Sport is easy… You discover a few associates and begin taking part in collectively. For those who would not have any associates you select a person sport. For those who do have associates you want hanging out with, you get to play a teamsport. Possibly hockey? Fortunate you 😉
The subsequent step is you get tired of all the time taking part in the identical group of associates and also you wish to get organised to play extra and perhaps even in additional of a aggressive method. You discover different teams of associates and collectively create a match or a league.
Then you definitely develop up, begin a household and your spouse/husband begins complaining you don’t spend sufficient time together with her/him and your children anymore. Sounds acquainted? So that you begin a membership the place you all come along with your individual crew of associates to play your hockey and also you ask others to do the identical so you’ll be able to all play collectively and one another. And collectively you’ve got a lot of enjoyable taking part in your sport and luxuriate in being amongst household and associates.
Enjoyable is contagious
Enjoyable is contagious although. So earlier than you understand it your membership grows. The opposite golf equipment develop as nicely and a few folks volunteer to assist organise these video games, tournaments and leagues. That’s if you get associations or federations taking good care of issues. When extra folks get entangled some will proceed to play only for enjoyable, others extra competitively. Some solely every now and then, others each week, and so forth… You get the gist. Catering to completely different wants retains it enjoyable for all. So extra of your mates wish to be a part of. The golf equipment develop and so does the affiliation. Getting issues organised turns into an even bigger job and the volunteers operating 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 simple 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 make sure that the priorities stay easy: organise the game in such a method it’s and stays enjoyable, sustainable, inclusive, accessible and in line with the values of honest play selling a wholesome “mens sana in corpore sano” way of life.
Let’s be very clear that each one actions carried out by folks operating 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 (!) solution to the unique objective. To be clear…entertaining followers isn’t the objective, it’s a means to an finish. You can find 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 way in which 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 dwelling or for use to get a free schooling. If you can also make some cash from it, go for it… However that’s not the unique objective. The objective of sport is to have enjoyable with family and friends and add to a wholesome, comfortable life.
Let’s preserve it easy
For those who ask me… You want so much (actually so much) of individuals watching the game to seek out one prepared to choose up the stick and play it. You want so much much less folks (and sources) to persuade a good friend to return and be a part of you for a coaching or pleasant recreation and provides it a go. I might know the place to speculate time, power and sources… Let’s preserve it easy.
Now ask your self… Are the folks operating 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 deal with the true objective of sport?
