Do sports clubs do enough, or is it just me ?
Over the years there have been numerous campaigns to encourage sport in society in the U.K.,
This girl can
Sport for all
Sky ride
GoTri
To name but a few.
All these campaigns, if you can call them that, encourage individuals to join a club. By joining a club you are told that you can get more out of the sport, the clubs are meant to encourage and be all inclusive, but are they really missing out on their target audience.
By target audience I am suggesting that the individuals who most need the encouragement are the ones that are less likely to be ' socially inclusive '. The individuals who are most self conscious, the ones that are 'body aware', the ones that are most likely to feel embarrassed if they mess up, or feel stupid when the do something wrong, even when the ones around them don't mind.
How many clubs actually check the members attendance to club activities, with paid up subscriptions ?
Does the Welfare officer, or Secretary contact the individuals to enquire about them, and ask what they can do for them to get them active. Even pair them up with partners to train with, so that they can feel more involved, learn the sport without being made to feel that the spotlight is on them. Or are they just happy to take the subscriptions and not bother about the members unless they are their friends ?
I just personally feel that in this day and age when you can't turn a page over in a paper without reading about Mental wellbeing that the club and societies that should be improving it, are not doing enough.
Based on my own experiences, I have been a paid up member over the years of five tri clubs, and one athletic club. Discounting the BCTTT, as it is more akin to a social meeting than an all out sports club, not one has bothered to chase up my none appearance at club meetings, races, rides etc. If I have attended, the term, cliquey, would be an understatement, yes, I have tried to make an effort, marshalling at races, saying hi to other team members, even learning their names, but still end up feeling isolated.
Am I on my own in thinking this ?
Or, do other clubs actively chase up their membership!