HOW TO INCREASE THE MEMBERS OF YOUR CLUB

Sports clubs are facing many challenges including recruiting new members, retaining existing members, growing sponsorship revenue etc. which they need to overcome in order to survive. This guide will assist you in gaining a greater understanding in how to promote your club and recruit new members.

All sporting clubs need to undertake in some form of marketing. This may include listing your club on a website, placing information about membership registrations in the local newspapers, offering discounts or even redecorating club facilities. In this day and age it is important for clubs to differentiate themselves in order to stand out from the rest. This basically means finding something that your club does which is different from other clubs i.e. promoting a positive and inclusive social atmosphere, high emphasis on team spirit etc.

You may choose to have a few marketing messages in place to target different audiences such as families: family friendly clubs with a playground, juniors: play with your school friends or seniors: meet new people and enjoy the social atmosphere after the game.

There are a variety of ways in which you can actively promote your club. Active promotion can be the most powerful promotional method in recruiting new members. It involves engaging people to participate in activities so that they can gain a greater understanding of the sport and club.

Active promotion is most effective in the following two ways:

  • Inviting people to a club event: Host an open day at the start of the season, this will engage both potential and existing club members by providing free coaching, games and activities. Base the day around fun, encourage old players to bring a friend and consider offering an ‘early bird special’ for members that sign up on that day.
  • Organise a corporate event involving local businesses. Encourage those that work full time to get active in your sport and modify the rules if need be.

HOW MANY MINUTES SHOULD YOU RUN ON A TREADMILL?

The treadmill allows people to walk, jog or run on a revolving track. This is a great tool to improve your overall fitness level. A common problem people face when using a treadmill is not knowing how long or how hard they should be training.

Aerobic training

Aerobic exercise is the purpose of using a treadmill. This involves running at a static pace for a prolonged period of time. As a result, you increase your heart rate and keep it up for the duration of your workout. If you are new to exercising, start by only running 15 minutes a day for a few days a week. This will help your body slowly adjust to working out.

As you progress, start by increasing your pace to make it more difficult. Then begin to increase the time spent on the treadmill. Go up 5 to 10 minutes a workout when you feel you can hold your pace for longer without having to slow down. The optimal workout should keep you on the treadmill between 30 minutes and one hour. You should not be running for more than an hour unless you are training for cross country running.

Always start your workout with a five minute warm up phase. This includes light jogging and stretching. Then begin your workout and finish with a five minute cool down phase similar to your warm up.

Advanced training

High intensity interval training is an advanced method of training your cardiovascular system. Doing high intensity training on a treadmill is a much more effective way of increasing your metabolism and decreasing your fat and calories than aerobic exercise. However, it is much more difficult on your body. As a result, you would spend less time on the treadmill than you would doing aerobic training.

High-intensity training rapidly increases your heart rate and then allows it to fall back down prior to the next set. Therefore, you will be training at maximum capacity for a short period of time and then allowing your body to regain its composure before continuing your exercise. For example, you sprint for 20 seconds as hard as you can and then lightly jog for a minute while you catch your breath. That is considered one training interval.

When you first begin exercising, limit yourself to only ten minutes of interval training. Then as improve your level of fitness you can increase your workouts by five minutes at a time. Your interval training should last between 10 and 30 minutes. This includes a warm up and cool down. You should not be running for more than 40 minutes on your treadmill.

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SPORTS CLUBS ELIGIBLE FOR UNIFORM GRANTS

If you are part of a sporting club you will be glad to know that there are programs available out there that can offer your club a grant for your team uniforms. The Victorian Government would like to support recreational clubs and create a sense of community membership through the Sporting Uniform Grants Program.

The Sporting Uniform Grants Program provides grants of up to $1000 to assist in the purchase of sport uniforms. Click on the following link to see if your club is eligible to apply. Grants from this program can be used for the purchase of sporting uniforms and footwear which are essential to participate in sport i.e. jumpers, tracksuits, football boots etc.

