Emerging Trends in Sport Participation

Physical Wellbeing

Staff sitting at a desk looking at their laptops Sport participation at all levels and abilities makes an important contribution to individual and community health and wellbeing, including the amount of regular physical activity (PA) undertaken by Australians. People who participate in sport, particularly team based sport, have a higher likelihood of meeting PA guidelines and continuing PA long term.

There is now compelling evidence that increased levels of PA can bring wide-ranging health benefits for individuals and communities. These benefits can include reducing the risk of developing a range of non-communicable diseases and illnesses, and improving resilience to some communicable diseases (like COVID-19).

At a population level these benefits include lowering health care costs, improving education and economic performance, and contributing to stronger and more cohesive communities.

More detailed information and research on the benefits of sport are included in the Physical Activity and Participation in Sport topics.

Participation trends

Organised sport involvement
9.5 million Australians are involved in organised sport in some way, through playing or non-playing roles.

Recreational activities
Over the last 20 years participation in sport-related activities has remained relatively stable, while non-sport physical activities have increased by more than 20 percentage points.

Digital offerings
During 2020, with lockdown and social restrictions being a factor, many Australians looked for COVID-safe activities and adopted online or virtual options.

Looking for 'a perfect fit"
Trends indicate Australians are adopting recreational activities that meet their busy and social lives, driven by flexibility, tailored by the needs of the individual.

Further information
Additional resources and reading.

Impact on different cohorts

Young Australians (5-15 years)

Missing an early introduction to sport or dropping out at an influential age may mean some young people do not get to experience the benefits offered by positive sporting experiences.

Young Australians (5-15 years of age)

COVID-19 continues to represent the single biggest challenge to contemporary community sport globally.

One significant concern is that with children and young people missing out on sporting experiences during 2020-21, the pandemic may lead to a potential generation of young people ‘lost’ to organised sport. Additionally, two years of interrupted school physical education, particularly in Victoria and New South Wales which had significantly longer periods of home schooling, will impact on physical literacy, with the strongest impact in the youngest children.

Participation in organised sport and physical activity, outside of school hours, dipped sharply, particularly in team sports, with an 8% reduction in once per week, and a 5% reduction in 3 times per week participation (ages 5-15).

Additionally, young people aged 15-17 also saw larger reductions in all forms of sport and physical activity in 2020 compared to 2019. For people aged 18-24 there was a reduction in activity once or three times per week, but an increase in 5x and 7x. while most other age groups remained relatively stable.

Compliance with social distancing policies, strict return-to-play protocols, and COVID-19 specific training has, perhaps, forever changed the way that children and young people engage in organised sport. Fee increases, a plausible reduction in parent and community volunteers, and a decrease in sport development officer roles are but a few examples of how the pandemic may represent a ‘tipping point’ for sporting clubs and families who find it difficult to return to sport.

A national study on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic by the Canada Games Council (CGC) revealed one in three young people were unsure if they would return to sport following the safe return to play, and one in five did not intend to return to sport after the pandemic.

Additionally, Australian research has suggested that many participants believed that sport had become "too focussed on competition and winning before the lockdown occurred" [source: Elliott, S. et.al., BMC Public Health, March 2021].

With young Australians so significantly impacted by the pandemic and a possible ongoing legacy of the restrictions, this cohort might view organised sport differently in the future. Children aged four to nine, who would generally be early adopters of sport participation will have missed the early introduction to sport. Additionally, older children, aged ten to fifteen may have stopped participating at an influential age. This means some young Australians will not begin or return to sport and won't get to experience the benefits offered by a positive sporting experience.

Access to resources
Where possible, direct links to full-text and online resources are provided. However, where links are not available, you may be able to access documents directly by searching our licenced full-text databases (note: user access restrictions apply). Alternatively, you can ask your institutional, university, or local library for assistance—or purchase documents directly from the publisher. You may also find the information you’re seeking by searching Google Scholar.

Survey reveals what young people need for good health, VicHealth, (29 September 2021). A new VicHealth survey reveals 2 in 3 (68%) of Victoria’s young people aged 18-25 believe they have a role to play in helping plan and create healthier local communities. The survey also highlighted what Victoria’s young people and kids need for good physical and mental wellbeing, during and after the pandemic.
- Young people aged 18-25 key findings: For 7 in 10 (71%) young people, staying socially connected with others has become one of the most important issues during the pandemic. Almost 7 in 10 (69%) young people said having nowhere near home to do the sports or activities they enjoy has an impact on their physical activity.
- Victoria’s parents and carers of kids aged 6-17 years key findings: 9 in 10 (90%) parents believe that social connection is important for their child’s mental wellbeing. And almost 7 in 10 (68%) parents said having a limited number of physical activity spaces (eg playgrounds, parks and bike paths) near home has an impact on their kids’ physical activity.
- In 2020, the VicHealth Coronavirus Victorian Wellbeing Impact studies found the health and wellbeing of Victoria’s young people aged 18 to 24 years was impacted during the pandemic in the following ways: 2 in 5 (42%) found it difficult to connect with friends and family; 1 in 5 (19%) were physically inactive (did 30 minutes or more of physical activity, which was enough to raise their breathing rate, once or less per week).
Kids’ fitness is at risk while they miss sport and hobbies — but mums are getting more physical, Tim Olds, Carol Maher, Verity Booth, The Conversation, (13 September 2021). For most of our lives, the rhythms of our days are governed by crystallised routines: we get up, have breakfast, go to school or work, have lunch, dinner, watch TV, go to bed. For families, weekly routines often revolve around kids’ sport or active hobbies. A number of surveys report changes in parents’ and kids’ physical activity and screen time during lockdowns. But what will this mean for their long term health and fitness?
Canada could face hit to youth sport following COVID-19 pandemic, Michael Houston, Inside the Games, (6 April 2021). A national study on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic by the Canada Games Council (CGC) has revealed one in three young people are unsure if they will return to sport following the safe return to play.
Junior sports uphill battle after COVID-19, Mirage, (30 March 2021). New research involving interviews with players and parents, coaches and administrators across South Australia paints a confronting picture about the impact of the pandemic on the mental health and physical activity of young sport participants. The research also identified the real challenges many smaller clubs face in re-engaging volunteers back to the sector. Dr Elliott says the findings show it’s important for community sporting organisations to reconsider the message they want to send to potential players and families. “The social nature of community sport could be ‘branded’ as improving social, mental, and physical health, and with a ‘new’ focus on how fun and enjoyment and the competitive nature of sport can co-exist as part of a holistic sporting endeavour. In this way, sporting clubs serve a more comprehensive purpose for youth sport stakeholders and the wider community.”
Physical activity— the forgotten core area of child development during the pandemic, Tracy Vaillancourt, The Globe & Mail, (15 March 2021). While the learning loss, mental health, and social well-being of children has been considered in earnest by key stakeholders such as educators, parents, and healthcare providers, far less attention has been paid to the impact of COVID-19 on physical development.
Golf's summer boom, Golf Australia, (11 March 2021). “Golf is being seen for exactly what it is: a safe, outdoor, healthy and sociable way to spend time,” said Sutherland. “Every bit of data that we’ve collected since the beginning of last year has reinforced what we’ve seen and heard anecdotally – that golf clubs and facilities were thriving again. “Our job is to ensure these increases are a part of a long-term trend, and are not just a temporary spike. We are about continuing to build on the ground that has been made.” Sutherland said participation programs such as Get Into Golf, the MyGolf junior clinics and Vision 2025, the women’s participation strategy, had all made an impact at grass roots level. “Golf delivers significant physical and mental health benefits to its participants, which has been particularly valuable over the past 12 months. It’s the perfect game for social distancing. “It’s a game for everyone, and it’s a game for life.”
- The 10-14 years age bracket jumped 30.2 percent, the 20-24 years group leapt by 54.5 percent and the 25-29 years group rose by 49.8 percent over the summer months.
App based exercise becomes answer to fitness woes during lockdown, Deakin University, (15 February 2021). A national study into how people maintained their physical activity during last year's pandemic restrictions has revealed digital platforms are an effective way to help people stay fit when access to other forms of organised exercise is restricted. "We found that 39 per cent of adults used digital platforms and they were more than twice as likely to meet the moderate to vigorous intensity physical activity guidelines set by the World Health Organization and the Australian Government, and more than three times more likely to meet the muscle strengthening guidelines," Dr Parker said.

