START YOUR OWN THROWERS CLUB

By Glenn Thompson

I get occasional inquiries about the Long & Strong Throwers Club. Sometimes someone is interested in joining, other times they want to find similar organizations in their locales. But very rarely do I get questions about how to start a club.

There are a multitude of good reasons to found your own throwers club. Bear with me while I run through some of them.

How often do you go to a non-school meet, and there's only two throwers? By having an association and regular contact with other throwers, you know what meets everyone is attending, thus assuring you the competition that will bring out your competitive best.

Do you get discouraged sometimes because you feel like you feel like an athletic loner? Belonging to a club is a great experience, be it knitting, religious, whatever. Humans are social by nature, so why shouldn't you enjoy the cameraderie and bonding that are part of belonging to an organization? Being part of a team does wonders for a throwers morale and motivation.

Ever need someone to watch your crossover step? Want to learn the spin? As a club you can organize informal practices amongst members and even non-members. Its much more productive to exchange technique tips at a practice session than during competition.SHUMANSP.jpg (46693 bytes)

So how do I form a club? That depends on how far you want to take it. If you wish your group to be a formally recognized organization, contact your regional USATF association regarding registration of your club. If you don't want all that, there's nothing wrong with being informal. Either way, establish a roster, with names, addresses, phone, e-mail, whatever else.

Your club can be made up of your contemporaries (HS, College, Open, Masters) or a cross-section of all. Be an active club. Organize a throwers meet. How about a clinic? What about an out-of-season get-together, like a dinner/banquet?

Long & Strong got its start when our founder, Terry Shuman, took the initiative to pass out some shirts with the LONG & STRONG THROWERS CLUB on the back. The name came from a hilarious story he had told us (If you ever come across me in person I'll be glad to share it). The recipients were just a bunch of guys who showed up on the local circuit every year. From five or six members, we have grown to 14, have a webpage, our own logos, an annual dinner, and a newsletter.

We will never be Mjolinar, American Big Guys, NYAC, or NIKE, nor do I think that is our objective (we don't even have a formal leader). But we do have a focus on helping each other and having one helluva good time in the process. And that, is what its all about.

NOTE: If you have a club, or are seeking to start one, drop me a line. Give me your name, city and state, and club name if you have one, and I'll set up an e-mail link where prospective members can contact you.

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