Free Falling
A Mankato Area Diving Club
Our Business
Why?
The need for a club that can bring introductory as well as advanced instruction to area athletes is wanted and needed in the Mankato area. Individuals who are currently participating in the Minnesota high school competitive dive season are looking for a program that will prepare and equip them during the off-season. With a group of nearly 100 divers that are current or recent high school athletes, Mankato already has a large group of consumers that would benefit from a diving club in their area. Younger athletes that are currently involved in area gymnastics schools are also looking for an avenue to pursue diving. With this large group of beginner athletes as well as advanced veterans, our proposed investment would be economically viable.
self Analysis
Accomplishments
Business Setup
Beginner (Age Group)
The beginner group is designed for individuals that are new to the sport and require a more personalized instruction regarding the basics. They will focus primarily on the approach, take-off, and entry as they aim at obtaining full 6 and 11 one meter competitive dive lists. Pool practices will be an hour long followed by a half hour of conditioning. Gym practice will be optional, with additional cost, for this age group.
Advanced (Age Group)
The advanced group is for competitive athletes that have already obtained 6 and 11 one meter dive lists. This group will focus on dives that are of higher division of difficulty on the one meter dive table, as well as learning the basics off of the 3 meter board. Pool practice will be one and a half hours long followed by an hour of conditioning, cardio, and strength training. Gym practice is required and will be held on Wednesdays and Saturdays at area gyms for an hour, focusing on form and technique skills.
Elite Team
The elite group is designed for the diver with a full 6 and 11 dive list on the 3 meter and one meter boards. Divers in this category will be enrolled in USA diving’s Jr. Olympic program, and will dive at area zones invitationals. They will practice at the same time as our advanced group although they will be expected to do more advanced conditioning and practice harder dives.
Location
Tourtellotte Pool
Tourtellotte Pool is one of Mankato‘s 2 public outdoor facilities. It boasts 2 one-meter springboards and one 3-meter springboard.
Highland Center Pool
Highland Center Pool is the area’s largest indoor facility with diving boards; the pool has 6-lanes and is 25 yards long with one 3 and one meter board. The pool includes an underwater window (useful for entry instruction) and a large spectator area. It is found on the campus of Minnesota State University, and is where the college divers practice
Mankato East High School Pool
East High School is the last pool that we will be practicing at. It has 2 one-meter boards and a TIVO system for recording dives.
Orgazational Structure
Management
Free Falling will be a sole proprietorship (a business owned and operated by just one individual), due to the simplicity of the service and the need for the intimate level of instruction and communication that we advertise. A sole proprietorship is the easiest type of business to start, and will keep costs down; I will be in charge of daily operations, management, and the overall organization of the business. I will also handle the finances of the business in order to personally address customer financial concerns and employee payment advances and initiatives.
Staff
- Our club will employ 2 head coaches, one for our beginner divers and another for our advanced and elite group athletes.
- An additional 2 coaches will be hired as assistants to our head coaches.
- We will also be hiring a gymnastics instructor to coach dive related form and technique dry land drills at the gym.
- For safety purposes, a lifeguard will be hired to oversee pool practices and an athletic trainer will be available for injury prevention and recovery.
Government Laws & Regulations
Club & Athlete Insurance
- Club membership ($125) that will provide facility insurance, general liability insurance, and sport accident insurance for athletes.
- Athletes will also individually purchase (according to their group) a competitive limited ($12), competitive blue ($20), or a competitive gold ($75) athletes membership that will allow for their participation in certain meets and training events throughout the country. In addition to a club membership, we will also purchase coaches’ memberships.
- Our head coaches will need to have full coach memberships ($125) as well as payment to attend a safety certification class (First Aid and CPR) that is given (and required) by USA diving.
- Our assistant coaches will need introductory coach memberships ($15) that allow them to work under our head coaches and attend meets and other events.
Costs
Financing
Market & Economy
Economic Viability
- Free Falling’s purpose is to bring a quality dive club to the Mankato area. We’re looking to bring growth in an already prominent diving community by providing a local outlet for instruction that also stimulates public interest in the sport through introductory classes.
- Our location is ideal because southern Minnesota divers will no longer need to commute in order to find clubs that provide what they need in order to have a successful diving career.
- Mankato is a community that is home to many families with children, and our club would be where they would come for an introduction and future development in the sport of diving. We look to provide convenience to our athletes and their families’ by working around schedules and paychecks.
Prommotion
Personal & Non-Personal
- We would like to place an advertisement for our club in the local newspaper, hand out information pamphlets through area elementary schools, and meet with current high school divers and their parents at high school swim/dive team meetings.
- An initial information and sign up night will be held at Frozen Yogurt Creations in Mankato, with free “Fro-Yo” for the first 20 athletes to sign up for our program (a $150 expense). We look to also bring media attention by hosting an invitational at our local pool.
- Having a large meet with national recognition from the diving community will promote our club, and show our high status to the locals. We would alert news outlets of our event, and pre-advertise the meet as a showcase of our current athletes and the sport of diving as a whole.
- Personal promotion is a large part of our club’s community campaign. We hope to establish a good reputation by word of mouth, and talk about our club will also bring in a majority of our athletes that are not necessarily looking to join a diving club.
- Our coaching staff will also encourage involvement, due to their successful techniques and professional diving experience.
- The individualized coaching and quality instruction that our club provides to people of all ages and backgrounds, will create a strong foundation of consumers that will take part of what our program has to offer. This foundation will take root and grow into a flourishing community of respected athletes and performers.
Free Falling
Email: NoahBjork@FreeFalling.com
Website: FreeFalling.com
Location: Mankato, MN
Phone: 5071234567
Facebook: facebook.com/FreeFalling
Twitter: @FreeFalling