Growing Club

Member Engagement

Best Practices for NCTA Member Clubs

NCTA Club Forum — 2026

The Engagement Challenge

Many clubs have stable or growing membership numbers — but a significant portion of those members are underactive. Some key drivers:

The Invisible Members

Many members join a club but rarely use it beyond occasional court bookings. They don’t attend events, don’t know other members, and don’t feel a sense of belonging.

The Social Gap

Tennis can feel isolating. Without structured social programming, members struggle to find compatible partners, form friendships, and build the connections that keep them coming back.

The Progression Gap

Members who don’t see a clear pathway to improve — or who can’t find the right level of play — lose motivation and gradually disengage, even if they don’t formally leave.

What Drives Member Engagement

Research across racquet sports shows five factors that keep members active and connected.

Instant Fun

Members stay when playing is enjoyable from day one — not just after years of improvement

Social Connection

The friendships formed off-court matter as much as the tennis. Community is the #1 retention driver

Easy Access

Drop-in opportunities, flexible scheduling, and low-friction booking keep members active

Visible Progression

Leagues, levels, and pathways give members something to work toward and a reason to return

A Sense of Belonging

When members feel they are part of something — a team, a group, a tradition — they stay

The initiatives in this deck are designed to strengthen these five drivers at your club — with minimal cost and maximum impact on member satisfaction.

1

Modified Ball & Court Programs for All Levels: NCTA Clinics with how you get beginners involved

Make tennis more accessible and more fun — not just for beginners, but for social play, returning members, and mixed-ability groups.

Red Ball

25% compression

36-foot mini court

Instant rallies for anyone

Orange Ball

50% compression

60-foot 3/4 court

Great for social play & mixed groups

Green Ball

75% compression

Full court

Forgiving bridge to standard play

Cost: Under $200 for starter ball kits. Use chalk or tape for court lines. No construction needed.

Use in social mix-ins, beginner programs, family sessions, and mixed-ability events.

2

Build a Social Tennis Culture

Regular, structured social programming is the single most effective way to turn passive members into active ones.

Weekly Social Mix-In

Members arrive and get placed into doubles with short formats (Fast4, tiebreak sets). Rotate partners each round. No fixed partner needed. Use green balls to keep it accessible.

2 hours, weekly

Friday Night Tennis & Social

Evening round-robin play under lights paired with food and drinks — BBQ, pizza, potluck. Music welcome. The emphasis is 60% social, 40% tennis.

Monthly or bi-weekly

Weekend Family Mix-In

Parents and children play together using modified balls and courts. Engages the whole household and gives families a shared reason to be at the club.

Monthly

Key message to members: "Just show up. We’ll take care of the rest."

3

Rethink Lessons & Clinics for Engagement

Low-Engagement Approach

• Line up, hit balls fed by a pro, rotate
• No social connections formed between members
• Members leave having drilled but never played
• Same format every week — no variety or progression

High-Engagement Approach

• Play-based group sessions (4–8 members) — games and rallies from day one
• Rotate groups so members meet new people each week
• End every session with 15 min of match play
• Offer themed clinics (doubles tactics, serve & volley, match play nights)
• Buddy system — pair newer members with experienced players

4

Make Every Member Feel Welcome

A member’s first month determines whether they become active or drift away. Design that experience deliberately.

Welcome Pack for Every New Member

One-page guide: how to book, when social sessions happen, key contacts, what to expect. Remove the uncertainty.

Buddy System

Pair every new or returning member with an experienced club member for their first month. Personal introductions to the community.

New Member Social

Monthly or quarterly gathering specifically for members who joined in the last 90 days. Introduce them to each other and to club regulars.

Loaner Racquet Program

Keep spare racquets available for members trying a new format or for guests they bring along. Lower every barrier to participation.

Open Trial Sessions

Monthly “come and try” sessions for prospective members. Use modified balls. No booking required. Let current members invite friends.

5

Team & League Programs That Drive Belonging

Members who play on a team are dramatically more likely to stay active. Give them something to belong to.

NCTA Tour

Recruit members of all levels into your club’s Tour team. Three skill divisions (4.0+, <3.5, <3.0) ensure everyone has a place. Playing for your club builds pride and loyalty.

Club-Level Leagues

Internal weeknight doubles league using green balls and Fast4 scoring. Short 6–8 week seasons keep commitment manageable. End each season with a celebration.

Inter-Club Friendlies

Casual matches against neighbouring NCTA clubs. A “big match” experience without the pressure of formal competition. Builds cross-club community.

6

Diversify Your Club’s Offerings

Members engage more when the club feels like a community hub, not just a set of courts.

Offer modified programs as part of Social events

Engages members who want variety and brings guests who may convert to tennis. A multi-sport club retains more members – do we include this?

Racquet Sport Sampler Events

Let members and guests try tennis, pickleball, and other formats in a single session. Creates buzz, draws a crowd, and showcases the full club experience.

Off-Court Social Events

Seasonal dinners, trivia nights, movie nights, AGM socials. The strongest clubs build community beyond the court. Members who have friends at the club don’t leave.

Members who use the club for multiple activities are far less likely to disengage.

7

Junior & Family Engagement

Junior Social Play Sessions

Weekly unstructured play time beyond lessons. Let kids play games, compete with friends, and fall in love with the sport on their own terms.

Parent-Child Events

Monthly sessions where parents and kids play together using modified equipment. Makes tennis a family activity, not a drop-off activity.

Connect to the NCTA Pathway

Show families the full picture: club lessons → NCTA junior tournaments → Junior City Open → OTA Provincial Circuit. A visible pathway gives families a reason to stay engaged.

School & Community Outreach

Partner with local schools for modified-ball sessions. Brings new families to the club and gives existing junior members a sense of pride in their sport.

8

Communicate, Recognize & Celebrate

Regular Club Communications

Weekly or bi-weekly email with upcoming events, results, and member spotlights. Members can’t engage with what they don’t know about.

Celebrate Member Achievements

Recognize milestones — first tournament, league participation, volunteering, years of membership. Public acknowledgment deepens belonging.

Promote NCTA Benefits

Many members don’t realize their membership includes the NCTA Tour, City Championships, and the full event schedule. Make it visible and exciting.

Gather Feedback & Act on It

Annual member survey plus informal check-ins. Ask what members want and show them you’ve listened. Engagement is a two-way relationship.

The Engagement Playbook

The Bottom Line

Engagement is not about getting more members. It’s about making every member feel like they belong.

The clubs that thrive are the ones where members have friends, play regularly, feel welcomed, and see a reason to come back every week.

These initiatives require minimal investment. What they require

is a commitment to designing the member experience deliberately.

ncta.ca | michael@ncta.ca | Growing Tennis in the Nation’s Capital