Efforts to stem the decline of participation in boys’ hockey in Munster have begun to bear fruit with the Irish Hockey Association reporting an 8% increase in the numbers of male players under the age of 16 in the province this season.
Alex Burns in action for Munster at the U16 interpros. There has been an 8% increase in the number of U16 boys playing the game in the province. Picture: Adrian Boehm
Although these figures also include two boys’ clubs in Connacht – as they play in Munster leagues – the news that there are now 440 U16 male players is welcome as the figures recover from a drop-off of 13% the previous season.
An 8% growth was also recorded in girls numbers, with the number of U16 female players now just below 2,000.
By comparison, however, boys’ numbers in Leinster are up 13% to 1,028, with the girls’ figures showing a 14% increase.
In his report on 2011 in Munster and Connacht, the IHA’s western regional development officer Phil Oakley said much of the growth has come on the back of targeted programmes such as Tricks 4 Sticks and club-school link taster sessions for boys.
“Whilst many of the girls clubs within the province are close to capacity, there is still significant potential for new boys to join clubs and much of the focus of development activity will continue to be directed toward boys’ hockey during 2012,” Oakley said.
“The Western RDO was given a target of 10% increase in the boys’ game for this year, with 6 of 10 clubs showing increases, 2 remaining static and 2 clubs showing a decrease in their numbers. Targeted taster sessions are currently being scheduled with these clubs in local primary schools to address the shortfall in these clubs.”
The news comes just over a year after a think-in was held in Mallow outlining the problems facing boys hockey in Munster, and ahead of a planned ‘Taste of Hockey’ session in Cork later this month, a one-day initiative at the Mardyke on February 22nd.
Driven by the Munster Branch of the IHA (MBIHA) with the IHA WRDO’s help, it will see UCC hockey scholarships students introduce some 300 schoolboys from the third and fourth classes of five city primary schools to the game on February 22.
Further key indicators reveal that the state of the game in Munster is relatively static with room for improvement.
There are still just five schools playing boys hockey in Munster, albeit with work currently being undertaken to support a school in Limerick joining the Munster Branch. Girls’ schools in Munster have seen an increase from 30 playing schools to 31.
Senior women’s club teams have declined from 50 to 48 this season, while the men’s are down from 26 to 23, though that figure his since risen to 24 with UCC introducing a fourth team last month.
“The strategy with regard to building adult figures has always been to build from the ground up, which is why there is an emphasis on the youth side of the sport,” explained Oakley.
IHA western regional development officer Phil Oakley: Drop-off from U12 to U14 is one of major issues.
“Although there is a decrease in the ladies figures in 2011/2012, there has been growth in the women’s club game between 2008 and 2011. With the growth of the girls’ game, it is expected that the figures will bounce back in the future.
“The same approach is being taken in relation to the men’s game. The major positive of this year has been an increase in the number of boys playing club hockey. Although there will be a time lag in terms of knock on effect for the men’s game, this is expected to bolster the numbers.”
In real terms, for every senior female player in Munster and Connacht, there are 3.4 underage players, whilst on the men’s side that figure is 1.4 players. Much of Oakley’s focus will continue to be on the boys’ game in 2012, with March’s men’s Olympic qualification tournament seen as a significant opportunity to promote the sport.
There are plans to increase the number of clubs running boys’ taster sessions in their local primary schools, with an aim for a 5% increase in club numbers for 2012.
“One of the major issues within the boys’ game is a drop off from U12 to U14 and (I) have been working with the Munster Branch to create boys’ U14 development squads both to support the retention of players in the sport, but also as a tool to educate coaches to improve the quality of coaching within clubs,” added Oakley.
“Along with this, it is planned to increase the number of competitive opportunities for underage players to play more games in both schools and clubs, as this will also aid retention of players.”
Tricks 4 Sticks will continue to target certain areas on the girls’ side of the sport, “especially where new clubs can be formed or existing clubs are looking to increase their numbers”. It is planned to introduce at least one new girls’ underage club in 2012.
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