Should Bevan join the tri club?

Hey Everyone

It's a simple question this week: Should it be compulsory to be a member of a tri club/association to do a triathlon?

Kia Kaha

Bevan

Comments

[bender]

Simple answer. No.

[Chris]

Couple of considerations on this one:
1. Paying a fee to be a member of a club/association allows the club/association a little more funds to prepare other events or parts of the event etc. Most that I've seen do a great job preparing an event - I consider it an investment in the future events or parts of events run by the club.
2. With the whole legal issues coming more to the fore these days I think that it's important to remember how (in Western Australia anyway) some of the funds paid cover us for insurance... and we are participating/training (my fees covered insurance for training as well) in a moderately risky event.
3. The club that puts on an event needs to ensure that they get maximum positive exposure without being too greedy. Any accident or incident that happens will be broadcast more around the community (I personally hate how bad news always travels so well) possibly jeopardising the future of the event and maybe therefore the club. We want to increase the community participating in the sport - not decrease so we need the positive news to be spread... which leads me to the next point!
4. Being a "member" (enforced or otherwise) offers greater access (through websites and coaches etc) to the local knowledge and experience of the club/association thereby making the event a more positive and successful (read faster) experience.

Disclaimer: I've never been on the board of a tri club or association... but I fully appreciate the role that they do and the significant time that these people invest (often without pay etc).

[Chris]

Forgot to add:
- a tri club I was a member of offered the new participants the option of paying a "one event" membership ($5 at the time) so that new participants could "tri before they buy", or before they fully invested in a club/association membership.
- In conclusion I think "it's a no-brainer" and if Bevan should "share the love" with the club otherwise he's in jeopardy of losing the right of claiming he's "a lover not a fighter"

[Vince]

John the club Bev, share the love & stop being so unsociable!

As for racing,you should have to a be a member or your national association or at least buy a day membership. That's the case for BTA sanctioned events here in the UK, that way you're covered should anything go pear-shaped.
I'm guessing most assocations supply decent insurance coverage & legal back up if required?

[Thomas Peoples]

Gotta agree with Bender.

After attempting to get into the UK Time Trial Scene - where you've got to be affiliated to the governing body or a club who is, there is no way I'd inflict this upon triathlon.

It's an issue of accessibility. CTT have declining/stagnant entries, yet triathlon (at least here in the UK) is still growing. With online entries and the option of paying the day license (sp?) fee, triathlon remains accessible to everyone. It took me long enough to find out how to 'avoid' paying the day race fee and affiliate to the BTF. I only did that for the cost saving and not any of the benefits involved, too - though I can now see the benefits of joining the national association - such as Public Liability Insurance and legal cover.

Moving onto clubs, they can be scary places for new people to the sport. You don't need to a club member to enjoy a game of soccer (football) and that's the biggest sport here in the UK, so why should Triathlon demand that from athletes? Triathlon is an individual sport, Ironman even more so, why then would it be deemed obligatory to join a club/association?

A quick look at any start sheet should show that, not only is it not required, it would be of detriment to the sport. Just look at all of those names of the 'unattached'. If the rule was brought in that they had to join; some would stay, others would go - in charging the day fee, the governing body still gets the pennies it wants and more people compete.

Winners all round. If clubs are losing out, it's up to them to drum up the business for new members

Cheers for breaking the IMUK course news, too.

[jim flynn]

yeah Bevan, stop being a tightwad!
maybe you can work your way up to Club President!

[James]

I feel that membership to a triclub should be optional.

Sometimes the local triclub is not the group for you and I personally would prefer not to have to give them money just so I can race. I would not recieve the other benefits that the club has to offer and it would be wasted money.

Often Squads of athletes who train under the same coach act as a club in themself and provide all the benefits that a triclub would. Which is the case for me.

Membership to the governing body or a one day membership I think is a better idea if it pays towards insurance and such and I would be more comfortable being required to pay for that to race.

J.

[Jules]

I am in Mully's camp on this one. I am not a member of any club and have no intention to be. I have looked into joining local clubs but they do not offer me anything that I want or need. It has nothing to do with money - just a preference.

I still participate in the local tri-clubs' events and just pay more to enter than members which I agree with and am completely OK with. If a local club wants to have a members only event then that is also fine but the number of participants will be low.

Now, joining an association is a different matter and I am a member of my country's association and indeed other countries as well.

Do not give in to the pressure Bevan.

