Hi folks .......... first post !!!
Having started playing rugby again last season after a good few years out the game my friends coaxed me into joining a small club which were struggling both with participation and finances the club are
are in a lot better position than where we started but were looking to bring a new membership set up as rhey are currently were low and unstructured any help and details about how othere clubs do it would be appreciated
Many thanks Andy
Hi mate, I could offer some advice (useful or not). I've just finished a stint as a committee member at my old rugby club, been a committee member and coach for the university side and coached at various levels. So I can give you some ideas.
Off the pitch you really need to ensure that you have a committee that is responsible for a few things. Most important is getting a club secretary. This can either be a current player but ideally a reliable old head who has a rugby brain. This person is responsible for communication with officials on match days, league officials and general correspondence. This person in what I see is extremely important. You will also need to look at adding a Treasurer, again can be a player but ideally another old head who knows a few things about handling money. All subs, fees, bills etc need to be paid and record so getting someone to do this is vitally important. Then of course there is the club chairman, someone who can run the show and help manage things. Can co-ordinate with the secretary and treasurer and acts as someone who can problem solve issues that arise.
I agree with Olyy in terms off how to collect money. Not seen it done in my club but I think its a very worthwhile thing to do. Collect fees via online bank transfers but of course some would like to pay in cash and that should also be fine. I have been lucky we normally paid £40 for the season and each year we would get some stash with it. So playing shorts, socks and off field shirt or a kit bag. But that all comes with sponsorship also.
On the field, you need to ensure you have someone who can coach and has a bit of brain about them. It can be a player or a person who has finished playing. Having a coach will help. Add to that a team manager. Someone who can be a point of contact for the players and also a person who can liaise with the captain to communicate with selection. This eases the burden of the captain with off the field things.
Getting people to play is always a tough thing. If you get a chance have a look at the tv series of School of Hard Knocks with Scott Quinnell and Will Greenwood. These guys get people who have never played rugby before and get them interested in playing. Some suggestions I have is holding open sessions for people to come in and join in. Have a fun day which encourages people to come down and participate in rugby activities. Doing this is hardwork but you do find people will join in. Make the club viewable to people, so Twitter, Facebook and even posters and adverts around town, in the local supermarket etc. All of this will get the club noticed and people interested.
From this then it maybe a bit early in the club history to do this but having a junior section is something that would reap the benefits to the club. It takes a lot of work and organisation but in years to come a strong junior section will help the club develop its own players. Getting a youth / colts section will also help develop players for first team too. Getting into the local schools, clubs etc again will help encourage new players. Sometimes you will find that a parent who has a kid might join and play for the club or help out with off the field stuff. Always worthwhile looking at a junior / youth / colt section.
Hope that helped and given some ideas.
