Victorian Croquet Association Growing croquet in Victoria Resources for clubs and regions Compiled by the VCA Marketing and Publicity sub-committee Last revised 13 March 2017 1 These resources are being developed to support clubs and regions in their local publicity efforts, as part of a concerted attempt to attract new members to croquet. They have been put together by the Marketing and Publicity Sub- committee of the Victorian Croquet Association Council. The sub-committee’s job is to promote the sport of croquet across Victoria. Our meetings with Regional Associations in 2015/16 have added new ideas and materials to these resources. More suggestions would be most welcome. Contact [email protected] . Contents Why does your club need to grow? ....................................................................................................... 3 Strategic planning .................................................................................................................................. 4 Networking: raising your club’s profile in the community .................................................................... 5 Liaising with the press ........................................................................................................................... 7 Writing a press release ........................................................................................................................ 10 Annotated sample press release ...................................................................................................... 11 Newspaper listings ........................................................................................................................... 12 Club promotions .................................................................................................................................. 14 Planning a promotional event ............................................................................................................. 15 Conducting your promotion ................................................................................................................ 16 Opening of the Season ........................................................................................................................ 17 Social days ........................................................................................................................................... 18 Mallet sports games for social days ................................................................................................ 21 Using courses for recruitment ............................................................................................................. 25 Accredited coaches Example: South Western Croquet Association .................................................... 26 Beginner course outlines ..................................................................................................................... 27 Sharing Association Croquet and Golf Croquet codes ......................................................................... 36 Developing a youth program ............................................................................................................... 37 The Casterton initiative ....................................................................................................................... 37 Club visitors & insurance ..................................................................................................................... 39 Growing our club Queenscliff’s experience ......................................................................................... 40 Growing our club Plimmerton’s experience ........................................................................................ 41 Last revised 27 December 2016 2 Why does your club need to grow? Some clubs may be sailing along quite nicely, perhaps with a few dedicated members who enjoy the game. However without the influx of new members the future of the club may be in jeopardy. What would happen to the club in the future as aging and ailing members retire? Is it desirable for the club to simply close its doors? Of course not! To maintain a healthy club competitively and financially a steady flow of new memberships is imperative. Croquet Victoria’s Strategic Plan to 2020 aims to support clubs in setting and working towards a membership target. What would be an ideal number of members for your club in the context of your community? How can you help your club grow? Let’s start with the club committee. It’s been suggested to us that a club committee should try to spend at least half its meeting dedicated to strategic planning and no more than half on administration. The club needs direction and goals, brainstorming and sharing ideas, developing them and working out how to put them into action. This might involve meeting with other clubs or your regional committee. The club should be open to change and up to date with all legislation to give an optimal, professional image to prospective members and the community. Last revised 21 November 2016 3 Strategic planning In building your club, you may find it useful to go through the formal steps of developing a strategic plan. Start with a brainstorm. Call a club or committee meeting to brainstorm your present situation. What are the club’s strengths and weaknesses? What are the opportunities and strengths in its environment (think the local community, the region, the VCA, local government, state government, potential sponsors and associates). Then decide on three or four priorities. What is happening that you would like to maintain? Where does the club need to develop? How many members would you ideally like to have? Your priorities are the basis of your strategic plan. Take a time frame (three years is useful) and set yourselves a couple of goals for each priority – what you would like to achieve by the end of three years. That takes you to the nitty gritty: the actions, timelines, and responsibilities which will enable you to achieve your goals. Delegation. Delegation is key. Planning for the club is not a committee problem, it is the responsibility of all members. It may help to form a subcommittee to take charge of following the plan and reporting to the club committee. Allocate responsibilities to different people - eg a Publicity Officer, to give the media a consistent point of contact with the club (see below). The VCA’s Strategic Plan 2015-2020 includes some objectives and strategies which are relevant to clubs. You can download this from the VCA website – go to http://www.croquetvic.asn.au/governance.php. The Strategic Plan format may also give you some ideas about shaping your plan for your club. Last revised 21 November 2016 4 Networking: raising your club’s profile in the community In your community there will be some key people who are in a position to refer contacts on to your club. These are people you could consider inviting to a club promotion. For instance: • SCHOOLS The senior teachers and sports teachers in a school. Say you are starting a Saturday morning session for juniors, you could start by inviting key school staff to join you for a late afternoon tea, introduce them to play, and suggest they encourage students to join your new program. • HEALTH Local physiotherapists and other allied health professionals. They will come into contact with people who are looking for a new sport. If you ask them to come and try out croquet, that will help them assess croquet as a possible new sport for suitable patients. • LEARNING CENTRES Workers in neighbourhood houses and libraries who come across people interested in learning new skills. Ask them along and give them some flyers to take back to work with them. • University of the Third Age committee members. A diversity of seniors join the University of the Third Age – several croquet clubs have found this is an excellent way to make contact with people who are seriously interested in trying a new activity. They may be able to recruit people to your next beginner course. • CLUBS Organisers of Lions, Rotary, Probus clubs and the like, who may be looking for an outing for their members. You may like to distribute this flyer to allied health professionals. A Word version is available – contact [email protected] if you would like to edit this to include your local club contact details. Last revised 27 December 2016 5 CROQUET: A SPORT WORTH CONSIDERING If you have a client who is looking for a new sporting direction, croquet is worth considering. Croquet has an image of being a genteel pastime for retired people. Pimms and cucumber sandwiches come to mind. It’s true that croquet is a good retirement sport. But it is also a serious competitive sport played by people of all ages. Australia’s leading player in Association Croquet is a young man from Lismore in Victoria who became world champion at the age of 20. Most of the leading players internationally are under 60. Croquet enables participation. With appropriate guidance, it can be played by people with reduced mobility and strength. Most people with mild impairment, say reduced shoulder or hip mobility, will be able to participate fully in croquet. Golf croquet, in particular, is easier on the body than sports which involve twisting or asymmetrical action, such as golf, bowls, and tennis. Croquet challenges body and mind. It offers the opportunity to develop • hand-eye coordination • balance • mobility • upper and lower