Falling membership and ageing Bowlers

[Bigbear]

What do you think????
A lot of our smaller clubs are finding it difficult, to get enough players to send out teams, the membership is getting older, it would be a shame if
this is the end of bowling as we know it.

Have anyone any ideas or things they have done to reverse the trend!

Thank you in anticipation!!!!!!!!!!!!:D:D:roll::roll:

[wrong bias]

our membership has increased thanks to juniors joining it seems to be the in thing at the moment,,,not all of the old uns like it though ,cos some of the kids beat them, the game needs a radical overhaul in the image dept,and some younger people need to go onto the governing bodies,,also sensible and more media coverage is needed imo

[Flyfire]

We need to get more people into the sport, more days for beginners, and fun games, every bowler in the club, needs to approach friends and invite them up for the day, once they roll a wood up the green they will be hooked.:):)

[Angel]

Would love some new ladies, it only takes a few getting sick, and everyone else is playing too much I know a club who went round every house in the village putting out leaflets, and had an open day, got a lot of new members, pity our club can't do the same, living in the past.:cool::cool:

[Silver]

Yep would agree with that, i was trying to get a badged player to join, they had just moved to the area, someone on committee, said well we dont need any new members, could not believe what i heard, we are so short of players, and a lot of them are creaking, think they are so scared of losing their places.

[Speedy]

Yes, agree with you, a lot of older bowlers are not too keen to let new members join as the are worried aboyt losing the team place!!

Great that young members are joining but some 'old uns' say too much child protection is making it impossible.

Have found people around 40ish comming from more active sports make good club members for the future.

A lot of people I'm sure are sitting at home & would love to play Bowls. it's just making the connection!!

Speedy:p

[Surfer]

Not an easy thing to get new members, Bowls is seen an old peoples sport, getting the kids involved, also gets the parents, and we have picked up a few new members this way.:):)

[Frogett]

Need some new blood into the sport, our membership is well into the seventies, only takes a few accidents, and we can not put out a team, have got to cancell more each year, dont know what the answer is.:(:(:(

[Wet Gear]

Got a good few bowlers at the club, you get a lot of people changing clubs, not sure if they are an asset, know one chap who kept moving clubs, he told us later he decided it wasent the clubs who were at fault,it was him, he enden up at his original club again, very happy.:rolleyes:

[Angel]

Got four ladies sick at the moment, getting the games played is very tricky, think i should get a double, feels like im playing every where at the same time, not really answering the question, the dress code is getting better, but still not a lot of new ladies joining.:(:(

[Bigbear]

Just had a thought, we should do what the navy did when they needed new crew members, wait around the village, and snatch people as they come along, might get into trouble, can see the papers now, Bowling club in court for kidnapping, old age pensioner, I really dont mean it just having a very mad moment, guess its the bowling season, does something to the brain.:rolleyes::rolleyes:

[Angel]

Hi Bigbear, sounds like a good idea, might get in trouble, think our club will have to do something drastic, know of a few clubs who can't put out teams, another few years like this and clubs will close.:(:(