WE MUST CHANGE OUR WAYS! By Debbie Lines Sport Development Commi1ee
I’ve been playing croquet compe77vely for 40 years and witnessed its many exci7ng changes – from an ever‐expanding interna7onal circuit to Golf Croquet’s surging popularity. These developments have energized the sport, yet amid this growth, a pressing concern has emerged: our players and incoming recruits are steadily skewing older, and that demographic shi' poses long‐term challenges for our clubs. Clubs today are seeing far fewer members join between the age of 45 and 60. Economic pressures mean later re7rements, so many people only take up croquet in their seven7es. While new Associa7on Croquet recruits tend to be younger than new Golf Croquet players, neither group is bringing in enough energe7c volunteers to sustain our club’s long term. WHY THIS MATTERS Who mows the lawns, maintains the hoops, paints the clubhouse, and runs our tournaments? All too o'en, it’s someone who joined at 60 and is now approaching 70 or older. These members have given generously of their 7me and energy— but they can’t carry the load forever. If we don’t start recrui7ng more people with the strength and capacity to contribute, these essen7al tasks will fall to an ever shrinking and aging group. Eventually, there simply won’t be enough volunteers to keep our clubs running. A CALL TO ACTION We’re asking clubs to act now—not just those already focused on the 45 to 60 age group. We need a fundamental shi' in recruitment strategies across the board. A8rac7ng this demographic is no longer op7onal; it’s essen7al for long‐term sustainability. Equally important is embedding a culture where pitching in with club chores is seen as normal. Not every
o Reach out to schools, colleges and universi7es—not for the students, but for teachers and professors who value strategy and mental challenge. o Visit nearby snooker halls. Snooker players, especially those who might be interested in AC, already appreciate precision and tac7cs. o Try a well‐being approach – perhaps collaborate with yoga, Pilates or tai chi studios—people there appreciate low‐ impact, mind‐body ac7vi7es. o If you have large corporate offices near you, you could see if they could offer croquet as part of their pre‐ re7rement course. o Or perhaps take croquet out of the club and try pop‐up croquet at local fes7vals, county shows, village fairs or similar type events. AND A FINAL PLEA… Please introduce both variants from the start. Our sport’s unique dual‐format nature —two dis7nct games using the same equipment and space—is a powerful recruitment tool. Some will love GC’s one‐shot turns; others will relish cra'ing a long break in AC. By showcasing both, we’ll a8ract the younger, energe7c players who will become our indispensable volunteers.
new member will want to roll up their sleeves—but every club needs enough willing hands to keep things running smoothly. This won’t be a quick fix. It will take 7me, effort, and persistence. But the reward? A thriving, resilient club ‐ 10, 20, even 30 years from now. So, we know it’s difficult. Here are a few ideas, aimed at both AC and GC: • Ensure your club is accessible and a8rac7ve to people who are s7ll working during the typical working week – are there evening sessions on offer or is the club closed before they finish work? Can you specifically target evening and weekend sessions that will appeal to this age group? • Target your publicity efforts towards places likely to have people in this age range who are looking for a new sport: o Try sports clubs, such as tennis, football, rugby or cricket. Athletes whose bodies now need lower‐impact compe77on may be a8racted to croquet’s strategic play. o Partner with local physiotherapists. Pa7ents rehabbing injuries o'en seek a gentler outlet for their compe77ve spirit.
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