Performance
INDIVIDUAL PLAYER SUPPORT AND MANAGEMENT
BB&O JUNIOR PROGRAM
BB&O recognises that there will always be an element of group / team coaching which will both create a team culture and deliver educational information. We also understand that players will each have their own path to success with various barriers and bumps in the road along the way. No two players will develop in exactly the same way and so if we are going to set up an effective way of supporting players through their individual development, we need a process that accounts for that.
Ultimately each individual (or player’s support team) has to be responsible for their own improvement, but we will play a vital role in helping them target their effort in the most effective way.
Guiding Principles
1 – Each player must understand how their game compares to “best in class”.
2 – Each player must understand the best way to bridge gaps in performance.
3 – Each player must have access to support in bridging those gaps.
4 – Each player must know if their efforts are making inroads to achieving their goal.
With this in mind, an effective program will:
1 – Have a clear way of benchmarking players from the age of 13 upwards against “best in class”.
2 – Help players collect data to provide an insight into their own game.
3 – Have a clear way of making and communicating a comparison between the player and “best in class”.
4 – Help develop a plan to bridge the gaps in a player’s game.
5 – Continuously review a player’s plan to re-set goals and targets.
5 – Financially support those who demonstrate they work hard toward continuous improvement.
Collecting Data
1 – The office will continue to collect scoring data against course rating.
2 – Under 16s and Under 18s will be provided with UpGame on the understanding that individual financial support is only given if the software is utilized.
3 – We have a simple online form (embedded into our website) for Under 14s to complete after an away competition round.
4 – We will use statistics provided by England Golf (and our highest performers) to benchmark players.
Benchmarking / Comparisons
It’s important to communicate clearly with players, parents and coaches. Realistically this would be done through the player and parent, but it’s essential that players are regularly given feedback on how their game compares to types of players. This needn’t be limited to “best in class” but we should also be able to provide “county average” and “best in county” examples.
The most effective way to do this is in a one-on-one scenario, and as our Under 14s and Under 16s all play in our Futures Tour this will be done by appointment at any of our 7 events. A one-on-one environment will also give us an opportunity to learn more about the financial limitations a family might have, and the work ethic and commitment shown by a player. Funds should then be allocated based on either effort or means, with a biased toward our better performers.
We will require a physical “Player Development Plan” in place along with some sort of journal that can be interrogated and reviewed during one of these review sessions.
Player Reports
A midyear report will be written up and copies made available to both players and Team Managers. This will not only keep Team Manager’s informed of how each player is developing away from the team environment but will also allow players and parents to get a “flavour” of how they are performing against our expectations and against other team members. Squad selection will always be based on ability (scoring averages) unless there are significant other factors at play, but often parents are not aware of how a boy’s average performances compare against his peers. It’s important that when players are dropped from squads, it’s never a surprise to anybody.
Information to be reviewed in a Midyear Report
1 – Player’s scoring statistics against other team players and also “best in class”.
2 – Player’s compliance with keeping statistics / journal etc.
3 – Recommendations for the second half of the season.
Compliance
We will never create an environment where the player thinks he’s being “told” to do something that he doesn’t want to do. Our role is to help and support the player. If we take a player centric approach, we must understand that some players will simply want to play and enjoy the game for what it is. In these cases, if they are good enough to play in a county team then we should allow them to do just that and not place further demands on them. They will benefit from any group get togethers and we will benefit from their participation in matches. We must, however, make it clear that any additional financial and personnel support is dependent on players demonstrating a reasonable amount of compliance to our program. If we are to make targeted recommendations and fund various support activities, we need to know that we are spending our budget in an effective way. For this reason, we will rely on players to work within the framework we provide and therefore only those who comply with certain parts of our program will benefit from individual support.
Delivery and the Player Support Manager
As the activities listed on this document sit outside of “team activities” and as the individual support program is best managed one on one. Each player will benefit from the following:
1 – A Player Development Plan that assesses a player’s game, their goals and an initial action plan.
2 – The player will be monitored during the season. Both scoring averages, and how those scores are put together need to be tracked and compared against other models.
3 – The player and parents will be regularly updated as to his direction of travel, and intervention activities and funding provided to maintain momentum chasing the agreed goal. This should ideally be in person.
4 – Coaches (both County Coaches and Home Coaches) will be updated on any successes or otherwise during the season. They should be messaged with how the player has performed and if we are concerned about a performance then a decision on whether intervention is required.
The Player Support Manager will be responsible for making sure that players are using data and comparing statistics against other models. That will entail having access to UpGame, U14 return forms, and comparison models. Scoring data is available via the office and we have data on what “good” looks like nationally that will also be shared with players.
The Player Support Manager will arrange sit-down appointments at events with the Under Under 16s (with parents) and keep them informed of where we think they are and what we think they need to work on. With Under 18 players, this might mean visiting their home clubs or earmarking other events that they are playing in. After those appointments a brief report along with any coaching recommendations will then be sent to The Performance Director.
Where a player is performing poorly, the Player Support Manager will observe tournament rounds and then report back to the player’s County Coach in order to give a more rounded profile of the player to the coach.
Mid-year and end of year reports will be prepared and delivered by the Player Support Manager who will also be responsible for keeping the player’s coach updated on how the player is performing in tournaments away from his club.
Elite Performance and Player Development Program 2025