Like many combat and contact sports, the judo club has been idling since March 2020, the opportunity to take stock a few months before a new school year.
“Some clubs are in danger of disappearing“, was alarmed last March the first judo teacher of Teddy Riner, Alain Perriot, whose club, Paris Bolivar, lost 35% of licensees following the Covid-19 crisis. In Villars-les-Dombes, like everywhere else, judokas are doubly sanctioned, since health standards prohibit all contact. Florian Cabut, president of the Villard judo club since July 2020, took over the association in a very particular and difficult context: “We had to adapt, there was no other choice“.
Judo by videoconference
The judo club then set up a videoconference system for the youngest, thus making it possible to practice at a distance, “even if it’s not really judo“Deplores the president. As he underlines, the important thing was to maintain contact between the members and the club.”Despite the context, many played the game. I think that many clubs did not, but this initiative seems essential to me.“
The club finances the renewal of licenses
The judo club did not lose a member between 2019 and 2020. Thanks to the opening of a course in taïso, muscle strengthening, the Villard association was able to retain 87 members. Nevertheless, the coming back to school promises to be more difficult, as Emeline, treasurer of the club testifies: “We will not be able to innovate every year, but it is important to do our best for the survival of the association. Last year, we made the choice to support the renewal of licenses, up to 40 euros per member. This effort allowed us to ensure 59% re-enrollment. We will repeat this approach in September 2021 with the objective of raising awareness among our members and aiming for 75% re-registration. Faced with the fear of Covid-19, but also the fear of a new stoppage of competitions and sports practices, we know that memberships will be impacted, it is undeniable. We spoke at length with the surrounding sports associations and the situation is always the same concerning combat sports. We don’t feel supported enough“.
A difficult economic situation
If the association was able to count on a suitable cash flow to keep its head above water during the crisis, Florian Cabut assures that it will not be necessary “undergo this kind of situation again“. In fact, even if the Christmas raffle brought revenue back to the club, the economic situation remains difficult for many associations.”We exchange a lot with the children, and we hope that our financial support will decide the parents to re-enroll them for next year. This crisis, so particular, teaches us to reinvent ourselves every day, and I am convinced today that we will have to revitalize the club and its activities. We can no longer live on our achievements, but we must plan to raise our heads.“
