5 Reasons didi Rugby is the Best Side Hustle for Teachers or Coaches

Teaching and coaching are all about passion—helping others grow, develop skills, and build confidence. If you’re a teacher or a coach looking for a side hustle that aligns with your passion for working with young people, didi rugby might be the perfect fit. Here are five reasons why didi rugby is an ideal side hustle for teachers and coaches.

1. Use Your Existing Skills

As a teacher or coach, you already have the skills to motivate, inspire, and engage young people. didi rugby allows you to put those skills to good use in a new and exciting way. You’re already great at managing groups of children, breaking down activities into easy-to-follow steps, and encouraging participation—all of which are key components of a successful didi rugby session. By running didi rugby sessions, you get to build on what you already do so well and use your experience to create a fun, supportive learning environment for young children.

2. Earn Extra Income on Your Schedule

Teachers and coaches often have demanding schedules, but didi rugby offers the flexibility to work around your existing commitments. Whether you have free time during weekends, evenings, or school holidays, you can run didi rugby sessions whenever it suits you. This makes it easy to earn extra income without compromising your primary job or sacrificing valuable personal time. The flexibility means you can create your own schedule and decide how much time you want to dedicate to your side hustle.

3. Make a Positive Impact Outside the Classroom or Training Ground

didi rugby isn’t just about earning extra money—it’s about making a positive impact in your community. As a teacher or coach, you’re used to seeing young people grow and develop under your guidance, and didi rugby offers a new platform to continue making a difference. Through didi rugby, you can help children develop essential physical skills, boost their confidence, and foster a love for sport—all while having fun. Seeing the smiles on children’s faces as they learn and grow is one of the most rewarding parts of being a didi rugby franchisee.

4. A Perfect Fit for School Holidays and Breaks

For teachers, school holidays can be an excellent opportunity to take on additional work. didi rugby sessions, camps, and parties are perfect for the holiday period, allowing you to maximize your income during breaks. Hosting holiday camps or special rugby-themed events means you can stay active, make extra income, and keep children engaged and entertained during their time off from school. It’s a win-win situation—you get a rewarding activity that fits around your holidays, and families get a valuable service that keeps their children active and happy.

5. Stay Active and Engaged

Teaching and coaching can be mentally and physically demanding, but didi rugby provides an opportunity to stay active in a different setting. Running didi rugby sessions allows you to get out of the classroom or off the sidelines and into a more relaxed, fun environment. You’ll still be working with young people, but in a way that encourages play, physical activity, and teamwork. It’s a refreshing change of pace that lets you keep moving, stay engaged, and feel energized—all while doing something meaningful.

Final Thoughts

didi rugby is a perfect side hustle for teachers and coaches who want to earn extra income while continuing to do what they love—working with children, inspiring growth, and making a positive difference. With flexible scheduling, the ability to use your existing skills, and the opportunity to engage with the community in a new way, didi rugby offers a rewarding and fun side hustle that fits into your life.

If you’re ready to make the most of your evenings, weekends, or school holidays, didi rugby might be the opportunity you’ve been searching for. Join us, and turn your passion for teaching and coaching into an enjoyable, flexible, and profitable side hustle.

How to Make the Most of Your Evenings and Weekends with didi Rugby

Do you find yourself wishing you could do something more fulfilling with your evenings and weekends? If you’re looking to make productive use of your free time, didi rugby might be the perfect opportunity. It’s not only a great way to earn extra income, but it also allows you to engage with your community, stay active, and make a positive impact in the lives of young children. Let’s explore how didi rugby can help you make the most of your spare time.

Turn Your Free Time into Extra Income

Weekends and evenings are typically times when people wind down, but they’re also perfect opportunities to pursue a meaningful side hustle. didi rugby offers a way to earn extra income by running fun, engaging rugby sessions for children aged 18 months to 6 years. By dedicating a few hours during your weekends or after work, you can create a rewarding side income stream without the stress of a full-time commitment.

Our franchisees often find that running didi rugby sessions is not only financially beneficial but also an enjoyable way to spend their spare time. Many of them say it doesn’t feel like work at all—it’s a chance to do something they love, interact with children, and contribute to the community.

