TO EXPLORE THE REASONS INTO THE HIGH DROP OUT RATE OF YOUNG MALE GYMNASTS AND EXPLORE THE REASONS WHY THEY RETURN TO THE SPORT AS YOUNG ADULTS

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Author
Smith, Daniel
Date
2013Publisher
Cardiff Metropolitan University
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Sports withdrawal has proven to be a multidimensional issue within the sporting
world. From previous research the reasons that people have chosen to drop out
include, a lack of enjoyment, dislike of the coach, lack of progression, conflicting
interest and injury. Within sporting literature there is a lack of research surrounding
specific sports and associated reasons of drop out.
Within the sport of gymnastics there is a large gender imbalance with 77.4% female
and 22.5% of participants being male. The average drop out age from the sport is
9.6. The aim of this research is to find out why male gymnasts are drop out at a
young age, what sports they changed to and why they have chosen to return to the
sport at as a young adult.
The research consisted of six in depth interviews from Cardiff Metropolitan
University Men’s Gymnastics team. The results of the research showed that at a
young age the participants initially participated due to encouragement from
influential figures. They then dropped out due to similar reasons stated in other
research such as, a lack of enjoyment, lack of progression and dislike of the coach.
All participants went onto participate in a variety of sports and returned to
gymnastics at university. The reasons for starting gymnastics at university differed
from that as a child, whereby fun, social and health related reasons were stated
rather than encouragement form influential figures. Other findings that have limited
research surrounding it is the negative stereotyping associated with gymnastics,
and how the relaxed atmosphere of no coach in training encouraged people to join
gymnastics as young adults.
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