You’re always looking for fun ways to engage with your athletes without sacrificing the quality of the training you’re providing. With Halloween just around the corner, it’s a perfect opportunity to add a little holiday spirit to your facility or training academy. Here are 5 sports facility spooky ideas you can incorporate into your training business to keep things fresh and spooky.
Nothing says Halloween like costumes! Encourage your athletes to wear fun costumes for their lessons or to your camp or clinic (see tip 5 below). Award a prize for “Best Dressed,” “Most Creative Costume,” or “Scariest Outfit.” This not only provides an outlet for athletes to show their creativity and personality, but also makes for great photo opportunities for social media!
Give your workouts a Halloween twist by renaming exercises or movements. Incorporate some deadlifts or spider pushups into the workout. Let goblet squats become goblin squats, and band walks turn into monster walks. Or, use pumpkins as weights instead of kettlebells. This simple, yet effective change can make your regular workouts feel fresh and exciting, adding a little Halloween fun to your programming.
Another easy way to add a little fun to your Halloween week training is through the perfect spooky soundtrack. Create a special Halloween playlist featuring iconic spooky songs. Not only will this set the mood, but it will also encourage your athletes to keep moving. From Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” to the Ghostbusters theme song, these songs are sure to have athletes moving.
(Bonus tip: Have your athletes submit their favorite sound to add to the playlist!)
Celebrating at your sports facility doesn’t have to be all tricks…you can also throw in some treats! You could also consider creating a special Halloween discount code to encourage athletes to book a new session or purchase something from your retail shop. For example, create a coupon code like “BOO15” for 15% off a private session. This not only helps to incentivize current athletes to get back on the books, but also gives potential new athletes a nudge.
In addition to tweaking your programming, you can also create and market your own spooky special event. Decorate your facility with cobwebs or jack-o-lanterns, provide some Halloween-themed snacks as a post-workout treat. Combined with some of the above ideas, you can create a unique program with games, exercise, and challenges.
For more tips on running a successful sports camp, check out our free sports camp guide here!
Halloween isn’t the only opportunity to mix up your training or offer a special promotion. But, infusing some spooky fun into your facility or academy can be a great way to embrace the holiday spirit. Whether you decide to have a costume contest, switch up your workouts or playlist, offer a promotion, or host a Halloween-specific event, these ideas will help you energize your athletes. And, you’ll help your business stand out from the crowd by creating a fun, creative community that extends beyond the hard work of your athletes and coaches day in and day out.
Event technology has dramatically improved the overall attendee experience by simplifying registration and driving engagement. According to a recent report, nearly 50 percent of all event attendees adopt a mobile app and perform 34 engagements on average with it throughout the course of the event. And with 87 percent of time — three hours per day — spent in mobile apps, it’s evident that to find success, you need to be meeting attendees where they are; on their mobile devices.
Learn specific ways you can compete with digital fitness through production, distribution, talent, and technology. From Peloton to Barry’s Bootcamp, there are some brands that seemed to have “hit the nail on the head” in terms of creating memorable and engaging fitness experiences. The rise of on-demand fitness throughout the pandemic has not replaced in-person fitness, however it has certainly challenged brick and mortar studios and gyms to raise the bar of consumer experience. But, very few businesses have the budget these big box gyms boast. So, how can you replicate production, distribution, talent, and technology at your studio to continue to compete locally and give your business the competitive edge? Here are some specific ways you can incorporate the X-Factor into your business model, no matter your budget.