(I am feeling a little like an intruder, since I am sitting in the sunny South, no ice anywhere near me, not to mention I have skated
once in my life)
I find this discussion very interesting on many levels.
I am involved with several youth activities and run into the same problems over and over: lack of money and marketing.
There are always a handful of people in the clubs that do. Most don't. When the doers go away, the club crumbles.
Now, with Hockey, I can see where that has more appeal to the crowds. More kids playing, a weaker kid can hide behind the stronger ones.
For the facility it is more interesting as 30 kids usually equal 30 adults in the stands. That usually translates to concessions and $$$.
Then of course, when you have bad luck, you have this one party pooper in the club who negates all fundraising efforts, shoots down any and all ideas right at the gate (got one of those....) or you are dealing with personal changes that disrupt flow (got that in the other club)
And of course, there is lack of publicity.
Imagine it's World Championships, and nobody gets to watch it!
I was really exited when a few weeks back I caught the Nationals (I am guessing, I only watch TV with half an eye these days) and remembered there was the big international even coming up...bummer to realize that college hockey was on TV.
Small local clubs tend to not advertise their presence in the community. Too many people do not know they exist, even clubs with a long tradition.
Small achievements need to be published on the community level, even if it is only the free community paper that gets tossed in your driveway every other month!
The difference between gymnastics and figure skating - I am guessing here - is that Gymnastics can get you a free ride through college. And obviously Hockey can as well.
To grow your club, your endeavor ir tough work. Fundraising sucks and I, personally, am rather shy and try not to get into people's faces, or on their nerves, although I am constantly promoting my causes.
But people shut down quickly: As soon as school starts, every parent is bombarded with fundraisers their kid is expected to excel at. There is the expectation to sell advertisement for the football program (even if you are not on the team) sell this, then that, then something else, and all before Christmas (yep, three fundraisers in the first 6 month of school), add a few extracurricular activities, and you look like that stereotypical fence, with a coat full of merchandise of various natures.
Ok, I took this off on a tangent, I shall sit back down in the stands and watch you guys skate. Since