A Critical Analysis of Local Sports Clubs and their Ability to Provide Participation Opportunities for Young People (11-16 year olds): A Case Study of Two Clubs
Abstract
As young people’s attitudes, patterns of participation and leisure lifestyles are
changing towards a more diverse physical activity spectrum involving a wider range
of sports, it is important that sports clubs adapt their offering and provision to this
age group to engage more youths in club sport. Young people and school sport is an
important priority target for sport policy in Wales (Sport Wales, 2011a). The purpose
of this study was to explore how school club links might be developed as a means of
increasing participation amongst young people aged 11-16. In order to address this
issue a case study approach was adopted and two contrasting clubs were examined.
The first was an athletic club which is traditionally run, and in contrast, the second
club was a judo club that had no fixed club base and is run on a commercial basis.
The contrasting nature of the clubs were considered a strength, and was used to
explore the differences clubs experience when creating school club links.
A qualitative approach was adopted as the research was exploratory in nature. Eight
semi-structured interviews were conducted, consisting of two participants from each
of the clubs, and four sport development professionals ranging from operational to
strategic roles.
By conducting a comparative analysis two key emergent themes were discussed and
evaluated. The first theme were the structural issues in creating school club links and
the second theme considered the key features of a successful school club link. The
research also revealed that there were a number of similarities in the way in which
the two clubs and the sport development professionals organised school club links.
Finally opportunities regarding how this system for sport development might be
enhanced and further improved were considered.
Collections
- Masters Degrees (Sport) [168]
Related items
Showing items related by title, author, subject and abstract.
-
A Qualitative Investigation into the Barriers that Affect the Participation Rates for People Aged 14-16 in the Aberdare Area
Woodford, Scott (University of Wales, 2011)The value of sport is widely recognised; not only does it improve health and tackle obesity but it is suggested that it gives people confidence, diverts them away from drugs and crime as well as gives lessons of life such ... -
Factors affecting young people aged 14-16 partcipation in sport
Davies, Michael (Cardiff Metropolitan University, 2016-03-10)The benefits that can be gained from sustained participation in sport and physical activity cannot be overstated; however it has been found that young people’s participation in sport decreases as they progress through ... -
What factors influence high school students’ (aged 13-15) decisions on joining school sport team(s)?
Williams, Ffion (University of Wales, 2011-10-24)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, ...