Most people can agree tennis is one of the most underrated sports of all time, but nobody knows for sure why. It’s safe, it’s fun, it’s affordable. It’s also a full-body exercise, great for the mind, social, competitive and can be played all year-round on a variety of tennis court surfaces. So, what’s not to love, right? Here are some tips to consider for growing your tennis club at any time, even during the pandemic.
Find Your Strength
Every sport has its strength. You just have to find it and use it.
In general, tennis’ strength is that it can be played all year long. So, if someone is looking to join a club that’s always active, tennis clubs are certainly appealing.
Right now, tennis’s strength is that it’s perfect in a COVID climate. That’s because, whereas other sports have big teams, tennis does not. It involves two tennis players, sporting on a court that is already spread out, thanks to natural court dimensions. No flooring tape required! Standard court dimensions are somewhere around 78 feet. That’s way more than 6 feet.
This means group size, social distancing, and cloth face coverings aren’t a big concern for tennis. And it’s also the reason why many outdoor courts have been able to open up ahead of gyms and other fitness facilities that may have concerns about larger gatherings and group size.
Of course, health and safety measures should still be used to help stop the spread of COVID-19. For example:
- Tennis players should refrain from shaking hands or hugging after a match.
- Tennis tournaments should wait to resume until things are normal.
- Social distancing should be respected, and cloth face coverings should be worn when passing other members inside of the health club.
- Some tennis court surfaces could require additional cleanings.
Get Online
Old school marketing can still make waves but the easiest way to reach an audience is online. Use social media to promote your tennis club- or any club.
Did you know, on average, each person spends about 4 hours and 25 minutes browsing the internet every day? And 2 hours and 25 minutes of that time are on a social network.
And think about it: that was pre-pandemic. The numbers are likely double the amount now. That’s why it’s as important as ever to have an attractive and functioning website as well as a strong social media presence.
- Have fun!
- Display it.
- Talk about the endless physical and mental benefits.
- Feature great tennis players, either from your club or celebrities.
- Promote tennis tournaments.
- Let everyone know your outdoor courts are open!
- Offer online classes for tips and techniques.
Implement a Management Software
Anytime is a good time to implement management software. But, if you don’t have one already, now is a good time to research and learn how to use the program. When you’re able to free up time normally spent booking courts and instructors, or billing clients, that’s time away from building up your business. A management software takes over the heavy lifting so you have more time to do other really important things—like perfecting your backhand!