Bringing in new shooters...

[Kungfugerbil]

I'm hoping to introduce more in the way of practical/dynamic shooting but I appreciate not everyone wants change

This can be the biggest hurdle - the 'enemy within' :) We are often our own worst enemy.

I joined the club here about 2yrs back. I had some suggestions, which grew to joining the shooting committee, then the club committee and now shooting captain. By re-establishing dormant shooting committee meetings with minutes and actions, we started driving some change through that had been brewing for some time. A number of established shooters questioned why we were changing, and we were able to explain that it was to reinvigorate falling league numbers, capture new shooters, drive up the overall skill level and so on. It's an ongoing process. Recent additions include an automated scoring system with real-time results publishing to the web.

There will always be those that are quite content with how things are and who display initial reluctance or express concern. I've found the self same people get on board once you explain, demonstrate and include.

Good luck :)

[Maggot]

Sadly it seems that there are many hurdles, boredom may be one.

My main club never has guest days where total none shooters can attend, how on earth could we let them have a go otherwise?

It is also an F Class club, try affording that on a saturday job. Sadly the more dynamic types of shooting, although often cheaper, need organizing and coaching.

All stuff I personally am open to but when our lot harumph at anything why bother? I will stick to helping out with experience days etc where I can.

[Kungfugerbil]

^ it can be soul-destroying...

The flip side is for every disillusioned member, there are enthusiastic shooters out here who just want to get involved and will bring energy, enthusiasm, money and time. Matchmaking A+B must be possible...

[RDC]

i have a lot of respect for the people in my club and the disciplines they choose to shoot. For the most part several of us believe that the biggest problem we have when it comes to offering different types of shooting is the size of our club.

If we can work something out to entice some new apprentices or graduates in then great. We tried exhibiting at a new graduate intake last year and one person turned up at the club, once.

I think the mini rifle night will help toward that but we need to offer more to keep people coming more than just once a month! It's one of those crappy catch 22 situations where you need to introduce stuff to bring in new people. But until you have more people, you are just negatively impacting on existing members of the club.

That said, I'm going to launch a few individual effort or friendly competition paired things people can pick up and shoot on a normal range day without impacting on other people.

[daman]

I'm curious about getting more kids doing marksmanship for DoE.

My youngest is currently doing it now at my local club. However she is a full member. (we give >50% discount on membership for those in full time education).

Do other clubs get the kids to become members before DoE? - it might be off putting to demand the money before they start, or is there a way to have a DoE course on "guest" nights?

[Alpha1]

Whats a DoE course. Tried googling it with out any success.

[RDC]

Duke of Edinburgh.

[daman]

Whats a DoE course. Tried googling it with out any success.

My bad "DofE" is the preferred abbreviation.


http://www.dofe.org/


It's all about getting kids out and about doing things besides school and phones.

To begin with they have to do something physical, something skilled, and some volunteering....

[Alpha1]

Thanks.

[Dark Skies]

We actually have a pretty good spread of ages in our club and a healthy number.

However, I can count on one hand the amount of women that shoot there.
It's hard to break the cycle, I think. Basically our club is a five lane range with a room attached to wait around in for your turn.
I think we might have a few chairs ... somewhere. Not exactly appealing to the fairer sex.

I mourn the closure of Dunmore shooting club in Abingdon. That had it all. A very good gunshop, a modern five lane range with electric targets and monitors, and a really nice lounge with a rather swish cafe counter. Very comprehensive. We had a lot of women members because it was altogether a much more social atmosphere. The aftermath of Dunblane saw its end - a very great shame as I think its owner, John Binning, had really nailed it as far as what a shooting club could be.