A new membershipperiodprovidesa freshopportunity foryourclubtoreviewitscurrentofferings, diversifyitsoptions, and lookat innovativewaystoengagewiththelocalcommunity. Withthere beingnocost toregister playerswithTennisSouth Australia,thisistheperfect timetomodifyyourcurrent offeringstoget morepeopleplayingtennisatyour club.

Here’s asample of what has worked at some clubs around the state:

New membershiptypesand structures…

  • Coaching participant/HotShotsmembership: offerHot Shotsplayers,Cardio Tennisor coaching participants an introductoryform of membership(in partnership withthecoach).Provide theopportunity for court access before orafter theircoaching programsothey can getmore involvedintheclub andimprove their skills further.
  • Restricted familymemberships:to cater for parents ofchildren who are members or participatein coaching/Hot Shots.Gets the wholefamily involved where the parents are only interested inan occasional hit orpurely social aspects of membership.
  • NightTennisplayer membership:with asmallannual fee plus apay-perplay optionper match,per month, or per season. Gives great flexibility to aplayer.
  • Social/Non-playing/Supportmembership:Offer a non-competition focusedmembership forplayers who play rarely,just like to have asocialhit, or just want to be part of theclub andcontribute in a small way.Also,engage parents or volunteers who don’tplay tennis to still have involvement in the club to helpthem be more socially connectedandwelcome.
  • ‘Rolling’ orpro-ratamembership:aplayer who joins today is amember oftheclub for thenext12 months,regardlessofmembership periods or expiry dates.Alternatively,offer a discountedprice to members who join later in themembership period,rather thancharginga full year’s fee.

DifferentPlayingOpportunities=Increasedinvolvementatthe club…

  • Twilight/NightTennisusing the shortenedFAST4format on a weeknightprovides your local community with analternativeplayingopportunity to traditional Saturday tennis. Ensure your competitionends at a suitable time sothat peoplecan socialise in the clubhouse after theirgameand lookto offer food and drinks ifpossible.

Visit tennis.com.au/learn/ways-to-play/fast4formoreinfo

  • Hot Shots Community Playprogram provides aplayingopportunity for kids tolearn somebasic skills in a fun, friendly,family-focused ‘play session’for kids.The session alsoencourages social connection with parents andvolunteers tohelpout on the court or off thecourt with abbqorkiosk.
  • Hot Shots Leaguesofferan opportunity for kids toput theirskills tothetest ina fun andsocialway, whilst learningthe basics ofscoringand gameplay.There are two league levels to choose from– orange balland green ball.

Visit hotshots.tennis.com.aufor moreinfo

  • Cardio Tennisis anexcitingnew,fun,social,fitness-focused, group tennisprogram fromTennis Australiathat your qualifiedclub coach can deliverto engage new orexistingplayers in ashort sharp session for all abilities.Talkwith your coach to value addone free session per month or yearfor each member.

Visit cardiotennis.com.auformore info

Introductory offersandpromotions…

  • Run a club open day/registration day/family fun daypromotedto thelocal community to get people at your club andoffer them opportunities to play beyond the day or join up.Talkto your Participation Leader to get support for your day!
  • Add ona fewmonths ‘for free’for members who join just before thestart of anew membership periode.g.Pay for 12 months membership,get 15 months included.
  • Offer an‘earlybird’ membershipratefor signingup early,say one month beforethestart of financialyear or season.
  • Run promotions/advertisementsfor coaching,membership,junior tournaments andopen daysin

school newsletters orat schoolsclinics tolinkkids (andtheirparents)to theirlocal community club.

Communications…

  • Start afree club websitefrom Tennis SAto bettercommunicateto localcommunityand members with latest clubnews,events,fixtures/results,membership and contact information.
  • Start up a clubFacebook pageto allowyour players to ‘like’andbecomemore aware oflatest news, events andbe able to createsocialconnection with photos,comments andweb links tokey information. It’s the new form oftheclub newsletter. Maybe eventry ‘Twitter’or ‘Instagram’.Try to engage the youth ofyourclub to run withthis.
  • Senda quarterly e-newsletterviaMyTennistocommunicatethelatest newsandevents to your members andplayers.You can use theMyTennismembership systemto sendemailsto your club membership/player database.Linknewsitems andattachments to your club’s website.Save timeand paper, go online with your club’s newsletter!
  • Createa clubcommunication registerwith theemail addresses of socialmembers,parents of children who receive coachingandpast membersto keep them informedon club newsandevents.

‘Sellmorethan just tennis’withsupporterpackagesand membervalue adds…

  • Add clubmerchandisesuch asa hat,drinkbottle or poloto non-playingmembers,kids or family membership packages asinclusive ofor asupgrades toincrease alternativerevenue.
  • Add non-tennisitemssuch as‘invite to annual clubsocialevent’ or ‘sponsors offer cardor vouchers’to membership package benefitssoplayers can seemore value inthe membership.
  • Add a key or swipe cardat an additional fee to accesscourts so memberscan ‘play anytime.’

For more information or to discusstheseopportunities in greater detail, contact TennisSA on 7224 8100.