What factors influence high school students’ (aged 13-15) decisions on joining school sport team(s)?

Abstract

The benefits which result from a sufficient amount of physical activity can not be overstated, yet it is concerning that participation levels in young people tends to drop off once they reach their teenage years, (SCW, 2005). Existing research shows that participation levels are sustained for longer in individuals who take part in organised rather than unorganised physical activity. Schools and P.E lessons have been identified as the primary vehicle for the promotion of physical activity, (Green, 2002); therefore it is important for schools and governing bodies to work towards maintaining participation levels in young people before they drop off. The purpose of this study was to discover the factors which influence young people’s decisions on joining sport teams at school with respect to high school students aged 13-15. The results of this study provides schools with more knowledge on what can influence a student’s decision on participating so that they can create more effective motivational schemes for students regarding sport teams. The use of semi-structured interviews with students from a high school in Cardiff provided the data which resulted in the knowledge that there are many factors which effects decisions on participating in school sport teams. The analysis of this data provided further knowledge that a young person’s decision on participating in a sport team at school is not straight forward; many factors from that individual’s life will influence either positively or negatively on the overall decision. It was also discovered that the factors effecting these decisions are all tied into the individual’s life, factors such as individual motives, the student’s family, friends and school are all factors which influence decisions and which are also part of their everyday life. Therefore sport and physical activity participation should not be viewed separately to the life of a young person.