Research

A question of sport continued...

In the focus group session few of the young people identified issues associated with the school, teachers or PE as putting them off from participating in sport. The responses from the survey, however, appeared to contradict this.

“When we asked how girls could be encouraged to participate in sport, many of the suggestions related to the school and PE sessions. It’s interesting that young girls don’t necessarily see PE as being the problem, but they do cite it as a solution. It’s an area that needs more clarification and could be explored as part of further research.”

Trish also believes that they need to examine in more detail the religious, cultural and family influences on participation. “We saw from the responses that, for some young people, their culture, religion or familial responsibilities were perceived as a barrier to participating in physical activity – as they head into their teens, for example, there is sometimes increased expectation from their families that the young people will help out more at home with household chores or caring for younger siblings.

“We know that girls’ levels of sport and activity participation begin to tail off by the age of 10. The survey and the focus groups have identified issues such as parental support, ‘identity’ and social factors as contributing factors in the decline in girls’ physical activity as they progress through the school system.

“Now the WSFF, with the help of the IYS, is keen to identify practical ways in which schools, families and communities may be able to ease such barriers and provide young girls with more opportunity to take part in sport and physical activity.”