Balancing Full-Time Work and a Side Hustle

Balancing a full-time job with a side hustle might sound daunting, but our franchisees have shown that it’s absolutely achievable. Take, for example, those who work in education. Teachers often run didi rugby sessions during weekends, and they find that the skills they use in the classroom translate perfectly into didi rugby. Their weekdays are spent educating children academically, while weekends are for physical activity and fun—creating a balanced and fulfilling work-life mix.

Another example is professionals who work in office environments. For them, didi rugby provides a break from the desk job routine. Running sessions on weekends or in the evenings after work allows them to stay active and experience something different from their usual daily responsibilities. It offers an escape from the nine-to-five grind and brings an element of joy and fulfillment that’s hard to find in many traditional jobs.

Engage with Your Community

didi rugby isn’t just about earning extra income—it’s also about making a difference. When you run didi rugby sessions, you become an active part of your community. You’re helping children learn new skills, gain confidence, and stay physically active. Parents love seeing their children thrive in a supportive, fun environment, and as a franchisee, you get to be part of that journey.

Many of our franchisees say that seeing children grow in confidence and develop a love for sport is the most rewarding part of the job. You’re not just running a business—you’re building relationships, contributing to children’s development, and creating lasting memories for families in your community.

Flexible and Rewarding

One of the greatest aspects of didi rugby is the flexibility it offers. Unlike many other side hustles that require strict hours or demand high levels of commitment, didi rugby allows you to decide when you want to work. Whether you want to dedicate your Saturday mornings or a few weekday evenings, the choice is entirely yours. This level of flexibility means you can adapt your schedule to fit around your full-time job, family commitments, or personal hobbies.

For many franchisees, didi rugby is the ideal way to add meaning to their free time. It allows them to take control of their schedule, engage in something they’re passionate about, and earn extra income—all without sacrificing their primary job or personal life.

Real Stories, Real Impact

Many franchisees started their journey looking for something different to do with their spare time, and have found didi rugby to be life-changing. One franchisee, who works full-time as a financial analyst, started running didi rugby sessions on Saturday mornings. Initially, it was a way to do something active and fun, but over time, it grew into a passion. They found that helping children develop and seeing the smiles on their faces was far more rewarding than they could have imagined.

Another franchisee, who is a stay-at-home parent, found that running sessions during weekends provided the perfect opportunity to contribute to household income while staying engaged with the community. They love the fact that they can work around their family’s schedule while still doing something impactful and rewarding.

Final Thoughts

If you’re ready to make the most of your evenings and weekends, didi rugby could be the side hustle you’ve been searching for. It’s flexible, fun, and allows you to earn extra income while making a difference in your community. Whether you’re looking to escape the routine of your full-time job, spend your weekends doing something active, or simply want to contribute to your local community, didi rugby is here to help you make it happen.

Join us, and turn your free time into something meaningful, impactful, and enjoyable.

didi Rugby: The Perfect Side Hustle for Extra Income and Fun

Introduction

Looking for a side hustle that’s fun, impactful, and profitable? didi rugby might be just what you need. Whether you’re a teacher, a sports enthusiast, or someone with a passion for working with children, didi rugby offers an excellent opportunity to earn extra income on your own schedule. In this blog, we’ll explore how didi rugby can be the perfect side hustle to supplement your income while doing something you love.

Flexibility to Fit Your Schedule

One of the main benefits of becoming a didi rugby franchisee is the flexibility it offers. Many of our franchisees initially started their journey as a part-time venture, running sessions in the evenings or on weekends while maintaining their full-time jobs. With didi rugby, you decide how many sessions to run, when to host them, and how much time to dedicate—all while balancing your other commitments.

Supplement Your Income While Having Fun

Unlike many side hustles, didi rugby offers a way to earn extra income while having fun and making a difference in the lives of children. Hosting didi rugby sessions, parties, and holiday camps are all avenues for generating income while enjoying the rewarding experience of seeing young children grow in confidence, develop physical skills, and build friendships.

A Low-Pressure Path to Entrepreneurship

If you’ve always wanted to start your own business but have been hesitant to take the leap, didi rugby provides a low-pressure way to dip your toes into entrepreneurship. By starting as a side hustle, you can gain experience running your own business, learn valuable skills in marketing and management, and build confidence without the stress of having to give up your primary income.

