Club Linking

Sports clubs can be found anywhere. People simply love playing sports. We enjoy being part of a sports club and interacting with others. Making friends, competing in a friendly way and experiencing team spirit. This is the same all over the world. But the way people or clubs go about this, can differ greatly. It’s these differences and similarities that make it interesting to share your experiences with others. And Clublinking is THE project to help you to achieve this.

Clublinking is a Dutch project started by NCDO (National Committee for International Cooperation and Sustainable Development). The Stichting Stedenband Haarlem-Mutare (Haarlem Mutare City Link Foundation) executes the project. The objective is to inspire and stimulate reciprocal relationships based on equality between Dutch sports clubs or sports projects and projects and clubs in developing countries. This kind of relationships will prove to be exceptionally profitable for both parties.

Why link up?
A link between sports clubs is meant to be a lasting tie of friendship. The main goal is to be actively involved with one another by exchanging knowledge and experiences. By doing this, a classic win-win situation will be created.

Just think of the benefits your club will have by linking up:

• Grow by learning about each other’s organisational structure, techniques, leagues, tournaments, practice sessions, games, events and so on.

• Possible participation in physical exchanges.

• Get a greater understanding of the role of sports in society.

• Enhance your chances of financial support or getting sports equipment. (Although lack of equipment and financial means may be a very important factor at times, this is NOT the main focus of Clublinking. A fund raising activity is a possibility of course, but the aim is to develop a reciprocal relationship with one another.)

• Empower youths in and within their society.

• Show others what your club has achieved or can achieve.

• Get in touch with like-minded people on the other side of the world, who share your passion for sports. And perhaps create lasting friendships.

• Become a citizen of the world by learning about a different culture and way of life.

• Give your club an international appearance and gain prestige by this.

Your club only has to show some initiative and invest a little time. So what’s keeping you?

A Clublink put into practice
The link between you and a Dutch sports club, can take many forms. It all depends on your wishes and possibilities and those of your partner. You can be as innovative and creative as you like in thinking of ways of getting to know each other. There are just a couple of things that need to be a part of a Clublink:

• Make contact with your partner at least four times a year.

• Organise at least one Clublinking activity a year.

• Promote your Clublink inside and outside of your club.

• Put an annual planning into writing together with your partner.

Just try and keep each other informed any way you like.

To make a Clublink lively and durable, you should try to get as much support from the members of your club. It’s good to have a couple of active people who are willing and able to help with everything surrounding the Clublink. But they shouldn’t be too hard to find.

Also try to be as open in your communication with your partner as possible. Intercultural communication can be very interesting once you realise you both have a different way of interacting. Just keep in mind that you both want the same thing, try to keep an open mind and always ask for clarification if you need it. If you can be unprejudiced in communication, you are bound to create a healthy and respectful relationship with your partner.

How to link up

Through the website www.clublinking.nl you can find more information about the project. Here you can also download a profile-form. In order to get involved with Clublinking the first thing is to fill in this form. This way you can share information about you and your club or project which will be displayed on the website.

Next you will have an exploratory interview over the phone with one of the coaches in Holland. You will now discuss your options and possibilities as a partner in Clublinking.

If you decide to start a Clublink, you will receive a manual with information on Clublinking, project management, finances and much more. A small budget will be available for using internet and calling your partner-club.

Just link your club and score!!!

Contact
If you have any questions concerning Clublinking, you can of course contact us by email or phone.

Email: info@clublinking.nl
Phone: 0031-23-5324008 (during office hours)
Website: www.clublinking.nl

Partners in Clublinking:

NCDO
Haarlem Mutare City Link Foundation
Stars in their eyes
The Spirit of Sport Foundation
SCORE
NSA
WomenWin