On membership development in organised sport and the assessment of pandemic-related consequences: Everything different due to Corona?

Abstract

Compared to other areas of society, central parameters of the development of sports clubs have so far been monitored only rudimentarily. This also applies to the development of membership, which has come more into the focus of public attention in recent months as a result of the corona pandemic. In this context, however, simplified interpretations are to be noted. The pandemic is almost exclusively blamed for changes. The article shows the possibilities offered by membership data at the level of sports clubs and sports associations and which analyses have so far remained largely unused.