Keeping Your Club Members Engaged

Jim Lubinski, TOWER 26 Head Triathlon Coach

Clubs bring people of like-minds together.  Specific to our environment, Triathlon Clubs bring community, group activities, and team camaraderie to the otherwise solo journey of multisport training.  Aspects of the club environment motivate members towards group training sessions and race day club events, while also allowing for people of similar interests to connect outside of athletics for social gatherings.  This supportive structure is what makes participating in a club valuable, vital, and encouraging for thousands of triathletes.

Many clubs are now going global, meaning the club reaches athletes from every corner of the planet.  Club leaders must now think outside the box and offer innovative solutions for members to remain connected and a part of the community.  Providing structure, support, and a welcoming environment will keep members engaged and involved in team activities.   

Our current environment has fast-tracked the way we approach our training offerings.  Online group rides, virtual races, and video chats are the new norm, while offering great benefits of maintaining presence and interaction with one another.  Sure, we all miss sporting our club’s tri kit at races and sharing high-fives with one another, and we will most certainly get back to that, though for now, it is critical to provide your team options to remain connected.  Being engaged and supportive of your club members, especially at this time, will leave them feeling a part of something bigger than themselves...and well trained for their next endeavour.

As a club leader, you have the ability to interact, impact, and inspire your members. Making your club experiences inclusive, informational, and interactive will keep them motivated and engaged throughout this virtual landscape.  

Remember Here are some ideas you may want to include when scheduling virtual events for your club members:

Weekly Team Calls:  

Products like Zoom, Youtube Live Streaming, FaceTime Live and Conference Calling are available and mostly free of charge.  They are an easy way to schedule Video/Audio interactions with your team. These sessions need not be overly long or informational, but approached as a sounding board and access point between club members and leadership.  

Leaders can talk about happenings in the club, relevant news, informational topics, virtual group events, etc. and open up the chat to questions.  Having this type of interaction with the members of your club adds value and leaves members feeling like a part of the team.

Virtual Group Workouts: 

Looking at the positives…we live in an amazing time where athletes can train from the comfort of our own homes!  Online platforms like Zwift, TrainerRoad, Rouvy, etc. allow athletes to train, compete, and communicate with athletes from near and far.  Apps provide real time workouts “in-game” and interaction with others. 

Several platforms also designate closed group events for your club members only, providing unique opportunities to bring back the social aspect of your group while training or racing online, via live workouts or club races.  Members can communicate within their own club’s invite-only session, giving the sense of community and an experience as close as we can get to an in-person gathering.

Frequent Social Media Updates:  

Stay connected with your members.  Maintain social media posts, emails, and coaching feedback.  The more communication the leader can have with team members without overwhelming them, the greater the retention and interaction within the club.  Be sensitive to what your members may be going through at this time.  

Establish a schedule with workouts, updates, and reminders on Social Media.  Invite your members to digital meet-ups, online group trainings, and virtual club races, as these types of ‘gatherings’ are more possible than ever in today’s landscape.

Remember, ALL members of a club contribute to the group.  Now is the time to stay together and support each other. Go team.

Author Jim Lubinski is the Head Coach of TOWER 26’s triathlon division.  He is a former Professional Ice Hockey player who transitioned to triathlon in 2005 and achieved professional status in 2009.  Lubinski is a USAT-certified coach and N.A.S.M certified strength coach/personal training, with specializations in Corrective Exercise, Performance Enhancement and Behavior Change.