Supporting Regional Clubs Research: Interim Report, Regional Sport Victoria, (October 2021). Responses to this survey paint a picture of the challenges faced by community club, leagues, and associations throughout regional Victoria, particularly due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. These survey results raise concerns in three key areas: the impact of COVID-19 on volunteers, member and volunteer participation and retention, and the demand for grants and other assistance. Some key findings relating to young people include:
- 29% of respondents completed the survey during the strictest lockdown rules for regional Victoria, the easing of restrictions has not made for a more positive outlook for respondents, with many reporting that the stop-start nature of seasons or having no set return to play date making it impossible to plan for future events and meaning, "we're unsure of what the future looks like".
- 42% of organisations reported a decrease in participants over the past twelve months, whilst 30% saw a decrease in volunteers by an average of 25%.
- Junior boys and senior men appear to have been the hardest hit by decreasing numbers, with 38% and 23% of respondents respectively reporting these groups to be the most affected within their organisation. While the reason for decrease in senior men is less clear, many respondents speculated that junior boys were more interested in casual, recreational activities, such as cycling and skateboarding, as a means to spend time with friends rather than structured sport, especially as it hadn't been going ahead.
- A number of clubs and leagues have adapted with the times and taken approaches that have worked for them. Some initiatives highlighted included, more inclusive uniforms for a netball competition leading to increased participation; Orienteering Victoria's use of an app so people could participate from home/anywhere; requiring parents to volunteer (or pay a small fee) for children to participate at a Little Athletics centre.
Active Recovery Curriculum: evaluation report, Centre for Sport Physical Education & Activity Research (spear) for Youth Sport Trust, (August 2021). Active Recovery Curriculums (ARCs) prioritise physical activity and time outdoors at school as a way to super-charge recovery speed and outcomes following the national lockdowns associated with Covid-19. The Youth Sport Trust commissioned spear, The Centre for Sport, Physical Education & Activity Research at Canterbury Christchurch University to undertake research into ARCs. The research captures how ARCs can be implemented most effectively and demonstrates the value of physical activity in achieving positive outcomes for children following disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The research found that:
- Following lockdown restrictions pupils had reduced physical fitness, decreased wellbeing, low level behavioural issues, and a loss of ability to concentrate in class.
- Since taking part in an Active Recovery Curriculum, young people increased their physical activity, wellbeing had improved, and academic progress had improved.
- Young people want to do more physical activity and would like to have more lessons outside.
- As examples, successful implementation of ARCs involves a whole school approach, activity every-day, a focus on health and lifestyle, and a demonstration of how skills transfer across and beyond sport.
The Pandemic Impact on Girls in Sport, Canadian Women & Sport, (July 2021). COVID-19 has profoundly impacted society, an impact that we will feel for years to come. Within sport, COVID-19 has resulted in huge revenue losses and deep cuts to programming. Every individual involved in sport, from leaders to athletes to coaches, at all levels of sport, felt these changes. But, the impact of those changes were likely not be experienced equally by all. Reviewing sport participation statistics from before COVID-19, fewer girls participated in sport compared to boys and girls experienced unique barriers to sport. The Pandemic Impact on Girls in Sport report, which collected data from over 5,000 Canadian families, shows that 1 in 4 girls are not committed to returning to sport. If we don’t act now to counter this trend, we might realize a new normal of over 350,000 girls sitting on the sidelines in the post-COVID-19 world.
New report shows how COVID-19 has accelerated fundamental change in Australian sports industry, Deakin University, (3 June 2021). A new report shows how the pandemic disrupted and transformed the practices of the Australian sport industry, suggesting a way out of COVID-19 for the global sport industry. The report from Deakin University, Swinburne University of Technology and sports thought leadership summit, SportNXT, on the impact of COVID-19 on Australian sport suggests the pandemic not only disrupted the industry but accelerated long term trends that are fundamentally changing how sport is consumed, delivered and managed.
- Disruptor And Accelerator: covid-19’s Impact On The Australian Sport Industry
Return to sport: the impact of Covid-19 on youth activity in sport, Canada Games Council, (April 2021). The Canada Games Council (CGC), in partnership with IMI International, issued a national study on the impact of the pandemic on youth activity in sport. More than 2,000 Canadians ages 13 and over, including 600 youth between the ages of 13-24, were asked if once COVID restrictions were lifted whether they planned to return to sport. As many as one in three youth were unsure if they would return and 20 percent of active participants answered they did not plan on returning. Key findings from the study include:
- A majority of youth/teens describe sports restrictions during the Covid-19 Lockdown as “Sad” and “Unfortunately Necessary”
- 1 in 3 Canadian youth were unsure if they would return to sport
- 1 in 5 active Canadian youth (20 percent) say they do not intend to return to sport after the COVID-19 restrictions are lifted
- 69% of Canadians feel that sports will be essential in getting teens/youth motivated and engaged after the COVID restrictions.
- 84% of Canadian youth/teen parents believe that sport has a positive impact on their child's mental health and/or stress levels
This Girl Can Week: supporting Victorian women to be active again after COVID—, VicHealth, (March 2021). VicHealth research suggests that during 2020 and the Coronavirus pandemic, women’s physical activity levels were more severely impacted than men’s, with half of Victorian women exercising less than before Coronavirus and 3 in 4 women stopping sport. VicHealth’s Coronavirus Victorian Wellbeing Impact Study of over 2000 Victorians found:
- 1 in 2 (47%) women were exercising less during restrictions than before the pandemic;
- In the second wave of the pandemic, 57% of Victorian women reported low motivation as the reason they decreased or stopped being active (compared with 43% of men);
- Women’s participation in sport was severely impeded with 3 out of 4 women stopping their involvement in sport altogether, whereas only 2 out of 4 men’s sport routines were impacted negatively.
- 2 out of 5 (39%) turned to exercising at home for the first time during the pandemic;
- 19% of women who exercised at home said they hadn’t been active before;
- Of women who exercised at home during the pandemic, around 57% used online exercise programs to stay active;
- 40% of women who started exercising at home for the first time have continued to do so.
- Major barriers for women getting active at home included juggling childcare responsibilities and being able to prioritise their exercise.
The Impact of the Covid-19 Pandemic on Teenage Girls’ Lives and Physical Activity, Women in Sport, (March 2021). Funded by Comic Relief, this research looked to understand how the Covid-19 pandemic has affected the lives of teenage girls and their relationship with sport and physical activity. The research showed that lockdown has led girls to recognise the value of exercise for physical and mental health. Less positively, half of the girls (51%) surveyed were concerned that they were losing their fitness and 45% worried that it would be hard to get back into the habit of sport and exercise after the pandemic. Many have lost confidence in their sporting ability (41%) and many more are worried about being in large groups again (40%). With this in mind, we have put together three recommendations which will ensure teenage girls are given the guidance and support they need as they navigate their way back to activity and through the easing of restrictions. We are calling for:
- More opportunities to be provided both in and out of school for girls to take part in sport and physical activity that meets their needs.
- Action by local authorities to ensure outdoor spaces are safe and accessible to girls.
- Online exercise offers that meet girls’ needs.
2021 Outdoor Participation Trends Report, Outdoor Foundation (USA), (March 2021). In 2020, 53 percent of Americans ages 6 and over participated in outdoor recreation at least once, the highest participation rate on record. As the COVID-19 pandemic ravaged communities and forced a nationwide shutdown, outdoor spaces became places of refuge to safely socialize, improve physical and mental health, connect with family and recover from screen fatigue. Remarkably, 7.1 million more Americans participated in outdoor recreation in 2020 than in the year prior. Despite these gains, nearly half of the U.S. population did not share in the proven, positive health outcomes of outdoor physical activity.
Women’s work: The impact of the COVID crisis on Australian women, Danielle Wood, Kate Griffiths, and Tom Crowley, Grattan Institute Report No.2021-01, (March 2021). The COVID recession was Australia’s deepest since the Great Depression. And while all Australians felt some effects, the economic pain was not shared equally. This recession hit young people, those in insecure work, and women particularly hard. Indeed, women are recovering from a ‘triple-whammy’ – they were more likely to lose their jobs, more likely to do a lot more unpaid work, and less likely to get government support.
Annual Disability and Activity Survey 2020-21, Activity Alliance (UK), (February 2021). Evidence shows disabled people’s lives have been the hardest hit by COVID-19. Our second Annual Survey reveals the stark impact of this crisis on disabled people’s activity levels. Key findings from the report include:
- Twice as many disabled people felt that coronavirus greatly reduced their ability to do sport or physical activity compared to non-disabled people (27% vs 13%).
- The pandemic has made disabled people feel that they do not have the opportunity to be as active as they want to, compared to non-disabled people (29% vs 44%).
- Respondents said the lack of activity has led to both their physical and mental health being harder to manage. Feelings of loneliness and social isolation were frequently voiced.
- A fear of contracting the virus (35% vs 13%), the impact on their health (31% vs 13%), a lack of space (23% vs 18%) and support to be able to exercise safely at home (16% vs 5%), have become significant barriers for disabled people, compared to non-disabled people.
- Almost a quarter of disabled people stated that they had not received enough information about how to be active during the pandemic (23% vs 13%).
Children's activity levels down but many embrace new opportunities, Sport England, (14 January 2021). Our latest Active Lives Children and Young People Survey shows teenage boys were hardest hit by the pandemic but girls became more active as they found alternative ways to be active.
Survey reveals exercise habits during lockdown, SportWales, (26 May 2020). Walking is the most popular activity among those people who are staying active. According to the survey, 59% of Welsh adults say that they have walked for leisure in the last week, with the 55+ age group the most likely to be doing this. The Joe Wicks factor has certainly been felt in Wales, with 30% of people doing some form of home-based physical activity in the past week, either by following a video or online workout, or by creating their own session. This sort of fitness activity has proven to be even more popular with 16-34 year olds, as half of this age group report doing a home workout in the last week. Despite the overall willingness to be active, only 56% of adults say that they are finding exercise enjoyable and satisfying at this time. Among the reasons for this is the fact that 40% of adults say they do not find exercising on their own enjoyable. Females, younger adults, and those from lower socio-economic grades are more likely to say this.
Policy brief: COVID-19 and the need for action on mental health, United Nations, (13 May 2020). Although the COVID-19 crisis is, in the first instance, a physical health crisis, it has the seeds of a major mental health crisis as well, if action is not taken. Moreover, specific populations groups are showing high degrees of COVID-19-related psychological distress. In every community, there are numerous older adults and people with pre-existing health conditions who are terrified and lonely. Emotional difficulties among children and adolescents are exacerbated by family stress, social isolation, with some facing increased abuse, disrupted education and uncertainty about their futures, occurring at critical points in their emotional development. Women are bearing a large brunt of the stress in the home as well as disproportionate impacts more generally. And people caught in fragile humanitarian and conflict settings risk having their mental health needs overlooked entirely.
Getting Australia Active III: A systems approach to physical activity for policy makers, Bellew B, Nau T, Smith B, Bauman A (Eds.), The Australian Prevention Partnership Centre and The University of Sydney, (April 2020). GAA III provides design specifications on effective policies and programs across eight policy domains, guidance on priority investments, case studies, and links to online resources.
- The sport and recreation domain and physical activity (2020). Everyone can benefit from moderate-to-vigorous physical activity during sport. To increase participation in sport in Australia, there needs to be: A paradigm shift towards a ‘sport for all’ model – the idea that sport is not just about elite performance; A repositioning of the sports system away from organised competitive sport and more towards social formats, targeting people across the life course.
New exercise habits forming during coronavirus crisis, Sport England, (14 April 2020). Carried out earlier this month, after the government announced its social distancing guidelines, the new figures show 62% of adults in England say it’s more important to be active now, compared to before coronavirus. Unsurprisingly, the restrictions on movement have led to new habits forming, with walking, cycling and home workouts now the most popular forms of exercise. Walking tops the standings with 59% of adults using their daily activity to go for a walk, while 44% of people are doing home-based activity (including 23% doing online workouts), and 14% are using informal play and games to keep active. Cycling is also proving to be a popular family activity, with 18% of those who are cycling, doing so with children in their household. While 20% of those doing home-based fitness online are doing it with children in their household.
- Sport England Research - Are new habits forming during the crisis? Rory Palmer, sports think tank, (15 April 2020). This data presents some interesting questions for policy-makers in public health, active travel and in the physical activity, exercise and sports communities. The crucial question policy-makers need to be asking is what might prevent people from building more regular exercise or opting for more walking or cycling into their usual travel habits in the longterm.
PwC’s Sports Survey 2020: Sports industry: system rebooting, PwC, (2020). As expected, the fifth edition of the PwC’s Sports Survey closely reviews the short- and long-term consequences of a crisis unprecedented in the history of modern sport. Against this backdrop, we’ve delved into the rapidly evolving sports media ecosystem, as well as the opportunities and challenges of emancipating esports as a new discipline alongside its physical equivalent.
The future of Australian Sport: megatrends shaping the sports sector over coming decades, Hajkowicz, S.A., Cook, H., Wilhelmseder, L., Boughen, N., A Consultancy Report for the Australian Sports Commission by the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), (2013). The Australian Sports Commission (ASC) has partnered with Australia's peak science agency, the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), to jointly conduct research into the future of Australian sport. The sports played in Australia, as well as how and why we play them, are changing over time. Six megatrends have been indentified within The Future of Australian Sport report, which will impact on the makeup of sport in Australia over the next 30 years.

