As you all know, it’s getting harder and harder to attract players to our sport, so we can no longer afford to sit back and wait for the players to come to us: We have to go to them!

Returning Players
With the myHockey (IMG) Member Management System, you can quickly and easily send an email to all your current members. See this HelpDesq Article on how to do that if you’re unsure.

Otherwise, if you have a spreadsheet database of email addresses, you can email all your members, either directly, or using an online programme like MailChimp. MailChimp is easy to use, and creates great-looking email newsletters.

New Players
Think about if you were a person new to the city; how would you find a hockey club to play for? Do they even know where the turf is?

These days, many people will search the internet for clubs. Thats why it is so important that you have an online presence. Whether that is an actual Club Website, or a Facebook page, or both.

• Read here about how to set up a Facebook page.
• Learn how to set up a free Club website using myHockey (IMG) here.
• Other websites that allow you to set up a free Club website are Sporty and Fox Sports Pulse. 

Coaching
If you have people in your Club who are keen to coach, but aren’t quite sure they know where to start, get in touch with your local Coaching Development Officer. In Otago and Central Otago, that’s Tory Dougherty. In Southland, that’s Tony Fryer. They’ll be able to point you in the right direction, and have heaps of courses and resources for coaches.

Club Management
It’s really important that one person isn’t heaped with everything within the Club. You need to share the responsibility.

These days, funders are also looking for Clubs to be run more professionally, so they know you can be trusted with their money.

• Have a proper Executive Committee, with a President/Chair, a Treasurer and a Secretary, and run a proper Annual General Meeting each year. Information on how to do this from SportNZ is here.
• Keep clear accounts. Doing it online with an app like Wave makes it even easier.
• Plan for the future. Strategic Planning and Financial Planning may sound like a waste of time, but they give you, and future organisers, a clear idea of the Club’s direction. Information on how to do this from SportNZ is here.
• Apply for charitable grants. There are heaps of trusts who you can apply to for money. See a list here.
• Keep good records for your meetings, financials, member details and grant applications. You may need them.
• Plan for the worst. Do you have a first aid kit? Spare team shirts? Have you put money away for a rainy day?

Social
Why go to your Club rather than others? If I’ve learnt anything from running Clubs, its that players want more than just a game of hockey, they want to make friends, and have a feeling of community.

You’ll need to adapt this to your Club Members, and potential Members - Who are they? Rowdy students, or Mums with kids? Your social events will need to cater to the right group. A Quiz? Pub Crawl? Group Run? BBQ? There are heaps of possibilities.

Marketing
This ties in with getting new members - How do you market your Club? Posters at the turf, around town, at schools/university/polytech or in student accommodation? Facebook posts? Radio, newspaper, email and word of mouth. 

Who are your audience, and how are you selling your Club? Do you have the best coaches? The lowest fees? The best social events? Some more ideas are here.

Posters for Trials should give the time, place, and what you will need to bring - new people may not be sure - spoon feed them.

Communication
Keep in touch with your members. Ask them to come back next year. Do they have a friend who used to play?

During the season, keep communication brief and to the point. Proofread all your emails, to minimise confusion. If someone has to email back asking for clarification, you haven’t been clear enough.

You will need everyone’s contact details to do this. Make sure they either register on myHockey (IMG), or with you. You will need their email address and a phone number. A date of birth will allow your Association/Region to contact your players about Age-Group representative opportunities. 

Make use of myHockey’s communication tools, it is an awesome way to use the technology we’ve been provided with.

You can even use online Apps like Teamer to text all of your team members at once, to check if they’re coming on Saturday.

Finally, try new things.

Some clubs have had the same members, the same committee, the same players forever.

Unfortunately, to survive, Clubs need new blood, new ideas and NEW PLAYERS.

If you have always just survived by the same 13 people turning up to the first game every year, perhaps this year you could cast your net more widely, (and perhaps get a few more subs on the bench).