Sport is straightforward… You discover a few mates and begin taking part in collectively. If you happen to do not need any mates you select a person sport. If you happen to do have mates you want hanging out with, you get to play a teamsport. Possibly hockey? Fortunate you 😉
The following step is you become bored with all the time taking part in the identical group of mates and also you need to get organised to play extra and perhaps even in additional of a aggressive approach. You discover different teams of mates and collectively create a event or a league.
You then develop up, begin a household and your spouse/husband begins complaining you don’t spend sufficient time along with her/him and your children anymore. Sounds acquainted? So that you begin a membership the place you all come along with your individual workforce of mates to play your hockey and also you ask others to do the identical so you possibly can all play collectively and one another. And collectively you could have plenty of enjoyable taking part in your sport and revel in being amongst household and mates.
Enjoyable is contagious
Enjoyable is contagious although. So earlier than you realize it your membership grows. The opposite golf equipment develop as effectively and a few folks volunteer to assist organise these video games, tournaments and leagues. That’s whenever you get associations or federations taking good care of issues. When extra folks become involved some will proceed to play only for enjoyable, others extra competitively. Some solely at times, others each week, and so forth… You get the gist. Catering to completely different wants retains it enjoyable for all. So extra of your pals need to be a part of. The golf equipment develop and so does the affiliation. Getting issues organised turns into a much bigger job and the volunteers working issues get some paid assist…
When sport turns into much less easy
Now could be the time to concentrate as a result of issues have gotten extra difficult, much less easy… Now we’re mixing folks simply having enjoyable and other people getting paid to do a job. By no means a straightforward combo. You want to set clear pointers what are priorities or the folks getting paid take over with their very own agenda. In any case, they’ve an curiosity in defending their job. So be sure that the priorities stay easy: organise the game in such a approach it’s and stays enjoyable, sustainable, inclusive, accessible and in accordance with the values of honest play selling a wholesome “mens sana in corpore sano” way of life.
Let’s be very clear that every one actions carried out by folks working the game are focussed on this one and solely precedence. Which means all these different targets and actions associations (nationwide or worldwide) are likely to develop are contributing in a measurable (!) approach to the unique purpose. To be clear…entertaining followers isn’t the purpose, it’s a means to an finish. You’ll discover lots of people in (inter)nationwide associations telling you getting TV offers, entertaining followers, rising the variety of followers on their social media accounts is the best way to run the game. It’s not ! I’m not saying it has no worth. It does… however let’s by no means cease asking if it provides to folks beginning or persevering with to play the game. Whereas we’re at it… Sport isn’t about making a residing or for use to get a free training. If you may make some cash from it, go for it… However that’s not the unique purpose. The purpose of sport is to have enjoyable with family and friends and add to a wholesome, glad life.
Let’s preserve it easy
If you happen to ask me… You want quite a bit (actually quite a bit) of individuals watching the game to seek out one prepared to choose up the stick and play it. You want quite a bit much less folks (and sources) to persuade a pal to come back and be a part of you for a coaching or pleasant sport and provides it a go. I might know the place to take a position time, power and sources… Let’s preserve it easy.
Now ask your self… Are the folks working my sport focussed on the primary precedence? Or is it time we maintain them accountable for the alternatives they make and ensure we as soon as once more give attention to the true purpose of sport?