Physical activity, mental health and well-being of adults during initial COVID-19 containment strategies: A multi-country cross-sectional analysis, James Faulkner, Wendy O’Brien, Bronagh McGrane, et.al., Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport, Volume 24(4), pp.320-326, (April 2021). An online survey was disseminated to adults (n = 8,425; 44.5 ± 14.8y) residing in the UK, Ireland, New Zealand and Australia within the first 2-6 weeks of government-mandated COVID-19 restrictions. Participants who reported a negative change in exercise behaviour from before initial COVID-19 restrictions to during the initial COVID-19 restrictions demonstrated poorer mental health and well-being compared to those demonstrating either a positive-or no change in their exercise behaviour. Whilst women reported more positive changes in exercise behaviour, young people (18-29y) reported more negative changes. Individuals who had more positive exercise behaviours reported better mental health and well-being. Public health interventions that encourage PA should target specific groups (e.g., men, young adults) who are most vulnerable to the negative effects of physical distancing and/or self-isolation.
Exploring the Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Youth Sport and Physical Activity Participation Trends, Georgia Teare, Marijke Taks, sustainability, Volume 13(4), 1744, (February 2021). The COVID-19 pandemic offers youth sport organizations the opportunity to anticipate consumer behaviour trends and proactively improve their program offerings for more satisfying experiences for consumers post-pandemic. This conceptual paper explores potential impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on changing youth sport and physical activity preferences and trends to inform sport and physical activity providers. Drawing from social ecology theory, assumptions for future trends for youth sport and physical activity are presented. Three trends for youth sport and physical activity as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic are predicted: (1) youths’ preferences from organized to non-organized contexts become amplified; (2) reasons for participating in sport or any physical activity shift for youth as well as parents/guardians; (3) consumers reconceptualize value expectations from youth sport and physical activity organizations. The proposed assumptions need to be tested in future research. It is anticipated that sport organizations can respond to changing trends and preferences by innovating in three areas: (1) programming, (2) marketing, and (3) resource management.
Changes in physical activity and sedentary behaviours from before to during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown: a systematic review, Stephanie Stockwell, Mike Trott, Mark Tully, et.al., BMJ Open Sport and Exercise Medicine, Volume 7(1), (February 2021). In March 2020, several countries banned unnecessary outdoor activities during COVID-19, commonly called ‘lockdowns. These lockdowns have the potential to impact associated levels of physical activity and sedentary behaviour. Sixty six articles met the inclusion criteria and were included in the review (total n=86 981). Changes in physical activity were reported in 64 studies, with the majority of studies reporting decreases in physical activity and increases in sedentary behaviours during their respective lockdowns across several populations, including children and patients with a variety of medical conditions.
The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on wellbeing and cognitive functioning of older adults, Sarah De Pue, Céline Gillebert, Eva Dierckx, et.al, Scientific Reports, Volume 11, Article #4636, (February 2021). COVID-19 took a heavy toll on older adults. In Belgium, by the end of August, 93% of deaths due to COVID-19 were aged 65 or older. Similar trends were observed in other countries. As a consequence, older adults were identified as a group at risk, and strict governmental restrictions were imposed on them. This has caused concerns about their mental health. Using an online survey, this study established the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on adults aged 65 years or older, and which factors moderate this impact. Participants reported a significant decrease in activity level, sleep quality and wellbeing during the COVID-19 pandemic. Depression was strongly related to reported declines in activity level, sleep quality, wellbeing and cognitive functioning. Our study shows that the COVID-19 pandemic had a severe impact on the mental health of older adults. This implies that this group at risk requires attention of governments and healthcare.
The Use of Digital Platforms for Adults’ and Adolescents’ Physical Activity During the COVID-19 Pandemic (Our Life at Home): Survey Study, Kate Parker; Riaz Uddin; Nicola D Ridgers, et.al., Journal of Medical Internet Research, Volume 23(2), (February 2021). This study aimed to examine associations between the use of digital platforms and adherence to the physical activity guidelines among Australian adults and adolescents during the COVID-19 stay-at-home restrictions in April and May 2020. Digital platforms include streaming services for exercise (eg, YouTube, Instagram, and Facebook); subscriber fitness programs, via an app or online (eg, Centr and MyFitnessPal); facilitated online live or recorded classes, via platforms such as Zoom (eg, dance, sport training, and fitness class); sport- or activity-specific apps designed by sporting organizations for participants to keep up their skills (eg, TeamBuildr); active electronic games (eg, Xbox Kinect); and/or online or digital training or racing platforms (eg, Zwift, FullGaz, and Rouvy). Overall, 39.5% (469/1188) of adults and 26.5% (255/963) of adolescents reported using digital platforms for physical activity. Digital platform users were more likely than nonusers to meet MVPA and MSE guidelines during the COVID-19 stay-at-home restrictions in April and May 2020. Digital platforms may play a critical role in helping to support physical activity engagement when access to facilities or opportunities for physical activity outside the home are restricted.
Understanding the impact of COVID-19 on youth sport in Australia and consequences for future participation and retention, Sam Elliott, M. J. Drummond, I. Prichard, et.al., BMC Public Health, Volume 21, Article number: 448 (2021). During the focus groups and interviews, participants regularly reflected on ‘what matters most’ for youth sport and described the pandemic as an opportunity to refocus and re-imagine sport once the pandemic recedes. For instance, a common notion conveyed by participants was the re-evaluation of their purpose, responsibility and involvement in sport. Related to this was the belief of many participants that sport had become too focussed on competition and winning before the lockdown occurred. Other participants mentioned the many benefits that sport brings by way of a sense of social connection and community. Claire, 82, stated that a shift in focus from the actual playing of sport to the many wider benefits that sport brings would occur as participants reflect post-lockdown: “I don’t think many people realise just how important sport was, it’s not just kicking goals or throwing goals or, you know, taking marks or placing tackles or dribbling up the court, it doesn’t matter. That’s simply the vehicle for the wellbeing of communities and that social fabric.”
The impact of Covid-19 pandemic on elderly mental health, Debanjan Banerjee, International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, Volume 35(12), pp.1466-1467, (December 2020). Social distancing, though a major strategy to fight COVID-19, is also a major cause of loneliness, particularly in settings like nursing-care or old-age homes which is an independent risk factor for depression, anxiety disorders, and suicide. Social connectedness is vital during the public health breakdown, more so when “ageism” becomes a factor for stigmatization in this marginalized population.
COVID-19, Aging, and Mental Health: Lessons From the First Six Months, Ipsit V.Vahia, The American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, Volume 28(7), pp.691-694, (July 2020). In an effort to enforce social distancing policies, there have been lockdowns of varying stringency in most parts of the world. Because of their being at a higher risk of negative outcomes from COVID-19, older adults may self-restrict their activities and interactions even beyond the general population.This, in turn, appears to trigger a range of impact including increasing isolation and loneliness, disrupting daily routines and activities, changed access to essential services such as doctor's visits.
Physical Activity and Exercise for Older People During and After the Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pandemic: A Path to Recovery, Catherine Said, Frances Batchelor, Gustavo Duque, Journal of Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medicine, Volume 21(7), pp.977-979, (July 2020). The current Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has disproportionately impacted older people. The most immediately obvious impact is the devastatingly high mortality rate; 80% of reported mortalities in the United States are in people over the age of 65, and case-fatality increases with age. Countries around the world have implemented a range of “lock down”’ and “‘social distancing” strategies to limit the spread of COVID-19, which have undoubtedly been essential in “flattening the curve” in many countries. As countries review their restrictions and guidelines, given the high mortality and morbidity rates in older people, it is likely that older people will be advised to continue to adhere to strict lockdowns and social distancing protocols, particularly if they have other acute or chronic health conditions. These restrictions are likely to remain in place until a vaccine has been developed and widely disseminated.4,5 Given this, it is important to seriously consider the likely medium- to long-term impact of these restrictions on the health of older people and consider ways to minimize any negative consequences.
The participation in organised sport doubles the odds of meeting physical activity recommendations in 7–12-year-old children, Kerli Mooses, Merike Kull, European Journal of Sport Sciences, Volume 20(4), pp.563-569, (2020). The purpose of this study was to determine the contributing role of organised sport participation to daily physical activity (PA) and to describe the PA during training. Children aged 7–12 wore the accelerometer for 1 week. Children with activity data for a minimum of 5 days were included in the analysis (n = 492). More than half (52.5%) of the children participated in an organised sport at least once a week. Participation in organised sport three or more times a week increased the odds of meeting PA recommendations. On average, children acquired 23.3 ± 15.3 min of moderate to vigorous PA (MVPA) during trainings, while boys accrued more MVPA minutes compared to girls and the training time MVPA decreased with age, respectively. Each additional MVPA minute during training increased daily MVPA by 1.3 min. On days with training children accumulated 24.9 more MVPA minutes compared to days without training. In conclusion, these findings highlight the importance of organised sport in supporting the PA levels of children. However, participation in the organised sport only is not sufficient to meet PA recommendations, and therefore, PA should be supported throughout the day.

Women

Women were consistently more purposely active across the pandemic and are more likely than men to participate in the types of physical activity which were still possible during restrictions.

Women

In October 2020, using April-June data for 2019 and 2020, AusPlay reported that, as participation frequency increased, so did the gap between participation rates for both males and females. Data collected during July-September suggests that increased high frequency participation was only sustained by females.

The report also stated that females have consistently been more active on purpose across both waves of the pandemic. In contrast, the male data shows pronounced peaks and troughs, which may be explained by established activity behaviour. Women are more likely than men to participate in the types of physical activity, such as walking for daily exercise, yoga and pilates, which were still possible during periods of lockdown. Conversely, males play more organised sport, which was turned off and on throughout 2020-21 (in some states and territories).

The Grattan Institute (2021) reported the COVID-19 recession hit women much harder than men and is expected to compound women’s lifetime economic disadvantage. Women lost more jobs than men – almost 8% at the peak of the crisis, compared to 4% for men. They shouldered more of the increase in unpaid work – including supervising babies, young children, and children learning remotely – taking on an extra hour each day more than men, on top of their existing heavier load; and they were less likely to get government support – JobKeeper excluded short-term casuals, who in the hardest-hit industries are mostly women.

