I am a dragon boat tragic. As such I’ve had the privilege of talking with coaches, administrators, and paddlers from many small clubs—those tight-knit groups with fewer than 30 members who keep the sport’s spirit alive.
These conversations have revealed a recurring challenge I call the “Small Club Paradox“: how to position a club along the spectrum of recreational, competitive, and elite focus without losing members or sacrificing regatta success.
Small clubs often have paddlers with diverse goals—some paddle for fun and fitness, others dream of international podiums and everything in-between —and where the club lands can make or break its future. Good paddlers may leave your club for more competitive clubs or paddlers from other clubs may come to your club because they have heard you are all about fun and fitness – or vice versa
Here is the paradox: Go too far into competitive world and you lose the “fun and fitness” paddlers. Go too easy and you lose the “competitive” paddlers. Both scenarios can be fatal to a small club. So how can a club walk the tightrope and keep everyone on board?
Through these discussions and my own reflections, I’ve developed a set of strategies to address this paradox. To be clear, my aim is to help small clubs retain members while fostering organic growth toward competitive success – because it is a sport at the end of the day.
Below, I share my observations, strategies, and practical tips for coaches and administrators, grounded in my belief that every paddler, regardless of ambition, can contribute to a thriving club.
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