Strategic planning is the process of defining the SLSC’s strategy or direction into the future (possibly as far ahead as 5 years) and making decisions on allocating its resources to pursue this strategy, including its capital and people. This process is vital to the viability of all SLSCs as a means of further growth and should include critical areas, such as future funding requirements, equipment acquisitions and building replacement.
It is essential to set aside some time for your SLSC’s strategic planning each year (or more regularly if circumstances warrant) to ensure that it receives the required attention. Also ensure that the current plan’s progress is closely monitored, with room to make any modifications as required. CMTs should set aside a timeslot of at least half a day, or 5 hours, in a meeting’s schedule for the planning, as the discussions needs to be of a good enough quality to develop the basic framework of the plan.
The planning meeting duration will depend on the size and complexity of your SLSC. It is probably most economical to schedule a planning meeting with one of your SLSC’s regular gatherings such as:
- An Annual General Meeting (AGM)
- An SLSC conference
- A specially convened strategic planning workshop.
The CMT should invite a group of advisers to this planning meeting to consult with and brainstorm the basics of the plan. This group should be representative of:
- SLSC officers
- Coaches
- Officials
- Other stakeholders in your SLSC
- Parents
- Sponsors
- Volunteers.
As part of strategic planning, it is important to:
- Adjust to changes in the current environment that have an impact on the SLSC
- Analyse the SLSC’s past and present actions to note required changes to achieve desired future outcomes
- Align with the SLSC business and marketing plans and the strategic direction of the SLS movement within NSW and Australia
- Encourage SLSC members to get involved in the development of their SLSC
- Ensure the effective use of resources (human, physical and financial)
- Evaluate the SLSC against a variety of factors
- Identify the main objectives of the SLSC.