Step 5

Recruiting Skaters

Before you leave the meeting with the rink owner/operator, you want to leave him a copy of your marketing flyers. Instruct him/her to make copies (preferably using different colored copy paper for each flyer design). The first flyer is a “sign-up” flyer. This flyer should be available at the DJ Booth, Snack Bar, Cashier, etc. so that all employees can have interested participants sign up. At the end of each session these should be handed in to the manager. Announcements should be made any times at each session announcing the formation of a new speed team. The announcements should direct anyone interested to sign up with any employee. This is the reason all employee stations should have access to the sign-up sheets.

Additionally, ask the rink owner/operator to post the colored flyers you provide (I would suggest laminating them first) in conspicuous areas throughout the rink.

Third, I would suggest to the rink owner that he/she have copies of the 3^rd  promotional flyer available during heavy sessions and have an employee stand at the door for the last 20 minutes of each session to pass out the flyers to patrons leaving the facility.

In the next day or so, you’ll want to locate your local newspaper and send a press release to them announcing the formation of your new speed team. You may also want to ask them to be there for the kickoff meeting.

You and/or your coach should make it a point to attend some of the sessions during the initial 2-week recruiting weeks. You may even ask to announce the session races yourself, have special races for the skaters, or to simply make a few announcements about the team. Let the skaters know you will be available during the session to answer any of their questions.

Finally, there’s no better recruiting tool than a website presence. Imagine all the different places you might come across skaters who might be interested in speed skating. If you had a business card with your website address on it, all you would have to do is hand them a card, ask them to visit the site, and let the site do the recruiting for you! Kids love to surf the net and when they know “their” rink has a presence of their own, they like being a part of it. Additionally, parents like a place where they can access practice schedules, meet information, etc.

Finally, everything is in place and you’re getting ready for the kickoff meeting.