It can seem like a daunting process starting an Activity Class or Sports Club, with a seemingly endless list of things to plan and prepare for, however, we are here to help!
Self-start up classes are vital to providing local communities with new opportunities to keep fit and make friends. Today we are sharing a step-by-step guide to getting started or things you should consider before starting your new class.
1. What type of Club or Class should I start?
Perhaps an obvious starting point but it’s key for both yourself and your customers to know exactly what you will be offering in your classes. Will it be exclusively a dance class? A specialised sports club? A boot-camp style fitness class? Or even a hybrid class, something like Dancercize for example.
Being clear on what you are offering in your class will help with advertising and attracting customers but also with sourcing the correct equipment and suitable venues for your sessions.
2. Where Should I Host my Class?
After you have decided the type of class or club you wish to run, it’s a good time to look for a host venue. Some people prefer to host their classes locally with people they know, whereas others will prefer trialling a new location and building a new set of customers. Luckily at Schools Plus, we have a wide range of partner schools home to facilities suited to a variety of activities and clubs.
Use our Venue Finder on our website to help you find the best location for your booking-
https://www.schoolsplus.co.uk/venues/
3. How often will I run my Class and will I need any Volunteers or Staff?
With a venue in mind, before you can start taking bookings you need to consider the frequency of your class.
Some clubs operate multiple times a week, some once a month and some only during half-terms and school holidays.
Knowing your projected schedule can also help you work out if you will need any volunteers or staff to assist with the running of the class. If you want to run your class three times a week, year-round it is likely you will need someone to help you or to be able to cover you if you are unable to make a session.
Find out more about hiring volunteers and extra coaches for your classes here: https://www.sportenglandclubmatters.com/club-people/volunteers/
4. Which Facility will be most suitable for my Class?
Now you have decided on the type of class you will be running, where you hope to run it and what your schedule will look like you now need to decide which facility will best suit your class.
There is a vast range of facilities to pick from, these include
Indoor Spaces such as Dance Studios, Gymnasiums, Fitness Suites, Drama Studios and Main Halls as well as Outdoor Facilities such as 3G Pitches, Multi-Use Games Areas, Grass Pitches and more.
You may find that your activity or booking changes facilities depending on the season allowing you to move outdoors for the warmer months.
5. What is my ideal Class Size?
Many coaches and trainers will often answer “as many participants as possible!” Whilst it is great to be so positive and welcoming, this approach might not suit all class types. Class attendees may thrive in a more personal environment with a limited number of participants helping them achieve their goals more easily or you may require a certain number of attendees to make up teams.
It is often a good idea to check on the facility limits before deciding on your ideal class size.
6. How will I attract more Customers?
No clubs or classes can survive very long without regular attendees so it is important to put together a plan for promoting your class.
There are a few ways to do this; you could place flyers and posters at local interest points. You could promote introductory offers such as the first session is free or book five sessions to receive the next free to help get those first attendees in the door.
Social Media can be a powerful tool in helping to promote and raise awareness for your class or club. It is worth checking if specialised groups exist for your area or activity to help promote your new club.
For more information on promoting your club or class, including further details on harnessing the power of social media, please visit here:
https://www.sportenglandclubmatters.com/start-a-club-2/raising-awareness/
7. Conduct further Local Research
As previously mentioned it is wise to research using social media or other means to see if clubs or classes like yours already exist. You can find out key information such as how big the other classes are, what days or nights they run, which locations and facilities do they use and can you offer anything that they do not?
Knowing the answer to even just one of those questions will give you a much better chance at a successful launch and long-term future for your club.
8. How much should I charge and how will I fund my Class or Club?
This will help you be clear with advertising as well as giving you an idea of how much you can expect to make per session and helping you plan your budget.
Whilst most classes and club’s funding does come directly from membership payments there are other methods you can explore to help with funding. For more information on this important topic, please visit Sport England’s Club Matters helpful page here:
https://www.sportenglandclubmatters.com/start-a-club-2/facilities-and-funding/
9. Bookings during Half Terms and Holidays
You will need to have a plan for what will happen to your class over half-terms and longer school holidays. Some classes will carry on throughout whereas others will use the opportunity to take a short break.
You may want to take advantage of the new availability at particular venues like schools. Our partner schools are available for bookings throughout school holidays, often with more access to multiple facilities.
10. Can I become an Affiliate with any National Governing Bodies?
Affiliating with a National Governing Body won’t be an option for every activity. However, it can prove highly beneficial if it’s achievable for you. Benefits to becoming an Affiliate Club can include perks such as insurance for players and coaches, the opportunity to access further funding sources and access to qualified referees for competitions.
Examples of National Governing Bodies that we see regularly working with clubs in our schools include The Football Association (FA), Badminton England and England Netball.
To find out more information on National Governing Bodies, and potentially becoming an affiliate member with them, please visit here:
https://www.sportenglandclubmatters.com/national-governing-bodies/
We hope that the points listed above have proved useful whilst you look into starting your new club or class. Please don’t hesitate to contact us to see if we can host you at one of our schools!
