One of the core, driving principles behind box programs is competition.
For most affiliate owners, who undoubtedly love box programs, it’s easy to see the glitz and glamor of The CrossFit Games and think: “It would be so awesome for my box to be represented there!” or even “If we could get a team/individual there, we’d probably get a ton of new clients who want to compete!” But what percentage of your gym’s revenue comes from Games level athletes?
Ruination CrossFit, while brand new, had several athletes who had experience at the Regional level of competition (some as individuals, other as part of a team). We were confident that we would send a couple of individuals as well as a team to the 2013 SoCal Regional. Maybe the Games were a bit out of reach this year, but we wanted to make sure we sent the best possible team, to get the highest possible finish.
So, way back in November/December 2012, right after moving into our gym (after a few months in local parks) Ruination announced a tryout process to form a competition team. The top 6 men and top 6 women would qualify; the team would have separate, specialized programming so they would be separate from regular classes.
There was almost instant strife and sour moods around the box. People who felt they were “competitors” in their own right, but who didn’t make the cut were locked out of “competitor” classes. The best athletes weren’t in normal classes as much, if at all, so anyone who was chasing them for their daily motivation lost their rabbit. Plus, our firebreathers were always the ones finishing first to cheer on everyone else… a role that wasn’t always filled adequately.
It wasn’t all bad, however, the team gelled and became great friends. They ended up placing 10th at Regionals, and as always with hindsight, if a few things went a little bit differently they could have been closer to top 5. But we’ve made radical changes for the 2014 season. There will be no tryouts, there will still be a competitor class but anyone who meets a published set of requirements will be welcome. In fact, of the 15 tests posted (including a variety of benchmark WODs, lifts, and skill tests), anyone who meets 10 of the 15 is welcome to the class. Also, there are only 2 competitor classes a week: Wednesday evening and Saturday morning. This assures that our competitors will get back into classes and help keep energy levels high.
Competition is fun, and nurturing a competitive feeling in your gym can help draw a particular type of client.
Figure 1 – Ruination CrossFit 2013 Team at the SoCal Regionals
But it’s important to remember that even at the most competitive gyms, at least 85% of your members are not firebreathers. The competitive attitude needs to be friendly, and most importantly competitors cannot get special treatment or be segregated… not without consequences. If your gym’s competition team is made up mostly of coaches, things may be different; but if it’s your membership that makes up your team, put a lot of thought into how to handle catering to both ends of the spectrum. It’s a delicate balance, but it can be accomplished. Learn from our mistakes!
Guest Post by:
Michael Starich is co-owner/business manager for Ruination CrossFit and co-owner of WODTogether, a billing, member management, and logging solution specifically designed for box owners.