Ideas to Get More Women Involved in Disc Golf
- Hold leagues designed exclusively for women players
One way to get women interested in participating in the sport of disc golf is to create and run a league designed solely for women players. By running a league just for women, it gives the woman player a chance to work on her skills with other women in an encouraging atmosphere. Women's leagues may be run separately or in conjunction with an already established league.
There is no right or wrong way to run a women's league. The main functions of any women's league is to introduce new women players to the sport of disc golf, to help all women players increase skills and confidence, and to encourage women to become active members of local disc golf organizations and the PDGA.
Here are some general guidelines for running a women's only league.
Guidelines for Running a Women's Only LeagueCharge low or no entry fees.
Offer participation prizes.
Make league non-competitive.
Use flat payouts.
Provide appropriate equipment.
Group players accordingly.
Consider course layout.
Publicize league.
Hold women's clinics.
For more in-depth information go HERE
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- Increase women's participation in weekly leagues or monthly
events
If there is not enough interest or an organizer willing to run a separate women’s league in your area, invite women to participate in already established weekly or monthly league events. This will allow women players the opportunity to gain skills.
Handicap League Play. This is a fun way to expose women players to disc golf. All players have a chance to win playing in a handicap league. New players, including women have the best chances at winning in a handicap league. If there is a handicap league in your area, encourage every woman you know to try it. If you are interested in starting a handicap league in your area, Disc Golf United can provide the information and resources you need.
Established League Play. Offer a women’s division in conjunction with an already organized league (preferably NOT a doubles league). The women players will participate just like all the other players, but within their own division and grouped with other women players.
If the only league in your area is a random draw doubles league you may be able to accommodate women players. If there are at least four women players present, have the women players compete against each other.
Regardless of the type of leagues currently offered in your area, here are some suggestions to increase women’s participation.
Tips to Increase Women's Participation in LeaguesOffer women's division(s).
Group Women players together. Lower league fees.
Award participation prizes.
Provide appropriate equipment.
Publicize women's play.
Relax scoring requirements.
Present Women's Clinics.
Raise awareness among male players.
For more in-depth information go HERE
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- Involve Women's Service Organizations
Introduce disc golf to female organizations like the Girl Scouts, sororities, women’s church groups or any local women’s service organizations that are active in your community. Offer to take these groups to a local course and teach the basics of disc golf or hold a clinic.
Women’s clubs and organizations are often looking to get involved in local service projects. When talking to these groups, encourage them to do a service project at a course near you. Before or after completing the project, suggest they play a round of disc golf or participate in a brief disc golf clinic or demonstration.
Some ideas for service projects might include:
Service Project Ideas
Beautification project.
Course Clean-up.
Conservation project.
Course Improvements.
Tournament Support.
Charitable Fund Raising.
For more in-depth information go HERE
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- Increase women's participation at tournaments
There are several ways to help increase the turnout of women players at tournaments and leagues: reduce entry fees, boost women’s payout and offer all women’s divisions. These strategies assume there are already competitive women players in your area that may not be attending events. When women players enjoy a tournament, they are likely to let other women golfers know it is a women friendly event
Here are some suggestions for improving women’s turnout at tournaments.
Tips to Increase Women's Participation at TournamentsReduce Entry Fees.
Boost Payouts.
Pay more players
Offer all women’s divisions.
Publicize incentives.
Raise awareness among male players.
For more in-depth information go HERE
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- Host women's clinics
A women’s clinic can be held prior to a regular league session or tournament, or as a separate event. The main reason to hold a women’s clinic is to provide instruction for women players, particularly those that are new to the sport. Try to provide one on one instruction whenever possible.
You don’t need to be a professional player to hold a women’s clinic for new or beginning players. However, consider having professional players (men or women) at the clinic to provide more in-depth information and to assist more experienced players.
For more in-depth information on how to host a women’s clinic and ideas for topic to cover, go HERE
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- Hold special events to attract women players
Increase women’s participation in disc golf by hosting special events designed to attract women players. You may hold a mixed doubles event or a women’s Pro/Am doubles event.
- A. Host a mixed doubles event.
A mixed doubles event is a proven way to expose more women to competitive disc golf. Mixed doubles events are more casual and offer a supportive atmosphere for women players. These events can be held the day before or after a regular tournament, or as a complete and separate event.
- B. Host a women’s Pro/AM doubles event.
Consider hosting a Pro/Am women’s doubles event the day before a tournament in your area. This event can be run in conjunction with a traditional pre- tourney doubles event. Use a traditional Best Shot format and pair the experienced players with the newer players. The purpose of this type of format is for the more experienced women players to share their knowledge and provide advice to the newer players.
For more in-depth information on the various mixed doubles formats click HERE
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- Feedback
Let us know what programs you have employed to attract more women players to the sport of disc golf in your area. We may share your successful ideas with others. INNOVA may be able to provide some additional support for your efforts. Send an email to: suzette.simons@innovadiscs.com and tell us what women’s programs are active in your area. Let us know how events are held, the number of players and overall response to the events.
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