The report also stated that the crisis exacerbated existing gender inequalities with women working from home combined with school and childcare closures and increased unpaid work. Many women reduced their paid work and study, especially mothers. Single mothers are yet to recover and were already among the most economically vulnerable. The ‘extra’ career interruptions during COVID-19 compound existing economic disadvantage for women.

With such an impact on women, the data demonstrating that women were more likely to maintain or increase physical activity – through individual activities that could be adopted from home during the pandemic – is encouraging and demonstrates women are actively seeking for different and more flexible ways to be active that fit around their everyday lives and challenges.

New research reveals running boom during Covid-19 pandemic, World Athletics, (2 June 2021). Across 10 surveyed countries, four in 10 people consider themselves to be runners and 30 per cent of those run at least once a week. Distinct from many other participation sports, recreational running has an equal participation split. Of all runners, 53% are men and 47% are women. More than a fifth of all runners reveal that they run more often than they did previously as a result of Covid-19 and most in that group say they will continue to run more often once the pandemic is over.
New parents: does golf do enough? by Martin Blake, Golf Australia (11 March 2021). No answers in this article, but an example of a sport starting to engage with the questions of a known drop in participation.
- Kurdas, who drives GA’s Vision 2025 female engagement strategy, refuses to accept this as inevitable bleeding. She insists that golf needs to change to cater for young families and stop the problem. “The question is, do we have to lose them at all?” she said this week. “Retention is much easier and cheaper than developing new members. In fact, we know that. If you’ve got members already, do we have to lose them simply because they are creating a family? “The other question is: if we do lose them, why – culturally – are we okay with this? Some of them will come back, some won’t get back. For me, it’s a business case. What figure do you put on the years of membership revenue lost by not tailoring our golf offerings to suit the evolving needs of new families? “Who would those lost people have brought to the game as new members had they stayed engaged. What’s the missed opportunity of clubs looking to convert their children into golfers? Do those children become footballers or cricketers or netballers or basketballers because golf’s not in their lives and golf didn’t make a place for their parents when they became parents?”
- “I think it would be great for the clubs to think what they do about this,” she said. “Don’t expect the customer to fit with what we do. Have a think about who our customers are, and what actually suits them.”
- “I think that golf clubs should look at having a creche, like the gyms do. As a game we don’t necessarily do it that well. And then we wonder why we lose the 25 to 40-year-old women from the game! It’s not rocket science. I think that would be a great option.” A creche? Now there’s an idea. To Golf Australia’s knowledge, the only golf club in Australia that boasts any sort of child-minding facility is Royal Sydney, and that’s part of a broader entertainment complex that includes a gym, a pool, tennis, bowls, squash and croquet – akin to a country club.
The #MomsGotGame Campaign: What the Research Says About Mom’s Participation in Physical Activity and Sport, Veronica Allan, SIRC, (9 September 2020). The purpose of this document is to provide a summary of the evidence that underpinned the development of the #MomsGotGame campaign. To this end, a literature review focused on mother’s participation in physical activity in sport was conducted. The benefits of physical activity and sport participation cannot be understated. And while moms recognize the importance of physical activity for their health and wellbeing, they often prioritize the needs of their children, household, or employer above their own. Despite the fact that many moms want to participate in physical activity and sport, additional parenting duties and limited access to fitness facilities and organized activities (e.g., exercise classes, sports leagues) are creating additional challenges to being active. As such, resources and support provided through #MomsGotGame will consider the unique challenges and circumstances for mothers during the COVID-19 pandemic. To address or overcome these barriers, messages and programs should focus on increasing positive attitudes about mom’s participation in physical activity and sport (e.g., self-compassion, encouragement from others) and reframing beliefs about mom’s social roles (e.g., shared household and childcare duties). The delivery of programs and messages using digital technologies (e.g., mobile apps) represents another promising avenue for promotion.

The Pandemic Impact on Girls in Sport, Canadian Women & Sport, (July 2021). COVID-19 has profoundly impacted society, an impact that we will feel for years to come. Within sport, COVID-19 has resulted in huge revenue losses and deep cuts to programming. Every individual involved in sport, from leaders to athletes to coaches, at all levels of sport, felt these changes. But, the impact of those changes were likely not be experienced equally by all. Reviewing sport participation statistics from before COVID-19, fewer girls participated in sport compared to boys and girls experienced unique barriers to sport. The Pandemic Impact on Girls in Sport report, which collected data from over 5,000 Canadian families, shows that 1 in 4 girls are not committed to returning to sport. If we don’t act now to counter this trend, we might realize a new normal of over 350,000 girls sitting on the sidelines in the post-COVID-19 world.
This Girl Can Week: supporting Victorian women to be active again after COVID—, VicHealth, (March 2021). VicHealth research suggests that during 2020 and the Coronavirus pandemic, women’s physical activity levels were more severely impacted than men’s, with half of Victorian women exercising less than before Coronavirus and 3 in 4 women stopping sport. VicHealth’s Coronavirus Victorian Wellbeing Impact Study of over 2000 Victorians found:
- 1 in 2 (47%) women were exercising less during restrictions than before the pandemic;
- In the second wave of the pandemic, 57% of Victorian women reported low motivation as the reason they decreased or stopped being active (compared with 43% of men);
- Women’s participation in sport was severely impeded with 3 out of 4 women stopping their involvement in sport altogether, whereas only 2 out of 4 men’s sport routines were impacted negatively.
- 2 out of 5 (39%) turned to exercising at home for the first time during the pandemic;
- 19% of women who exercised at home said they hadn’t been active before;
- Of women who exercised at home during the pandemic, around 57% used online exercise programs to stay active;
- 40% of women who started exercising at home for the first time have continued to do so.
- Major barriers for women getting active at home included juggling childcare responsibilities and being able to prioritise their exercise.
The Impact of the Covid-19 Pandemic on Teenage Girls’ Lives and Physical Activity, Women in Sport, (March 2021). Funded by Comic Relief, this research looked to understand how the Covid-19 pandemic has affected the lives of teenage girls and their relationship with sport and physical activity. The research showed that lockdown has led girls to recognise the value of exercise for physical and mental health. Less positively, half of the girls (51%) surveyed were concerned that they were losing their fitness and 45% worried that it would be hard to get back into the habit of sport and exercise after the pandemic. Many have lost confidence in their sporting ability (41%) and many more are worried about being in large groups again (40%). With this in mind, we have put together three recommendations which will ensure teenage girls are given the guidance and support they need as they navigate their way back to activity and through the easing of restrictions. We are calling for:
- More opportunities to be provided both in and out of school for girls to take part in sport and physical activity that meets their needs.
- Action by local authorities to ensure outdoor spaces are safe and accessible to girls.
- Online exercise offers that meet girls’ needs.
Women’s work: The impact of the COVID crisis on Australian women, Danielle Wood, Kate Griffiths, and Tom Crowley, Grattan Institute Report No.2021-01, (March 2021). The COVID recession was Australia’s deepest since the Great Depression. And while all Australians felt some effects, the economic pain was not shared equally. This recession hit young people, those in insecure work, and women particularly hard. Indeed, women are recovering from a ‘triple-whammy’ – they were more likely to lose their jobs, more likely to do a lot more unpaid work, and less likely to get government support.
Children's activity levels down but many embrace new opportunities, Sport England, (14 January 2021). Our latest Active Lives Children and Young People Survey shows teenage boys were hardest hit by the pandemic but girls became more active as they found alternative ways to be active.
Survey reveals exercise habits during lockdown, SportWales, (26 May 2020). Walking is the most popular activity among those people who are staying active. According to the survey, 59% of Welsh adults say that they have walked for leisure in the last week, with the 55+ age group the most likely to be doing this. The Joe Wicks factor has certainly been felt in Wales, with 30% of people doing some form of home-based physical activity in the past week, either by following a video or online workout, or by creating their own session. This sort of fitness activity has proven to be even more popular with 16-34 year olds, as half of this age group report doing a home workout in the last week. Despite the overall willingness to be active, only 56% of adults say that they are finding exercise enjoyable and satisfying at this time. Among the reasons for this is the fact that 40% of adults say they do not find exercising on their own enjoyable. Females, younger adults, and those from lower socio-economic grades are more likely to say this.
Policy brief: COVID-19 and the need for action on mental health, United Nations, (13 May 2020). Although the COVID-19 crisis is, in the first instance, a physical health crisis, it has the seeds of a major mental health crisis as well, if action is not taken. Moreover, specific populations groups are showing high degrees of COVID-19-related psychological distress. In every community, there are numerous older adults and people with pre-existing health conditions who are terrified and lonely. Emotional difficulties among children and adolescents are exacerbated by family stress, social isolation, with some facing increased abuse, disrupted education and uncertainty about their futures, occurring at critical points in their emotional development. Women are bearing a large brunt of the stress in the home as well as disproportionate impacts more generally. And people caught in fragile humanitarian and conflict settings risk having their mental health needs overlooked entirely.
Getting Australia Active III: A systems approach to physical activity for policy makers, Bellew B, Nau T, Smith B, Bauman A (Eds.), The Australian Prevention Partnership Centre and The University of Sydney, (April 2020). GAA III provides design specifications on effective policies and programs across eight policy domains, guidance on priority investments, case studies, and links to online resources.
- The sport and recreation domain and physical activity (2020). Everyone can benefit from moderate-to-vigorous physical activity during sport. To increase participation in sport in Australia, there needs to be: A paradigm shift towards a ‘sport for all’ model – the idea that sport is not just about elite performance; A repositioning of the sports system away from organised competitive sport and more towards social formats, targeting people across the life course.
New exercise habits forming during coronavirus crisis, Sport England, (14 April 2020). Carried out earlier this month, after the government announced its social distancing guidelines, the new figures show 62% of adults in England say it’s more important to be active now, compared to before coronavirus. Unsurprisingly, the restrictions on movement have led to new habits forming, with walking, cycling and home workouts now the most popular forms of exercise. Walking tops the standings with 59% of adults using their daily activity to go for a walk, while 44% of people are doing home-based activity (including 23% doing online workouts), and 14% are using informal play and games to keep active. Cycling is also proving to be a popular family activity, with 18% of those who are cycling, doing so with children in their household. While 20% of those doing home-based fitness online are doing it with children in their household.
- Sport England Research - Are new habits forming during the crisis? Rory Palmer, sports think tank, (15 April 2020). This data presents some interesting questions for policy-makers in public health, active travel and in the physical activity, exercise and sports communities. The crucial question policy-makers need to be asking is what might prevent people from building more regular exercise or opting for more walking or cycling into their usual travel habits in the longterm.

