Gender Equity Plan — official policy

A croquet community where all players, regardless of gender, have equal access to participation, development pathways, leadership roles, and recognition.

Where we stand today

Mallet sports (croquet and gateball) in Queensland occupy an enviable position in state sporting codes, having more female than male participants (62% : 38%). The broad gap diminishes somewhat when counting elite and seriously competitive players, but mallet sports as a social pastime provide a valuable activity that benefits the physical and psychological well-being of a wide group of people.

Croquet is one of the few sports where gender plays no part in determining competitiveness, ability and opportunity for advancement. The World Croquet Federation allows all genders to compete in open events, but restricts its official women's championships to individuals assigned female at birth.

The appeal of croquet to non-female players under 65 suffers from an image problem. The sport needs to do more to attract more players from under-represented genders, competing as it does with first- and second-tier sports such as football, basketball, pickleball and netball. It needs to address the issue of image in order to attract more players of any gender, and ensure that appropriate goals and actions are put in place to encourage continuing participation and equality of opportunity, both in play and in governance and decision-making.

1. Participation

Goals

Increased and equitable numbers of all genders in club membership
Ensure all clubs offer at least one session per week at a time accessible to people with outside commitments: caregiving, work, study, other volunteering
Increased exposure through traditional and social media

Actions

Audit current membership demographics across Croquet Queensland clubs and publish a baseline report
Pilot Come & Try days specifically marketed to particular groups, partnering with community organisations (seniors' groups, men's and women's groups, schools)
Encourage clubs to offer flexible session times, including weekends
Recommend that clubs offer equipment-loan programs to remove cost barriers
Seek grants and sponsorships designed to provide financial support to new players, and encourage clubs to do likewise

2. Competition and pathways

Goals

Equivalent scheduling for all gender categories in state-level events
Offer events designed specifically to encourage a mix of players in the one competition
Establish a clear development pathway from club player to state representative for all players

Actions

Review event formats to ensure women's, men's, and open divisions receive comparable court allocations, time slots, and publicity
Review event formats to encourage mixed-gender entrants
Continue to support state development squads with gender-balanced selection criteria and coaching access
Track selection and participation data annually; report findings publicly

3. Leadership and governance

Goals

Achieve an equitable representation of genders on the Croquet Queensland Committee and subcommittees
Increase the number of accredited coaches and referees across all gender groups within three years

Actions

Adopt a committee nomination policy encouraging gender balance
Carry out an audit of committee and officials to inform a gender analysis of the current state of affairs, and develop programs to address any imbalances
Offer subsidised coaching and officiating accreditation for under-represented genders
Establish a mentorship program pairing emerging leaders of any gender with experienced administrators
Appoint a state-level Member Information Protection Officer, or equivalent

4. Culture, safety and inclusion

Goals

Zero tolerance for discrimination, harassment, or bullying, especially based on gender
All clubs adopt and display an Equity and Inclusion Policy/Plan

Actions

Develop a model club policy template and encourage adoption for Croquet Queensland affiliation
Recommend annual online training for club committees on inclusive practices and responding to complaints
Ensure clubs are aware of their obligations and responsibilities with regard to working with children

5. Communication and visibility

Goals

Equal visibility of all genders in Croquet Queensland communications, social media, and promotional material

Actions

Audit current imagery and language; establish guidelines for balanced representation
Profile players, coaches, and officials from all genders in newsletters and social media
Partner with social, mainstream and community media to promote the sport and ensure equality of coverage of all state events
Build an environment where gender-specific terminology is removed from communications, including social media

6. Timeline

Appoint coordinator
Collect and collate data: carry out audits in the areas identified above
Establish targets and reasonable timelines for achievement
Analyse findings so that appropriate actions can be taken
Identify best practice through research and liaison with other sporting bodies
Monitor and report on progress
Publish and showcase successes
At three years, review and develop a plan for the next three years

Resource requirements

Appoint coordinator
Budget allocation for subsidised accreditation and promotional campaigns
Financial support for clubs hosting inclusive events and activities

Any comments or questions on this plan should be forwarded to the Secretary, Croquet Association of Queensland Inc: 0480 613 711, secretary@croquetqld.org.