SPORT, PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AND YOUNG PEOPLE

In the past, being young has been associated with being “naturally

active” and participating in regular physical activity as part of daily life.

The current reality is something different.

Those sedentary adolescent youth are at increased risk of negative

health consequences…

- coronary heart disease

- compromised bone health

- impaired psychological well-being

- overweight/obese

- lifelong low activity patterns

New Zealand research shows the main motivators for keeping youth in

sport are:

- team

- competition

- mastery of skills

- extrinsic rewards

- fitness and being active

While New Zealanders are passionate about sport, this does not

always translate into being actively involved.

Although sport is important to promote, there is a need to

promote a wide-range of physical activity options in a variety of

settings that will appeal to the majority of adolescents.

Benefits of sport and physical activity for young people

- Weight control

- Psychological well-being (e.g.- greater opportunity for social

interaction and improvements in self-esteem)

- Additional benefits (e.g.- improved academic achievement, low drug

use)

- Negative health outcomes (e.g.- overuse injuries, ligament/muscle

injuries, exercise-induced sudden cardiac death)

- Delaying the onset of chronic disease (e.g.- Coronary heart disease,

bone health)

- Lifelong maintenance of physical activity

Motivators for physical activity

Determining the factors that motivate young people to participate in

sport and physical activity is crucial when planning intervention

programmes designed to promote activity to youth.

A large body of literature exists on participation motives for specific

sports and the main motives included:

- Social benefits (e.g., fun, enjoyment, socialising with friends)

- Psychological enhancement (e.g., sense of achievement, pride)

- Physical sensation (e.g., enhanced sleep)

- Sports performance

- Cognitive benefits (e.g., clears mind and thinking, academic

achievement)

In 2005, SPARC investigated the attitudes, barriers and motivators for

sport participation of New Zealand 11 to 14 year olds. Barriers were

classified as either functional or emotive.

Functional barriers identified were aspects of life and the environment

that youth perceived they have little or no control over (e.g., financial

constraints).

Emotive barriers revolved around their feelings of low self-confidence,

of not being good enough, and the fear of gaining unwanted attention

associated with body image.

Overview of barriers to participating in sport as identified in

the SPARC Report – Functional barriers

- Priority for educational achievement

- Lack of time

- Lack of access (financial/logistical/school related)

- Physical

- Lack of awareness

Emotive barriers

- Low self-confidence

- Body image/obesity

- Lack of perceived opportunity to demonstrate skills

- Lack of support from family

- Peers

- Perceived lack of future