What happened to the athletic club? Declining admission rate, what is your prefecture?

When you hear the word “club activities,” many people probably have an image of a sports club in their minds, where they sweat and sweat, and share the joy of winning and the frustration of losing with their friends.

However, it turned out that the percentage of junior high school students who join the sports club this year was the lowest ever in 37 prefectures, which is nearly 80% of the whole country.

Why?

I picked up the background.

(Fukuoka Broadcasting Station Reporter Ken Fukuhara)

Declining "entrance rate"

Speaking of "athletic clubs", there are probably more than a few people who have the image of so-called "sports roots".

When I was a junior high school student, I joined a baseball club team and was active in the track and field club at school on weekdays.

But now there is a big change in the athletic department.

This time, based on interviews with junior high school athletic federations in each prefecture, NHK surveyed the number of junior high school students participating in sports clubs in about 30 sports such as baseball and soccer, and compared the number of students with the total number of students. , the ratio was calculated as the "entrance rate".

As a result, the national average continued to fall, falling below 60% for the first time to 59.6% this year.

It was the lowest since fiscal 2006, when accurate records remain.

Furthermore, by prefecture, 37 prefectures, which account for nearly 80% of the total, recorded the lowest number ever this year.

I found out that the ′′ Sports Club ′′ is progressing nationwide.

“Why is the population continuing to decline so much?” A common question

asked by boards of education in various places was “the declining birthrate.”

With the number of students declining, there are more cases in which team sports are not established and clubs are abolished. increase.

Club teams are popular!

?

On the other hand, the declining birthrate is not the only reason.

In Fukuoka Prefecture, where the enrollment rate was the lowest ever at 54.6%, it is said that there are more “popular things” than sports clubs.

About 70 junior high school students belong to soccer club teams in Fukuoka City.

However, many of them did not choose the junior high school soccer club.

Could I ask the reason?

3rd grade junior high school student

: "I chose the club team without hesitation. We can practice things that we can't do in school club activities, and the instructors are also good at teaching, unlike the club teachers."

1st grade junior high school student

: “I was torn between school soccer clubs.

I also asked Yuichiro Nakata, the representative of the team.

According to Mr. Nakata, club teams, which can receive detailed guidance according to individual abilities, are facing intensifying competition to meet the needs of children.

In fact, the number of soccer club teams in Fukuoka Prefecture has doubled in the last 20 years.

Mr. Nakata:

“At school, there aren’t many club teachers who specialize in that sport for many years. I wonder if

“Enrollment method” that affects the admission rate

Why do you choose a club team of the same competition even though your school has extracurricular activities?

Ryo Uchida, a professor at Nagoya University's graduate school who is familiar with education and club activities, points out that participation in club activities is largely voluntary, and that such a joining method influences the enrollment rate.

Professor Uchida

``In the first place, although it is stipulated that club activities are based on the voluntary activities of students, they are almost forced to participate. In addition to the movement, there is also the problem of how teachers work, and the flow of people who really want to participate, both instructors and participating students, has begun.”

In Fukuoka Prefecture, participation in club activities has been ``voluntary'' rather than ``compulsory'' for many years, and the participation rate of sports clubs has remained at a low level.

In other words, this system of "voluntary participation" creates an environment where it is easy to participate in club teams and other extracurricular activities.

Tohoku region to reconsider 'compulsion'

On the other hand, the Tohoku region has a high enrollment rate due to compulsory enrollment.

Four prefectures are in the top five.

However, even in the Tohoku region, there has been a rapid shift from compulsory enrollment to voluntary enrollment over the past few years.

For example, in Iwate Prefecture, which has the third highest enrollment rate, the number of schools with voluntary enrollment increased from one in 2018 to 80 schools last year, and the enrollment rate has declined accordingly.

Two years ago, a junior high school in Ninohe City, located in the northern part of the prefecture, switched to voluntary membership, and it is said that there are currently some students who do not participate in club activities.

It was a big change in line with the guidelines formulated by the Japan Sports Agency.

Principal Tsutsui

: Both parents and teachers thought it was natural to become familiar with club activities and make friends there, historically speaking, but even so, there was a need to adapt to the times. rice field"

Increased time spent with family

This is Tenka Yamai, a third-year student.

When I entered school, I wanted to play soccer, but there was only a boys' club.

Participation was voluntary from that year, so I did not participate in other club activities.

After school, he spends his time with his family and studies.

Ms. Yamai:

“I cherish the time I spend with my family after school.

Will continue to decrease

The data show that junior high school students are leaving the "athletic club".

In the future, the Sports Agency will separate club activities from schools and gradually proceed with efforts to shift to the community, and it is expected that the enrollment rate will continue to decline.

Professor Uchida points out that now is the time to review the nature of sports clubs.

Professor Uchida of Nagoya University Graduate School

"It is expected that people will continue to move away from sports clubs in the future, but it is good that the review of sports clubs, which has been pointed out for overheating of practice, is progressing in various places. In the future, it will be necessary to review the model of training to improve competitiveness and win competitions, and to design things such as enjoying sports and enhancing recreation.”

Will the athletic club disappear?

As the needs of students change, the traditional form of sports clubs that have continued for many years may eventually disappear.

However, this does not mean that the opportunity to exercise itself will disappear, but that we are at a turning point in thinking about a new form of sports club that meets the needs of students and the way teachers work today.

On the other hand, when I interviewed principals around the country through this interview, they said, ``There is a side of students that can only be seen in sports club activities. I've heard people say it's too big.

There are regional circumstances behind the decrease in the admission rate.

I believe that it is necessary to create an environment that allows each region to create an "athletic club" that suits the students there, and to watch over the growth of the students.

Ken Fukuhara

Joined in 2018 After working as a police officer and in charge of sports

, he eats more than that even if he is in

charge of prefectural government .