Summary of Idea:
Dickinson has many athletics facilities along with other facilities that are not used to their full potential. This program allows them to be used, while helping the community. The idea is turning the facilities that are not fully used, such as the squash courts, and allowing them to be open to the public (for a price, that is). With this program an urban program can be made, helping kids grow and prepare for college though the use of sports.
Dickinson Athletic Club Proposal
The Inspiration
The Dickinson Athletics Club is an idea taken from the boarding school Millbrook located in Millbrook, New York. At Millbrook, the club supplied students, coaches, and the athletics department with a constant income and eventually, new facilities and expanded programs. It also widened the community and allowed the school to make connections with people who wouldn’t normally be reached. Members of the extended community were allowed to buy a yearly membership to be able to use the athletic facilities. The facilities included the gym, squash courts, tennis courts, basketball court, and hockey rink. On top of usage, these members were able to purchase private and group lessons from the varsity athletes and coaches. These athletes and coaches then split the profit with the school.
Overview
The Dickinson Athletics Club will have two main parts: the use of the facilities and lessons, as a normal sports club would. Special events can also be planned with approval from the athletic department. The money collected from the memberships (will let school decide types and pricing for memberships based on better knowledge of upkeep) will go to benefit the teams, coaches, and athletes, who are involved in the club, along with the athletic department.
Use of Facilities
The extended members of the community will be able to purchase a membership to use the facilities as a community member would be allowed to. These spaces will entail, but are not limited to, the squash courts, tennis courts, the Kline gym, pool, basketball courts, and fields and all the classes the school offers. However, if a group or team needs the space, the community member does not have priority and must allow the group or team to use the facilities. A monthly schedule will be posted and updated to allow the extended community members to plan accordingly. This schedule will be updated by CASE or another space managing organization at Dickinson.
Lessons
The extended members of the community will be allowed to take lessons in the sports Dickinson offers. Students and coaches are allowed to give lessons. Prices for each lesson will be dependent on if they are a coach or student athlete. The money collected will be split up in a predetermined amount to maximize incentive for the students and coaches involved and the athletic department’s needs.
Special Events
Special Events can fall into any category ranging from tournaments, to birthday parties, to hosting professionals. These events will have to be preapproved by the athletics department.
Incentives for the school
Coaches
Coaches will get paid based on the number of lessons they give, along with the chance of growing the program.
Student-Athletes
They have a chance to learn how to coach and grow their program while learning and having the chance to make some money, an opportunity that some student-athletes forfeit for their sport.
Athletics Department
A chance to be able to gain funds as well as grow programs.
Dickinson as a Whole
A chance to integrate in the greater community, along with gaining funds.
Pricing
Private Lessons
Coaches: $45
Athletes: $30
Group Lessons
There will be a set fee for group lessons based one sport. $20.
Equipment
The school will only have to supply equipment if lessons are given. The equipment provided will be based on sport and the type of equipment used. For example, in squash and tennis, rackets will not be supplied but balls will be. However, for swimming, nothing will be supplied. For all other equipment and basic usage of the facility, the member will have to supply the proper equipment.
The school can also rent out the gear that it has for a price as well as have a pro shop so that members can purchase the proper gear. This will give more incentive for the coaches or the college to make some profit on sales.
Startup Cost
There is no startup cost as the equipment needed is already owned by the school.
Advertising
In order to spread the new program, posts on social media and the Carlisle local newspaper can be made.
Payment of employees
It is important to incentivize the people working for the club. Coaches and students will
be paid for their work; if they are not, the club will fail. Coaches and athletes will simply not want to do the work. Both are already extremely busy and will need the extra motivation to make this club work. A substantial portion of the profit made from lessons will mainly go to the person directly giving the lesson (two-thirds). However, if the lesson is a group lesson, a predetermined amount will be given to the instructor (price for one lesson). All other money collected can go to the school unless a special event requires people to run it.
The students can get paid by two methods, a work-study or potentially, working for a coach and using their LLC. However, the amount of payment should be the same.
Coaches can get paid directly by the school or through their LLC.
Growth Plan
Phase 1: Start with one or a few sports such as squash, tennis, and golf as these sports tend to lend themselves to a system like this.
Phase 2: Expand to all other sports.
Phase 3: Expand to other programs such as the gearbox, the rock wall and the media center.
Risks Involved
Risk of injury
If a wavier is signed every year, I think we will be in the clear.
Risk of strangers on campus
They will only have access at certain times, and since there is always somebody in the Kline watching the cameras at in the fitness center, this should not be a problem. People can also just walk on campus and cause havoc without this program, so same risk as before. People registered with this program will also be given IDs to scan in and out of places giving a record to where they have been. If one makes students feel uncomfortable, the school will have the right to pull the member’s membership without refund.
Risk of Damage to Facility
As with all things there is wear and tear. For wear and tear damage it obviously will have to be covered by the school. However, if the damage is calculated into the price of membership there will be no unexpected cost to the school.
If a member damages the facility or equipment and the damage is not classified as wear and tear, a charge can be added to their account. This will have to be mentioned inside their contract.
There will also be an orientation prosses for each space about safety and proper usage while in the space. For example, in the squash orientation there will be a topic about proper footwear and the use of googles.
Monthly chart schedule for facilities
* taken from: https://www.siue.edu/campus-recreation/facilities/recreational-courts.shtml
This is a chart from Southern Illinois University with a similar program that allows students to use the facilities. A similar chart for each facility at Dickinson can be made and posted online allowing for the outside community members to know when they can show up. If needed, we can also have the facilities be reserved on an hour to hour basis. If a group/person has a reservation they have first priority.
How does your idea relate to or support the college's strategic framework?
The program help grow the bond between the school and the community. It will also allow the school and student athletes to make money, a task that is hard and many times given up.
What partnerships, on campus and off campus, do you envision?
YMCA, C.C.L.A, SLICE, Athletic Department
How will your idea positively affect the education of Dickinson students?
Students will be given a chance to learn how to coach and give back to the community along with the chance to have an income.
How will your idea positively impact the world beyond Dickinson's campus?
An urban sports program will be created, helping kids grow and prepare for college. This program will be led and mentored by the student athletes on campus.