Croquet England Officers, Executive and Committees

The Board has overall responsibility for the affairs of the Organisation, with a focus on high-level policy, strategic initiatives, scrutiny and transparency.

Delegated authority from the Trustees for the day-to-day management of Croquet England, including its finances and the implementation of its policies and procedures. Responsibilities include:

• Recommending to the Trustees an annual budget and overall long-term financial and budgetary policy, and monitoring financial performance.
• Membership matters, including entitlements and subscriptions.
• Recommending to the Trustees any changes to policies or function.
• Communicating with other committees and co-ordinating their work.
• Appointing Chairs and members of Standing Committees and other posts such as Development Squad Managers.
• Approving amendments to the Tournament Regulations.
• Managing matters not covered by the terms of reference of other committees.

• Recommending to the Trustees candidates for Major Council Awards.
• Advising the Executive on Diploma nominations.

• Strategic planning and implementation of national and regional coaching for GC, AC and short croquet.
• Working with the Development Squad Managers to identify talent and potential for further development.
• Croquet England standard coaching material from grass roots to higher levels.
• Coaching standards, training, examining and appointing coaches, and awards for coaches.
• Communicating good coaching practice.
• Merit Award Scheme for AC and the Steel Award.

• Managing the development of talented players capable of representing England in international competitions.
• Creating and managing a pathway for talented players.
• Delivering a structured programme including written material, live coaching and online media.
• Working with the Coaching Committee and others to ensure that a flow of talented players is achieved every year and the best are identified for further development.

• Setting standards for playing equipment, including mallets, balls, hoops and other court equipment.
• Development of testing methods, including ball and hoop gauges, and other ball-testing methods and testing equipment.
• Development of testing methods for speed of grass courts, and speed and other criteria for approving courts made from artificial surfaces.
• Research and development of playing equipment, including mallets, balls, hoops, and court surfaces.

• Administering grants and loans to member clubs, bursaries to individuals and other disbursements.
• Proposing a strategy for disbursement, determining terms and conditions, and publicising criteria.
• Supporting Federation Development Officers for their support to clubs in applications for funding.

• The handicapping system including procedure and recording.
• Training and appointment of Club, Federation and National handicappers and monitoring their activity.
• Where necessary, approval of handicaps and changes to handicaps.
• The relationship between handicaps and the Grading System.
• The selection of Most Improved Players.

• IT strategy including business continuity and disaster recovery.
• Technical arrangements for the processing, storage and publication of data.
• Design authority for new IT and communications including hardware, software, systems and services.
• Sourcing of IT services.
• Software technology of the websites.
• Support and training.

• International matters (other than team selection) including arrangements for international championships organised by Croquet England and Croquet England representation at international events.
• Representing Croquet England in the World Croquet Federation (WCF) Council.
• Proposing Croquet England representatives to serve as officials and on committees of the WCF and other associations.
• Proposals for obtaining funds for international events from third parties.
• Liaising with the Tournaments Committees over venues and dates for international events.
• Custody and maintenance of international trophies when England or Great Britain are the holders.

• Responsibility for England's performance at international singles and team events.
• Formulating and implementing a strategy to improve international performance.
• Working with all parts of Croquet England necessary to ensure the support of improved international performance.

• Addressing questions of interpretation and proposed amendment of the Laws, and the Regulations for Refereeing, of AC (in collaboration with the WCF AC Laws Committee).
• Training, appointment and examination of Referees and Examining Referees for AC.

• Marketing, merchandising, commercial and sales targets.
• Increasing income including sponsorship and advertising revenue.
• Publicising Croquet England and its activities and public relations generally.
• Croquet England's branding and public image, and legal issues such as copyright, defamation and data protection.
• Objectives, editorial policy, design and promotion of all publishing media, including The Croquet Gazette, newsletters, the website, social media, leaflets and posters.
• Advice to other committees and working parties about the function and purpose of communications.
• Providing marketing and publicity support to the Sport Development Committee for recruitment.
• Responsibility, with the Operations Manager, for commercial events.

Leads on the effective implementation of the Child Safeguarding and Adult Safeguarding policies and their associated procedures and guidance.

• Acts as Croquet England's contact person on matters relating to child and adult safeguarding.
• Responding appropriately to incidents or concerns which relate to child or adult safeguarding.
• Where required, liaising with statutory agencies and ensuring they have access to all necessary information.
• Ensuring a register of all subscribers holding DBS Enhanced Certificates is maintained, along with details of those who are registered with the DBS Update Service.
• Advising on training opportunities for club welfare/safeguarding officers, coaches and other volunteers.
• Refer to the Welfare section of the Croquet England website for further details.

• Addressing questions of interpretation and proposed amendmentof the Rules, and the Regulations for Refereeing, of GC (in collaboration with the WCF GC Rules Committee).
• Training, appointment and examination of Referees and Examining Referees for GC.

• Selecting players for AC invitation and representative events, other than the World Team Championship.
• Selecting players for high level AC coaching programmes and squads.

• Selecting players for GC invitation and representative events, other than the World Team Championship.
• Selecting players for high level GC coaching programmes and squads.

Responsible for Ddvelopment of croquet in all its forms, expanding the number of people playing in improved facilities at more locations, whilst encouraging a more diverse and inclusive membership including:

• Publicising and marketing new development initiatives, and encouraging different demographics to play.
• Development of playing facilities, including relations groups involved with regional development, educational bodies and Local Authorities.
• Proposals for obtaining development funds from third parties.
• Supporting Federation Development Officers through the Federation Forum.
• Organising Federation and Club webinars.
• Identifying, promoting and celebrating best practice in clubs, including Club Awards.

Responsible for Croquet England AC and SC tournaments and competitions, and any questions relating to other AC and SC tournaments. This includes:

• Promoting a tournament structure to encourage and enable all those wishing to play competitive AC and SC.
• Organising and promoting Croquet England AC and SC tournaments and international AC tournaments held in England, including liaison with hosting clubs, rates for court and equipment hire, appointment of officials and entry fees.
• Maintaining and updating the provisional forward tournament schedule in liaison with the GCTC.
• Proposing amendments to the Tournament Regulations in liaison with other relevant committees.
• Training tournament managers.
• AC and SC Trophies including engraving, maintenance of records, and allocation of trophies to specific tournaments.
• Sponsorship opportunities.
• Review of tournament incidents and recommending misconduct complaints where appropriate.

Responsible for Croquet England GC tournaments and competitions, and any questions relating to other GC tournaments. This includes:

• Promoting a tournament structure to encourage and enable all those wishing to play competitive GC.
• Organising and promoting Croquet England GC tournaments and international GC tournaments held in England, including liaison with hosting clubs, appointment of officials and entry fees.
• Training tournament managers.
• GC Trophies including engraving, maintenance of records, and allocation of trophies to specific tournaments.
• Sponsorship opportunities.
• GC Merit Award Scheme (excluding the Steel Award).
• Review of tournament incidents and recommending misconduct complaints where appropriate.