Community Support and Training

When you become a didi rugby franchisee, you’re never alone. Our support system is designed to help franchisees succeed, whether they’re doing this full-time or as a side hustle. From initial training to ongoing mentoring and marketing assistance, we provide the tools and resources you need to make your side hustle a success. Plus, you’ll be part of a network of like-minded individuals who are always ready to offer advice and encouragement.

Build a Meaningful Impact

Running a didi rugby franchise isn’t just about earning extra income; it’s also about making a positive impact in your community. Our sessions focus on helping young children build confidence, learn teamwork, and stay active—all while having fun. As a didi rugby franchisee, you’re contributing to children’s development and creating memorable experiences for families in your community.

Success Stories: Making didi Rugby Work as a Side Hustle

We’ve seen numerous franchisees successfully balance their careers with running a didi rugby franchise on the side. Many of them, such as primary school teachers, run didi rugby sessions on weekends. They love the flexibility and the opportunity to do something different outside of their weekday routine. For these franchisees, didi rugby is the perfect way to earn extra money while staying active and engaged with their passion for sports.

Final Thoughts

If you’re looking for a side hustle that offers flexibility, fun, and the chance to make a difference, didi rugby could be the ideal choice for you. Whether you’re looking to supplement your income or eventually transition into running your own business full-time, didi rugby gives you the freedom to make it work on your terms.

Join us, and turn your passion for rugby and child development into an enjoyable side hustle that brings joy and positivity to your community.

At didi rugby, we are deeply committed to the success of each of our franchisees. We know that the journey from starting your own business to building a thriving franchise is one filled with challenges and opportunities. That’s why we have developed a support system that offers the guidance, tools, and community needed to grow, thrive, and achieve success. In this article, we’ll explore how didi rugby supports franchisees every step of the way.

Comprehensive Support System

One of the key pillars of didi rugby’s success is our comprehensive support system. From the moment someone decides to become part of the didi family, we provide structured training and ongoing assistance to make sure our franchisees are confident and equipped to run their business. Our training program covers everything from session delivery to marketing, customer relations, and financial management. We believe that a well-prepared franchisee is a successful franchisee.

But our support doesn’t end with training. We provide ongoing mentoring and hands-on guidance, ensuring that franchisees never feel like they’re alone on their journey. Our franchise team is always available to answer questions, help solve challenges, and provide advice to make the franchise experience as rewarding as possible.

The RFU Framework: A Solid Foundation

Our association with the Rugby Football Union (RFU) is another cornerstone of the support we offer to our franchisees. The RFU framework sets the foundation for how we work with younger players, ensuring that our franchisees are using the best techniques, practices, and approaches to help children develop key skills in a fun and supportive way. This affiliation gives our franchisees the credibility of being aligned with one of the most respected rugby bodies, helping to build trust with parents and communities.

Franchisee Satisfaction and Community

Being a didi rugby franchisee is about more than just running a business; it’s about being part of a community. The strength of our franchisee network lies in its supportive culture. Franchisees often describe the network as one big family—where members actively help each other, share insights, and celebrate successes together. This camaraderie is a significant part of why didi rugby franchisees report such high satisfaction rates.

Our annual Buzz survey results speak volumes about the happiness and satisfaction of our franchisees. In 2023, we recorded an 89% satisfaction rate among franchisees, highlighting the value they see in being part of the didi network. This ongoing feedback allows us to continuously improve our support offerings and tailor our resources to meet the needs of our franchisees.

BFA Membership: Credibility and Support

We are proud members of the British Franchise Association (BFA), which is the gold standard for ethical franchising in the UK. Our BFA membership adds an additional layer of credibility to the didi rugby brand and provides valuable resources to our franchisees. This membership means that we adhere to the highest standards of franchising and that our franchisees can have confidence in the transparency, quality, and ethics of our business practices.

Tailored Growth Strategies

At didi rugby, we understand that every community is unique. That’s why we work closely with franchisees to tailor growth strategies that align with their specific local context. Whether it’s identifying the best venues, connecting with local schools and nurseries, or marketing to parents in the community, our franchisees have access to expert advice and tailored plans that maximize their success.

