Association between Club Sports Participation and Physical Fitness across 6- to 14-Year-Old Austrian Youth

Abstract

Changes in social and built environments most likely contribute to a decline in physical activity (PA) and physical fitness in children and adolescents. Organized sports may be an important component in ensuring adequate fitness, which is an important aspect in general health and well-being. The present study examines differences by club sports participation in cardiorespiratory endurance, muscular strength, power, speed, agility, flexibility and balance in 3293 (55.1% male) Austrian children and adolescents between 6 and 14 years of age. Anthropometric measurements (height and weight) were taken and participants completed the German motor test during regular class time. Even though there was no significant difference in body weight between club sports participants and non-club sports participants, club sports participation was associated with higher physical fitness, particularly regarding endurance, strength, power, and agility. Differences by club sports participation, however, declined during the elementary school years (6–10 years of age), while they became more pronounced during middle school years (10–14 years of age). Club sports participation, therefore, may be a viable option in the promotion of physical fitness, particularly during adolescence. At younger ages, other sources of PA, such as physical education and free play, however, should be considered to ensure sufficient fitness levels that contribute to a healthy and active lifestyle.

Physical Fitness across 11- to 17-Year-Old Adolescents: A Cross-Sectional Study in 2267 Austrian Middle- and High-School Students

“…These changes, however, may influence psychological and social development along with behavioral choices. Participation in organized sports, for example, has been shown to affect physical fitness, particularly during adolescence and boys have been shown to be more likely to participate in organized sports than girls (Drenowatz, Greier, Ruedl, & Kopp, 2019;Greier, Kaiser, Hager, & Scheu, 2015). Girls, therefore, may require special attention when it comes to promoting organized sports as this may help to reduce sex differences in physical fitness.…”

Levels and Changes of Physical Activity in Adolescents during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Contextualizing Urban vs. Rural Living Environment

“…Indeed, physical fitness status was systematically correlated with baseline-PAL, regardless of the living environment. In general, positive correlations between baseline-PAL and fitness variables were almost certainly a result of a better physical fitness status among those adolescents who practice organized and/or non-formal sports [49]. Here, we are not able to discuss the causality between baseline-PAL and physical fitness due to the cross-sectional nature of this part of the investigation, and it should be investigated in the future in greater detail.…”

Do Adolescents Who Meet Physical Activity Recommendations on Weekdays Also Meet Them on Weekends? A Cross-Sectional Study in Colombia

“…In the same vein, a higher percentage of Portuguese boys from 10 to 18 years old who participated in sports clubs fulfilled the PA recommendations (28.3%) than girls (7.7%) [51]. Overall, sports clubs, as the key institutions in organizing sports activities, seem to stand out as an enabling environment for fostering organized PA and helping to facilitate compliance with PA recommendations [52][53][54]. Nevertheless, a particular issue in our study was linked to the timetables on offer in these organizations.…”