Social influences on participation in sport and activity

Positive and negative influences on participation

ACCESS AGE DISABILITY EDUCATION

ENVIRONMENT / CLIMATE

FAMILY GENDER MEDIA

PEER GROUP

POLITICS POVERTY RELIGION

SPONSORSHIP

TRADITION / CULTURE

Access

Limited by:

Free time available

Availability of facilities

Cost

“what is local, what is available, what is affordable”

Access

• Low cost local authority provision

• Shared facilities• Synthetic pitches –

long hours• (disabled access,

private members clubs)

• (countryside, mountains, coast)

Age

• People live longer• More acceptable• Health and well-being• Veterans• Discrimination (bowls)• Cost

Disability

• Change of perception regarding desire and provision

• Rapid explosion in participation in last 20 years (disability Olympic Games)

Education

• Influence of schools• PE lessons• National curriculum• After school clubs• Links with local sports

providers• College/University• Threats (playing fields

sold, curriculum pressures, increased admin)

Environment and climate

• Physical environment

• Climate

• Technology (cost)

Family

• Often first influence• Support and

encouragement• Cost• “Mum’s taxi”

Gender

• Then: netball, hockey, lacrosse

• Now: rugby, soccer, boxing…………

• Still less prize money (eg wimbledon)

• Religion

Media

• TV rights• Match timing – peak

viewing – commercials

• Limited access, “pay per view” (sky) – cost

• Tabloid exposure• Can spark

enthusiasm to have a go!

Peer Group

Politics

• 1960’s east v west (young children “factory” trained, drugs)

• UK funding: exchequer, National Lottery

• Political protest at high profile events

Poverty

• Third World• Cost of equipment /

membership fees / facilities

• Sport England policies (funding for minority groups, facilities in deprived areas, “target sports”, etc)

Sponsorship

• “the funding of sporting activity for commercial gain”

• Sponsorship can increase participation

• Sponsorship “buys” rights• Olympic Games• Sports with mass appeal

– resources - growing gap compared with less marketable

Tradition and Culture

• Strict moral codes regarding women, dress etc

• Apartheid

• Cricket v Baseball