My club has generated revenue during the summer in the past from the sale of two and three month memberships. Why should I give them away for free?

The Teen Fitness Connection Summer membership is a community outreach initiative. It is your opportunity as a club owner to give back to your community to help fight teen obesity and inactivity. It is also an opportunity for other club owners across the nation to join with you and for our industry to stand together as one voice to help fight teen obesity.

The Teen Fitness Connection Summer membership is typically restricted to daytime or matinee hours. It is also recommended that you only offer this program to “first time visitors only. As such, you can now reach out to a new audience of potentially future members. Teens that have paid for a membership in the past or that are current dues paying members should not qualify for this free trial offer as they have already been introduced to and experienced your facility.

How will I spread the word about this offer in my community?

Clubs should create their own press release and circulate it to all local media including newspaper (community and local), radio and television stations. A contact person at your club should be listed on the article for the media to contact. The same press release and a flyer should be sent or delivered to all middle schools in your trade area.

I have capacity limits at my club. What do I do if I am overwhelmed with teens wanting to use my facility and I cannot accommodate them?

Our business thrives on increased member traffic and excitement within our four walls of the club. Increased member traffic during the day can be very healthy for your club. Based upon a study of 5,000 teens in 2007 the average number of visits per teen per month was 5.8 visits. As such, if you allow 300 teens to participate in your club this year, you will add 1,800 visits per month or approximately 60 member visits per day. Not a big impact in the overall scheme of things! If capacity is an issue for you, put a cap on the number of free teen memberships you will offer (e.g., 200) and measure the impact on your business.

Bear in mind, according to IHRSA reports someone that has toured through your facility is three times more likely to join than someone who has never set foot inside your club. Furthermore, every teen is required to tour your club with their parent in order to register for the Teen Fitness Connection Program. As such, if you allow 500 teens to use your club this summer, 500 parents will tour with them totaling 1,000 guest visitors that more than likely have never seen your club before. Statistically speaking, 16% of all adults belong to a club in the USA. If you service these teens and parents properly you might be able to acquire 160 people that will belong to a club.

Why can't I sell these teens and their parents a membership when they come to my club?

First and foremost, this is a community outreach program, not a sales initiative. If teens and parents request pricing and express interest in joining then they should certainly be given an opportunity to join. Some parents and teens will join anyway simply because they will want to workout together as a family and will not want to be restricted to matinee hours.

However, if sales staff changes this programs intent away from community outreach (giving back to teens and the community) and more to a sales initiative, then the public relations value will be eliminated and you will not enjoy the local media support you might have otherwise enjoyed. It is our goal to make this a worldwide industry initiative. Clubs that do not support the community outreach purpose of this initiative risk being removed from this website and subsequently participating in any national publicity and support we are able to create.

I have companies that want to sponsor this program on a local level. What do you suggest I tell them?

Why not have sponsors offer reward programs for the teens such as sports clothing or active equipment like bicycles and home gym equipment. Suggest teens write essays and provide before and after photos, and award a one-year membership or other prizes to the winners. Take this opportunity to send out another press release to the local media and talk about the winners, the number of teens that registered at your club(s), etc.

How do I promote this in my club?

Loud and clear! Tell your members what you are doing and why you are doing it! They will love you for it and will ultimately be your biggest source of prospective teen members. Your members will bring their teenage sons and daughters to your club, and be proud of what you are doing for them and the community. Your club will be busier and your classes more full. Promote the message in your club with banners, posters, flyers, and PA announcements.

Can I sell Personal Training services to the teens?

Of course. Teens that are overweight have self esteem issues just like parents. Personal Training services will be sought after by teens and by their parents.

Will the teens fit in with the other members and follow the club rules and regulations as they are supposed to?

Of course they will! We have found the teens to be very responsible and respectful of the adult environment of the club. Every teen that registers in your club must acknowledge and sign off that they have read and will abide by your club rules and regulations. If they do not abide by your rules, terminate their free membership just as you would with any other member.

For dues paying members we normally provide free Personal Training to orient them into the use of our club equipment. I cannot afford to provide these services for a free member. What should I do?

Consider offering a one-hour orientation at a set time each week for a group of 10 or less, or use Group Fitness as your exercise solution for the teens and orient them into group classes as you would any other member. Bear in mind, the more you offer, the more successful your program will be. Please do not put restrictions on teens that you do not put on your basic regular dues paying members.