Munster’s men’s hockey clubs were last night advised to show their own initiative to help reverse the decline in numbers playing the sport at all levels.
Irish Hockey Association western regional development officer Phil Oakley outlined the stark reality facing the sport in the province during the Munster Men’s Hockey Forum held in the Hibernian Hotel, Mallow.
Almost all men’s clubs and schools in Munster were represented at the meeting, which was chaired by IHA president Herbie Sharman and attended by the association’s national development officer Fiona Mills, high performance director David Passmore and chairman Dennis Millar.
Figures show an obvious decline in the numbers of boys playing the sport, with a particularly worrying drop-off between the U10 and U12 age groups.
Munster Boys Hockey Playing Numbers
| Year | Total Players (U8 - U14) | U10 | U12 | U14 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008/09 | 399 | 197 | 110 | 92 |
| 2009/10 | 386 | 175 | 129 | 82 |
| 2010/11 | 337 | 167 | 92 | 78 |
It is estimated that there are currently 330 senior men’s players in Munster, spread across 10 clubs and 26 teams.
In 2009/10, there were 1.15 boys per senior male player, compared to a far more favourable 2.75 girls per senior female player, though the ratio is now closer to 1:1 (337:330).
Oakley outlined the various ventures undertaken by the IHA to increase and retain the numbers of participants in the sport, but warned that initial breakthroughs were not being followed up by clubs.
He said that while the Tricks 4 Sticks schools programme – which incorporates sessions aimed at capturing the interest of primary school children who are complete beginners – had introduced more than 350 boys to the game in areas where there are existing local clubs, there was evidence that clubs had failed to actively attempt to recruit these potential new players.
Falling numbers at underage level is a serious worry for the boys and men's game in Munster. Picture: Adrian Boehm
While stressing the IHA’s ongoing desire to assist clubs in raising their boys’ numbers, Oakley added that buy-in from clubs was necessary to ensure the process was mutually beneficial.
“The Tricks 4 Sticks sessions were designed to capture boys’ interest, but there was little to no follow-up from the clubs to get players in,” he said. “It was a failure on the boys’ side of things; clubs just didn’t grasp it.”
Regarding secondary schools, Oakley said Catholic Institute were forging a new link with Crescent College Comprehensive, and that boys hockey has been introduced to Coláiste Choilm in Ballincollig. He added that UCC are bringing in 10-15 adult beginners to the sport annually.
An investment of €20,000 has been made in underage hockey in Munster since 2007, though Fiona Mills stressed that available IHA funds are decreasing due to a variety of economic reasons, and that the body is “cautious to invest in the right places, to get maximum benefit”.
Attendees at the forum were split into four working groups, to alternately debate the problems and solutions surrounding the player recruitment and retention, before sharing their suggestions.
A myriad of issues were predictably aired, with a number of recommendations made to remedy the problems in the short, medium and longer terms. The keynote suggestions, as made by the groups, are included in no particular order below.
*Well-publicised club open days, including exhibition games, to be held at the start and end of every season, with the aim of encouraging existing club members to bring along friends to try a new sport.
*Implementation of a taskforce with representatives from branch, clubs and schools. This would endeavour to improve links and relations between clubs and schools in particular. It would also examine Munster’s approach to the U16 and U18 interpros and the possible implementation of an U14 academy structure, with emphasis on development of all willing participants as well as elite players.
*Amendment of age group bands in response to trend of children entering secondary school at an older age. Suggestions included switching to an “odd-year” structure (U13, U15, U17, U19 etc) and adopting the Leinster structure of 1st/2nd year and 3rd/4th year teams.
*Standardisation of coaching across the province to ensure all children are using the same basic drills.
As well as continuing to produce Irish internationals, there is a desire in Munster to increase the playing opportunities for all underage players. Picture: Adrian Boehm
*Establish youth sections in every club with increased authority, or perhaps the same levels of authority as the adult section.
*An amalgamated club and school league at U15/U16 level to keep underage teams together during the crucial “mid-teen drop-out” period which affects all sports, and prevent premature introduction of players to senior club hockey.
*Subsequently promote teenagers to senior club teams in groups of 3 or 4 rather than as individuals, to keep them playing with their peers and maintain interest.
*Bring underage internationals to sessions in new schools to give potential new players a familiar face of the same age if and when they go to join a new club.
*Make clubs more accountable for Tricks 4 Sticks programme, by appointing specific liasion officers in each club to follow up.
*Introduce a “buddy club” or twinning programme where clubs are paired with an equivalent in Leinster or Ulster to foster interest and friendships outside local area.
*Specifically target primary schools in Carrigaline, a potentially rich catchment area for Quins and C of I.
*Increase the number of blitzes and match opportunities for U10 and U12 age groups in particular.
