What makes a CrossFit Affiliate gym stand out from other gyms? Aside from offering elite training and getting people results – it’s community that keeps people coming back. The small group feel, personal attention and communication within a garage gym help to cultivate your gym’s culture. “The box” is a home away from a home where friendships are formed and camaraderie is built by pushing each other through CrossFit workouts. Challenges and events can help grow your community, increase teamwork & group support, and bring people together.

Now that “The Games Season” begins at the local level with regional and sectional competitions there is no reason your gym shouldn’t use this as an opportunity to represent as a community, compete and cheer each other on.

When The Games come around one of the below scenarios can sometimes occur inside affiliates:

Scenario 1: The athletes training for the Games become isolated from other clients. They get free range of the gym, equipment, and training times. Other clients see competitors as getting “special treatment” and can feel envious or left out.

Scenario 2: The entire gym is aware of, participates in and is excited for  “The Games Season”! The gym gets behind it’s Games competitors and is involved with the event, either by traveling to the competitions or well wishes and support from home. The energy in the gym increases and everyone celebrates together.

Scenario 3: Your client’s don’t really know about The CrossFit Games and no one from your gym is competing.

Clearly, Scenario 2 (everyone excited and supportive) is the way to go. How can the CrossFit Games help your affiliate create synergy? How can you get your clients involved in training for the Games and make it an exciting time in your box?

Check out this video from the CrossFit Journal where CrossFit Fort Vancouver (1st Place Affiliate Team @ the 2010 CrossFit Games) says that training for the Games increased the growth of their box, increased energy and helped clients get PR’s!