Starting a women's league/ women's play day

Hey all. I have so many ideas, and I'm just beginning to pull them out of my brain and put them on paper. The basics of it is that I want to see many more women in disc golf. I am in the Twin Cities metro area (MN) and I know there are quite a few ladies that play with their boyfriends for rec rounds, but that's it. I want to get new women to start playing, and those that are currently playing to improve and possibly enter leagues and tourneys. I guess I will list some basic ideas.

-business cards with my basic info that can be handed out at any and all courses- even to guys that know ladies that might be interested.

-a possible website where they can go to find out when and where we play

-free

-find a way to pay their first tourney entry fee to encourage them to try it out

-lessons? plenty of great pros (Timmy Gill, Cale, Jon Drummond, Katy Schreder) around and I could teach a little

- could just be casual or play league for cheap

-get the local women that already play tourneys to help out and attend (only 5 or 6 of them)

-sponsorship for a custom stamped disc or shirts or other???

So many ideas- this is just a start. If you have more, I'd love to hear them. I won't be starting this up until April or May as I am interning, working, AND taking 14 credit hours at school. However, I want to get the ball rolling and start getting the word out so that when I have the time to run it I won't have to waste time trying to get it going and find participants and such! Let me know your suggestions AND/ OR criticisms! I want this to work and I want to be able to be helpful in getting more women in the sport! Thanks!!!

[Jayne]

one other idea for now--

- asking the help of pro women to run a women's clinic the week/ weekend of our national tour MN Majestic- last year Val Jenks, Liz Lopez, Des, Angela, and a few others attended. I'm getting to know a few of them well enough that I think I could get them to participate.

[Luke B]

- ask regulars around to donate old discs(most players have plenty they no longer use) to the womens league/club, this way when a new player wants to join you can start her off with a few discs and she can immediately feel part of the group.

- if doing a womens league weekly then get together a core group who you know will play weekly, then get the word out, encourage guys whose wives/gfs play once in a while to get them to come out and give it a shot.

[Jayne]

Thanks Luke! Definitely things I have and will take into consideration. I have so many thoughts I can't even begin to write ALL of them down! Haha.

[Discette]

Sounds Awesome Jayne.

Ask TG, Matt K or John S. if you can host a couple of ladies cards during one of their league nights. I did this during the Sundog when I lived in MN and we had up to 12 ladies coming to Acorn and Highland. Probably too crowed now for Sundog. By pairing with a guys league, the guys can bring their girls and know they will be having fun playing on a "ladies only" card. Plus, there will be experienced players there to provide some pointers to the ladies.

You can find some other tips here: http://www.innovadiscs.com/faq/women.html

Shoot me an email and I can hook you up with some free stuff for the ladies. suzette.simonsATinnovadiscsDOTcom

[Terry "the Pirate" Calhoun]

Would you ladies like to have us open up a Resource Page that you could collaboratively work on as a Wiki-type document about promoting women in disc golf or creating a women's league?

[Jayne]

Awesome Suzette! Typically we do have all women's cards so long as there are at least 3 of us. I play Sundog and ChillyDog, and TG and Koerner do their best to put us all together! Todd Erickson said I should contact you as you and Shannon worked at getting some women's stuff going out here. I will shoot you an e-mail when I have a little more time to write.

That's a good idea though! At first I think I just want to set up a weekly time where women know they can come play with other women- and learn the sport- and then encourage them to come to leagues and such and have those women only cards!

Terry- that would probably be a great idea for people to collaborate on Women's disc golf topics! Thanks!

Discette said:

Sounds Awesome Jayne.

Ask TG, Matt K or John S. if you can host a couple of ladies cards during one of their league nights. I did this during the Sundog when I lived in MN and we had up to 12 ladies coming to Acorn and Highland. Probably too crowed now for Sundog. By pairing with a guys league, the guys can bring their girls and know they will be having fun playing on a "ladies only" card. Plus, there will be experienced players there to provide some pointers to the ladies.

You can find some other tips here: http://www.innovadiscs.com/faq/women.html

Shoot me an email and I can hook you up with some free stuff for the ladies. suzette.simonsATinnovadiscsDOTcom

[Sheri Lynn Jazembak]

Howdy- I like to show up for conversations a few months later. I started a chick only thing last year and made meself a dozen disc golf chicks. I thought that was pretty good in the first year.

First- you have to show up every week. Pick a day out of the week for league and NEVER miss it. We have our league on Monday Nights and I'm very committed to be there every week.

Second- Non competetive. And I highly suggest doubles. Rig it so beginners get the chance to play with a better player. Don't even keep score.

Third- Truly chicks only. Don't let the boys play. Period. No matter who it is. We have a few groups of boys follow us from time to time. (They are our Guard Dawgs.) Just to encourage gentlemanly behavior from the lovely teenagers throwing into the slower chicks group.

Nextly, Take the time to teach your Dawgs golf rules and expectations. That way when you run into another group on the course- they know how to behave and what to expect. The girls will appreciate it more than you think.

Lastly- daycare at the park. My kid hangs out with the wee folk. He doesn't charge but accepts tips. Keeps my boy out of trouble so that I can play too.

Our Rocket Dawg Ridge Raiders start up on May 5th- Second year! I'll let you know what I learn...right after I learn it. And If you are ever in Buffalo on a Monday Night between May & the time change ----stop in!