A manageable Training Program constraint
The normal training program membership intake for a club is say 5-6 sailors per month, in 6 monthly intakes the program placements will be filled, most clubs will not have resources/coach boats to operate beyond that. The intake will compound each year adding another 30 placements until the program achieves full capacity in about 8-10 years. At that point the program should generate new members and smaller portion of senior members annually. The differential numbers of sailors entering the junior program versus a lesser number entering the senior program can be managed and optimised.
The control of intake process is principally about filling placements with families aligned with the program and supportive of their child. Each placement is unique and irreplaceable, filled or not it carries the marginal cost of the program and the opportunity for the child to develop. Operating capability and quality is vital to a limited placements program because, when the student starts the journey the program must see it through to the end.
A ‘normal rate of attrition’ is the number of sailors entering each step of development versus those vacated through unavoidable circumstance. Operating capability is designed to support participation and growth rates that tolerate a normal rate of attrition and take measures to avoid further losses. The rate is unique to each program and should be the focus of the coaching group in the best position to address avoidable losses.
Avoidable losses can be toxic, everyone knows about them, upsetting for families and disruptive to the class. The stage 1 coaching group is impacted and concerned about any loss but can do little. SLM stage 1 can generate high participation in the junior program but has not set itself up to routinely resolve issues. The stage 2 coaching group has tools to address the issue, to manage toward a natural rate of attrition.
SLM Dinghy Program Development 