We also provide marketing materials, social media strategies, and local campaigns to help franchisees raise brand awareness and attract new families to their sessions. By helping franchisees connect with their communities, we ensure they have the foundation needed to grow sustainably.

A Culture of Encouragement and Celebration

Success is something we love to celebrate at didi rugby. We make it a point to recognize and reward the hard work of our franchisees. From sharing success stories across our network to highlighting franchisees in our online channels, we believe that celebrating wins keeps everyone motivated and inspired. This culture of encouragement is at the core of what makes being part of didi rugby so special.

Final Thoughts

At didi rugby, our franchisees’ success is our success. We are here every step of the way—from initial training to long-term growth and development. With a strong support system, our contribution to the early years guidelines of the RFU, a committed community, and the credibility of BFA membership, we ensure that our franchisees have everything they need to thrive.

If you’re interested in joining a franchise that’s dedicated to your growth and success, didi rugby is ready to welcome you into our family.

Franchisee Spotlight: Transforming Lives with didi rugby

At didi rugby, we are proud to share the inspiring stories of our franchisees—individuals who have embraced the opportunity to combine their passion for working with children and sport into a rewarding business venture. One such individual wasn’t actively looking for a career change when they first heard about didi rugby. They had a stable job as a nursery nurse, but often found themselves yearning for something more—something that would allow them to make a bigger impact. Becoming a didi rugby franchisee transformed not only their career but also positively impacted every aspect of their life.

Why did They Choose didi Rugby?

The appeal of didi rugby was immediate for them. Our commitment to teaching children aged 18 months to 6 years the fundamentals of rugby in a fun, supportive environment resonated deeply. With their background in early childhood education, they recognized the value in didi rugby’s approach—focusing on building confidence, physical skills, and social development in young children. This unique opportunity allowed them to combine their expertise in early childhood development with their love for sport.

The thought of running their own business, creating a flexible lifestyle, and making a tangible difference in children’s lives was incredibly exciting. However, like many, they had their reservations about taking such a big leap.

The Leap of Faith

Leaving a secure job to venture into business ownership isn’t an easy decision, but the support offered by the didi rugby franchise network gave them the confidence they needed. From the beginning, our team provided thorough training, guiding them through every step of the business process—from marketing and session delivery to customer relations and financial management. They weren’t left to figure things out on their own, and that level of support reassured them they had made the right choice.

Hearing other franchisee stories—people just like them who had taken that leap and found immense personal and professional satisfaction—also helped alleviate their fears. Knowing they had a network of fellow franchisees to lean on for advice and support made all the difference.

Transforming Their Career and Lifestyle

Running their own didi rugby franchise has been an incredible journey for them. Not only have they gained the freedom to structure their work around their personal life, but they have also built strong relationships with the children and families in their community. Watching children grow in confidence, develop new skills, and make friends through rugby has been one of the most rewarding experiences of their life.

The benefits aren’t just limited to the children. As a franchisee, they have grown immensely both personally and professionally. They’ve developed new skills in leadership, marketing, and business management that they never imagined mastering. Running a franchise has given them a sense of ownership and purpose that their previous career didn’t provide.

On a personal level, the flexibility of being their own boss has been life-changing. They can balance work with family commitments, pursue hobbies, and take time off when needed. This freedom has brought them a level of fulfilment they hadn’t previously experienced.

Best Moments: Seeing the Impact on Families

One of their most memorable moments as a didi rugby franchisee was when a parent approached them after a session to share how much didi rugby had changed their child’s attitude towards sport. The child, who had always been shy and hesitant in group activities, had blossomed into a confident, eager participant. Hearing how didi rugby made a real difference in that child’s life was incredibly touching—it was a reminder of why they chose this path.

This is just one of many success stories. Every day, our franchisees see children come out of their shells, make friends, and develop not only physical skills but also essential life skills like teamwork, communication, and resilience. Knowing that they are part of this positive change keeps them passionate about what they do.

Advice to Potential Franchisees

For those considering becoming a didi rugby franchisee, their advice is simple: take the leap. The support, training, and sense of community within the didi rugby network are second to none, and the personal and professional rewards are invaluable. This is not just a business opportunity—it is a chance to make a real difference in children’s lives and build something meaningful.

