According to Statistics Canada (2013), downhill skiing participation rates have declined from 14% in 1992 to 6% in 2010. Finding ways to counteract this decline by revitalizing interest in downhill skiing is necessary to avoid further negative effects on the economic sustainability of the ski industry in Canada. This study proposes a reliable and valid measuring instrument to identify current factors that affect ski participation among various segments of skier groups. An online questionnaire is developed using extended Shank and Lyberger’s (2015) sports consumption model. It consists of five sections. Data were collected in the winter of 2019 from a convenience sample of 150 university students (targeting 30 participants for each: non-skiers, former-, low-, moderate-, and high-frequency skiers). Reliability was tested using a test(T1)-retest(T2) method among the same participants with a 14-day interval, calculating correlations. Of the initial 64 items, only 29 showed sufficient reliability. Generally speaking, the internal and external factors showed higher correlations, while the situational factors showed very low correlations and all 15 situational items had to be dropped. The results revealed that internal constraints influence former and low-frequency skiers more than higher-frequency skiers and that all current skiers, particularly in the high-frequency group, were strongly driven by internal facilitators such as positive perceptions. Family and financial constraint as an external, facilitating factor appear to be equally important among all groups of ski participants. Culture, another external factor, acts as a constraint on non-skiers, former skiers and low-frequency skiers, but has significantly less effect on high-frequency skiers. Former skiers are most affected by financial constraints, although this factor is also a constraint for other groups, if to a lesser extent.

This study sought to examine the relations between sports participation, academic achievement, and self-efficacy in high school students. Self-efficacy has been linked to both sports participation and academic achievement, but no study has examined these three variables together. One hundred eleven students from two schools filled out surveys examining their levels of sports participation, academic and athletic self-efficacy, and demographic information. Participating schools provided student GPA information. Results supported the study's first, second, and third hypotheses. Athletes had higher GPAs and academic self-efficacy scores than non-athletes. Additionally, there was evidence for an indirect effect of sports participation on GPA through the mediating variable of academic self-efficacy. Results did not support the study's fourth hypothesis, as there was no significant relation between academic self-efficacy and athletic self-efficacy among athletes in the present study. Results are discussed in relation to the student population and school environment.

In Britain, as elsewhere, over the past two or three decades there has been growing concern over the extent to which sport and physical activity are becoming increasingly rare features of contemporary youth lifestyles. One corollary of this growing concern with youth lifestyles has been the widespread acceptance of a number of common sense assumptions about the nature of young people's sporting and leisure lives. Notwithstanding these concerns, Coalter (2004: 79) has noted recently that, at present, much of the existing research on young people, sport and leisure has consistently failed to explain adequately or provide 'any clear understanding of sport's (and physical activity's) place in participants' lifestyles'. The central objective of this sociological study, therefore, was to enhance our understanding of the place of sport and physical activity in the lives of a sample of 15-16-year-olds, and of the relationships between various aspects of their lives. More specifically, the thesis reports upon data generated by questionnaires completed by 1,010 15-16-year-olds who attended six secondary schools in the north-west of England and one secondary school in the north-east of Wales, as well as focus groups conducted with a sub-sample of 153 of these young people. The findings revealed that for many 15-16-year-olds, participation in sport and particularly 'lifestyle activities', was an integral aspect of both their school and leisure lives. In school physical education (PE) and extra-curricular PE, young people's participation - which was significantly related to sex and school attended - was largely dominated by competitive team-based sports that are typically gendered and stereotypical. The data also indicated that although there were no significant school- or age-related differences in participation in leisure-sport and physical activity overall, more males than females participated in sport and physical activity in their leisure time. Males were also the more frequent weekly participants and spent more time doing so than females. In addition, the data revealed that the leisure-sport and physical activity repertoires of 15-16-year-olds were characterized by involvement in more informally organized sports and highly-individualized recreational 'lifestyle activities', as well as a small number of team sports that were played competitively. It was also clear that participation in leisure-sport and physical activity was part of young people's quest for generating sociability and excitement in the company of friends and because it enabled them to do what they wanted, when they wanted and with whom they wanted. For many young people, however, and particularly the more frequent participants, playing sport and doing physical activity was just one component in their generally busy and wide-ranging leisure lives, which did not prevent them from engaging simultaneously in more sedentary activities (such as prolonged TV viewing and playing computer games) and commercially-oriented leisure activities, as well as consuming legal and illegal drugs. In this regard, it is argued that it is only possible to understand adequately where sport and physical activity fit into the multi-dimensional lives of 15-16-year-olds by examining those lives 'in the round', and by locating young people within the various networks of relationships to which they have belonged in the past, and which they continue to form in the present.

