Linking participants in school-based sport programs to community clubs

Abstract

A decline in youth (12-25 years) participation in sport and physical activity has been reported. School programs that are delivered within schools by external agencies are a key strategy to promote participation in sport and physical activity. It is important that there is a transfer for participants from school-based sport to community opportunities. This study explored the structural links between participation programs conducted in schools and participation in community-based sporting clubs. The study in Victoria, Australia, involved a survey of 49 State Sports Governing Organisations (SSGOs), focus group discussions with 15 representatives from eight of these bodies, in-depth analysis of one school-based sports program that involved the coordinator from the SSGO, three teachers, four parents and one teacher/parent from six participating schools. A majority of SSGOs (59.1%) reported delivering programs within school settings; however they acknowledged that this structure does not represent an efficient or effective way to develop community-level club sports participation and club membership. Facilitators and barriers for transferring participation in school-based sport programs to sustained participation and membership in community club sport are discussed. It is recommended that sports organisations tailor their school-based programs using recognised health promotion planning principles (including community engagement) rather than continuing their current 'one-size-fits-all' approach. This will assist SSGOs and clubs to develop sustainable participation programs and increase club membership. It is recognised that such a change will have significant resource implications due to increased demands on time and human resources.

A Framework for Physical Activity Programs Within School–Community Partnerships

“…This implies that not one specific intervention or PA program can be recommended for a majority of schools and communities, which is a challenge for school-community partnerships. However, a common implementation framework based upon health promotion planning principles can facilitate the development of PA programs tailored to specific school and community contexts (Eime & Payne, 2009). …”

“…These staff members could provide schools and municipalities with (online) manuals for the implementation of school-community partnerships and PA programs, while the sports and PA leaders could give additional advice for a more tailored approach. Recently Eime and Payne (2009) pointed out to the importance of a more tailored approach for school-based programs. In their study 59% percent of the 49 State Sports Governing Organizations delivered 'one size fits all' programs for schools, acknowledging that these programs were not effective in developing pupils' community level sports participation.…”

Social Geographies at Play: Mapping the Spatial Politics of Community-Based Youth Sport Participation

“…Research has illustrated that in many contexts, a community-based approach to youth sport programming has led to both positive health outcomes and increased social cohesion (Eime & Payne, 2009;Roux, Pratt, Tengs, Yore, Yanagawa, van Den Bos, Rutt, Brownson, Powell, Heath, Kohl III, Teutsch, Cawley, Lee, West, & Buchner, 2008). Practitioners have developed new programs-often at new facilities-that resulted in increased participation and enhanced geospatially-defined communities (i.e.…”

Emerging school sport development policy, practice and governance in England: Big Society, autonomy and decentralisation

“…These ventures indicate the parallel international concern for schools to links into their wider civil society clubs and community organisations to gain incremental gains in the levels of sports participation. The processes involved in developing improvements in school sport delivery and community programmes that aim to achieve this are a significant international 3 concern (Curtner- Smith et al, 2007;De Martelaer andTheeboom, 2006, Eime andPayne, 2009). Eime and Payne (2009) identified some of the collaborative issues that faced programmes in Australia, in particular the importance of capacity of schools and clubs to accommodate such policies and programmes.…”

“…The processes involved in developing improvements in school sport delivery and community programmes that aim to achieve this are a significant international 3 concern (Curtner- Smith et al, 2007;De Martelaer andTheeboom, 2006, Eime andPayne, 2009). Eime and Payne (2009) identified some of the collaborative issues that faced programmes in Australia, in particular the importance of capacity of schools and clubs to accommodate such policies and programmes. Although, none of these past studies have given attention to patterns, systems and modes of governance in sport and physical activity field of public policy management.…”