IT'S HALLOWEEN MONTH AND I'LL USE AS MANY HORRIBLE PHRASES AS I CAN. DON'T LIKE IT? WELL BOO-HOO!
...pumpkins.
Okay, anyway - I've been giving a lot of thought recently to how it's not too terribly difficult to get people in the door, as far as a first league goes. Most of the time, if you highlight the benefits (drinking for most, throwing stuff, laughs), people go for it. But keeping people involved after that first-season bliss is a bit trickier. Trick-or-treatier, even. No I won't apologize this is me now.
Our just-finished Wednesday league (RIP) and currently going Thursday league are chock-a-block full of new throwers. I believe we had 4 new folk in Wednesday, and maybe as many as 5 for Thursday? It's a lot for the meadery, and it's very exciting. New throwers give new dynamic, allow more experienced throwers to share what they know, and shake up the standings in fun ways. Now, instead of finishing at 5th place almost every tourney, I can finish in 4th place!
But behind every little lesson and every "oh, sweet summer child" I'm able to utter out whilst a newer thrower takes aim with their axe sheath still attached, there is a lingering fear. A little, almost imperceptible whisper in my ear: "they're not coming baaaacckk."
So how can I, a little ol' axe thrower, do my part to make sure these new throwers fall under the thrall of axe throwing? What dark, mysterious magic can I weave to keep our numbers growing and our matches interesting?
Well, look into my ponderin' orb and let's find out together, huh? Let's lift the veil between what's happening and what's possible to discover what's....what's uh...gonna possibly happen.
NEW THROWERS NEED TO FEEL LIKE THEY ARE A PART OF SOMETHING
This is just part of human psychology, dear reader. You and I both know this. It's why the BOOK IT! program did so well. The belonging and the personal pan pizza, obvs.
The sooner you can help new throwers feel like they are part of "the club," the more likely they are to want to stay a part of that club, you dig? Like, I am not a very social person. Point in fact, I find most of you mortals to be selfish, smelly, and overly loud (I'M PRETENDING TO BE A VAMPIRE NOW AND IT'S FUN) - BUT I ignore my natural social anxiety to talk to newer throwers often. I'll share a bunch of stickers with them, I'll share axes if I have extras (almost always). I'll give them patches I've collected in my axe-ventures. Nicknames? You fuggin' bet I'm thinking about nicknames.
Point is this: the sooner you get new players to start identifying as part of the axe-throwing pack, the sooner they will actually become one of the pack members. And if you manage that, you'll be in for a howling good time (YEAH WEREWOLF I'M ROCKING THIS).
TEACH BUT LIKE, DON'T OVERLOAD THEM.
One of my most favorite moments early in my axe throwing career was when Bob, Trevor, Teemo, Mattimus and Anne took the time to teach me something. It felt like they were investing in me, and that made me feel worth being invested in - does that make sense? Like, it gave me confidence that they saw potential.
But it was too much when, sometimes, everyone gave me advice at the same time about the same thing. Espesh when the advice they were giving didn't agree with each other.
It's tempting, I think, to want to help. The axe throwing community at its best is really, really good at wanting everyone to be better. But it can also be a huge detriment if three of us are all telling a new thrower three different ways to do the same thing. So nowadays I try to be mindful:
Does this person want to be taught?
Are they already being taught?
Are they fully understanding what's being said - and if not, why?
I try to be really clear with people that they can tell me to shut up at any time, or should ignore my advice if they think it's not benefitting them. But I also keep myself wide open to newer throwers who want to spend some time reviewing their throw and working on it. Again, demonstrating that a new thrower is worth investing in can help them invest in themselves, too, and thereby continue throwing.
GET NEW THROWERS INVOLVED
People get involved when they're involved. So encourage your newer throwers to learn about the ephemera of the sport. Get them doing science. Get them trying new games and going to tourneys. Maybe get a few more experienced players to start a pool and "sponsor" a newer thrower for a tourney away from home - and go with them to explain how it all works.
I think experienced throwers kinda forget how confusing axe throwing can be if you're brand new to it. Hell, when I started, I had no idea about tourneys, axe games, or jello shots. But now look at me. I'm still just as confused, but I'm all in, babbeeeeyyyyy.
So if you're doing something fun that is even the littlest bit axe-throwing related, consider throwing an invite out to your newer throwers. For one thing, you might have even more fun, and for another thing: it's a great way of expanding that newer thrower's love of the sport.
Otherwise,
they might, uh.
ghost you.
Hell yeah. Halloween rocks socks.
Comentarios