Physical activity, mental health and well-being of adults during initial COVID-19 containment strategies: A multi-country cross-sectional analysis, James Faulkner, Wendy O’Brien, Bronagh McGrane, et.al., Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport, Volume 24(4), pp.320-326, (April 2021). An online survey was disseminated to adults (n = 8,425; 44.5 ± 14.8y) residing in the UK, Ireland, New Zealand and Australia within the first 2-6 weeks of government-mandated COVID-19 restrictions. Participants who reported a negative change in exercise behaviour from before initial COVID-19 restrictions to during the initial COVID-19 restrictions demonstrated poorer mental health and well-being compared to those demonstrating either a positive-or no change in their exercise behaviour. Whilst women reported more positive changes in exercise behaviour, young people (18-29y) reported more negative changes. Individuals who had more positive exercise behaviours reported better mental health and well-being. Public health interventions that encourage PA should target specific groups (e.g., men, young adults) who are most vulnerable to the negative effects of physical distancing and/or self-isolation.
Exploring the Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Youth Sport and Physical Activity Participation Trends, Georgia Teare, Marijke Taks, sustainability, Volume 13(4), 1744, (February 2021). The COVID-19 pandemic offers youth sport organizations the opportunity to anticipate consumer behaviour trends and proactively improve their program offerings for more satisfying experiences for consumers post-pandemic. This conceptual paper explores potential impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on changing youth sport and physical activity preferences and trends to inform sport and physical activity providers. Drawing from social ecology theory, assumptions for future trends for youth sport and physical activity are presented. Three trends for youth sport and physical activity as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic are predicted: (1) youths’ preferences from organized to non-organized contexts become amplified; (2) reasons for participating in sport or any physical activity shift for youth as well as parents/guardians; (3) consumers reconceptualize value expectations from youth sport and physical activity organizations. The proposed assumptions need to be tested in future research. It is anticipated that sport organizations can respond to changing trends and preferences by innovating in three areas: (1) programming, (2) marketing, and (3) resource management.
Changes in physical activity and sedentary behaviours from before to during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown: a systematic review, Stephanie Stockwell, Mike Trott, Mark Tully, et.al., BMJ Open Sport and Exercise Medicine, Volume 7(1), (February 2021). In March 2020, several countries banned unnecessary outdoor activities during COVID-19, commonly called ‘lockdowns. These lockdowns have the potential to impact associated levels of physical activity and sedentary behaviour. Sixty six articles met the inclusion criteria and were included in the review (total n=86 981). Changes in physical activity were reported in 64 studies, with the majority of studies reporting decreases in physical activity and increases in sedentary behaviours during their respective lockdowns across several populations, including children and patients with a variety of medical conditions.
The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on wellbeing and cognitive functioning of older adults, Sarah De Pue, Céline Gillebert, Eva Dierckx, et.al, Scientific Reports, Volume 11, Article #4636, (February 2021). COVID-19 took a heavy toll on older adults. In Belgium, by the end of August, 93% of deaths due to COVID-19 were aged 65 or older. Similar trends were observed in other countries. As a consequence, older adults were identified as a group at risk, and strict governmental restrictions were imposed on them. This has caused concerns about their mental health. Using an online survey, this study established the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on adults aged 65 years or older, and which factors moderate this impact. Participants reported a significant decrease in activity level, sleep quality and wellbeing during the COVID-19 pandemic. Depression was strongly related to reported declines in activity level, sleep quality, wellbeing and cognitive functioning. Our study shows that the COVID-19 pandemic had a severe impact on the mental health of older adults. This implies that this group at risk requires attention of governments and healthcare.
The Use of Digital Platforms for Adults’ and Adolescents’ Physical Activity During the COVID-19 Pandemic (Our Life at Home): Survey Study, Kate Parker; Riaz Uddin; Nicola D Ridgers, et.al., Journal of Medical Internet Research, Volume 23(2), (February 2021). This study aimed to examine associations between the use of digital platforms and adherence to the physical activity guidelines among Australian adults and adolescents during the COVID-19 stay-at-home restrictions in April and May 2020. Digital platforms include streaming services for exercise (eg, YouTube, Instagram, and Facebook); subscriber fitness programs, via an app or online (eg, Centr and MyFitnessPal); facilitated online live or recorded classes, via platforms such as Zoom (eg, dance, sport training, and fitness class); sport- or activity-specific apps designed by sporting organizations for participants to keep up their skills (eg, TeamBuildr); active electronic games (eg, Xbox Kinect); and/or online or digital training or racing platforms (eg, Zwift, FullGaz, and Rouvy). Overall, 39.5% (469/1188) of adults and 26.5% (255/963) of adolescents reported using digital platforms for physical activity. Digital platform users were more likely than nonusers to meet MVPA and MSE guidelines during the COVID-19 stay-at-home restrictions in April and May 2020. Digital platforms may play a critical role in helping to support physical activity engagement when access to facilities or opportunities for physical activity outside the home are restricted.
Understanding the impact of COVID-19 on youth sport in Australia and consequences for future participation and retention, Sam Elliott, M. J. Drummond, I. Prichard, et.al., BMC Public Health, Volume 21, Article number: 448 (2021). During the focus groups and interviews, participants regularly reflected on ‘what matters most’ for youth sport and described the pandemic as an opportunity to refocus and re-imagine sport once the pandemic recedes. For instance, a common notion conveyed by participants was the re-evaluation of their purpose, responsibility and involvement in sport. Related to this was the belief of many participants that sport had become too focussed on competition and winning before the lockdown occurred. Other participants mentioned the many benefits that sport brings by way of a sense of social connection and community. Claire, 82, stated that a shift in focus from the actual playing of sport to the many wider benefits that sport brings would occur as participants reflect post-lockdown: “I don’t think many people realise just how important sport was, it’s not just kicking goals or throwing goals or, you know, taking marks or placing tackles or dribbling up the court, it doesn’t matter. That’s simply the vehicle for the wellbeing of communities and that social fabric.”
The impact of Covid-19 pandemic on elderly mental health, Debanjan Banerjee, International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, Volume 35(12), pp.1466-1467, (December 2020). Social distancing, though a major strategy to fight COVID-19, is also a major cause of loneliness, particularly in settings like nursing-care or old-age homes which is an independent risk factor for depression, anxiety disorders, and suicide. Social connectedness is vital during the public health breakdown, more so when “ageism” becomes a factor for stigmatization in this marginalized population.
COVID-19, Aging, and Mental Health: Lessons From the First Six Months, Ipsit V.Vahia, The American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, Volume 28(7), pp.691-694, (July 2020). In an effort to enforce social distancing policies, there have been lockdowns of varying stringency in most parts of the world. Because of their being at a higher risk of negative outcomes from COVID-19, older adults may self-restrict their activities and interactions even beyond the general population.This, in turn, appears to trigger a range of impact including increasing isolation and loneliness, disrupting daily routines and activities, changed access to essential services such as doctor's visits.
Physical Activity and Exercise for Older People During and After the Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pandemic: A Path to Recovery, Catherine Said, Frances Batchelor, Gustavo Duque, Journal of Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medicine, Volume 21(7), pp.977-979, (July 2020). The current Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has disproportionately impacted older people. The most immediately obvious impact is the devastatingly high mortality rate; 80% of reported mortalities in the United States are in people over the age of 65, and case-fatality increases with age. Countries around the world have implemented a range of “lock down”’ and “‘social distancing” strategies to limit the spread of COVID-19, which have undoubtedly been essential in “flattening the curve” in many countries. As countries review their restrictions and guidelines, given the high mortality and morbidity rates in older people, it is likely that older people will be advised to continue to adhere to strict lockdowns and social distancing protocols, particularly if they have other acute or chronic health conditions. These restrictions are likely to remain in place until a vaccine has been developed and widely disseminated.4,5 Given this, it is important to seriously consider the likely medium- to long-term impact of these restrictions on the health of older people and consider ways to minimize any negative consequences.
The participation in organised sport doubles the odds of meeting physical activity recommendations in 7–12-year-old children, Kerli Mooses, Merike Kull, European Journal of Sport Sciences, Volume 20(4), pp.563-569, (2020). The purpose of this study was to determine the contributing role of organised sport participation to daily physical activity (PA) and to describe the PA during training. Children aged 7–12 wore the accelerometer for 1 week. Children with activity data for a minimum of 5 days were included in the analysis (n = 492). More than half (52.5%) of the children participated in an organised sport at least once a week. Participation in organised sport three or more times a week increased the odds of meeting PA recommendations. On average, children acquired 23.3 ± 15.3 min of moderate to vigorous PA (MVPA) during trainings, while boys accrued more MVPA minutes compared to girls and the training time MVPA decreased with age, respectively. Each additional MVPA minute during training increased daily MVPA by 1.3 min. On days with training children accumulated 24.9 more MVPA minutes compared to days without training. In conclusion, these findings highlight the importance of organised sport in supporting the PA levels of children. However, participation in the organised sport only is not sufficient to meet PA recommendations, and therefore, PA should be supported throughout the day.

Older Australians (aged 55+)

Despite the restrictions, older Australians have the desire to be more active and gain access to the physical activities and social interactions reduced through the pandemic.

Older Australians (aged 55+)

Older Australians appear to have been more active during the pandemic as they are more likely to participation in physical activities that could continue during restrictions. However, they have also become more active over a sustained period. When retrospectively tracking national sport and physical activity participation data (Exercise Recreation And Sport Survey and AusPlay research) over the past two decades, it is apparent older Australians were less active than other cohorts back in 2001 but in 2020 are more active overall—although the way they are active is more through ‘softer’ activities like walking:

55+ went from 33.8% in 2001 to 66.8% in 2020;
For the 65+ it went from 33.1% to 66.6%;
And all adults (15+), for comparison, went from 37.1% to 63.7%, but taking out the 55+, the figures for the 15 to 54 went from 38.3% to 62.1%.

This shows that, in the last 20 years, older Australians have made an even bigger effort to increase physical activity (coming from a lower baseline) than the rest of the population.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, older adults were considered as a group at risk of serious illness. A study in the Scientific Reports journal also highlighted warnings from the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the United Nations (UN) that the measures taken by governments regarding social distancing and isolation, especially targeting groups at risk, can result in increased underlying health issues, social isolation and loneliness. This has the potential to lead to enduring mental health impacts if action is not taken to support vulnerable groups.

Possible impacts of social distancing restrictions on older people are reductions in physical activity and social connectedness. Both incidental physical activity (e.g. participation in community activities such as shopping and socialising), and formal exercise (e.g. attendance at exercise classes, gyms, golf, bowls, and other group activities) are likely to be impacted.

According to AusPlay data (accessed October 2021) the top 3 reasons for people aged 55+ to participate in sport and physical activity are health (50.9%), Fun/enjoyment (26.4%), and Social reasons (17%). Because physical activity is linked to multiple health and social benefits, activity and exercise restrictions are likely to have negative effects on older persons physical and mental health.