For more information on the Sporting Uniform Grants Program you can go to their website or contact the Grants Information Line on 1300 366 356.

Sportsmart is able to cater to your clubs uniform requirements for both on and off the field. Contact us at shopsmart@sportsmart.com.au for more information

HOW TO BE A BETTER CATCHER

To become a better catcher it is essential that you are aware of your role on your team. You are there primarily to catch for your pitcher and manage the defence. The following will provide you with some basic steps on how to improve your game and become a better catcher.

It is important to learn every possible pitch. Know how fast pitches are thrown and where you need to position your glove. Practice catching as much as possible. Ask your pitcher to pitch to you or use a pitching machine if you have access to one, if not ask someone else to throw to you. To keep your knees healthy you can catch while sitting on a chair.

Practice throwing to all of the bases. Your throws need to be accurate and quick. Wear your catching equipment so that you are ready for game day. Practice communicating to your pitcher as well as the rest of your team before and after each pitch. Remind infielders to watch base runners. Announce how many outs you have and where the next play should happen.

Having the correct equipment is also very important. You don’t want to be on the receiving end of a pitch and having bats swung at your head without wearing protective gear. Your equipment should include body pads, a face mask and helmet. Your catcher’s mitt is a different kind of glove with more padding.

Sportsmart stocks a variety of baseball and softball equipment to allow you to perform at your best. Visit our stores to check out our range.

REVIEW: NEW BALANCE MR890 RUNNING SHOES

The MR890 running shoes are the latest and lightest trainers from New Balance. Each part of the shoes are engineered with a purpose. Featuring REVlite midsole foam which is 30% lighter than traditional foams but delivers the same responsiveness and durability. The synthetic and mesh upper is breathable and supportive to keep moisture out so that you can have the ultimate running experience.

The no-sew, welded seams guard your feet against chafing and the flat laces and lacing holes lock in to place for a sung and comfortable fit. The outsole is engineered with blown rubber which is efficiently light and durable. The rubber material also provides runner with good grip when running on slippery roads.

The New Balance MR890 running shoes are ideal for those who are looking for a shoe that is not exactly minimal but also not beefy, meaning it’s a middle-ground shoe. Now available at Sportsmart as part of our new Performance Lifestyle range, you can view the New Balance MR890 running shoes online or come in to our stores and try a pair on for yourself.

AB WORKOUT FOR BEGINNERS

Your ab muscles maintain balance, provide an energy base and keep your waistline in check. The following exercises tone and strengthen your ab muscle groups. Most abdominal exercises incorporate other parts of the body which is a bonus so your arms, legs and back which will benefit as well.

The basic crunch is very similar to a sit up. Begin by lying with your back on the floor, knees raised and the soles of your feet touching the ground. Then put your hands behind your head or you can cross them over your chest. Lift your upper torso slightly so that your shoulders and upper back are off the ground but your spine is stationary. Lower down to the ground and repeat. You can switch up your crunch so that it targets different muscle groups. Crunch in a particular direction i.e. lifting the shoulders towards the right or the left.

The plank is a simple and powerful exercise. Lay on your stomach on the floor, put your elbows on the ground in front of you and use your fists to make a triangle. Push your stomach off the ground with your feet. The goal here is to try and make your body as flat as possible, so use your abs and glutes. Hold the pose for at least 30 seconds and as you get better you can increase the time you hold the pose for. You can challenge yourself by lifting one leg off the ground.

Although squats are traditionally used for toning your thighs and glutes, abs are an essential part of the equation because they maintain balance. Start by standing up straight with your legs shoulder width apart, knees and toes facing forward. Bend your knees as if you were planning to sit down in an invisible chair. Do not bend so far that your knees go past your toes. Return to standing and tighten your stomach as you do so. Repeat 20-30 times. Challenge yourself by holding this position for 30 seconds.

