Australian Player Retention Issues

[cannon]

Ok Gents,

We all know that lacrosse in Australia in terms of player numbers is dwindling at the senior level, or perhaps if you are optimistic, it is on a plateau.

One of the key area’s that we lose players is Under 17’s - Seniors. I know the VLA is changing the levels to Under 12, 14 and 18 soon and this might help a few players but I’d like to know from you guys why it is players have taken off from the sport.

Possible reasons:
- Employment Commitments
- Tired of the game for various reasons.
- Physical Inability to play with fully grown blokes
- University/TAFE/year 12 commitments
- No team for them to enter?
- Club politics?

There is also a significant drop off from within senior ranks and this isn’t going to change for any volunteer sport.

Thoughts…feel free to bring up examples of players.

[Cutter]

As long as there is only a limited number of senior clubs, then there is a limited number of senior teams, and therefore senior players. The competition can never grow if there is no way to expand the numbers of players actually playing the game. Junior recruitment needs to be the focus, but it needs to lead into new senior clubs being formed so these kids have somewhere to play when they finish juniors. Too many drop off when there isn't a senior team they can regularly get a game in, or when their top senior teams are so strong that they have to play down a level. If kids are playing divy 1 at a strong club, but see that they could be playing state league somewhere else, they will get frustrated and quit. Look at ELtham when they were in the SL GF for 5 years staright, and won divy 1 for 7 years, and the second divy 1 team made the finals as well...... Eltham has lost basically that whole top divy 1 team b/c they had no chance of playing SL.

There is a starting argument for junior recruitment and developing more senior clubs...

[swankylaxer]

yeah great point cutter although I've noticed that not many kids are prepared to move clubs in order to help other club climb the ranks either. Maybe we need to encorouge kids to look at joining other developing(or in rebuild stage) clubs..

[shooter]

It could also have something to do with the cost of playing.

In the major participation sports in Victoria (Footy, Cricket, Soccer) once players reach seniors level they get paid for every match they play, but in lacrosse we still have to fork out an annual fee of $300-ish, and pay for all that gear, and get dirty and sore on a Saturday arvo for nothing but love of the game whilst your mates are a few suburbs away getting paid to play a cheaper sport.

Combine the cost of playing (increases at seniors) with coming off parent's financial support, car insurance, paying for fuel, maybe even rent/board money + food, with all the reasons listed by cannon and cutter.

Unfortunatly most of those problems can't be changed, clubs cannot get enough money from sponsors to pay thier senior players, study can't be replaced by lacrosse (though having some coaches who fail to recognise other commitments doesn't help), a mans gotta work to live, and clubs can't force feed kids speed to stop them from being lazy.

And having young seniors move to another part of the country where lacrosse doesn't exist doesn't help either :thumbsdow
I'm gonna miss it :crying:

[fairy]

physical issue prob does put some transitionally aged players n parents off the game
Economics has gotta be a prime concern for players-as pointed out before. experienced players who have featured in state and international comps,together with their folks, would have spent close to the deposit on a property over the years. HEX fees,for those who study, and fight to meet training committments, and partime jobs add to the pressure.
Club politics also- some parents ar eput off the game and clubs when they see violence incidents and vandalism by outa control senior players.

[cannon]

some parents ar eput off the game and clubs when they see violence incidents and vandalism by outa control senior players.

Surely these are a minority. One swallow does not a summer make. There is probably an issue here though regarding the general nature of some clubs. It seems the more family oriented clubs. Eltham, Willy, C'Well, Surry. MCC are the more successful ones. Malvern seems to have lost some of that and seems to have suffered. Caulfield too.

[endoftheline]

Surely these are a minority. One swallow does not a summer make. There is probably an issue here though regarding the general nature of some clubs. It seems the more family oriented clubs. Eltham, Willy, C'Well, Surry. MCC are the more successful ones. Malvern seems to have lost some of that and seems to have suffered. Caulfield too.
Yeh ive noticed that Malvern always seems to have less wives etc watching on the sidelines than other teams.

[Aussie_kid]

yeh in the juniors malveen is very strong with family participation, but at State League games we are lucky to get 10 supporters on saturday arvo's

[endoftheline]

yeh in the juniors malveen is very strong with family participation, but at State League games we are lucky to get 10 supporters on saturday arvo's
Very strong in juniors? Only two parents went to the parent feedback forum night thing that was on a few months ago.

[lukeoz]

I don't think money is an issue. People will play lacrosse because they love it. What might make them lose interest depends on the person, but successful clubs I feel have been built up on a strong support network, that being family members, friends and club stalwarts. I think that when getting kids in, that parents should be encouraged to help out and become part of it. It might be when they feel left out that they don't feel the need to contribute and drift away from the club.

I don't think switching grades from u17s to u18s will do much difference. This is always a tough time for retention anyway because of year 12 studies getting in the way, as well as chasing girls, wanting to become a rock star and other ways of finding your place in life! I think what needs to be done for youth lacrosse players is for them to be integrated into the senior ranks, be "adopted" by a senior player who will be their guide to the rest of the senior team, make them feel a part of it which will make them feel more comfortable about sticking at it.

Shooter where are you headed?

[shooter]

Shooter where are you headed?

The Naval College in Jervis Bay next year. The Defence Force Academy in Canberra for 3 years after that.