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Communications |
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Creating
dynamic programming requires effective communication no matter what the
program. Unless people are aware of the program, know the benefits and
understand how to participate, a program is doomed to low turnout and marginal
success. In preparing any recreational program, the challenges are great.
 Communications with recreational parents and players are difficult for several
reasons. Many recreational leagues lack of identification with the larger
organization – recreational parents and players tend to identify only with the
team the player is on and perhaps to a small degree with the division in which
they play. Often they do not have the sense of belonging to a bigger
organization i.e. the local club or the state association.
Recreational participants often have a lack of commitment to programming in
addition to team activities – the parents sign their player up to practice and
play some games. It’s a recreational activity at a local park or play space.
They do not automatically connect to additional playing opportunities such as
camps, clinics and festivals promoted by their local organization or the state
association.
Recreational programs are also often hampered by a lack of information due to
the registration process – recreational programs have a reduced emphasis on
internal communications. Sorting the players out onto teams and
preparing/distributing rosters is generally seen as the cycle. Information such
as player and coaches names and addresses are generally submitted toward the end
of the season making it difficult to contact them during the playing period.
The use
of all volunteers to manage the recreational programs can lead to a lack of
structure. Just as the play is more relaxed, so is the administration at the
base level of recreational programs. The end is to form teams and play. Once
the games begin, there is little emphasis on administrative activities within
the playing groups. The only focus may be on keeping track of games, assigning
officials and getting the players to reregister for the next season. The
volunteers are parents of the players and they are more involved in getting
their player to games and practices than in league administration.
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What
can can be done to compensate for the difficulty in
communications?
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- develop and maintain structure and consistency in programming. For
example, plan and execute coaching education on a regular and consistent basis.
Courses should be scheduled well in advance and announced before the coach
recruitment process is initiated. The goal should be to create an environment
where the volunteers consistently know those courses will always be offered in
their area on the X week of August and the X week of March for example. This
removes uncertainty and assists in growing participation. Sure the dates will
differ from club to club and community to community but for the local groups
they will remain the same.
- create comprehensive but brief communications regarding programs.
A one-page program description with concise enumeration of the program features,
benefits, costs, mechanics and how to participate can be created as a template
where the details can be updated as needed. Prepared well in advance and
distributed to the volunteers in the field improves the potential of copies
being made and distributed to coaches when they get their rosters or other
information each season.
- strive to make the information available on-line all the time on
the association’s website and make sure it is constantly updated. Create an
environment where volunteers know to look on-line for details and current
information.
- make effective use of email to connect with contacts and provide
up-to-date information and reminders. While it is difficult to get local email
addresses, it is possible to create an email tree structure where information
can be sent to local volunteers who can forward on to others.
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For more information, please contact us at:
StateOffice@kysoccer.net
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  This website is the official website of the
Kentucky Youth Soccer Association, Inc., 443 South Ashland
Avenue, Suite 201, Lexington,
Kentucky 40502 - Phone 859-268-1254 -
Facsimile 859-269-0545 © Kentucky Youth Soccer Association 2008. All rights
reserved. No commercial reproduction, adaptation, distribution or transmission
of any part or parts of this website or any information contained, herein
by any means whatsoever is permitted without the prior written permission
of Kentucky Youth Soccer.
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