How can a club retain new players involved in the sport?
How can a club retain new players involved in the sport?
The Welcome
The Coaching Experience
The Playing Experience
The Social Experience
The Welcome
Is there a process to engage younger r older siblings and parents in the club?
When they arrive will they know where to go?
What will the first impression be like for any
new members as they arrive to the club /
training session / game / changing rooms?
What in formation have you taken form the player and parent?
Email? Contact Number? Are they signed up immediately?
Facebook and Twitter feeds family friendly and accessible?
Internet page up to date with contact info for each age
group and recent pictures of games / fixture list online?
Is the player encouraged to come back?
The Coaching Experience
Do parents and players feel safe? Is there medical cover at training?
Are sessions when the players want?
Is there enough space for sessions?
Are coaches able to assess the players wants and needs?
Do coaches differentiate with sessions to challenge players?
Is the player to coach ration low enough? 1-10 ideal
Are sessions APES (Active, purposeful, enjoyable and fun)?
Are coaches using safe techniques and best practice in sessions?
Are coaches licensed? Qualified? Will parents get info on this?
Are coaches identifiable as coaches?
Do coaches use small sided games?
The Playing Experience
Is the offer to non players appropriate? How can we create an atmosphere that parents
and family want to be a part of?
Is medical support in place and club procedures followed?
Are there enough referees to ensure a positive playing experience?
Have you asked current players how playing offer could be made better?
Is there a range of playing opportunities to
suit players? Midweek and weekend games?
Different formats of the game?
Is the clubs playing philosophy communicated to players and parents
Can the new player expect equal game time and playing opportunities?
Are the core values of the game upheld by the club officials / spectators / parents / coaches
The Social Experience
What access to the club house or facilities do players have after
the training session or game? Is there food on? Hot chocolate or
drinks after cold sessions? Water and squash after hot ones?
What parent and family social events do the club
run in conjunction with the player social events?
What social events do the club run for junior and youth players?
End of season? Start of season? Halloween? Christmas?
What can parents do whilst their child is training? Is the
bar open? Coffee available? Seats to sit on?
What opportunities are their for younger siblings to do
something fun whilst an older brother or sister is training?
Things other clubs have come up with to keep them…
•More referees in the club able to support games – players offered kit discounts for hours refereed
with juniors – junior coaches to complete ELRA
•Social media and website updated with correct contact details and times of training
•Communication with parents at the start and close of the season about aims of the team and how
the season will be run – highlight all parents involvement and recognition of all kids being involved
(it’s not about the score!)
•Coach courses being highlighted and communicated through the club more regularly with CCC at
the club monthly walking around all coaching sessions
•Internal club coach development – coaches were very positive about the fact we had CPD times
booked in through the year already
•Retention of players through the introduction of contact – highlighted as an area coaches would
particularly like some help in to maintain participation of as many players as possible – club also
highlighted a potential opportunity to run a youth touch type session for kids not wanting to be
involved in contact which would be the first of its kind and a really great idea if at all possible. Kids
would be able to play across all ages as well.
•Medical training updated in the club – GMS database updated and course offered to coaches by
CCC a group of club volunteers
Things other clubs have come up with to keep them…
•Website being used to attract new players with photos of sessions etc – safeguarding officer to
create a form for parents of all kids to sign
•Regular DBS contact for new coaches – Monthly walk around all ages alongside CCC
•Some form of swing set / climbing frame for younger kids down with older siblings – Tree has
been cut down and young kids with siblings will have less activity
•More involvement of the senior section to be seen with the youth section – highlight training days
through the year this could happen
•6TH Form festival, early before 1st team practice.
•RFU to lead first pre-season session, promotional push beforehand with RWC and past players.
•Coaching stash with logo on them to identify club coaches for new players
•Vets game organised trying to get former players back involved at the club
•Website / Facebook / Twitter updated – new contact information on all of them, players page set
up as well as public page
•GMS workshop working on contact information
Things other clubs have come up with to keep them…
•Put the club accreditation up on the sports centre to be seen
•Brief sports centre staff on where to go and who best to contact if people ask. Flyers at facilities
before the start of pre-season
•Club night on 26th – raffle stash off in exchange for contact information
•Parents social secretary to be put in place so mini/junior parents have social events through the
year
•New role on junior training day with a person on club main gate to sign post new players and
parents to the correct training area – role to be shared amongst a group of club volunteers