23/02/2026
#2
Following on from recent posts re. my Master of Sport Directorship (MSD) research focused on grassroots sports retention (and its effect on the sustainability of clubs and their governing bodies/organisations), I’ve had a number of common questions arise.
Let's check our FAQ #2.....
🤔 In Gap 4 (Connection Beyond Performance) - "You suggest that using professional tools like athlete-monitoring, video analysis etc might be part of the problem. Shouldn't we want our grassroots clubs to be as professional as possible to help players improve?"
My Answer ➡️ While these tools feel like progress, they can create a real possibility for what I call "community embeddedness" failure.
Professional sport methodologies are great for the top 20% of players who are purely performance-driven, but for the other 80%, they can be alienating; this is because when communication begins to focus mainly on statistics and technical analysis, the club can start to feel like a "sports venue" rather than a part of the player’s identity.
For most grassroots participants, retention is driven by personal connection and a sense of belonging. If the "social element" is sacrificed for "looking smart" with new tools etc then players who aren't "top" performers stop feeling valued and eventually drop out when other life opportunities come along.
The goal should be to use these tools in an athlete-centred way that enhances, rather than replaces, the human relationship.
What do you think?