Every area of Sydney except Penrith and North Sydney has recorded dramatic falls in junior numbers compared to the previous season.
Despite celebrating a premiership, South Sydney’s registrations fell by 10 per cent and Canberra Raiders’ by 15 per cent.
Surprisingly, officials are not blaming publicity around Alex McKinnon’s horrific spinal injuries for the falls because numbers in the youngest age group with six- and seven-year-olds have held firm.
This is despite the fact the AFL is now promoting its own code in Sydney as a safer sport and has recorded an increase in junior participants throughout Sydney.
The board of the NSWRL recently committed funding for a study into issues relating to retention of junior players.
“Our larger issue concerns retention with a significant dropout rate at the age at which children go to high school,” NSWRL chief executive Dave Trodden said.
The study will determine the key reasons for participation and provide insights into participation and retention strategies.”
The report will be completed before Christmas to allow the NSWRL to act on the findings before junior registrations in February.
This is another case of the NRL failing in its 2013 strategic plan goals. According to the document: “Participation will have grown by three per cent by 2017”.
It’s the same with crowds which were predicted to grow an average attendance of 20,000 but have slumped to their lowest levels in more than a decade.
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