Becoming a didi rugby franchisee has given them more than just a new career. It has given them a purpose, a lifestyle, and a network of like-minded individuals who share their passion for sport and child development. If you are looking for a way to combine your love for rugby with a rewarding business opportunity, didi rugby might be the perfect fit for you too.

Final Thoughts

The journey with didi rugby has provided them with a unique platform to contribute to the local community, grow as a business owner, and achieve the flexibility and fulfillment they had always been searching for. If you are ready to transform your career and life, just like they did, didi rugby is the opportunity waiting for you.

Learn More About Becoming a Franchisee

If you are interested in joining the didi rugby family and becoming a franchisee, find out more about the opportunities we offer and how you can make a difference in your community.

Part 4 – The Covid Battle

 

Its seems like quite a distant memory now, but as soon as I started looking back, the reality of life in that moment came flooding back..

The first memories of Italy and how bad the situation was over there was my first memory regarding didi rugby as reality hadn’t hit England but our Italian didi rugby pilot in Italy told us that classes were to stop and there was no way they could keep running them as the country was going into “lockdown” ! I think that was the first of many times that phrase was to be voiced and heard!  I remember seeing the footage of Italian hospitals and the overwhelm of the situation.. 3 weeks later covid hit us.. like a tonne of bricks! Lockdown number  1 … within 24 hours Denise (my mum and business mentor and co-worker ) has got us set up for online delivery.. it they couldn’t bring their little ones to class then we would bring didi rugby to their lounges, kitchens, gardens etc. The HQ team pulled together and got creative..  we were rolling up socks to create pretend balls.. using saucepans and washing baskets as goals, teddies as obstacles and part of our games… we became the “Joe Wicks” of didi rugby and all our coaches were delivering to the children in their classes .. I ran plenty of classes for children to log onto… and lots did!

The other massive memory for me was all the amazing work of my good friend and didi rugby ambassador Heather Fisher who delivered skills and story-time at 6:30 every week day evening over the two months … we posted children’s books to her home address and she would do some little skills with a ball or a rolled up pair of socks and lots of energy.. followed by a bedtime story. Sooo many children and their parents watched and got involved!  I will always be super grateful for Heather and the time she gave to support little ones and their families who were locked in at home  – offering everyone a glimmer of hope and support, and something exciting to get involved in and be a part of!

We also raised money for the NHS by holding live auctions of Heather’s Olympic kit she donated raising over £1000 👏👏

Other ambassadors jumped on board to make a difference – individual messages / videos of support… the likes of Nolli Waterman, Jodie Ounsley (Fury from the new Gladiators TV show  ) Mo Hunt to name a few! The fact that these great role models were putting the effort in to help all of us to deliver some good messaging was just phenomenal .. and shows the values and reputation of the country!

A lovely vision  for me was the James family from Hinckley, Leicestershire, Luke, Jo, Evie and Jack all taking part together in their driveway whilst I was delivering virtually.. playing games, laughing and joking with each other and getting fitter and  more skilful together as a family!

As we slowly came out of lock down.. there were various stages to coming back to real live classes … we got very creative with working in their “magic box” when social distancing was critical, children were able to practice lots of individual skills, kicking, passing and catching to themselves..  listening to instructions and working on their individual fitness…

Great memories created bringing the didi rugby family together at a really difficult time…  it definitely brought us closer together as a group and we  feel we  made a big difference to families and their physical and  mental health.

Survive then thrive was our mantra! We said that right from the start and it really was our “go to” phrase, and we truly believed in it individually and collectively! It stood us in good stead , we just needed to dig deep and  stick together!!

I can confidently say we absolutely did survive and now we are thriving as a team of franchisees countrywide! Very proud of the resilience and drive everybody showed to succeed in the chaos of covid! 💪🏉❤️🔥

#didifamily #fun #confidence #activity

🏉❤️🙏

didi Franchising

Part 3 – Fun finding our founding franchisees ! 

 

Recruitment was soooo exciting, travelling the country to meet new and exciting prospects mainly from the rugby family network initially.. just good people that really wanted to build something special for themselves,  their families and/ or their communities . This was a way of making a difference by doing something amazing , that could also create an extra income for doing something that you really enjoy! The phrase “it’s a win, win!” was always in my vocabulary..

