Less active 12-14 year olds

67% of children aged 12-14 participate in organised sport outside of school 2 times or less per week.

This is a key transition point for ongoing involvement in organised sport and the age when the most significant drop out occurs.

At this age, children are starting to make their own decisions about how they spend their time. They are heavily influenced by their peers and their own self-image, which can make them less confident in a competitive environment. As this group starts high school, they are often exposed to many new outside factors for attention and time.

Characteristics

• Lower levels of physical literacy/capability
• Fear being judged and are put off by team selection processes
• Lack fitness and skills (they can't keep up or are not competitive)
• Find that sport causes mental stress and pressure
• Put off by the involvement of other parents i.e. favouritism
• Increasing time commitments, including work, study, family, friends and new interests
• Decreasing levels of support from parents who value other commitments over sport i.e. study
• More likely to have parents who aren’t active or participating in sport.

This is a critical age for sport retention. Sport experiences that can pivot to cater for those who are less competitive or capable are more likely to retain these children at this life stage. A focus on fun and social engagement is likely to be more attractive to this age group.