DEFENCE SOCCER TRAINING

The defenders on a soccer team are positioned near the team’s goal. There can be two, three or four defenders depending on the coaches chosen layout. The most common layout is to have four defenders – a sweeper, a stopper, a right defender and a left defender.

There are 11 players per team on the field during a soccer game. Coaches will often play around with their on-field line up. The coaches line up often depends on the strengths of the players.

The best kinds of drills you can use to improve your defence are those that simulate game situations. In these drills defenders have to work together to cut off passing lanes. During these drills, coaches should critique how the players move, whether or not they stay on their toes, their patience and if they communicate well. Practicing your ball handling skills also helps as well as juggling with a circle of teammates as it will allow players to practice communicating.

The two on one defence drill involves a defensive player kicking the soccer ball out to two offensive players. The defender will then follow the pass and try to win the ball back. The offensive players will try to score. The player who shoots or loses the ball will rotate to the defensive line. This drill will help players to improve their tacking, passing and shooting skills.

Man in the middle is another drill that is helpful in defensive training. This drill involves five attackers, arranged in a circle and two pressuring defenders. The attackers must keep the ball away from the defenders who are staying inside the circle. If an attacker gives up the ball, then they will become a defender. The defender who caused the attacker to lose will take their role. Man in the middle is a good warm up drill and is simple for all players at any skill level to take part in.

HOW TO SELECT TRAIL RUNNING SHOES

A trail running shoe is tougher than a typical running shoe so that your feet are protected against the more rugged terrain. Your trail running shoes should keep your feet dry and cool and feature a sole designed to gain traction on wet or uneven surfaces.

Select a trail running shoe that has a strong sole as it will help you gain more traction on rocks and in the mud. The sole must also be able to absorb shocks that come from unstable and uneven surfaces i.e. gravel dirt and rocks.

Find a trail running shoe that has a durable upper which is waterproof and easy to clean. The upper of the shoe should be able to take perspiration away from the foot and keep it dry and cool.

Ensure that your trail running shoes fit snugly; this will help you avoid blisters. However, you may need to find a trail running shoe that will stretch so that you are able to wear an extra thick pair of socks during colder months.

Pick a lightweight trail running shoe which will help to reduce fatigue when you go on longer runs. Also remember to buy the correct type of socks to wear with your trail running shoes. It may not seem that important but your socks need to be lightweight and allow your feet to breathe as they will work together with your trail running shoes to protect your feet from blisters.

Sportsmart stocks the latest trail running shoes from Brooks, Nike and Asics. You can view our range of trail running shoes online or visit our stores to try a pair on for yourself.

SOFTBALL TRAINING DRILLS

Making softball drills fun for players is not only enjoyable for the team but also educational. The following are drills that coaches can use for their softball team.

Speed drill

Speed drills will work on a player’s base running technique and overall fitness level. Have your team form a semi circle behind the home plate and then tell them they will each take a turn running from the batters box all the way around the bases. Encourage the players to cheer their teammates on.

Watch every player’s technique and make corrections if you need to i.e. if a player is taking too wide a turn around the bases, have them correct the mistake the next time they run. Repeat the drill until each player has run the bases at least three times.

Batting drill

Stand on the pitchers mound with a bucket of balls to conduct this drill. Select a player to be the first batter, then give them instructions on where they must hit each pitch e.g. before you throw the first pitch, tell the batter they must hit the ball over the shortstops head. Change up the locations so that players can learn to control their swing. Repeat the drill with the rest of the team.

Throwing drill

Have the players take their positions on the field. Tell the team that you will be hitting the ball to different spots on the field, then while they are fielding you will yell for them to throw to a specific base. Hit a variety of line drives and fly balls to each of the players and constantly change which base the player has to throw to after each hit.

Fielding drill

Work on increasing a player’s range during this drill. Have the players take their positions on the field, stand in the batter’s box to conduct the drill. Hit a variety of balls to the players, changing the speed and location of each hit. Hit some balls in the gap in the outfield, so the players have to communicate with each other. Continue the drill until each player has had the chance to field at least three balls.