The pandemic has taken its toll on older Australians, but despite the restrictions, this cohort has the desire to be more active and gain access to the physical activities and social interactions reduced through the pandemic.

Health care considerations for older people during COVID-19 pandemic, World Health Organisation Europe, (accessed 6 September 2021). The COVID-19 pandemic is impacting the global population in drastic ways and, in many countries, older people are facing the most serious threats and challenges. Although all age groups are at risk for contracting the COVID-19 virus, older people face a significant risk of developing severe illness due to physiological changes that come with ageing and existing underlying health conditions.

The AusPlay Survey (AusPlay) is a large scale national population tracking survey funded and led by the Australian Sports Commission that tracks Australian sport and physical recreation participation behaviours to help inform investment, policy and sport delivery. Updated data is released every six months (April and October).
Policy brief: COVID-19 and the need for action on mental health, United Nations, (13 May 2020). Although the COVID-19 crisis is, in the first instance, a physical health crisis, it has the seeds of a major mental health crisis as well, if action is not taken. Moreover, specific populations groups are showing high degrees of COVID-19-related psychological distress. In every community, there are numerous older adults and people with pre-existing health conditions who are terrified and lonely. Emotional difficulties among children and adolescents are exacerbated by family stress, social isolation, with some facing increased abuse, disrupted education and uncertainty about their futures, occurring at critical points in their emotional development. Women are bearing a large brunt of the stress in the home as well as disproportionate impacts more generally. And people caught in fragile humanitarian and conflict settings risk having their mental health needs overlooked entirely.

Marketing Up the Wrong Tree? Organisational Perspectives on Attracting and/or Retaining Older Adults in Sport, Claire Jenkin, Jannique G. Z. van Uffelen, Grant O'Sullivan, et.al., frontiers in Sports and Active Living, (26 November 2021). Physical activity is critical for healthy ageing, however sport participation rates for older adults are very low. The aim of this study was to investigate how sporting organisations perceive sport for older adults. This cross-sectional study surveyed 171 representatives from Australian National and State Sporting Organisations. Older adults are not a high priority group for most sporting organisations, however the benefits of engaging older adults were recognised, particularly in context of increasing participation numbers. A lack of age-appropriate programmes was perceived to be a major barrier of engaging older adults. This lack of programmes stems from older adults being deemed as a less attractive segment than other age groups for sporting organisations. Modifications that sports felt they could make to attract and/or retain older adults included specific marketing and age appropriate opportunities. There was widespread consensus across sporting organisations, suggesting that perceptions of older adult sport participation were comparable across the sector, such as increasing participation numbers and engaging their older fan base. In the context of attracting, and retaining, older adults in sport clubs, it was concluded that most sporting organisations are not (yet) ready to build “age friendly” sporting environments. There is very limited literature on the organisational perspective of older adults and sport, meaning this study is unique in the field. Although sport policy encourages organisations to grow their participation, most organisations do not actively and strategically engage older adults. This research provides an understanding of why this untapped market is not a priority target and provides comprehensive insights for policy makers to better engage with this population group.
Physical activity, mental health and well-being of adults during initial COVID-19 containment strategies: A multi-country cross-sectional analysis, James Faulkner, Wendy O’Brien, Bronagh McGrane, et.al., Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport, Volume 24(4), pp.320-326, (April 2021). An online survey was disseminated to adults (n = 8,425; 44.5 ± 14.8y) residing in the UK, Ireland, New Zealand and Australia within the first 2-6 weeks of government-mandated COVID-19 restrictions. Participants who reported a negative change in exercise behaviour from before initial COVID-19 restrictions to during the initial COVID-19 restrictions demonstrated poorer mental health and well-being compared to those demonstrating either a positive-or no change in their exercise behaviour. Whilst women reported more positive changes in exercise behaviour, young people (18-29y) reported more negative changes. Individuals who had more positive exercise behaviours reported better mental health and well-being. Public health interventions that encourage PA should target specific groups (e.g., men, young adults) who are most vulnerable to the negative effects of physical distancing and/or self-isolation.
The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on wellbeing and cognitive functioning of older adults, Sarah De Pue, Céline Gillebert, Eva Dierckx, et.al, Scientific Reports, Volume 11, Article #4636, (February 2021). COVID-19 took a heavy toll on older adults. In Belgium, by the end of August, 93% of deaths due to COVID-19 were aged 65 or older. Similar trends were observed in other countries. As a consequence, older adults were identified as a group at risk, and strict governmental restrictions were imposed on them. This has caused concerns about their mental health. Using an online survey, this study established the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on adults aged 65 years or older, and which factors moderate this impact. Participants reported a significant decrease in activity level, sleep quality and wellbeing during the COVID-19 pandemic. Depression was strongly related to reported declines in activity level, sleep quality, wellbeing and cognitive functioning. Our study shows that the COVID-19 pandemic had a severe impact on the mental health of older adults. This implies that this group at risk requires attention of governments and healthcare.
The impact of Covid-19 pandemic on elderly mental health, Debanjan Banerjee, International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, Volume 35(12), pp.1466-1467, (December 2020). Social distancing, though a major strategy to fight COVID-19, is also a major cause of loneliness, particularly in settings like nursing-care or old-age homes which is an independent risk factor for depression, anxiety disorders, and suicide. Social connectedness is vital during the public health breakdown, more so when “ageism” becomes a factor for stigmatization in this marginalized population.
COVID-19, Aging, and Mental Health: Lessons From the First Six Months, Ipsit V.Vahia, The American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, Volume 28(7), pp.691-694, (July 2020). In an effort to enforce social distancing policies, there have been lockdowns of varying stringency in most parts of the world. Because of their being at a higher risk of negative outcomes from COVID-19, older adults may self-restrict their activities and interactions even beyond the general population.This, in turn, appears to trigger a range of impact including increasing isolation and loneliness, disrupting daily routines and activities, changed access to essential services such as doctor's visits.
Physical Activity and Exercise for Older People During and After the Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pandemic: A Path to Recovery, Catherine Said, Frances Batchelor, Gustavo Duque, Journal of Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medicine, Volume 21(7), pp.977-979, (July 2020). The current Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has disproportionately impacted older people. The most immediately obvious impact is the devastatingly high mortality rate; 80% of reported mortalities in the United States are in people over the age of 65, and case-fatality increases with age. Countries around the world have implemented a range of “lock down”’ and “‘social distancing” strategies to limit the spread of COVID-19, which have undoubtedly been essential in “flattening the curve” in many countries. As countries review their restrictions and guidelines, given the high mortality and morbidity rates in older people, it is likely that older people will be advised to continue to adhere to strict lockdowns and social distancing protocols, particularly if they have other acute or chronic health conditions. These restrictions are likely to remain in place until a vaccine has been developed and widely disseminated.4,5 Given this, it is important to seriously consider the likely medium- to long-term impact of these restrictions on the health of older people and consider ways to minimize any negative consequences.

People with disability

The effect of the pandemic on participation trends is not yet clear. However, increased costs or reductions in accessible programs will have significant impact on the disability community.

People with Disability

Disability is something which can affect anyone in the community. It can be caused by disease, illness, hereditary conditions, or accident/injury and may include individuals with physical, sensory, intellectual, psychiatric, and/or other health related disabilities. Approximately 1 in 6 (18%, or 4.4 million) people in Australia have disability [source: People with disability in Australia, Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, (October 2020)].

While acknowledging the strengths, resilience and impact of persons with disability in sport and our communities, they have significantly lower levels of participation compared to the broader community, and suffer from higher levels of negative health and wellbeing impacts.

The most recent results [October 2021] show that 52 per cent (%) of adults who have a disability or physical condition that restricts life in some way participate at least 3 times per week in sport and/or physical activity (organised or non-organised). This is significantly lower than the participation rate of adults who do not have a disability, 64.4% participating 3 times per week. 21.3% of adults who have a disability do not participate in any sport or physical activity (compared to 9.4% of adults without disability).

70.2% of women (over 18 years) participate at least 1x per week (compared to 84.1% of other Australian women) and 53.7% 3x per week (compared to 67.9%). 21.3% do not participate in any sport or physical activity (compared to 9.1%).
67.5% of men (over 18 years) participate at least 1x per week (compared to 80.3% of other Australian men) and 50.1% 3x per week (compared to 60.8%). 21.4% do not participate in any sport or physical activity (compared to 9.7%).

Research by the UK Activity Alliance has found that people with a disability are less likely to feel they have the ability to be active because of coronavirus, and were less likely than non-disabled people to have found new ways to be active during the pandemic, be using exercise to manage their physical or mental health, or to have more time for physical activity. However, 78% of disabled people surveyed said they would like to do more physical activity. This means that there is a significant interest that can be used to improve engagement with sport post-pandemic.

More information, including statistics, factors influencing participation, and good practice examples of inclusive sport practices, is available in the Persons with Disability and Sport topic.

Impact of COVID-19

There is currently limited evidence, particularly in Australia, on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on persons with disability. In August 2021 the ABC reported on the closures of day programs for people with disability causing causing serious harm to mental health, and the concern that the pandemic's impact on some of society's most vulnerable will be long term.

Many people with disability had difficulty accessing vaccines and support services due to restrictions and/or the closure of services, and staffing levels at organisations, including sporting organisations, are more likely to be reduced for development activities aimed at more marginalised groups.

Key barriers to being active during the pandemic identified by the UK Activity Alliance were: self-isolating, the impact on health, the fear of contracting the virus, and concerns about social distancing. People with disability are also more affected by a lack of space at home and a lack of support..

Many programs and support services were unable to run during the pandemic, particularly during lockdowns as physical distancing was often not possible, especially for individuals with high needs. The effect on long-term participation trends is not yet clear. However, potential increased costs, (especially due to hygiene requirements) and reductions in sport development staff and accessible programs will have a significant impact on individuals and the broader disability community.

With the announcement of the 2032 Paralympic Games to be held in Brisbane now is the perfect time for sports to consider focussing on improving accessibility and inclusion practices to help increase engagement and participation by persons with disability. This can lead to positive individual, community and high performance outcomes.

