Scottish Rugby Student & Adult Participation. December Glasgow University v Edinburgh University

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1 Glasgow University v Edinburgh University Scottish Rugby Student & Adult Participation December 2014 Leadership. Enjoyment. Achievement. Engagement. Respect

2 Student & Adult Participation Scottish rugby, working alongside the wider rugby community in Scotland, has done a good job in recent years in growing the number of youth players. In Scotland we currently have more than twice the number of youth than adult players approximately 36,000 youths to 16,000 adults. While it is good to have high youth numbers it is clear that we need to improve player retention. The graph below shows the drop-off in players is at its most acute in the transition from under-18 to adult rugby. Around 3000 seventeen year olds played rugby last season yet only just over 1500 progressed to play senior rugby this year that s a drop of almost 50% Registered Player Numbers Player Numbers U10 U11 U12 U13 U14 U15 U16 U17 U18 U19 U20 Age Grade Scottish Rugby Player Audit 2013/14 Our biggest challenge one that faces other sports and the other home nations rugby unions as demonstrated in the graph below from Ireland is to hold on to those who have played rugby during their school years (whether at school or club) and see them continue in adult rugby. % of people participating Participation Patterns of Young Adults in Ireland Rugby Soccer Gaelic Football Hurling Age Dr P. Lunn (Economic and Social Research Institute) at the 4 Nations Conference on Participation and Engagement of the age group. May Leadership. Enjoyment. Achievement. Engagement. Respect

3 One vital area for us to address this decline and transform player retention, is in Scotland s student population. Our universities and colleges are among the foremost academic and research institutions in the world and more than 60% of school leavers in Scotland are bound for them. The most recent figures from the representative bodies of Scotland s Colleges and Universities indicate that we have 214,000 students within the 19 institutions that comprise Universities Scotland. Then we have a further 230,000 students within the 16 colleges that comprise Colleges Scotland. That s 444,000 students, male and female, many of whom have already enjoyed rugby, some of whom would be favourably disposed to resume participation but, at present, don t. Why? It can be as simple as the journey from carefree teenage years to the responsibilities of adult life. You leave school, move house, have to knuckle down to your studies or have to start work. You may want to play but your pals have left home or gone to a different university. Where are you going to find the time? And, besides, there s the pub, the student union, the night club a host of choices. This period of change is usually the biggest period of transition in a person s life. Our task is to retain players as they move from youth to adult. If we improved our retention of youth players by just 5% that could see 150 more players stay in the adult game. Sustain that for ten years and, even assuming subsequent normal drop off, that s 1,200 more adult players. Research informs us that young people don t lose their affinity and enjoyment of rugby it is the major changes in their lives that affects their sports and rugby participation. We have to recognise these changes as well as the greater independence and choices open to them, and provide rugby opportunities that fit into this transition period in a young person s life. Keep players aged connected to rugby and they are more likely to stay involved into their 30s. This is achievable. It can be done. How can we work together to improve the retention of young people in our game? Scottish rugby will continue to work closely with partners such as universities, colleges, Scottish Student Sport and our clubs to improve the retention of players, particularly young adults. We have identified the following four priority areas to focus on as we go forward: 1. Students - We will continue to work closely with universities, colleges and Scottish Student Sport to widen the access to rugby to all students in Scotland. 2. Data - We will gather data to better understand the needs of players and use this to better communicate to target groups as well as to develop initiatives and playing opportunities that meets their needs. 3. Participation - We will maintain and extend existing adult player numbers by working with clubs to develop more convenient forms of participation. This will also attract new involvement and re-ignite the rugby flame for those who have been involved before. 4. Transition - We will support clubs to retain players through transition periods such from school and youth club rugby to adult rugby. 3 Leadership. Enjoyment. Achievement. Engagement. Respect

4 Action area Initiatives 1 Students Coordinate a series of student events to cater for new teams and new participants e.g. freshers teams, intra mural etc. Support the appointment of Student Rugby Development Coordinators Resource support for established university rugby clubs Guidance, support and succession planning for students who run rugby clubs 2 Data Survey existing players on the motives for participation and aspects that attract or deter them Track players leaving school and/or graduating to adult rugby through a leavers questionnaire Create secure database of transitioning players Signpost playing opportunities to individual players Share relevant information with approved individuals who provide rugby 3 Participation Create playing opportunities for more social orientated players that meet society changes and players needs Trial participation centres which offer activities that can prepare and progress individuals to contact rugby 4 Transition Provide clubs with guidance, support and tools to retain and attract players particularly through the transition period of U18 to adult rugby e.g. transition roles, under 20 teams etc. Promote the benefits of continued participation to transitioning players For further information, or to get involved in helping to develop this area, please contact: Darren Burns Student & Adult Participation Manager, Scottish Rugby darren.burns@sru.org.uk David O Hagan Student & Adult Participation Officer, Scottish Rugby david.o hagan@sru.org.uk 4 Leadership. Enjoyment. Achievement. Engagement. Respect

5 SCOTTISH RUGBY BT MURRAYFIELD EDINBURGH EH12 5PJ scottishrugby.org

Scottish Rugby Club Player Survey

Scottish Rugby Men s Player Survey 2015 / 2016 2 Scottish Rugby Club Player Survey Contents Executive Summary 5 1. Introduction 6-8 Society Changes Unfulfilled Fixtures Player Retention Understanding the