What attracts novices to agility trials
From BayTeam
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Original poll
From: Karey Krauter
Sent: Monday, January 12, 2009 9:17 AM
To: all@bayteam.org
Subject: what attracts starters people?
Hi club, I'm taking a personal poll and would love your input.
What kinds of things can be offered at an agility trial that would make more non-masters dogs want to come? I want to hear from newbies or used-to-be-newbies into any flavor (sorry for my USDAA vocabulary).
Is it the quantity of nonmasters classes? If a trial offered double games for nonmasters, is that attractive?
Is it special classes that are exclusive to nonmasters entrants (like for a trophy), so that you don't feel intimidated standing shoulder-to-shoulder with masters people?
Is it discounted fees?
Is it the whole day of only nonmasters-only classes, like the bayteam Sunday coming up in santa rosa, maybe because you're less nervous with no masters people even watching?
What about other amenities like splashdogs or great food or bunches of vendors or great check-in gifts or a 4-star spa package discount included with your entry? (we're brainstorming here, folks!)
Is it mostly non-trial related things like if the trial is close or on a weekend you're not working?
If you say "all of the above" then I may have to slap you - what things carry more weight with you?
/karey
Summary of responses
- Site location. Must be nearby. Overnighting at the event (onsite or hotel or otherwise) makes it too much of an obstacle to overcome.
- Companionship/mentoring. Many get this by hanging with their friends, classmates, instructors. Others propose that there be a pool of volunteer mentors available to partner newbies up with. Special usdaa team-finding service, teaming w/ experienced mentor teammates? Mentors to share shade with?
- Prep for the event. Who to ask what to bring, when to be there, where to go, when to walk, when to run, how to handle multiple rings, who/when to ask day-of questions, do I feed the dog breakfast, etc. Trainers should be a pre-trial resource for their students. Pre-trial seminars? Pre-trial fun matches? Encourage trainers to encourage students to start trialing, using discount referral coupons?
- Information booth/volunteers. Have volunteers wear “ASK ME” signs around their neck to encourage questions, for whom “no question is a dumb one.”
- USDAA isn’t starters friendly – huger shows, fewer of them(?), stricter Q rules, famous/scary people, intense competition, The Super Regional. CPE is more starters friendly and introduces mostly the same games rules as USDAA. [ed note: this poll didn’t intend to be “why isn’t usdaa starters friendly” but the fact that usdaa is perceived to be less starters friendly begs the question.]
- Class schedule. No extended down-time waiting for your next class.
- Class offerings. More games because they are more difficult to Q in, less games because fewer of them are needed to get your versatility title. More classes to get more bang for your buck, less classes because then it’s a more relaxed and can go home earlier. Less tournament classes at USDAA’s since starters don’t understand them. Tourney classes need better descriptions. Dedicated starters-only for-fun classes or high-novice-in-trial recognition with a big click/treat for the winners.
- Site facilities. Needs to not be an obstacle to coming –parking, unloading, accessing the rings, tenting near the rings, good facilities and food, cleanliness. A site where less baggage is necessary (i.e. can crate out of your car) reduces the complication/prep.
- Other attractions – splashdogs! Lure coursing! checkin gifties give a warm&fuzzy start to the event.
- Intimidation factor. starters feel like the experts are passing judgment on them. Might be reduced by segregating the nonmasters classes to their own dedicated day, or their own dedicated ring. Disadvantage: no exposure to the experienced dogs and people, no way to watch and learn.
- Affordability. Newbie fee discounts. Special starters dog tournament fee discounts.
- Time of year. The weather shouldn’t be an obstacle to going (too hot, inclement, windy, etc).
- “fun match” opportunities to test the waters – non-titling “for fun” classes, mulligan’s run classes maybe with advice from experts.
- Volunteer to work. Trainers might encourage/teach their students to visit/spectate/volunteer an event before entering one.
- Web info. Could use “plain english” descriptions of the classes, especially the tournament classes, especially the games classes.
Bonus USDAA Standard runs
- UPDATE: As a result of the suggestion that nonmasters might like to see more standards rather than more games since more standards are required for versatility titles, we now have approval from USDAA to offer two standards in a day (four in a two-day weekend, for example).
Survey details
Complete list of Starters Attractants (in PDF): Contains all the emails received on the subject.
