the opportunities for
members to book online and gives the ability to update
their personal details themselves.
The SCA strives to be effective and efficient and to
maximise benefits to the sport of investment received.
sportscotland is seen as one of the leading public bodies
in Scotland in terms of delivery, effectiveness and
efficiency.
*Source: Developing and supporting a world class sporting system - sportscotland Corporate Plan 2011-2015
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Helping and inspiring people to go canoeing
Scottish Canoe Association
Caledonia House
1 Redheughs Rigg, South Gyle
Edinburgh, EH12 9DQ
0131 317 7314
canoescotland.org
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