Team Management Tip: Give Players Perks

As we’ve discussed, relationships with local teams are a great way to generate business for your sports facility. Part of developing those quality relationships with teams, whether they rent your facility space for practice or are hosted by your facility directly, is giving their players special perks.

For example, DNA Sports Center is home to the Midwest Prospects, a nonprofit, elite baseball program whose goal is to expose players to college coaches. Midwest Prospects players get exclusive access to a specially tailored speed, agility, strength and hitting membership at DNA Sports Center. Players are encouraged to take advantage of this membership to improve their game outside of their regular practices. It’s simple for coaches to collect the cost of the membership along with monthly team payments. Also, players have access to the member benefits 12 months out of the year.

Giving team members special benefits at your facility can increase team retention. It also can provide a revenue boost for your facility, particularly if the membership benefits last all year and throughout slower seasons.

Memberships with Teams

eSoft Planner, the online scheduling software my company created for sports facilities, makes it easy to automatically distribute discounts on lessons, camps, classes and rentals to special client groups, such as teams.

If your facility doesn’t directly sponsor sports teams, it’s still worth creating a membership named for each team. Making the membership available for purchase online can be a great marketing tool. It advertises your special relationship with that team. Also, it encourages other teams to develop a similar relationship with you. In addition, it catches the eye of parents and players associated with the team. You may also choose to keep such partnerships private. Then, limit the purchase of the membership to in-store only. So, you can ensure that only the appropriate team members are purchasing the membership.

Regardless, meet with the coaches for your teams. Discuss what offerings would benefit them the most before you create the membership. If the coaches feel that the perks will truly meet their team’s needs, they will encourage their players to get involved.

If you would like to discuss sports facility team management in more detail, I’d be happy to set up a consultation session with you. Give me a call at (513) 791-4940.