Social influences on participation in sport and activity Positive and negative influences on...

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