 

One of our founding franchisees Craig Hunter and his business partner Donna Clark were an awesome addition to the didi family.. I still remember my first meeting with Craig at Reading RFC – he was still employed in IT and super desperate to leave the industry, but just needed to make the extra income to start reducing hours … I could really see a lot of me in Craig.. his energy, enthusiasm and desire to be successful was definitely within him, and he just needed to believe in his dream and go get it! Fast forward 6 years, and didi rugby Reading is still going really strong at the heart of the Reading community. Craig, Donna and their team have made a huge difference to the lives of so many children , parents and coaches .. one particular child Tommy will always stick in my memory as a huge success story.. Tommy who suffers from hypermobility syndrome and he really thrived at didi rugby physically, emotionally and socially – and the benefits his Mum talked about for her and the family also was huge! We brought Tommys Mum onto our podcast and there was an article to have a read through also.. I really feel Tommys story underpins the why behind didi rugby and the culture and values that underpin everything we do and why we do it!

 

Read Tommys story here

 

More and more franchisees followed and I started to feel we were making a difference to many young children and their families , but also we had created this machine that allowed people to start up their own businesses with our support to actually change their lives for the better, make a difference to others, and gain an additional income, that for some then became their full time role!

 

Collaboration with the RFU on the early years strategy was brilliant! Great to be recognised as the only rugby provider to be invited along to consult and help provide the knowledge, advice and experience we had to support the strategy.. was nice to be working with some of the professionals that I had come across in my playing and coaching career to date – the paper was published and campaign launched, and another big win to ensure that we had set the bar nice and high with all providers.. as it should be with young children and their families!

 

Friends and team mates past and present were all championing what was now a recognised brand in the rugby world … so many of our franchisees came to the business via the rugby network.. hearing great things about the business and it’s core values .. what’s nice is we will always remain true to our values .. even when it’s not the best financial decision for us .. morally and ethically didi rugby always does the right thing and this is super important to me and the HQ team!

 

Ros Wiggins in the Stone and Stafford area, Keith Smith of Cheltenham, Susan Appleby-Jones in the Gloucester area came on board and the business was flying!

 

We had an ever growing list of didi rugby ambassadors in Sarah Hunter MBE, Emily Scarratt MBE, Manu Tuilagi, Graham Rowntree, Sam Vesty , Natasha Hunt, George Chuter, Rosemary Conley CBE to name a few… all these people truly believe in what we were doing.. none of them were giving financial reward, they were just happy to be a part of our didi family and to champion the work we were doing around the country for the children, their families and also the coaching experiences we had created !

 

Listen to the podcast here with Sarah Hunter

Alex Matthews was an ambassador that then became a franchise owner for the Worcester area , allowing her to run a business alongside her professional rugby playing career. There is so much cross over with sport and business and I have done lots of speaking in this field.. the key attributes to success are very similar across both. For me… drive , resilience and work ethic are the three key factors to running a successful business … this comes in abundance in a successful elite athlete who has represented their country!

 

We also managed to develop one of our coaches from assistant coach, to lead coach and then onto franchise owner . Jenny Burrows starting coaching for me in my local area, she assisted me initially but spotted her talent for coaching and managed to persuade her to take on her own classes . This quickly turned into huge enthusiasm and passion for didi rugby she wanted to take the next step. Jenny is now thriving with her didi rugby business which she runs along side her profession as an accountant!

 

By March 2020 we were a hugely successful franchise operation with 18 working franchises across the country – we had also piloted in Italy , New Zealand and Australia .. unfortunately as the World was about to shut down completely due to the Covid Pandemic – we were about to really test our spirit, resilience and resolve as a team – this is where we could really show our strength! 💪👌🏉

 

Watch out for Part 4 – The Covid Battle – to come!! 💪💪

🏉❤️🙏

didi Franchising

Part 2 – The growth was incredible! 🏉💪

The one class turned into two classes, then three classes very quickly with parents and children enjoying classes, and sharing this information with their friends! Children were having fun and parents were seeing the benefits of didi rugby first hand.. the younger children (didi minis 18 months-3 years) were tired and having naps after classes, they were developing their physical motor skills, like balance and coordination, but also their understanding of colours, numbers , concepts of play and socialising with their peers!

