Ep 78 - Starting Your Own Team with Mike Koleber

Your Sports Resource

In this week’s episode of The Your Sports Resource Podcast, Mike Koleber dives into the essentials of starting your own club or business. He covers the pros and cons of running an organization, emphasizing risk tolerance and stability. Mike shares insights on navigating challenges with parent-run boards and the importance of having trusted advisors. Learn from his personal journey and discover key strategies for pricing swimming lessons, balancing recreational and performance tracks, and marketing effectively without poaching from other teams. Mike encourages you to take the first step, keep learning, and move forward.
Don't miss this valuable episode for aspiring coaches and business owners!
KEY TAKEAWAYS:

• Evaluate your risk tolerance and stability before starting your own club or business.
• Surround yourself with trusted advisors who believe in your vision.
• Secure water to ensure stability and avoid the challenges of renting pools.
• Consider financial strategies such as side hustles to support yourself during the early stages.
• Evaluate your motivations and pain points before making the decision to start your own business. The cost of barrier to entry for starting a swim program is relatively low, as the main expense is renting or leasing pool space.
• Pricing swimming lessons based on the market demand and the value provided is crucial for financial success.
• Finding the right balance between recreational and performance tracks in swim programs is important to cater to different types of swimmers.
• When looking for new members, it's essential to avoid poaching from other teams and maintain integrity and reputation.
• Marketing strategies for swim programs can include promoting water safety awareness and leveraging influencers in the community.
• Coaches should not wait for all the answers before starting their own program, but rather take the first step and learn along the way.

ABOUT THE GUEST:

Mike grew up swimming in Michigan. Summer league, then year round, HS, and competed in his NCAA years at Oakland University under legendary Coach Pete Hovland. He started teaching lessons at 13 yrs old with his Dad as his mentor. Went the corporate route for a number of years until the siren song of the chlorine called him back to the pool.
Spent a couple of years with Swim Atlanta in the late 90's and moved to the Austin, Texas area. Began coaching part time with a small club team. Was named Head Coach two years later and began to grow the program from 70 kids and one 6 lane outdoor rented pool to three years later, 370 kids, three rented pools and an expanding coaching staff.
Mike broke away from the board run program and Nitro Swimming was born! He and his wife Tracy risked everything with two young children and began work on building their own indoor 50 meter facility. June of 2007 they opened their first coach owned, 50 meter, indoor center.
Four years later, they did it again. They are now closing in on indoor 50 meter facility #3.
Today Nitro Swimming has approximately 2000 USA registered swimmers, and teach over 3,800 kids a week through the Nitro Swim Schools.
CONNECT WITH THE GUEST:
Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/mike-koleber-5a0a853
Website: nitroswim.com
CONNECT WITH ME:
Linkedin: /renata-porter
Instagram: @yoursportsresource
Twitter: @yoursportsres
If you have a suggestion or topics you want me to discuss, write me at [e-mail]. Don’t forget to check out our website www.yoursportsresource.com