Adults from the middle-classes are up to three times more likely to be regularly involved in sport than those from the working-class. The reason for this participation anomaly has been consistently linked to the differing lifestyles and opportunities to which young people from working and middle-class backgrounds are exposed. More specifically, working-class children are more likely to develop narrow, class-related leisure profiles and sporting repertoires during their childhood that serve to limit the likelihood of them remaining physically active in adulthood. In relation to this, one of the key aims of physical education (PE) in mainstream schools is to develop the range of skills and knowledge for all pupils and widen their sporting repertoires in an attempt to promote long-term participation throughout their lives. However, not only has PE provision in British mainstream schools been shown to be unsuccessful in promoting working-class pupils’ sporting/ability development, some suggest that the subject may even be perpetuating the social difference that has been shown to exist in relation to sports participation between social class groups. In order to address these issues the study set out to examine the extent to which the wider social background of white, working-class ‘lads’ and the actions and attitudes of their PE teachers came to impact on the way the lads influenced and experienced their PE curriculum/lessons. It also aimed to examine the impact that school PE then had on their sporting repertoires and participation in sport/active leisure outside of school. A total of 24 days were spent in Ayrefield Community School (ACS), a purposively selected, working-class state secondary school as part of a case study design. Over 60 practical PE lessons were observed that led to differing roles being adopted and guided conversations being conducted before, during, and after these lessons. Eight focus group interviews were also conducted with specifically chosen lads as well as one with the four members of male PE staff. Additional observations were also carried out during off-site trips, external visits, and in a range of classroom-based lessons. The findings were then considered and examined in relation to the work of the sociologists Norbert Elias and Pierre Bourdieu. The findings revealed that the pressures related to the modern education system and the social expectations linked to their working-class backgrounds caused a split between the lads at ACS in to three broad groups, namely: Problematics, Participants and Performers. These groupings came to impact on the ways that these lads engaged and achieved in school as well as the ways in which they came to negotiate and experience PE. The ‘Problematic’ group held largely negative views of education, but valued PE, especially when playing football, the ‘Participants’ were relatively successful at school yet apathetic regarding the content and delivery of their PE lessons, and a Performer group of lads emerged who engaged and achieved highly at school and participated in a range of activities in PE, but showed little intention of participating outside of school due to their pragmatic attitude to ‘learning’ in PE. Despite these differing school and PE experiences between the lads’ groups, the potential and actual impact of school PE on their sporting repertoires, skills, and interests was ultimately constrained by a range of issues. In the first instance the lads’ narrow, class-related leisure profiles and sporting repertoires linked closely to recreational participation with friends, alongside a lack of proactive parenting were significant limiting factors. In addition, the ability of some lads to constrain the actions of PE staff and peers to get what they wanted in PE rather than what they needed, and the negative views of most lads to skill development and structured PE lessons meant that PE at ACS was never likely to have a positive impact on the sporting repertoires and participation types/levels of its male pupils either currently or in their future lives.

A iniciação esportiva caracteriza-se por componentes socioculturais que envolvem o jovem participante e todos os agentes sociais que o circundam, exercendo influência sobre sua formação. Independentemente dos ambientes de prática e de suas abordagens educacionais, tem-se que a formação esportiva é complexa, envolvendo etapas de iniciação, especialização e alto rendimento, além de possibilidades de formação para o lazer e de especialização precoce. O objetivo do presente estudo foi investigar a formação esportiva de atletas de voleibol de alto rendimento, a partir de seus relatos, identificando aspectos socioculturais e pedagógicos que possam ter contribuído para a manutenção de sua condição de praticantes até a idade adulta. Participaram do estudo 5 jogadores de voleibol masculino de alto rendimento, com participações nas seleções brasileiras de base e finalistas da Superliga de Voleibol. Os dados foram produzidos através de entrevistas semiestruturadas, sendo organizados, analisados e classificados pelo método Discurso do sujeito coletivo. Os atletas vivenciaram uma formação esportiva repleta de jogos deliberados e participação esportiva variada com especialização em idades recomendadas pela literatura. Identificou se que o voleibol atrapalhou a trajetória escolar, devido à rotina, viagens e perda de aulas. Emergiram elementos associados ao Efeito do Local de Nascimento, onde as cidades pequenas ofereceram mais espaços de prática de jogos deliberados e maior segurança para os participantes. Aspectos dos Efeitos Mateus, Pigmalião e Galatéa também foram encontrados, através do início na infância e do incentivo em atividades esportivas pela cultura familiar, depósito de expectativas do treinador e correspondência de expectativas pelos atletas, possivelmente ocasionando vantagens para a continuidade e desenvolvimento no voleibol para os participantes. Sugere-se a influência de um denominado capital esportivo/cultural nos destinos da participação esportiva dos participantes, sendo passível de produção e reprodução pelos agentes e instituições esportivas de forma semelhante ao capital cultural na educação escolar. / The sport initiation is characterized by socio-cultural components involving the young participant and all social agents that surround it, exerting influence on their formation. Regardless of the practice and its educational approaches, the sports formation is complex, involving initiation, specialization and high performance, in addition to recreational participation and early specialization possibilities. The aim of this study was to investigate the sports formation of high performance men volleyball athletes, from their reports, identifying socio-cultural and educational aspects that may have contributed to the maintenance of their practice in adulthood. The study included 5 men, high performance volleyball players with stakes in Brazilian´s team and finalists of Superliga de Voleibol. The data collected through semi structured interviews were organized, analyzed and classified by the method of \"Collective Subject Discourse\". Athletes experienced a sports training full of deliberate play and variety of sports participation with a specialization in recommended ages. It was identified that the volleyball damages the school trajectory, due to routine, travel and loss classes. Emerged elements associated with the birthplace effect, where small towns offered more practical spaces of deliberate play and increased safety for the subjects. Aspects of Matthew, Pygmalion and Galatea Effects were also found, by early encouragement in sports activities by the family culture, coach expectations deposit and matching expectations by athletes, possibly resulting advantages for the continuity and development in volleyball for the subjects. It is suggested the influence of a so-called sport / cultural capital in the participants sports trajectories, liable to production and reproduction by sports agents and institutions, in similar way to cultural capital in school education.

