Sport clubs

Contribution:

• A functional and appealing facility could easily attract people to involve in Sport for All.
• Besides the opportunity of doing physical activity, an indoor facility may contribute to social interaction between club members.
• Effectively using Clubs can greatly affect health and mental well-being.
• It also contributes to social inclusion and volunteering goals.
•  ISOs may dispose of new spaces where their Sport can be practiced and disseminated.
• Good alternative when organizing Sport one-time events such as tournaments

International endorsement

EU Physical Activity guidelines
Sport organisations contribute to the social well-being of communities and can ease pressures on the public budget. Through their versatility and cost-effectiveness, clubs can help meet the needs of the population for physical activity.

• Limited offer of services to minorities and age-based restrictions.
• Indoor facilities may not have adequate services such as appropriate dressing rooms.
•  Parking lots availability.
• Often after-hours access is not permitted by facility owners.
• Excessive focus on competition.
• Lack of adapted areas for disabled athlete.
•  Access fees.

Complimentary facilities

• Differentiated spaces (changing rooms/bathrooms) according to gender.
• Equipment and accessibility for children with disabilities.
• Other services: rent of lockers, towels, snacks, drinks

Added values

Club owners should develop and “marketize” attractive “packages” with additional benefits to club members:

• Personalized training schedules.
• Basic insurance service.
• Access to Sport facilities.
• Discounts in stores.
• Free access to tournaments.

Recruitment and retention processes
Click on Additional Guidelines 9 for more suggestions to increase club membership and to “keep participants on board” (motivation)

How to increase the use of Sport Club venues

• ISOs can endorse ranking systems (E.g., chess or table tennis) or support local leagues or tournaments organised by clubs. Additional information can be consulted in AB 4.3: Competitive Tournaments and AG 9: Skill scheme.
• The use of communication platforms or social media can be a good mechanism to connect players willing to play.
• Be creative: festivals, exhibitions and tournaments will attract potential new members to your club. Module 3, “Different TIMEFRAMES & SCOPES OF PROJECTS”, cover different events that could be used.

Adapted Rules to maximize the use of Sport equipment and facilities
Please go to Additional Guidelines 7.

Preventing injuries and accidents in events or regular training sessions
Additional Guidelines 2 raise awareness of and advocate for the positive physical and mental health benefits of Sport for All.

Other tips:

•  Keep spaces always clean.
• Clubs should offer permanent coaches to assist participants that lack training skills.
• Create protocols in case of emergency.
• Secure places to store personal belongings.
• Define schedules according to different competitive levels to avoid dropouts.
•  Offer children spaces for adults (parents).
• It’s also very important that you promote your club to the general public too.
• Every time the club does something positive, try to get public recognition for it.
• Contact local papers and magazines, local radio and television stations and tell them your story.
• The more your club is talked about and recognised, the more chances you’ll have to increase your membership.
• Any negative impact of indoor and outdoor activities on the environment should be prevented.

• Recommendations to improve your club. Click Here 
• Sport clubs for health resources. Click Here

Better platform
(Network of Sport Clubs)

• Leisure centres play host to over a thousand Sport clubs across the UK every year.
• As a social enterprise and the largest operator of Sport facilities in the UK, we work closely with the national governing bodies of England, Wales and Ireland, along with other industry stakeholders.
• We ensure our facilities and development programmes follow guidance and, where required, form part of their National Development and Performance Pathways.

More information:
Web site.  Click Here