1. Participation rates in physical activity & Sport
Taking part in sport & physical activity has a hugely positive impact on a persons well- being.
As a result, monitoring participation rates is essential to ensuring that everything possible is done to promote sport & physical activity, and provide as many people with the opportunities to get involved.

2. Participation rates in physical activity and sport can be affected by a number of personal factors
Gender
Age
Socio-Economic Group
Ethnicity
Disability

3. Gender
Gender affect participation, with more boys & men involved in physical activity & sport than girls & women.
While certain activity areas physical differences between men & women can influence participation, social stereotyping is the major reason why fewer girls and women get involved in physical activity and sport.
Although societies attitude towards women is now different, stereotyping
still exists.
As a result, women sometime feel they need to participate in physical activates that are less competitive.
Additionally, women often, more than men juggle many different things in their lives for example working, child care.
This can make it difficult for them to find time to take part in physical activity & sport.
In the past women's opportunities were often limited in many areas of life including sport.
For example, until 1972, women were not permitted to compete in Olympic events longer than 800M because the distances were seen as too strenuous for women.
Today, women compete in all events, with great success, providing how ill-informed this thinking was.

4. Gender
Currently 40.6% of men play sport at least once a week, compared to % of women. At a younger age, men and much more likely than women to play sport. But this difference declines sharply with age.
Sports England’s “this girl can” campaign is an example of the work being done to increase the participation of a target group. It is designed to get more girls involved in sport & physical activity by celebrating partition.

5. Age
Participation in sport & physical activity tends to peak between 16 & 25 when people have the most free time.
Engaging young people is crucial, because those who are actively involved in physical activity & sport at an early age are more likely to participate throughout their lives.
Throughout their working lives many people have very little free time and disposable income to spend on physical activity & sport, as they focus on their careers and their families.
The physical changes caused by ageing also have a huge impact on participation

6. Age can affect participation
Flexibility decreases with age
Having reached full strength at around 25, strength begins to decrease from around the age of 40
Tidal volume and stroke volume decrease with age and vascular shunting becomes less efficient.
Older people are more likely to suffer injuries, and will take longer to recover from those injuries.
The older you are the more likely you are to suffer from ill health that will effect participation
Your overall level of general fitness decrease as you get older.

7. Socio-Economic Group
Taking part in physical activity and sport comes with a financial cost. Whether it is buying equipment, paying membership fees or travelling to and from training, sport can be expensive.
People at the top of the socio-economic scale, who have highly paid jobs & a lot of disposable income, are more likely to participate in physical activity & sport.
People lower down the socio-economic scale, who wok in low paid jobs or unemployed have very little disposable income, are less likely to participate.
Depending on where you live will also effect this.
The richer the area , the better the facilities may be.
Because of socio-economic groups sports such as skiing and horse riding have lower participation rates.
It is important to remember that your socio-economic background down not gave to be a barrier to participation!!

8. Ethnicity
The term “ethnicity” describe the ethnic group you belong to. An ethnic group is a social group that shares cultural traditions, a religion or other factors.
Data shows that participation by people from an ethnic minority background is often limited to sports and physical activity that are stereotypically associated with an ethnic group.

9. Ethnicity
It is important that performers from ethnic minority backgrounds become role models
This will increase participation among ethnic minority groups
Prejudice against people from ethnic minority groups often results n people shying away from participation
Initiatives like kick it out are aimed to tackle this prejudice

10. Disability
Disability is defined by the government as a physical or mental impairment that has a substantial and long term negative effect on a persons ability to carry out normal daily activities.
It can therefore have a significate affect on a persons participation in sport.
There are significant battles that continue to affect the ability of people with disabilities to participate in sport. There are a limited number of teachers and coaches with the necessary qualifications, and not all local facilities have been fully adapted to cater for people with disabilities.
The increase media cover and popularity of the London 2012 Paralympics games is a sign that achievement of sports people with disabilities are beginning to be recognised and celebrated publicly.

11. Pause the video and challenge yourself

12. Pause the video and challenge yourself