Example Reflection – Learning Launch    Challenge  I am a Board Member of a non-profit club volleyball program for girls that has 10 teams.  Club volleyball  provides competitive training and tournament play for middle and high school girls.  A good percentage  of those players are then qualified to be recruited to play at the college level earning full or partial  athletic and/or academic scholarships.    The most successful players train year round.  However, the majority of the club’s revenue from player  tuition is collected from November through January.  We have found that extending season tuition  payments beyond that 3 month period results in higher uncollected tuition payments from player  families. The majority of club expenses are paid from December through April for uniforms and  tournament fees.  May through October are the club’s lean months where the primary income is from  smaller revenue-generating activities such as private lessons, clinics and fundraisers.  Yet there are still  expenses to be paid during those lean months to compensate coaches and to cover expenses such as  gym rentals.  Tuition has to remain competitive with other local clubs, so yearly fee increases have to be  negligible.  This makes it difficult to increase staff size to optimal level and necessitates the club having  to rely on a fluctuating group of volunteers.     The club needs a way to generate consistent, year-round income to offset the lean months when  revenue is not as high.  The launch should not exceed 90 days and cost nothing or no more than a few  hundred dollars to start up.       Selection   I have selected the Learning Launch tool which quickly tests an idea or pilot.  It will allow the club to  offer a training option for 2-3 months to see how well it is received and whether it fulfills the objectives.   It should also provide real time insight on whether the program is viable or whether adjustments are  needed to perform another launch.       Application   For the first Learning Launch, I will focus on an offering that will differentiate our club from others in the  area and draw on an untapped and unknown market.  No other competitive volleyball club within a 30- mile radius offers volleyball training for boys.  My assumption is that we could get a jump start on that  market while also generating interest for local play.  Since the volleyball season for boys differs from  that of girls, the boys program could bring in revenue during those lean revenue months for the girls’  program.      We first partnered with a local homeschool program which offers boys volleyball as part of their physical  education requirement.  Their numbers are small, but provides us with a base of boys that are already  playing the game.  We provided a pricing structure that motivates that group of boys to increase their  numbers and participation levels with our club.  The club will also do some marketing and conduct  surveys within the club to generate interest from family and friends of our girl players.  We identified  the minimum number of boys needed to participate in order to not only offset the cost of gym rental  and coaching fees, but to also generate a profit.      Insight   Using the Learning Launch tool, we’ll be able to test our assumption that we can tap into an untouched  market and differentiate ourselves by being the only competitive club in the area that offers training for

boys’ volleyball.  After word spreads about our program, other clubs might start boys programs to some  degree which will increase interest in the general area.  Even if other clubs do not start programs, we  will have differentiated the club as being the only program in the area that prepares boys for college  level of play while also fulfilling the objective of providing additional year round revenue.  We recognize  that adding the boys program should not double the work for current staff and volunteers.  That would  defeat the purpose of offering the program.  The homeschool program comes with a group of parents  prepared to volunteer which should help the program to be self-sustaining.       Approach   After partnering with the homeschool program, the next step was a club wide survey of families of  current girl players.  It was to identify the level of interest for 1) boys that are already playing volleyball  but have to travel several miles to train and to compete at a club level, and 2) boys that would be  interested in learning how to play.  The survey also asks what other sports the boys currently play.  The  thought is that current athletes are more likely to be willing to learn a new sport.  Surveying current  families opens the door to “friendlies” that already have daughters in the club.  A marketing campaign  will also be initiated to get the word out.    These factors provide confidence that a Learning Launch is an appropriate tool for evaluating potential  success of adding a boys’ volleyball program.  An additional survey 2-3 months post initial launch will  provide insight as to whether the boys program should continue, and if so, what adjustments might be  needed.


Example Reflection – Learning Launch Challenge I am a Board Member of a non - profit club volleyball program for girls that has 10 teams . Club volleyball provides competitive training and tournament play for middle and high school girls . A good percentage of those players are then qualified to be recruited to play at the college level earning full or partial athletic and/or academic scholarships . The most successful players train year round . However , the majority of the club ’s revenue from player tuition is collected from November through January . We have found that extending season tuition payments beyond that 3 month period results in higher uncollected tuition payments from player families . The majority of club expenses are paid from December through April for uniforms and tournament fees . May through October are the club ’s lean months where the primary income is from smaller revenue - generating activities such as private lessons , clinics and fundraisers . Yet there are still expenses to be paid during those lean months to compensate coaches and to cover expenses such as gym rentals . Tuition has to remain competitive with other local clubs , so yearly fee increases have to be negligible . This makes it difficult to increase staff size to optimal level and necessitates the club having to rely on a fluctuating group of volunteers . The club needs a way to generate consistent , year - round income to offset the lean months when revenue is not as high . The launch should not exceed 90 days and cost nothing or no more than a few hundred dollars to start up . Selection I have selected the Learning Launch tool which quickly tests an idea or pilot . It will allow the club to offer a training option for 2 - 3 months to see how well it is received and whether it fulfills the objectives . It should also provide real time insight on whether the program is viable or whether adjustments are needed to perform another launch . Application For the first Learning Launch , I will focus on an offering that will differentiate our club from others in the area and draw on an untapped and unknown market . No other competitive volleyball club within a 30- mile radius offers volleyball training for boys . My assumption is that we could get a jump start on that market while also generating interest for local play . Since the volleyball season for boys differs from that of girls , the boys program could bring in revenue during those lean revenue months for the girls ’ program . We first partnered with a local homeschool program which offers boys volleyball as part of their physical education requirement . Their numbers are small , but provides us with a base of boys that are already playing the game . We provided a pricing structure that motivates that group of boys to increase their numbers and participation levels with our club . The club will also do some marketing and conduct surveys within the club to generate interest from family and friends of our girl players . We identified the minimum number of boys needed to participate in order to not only offset the cost of gym rental and coaching fees , but to also generate a profit . Insight Using the Learning Launch tool , we ’ll be able to test our assumption that we can tap into an untouched market and differentiate ourselves by being the only competitive club in the area that offers training for boys ’ volleyball . After word spreads about our program , other clubs might start boys programs to some degree which will increase interest in the general area . Even if other clubs do not start programs , we will have differentiated the club as being the only program in the area that prepares boys for college level of play while also fulfilling the objective of providing additional year round revenue . We recognize that adding the boys program should not double the work for current staff and volunteers . That would defeat the purpose of offering the program . The homeschool program comes with a group of parents prepared to volunteer which should help the program to be self - sustaining . Approach After partnering with the homeschool program , the next step was a club wide survey of families of current girl players . It was to identify the level of interest for 1 ) boys that are already playing volleyball but have to travel several miles to train and to compete at a club level , and 2 ) boys that would be interested in learning how to play . The survey also asks what other sports the boys currently play . The thought is that current athletes are more likely to be willing to learn a new sport . Surveying current families opens the door to “ friendlies ” that already have daughters in the club . A marketing campaign will also be initiated to get the word out . These factors provide confidence that a Learning Launch is an appropriate tool for evaluating potential success of adding a boys ’ volleyball program . An additional survey 2 - 3 months post initial launch will provide insight as to whether the boys program should continue , and if so , what adjustments might be needed .