Oz Rugby participation numbers

[p.Tah]

JON on participation numbers in 2011:

"We have just completed the annual census for calculating rugby," O'Neill said. "Overall, the player participation numbers show a significant 25.1 per cent increase nationwide, with a total of 261,437 players.

"This represents the largest increase in player participation in the history of our game. In the 15 years since the game turned professional national player participation has risen from just under 100,000 to over 260,000 participants." From an article by Jamie Pandaram. The Daily Telegraph Dec 30, 2011

We are always lamenting that not enough is done at grassroot level by the ARU, but on a positive note, at least the figures are heading in the right direction... but I wonder what "participation" means...

 

[Schadenfreude]

25 percent in one year is staggering.

 

[FiveStarStu]

I wonder how big the increase is in Victoria.

Some clubs were overwhelmed this year, so much so that the competition is extending in 2012.

 

[happyjack]

http://www.rugby.com.au/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=kE4KFqngC9w=&tabid=1684
Page 32 of the ARU Annual Report outlines historical numbers from 2005 - 2010. The increases are not actually in people playing competitive, regular Rugby but are in school kids undertaking one-off gala days such as Walla Rugby Week and Try 7s.
These programs are a response to the AFLs AusKick which is not about participation but making sure kids are aware of the game for TV ratings. The large numbers also keep the bureaucrats at the Australian Sports Commission happy too.
Good to see the comments from Victoria but we would expect participation to increase with the investment of a new team and regular elite competition exposure.
The catch cry "grow the game" is a noble one but the application of resources and measures need to be clearly stated.
I think we have enough generic players by quantity, what we need is to grow the quality of pools of players at different levels such as the Toyota Cup has done for Rugby League in the 18-20 year old market.

 

[Melbourne Terrace]

Was thinking it was Andrew Demetriou style numbers, get a free ball from the AFL and all of a sudden you play aussie rules. i would be highly surprised if we had any more than 115 000 REGISTERED participants. Trying to get on the ABS numbers as they are generally fairly reliable but the bastard link won't load.

 

[p.Tah]

46,000 kids participated in Walla week this year and 12,000 were involved in Try Sevens in QLD. I assume these are included in the overall participation numbers.

http://www.rugby.com.au/tryrugby/News/NewsArticle/tabid/1760/ArticleID/5046/Default.aspx

http://www.redsrugby.com.au/GrassrootsRugby/Schools/TrySevens.aspx

Even though the numbers JON quotes are not all playing the game regularly, at least more kids are being exposed to the game.

 

[Hugh Jarse]

The 2014 ARU Annual Report says this about participation numbers:
http://www.rugby.com.au/annualreport/2014/

Australian Rugby's Participation Census defines two categories of Rugby Participants:

Competition: Playing Rugby/participating in an organised competition/tournament/structured
program at least five times over the Census year.

Promotional - Playing Rugby/participating in a competition/tournament/program less than five
times over the Census year.

A player can be a "participant" more than once in any year e.g. a 15-a-side dub and school player who also plays in a Rugby Sevens competition in the summer, would be considered a participant three times.

Apparently the 2014 Annual Participation Census was conducted under this revised methodology in order to come in line with other major sports.

If a person may be a "participant" more then once, is it possible that they can also participate in both Competition and Promotional categories over the census period?
A player may play 8 School games, 10 Club games, 1 School 10's carnival, 2 Club 7s tournament, attend a <Sponsors name> school holiday camp, and attend a Waratah fan fun day.

How many times would that one player be considered a Competition Participant, and a Promotional Participant under the revised methodology of counting?
Competition - 2 times - School Participant, Club Participant
Promotional - 4 times - < 5 Club 7s, 1 School 10 carnival, 1 Sponsors Holiday camp, 1 Waratah Fun day.