Study: Organized sports participation among children
| OTTAWA – A smaller percentage of Canadian children participated regularly in organized sports activities in 2005 than in 1992, and the decline was larger for boys, according to a new study.
The study found that participation in sports rose with household incomes and the education levels of parents. |
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It also showed that sports participation rates among children were highest in smaller towns and cities, and that children in Canada’s three largest cities were least likely to participate in organized sports on a regular basis.
The study, “Kids’ Sports,” published in the June 2008 edition of Canadian Social Trends, examined trends in participating in regular organized sports among children aged 5 to 14, using data from the 1992 and 2005 General Social Survey (GSS).
Soccer was the most frequently reported sport for both boys and girls in 2005, replacing swimming, which was most frequent in 1992.
In 2005, just over one-half (51%) of children in this age group, an estimated 2.0 million, regularly took part in organized sports during the 12 months prior to the survey. This proportion was down from 57% in 1992.
About half of these active children participated in more than one organized sport. Active children played on average about 2.6 times per week per sport during their sport’s season.
Boys are still more likely to participate, but the gap is narrowing. Data from the 2005 GSS showed that boys aged 5 to 14 were still more likely to participate in organized sports than girls the same age, but the gap between them had narrowed.
In 1992, about two-thirds of boys (66%) were active participants; by 2005, this had declined to 56%. Participation among boys decreased in both the 5 to 10- and 11 to 14-year-old age groups, but among girls, the decline depended on their age.
Rates of participation in 2005 among children aged 5 to 14 were highest in Atlantic Canada (61%) and lowest in British Columbia (44%) and Quebec (48%). At the municipal level, rates were low in Canada’s three largest cities (Toronto, Montréal and Vancouver) where less than half (47%) of children participated. Rates were highest in smaller cities and towns with populations between 10,000 and 50,000 (58%). Rural and small town Canada had rates of organized sports participation (49%) that were similar to those of mid-sized census metropolitan areas (51%).
Family structure can also influence a child’s participation, especially if two parents can share responsibilities. GSS data showed that participation by boys was almost the same for all family types, ranging from 54% to 58%, contrary to the situation for girls. About 39% of girls in lone-parent families were participants, below the proportion of 48% among girls in intact two-parent families.
In two-parent families, children’s sports participation rates were highest (75%) if both parents were involved in sports themselves.
Popularity: 18% [?]