 

Our philosophy was, and still is that each child will come out of every session having had fun, gained some confidence, and been physically active! We ensure this happens by making sure that all our didi coaches follow our mantra PACE , VARIETY and CHALLENGE .. my 13 years in education as a PE teacher/ Head of Department and a School Sports Coordinator.. allowed me to streamline and decide what is crucially important to little ones and their parents.

 

didi rugby is what I consider a win win for all parties… and there are lots of them!

 

Parents – give their children a fabulous social and physical experience.. and they have a 40 minute slot where they are fully committed to playing/engaging with their children

 

Children – have fun!! Exercise which makes them feel good (endorphins being released in their brains) , and learning to play, share and engage with other little ones

 

Coaches – get paid to enjoy coaching, and feel a really sense of achievement seeing huge progress in little didi stars each session

 

Assistant Coaches – gain valuable experience and training towards being a Head Coach – didi creates the opportunity for coaches to reach their potential as well as the children

 

didi rugby Ambassadors – the opportunity to “give back” and inspire little ones with video messages and competition give always to encourage little ones to see them as real role models…

 

Very quickly our classes trebled in volume .. within a 5 mile radius .. we had 9 classes running within 6 months of starting the programme in Hinckley and Burbage . Working closely with Matt Cropp and Denise McCormack (my Mum) … the magic number was 30 classes and Ben and I went on a mission to bring didi rugby to every child we possibly could… our model has now extended from weekend classes to schools/nurseries and mid week classes across the county of Leicestershire .. we also started delivering birthday parties.. and within 1 year we hit the magic number of 30 classes (which included schools, nurseries and regular classes) … at this point – we revisited our plan .. can we lift this model and put it somewhere else in the country with the same success? The only way to find out was to pilot it and that’s what we did in Hertfordshire.. under the capable eyes of James Nolan – a former NZ representative junior player along with a great coaching background .. his postman role enabled him to start up and grow the business . He gave us the confidence and the confirmation that the model was viable – along with a lot of number crunching and expert advice our franchising model was born! Now it was to find our very own Franchise Manager in Sanchia Delacy.. a childhood friend of mine who had been closely monitoring our progress.. as a former car director of Franchisees in the corporate world she quickly turned her experience there into an incredible resource for didi rugby to start our franchising journey … and like they say the rest is History!

 

Martin Crowson – former leicester Tigers journalist for local paper – also came on board who has been following our story from its conception and his journalistic background and marketing experiences, gave us a brilliant social media presence and had a knack for sharing lovely stories of our didi rugby stars, parents and coaches and managed to capture our super family feel .

 

We were able to show successful businesses that were thriving with the didi rugby model at their fingertips… we had an amazing Head Quarters team in place and with the addition of our didi rugby Lawyer Andrew Forsythe and Leicestershire rugby referee… who gave us the legal support to ensure that we had the correct legal processes.. we were ready to Franchise!

 

It seems strange to put all that work and effort into a few paragraphs of text, but I know the blood, sweat and tears that went with this. The best successes came from realising mistakes and refining processes… every day was – and still is – a school day! The work from the whole team was phenomenal – from the Head of Franchising to our assistant coaches on the ground day to day  – I am so grateful to everyone who made sure that didi became the well oiled machine that it was … and at its heart was ensuring all children were having Fun , gaining Confidence and getting Active!

 

My next chapter was about to begin as I had left education as a Head of PE, and gone full time into didi rugby…. and now franchising of our model!  I kept up my elite coaching alongside this doing my level 4 RFU course to ensure that I kept my hand in the game at that level.  This was a really nice combination as the level 4 course was very much about strategic planning and process – leadership and management being huge in this… as well as going deep into  elite coaching and the philosophy around it.  My dissertation was on how culture and environment plays a key role optimising performance in elite sport.  The transferable skills from business to sport were so evident, so I really felt that I was developing Vicky the business woman alongside the elite sports coach… it was as always a WIN WIN!

🏉❤️🙏

didi Franchising