Sponsorship and Where to get it

[kt_13]

i was just wondering wheres best to go to ask for sponsorship. like company wise. i know most of the big hocki companies watch teams and offer it them. but aint no hockey companies in the UK to come watch us.

i just set up a new womens team. and although it isnt gonna b an allstar team its aim is to develop female hockey in my area. ive got lots planned such as trainin sessions with our national team coach, other sessions for younger players, matches in a league and tournament play. but we need uniforms, rink time, pucks etc to get started.

plus we played one league dfay already and was undefeated! if any1 can give me a helping hand in where to ask id be very greatful thank you!!!

www.northeastvikings.co.uk

[GROWL]

In my experience I find it important to first see what it is you can offer a sponsor. What is it exactly that you are looking for and how can you give something tangable in return to a sponsor. Running a pro team the past three years I've tried just about everything. Here are my thoughts.

First, and usually most successful! Talk to your players and see who they know. People make decisions, not businesses. A manager/owner is more likely to give sponsor money if they are familiar with someone involved then they are to invest it, even with the possibility of a return of some kind with a stanger.

Resturants are a very good idea and have always worked well for me. Have a bar/restuarant support your team with a donation of some sort and in return bring your team there on a regular basis, perhaps after practices or games. This not only gives them something in return, but its visible.

Don't always go for cash. If someone turns you down when asking for sponsorship, they likely feel bad. Don't walk away empty handed, see what they are willing to do. Perfect examples, get gift certificates from restuarants, a sample product from a manufacturer, coupons, product at cost or discounted. These things come in handy later when raising money.

However, if its money you need for start up this is what I suggest honestly. You can get money from your team through other ways. Run your own tournament and make the players responsible to get there own teams. Have a golf outting, a beef and beer, whatever you can dream up or whatever works for your group. These types of events raise lots of cash, but put your players to work without actually having them pay to play.

Hope I was helpful, contact me if I can help further.

Anthony Flynn
Owner/GM Tour Growl
www.growlhockey.com

[WelshTimeKeeper]

<blockquote><font size=1>In reply to:</font><hr>

if any1 can give me a helping hand in where to ask id be very greatful thank you!!!

<hr></blockquote>

kt_13

Being based in the UK, make contact with the Sports Development Department of the local authority for your area. When you make contact, make enquiries along two lines: first enquire about direct funding for specific projects (like coach training), and subsidies in respect of council sports hall hire bearing in mind that you are representing a newly established club, and secondly make it clear that it is a girls based club, some (but not all) UK local authorities have officers (and sometimes even funds) earmarked specifically for the promotion of women's and girls sports.

You would do well to have a copy of a recent club bank statement and a club constitution with you, on the off-chance that you are asked to prove your credentials.

In terms of external sponsorship, Anthony has covered the ground in his message above.

There is another thing worth considering and that is expense reduction, when the time comes for you to consider insurances and/ or the obtaining of Criminal Record Bureau Disclosures for your adult coaches, managers and chaperones you might wish to consider looking towards the national governing body of whichever association you have affiliated to, for assistance. Alternatively, if you are not yet affiliated to any UK association, you could look to the local authority (Sports, Social Services or Education Departments) for assistance with processing your CRB paper-work.

If you have any further questions concerning insurances or CRB checks, could you hit the "Send Private" button a little way up the page and send me a discrete message.

Regardless of the above may I wish you every success with this venture.

<font color=blue>John
South West Wales, UK</font color=blue>

[Privateer]

One thing I know I've seen teams around here do is sell discount tickets to other events. Like buying tickets in bulk to a local sporting event and then reselling them at the regular price.
Good way to tie in either with a local ice team, or cross-marketing to say football/rugby/whatever.

And yeah, money's the hardest to get. Lot of times you'll be better off trying to either free product on a regular basis (one set of wheels every season or something) or a significant discount on product. A small sacrifice for putting their name on your jersey hem.

Most people who are going to sponser you will want to see a resume of sorts. What tournaments have you participated in, which ones you plan to play, etc. They want to know that their investment in your team will be repaid with exposure and sales for themselves. Set up a nice website or multimedia presentation on CD that you can just give them so they can view it when they have time (ever met a small business owner who had free time?). Then follow up in a week with them.

good luck
P

[kt_13]

thanks every1 thats really useful. the problem with a resume or indeed bulk buying tickets is we are a new team. thus have no start off money. nor tournament results as og yet. what i do have is about 25 or so girls ranging from 8or9 to 40+ who all love to play and varying in standard drom international to novice. i just want to help them all out. but im finding thats very hard to do with out any uniforms pucks etc or money to get them.

im going to start writing off to companies hockey and otherwise to try and get uniforms sorted thats the main thing.

oh and john, as a current BIPHA ref and sum1 who had contact with U18s before leaving that club i believe i have had a CRB check so all is good. and im gonna follow up the council thing. doubt ill get any luck tho. we tried with no succes for snaith stormers, and also for funding my gb. bad area i guess.

thanks everyone

ps we do have a very pretty website!!!! www.northeastvikings.co.uk

[WelshTimeKeeper]

Hi kt_13

<blockquote><font size=1>In reply to:</font><hr>

as a current BIPHA ref and sum1 who had contact with U18s before leaving that club i believe i have had a CRB check so all is good

<hr></blockquote>

You seem a little unsure about that, if you have gone through the UK Criminal Records Bureau, Disclosure Procedure it would be unlikely there would be any doubt in your mind.

There will have been a substantial questionnaire to complete and the resultant report (Disclosure) from CRB Liverpool, is sent to both yourself and the organisation requesting the enquiry. Having a twelve digit serial number and being a shade under 16"x8.5", printed in dark violet ink on an unusual shade of green paper, it is such an memorable combination and such an awkward size for filing it's unlikely you'll forget having seen that fall through your letter box.

KT if you haven't received such a document and you are in contact with U18's then contact the National Secretary of your affiliated organisation. It's a cumbersome process but at end user level it is 'no cost'.

<font color=red>For non-UK readers of this message, here is a thumbnail sketch of what a CRB check is all about:</font color=red>

Here in the UK any adult who has contact with children and young people under the age of 18, outside their own family, in the course of paid or voluntary work, is obliged to submit themselves to a Criminal Records Bureau enquiry.
The resultant disclosure will highlight any recorded criminal offences which would indicate the person might not be a suitable person to be in contact with U18's.
The disclosure is returned to both the subject of the enquiry and the organisation requesting the enquiry.

<font color=blue>John,
South West Wales, UK.</font color=blue>

[kt_13]

no i have had 1 but i havent got the results yet. not surprisinging the amount that needed to b done the people who have to sort them must be cursing bipha lol.