*Introduce incentives for parents of existing and new players to involve themselves in volunteer aspect of their child’s sport.
*A “schools package”, including a DVD to show off top-level hockey, spectacular goals and skills etc, to help pique interest.
The various decision-makers at club, school, branch and national level are now primed with the task of making a tangible reality out of such ideas as a going concern.
Oakley, Sharman and Passmore all stressed the need to ensure positive action on the back of the forum, and not let the ideas and suggestions “go cold”.
Disclaimer (of sorts): As an active participant in the forum, Southern Fried was not attending in a strictly journalistic sense. If anyone’s suggestions have been misrepresented or omitted, it is entirely accidental – please feel free to add your own (within reason!) in the comments section below.
I think that hockey blitzes are the way forward. They have
been used in Ulster effectively for over 10 years between primary
schools, youth sections of clubs, and the Regional Development
Squad (RDS) (now Technical Development Squad – TDS). The best way
to build on these blitzes would be to hold tournaments like
Lisnagarvey hosted at the end of last season where several Under
~15 Ulster teams, and Mount Anville and Corinthians joined in.
Obviously inviting Munster teams would require more organisation to
events in Ulster due to the distance being travelled – but I’m sure
parents would be willing to help out coaches in that
regard.
Posted by player | January 11, 2011, 10:32 amI think setting up a buddy system with clubs in Dublin is an excellent idea – our kids are getting a bit bored playing the same Munster teams in each blitz – however I would do it with slight variation..
From Limerick perspective – would buddy up Cath Inst & LHC to twin with 2 clubs in Dublin – so they could have blitzs between the four clubs on the one day… couple of blitzs a season, one in Limerick, one in Dublin… clubs could share cars/buses when travelling… Cork clubs could do the same..
Would need help from Phil or Dave P to set this up but excellent suggestion..
Posted by Underage coach - Limk | January 11, 2011, 4:02 pmAlan,
I have just been reading this article through the Southern Fried Facebook page. I read at the end of the article about setting up youth structures in all the clubs. This year at Garvey we set up a youth academy. This was put in place to develop the elite players at the club. The youth academy is run every second week by myself and another coaching member at the club. It is designed to help these elite players to make the next step to Ulster and Ireland. The ages vary from 12-16 years of age and it is for girls and boys.
The first week we ran this we did different types of hockey drills and we scored all the kids to see their strengths and weaknesses.We also brought in some of the mens xi to demonstrate different types of skills. The academy has really helped us at Garvey and it has also benefited the kids.
On another note I would be keen to take the Garvey underage team to play some matches in Cork at the end of the season. The kids would love to get a trip away and it would be good to play different teams outside of Ulster. If anyone is interested Alan has my email. Give me a shout and we could get something organised maybe even a tournament one like Three Rock hold but in Cork. Just an idea. Cheers. Lynchy
Posted by Jason Lynch- Lisnagarvey Hockey Club | January 11, 2011, 6:18 pmJust had an idea why not have an all Ireland youth club competition. Exactly like the all Ireland schools but maybe at u-15 and u-17 level. You would also give clubs who are not as strong game time in the provincial tournament.
Posted by Anon | January 12, 2011, 6:46 pmI think the best way to get players is to recruit through friends of those in the existing junior section.
One way of doing this is to get the club to enter their existing players into a schools tournament and ask them to ask their friends in the school to make up the numbers so that they can compete as a school. Often it is better to spread the word through people their own age.
Posted by anon | January 12, 2011, 11:52 pmIts a shame but I think hockey will never recover as it is very expensive to play in comparison to other sports. Along with the pitches being so expensive to build and maintain the sport will struggle to keep going. I hope I am wrong.
AS a parent I would not encourage my child to play the game any more, kit, sticks, insurance, paying for injuries, travel etc it is no brainer to play another sport or just not play sport.
Posted by anon | January 13, 2011, 6:28 pmI’ve played soccer all my life up until the last 2 years and I can tell you i’ve definitely spent more on that. Subs in other sports i’ve played have always been higher. The kit of any contact sport is always gonna be around the same and i’d argue on average sticks are cheaper and last longer than football boots. As for injuries from personal experience i’ve suffered them playing soccer, rugby, cricket and hockey. I wouldn’t say its limited to hockey like.
Definitely don’t agree its an outrageously expensive sport.
Posted by To be fair.. | January 14, 2011, 2:25 pmhockey needs to keep going in the future as it’s one of the only sports played worldwide, people looking to work abroad can therefore take advantage of a club abroad and play for them aswell as working. No other sport can offer this advantage and hockey is massive in foreign countries and for some their main sport. We need to raise the profile in Ireland more and make it a popular sport.