Jules

[Pirate Trickster]

There's two parts to this question. Firstly - should you have to be a member of a club? I say no. My lifestyle (3 young kids - 6, 3 and 1) leaves me with little freetime and week-ends are family time. This means I have to balance my training around work and other commitments during the week - all bike training is done on commutes, runs at lunchtimes (or the occasional commute), occasional swims lunchtime or before work. Most club training is in the evenings when I'm helping put kids to bed etc. Further - I don't have a car and my nearest clubs are at least 10 miles away and I can't get to them on public transport.

Secondly should you be a member of an association? For me that would be being a part of the British Triathlon Federation. Again my answer here is no - it would put people off if they wanted to take part in a tri for the first time. I have to pay a day licence fee (members of the BTF do not pay this) when I take part in tri's and I readily accept this fee.

[Dave]

I feel that (here in the US) everyone should be a part of USAT, which for almost all races you need to at least buy a 1 day membership. However, I have noticed that smaller races are beginning to not offer a 1 day membership (I think it has to do with race day registration and the time it takes).

For a local club, I think it should be up to the individual. I am a member of 2 cycling clubs in my area, however, I have not been on a ride with either in a long time. They tend to ride at a slower pace than I and usually have rides starting a 10am when is usually when I am off the bike and starting my brick run.

However, I keep my membership dues up to date to support them, because they are great groups and when I do get a chance to get out for a ride with them I love it!!

Just my $0.02 worth.

Luv the show, keep it up!!

Adios
Dave

[Stevo]

I don't think it should be compulsory.

BUT there are many reasons to join you local club. For example:

1) Discover new run/bike routes
2) Proper lane swimming in club sessions
3) Access to info from club coaches/members
4) Meet new/different people (never a bad thing)
5) Discount on events and kit from local shops
6) Saves buying an expensive ipod for entertainment on long bike/run sessions... ;)

[trizuno]

If you feel like a rebel and want to be out there by yourself, that's kewl.

Is Macca, Dave Scott, or Stadler members of their local clubs?

Think of it another way...

What kind of message do you send the the local multisport community if you are not involved in the local club? Are you trying to make the sport of triathlon grow or just a participant?

For me it's an easy choice. The club offers discounts, such as money off race fees or even 20% discount on all items at the local running and bike store.

With a Club forum, I can pick up a bike any time of the week just by posting.

Plus I get to meet all the tri-chicks.

Hammer Time!

[Seano the Porno]

Clubs are great! For some people, it ain't their thing though. And depending on the area, the club may not actually do a lot (like where I live). Rats (Rotorua) on the other hand was carving up with swim squads, social events etc so it was a great scene.

Its the national associations that deserve a rocket, and its about time they realise the hard work that clubs do to foster the sport.

[Fegan]

I'm not sure if he still is but Gordo was a member of Edinburgh Triathletes. Now I don't expect him to turn up to sessions but he has participated in one of our races.

These local races we love to do, not the big Ironman razzamatazz butthe grass routes, try-a-tri, standards, sprints etc. Who puts these on, local clubs. Who mans the aid stations, transition areas, does the organisation etc etc. The club members and what do they get, a t-shirt at most.

These races are the life blood of triathlon, not the big fancy IM events. They barely break even, take up a lot of time and effort, then these people can't even race as they're marshalling.

So do you need to join a local club, no. But you should be helping out at least.

Paying the entry fee isn't enough to help triathlon survive and grow.

[Nick]

No it shouldn't. Though I have mixed feelings about tri clubs. I recently joined one and have seen improvements in my training (mainly swimming), but I think it's more of a social thing. We do a group ride on saturday and I have plans to do 4hrs that day. Our group planned to do 3 hrs. Meanwhile all these people who show up, start bailing after 1:30 or 2 hrs. Too casual and non-dedicated if you ask me. I'm there to train and not loly-gag around. Im young (23) and would love to join a competative group who has the same goals as me, only thing is, it's kinda impossible to find.

[Paul]

Nope. I enjoy the sport for the individual aspect of it. While I enjoy the odd group run or ride, I love the solitude of a long run, ride or swim.

[Matty Evs]

No. But it should be encouraged. The more tri's that are open to all the bigger the sport will become. Having only just started on the tri path I would have not liked to be forces to join a club to take part. Playing for my rugby club I just turn up, pay my subs, and then go on my way with no commitments. Surely Triathlon should be like this...
...that said, there should maybe a more visible method of donating monies to local clubs. e.g. when signing up for Blenhim Tri, the local Oxford clubs could get a cut of the cash, or be pushed as a partner in line with the big money sponors like Mazda, and Gatorade.