Planet Fitness to Begin Including Inclusive Fitness Equipment in Its Clubs, Club Industry [Canada], (24 September 2021). Planet Fitness Inc., Hampton, New Hampshire, and Paralyzed Veterans of America, National Council on Independent Living and American Council of the Blind (collectively Coalition for Inclusive Fitness) are working together to add accessible exercise equipment in Planet Fitness locations for people with disabilities, the organizations announced this week. "People with disabilities face significant barriers when attempting to access health and wellness activities, and it's clear that health inequity is often due to a lack of access and opportunity,” he said. “Today's commitment is another way we are working to eliminate barriers and enhance people's lives by providing a high-quality fitness experience for everyone."
Gym closures during lockdown hitting people with disabilities and rehabilitation needs, Patrick Laverick, ABC Ballarat, (6 September 2021). Gym closures during lockdown have complicated rehabilitation plans and cancelled mobility classes for people with disabilities. Without access to specialist equipment and her exercise mobility class, ABC Regional Storyteller Scholarship winner and quadruple amputee Mandy McCracken cannot exercise in the way she normally would.
COVID-19 restrictions could have long-term effects for people with disabilities, advocates say, Nas Campanella and Celina Edmonds, ABC News, (6 August 2021). Closures to day programs for people with disability have caused serious harm to the mental health of clients, advocates say, and they are worried the pandemic's impact on some of society's most vulnerable will be long term.

The AusPlay Survey (AusPlay) is a large scale national population tracking survey funded and led by the Australian Sports Commission that tracks Australian sport and physical recreation participation behaviours to help inform investment, policy and sport delivery. Updated data is released every six months (April and October). AusPlay includes data on the sport and/or physical activity participation of adults (over 18 years of age) who identify as having a disability or physical condition that restricts their life in some way. Data on children under the age of 18 years is not currently collected.
Supporting Regional Clubs Research: Interim Report, Regional Sport Victoria, (October 2021). Responses to this survey paint a picture of the challenges faced by community club, leagues, and associations throughout regional Victoria, particularly due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. These survey results raise concerns in three key areas: the impact of COVID-19 on volunteers, member and volunteer participation and retention, and the demand for grants and other assistance. Among other findings and requests, Courses around inclusion, particularly for people with disabilities, were highly requested. Many community sports organisations would like to be able to offer such programs but are unsure as to where to begin or how to do it.
The impact of COVID-19 on disabled people: summary of scondary research, Activity Alliance [UK], (March 2021). The coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak has caused significant challenges for many people, affecting our health, lifestyles, and wellbeing. Disabled people face additional barriers in many areas of life, including being physically active. Activity Alliance has published four previous versions of this document. Previous updates outline the social impact of the pandemic and restrictions on disabled people, and the impact on physical activity levels. This update (16 March 2021) focuses on changes to physical activity levels and attitudes. Previous data on social impact can be found in the appendix. References to the relevant research can be found at the end of the document. Previous releases.
Annual Disability and Activity Survey 2020-21, Activity Alliance (UK), (February 2021). Evidence shows disabled people’s lives have been the hardest hit by COVID-19. Our second Annual Survey reveals the stark impact of this crisis on disabled people’s activity levels. Key findings from the report include:
- Twice as many disabled people felt that coronavirus greatly reduced their ability to do sport or physical activity compared to non-disabled people (27% vs 13%).
- The pandemic has made disabled people feel that they do not have the opportunity to be as active as they want to, compared to non-disabled people (29% vs 44%).
- Respondents said the lack of activity has led to both their physical and mental health being harder to manage. Feelings of loneliness and social isolation were frequently voiced.
- A fear of contracting the virus (35% vs 13%), the impact on their health (31% vs 13%), a lack of space (23% vs 18%) and support to be able to exercise safely at home (16% vs 5%), have become significant barriers for disabled people, compared to non-disabled people.
- Almost a quarter of disabled people stated that they had not received enough information about how to be active during the pandemic (23% vs 13%).
Getting Involved in Sport: A report about people with disability taking part in sport, Australian Sports Commission (2012). Over 1000 persons were surveyed during 2010-11 to determine their thoughts on sport for persons with disability. Key findings from this survey include: (1) taking part in community activities and interacting with other people are important motivations to participate in sport; (2) sport promoted a sense of achievement and self-esteem; (3) sport provided a simulating environment that promoted positive health outcomes, and; (4) sport was fun. The survey found that ‘disability’ was not the main reason for non-participation in sport. Cost factors; such as transport requirements, support personnel (when required), and club fees appear to be a major barrier to participation. 75% of people with disability (who already play sport) want to play more; this should give sporting organisations good reason to make their programs and venues more inclusive.
Participation and non-participation of people with disability in sport and active recreation, Australian Sports Commission/University of Technology, Sydney (2011). This report presents the findings of a collaborative research project that used a combination of surveys and focus group interactions to collect data. The study looked at perceptions of health, fitness, and general wellbeing benefits received through sports participation. Disability groups included persons having physical, sensory, intellectual, psychiatric, and health related disabilities. A number of key findings from this research are presented in the report.

The effects of COVID-19 restrictions on physical activity and mental health of children and young adults with physical and/or intellectual disabilities, Nicola Theis, Natalie Campbell, Julie De Leeuw, et.al., Disability Health Journal, Volume 14(3), (July 2021). The aim of the study was to investigate the effects of COVID-19 lockdown restrictions on physical activity and mental health of children and young adults with physical and/or intellectual disabilities. Parents/carers completed an electronic survey in the UK between June–July 2020 on behalf of their child. The survey asked about physical activity levels and mental health during lockdown compared to before, access to specialist facilities and equipment to aid with physical activity, and the short- and long-term concerns around ongoing lockdown restrictions. Generally, respondents reported negative effects of lockdown restrictions, with 61% reporting a reduction in physical activity levels and over 90% reporting a negative impact on mental health (including poorer behaviour, mood, fitness and social and learning regression). Many respondents cited a lack of access to specialist facilities, therapies and equipment as reasons for this, and raised concerns about the long-term effects of this lack of access on their child’s mental health and physical activity levels. The survey highlights the negative impact of the COVID-19 lockdown on the physical activity levels and mental health of children and young adults with disabilities and highlights the importance of addressing the needs of the disabled community as restrictions are eased.
Physical Activity, Sedentary Behavior and Well-Being of Adults with Physical Disabilities and/or Chronic Diseases during the First Wave of the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Rapid Review, Diederik de Boer,Femke Hoekstra, Kimberley Huetink, et.al., International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, Volume 18(12), (June 2021). This study explored the international literature on physical activity, sedentary behavior and well-being in adults with physical disabilities and/or chronic diseases during the first wave of the pandemic. We included twenty-nine studies involving eleven different types of disabilities or health conditions from twenty-one different countries. Twenty-six studies reported on physical activity, of which one reported an increase during the COVID-19 pandemic, four studies reported no difference, and twenty-one studies reported a decrease. Thirteen studies reported a decline in well-being. Only one study measured sedentary behavior, reporting an increase. Conclusion: Despite the variety in methods used, almost all studies reported negative impacts on physical activity and well-being in people with physical disabilities and/or chronic disease during the first wave of the pandemic. These findings highlight the importance of supporting this population, especially in times of crisis.
Access to Physical Activity and Sport and the Effects of Isolation and Cordon Sanitaire During COVID-19 for People With Disabilities in Scotland and Canada, Denise Kamyuka, Liz Carlin, Gayle McPherson, Frontiers in Sports and Active Living, (December 2020). People with a disability are more at risk of experiencing inequalities in relation to sporting and physical activity opportunities, COVID-19 The impact of covid-19 for PwD, who are more at risk of further illness through reduced physical activity as evidenced by the WHO (2020) and our research, suggests the need for specific policy responses to help them maintain physical activity and exercise outdoors as well as indoors with others to reduce isolation. Policy makers, governing bodies, disability groups are all trying but at present those measures are not joined up, a collaborative approach will aid longer term solutions. Research shows that a reduction in physical activity can lead to increased levels of loneliness and mental distress. Our research then goes on to show that Covid-19 lockdowns and restrictions are also causing feelings of loneliness and mental distress which impact one's ability to be physically active, thus creating a cycle. Approaches to improving governments' Covid-19 response for PwD should therefore tackle the cycle by addressing biopsychosocial barriers to physical activity. Policy makers and agencies should ensure that PwD have access to and feel safe accessing physical activity alternatives like online solutions or outdoor facilities.
Enabling inclusive sport participation: Effects of disability and support needs on constraints to sport participation, Darcy S, Lock D and Taylor T, Leisure Sciences, Volume 39, Issue 1 (2017). Despite enabling legislation, studies in Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States have found that persons with disability participate in sport at lower rates than the general population. This paper presents the results of a national study examining the constraints to sport participation for people with disability. Liaising with over 100 disability organisations from across Australia; a total of 1046 surveys were completed – 53% from persons with disability and 47% from family/friends. Respondents engaged in 125 different sport and active recreation activities; with 50% of participation from organised sports, 32% from unorganised and 18% from partially organised activities. The findings showed that disability type and level of support needs explain significant variations in constraints to participation. The level of support needs was the most significant indicator of the likelihood of participation or non-participation.
Perceived barriers and facilitators to participation in physical activity for children with disability: a qualitative study, Nora Shields & Anneliese Synnot, BMC Pediatrics, (January 2016). Children with disability engage in less physical activity compared to their typically developing peers. The aim of this research was to explore the barriers and facilitators to participation in physical activity for this group. Four themes were identified: (1) similarities and differences, (2) people make the difference, (3) one size does not fit all, and (4) communication and connections. Children with disability were thought to face additional barriers to participation compared to children with typical development including a lack of instructor skills and unwillingness to be inclusive, negative societal attitudes towards disability, and a lack of local opportunities.
Barriers to and facilitators of sports participation for people with physical disabilities: A systematic review, Jaarsma E, Dijkstra P, Geertzen J and Dekker R, Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sport, Volume 24, Issue 6 (2014). Too few people with physical disabilities regularly participate in sports. Therefore, understanding what presents a barrier to participation, as well as what factors facilitate participation, should be helpful to program planners. This study provides an overview of the literature focusing on barriers to, and facilitators of, sports participation for people with various physical disabilities. The most common barrier was health status (personal factor); and lack of facilities, transportation, accessibility of facilities (environmental factors). Facilitating factors were fun, improved health and social contacts. Experiencing barriers to, and facilitators of, sports participation was dependent on age and type of disability. Regular sports participation was greatest when the selection of the sport was appropriate.

Australia's First Nations Peoples and Sport

In 2019-2020 AusPlay suggests an increase in the proportion of individuals within the community who were more active and likely to start achieving the benefits of physical activity.

Australia's First Nations Peoples and Sport

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people make up 3.3 per cent of Australia’s population with over 80 per cent living in regional and metropolitan areas [source: Profile of Indigenous Australians, Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, (2020)].

The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) Physical activity across the life stages report (2018) also highlighted that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children aged 5-17 were significantly more likely to meet the physical activity guideline for moderate-to-vigorous activity (MVPA) than children in the broader population. However, adults, and in particular women, are generally less active than the broader population.

