The provision of appropriate competitive opportunities your club members is essential. For some it is important to have competitions and therefore a structure in the form of leagues and tournaments are essential. The following are possible ways to deliver a competition programme.

• Festivals;
• Intra/Inter Club Competitions;
• Regional and National Competitions.

Festivals

As well as introducing beginners to a sport, festivals can help to grow your club by generating income as well as providing competition for your members. It is essential that you think about what you want to achieve. Do you want an early or pre-season event to get a performance team up to speed for the main season; or would an end of season event that is a social celebration of your sport be more appropriate.
For more info on running a large Festival click here or on Club is the Hub

Competitions

Clubs should be able to provide suitable intra and/or inter club competition according to NGB guidelines. There are various competitions that you will be able to enter as a club and most are probably organised locally however as your athletes/teams become more successful you may consider competitions that are organised regionally and nationally or even internationally. It is then even more important to ensure that your athletes and teams are fully prepared for the event. Therefore the following still applies:

• Ensure that participants are well prepared by set realistic goals;  
• Advocate positive attitudes as taking part in competition is an excellent educational tool for mental as well as physical development;
• Consider a support mechanism for those moving through different levels of competition or squads perhaps by employing a ‘buddy’ system to support newcomers/ beginners; 
• The training schedule should complement the competition programme/ calendar to ensure that participants are at their peak performance for competition;
• Encourage able participants to trial for representative squads in order to extend and challenge the individual;
• Ensure that all participants are encouraged to act in a sporting manner in all competitive situations as highlighted in your members’ code of conduct;
• Ensure that the attitude towards the competitors is supportive, otherwise participants may become de-motivated and membership will drop;
• Encourage parents and supporters to act in a sporting manner and provide supportive feedback.
  

Regional and National Competition

Strong domestic structures provide opportunities for a wide range of performance standards and a framework for talented individuals to develop. Regional and National competitions provide opportunities for participants and coaches to compete and or observe a higher level of competition. These are often organised by the National Governing Body. The experience can be invaluable for coaches and provide an excellent opportunity for the participants. It can raise enthusiasm for the sport, motivation for training, team spirit and gains invaluable experience.

These events are often the start of the performance pathway for many and enable performers to experience the appropriate level of competition.

It is vital that your club members are provided with the appropriate competitive opportunities. However it is important to ensure that the competition is tailored to suit the needs of the participants considering in particular their age and maturity, skill development, ability, attitude, and experience of the sport

If the competition is too difficult then the participants are likely to lose confidence which may result in the club and the sport losing an individual forever.  If the competition is too easy then the participant is likely to get bored or feel unchallenged and may again be lost to the sport or move to another club.

All sports have to demonstrate that the coaching staff are trained to the necessary levels and that the activity undertaken in the club reflects best practice in the development of young people. Coaches are required to ensure that young people do not train excessively or in conditions that may cause injury or discomfort. The emphasis within a club should be that the coaches are supported in their professional development, so when new ideas or updates (e.g., LTAD) become available the NGB supports its coaches to understand and implement them.

Clubs must ensure that both the venue and equipment are fit for purpose and appropriate for the age groups and ability levels of the performers using them. One method of ensuring that facilities are ‘fit for purpose’ is to perform a risk assessment. This is a check of facilities, equipment and safety procedures to see if they comply with the standards expected by the NGB.