Posted by Anon | January 15, 2011, 5:48 pmI am sorry but is still feel it is an expensive sport with the cost of an away fixture in Limerick prohibitive in the past but nearly impossible now. The centralisation plan on the ladies side has damage the sport in many peoples eyes.
The number of people wanting to get involved is getting smaller and smaller, the rules the hurdles you jump through, are mushrooming.
Control of everything comes from Dublin, and that does not sit well with people on the ground.
This may not be what others have found but it is what I have and the volunteers are walking away from the sport.
Posted by anon | January 16, 2011, 10:49 amI really don’t understand why we are faced with this decline. Hockey has great facilities now and the game is much faster and more appealing than it was previously. Any child can now go online and see hockey played at the top level unlike my own experience, the only time I saw the sport played was in school.
I agree that the centralisation plan might appear negative from the ladies point of view. But centralisation is common in many sports. Look at Grainne Murphy she had to move to Limerick to get the coaching she needed. If you want to compete at the top level sacrifices have to be made.
How is a trip to limerick prohibitively expensive? If cars are full than the cost in petrol can’t be more than €5 per person. Any other expensive is optional.
Many sports are facing a decline in volunteers, it’s not just hockey. There is no point putting the head in the sand but coming on here moaning without suggesting any ideas for improvement is not helping.
Posted by anon | January 17, 2011, 12:18 pmThanks to everyone for participating at the forum. So far the feedback has been positive and many of the clubs are moving on some of the initiatives that were proposed.
It would be great if we could use this section of the blog to continue to generate positive ideas around what has been reported here, rather than point out the negative aspects that exist within hockey (as there are in all sports) – at this stage I think everyone has a good grasp of the problems, so it’s how we go about addressing them that is important and sorting out the drop off at underage level across the sport is a priority.
Please feel free to contact me if you would like some more information or would like to give us some feedback or ideas – phil.oakley@hockey.ie
Thanks.
Posted by Phil Oakley | January 17, 2011, 3:15 pmI think we have gone off the point here. How can centralisation be affecting the loss in numbers on the boys side which is what I believe the forum was set up to discuss?……most of our men’s international team are playing abroad playing professionally. If I was a young player I would see the chance to apply my sport/passion, travel the world and make money from it very attractive indeed and something I would aspire to.
Even if the men had centralised as well would that be a reason for a young player to giving up playing the sport…..of course not as it offers them a chance to go and train in a professional set up and aspire towards a dream. All elite sport requires sacrifice like Grainne Murphy as pointed out. The IHA can be criticised for many things but I think we are getting our wires crossed here if we think this has caused a decline in boys playing numbers.
Perhaps we need to focus on what makes kids play and enjoy sport. We need to make the game more attractive through innovative and fun coaching with plenty of opportunities to play in games/blitzs (don’t have to have a winner)!! Clubs need to be more proactive in working with schools, clubs with other clubs to provide these opportunities. Finally we need to stop using this forum to make the game look unappealling to all those young people and their parents who no doubt read it!! Hockey is a great game, Munster is a great province. Let’s work together to get things going again. If people put as much energy into their club/school as many do into this blog then that would be a good start!
Posted by Eh? | January 17, 2011, 5:33 pmHaving been brought up in the UK where mens hockey is in the main only paid at private schools, the issue in Munster is not that different. We have to attract into the senior game those who do get the opportunity to play the game at school to maintain an interest in playing the game after school, and to attract new players who do not go the hockey playing schools. Having played at school I was attracted to stay in involved through playing at club level with adults whilst at school, at college and then for a club. The first club I played with was full of those who had played at school or whose parents had introduced them. The second club was full of young people who had been introduced to hockey through sport in the community schemes supported by local councils and Sports Development programmes but then followed up by volunteers in the club itself. The last first team I played in had 9 out of the starting 11 who lived within 1 mile of the ground (a large local authorty estate) all of whom had attended those sports programmes 5-8 years earlier.
There are positives in Munster with boys hockey again starting in Waterford with boys coming to it from traditional GAA schools. If mens hockey is to restart in outposts like Waterford, where mens sections have closed, it has to be based on long term sustainable investment by both volunteers and the IHA. As well as under age events like the successful blitzes it would be good to have other opportunities for young people to participate in competitive hockey. In the UK we had the Badgers leagues where clubs had a team that had upto 4 adults and 7 young people aged 12-16 in each side in a structured league. The competition had specific rules to limit the amount of contact but was extremely popular with the young people and clubs alike.This could help clubs sustain a third or second active team or in places like Waterford help reactivate a mens section. Before we look at the barriers we need to look at ourselves and globally for potential solutions rather than the IHA in Dublin.
Posted by Alistair | January 18, 2011, 5:16 pm