It's not easy to attract new members to your club, and we know you're always trying to come up with new ways to reward and inspire your members.
Here are some of the resources and opportunities that are available to your club:
Active Kids vouchers
For the fourth year now, the NSW Government* is helping kids get active with the Active Kids program. Parents, guardians and carers of school-enrolled children can apply for TWO $100 vouchers which can be applied towards the cost of sports fees for this calendar year. Voucher one is valid January to December and Voucher two is valid July to December.
This is great news for families wanting to take the plunge as Swimming NSW club memberships are valid until 30 September each year. This translates into a savings of $100 per school-enrolled child for their first season and a further $100 for subsequent renewals.
The voucher can be redeemed towards payment of memberships or fees with an approved provider registered with the Active Kids Voucher program, each calendar year.
Visit our Club FAQ page for more information on the Active Kids Program.
Take Your Marks come and try program
Take Your Marks is a new program developed by Swimming NSW aimed at introducing young people (5-12yrs/Kindergarten-Yr 6) to the sport of swimming and to help clubs with acquiring new junior members.
The purpose of the Take Your Marks program is to increase FUN, participation-based membership at swim clubs. The four-hour program is a fun way for school-aged kids to 'come & try' swimming and a cost-effective option for parents to check out your club.
We encourage clubs to run 'come and try' events to allow members of the community to experience club swimming.
Come and try events are a great segway for clubs who work with a feeder Learn to Swim program, and can be used as a promotional tool to attract new members.
Visit our Take Your Marks page for more information.
We're moving to the Club House soon
All club-focused content will soon move to the Club House (clubhouse.swimming.org.au) - Swimming NSW's new digital support resource created solely for grassroots administrators.
We invite you to explore the Club House today to see what's available there for clubs, and to learn your way around.
Further Acquisition & Retention Resources
- Order some participation ribbons to hand out at a meet
- Encourage members to bring a friend to Speedo Heats
- Use our pre-designed promo materials
- a downloadable marketing toolkit with digital and printable materials
- autographed goods available
- Book an athlete appearance
- Day/ Date/ Time
- Address of requested appearance
- Requesting organisation
- Swimmer responsibility- clinic, speaking, presentation evening
- Organiser contact details
- Any other information/ requirements
- Host a Beyond the Black Line clinic
- Dealing with Race Anxiety
- Body Image
- Dealing with disappointment
- Communication
- Physical V Psychological development
- Leading a balanced life
- Invite Yampu to visit your club
Participation ribbons are available for meet organisers to award junior competitors at local meets for participation and involvement in swimming. The ribbons are to recognise participation at an event where a child would not normally receive recognition. These ribbons allow all competitors to be recognised and rewarded for competing, rather than focusing on winning.
If you would like participation ribbons for an upcoming meet, please contact the Swimming NSW office.
The Speedo Sprint Series is an exciting, entry-level annual competition run by swimming Areas and Swimming NSW.
The Summer series kicks off at pools all across the state with Speedo Heats in February, and culminates in Sydney at Speedo Finals in March. The top 4 boys and top 4 girls in each 50m stroke are chosen from the Area based heats and are offered spots to compete in the finals in Sydney.
For the Winter Series, following the Area-hosted meet, results are compiled and a Top 10 in each event is published on the Swimming New South Wales website and awards distributed.
Speedo Heats is a great opportunity to attract new members to your club. Non-members are welcome to join in any of the 50m races and the fun, friendly environment is perfect for encouraging first-time competitors to dip their toe in.
Swimmers are required to become club members to compete at Speedo Finals in Summer or to be considered for a State Top 10 Placing in Winter.
We have developed a full promo pack that you can use to get the word out about Speedo Heats in your area.
More information about specific venues and dates for upcoming Speedo Sprint Series', visit the Events section of our website.
We have a number of marketing and promo materials available for your club to use, including:
and more!
Visit our Promo Materials page for more information.
If you would like a former or current Swimming NSW/Swimming Australia athlete (subject to availability) to appear at your event, session, clinic or school to provide skills and tips or for a speaking engagement please email the following information to Vinh Tran (vinh.tran@nsw.swimming.org.au):
The Beyond the Black Line (BTBL) program involves current and retired Dolphins engaging younger members of the swimming community about real issues effecting everyone today during a 90 minute clinic. The aim of the program is to normalise society's issues amongst members of the swimming community. What makes this program even more special is that all presenters have experienced their own issues with the subject matter on their journey to becoming international swimmers. Topics covered include:
There is no cost to have a program delivered at your club.
Head to the Beyond the Black Line website to book a clinic.
Running a come and try event at your club? Yampu the dolphin may be able to make an appearance!
To book a Yampu appearance contact Vinh Tran.
