A REPORT from Sport England in 2024 on participation of sports activities numbers throughout England has proven that the rising sport of Padel Tennis has overtaken snooker in participant numbers.
23,000 gamers have taken to Padel Courts within the final two years – the report finds as Sport England produces two separate reviews each few years (one for adults and one other for youngsters and younger individuals) to measure the nation’s exercise ranges.
The report printed earlier this yr, comes as Statista, an internet site for statistics reveals that from 2016/2023, over 19,000 individuals performed snooker – actively collaborating within the sport – however Padel Tennis has been steadily rising globally – because it originated in Mexico within the Sixties, however has seen a increase globally on this interval and the expansion is barely going to extend.
The report additionally revealed that 0ver 20,000 individuals had been additionally taking part in Pickleball, one other sport rising within the UK, and has additionally overtaken snooker as a rising area of interest sport within the UK in response to the numbers.
Snooker has regular numbers of gamers, however with the fast competitors from rising sports activities akin to Padel Tennis, a sport that’s simply accessible in sports activities golf equipment, and, certainly, Pickleball, snooker has a tricky time rising participant numbers with the picture in some golf equipment and the advertising and marketing presence on-line with some web sites trying outdated and, additionally, at occasions, data being scarce – and typically it being in all completely different locations – particularly for the beginner sport.
If snooker is to retain numbers and gamers, it wants a greater administration system of the beginner sport in any respect ranges and rising the sport correctly for all. It’s primary purpose for poor participation is the truth that data could be jumbled all over the place and a few golf equipment are specializing in the highest amateurs or elite gamers on the expense of numbers.
It’s going to proceed to say no if it isn’t modernised at grassroots and league degree and also will get left behind in numbers if gamers are pushed away from taking part in for no matter purpose!
In a world the place individuals have brief consideration spans and revel in switching to attempting new issues, snooker, if it isn’t made engaging to gamers of all ages, will endure.
For instance, we play snooker at Oxshott within the Oxshott League and the usual is nice – contemplating gamers don’t play on a regular basis. The usual varies from membership to membership in fact, and a few gamers play greater than others, however, that’s not the purpose.
The purpose is retaining gamers and protecting gamers motivated to play by becoming a member of leagues, and often taking part in. It’s not about successful titles, it’s about rising the sport so that there’s competitors for all – and that the sport itself doesn’t get left behind within the UK. It’s going to if it retains on the best way its going!
We spoke to a participant from the League final weekend who stated he couldn’t perceive why so many individuals (significantly kids of their 20s/30s didn’t wish to come right down to their native social membership and play snooker, pool, or darts. He stated they’d moderately spend their cash on fancy golf equipment or bars which might be overpriced and but, a go to to a social membership with snooker, pool, or darts was an inexpensive evening out and “you’d nonetheless have cash left over for an Uber if wanted.”
The Oxshott League yearly welcomes new members to play, and brazenly encourages gamers to affix the league. No-one is exempt from taking part in as sport is for all.
Tennis reveals a 0.5% drop to 861,000 because the final pre-pandemic Lively Lives survey in 2016, with badminton down 3% at 763,000, desk tennis down 3% to 350,000 and squash as soon as once more dropping closely to 250,000, down by 7%.
There are apparently over 1000 Padel Tennis professionals within the sport in response to the Worldwide Padel Federation.
In snooker, in response to Feast Journal, there’s 5,000 skilled and semi-professional snooker gamers, – nevertheless, we’re unsure that determine for snooker from Feast Journal is totally correct!
Native Comparability of Snooker to Padel Tennis Golf equipment…
In Padel Tennis in Surrey regionally to Us…
Esher Sports activities Membership
Weybridge Sports activities Membership
Oxshott Village Sports activities Membership…
Snooker Domestically…
Oxshott Membership and the Oxshott League – Has two snooker tables and a league that’s been going since 1910.
Hersham Sports activities and Social Membership (a part of the Oxshott League – has one desk I perceive as not performed there but within the league…
Ashtead Village Membership (Not performed there as a part of the league however has three tables and considered one of them is supposed to be superb certainly in response to my Oxshott A colleagues!
Leatherhead Constitutional Membership (Now closing down)
Epsom Membership (A part of the Epsom League)
Rhodrons Membership – Chessington (has a snooker workforce!)
The Byfleet League has a number of groups in it
Additional afield…
Woking Snooker Centre and Frames Sports activities Bar…
Frames Sports activities Bar permits you to play on their Marco Fu unique cloths as a single participant!
As you’ll be able to see, most of the snooker amenities usually are not large in any respect. There are solely a handful of “large” golf equipment close by and that signifies that participation is tough. If you wish to get extra participation, you want extra “larger” golf equipment in an space. Not simply two!
Walton Snooker Centre in Hersham closed down within the 2000s.
Be a part of a snooker league.
Should you’re in Surrey, and wish to check out a brand new sport like snooker or padel tennis, head right down to your native sports activities membership (those listed) and see if there are groups you’ll be able to take part in in snooker or padel tennis. Play for a bit and also you by no means know, you is perhaps recruited to a better workforce and a better division.
Should you’re outdoors of Surrey, then kind in snooker or padel tennis close to me, and a listing of golf equipment will come up.
