During the pandemic, sports clubs tried to maintain their level of members as best they could… But all were impacted by the virus. Are these clubs regaining their pre-Covid membership numbers? Paris-Normandie asked the question to six clubs in the region.
Lecture times:
6 min
“The unequietue comes mainly from the lack in the pool”
Philippe Briout, president of the Ligue Normandie nation : “Last season, in Normandy, we had 15,853 licensees, a number very close to that of 2019, which is encouraging. And this season was looking pretty good with some clubs already at the max of their capacity, like the Vikings in Rouen – which can expect 1,200 licensees this year –, those of Caen, Le Havre and Pont-Audemer. There is demand from the population, particularly for learning to swim.
Except that there is an energy crisis and a unilateral decision by a basin operator. In Granville, this penalizes two clubs. Other facilities have also revised their modes of operation. And we have a course in a swimming pool – notably 50 meters covered – which poses organizational problems. We had to cancel the Normandy Winter Championships in 2019 because of this. There is also a shortage of lifeguards, state certificates and club trainers; in Coutances, it generates additional difficulties. As for the volunteers, yes, like everyone else, we feel the demobilization but we still manage to find for specific needs. »
“Young people, women, leaders but a lack of referees”
Pierre Leresteux, president of the Normandy football league: “We had 111,000 members last season, one of the best. We will reach 11,500 this year. In the already noted an increase in registrations among young people (up to 18 years) and among women, of the order of 6% at both categories. And we also have new leaders, and new leaders, coming into the clubs. As for the so-called senior players, it is a little slow to come back but it is progressing. Then there will be the “World Cup” effect that we will feel in January. Where it is more complicated is on the side of the referees. It is becoming very difficult to find any and if we continue on this path, in a year or two, we will no longer be able to cover all the matches. Even if they are paid, it’s almost voluntary and it becomes complicated to mobilize people. Especially since the meetings are not always very secure and the referees are on the front line…”
“We feel a craze, especially for the leisure, adult and baby gym sections”
“Since the Covid, this is the first start of the season where there are so many people”, attests Jean-Emmanuel Gouy, administrative director of the Élan gymnique Rouennais. Before the health crisis, at club had around 1,000 members, but this number had dropped to 650 for the 2020-2021 season and 900 in 2021-2022. Or on September 8th, “We already had 600 members. We should therefore reach 1,000 or even exceed them”rejoices the administrative director. “In the feels a craze. Especially for the leisure, adult and baby gym sections. People want to resume physical activity and this year there is no sword of Damocles linked to the fact of wondering if the club will not have to close. »
And this dynamic can be observed at all gym clubs: “At the regional level, before the Covid, there were 25,000 licensees. They were 21,500 in 2021. We expect to reach 25,000 again”relève Jean-Emmanuel Gouy, also treasurer of the regional gymnastics committee.
“An important recovery” or handball
The handball rectifies the shot perfectly. “If people hesitated to resume a license in the 2021-2022 season, we are witnessing a major recovery for 2022-2023”, rejoices Anne-Marie Villeval, secretary of the handball club of Octeville-sur-Mer. And especially in children. The club has opened a second team for girls under 11. In total, there are a total of 249 licenses, HB Octeville and all reason to believe, there are 185 licenses on September 12th, and the statistics of the pass will be exceeded. A trend that is confirmed across the regional league.
“It clearly records an increase in registrations, confirmed by Nicolas Marais, president of the regional handball league. From 30,000 licenses in Normandy before the Covid crisis, in was to 21,500 licenses. At the end of last season, we finished at 26,500 licensees. More than half of the lost licenses had been taken back. And there, in this new school year, we should reach a number of licensees higher than the period before Covid. » The sign for the president of the regional league of an increased effort of the clubs on the actions carried out in the schools and during the holidays, the summer. On the other hand, the shortage of leaders can be a black spot for some clubs. “All like gym slots”, worries Nicolas Marais.
A good cruising rhythm for basketball
On the side of the basket, “Registrations had already picked up well last season”, indicated Boris Desjardins, president of the Dieppe club. The association, which counts each year between 180 and 200 licenciés, has organized open doors on Wednesday, September 7, 2022 and “more than 40 children came to discover our sport and/or our structure, so it’s very encouraging”. Among these young people, some will materialize by taking a license in the coming days. At the adult level, the club has already acquired new elements. “The rise of the women’s team in National 2 and the communication around it certainly have something to do with it”, underlines the president. What could be better than excellent results to promote the club and sport in general in a sector?
Judo, “an inexpensive discipline”
For judokas, the impact of inflation is not the primary concern. “Many financial aids are provided and judo, like the other disciplines of our federation, is not a very expensive sport. Membership fees and outfits are inexpensive. And the clubs do not make many and long trips, less costs for the families “details Jean Mesnildrey, president of the league of Normandy.
The Normandy league is targeting « 27-28 000 licenses » this season.
“Even if the financial aspect is not negligible, it is above all volunteering that is sufferingemphasized Didier Lefort, president of the judo club Pacy-Ménilles. We had 82 licensees last year. This week, 20 are registered, but this is only the beginning, families often miss the start of the school year. We had very good years, up to 200. But depending on the age group, young people leave the region to continue their studies and therefore the club”.
Video: how to resume sport at the start of the school year?
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