With the holidays approaching, clubs and fisheries will be playing their part in fishing’s most vital goal: the recruitment of new anglers. Following our recent live webinar on the topic, we have stacks of useful ideas and advice for inspiring the next generation!
It’s critical and yet easily forgotten just how crucial young people are to fishing. Angling’s very tomorrow depends on how well we promote the sport today. It’s something we’re passionate about here at Clubmate, and a topic we’re always keen to get your views on, hence our current survey:
Despite the opportunities out there, however, it can also be daunting to get going with youth coaching. But with an ageing fishing demographic, it’s vital we do so. Hence the importance of sharing knowledge and insight from the great success stories we come across.
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YDqhU0jVccI&t=2691s )
We deal with some amazing clubs, not to mention organisations like the Canal and Rivers Trust, and their amazing “Lets Fish” events. Our recent live forum (above) was an eye-opener about both the great work being done but also the barriers and opportunities not taken.
So what are some of the key lessons for those looking to spark a love of fishing in the next generation?
- Get organised
As important as “have a go at fishing” sessions are, they are just the first step in any angler’s journey. The organisations really winning are therefore those with a continuous plan to join up coaches, learners and events, and create something greater.
A smart way to start or to build further is to ask a simple question: What does success look like? Is it more junior memberships? More events and families fishing? A core of qualified coaches and volunteers?
Almost every fishing club in the land states in its constitution that it wants to promote and grow angling – but what should this look like? It never hurts to plan and set some realistic targets.
What are your strengths as a club or fishery? What people and skills can you draw from? Where are your young anglers coming from and how can you reach them?
For further starting points, it’s also worth checking out our earlier blog post on setting up a coaching scheme.
- Find your people (but don’t sweat the red tape!)
Volunteers are the absolute lifeblood of youth development in fishing. From running angling events to stewarding competitions, passionate, competent people are gold dust. Reaching out to those who can help is thus absolutely key- and especially people with skills and qualifications.
These days there is also a general fear of legal red tape. However, this is nothing like as scary as many assume! Nobody is expecting all and sundry at a club to take endless training, or to jump through hoops. It’s more a case of sensible ground rules- such as having qualified lead coaches and always having parents along with their children at events.
A vital first step is to appoint someone as a Welfare Officer. In a nutshell, this means you have one clear point of contact with safeguarding training. Common sense and due diligence are the watchwords- but Clubmate and other organisations can help advise you every step of the way.
Qualified coaching pathways are relatively straightforward through the Angling Trust’s Sport England licensed scheme, and the trust is just one of several organisations who are there to help when it comes to setting up and running coaching and events. See: https://anglingtrust.net/get-involved/coaching/
- Have a friendly “front of house”
From time away from screens to the clear benefits to mental and physical wellbeing, angling has so much going for it, especially where young people are concerned. So why are we often shy about sharing this?
Having someone to handle social media and promotion is always a smart move here- and spotting opportunities to share great work. Does you organisation regularly share what it is up to? Is there an obvious source or point of contact for this? Can newcomers easily find a “way in” to what you via your website and social media?
Catch the parents and the kids will follow!
- Promotion, promotion, promotion!
Promotion is absolutely priceless if we are to find the anglers of tomorrow. Very often this means getting to parents first, rather than youngsters! A common lesson that comes up is that many mums and dads would love to get their kids fishing, but struggle to find a way in. These people are waiting for us!
Just make a rough list of possible channels and the options are endless. Local schools, the Scouts, youth and community groups are just a few starting points in a long list.
Regional media, whether print or digital, also still holds great value: local papers, newsletters and regional magazines, especially those that focus on events and families, can be excellent.
Social media can be even more powerful, however. Local interest and parenting groups are especially valid- as are event listings. Facebook is worth exploring in terms of creating selective adverts and event promotions where you can tailor your approach specific audience groups such as parents and those who enjoy outdoor pursuits.
- Funding pots
Many of us can be shy about asking for funding- but the overwhelming message from so many successful fishing clubs is that good things come to those who ask! Perhaps we should reframe this: we are not going cup in hand but inviting others to be involved in something massively positive that they would be proud to be associated with.
Some channels are more obvious than others (such as rod licence money via the Angling Trust’s Get Fishing fund), but with so many others, if you don’t ask you don’t get.
A great starting point is to brainstorm anyone and everyone who might give you a boost. These include local authority and council grants, proceeds of crime funds, local businesses and supermarkets, to name but a few!
The same goes for tackle and bait donations, of course- the key is to ask and make the positives as clear as day.
- Continuity is key
Whilst it’s great to see so many “have a go at fishing” style events each summer, it is a big leap from handing someone a whip and some maggots to creating a keen, long-term angler. Hence, the most successful groups don’t just host events, but build continuity and community.
Another way to addressing this might be to ask yourself a question: what is it that kept me coming back to fishing? What made you and your friends “regulars” or even “lifers”?! Maybe it was the friendships you made? Perhaps it was learning new skills and different types of angling? Perhaps it was fishing matches?
All of these are valid answers- and it’s notable that the most successful clubs provide not just one off events but classes, groups and connected sessions.
Long standing ClubMate client Reading DAC, for instance, set up their own “Better Fishing Academy”. The concept is simple: give new and improving anglers connected sessions where they can build their skills. Whether it’s rig tying, casting skills or specialist angling styles, this encourages a continuous development, not to mention the chance to socialise while participants get immersed deeper into their sport.
- Celebrate success and think forward
In almost every success story we come across about junior fishing thriving, it’s how each step forward or good deed tends to lead to another. Call it the “snowball effect” or just the power of positivity, good news spreads quickly and one good deed encourages others.
How you celebrate the wins is key in itself, and can be a powerful way to build momentum, especially in the digital age we live in. Besides positive news, it’s just as important to big up those who achieve and those who enable others to blossom.
On that basis, it’s always worth asking a simple question: how do we celebrate our wins? Whether it’s something as simple as a “thank you” or “well done”, or an actual award, these gestures really matter. They galvanise both learners and those who selflessly help others. Besides, isn’t it so often those who don’t seek personal recognition who really deserve it?
As a final thought, it’s also worth thinking about the journey each person is on. From acorns grow mighty oaks, as the saying goes. What might be the next step for that talented young match angler or inspirational coach?
It’s telling that several youth international anglers started out by attending Canal and Rivers Trust events, for instance. Other great examples come from clubs whose young fledglings go on to get their own coaching qualifications!
It’s this building process and forward thinking that will build a better future of angling for all of us. There is so much we can do, and so much to learn even for the coaches and leaders themselves. This is exactly why Clubmate is passionate about helping clubs to grow youth angling and learn from the best.
And on that basis, don’t forget to check out our other resources and give us your views in our current survey. It takes just minutes to complete, but every response counts – Click here to complete the survey