Attracting newbies to running clubs: your ideas please
13 watchers
Aug 2024
6:14pm, 28 Aug 2024
4,001 posts
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Lesley C
Hello everyone, not really about attracting new people but what do people think having qualified leaders (LIRF) at clubs? Are there even any without these days? Our so called club leader (he's a total tool btw) seems to be totally against this and I really don't understand why. I am really for having leaders, it's important and great for a club to have. |
Aug 2024
6:21pm, 28 Aug 2024
3,756 posts
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Shades
If your club is affiliated to EA/UKA I think qualified leaders are compulsory to comply with insurance requirements. If your club is affiliated by ARC then qualifications not necessary as assumed that leaders appointed by the club will be competent by experience and common sense. The courses LIRF etc are really good, quite expensive now and they never fail anyone so you qualify by just turning up for the day. I did a LIRF course, really enjoyed it, but to be honest it didn't make me a better run leader/coach. |
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Aug 2024
6:24pm, 28 Aug 2024
4,002 posts
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Lesley C
We are only affiliated to ARC and are also a Jog Scotland group. They are expensive but worthwhile imo. He has no common sense really either and would rather skip a warmup at the start of the session. |
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Aug 2024
7:30pm, 28 Aug 2024
3,757 posts
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Shades
I think putting leaders on a LIRF course is a good way of showing support and commitment to the club members. But the cost can be quite significant for smaller clubs. My club is ARC affiliated only, we don't have any qualified leaders. We like to keep our costs down, our membership fees are £5 a year. But we have very knowledgeable and experienced runners leading the training runs. |
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Aug 2024
8:08pm, 28 Aug 2024
4,003 posts
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Lesley C
We only charge £10 per year. It's not much. There is quite a bit of money in the bank building up so it's not like we are short on funds. Some of our runners are not that experienced, some are. Some of our leaders also give poor advice too. He's not responded to my questioning about what he has against having leaders and nobody else has made comments. This might be an interesting argument between us all if anyone can be bothered with it. I gave up being the leader of our club this year after putting in a lot of work over many years. I really didn't want this guy to take over but as nobody else came forward I had no choice. He hates slower runners too which is not very good in a leader. I still enjoy leading sessions but have thought more than once whether I am better off joining another club. |
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Aug 2024
7:35am, 29 Aug 2024
3,765 posts
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Shades
Lesley - oh that's not a good situation, very frustrating for you. Difficult situation as no one else has stepped forward to be leader. Terrible that he doesn't like slower runners. You've obviously done your share of leading the club. Maybe join another club as 2nd claim and see how that goes for a while before making a radical decision. |
Aug 2024
8:50am, 29 Aug 2024
10,617 posts
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GordonG
Lesley C wrote: We only charge £10 per year. It's not much. There is quite a bit of money in the bank building up so it's not like we are short on funds. Some of our runners are not that experienced, some are. Some of our leaders also give poor advice too. He's not responded to my questioning about what he has against having leaders and nobody else has made comments. This might be an interesting argument between us all if anyone can be bothered with it. I gave up being the leader of our club this year after putting in a lot of work over many years. I really didn't want this guy to take over but as nobody else came forward I had no choice. He hates slower runners too which is not very good in a leader. I still enjoy leading sessions but have thought more than once whether I am better off joining another club. We've recently had 3 runners who, separately, have joined us from another local club because of things like this. E.G. they'd go on longer runs on a Sunday and if you couldn't keep up the pace, then tough. Not what a local running club should be all about. |
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Aug 2024
9:16am, 29 Aug 2024
4,004 posts
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Lesley C
There are a number of local clubs that are elitist and I would be deemed slow even though I am an average runner. There is one that I would join but I would not be able to make their training sessions that much. If you read this fetcheveryone.com/blog/50658 it will give you a bit more info. I argued with the man on Monday about our Tuesday run, I was leading. Everyone had the choice of where to go. I went with the majority and I knew it wouldn't suit everyone. He wanted it to be more inclusive - I said that if people want an easier run then tell them to meet themselves (which they did anyway). I had a good turn out and everyone enjoyed themselves. We used to do the route as an annual thing and it was fun. I think as he is 'injured' that he couldn't run he was jealous that we were all going. Anyway he quickly changed his tune afterwards and will be an annual run again. Some of the others that were leaders were on my side and I am glad of their support. He was also moaning about the £20 fee to renew the licences, the club pay for it and I have no objection to that. I would easily pay for it myself if it came to that. We have several hundred pounds sitting in the bank. Sorry for the rant - I am very frustrated. |
Aug 2024
10:24am, 29 Aug 2024
11,196 posts
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DoricQuine
This why I never joined any local clubs. My daughter was deemed too slow to join one of the so called elite ones when she was returning from injury. She came second in her age category in a local 10k last weekend and currently runs 24xx at parkrun! Sadly this attitude is creeping into Jogscotland groups also. A friend has just recently escalated a complaint to Scottish Athletics and I wish her well as this is just not on! |
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Aug 2024
11:00am, 29 Aug 2024
4,006 posts
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Lesley C
She's doing really well DQ. Wish I was still that fast. I am hoping it doesn't go that way, I don't like complaining but if I have to I will. I enjoy the social aspects of being part of a club. I have friends in the club. |
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