Top tips for starting a Touch league in 2021

Many clubs up and down the country run leagues during the course of the year. These can be both good sources of additional income for your club and new players at both a social and competitive level, but if you don’t know where to start check out these top tips from Nottingham Touch Club, which itself has its roots in the city’s league when players wanted to improve and experience national competition.

In no particular order:

Tip 1 – Get a great venue

The venue plays a massive part in making your league successful. Is it easy to find? Is there plenty of car parking? Are there secure changing facilities? Is it cost effective for your club to hire? Is there space for enough fields? While you may have a club base it does not hurt to shop around for your league venue 

Tip 2 – Get female players involved

Sometimes easier said than done, but having female players involved will help you develop your mixed leagues and then single gender leagues as time goes on. Approach local rugby clubs, and other sports as well

Tip 3 – Target juniors early

Approach local rugby clubs to give their young players something to play in the summer/off season, and approach other local sports clubs as well. Then when you have juniors playing you can get their parents involved as well!

Tip 4 – Offer a variety of levels

If you can, offer leagues which are more appropriate for experience levels and leagues for single gender teams. Don’t be afraid of having barbarian-style teams for individuals to join; these can then evolve into more established groups as time goes by

Tip 5 – Consider all participants

Always run taster sessions for new teams and players, and focus on referees and coaches as well as players. And while we all know that players want to play, your experienced players can help by working hands-on with the less experienced teams to help them gain more game understanding and develop

Tip 6 – Link to other clubs, sports and companies in your area

Teams who enter your league can come from a variety of places – other rugby clubs, teams from other sports, or groups of friends from companies and social settings. Take some time to establish those links in person, whether through networking events, emails, picking up the phone and spending a little bit of cash on social media

And finally…

Don’t be afraid to ask for more advice and help! England Touch’s team has a wealth of experience, and can also put you in contact with other clubs who have been where you have at the start of your league journey.