Barriers
What holds children and youth back from participating in sport.
- Cost (financial, including registration/match fees, transport, equipment/uniforms) 1, 3, 12, 19, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43
- Time (other commitments including work, study, or school) 3, 9, 11, 12, 13, 23, 26, 31, 38, 40, 41
- Negative experiences (such as feeling that player selection was not fair/equitable, not being valued, not having fun, insufficient playing time) 2, 3, 9, 11, 31, 36
- Loss of interest or motivation 3, 12, 23, 31
- Friends are no longer playing 2, 12, 29
- Finding others to play/participate with 9, 12, 19, 38
- Lack of places/opportunities to participate (including pathway opportunities) 12, 13, 23, 26, 37, 38
- Feeling judged or embarrassed by others 2, 3, 9, 12, 17, 26, 29, 40
- Not feeling fit enough 2, 3, 9, 12
- Narrow perceptions of sport (that it’s only ‘traditional’ sports that may be associated with negative experiences) 2, 3
- Too competitive, structured, or serious 2, 3, 11, 18, 23, 41
- Lack of confidence and/or skills (physical literacy) 2, 3, 12, 13, 17, 21, 26, 37, 40, 41, 42
- Less support from parents/families (including prioritising academic activities, not valuing sport, or limited time/resources to support activities) 13, 21, 29
- Gender and/or cultural barriers 13, 17, 21, 29, 34
- Impact of menstruation/periods (including pain, self-consciousness, fear of leakage, tiredness) 23, 26
- Injury, fear of injury, and/or not feeling that the physical environment is safe (such as training after dark) 3, 26, 31, 38
