Cork Athletics Year-End Registration Figures - December 2020

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Cork Athletics Registration Figures for Year Ending December 31st 2020

Cork Athletics Registrations 2010 - 2020

December end-of-month registrations for Cork Athletics stand at 6,919, a fall of 1,308 (15.9%) registrations compared to the 2019 year-end figure of 8,455. Following over a decade of continuous membership growth, a fall in registrations is to be expected, given the Covid pandemic.  

Indeed, the drop, just under 16%, might be considered to be less than might have been expected in the circumstances, however, given that most registrations occur in the first three months, and that the first lockdown, and suspension of competition, did not occur until mid-March, we are definitely not seeing the full-year effects of Covid on Registrations.

2021 registrations are likely to be slow in take-up, at least initially, until things have settled down after roll-out of the vaccines, and reopening of competition.

In spite of all that this year has thrown up, twelve clubs actuallu increased their registered membership, by a combined total of 138 members, from 1090 to 1229, just under 13%. A further fourteen clubs either maintained their membership numbers, or dropped ten (10) or less members.

At the other end, four clubs dropped a combined total of 439 members, falling from a total of 1320 to 851, a drop of just over 35%

Club Reopening Strategy?

Given that more people than ever have been exercising and running during the pandemic, one would hope that clubs will get a 'bounce' in membership and membership enquiries - time will tell.

NOW is the time that clubs should be asking themselves if they are set up to accept an influx in membership.  Do you have sufficient coaches, mentors and officials?   Have they completed Child Protection Training?  Have any, for whatever reason, dropped out of the sport, so that your club will need to fill their place?  ....just some of the things you may need tio think about.

Closed to New Members??

If your club is unable to accept new members, please DON'T just tell prospective members "We are full, ask again next year!"  If you genuinely can't take new members, please refer them to the 'club down the road' - it might kill you to do so, but it will help the sport.  Also if you can't accept them, ask yourself Why Not? Is it a capacity problem? Is it a problem with a shortage of coaches?  Whatever your constraint is, it may be worth talking to Grace Lynch, Athletics Ireland's Munster RDO
 

Fifty five clubs were registered during 2020 - one club registered in 2019 did not renew their club membership, or register any members during 2020.

National Standings

Athletics Ireland are likely to issue the December end-of-month National registration figures in the coming days. Standing of Cork clubs in the various Top 50 National standings will then be added to this page

Overall Registrations as at December 31st 2020

27 Largest Clubs, by Total Registered Members

Leevale AC and Bandon AC head the table, both clubs exceeding the 600 mark, leading the other clubs by a significant distance. Five clubs: Togher AC, Ballymore Cobh AC, Midleton AC, Youghal AC and North Cork AC all have over 300 registered members.

A total of sixeen (16) clubs have over 200 registrations, while a further twelve (12) clubs have now exceeded 100 registered members, making a total of 28 clubs with 100 or more registered members.

 Remaining 28 Clubs, by Total Registered Members

Total Registrations for Cork Clubs December 31st 2020

Juvenile/Junior Registrations as at December 30th 2020

 Leading Cork Juvenile Clubs

Bandon AC, on 386, lead the table ahead of Leevale AC, on 309, with Belgooly AC on 220.

Adult (Senior/Masters) Registrations as at December 31st 2020

 Top 28 Adult Registrations by Club - December 31st 2018

Mallow AC have almost 50% more Registered Seniors & Masters than nearest rivals, Leevale AC, with Togher AC head Eagle AC, while Midleton AC are just one registration ahead of Ballymore-Cobh AC.

Next 28 Adult Registrations by Club - December 31st 2020

Senior Registrations as at December 31st 2020

Senior Registrations - December 31st 2020

Leevale AC remain a distance ahead of all others at the head of the Senior table, with 85 Seniors. Doneraile AC are in second place, with 49 Senior members, behind Leevale AC. Togher AC come next, with with 45, followed by Bandon AC (34) and Mallow AC (29)

Masters Registrations as at December 31st 2020

Top 28 Masters Registrations by Club - December 31st 2020

Mallow AC are well ahead of the rest of the field, with 238 Masters registrations. Eagle AC and Midleton AC have 163 and 154 respectively. Ballymore-Cobh AC and Togher AC follow next, while a total of 14 clubs top the 100 mark.

Age Distribution Data

Overall Age Distribution

As last year, the overall age distribution throws up some interesting observations:
There are two distinct distributions, based around Young Juveniles and Masters Athletes, with older Juveniles and Seniors literally nowhere to be seen. 

Female Age Distribution

Male Age Distribution

From age 8 to 16, Juvenile girls outnumber boys 1608 to 1497. There is a distinct drop off after age 14, and the numbers from age 16 to 34 - including all seniors - makes  dismal reading.  The situation is not helped by the pandemic situation, however, once athletics emerges at the other side of the Covid crisis, strategies to address the low senior numbers, and retention of Juveniles.

The drop off of Juveniles has been noted across many sports in Ireland, and is worrying from a number of perspectives, not just athletics membership. In particular the non-participation of juveniles, along with the related and alarming growth in obesity, among juveniles and younger adults, is almost certainly going to lead to a significant rise in general population health issues in the coming years.

From an athletics perspective, the low numbers between 18 and 35 is of particular concern, as this is the group from which our Championship, International and Olympic hopes will emerge.  Historically, Cork has 'punched above its weight' in producing European, World and Olympic Champions and medalists, along with many, many International athletes.  To continue this proud and valued heritage, we really need to be attracting, and retaining, more people in this age range.

Overall Male-Female Age Distribution

 As with the overall age distribution, there are two separate distributions, and possibly three, when it comes to Male-Female registration ratios. In the Juvenile range, boys marginally outnumber Girls in all ages. However, moving into the adult ranges, that trend is significantly reversed, with a few exceptions, with Women outnumbering Men.  In another twist, once 55 is passed, Men outnumber Women. This is possibly a legacy from earlier times, say 25 to 30 years ago, when very few women took part at adult level.

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