UPDATE: ............. READ ALL ABOUT IT........ 'Think Tank' and Rookey Meetings
Follow on Meeting - Wednesday 29 October
Forums prove a successful tool at MDHA. Two very important gatherings were held on the evening 29 October:
- First was a follow up the new Rookey Development program to begin in 2015. This will present a whole new way for the youngsters from 4yrs to 9 yrs to be involved in Hockey. The aim of the program is to allow every child to feel/be more involved, to have more fun, build great friendships.
It will also be great for mums and dads, as they will have opportunities to join in as helpers and mentors aroung the children. What's more, it is only on one day per week, in school terms, giving more time to do other things.
- The second gathering was a follow Up Forum 'Think Tank'. This gives Members the chance to have a voice and become part of MDHA’s future directions. Whilst there were less attendants this time the discussion and debate was just as vibrant, thoughtful and productive. Not everything raised survives the evenings work, however, all new ideas and opinions provide good debate and a solid foundation stones for MDHA to build on.
It was revealed there will inevitably be a need for a Fraser Coast League across most divisions at a time down the track. Much work will need to be done with Hervey Bay Hockey in developing this concept. In the meantime we will continue to work together as we have for past few years with the Girls and Boys in Under age groups and the Masters divisions. Travel for games between the two fields may be enhanced by the ability to play on turf in both centers.
Marketing, or putting the Game in the public’s eye needs to be stepped up. MDHA profile in the Community has to be more visible. Ways to engage the public were discussed and further action is to be taken.
The Zone meeting in few weeks will be a very important time for all the Wide Bay Associations. Some important answers must come from this meeting. Like, 1) Will the Premier League become the mainstay of the Regions hockey? TBA. 2) Perhaps a new League may evolve that keeps our Elite players at peak performance. TBA.
MDHA recently ran an online Survey, 92 people responded, and the result were well talked about. Best results here and most important was; that yet again it gave people a chance to have a voice in future direction of MDHA. It also allows MDHA to gain an insight into what our members see as important to them. Some results will come through as changes in draw allocation and perhaps more turf time for some Divisions. More details on the responses can be seen below.
The Division 1 Men’s competition is still our ‘Achilles Heel’, or is it? There is an optimistic view that change for the better can come from resolving the competitions misfortunes of last year.
- Will it be able to get up as a standalone four team Maryborough comp?
- Perhaps bigger things are waiting for us around the corner and we only have to step up and ask the right questions. MDHA will be asking these, and I believe the best answer is still to be found within our own abilities.
Now is the time to build solidarity and strengthen the Wide Bay Region as a Hockey powerhouse.
Ask yourself. “Am I ready to put myself out there beyond my comfort zone to help bring quality Hockey into Maryborough”?
Keep an eye out for more updates on our progress.
MDHA President, David Moore
A BIG THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO RESPONDED AND PROVIDED COMMENTS TO OUR SURVEY. THIS PROVIDES VALUABLE INPUT TO ASSIST THE MDHA IN DECISION MAKING.
| Q1 | Do you think U16 Girls & Boys should play on the same day? | |
| Yes | 46% | |
| No | 6% | |
| Don't care either way | 48% | |
| Q2 | Is so, which day should they play? | |
| Wednesday | 37% | |
| Thursday | 15% | |
| Sunday | 2% | |
| Any day | 46% | |
| Q3 | Would you (U11 and above) be wlling to travel sometimes to Hervey Bay to play? | |
| Yes, don't mind | 53% | |
| Yes, but would prefer not to | 27% | |
| No | 20% | |
| Q4 | If yes to Q3, what Division do you or your family play? | |
| U11 - U16 | 42 | |
| Div 1 - Div 2 | 46 | |
| Div 3 | 18 | |
| Masters | 29 | |
| Note: As more than one choice can be selected this is the number of votes not percentage | ||
| Q5 | If Div 3 Ladies play on the Turf the fees will need to increase Would you prefer to play on the Turf? |
|
| Yes, all games on turf | 11% | |
| Yes, but only occasional games on turf | 16% | |
| No | 15% | |
| Don't care either way | 58% | |
| Q6 | What are your thoughts on playing games on a Sunday? | |
| Completely against it | 35% | |
| Would prefer not to | 38% | |
| Don't mind | 18% | |
| Great idea | 9% | |
Wednesday 24 September - Meeting
As the 2014 hockey year closes down, the focus for the MDHA moves to where local Hockey will be in future years. We have been experiencing trying times recently with an overall decrease in player numbers over the past couple of years. However, all is not gloom because we have seen marginal increases in some grades.
MDHA chose to be proactive on this and on the evening of Wednesday 24 September more than thirty six, likeminded Hockey fanatics/diehards got together to discuss the issue and probe for resolutions and actions to turn the current trends around.
Key points for consideration were:
- Marketing and increasing our profile in the community
- Increase numbers playing, and retain them, reduce or stop the current dropout rate
- Affordability - Cost of playing is high and impacts on promoting the game as a family activity
These topics became the main discussion for the evening and some very good ideas were proposed and an understanding of how not so easy this is going to be came to the fore. Whatever we do, there is no quick fix but only a long hard slog for all the clubs and MDHA to work through.
Strategies that came from the discussion
We need to outsell other leisure activities and gain a bigger slice of the diminishing number of available children in the community. (Don’t forget the Mum’s and Dad’s)
This needs to be tackled on many fighting fronts. Increase marketing and exposure through TV, radio and paper advertising. social media and IT formats. Push to get our profile into school assemblies and look to other school based activities.
Personal contacts and word of mouth is the biggest promotional tool we have. Your positive endorsement to friends will sell the notion followed up with bringing along the friend(s) to try out sessions.
Retention of all players, focusing particularly on juniors
What changes are needed to keep the youngsters who sign up from leaving?
An excellent change in the structured ‘Rookey’ program for ages 4 to 9 years was presented. We now have a working group delving into refining the idea with view to seeing it implemented in 2015.
Further thought for 11 to 16s is needed with one school of thought being bringing the Girls and Boys U16 games to same night. (We are after the wider community to respond so we will be conducting a poll to find out)
The retention problem extends right up through all divisions to the top grades, (Division 1 Men suffered in 2014 from it). So some brief discussion turned up a thought or two for consideration.
Affordability of game compared to others is a difficult issue and one that will always be around. People’s incomes are stretching to limits as the cost of life’s necessities rise, so the extras get cut back or eliminated. MDHA is aware of this as it gets discussed at finance meetings and in other arenas. However, we cannot escape the fact that MDHA has costs and bills to pay also.
Ways to ease the pain were reiterated, such as use of the Government Get Playing Vouchers, (for those with concession cards), taking up more sponsors, (happy to follow up, if you know of any). Make use of many options of Grant monies that provide player assistance, in particularly the rep players. You could receive support through several different types of grants across the three different levels of government.
Looking forward: Is there probability of Fraser Coast competition across most grades?
It was generally agreed that as we venture forward a closer link with the Hervey Bay Hockey fraternity needs to become part of our playing world. We already have this unity across some of our grades. Then we have the Premier League which covers the whole region for half season. There may be an extension of this over the coming years depending on discussions later this year with regional partners.
Group believes that for the region to get success from any representative team at State Titles the best players from both centers need to combine as a united Fraser Coast Squad.
David (our President) will be going to have a preliminary meeting with HBHA to open dialog into these topics.
It was agreed by all present that a follow up forum should be held sooner than later.
Next Forum Date: Wednesday 29th October 2014, from 7.00pm in the MDHA Hall.
All welcome to attend, your thoughts and comments will be valued.