A iniciação esportiva caracteriza-se por componentes socioculturais que envolvem o jovem participante e todos os agentes sociais que o circundam, exercendo influência sobre sua formação. Independentemente dos ambientes de prática e de suas abordagens educacionais, tem-se que a formação esportiva é complexa, envolvendo etapas de iniciação, especialização e alto rendimento, além de possibilidades de formação para o lazer e de especialização precoce. O objetivo do presente estudo foi investigar a formação esportiva de atletas de voleibol de alto rendimento, a partir de seus relatos, identificando aspectos socioculturais e pedagógicos que possam ter contribuído para a manutenção de sua condição de praticantes até a idade adulta. Participaram do estudo 5 jogadores de voleibol masculino de alto rendimento, com participações nas seleções brasileiras de base e finalistas da Superliga de Voleibol. Os dados foram produzidos através de entrevistas semiestruturadas, sendo organizados, analisados e classificados pelo método Discurso do sujeito coletivo. Os atletas vivenciaram uma formação esportiva repleta de jogos deliberados e participação esportiva variada com especialização em idades recomendadas pela literatura. Identificou se que o voleibol atrapalhou a trajetória escolar, devido à rotina, viagens e perda de aulas. Emergiram elementos associados ao Efeito do Local de Nascimento, onde as cidades pequenas ofereceram mais espaços de prática de jogos deliberados e maior segurança para os participantes. Aspectos dos Efeitos Mateus, Pigmalião e Galatéa também foram encontrados, através do início na infância e do incentivo em atividades esportivas pela cultura familiar, depósito de expectativas do treinador e correspondência de expectativas pelos atletas, possivelmente ocasionando vantagens para a continuidade e desenvolvimento no voleibol para os participantes. Sugere-se a influência de um denominado capital esportivo/cultural nos destinos da participação esportiva dos participantes, sendo passível de produção e reprodução pelos agentes e instituições esportivas de forma semelhante ao capital cultural na educação escolar. / The sport initiation is characterized by socio-cultural components involving the young participant and all social agents that surround it, exerting influence on their formation. Regardless of the practice and its educational approaches, the sports formation is complex, involving initiation, specialization and high performance, in addition to recreational participation and early specialization possibilities. The aim of this study was to investigate the sports formation of high performance men volleyball athletes, from their reports, identifying socio-cultural and educational aspects that may have contributed to the maintenance of their practice in adulthood. The study included 5 men, high performance volleyball players with stakes in Brazilian´s team and finalists of Superliga de Voleibol. The data collected through semi structured interviews were organized, analyzed and classified by the method of \"Collective Subject Discourse\". Athletes experienced a sports training full of deliberate play and variety of sports participation with a specialization in recommended ages. It was identified that the volleyball damages the school trajectory, due to routine, travel and loss classes. Emerged elements associated with the birthplace effect, where small towns offered more practical spaces of deliberate play and increased safety for the subjects. Aspects of Matthew, Pygmalion and Galatea Effects were also found, by early encouragement in sports activities by the family culture, coach expectations deposit and matching expectations by athletes, possibly resulting advantages for the continuity and development in volleyball for the subjects. It is suggested the influence of a so-called sport / cultural capital in the participants sports trajectories, liable to production and reproduction by sports agents and institutions, in similar way to cultural capital in school education.

