Participation in Sport

Leisure time can be used to take part in physical activity. 

People will take part if it is enjoyable, if it gives a sense of achievement, if it contributes to good health/fitness, if it relieves stress, if it is social and if it is competitive enough.

Influences on taking part: Family, peers/friends, gender, race/culture, popularity of sport, socio-economic situation, disability, role models and the media.

Positive factors of group pressures: active, supportive, encouraging, role models.

Negative factors of group pressures: non-active, different interests, expectations too high, cultural differences.

Participation is affected by:

Age, attitude, access, environment, fashionable sports, finance, schools.

No participation is affected by:

Health, injury, disability, peer pressure, culture, lack of confidence, technology, cost.

Health and diet influences:

Obesity is being severely overweight. It can cause: cariovascular strain, heart disease and pressure on the skeletal system.

Anorexia nervosa is being extremeley under weight and having no desire to eat. It can lead to: hair loss, infertility and osteoporosis. 

Health and hygeine:

Feet, clothing, shoes, hair, teeth, nails and body should be kept clean. Sweat causes bacteria to breed. 

Competition systems:

• League system: all teams play against eachother and a table of points is devised.
• Ladder system: usually for individual sports. Players ordered by succes, e.g. 1) Jordan 2) Kate 3) Jonah 
• Knockout system: Used for individual or teams. Winner/drawers move on to the next round.

Sports behaviour:

• Players must obey the rules
• This is to make the game run smoothly, ensures safety and adds to the enjoyment
• Players can receive penalties or be suspended for ignoring the rules

Sports etiquette:

• Is an unwritten set of rules
• Good sportsmanship
• Reflects fair play

Technology improvements in sport:

• Stronger and lighter safety equipment and clothing
• Starting pistols connected to timers
• Recording sensors to tell judges where competitors are in races
• Computer programs to track progress and improvements when training
• Large screen displays for playbacks to help analysis of an event
• Web sites for communication between clubs and teams, also can keep supporters involved and informed

• Clothing can be used to keep the participant dry, also it can show team affiliation.
• It can affect the athletes performance: it needs to be strong, comfortable, correctly sized, protective and in some sports prevent injury. 
• Runners can wear footwear with rubber soles
• Rugby players wear studded boots
• Cricketers wear spiked footwear
• Golfers wear footwear with spikes or rubber soles

The 6 main aspects of safety in sport are:

1) All kit and equipment in good condition

2) Appropriate warm-up prior to activity

3) Playing surface is suitable and safe

4) Instructions are followed

5) Correct technique is applied

6) Rules are obeyed