If you have ever kicked a ball or swung a racket, then chances are Croydon Council's latest sports strategy will have an affect on you.

The draft plan sets out council's goals for its indoor and outdoor sports facilities over the next five years and looks specifically at seven codes in the borough.

We have broken down the key points and how they might impact Croydon going forward.

Athletics:

Not much will change apart from a few “small facilities changes” which includes a re-laying of Croydon Arena’s running track.

While there are no other ideas set in stone, the draft plan did say that in order to make it “fully sustainable as an independent facility,” other methods need to be developed.

Bowls:

Now bowlers have the pick of their greens, so much so that Croydon has more than double the facilities per head of population than the national average.

In other words, there is an “over-supply” of clubs in the area. This is something that the report highlights, noting many clubs reported low and declining numbers.

But what is council planning to do about it?

Well one idea was to put an end to some greens “where demand can be displaced to a nearby club or alternative facility.”

Cricket:

Although none of cricket grounds in Croydon rated below a ‘standard’ level, a lack of artificial wickets was an issue as these are the grounds where the community can play in a more “informal” way.

But council are hoping to fix that.

The plan said: “In partnership with the ECB and Surrey Cricket, we will increase the number and availability of artificial turf wickets available for informal and community-level Cricket.”

There was also the issue of a lack of grounds available in the “northern sub-region of the borough.”

The plan said that because of the strong demand in the north, particularly with “south Asian communities in Norbury and Thornton Heath” it hopes to bring more of the sport to the area.

“We will work with partners such as the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) and Surrey County Cricket to focus on developing Cricket in the North of the borough, providing more, and improved, facilities for Cricket to be played.”

Football:

Although there is an abundance of grass fields, facilities are often not up to scratch.

More than half of the 161 grounds’ facilities were rated as ‘poor’. Worse still is council believes this is contributing the lack of women playing the sport in Croydon as many grounds have no toilets or changing rooms.

But what exactly is the plan to fix it?

“Currently the Football offer is spread too thinly and the ancillary offer to Football facility users is poor,” the plan said.

“We aim to establish at least two borough football hub sites that will provide high quality ancillary facilities, a mix of 3G artificial turf and natural grass pitches, and potentially offer better facilities for spectators and other park users.”

A move towards more 9v9 grounds as opposed to 11v11 is also on the cards.

Hockey:

Once again, north of Croydon seems to be missing out.

Although there is an “over-supply” of artificial turf pitches, there is “limited” supply up north, with Oasis Academy Shirley Park the most Northern site to accommodate hockey.

A couple of clubs around town are set to benefit as council plans to provide a new short-pile artificial turf surface at Monks Hill Sports Centre.

The north will have to wait and see though as council looks at its options at the Canterbury Road recreation ground.

Rugby Union:

Once again, a need to improve facilities is on the cards, but this time it’s the turf that needs the work.

Council deemed Streatham-Croydon RFC as a priority due to the “significant” demand which has left pitches unable to cope. As a result council will support the club “to improve their facilities and enable them to provide an enhanced offer, either directly at their own site or through the use of Council-owned facilities.”

Tennis:

More than 5000 people in Croydon would like to play tennis but don’t.

This can be put down to the fact that no community courts have floodlights (the ones at South Norwood Rec are currently not operational and that there are no covered or indoor courts in Croydon.

But council wants to change that with the “establishment of larger community ‘hub’ sites that are floodlit, under cover, and are a focus for tennis development.”

Play-to-play systems could also be brought back.

“We will deliver a pay-and-play pilot at two sites in the borough for summer 2018,” the plan said.

“The sites identified and Addiscombe Rec, and Biggin Wood, both sites that can be brought up to a good standard with investment and have significant perceived latent demand.”

You can give feedback on the plan by emailing Parks@croydon.gov.uk before midnight on April 8.