Thesis (M. Dev.) -- University of Limpopo, 2018 / The post-apartheid socio-cultural, economic and political dispensation in South Africa have prompted a high-level perceived potential inclusion in sport-participating in different aspect of self-development regardless of culture, economic and social difference across the nation. However, little is understood, from an empirical viewpoint, about the potential challenges and limits towards the successful participation in sport in South Africa. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between socio-cultural factors and sport participation at Germiston High School in the Gauteng Province. A quantitative research was conducted using case study research design method. A Non-probability sampling method was done through purposive sampling method to select Grade 8 to Grade 12 students from. Data collection was done using self-administered questionnaires. There were one hundred and forty-seven students that participated in a survey of self-administered questionnaires at Germiston High School. The findings of the study reveal that sport-participation is highly linked to socio-cultural and economic aspects among students. For students, teachers are expected to be involved in sport-participation and be of the forefront of inclusiveness. It also was found that sport preference among students is linked to their important others. Thus, a full experience of sport-participation through resources available at school is compromised for many students. Schools, the Ministry of Education, Sports and Culture together with sponsors and parents are encouraged to intervene in promoting sport participation.

There has been considerable progress in women's sport participation opportunities since the enactment of Title IX of the Education Amendments Act of 1972. These opportunities have allowed women and girls to participate in sports at the primary and secondary school level, as well as at the collegiate level in considerable numbers. Institutions have been adding new, emerging, or growth sports to their sports lineup. Despite this progress, much remains to be done to achieve true equity in women's access to sports. Indeed, recent evidence suggests that women of color may not have benefited from the array of new sports and athletic opportunities as much as white women. To examine this issue, we compare Post-Title IX trends in black and white females' sports participation and directly examine the effect of race on participation opportunities. Quantitative analysis based on multiple national data sets, including the National Longitudinal Study (NLS), the High School and Beyond Survey (HSB), the National Educational Longitudinal Survey (NELS), and the Educational Longitudinal Survey (ELS), reveal that compared to white females, black females have indeed lost ground since Title IX, and that public schools attended by black females offer fewer sport participation opportunities to girls. Qualitative analysis is presented through a detailed, critical examination of the history of white and black women and sports, followed by an assessment of the legal challenges to gender inequality involving Title IX. Although Title IX is supposed to provide greater sports participation and athletic opportunities for women, oftentimes, women of color are disproportionately excluded from participation. As a policy, Title IX is designed to promote gender equity and equality in education, including sports. However, interscholastic athletic access and participation opportunities for females are unevenly distributed along racial lines. Implications for policy and future research are discussed.

Youth violence is a major public health problem for US adolescents. Sports participation has been shown to decrease the likelihood of certain forms of youth violence, such as suicide. Using a national representative sample, the study seeks to determine the association of dating and sexual abuse victimization with sports participation. Analyses of data from the 2005 Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) suggest that sports participation is significantly associated with an increased likelihood of male dating abuse victimization. There was no significant association between sexual abuse victimization and sports participation for girls nor boys. These findings underscore the importance of evaluating contextual aspects of sports education and team dynamics that may have violence prevention potential. Primary recommendations include further research on the feasibility of disseminating youth violence prevention messaging via school and community sports, training for coaches, and rigorous evaluation of adolescent sports programs.

Since mindless actions of the South African society persist in the form of environmentally degrading behaviour, the sustainability of healthy eco-systems is constantly threatened. Practical ways of acquiring environmental literacy is necessary to develop environmental responsible behaviour of citizens. Theory-based research on nature-based extreme sports participation rarely acknowledges its positive transformative value on society. This neglect roots, in part, from naïve or novice misconceptions that motives for participation are primarily risk-focused in pursuit of an adrenaline rush. Thrill-seeking theories often make anthropocentric assumptions of a rivalry human-nature relationship to showcase individual prowess. As a result, “extreme” is naïvely associated with “out-of-control” or “reckless” actions. Phenomenological traditions from Heidegger and Merleau-Ponty navigate a hermeneutical understanding of a bodily-being-towards-death in such high-risk sports activities. This interpretative phenomenological analytical study considers the lived experiences of 10 expert South African nature-based extreme sports participants who take calculate risks. Their first-hand narrations provide evidence, which derails the naïve stigma and identify voluntary high risk-taking as a by-product of participation. For some, the extensive period of time spent in the wilderness, where their survival depends on the collaboration with natural elements enable a realization that humanity is part of a larger functioning network. Findings from semi-structured interviews present an eco-centric outlook on the facilitative role of participation, in eco-sensitivity. Flow and mindfulness are recognised as contributing factors in the display of pro-environmental behaviour of nature-based extreme sports participants. How participation encourages an intimate bond with and sensitivity of nature, which permits a setting for extraordinary physical and psychological changes, is explored. From this study, eco-centric management principles can be discovered and its educational principles incorporated within schools and sport organizations to become more ecologically sensitive and just. / Dissertstion (MA (Human Movement Science))--University of Pretoria, 2019. / Biokinetics, Sport and Leisure Sciences / MA (Human Movement Science) / Unrestricted