Sometimes we are our own biggest threat by not seeing or acknowledging the truth.
If your sport is not growing, you are falling behind.
From years of experience, I have witnessed many sports and sporting organisations say “we’ve held our numbers this year”, and essentially they have seen their growth plateau.
That is often the first sign before a major drop-off, and sadly for some, the beginning of the end.
If this is the case, you need to change.
It’s a threat that you need to acknowledge.
It’s understandable, particularly with local, volunteer run clubs and associations that due to time restraints, and diminishing assistance from other people, they find comfortable routines and keep doing things the same way.
It’s efficient, but also dangerous as growth becomes the victim to operational survival.
Focus turns to getting players on the park, filling gaps in teams, undertaking the ever increasing administration and insurance paperwork, making sure grounds are ready for play, canteens are stocked and manned, and communicating to everyone around fixtures and cancellations.
So when is there time to grow?
And how many clubs and their volunteers really want to grow?
If you have excellent volunteers in your club or association who are great in their current roles, you can assist them by forming a new group of people keen to focus just on growth.
Marketing, promoting, recruiting and welcoming players and families to the club can be a great option for people not currently involved as a volunteer. Those who also don’t want to coach, manage or become an official committee member can provide a valuable and needed function within your sport.
Often they just need to be asked.
The big sports generally get bigger, meaning the small often fade away.
No matter how small, you need year-on-year growth for survival.
Make sure you take on the threat and make it an opportunity.
Have a great day!
Ivan Spyrdz
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By the way, I’ve released an e-book called “GROWING YOUR GAME – How to buck the trend of declining participation in traditional sport”. This e-book provides insights and options on how to evolve the way your sport is viewed, enjoyed and loved by all Australians. If you want to grow participation and results in your sport, I invite you to grab a copy by downloading it free here.
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