Good communication is one of the most important parts of running a successful club.
When members know where they’re running, what events are coming up and how to get involved, they feel connected.
When communication breaks down, confusion quickly follows.
Committee members end up answering the same questions repeatedly.
Members miss important updates.
Guests turn up at the wrong location.
Volunteers spend more time responding to messages than enjoying the club itself.
The good news is that most communication problems are surprisingly easy to fix.
Here are seven of the most common mistakes we see running clubs make—and some practical ways to avoid them.
1. Sharing Information Across Too Many Places
Does your club use:
- Facebook?
- WhatsApp?
- Email?
- Instagram?
- A website?
- Messenger?
Individually, these are all useful.
The problem comes when different information is shared on different platforms.
One member reads Facebook.
Another only checks email.
Someone else relies entirely on WhatsApp.
Before long, people begin missing important updates simply because they looked in the wrong place.
Choose one place as your primary source of information and make sure members know where to find official updates.
2. Assuming Everyone Already Knows
Committee members often forget that not everyone has been at the club for years.
What feels obvious to long-standing members can be completely confusing to someone attending for the first time.
Always explain:
- Meeting locations.
- Start times.
- Parking.
- Pace groups.
- Route changes.
- Weather cancellations.
New members will appreciate the clarity, and existing members won’t mind the reminder.
If you’re welcoming first-time runners, our guide on how to welcome new members to your running club shares several simple ways to make newcomers feel at home.
3. Leaving Announcements Until the Last Minute
Nobody enjoys discovering at 5:45 pm that tonight’s run starts from a different location.
Whenever possible, communicate changes early.
Giving members plenty of notice helps avoid confusion and reduces the number of last-minute questions the committee receives.
4. Sending Too Many Messages
Communication is important.
Too much communication becomes background noise.
If members receive multiple messages every day, they quickly stop paying attention.
Instead, consider sending:
- One weekly update.
- Event reminders when needed.
- Urgent announcements only when genuinely necessary.
Quality almost always beats quantity.
5. Forgetting About New Members
Long-standing members understand your club’s routines.
New members don’t.
Simple things such as explaining club etiquette, introducing committee members or outlining how trial sessions work make a huge difference.
Helping people feel informed is one of the easiest ways to improve retention.
6. Relying on One Person
Many clubs have a communications volunteer who somehow manages everything.
Social media.
Emails.
Website updates.
WhatsApp groups.
Event announcements.
If that person becomes unavailable, communication often stops altogether.
Create simple processes that allow other committee members to help when needed.
7. Forgetting That Communication Builds Community
Communication isn’t just about passing on information.
It’s about building relationships.
Celebrate race achievements.
Welcome new members.
Thank volunteers.
Share photographs.
Recognise milestones.
Ask questions.
Encourage conversations.
People join running clubs because they enjoy being part of something.
Good communication reinforces that feeling every single week.
Committee Tip
Before sending any announcement, ask yourself one question:
“Would a brand-new member understand this?”
If the answer is no, add a little more context.
Experienced members will skim over it.
New members will appreciate it.
Keep Communication Simple
The most effective communication isn’t necessarily the most frequent.
It’s the clearest.
Choose a primary channel.
Be consistent.
Share information early.
Keep members informed.
And remember that every message should make life easier—not more confusing—for the people receiving it.
Key Takeaways
Strong communication keeps running clubs organised, welcoming and enjoyable.
By simplifying where information is shared, communicating clearly and thinking about new members as well as existing ones, committees can reduce confusion, save time and strengthen their club community.
Sometimes the best communication strategy isn’t sending more messages.
It’s sending better ones.
