Sports participation styles revisited: A time-trend study in Belgium from the 1970s to the 2000s

Abstract

Social changes have been influencing determinants for sports participation since the introduction of the Sport for All ideology in the early 1970s. Consistent with Crum's sportisation theory, today's modes of sports practices, as well as the network of sport services, have diversified and de-traditionalised.As part of a research tradition, this contribution aims at analysing changes in sports participation styles in kinesiology students in Belgium during the past four decades . The distinct target group was supposed to fulfil a trend-setting role in the area of active sports participation. Data were obtained from a standardised retrospective questionnaire on leisure-time sports participation. Using standardised methods, Principal Component Analysis was used to identify patterns of sports participation. The results show a diversification of sports participation styles until the 1980s, followed by an intensification of basic style components since the 1990s. Sports participation styles between 1999 and 2009 are subdivided into multiple distinct traditional and non-traditional components, with growing emphasis on non-traditional, alternative practices. Newly observed components in 2009 are discussed in relation to previous time intervals and trends in sports participation.

Leisure-Time Physical Activity Participation Trends 2014–2018: A Cross-Sectional Study in Poland

“…Maybe, as it is claimed by Hands et al [42], undertaking PA (at a particular level, in certain form and of certain intensity) depends on things a respondent wants to achieve. In the case of men, it may be about musculature or looking for challenges [43,44], in the case of women-more about lifestyle factors (social interactions, pleasure [45,46], general activation, slim figure) [45,47,48]-which is indicated by the most modern Polish studies [49]. Ball et al [50] claim that feeling too fat is not related with the perception of a bad state of health.…”

Differences in formal and informal sports participation at regional level in England

“…Similarly, there are few studies considering the differences between formal and informal sports participation, in spite of the relevance of this distinction made recently by different authors Borgers et al, 2015;Dawes, Vest & Simpkins, 2014;Thorpe, 2016;Vardermeerschen, Vos & Scheerder, 2015). There are differences in the evolution of both types of sports activities among countries, with increasing rates of participation in informal sports contrasting with a decline in some organised sports (Borgers et al, 2015;Thorpe, 2016).…”

“…There are differences in the evolution of both types of sports activities among countries, with increasing rates of participation in informal sports contrasting with a decline in some organised sports (Borgers et al, 2015;Thorpe, 2016). These studies consider differences in motivations (Borgers et al, 2015;Thorpe, 2016), the opportunities for children and adolescents in sport (Dawes et al, 2014), the requirements for sports facilities to create opportunities for spontaneous sports participation (Borgers, Vanreusel, Vos, Forsberg & Scheerder, 2016), and changes in societal trends (Borgers et al, 2015).…”

Governing bodies or managing freedom? Subcultural struggles, national sport systems and the glocalised institutionalisation of parkour

“…At the same time, sport participation is gradually moving away from rigidly structured and organised mainstream practices to explore new forms of personal, social and environmental engagement through physical activity (Borgers et al 2015).…”

“…Therefore, the incorporation of lifestyle sports and informal outdoor activities into sport development policies and broader public policies could provide new opportunities to reach out to wider and more diverse audiences (Tomlinson et al 2005, Casey et al 2009, Rowe 2012, including those at risk of inactivity such as lowincome groups, people with weight concerns or elderly (Borgers et al 2015).…”