Case Study: Lethbridge Game Changer Initiative to Increase Community Participation
Challenge
The Lethbridge Sport Council approached us with two primary challenges:
- They had a depleting volunteer coach base
- They had a need to elevate the quality of community coach
Solution:
We devised a multi-faceted approach, known as the Lethbridge Game Changer Initiative, to address these challenges effectively
Objective
The main objectives of the initiative were to establish a trusted pipeline of coaches, deliver localized coach development workshops, create a compelling campaign to encourage volunteering and expand learning opportunities to all local sport stakeholders.
Results
Step 1: Establishing a Trusted Pipeline
We brought together varsity coaches, undergraduate students, and existing community coaches to create excitement and alignment within the coaching community.
The timeline for this phase was a three-year initiative.
Step 2: Delivering Localized Coach Development Workshops
We conducted an in-person workshop attended by 57 first followers, focusing on key coaching concepts that were non-technical and non-tactical in nature.
Participants received an 8-hour workshop, access to an unmoderated chat room, weekly coach development communications, and invitations to quarterly expert webinars, all for a fee of $60.
Step 3: Creating a Compelling Campaign to Encourage Volunteering
The “Lethbridge Game Changers BE A COACH Campaign” was launched, consisting of a series of videos sharing the stories of ordinary people and their coaching motivations.
Step 4: Expanding Learning Opportunities to All Local Sport Stakeholders
The Game Changers Conference was opened to players, parents, officials, coaches, and administrators, providing a platform for everyone involved in local sports to be on the same page and contribute to the improvement of coaching quality and community engagement.
Overall, the Lethbridge Game Changer Initiative successfully increased the community coach volunteer base, improved the quality of coaches, and fostered greater collaboration and alignment within the local sports community.