Evidence suggests the strongest motivations for participation in sport and physical activity among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander individuals are related to health and community, with social reasons for participation being as important as individual reasons. Positive role models, enjoyment, and feeling safe and comfortable are also strong facilitators. Factors that negatively affect participation include: gender (women are less active than men), cultural perceptions of activities, racism and villification, limited opportunities (particularly in remote and regional areas), and logistical difficulties (cost, transport, climate, etc.).

More information, including statistics, factors influencing participation, benefits of sport and programs and services focussing on supporting and developing sport participation and health, is available in the Australia's First Nations Peoples and Sport topic.

Impact of COVID-19

During the pandemic evidence suggests that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and individuals were significantly impacted. They were identified as being at greater risk than the broader community for severe COVID disease and research from the Centre for Social Impact indicated financial hardship due to the pandemic could be greater for disadvantaged communities, particularly those where a higher proportion are Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander peoples. This suggests there is likely to be high levels of stress for a lot of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, and other disadvantaged communities, in the face of an economic downturn.

During 2019 and 2020, an increase in physical activity was indicated in the AusPlay survey, suggesting there was an increase in the proportion of individuals within the community who were interested and able to be more active and start achieving the benefits of activity.

Now is a great time for sport to promote both it's additional benefits, and how to get involved to help capitalise on this new mindset, and the known benefits for social and community cohesion in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.

Getting vaccinated is the act of love needed right now to support the survival of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples during the pandemic, Lisa Jackson Pulver, Jennifer Barrett, Kalinda Griffiths, et.al., The Conversation, (24 October 2021). Communities recognised the threat of this outbreak early on with actions such as developing a pandemic response plan (Apunipima, January 2020) and the development of appropriate language resources for communities (Northern Territory Land Councils, February 2020. In addition, The National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation co-chaired the first Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Advisory Group on COVID-19 in March 2020.

The AusPlay Survey (AusPlay) is a large scale national population tracking survey funded and led by the Australian Sports Commission that tracks Australian sport and physical recreation participation behaviours to help inform investment, policy and sport delivery. Updated data is released every six months (April and October). AusPlay collects data on Aboriginal or Torres Straight Islander origin for survey participants over 18 years of age. For children the survey includes the Aboriginal or Torres Straight Islander origin of the parent interviewed. The most recent results show:
- 54 per cent (%) of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults participate at least 3 times per week in sport and/or physical activity (organised or non-organised). For children (under 15 years) the data only includes participation in organised sport, outside of school hours.
- 67.5% of women (over 15 years) participate at least 1x per week (compared to 78.9% of other Australian women) and 49.5% 3x per week (compared to 68.6%).
- 73.4% of men (over 15 years) participate at least 1x per week (compared to 76.8% of other Australian men) and 59% 3x per week (compared to 60.2%).
- 52% of children (under the age of 15) participated in some form of organised sport or physical activity outside of school hours at least 1x per week (compared to 72.1% of other Australian children).
Physical activity across the life stages, Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, (2018). Report presents information on the physical activity and sedentary participation rate of Australians across the life stages, reported against Australia’s Physical Activity and Sedentary Behaviour Guidelines. According to the available data:
- Indigenous children aged 5–12 and young people aged 13–17 were more likely to meet the physical activity guideline, compared with non-Indigenous children: 60% of Indigenous 5–12 year olds, compared with 45% of their non-Indigenous counterparts. 33% of Indigenous 13–17 year olds, compared with 19% of their non-Indigenous counterparts.
- Among young children aged 2–5, similar proportions of Indigenous (64%) and non-Indigenous (69%) children met the physical activity guideline.
- Indigenous adults aged 18–64 and Indigenous women aged 65 and over were less likely to meet the physical activity guideline, compared with their non-Indigenous counterparts: 38% of Indigenous adults aged 18–64, compared with 46% of non-Indigenous adults of this age;
- Non-Indigenous women aged 65 and over (38%) were twice as likely to meet the physical activity guideline, compared with Indigenous women of this age (16%).
- The proportions were similar for: Indigenous men (41%) and non-Indigenous men (44%) aged 65 and over who met the physical activity guideline.
- Indigenous adults (9.4%) and non-Indigenous adults (10%) aged 65 and over who met the strength-based activity guideline.
After the Siren: The community benefits of Indigenous participation in Australia Rules Football, Michael Dockery and Sean Gorman, Bankwest Curtin Economics Centre, (September 2017). This report is based on analyses of data from the 2014-2015 National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Survey (NATSISS), supplemented by interviews with a number of stakeholders in West Australian communities. The community benefits of Indigenous participation in Australian Rules Football reveal the numerous benefits that participation in sport, and AFL in particular, bring to Indigenous Australians. Direct health benefits are apparent in both children and adults involved in AFL, with better mental and physical health outcomes compared to those who are not involved in sport. The report also highlights the broader role AFL can play in a community, by being the conduit through which community programs targeted at health and safety can be delivered, and the means through which communities can be brought together.

Sport and academic performance in Australian Indigenous children, Dorothea Dumuid, Rachel Wilson, Timothy Olds, et.al., Australian Journal of Education, Volume 65(1), pp.103-116, (2021). Sport may promote academic performance through physiological and psychosocial mechanisms. We aimed to examine the association between sports participation and academic performance in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children. Participants were from four successive waves of Australia’s Longitudinal Study of Indigenous Children (n = 303, baseline age 5–6 y). Cumulative sports participation was regressed against academic performance from two standardised tests. Results showed that children participating in sport at all four waves performed significantly better than children participating in sport in 0, 2 or 3 waves in Progressive Achievement Test (PAT) Maths, and better than children participating at two waves in National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) numeracy. There were no significant differences in PAT reading or NAPLAN literacy. The authors conclude that sports participation appears to be associated with subsequent better numeracy (2–7 months of learning) in a sample of Australian indigenous children. Fostering sports participation among indigenous children may be an avenue for reducing disadvantage.
Australian Indigenous youth's participation in sport and associated health outcomes: Empirical analysis and implications, Dalton B, Wilson R, Evans J and Cochrane S, Sport Management Review, Volume 18(1), pp.57-68, (2015). Analysis of the 2012 Mission Australia Youth Survey (MAYS) finds that among Indigenous youth aged 15–19 years there is a positive relationship between self-reported participation in sport and two health outcomes – rating of overall health and risk of mental health disorder. Indigenous youth who participate in sport are 3.5 times more likely to report good general health and 1.6 times more likely to have no probable serious mental illness. The significance of these findings may address the current gaps in preventive health service delivery to Indigenous communities, and for the development of grassroots, evidence-based, well resourced, culturally sensitive, inclusive and community-led programs.
The Effects of a Community and School Sport-Based Program on Urban Indigenous Adolescents’ Life Skills and Physical Activity Levels: The SCP Case Study, Louisa R. Peralta, Donna O’Connor, Wayne G. Cotton, Andrew Bennie, Health, Volume 6(18), (2014). The primary aim of this study was to investigate the effect of a community and school sport program (SCP) on Indigenous adolescents’ life skills and physical activity levels within program sessions. A secondary aim was to determine the acceptability of the SCP. The objective of the SCP is to encourage improved educational outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students using sport. Such outcomes may include an increase in school attendance, strengthened engagement with school, improved attitudes to schooling and improved achievement in learning. A recent evaluation of these outcomes found that the SCP is meeting these objectives with girls reporting a 11.5% increase and boys reporting a 15.4% increase in attendance since joining the SCP, more than 90% reporting a positive attitude towards school, 90% of lower secondary students maintaining or improving literacy levels and 92% maintaining or improving numeracy understanding. This study highlights the need for partnerships between Indigenous community organisations and schools to design sport-based programs to promote Indigenous adolescents’ MVPA.

Culturally and Linguistically Diverse [CaLD] communities

Among persons from CaLD backgrounds in Australia, organised sport participation, for both adults and children, is generally lower than in the wider population.

Culturally and Linguistically Diverse communities

Among persons from cultural and linguistically diverse (CaLD) backgrounds, the participation rate in organised sports in Australia, for both adults and children is generally lower than in the wider population. The lower rate may be attributed to socio-economic factors as well as disadvantage created by location and access to programs and facilities. Within CaLD groups the participation rate appears to vary with the concentration of that ethnic group within the community.

In 2012 Australian Bureau of Statistics figures showed that people born in Australia are more likely to participate in sport and physical recreation than those born in non-English speaking countries, with women from non-English speaking backgrounds having the lowest levels of participation.

The participation rate of children between 5-14 years from families where both parents were born in Australia was 69% (75.7% for males and 62.6% for females), compared to 41.5% for both parents born in other countries (50% for males and 32.4 percent for females). [Note: the ABS stopped collecting sport participation statistics in 2014]

Although not specific to country of birth the AusPlay survey similarly shows that both adults and children from households who speak a language other than English at home are less likely to participate in sport or physical activity than those who spoke only English.

Adults - at least once per week (82.3% only English; 77.2% other language); At least 3 times per week (65% English; 58.8% other language).
Children - at least once per year (74% only English spoken at home; 60.4% language other than English spoken at home).

Fitness First launches customisable gym plan for Asian members, Australasian Leisure Management, (11 March 2021). Taking account of the changing ways in which people are exercising, Fitness First has introduced what it calls a “game-changing, flexible gym plan” for its members across South East Asia. Designed to cater to the shifting health and fitness needs of its members, the customisable MyFit plan takes into account the hybrid, outdoor and home-based exercise activities undertaken by members by giving them the flexibility to customize their gym plans according to their needs and usage. Aiming to keep its members engaged, MyFit allows members the flexibility to choose a gym near to either their homes or workplace, single or multi-club access, as well as a wide variety of opt-in or out classes.

The AusPlay Survey (AusPlay) is a large scale national population tracking survey funded and led by the Australian Sports Commission that tracks Australian sport and physical recreation participation behaviours to help inform investment, policy and sport delivery. Updated data is released every six months (April and October).
Culture of competition discourages some kids from sport, Victoria University media release, (6 May 2019). A study of Aussie sports clubs finds that a culture of competitiveness is preventing kids from diverse backgrounds and abilities from participating in junior sport. The research also showed that many clubs were uncertain about the concept and how it related to them, or how to actively promote diversity and social inclusion. Some other key findings included: Diversity was often viewed as diverting resources from a club’s core business, which revolved around organising teams and improving playing skills; Clubs that actively promoted diversity were generally regarded by coaches and parents from outside clubs as not serious clubs, and suitable only for children who were ‘no good’ at sport; Men at clubs that focused on competition above participation were, on average, more likely to be homophobic, endorse stricter gender roles, enforce violence as a natural masculine trait, and were less likely to hold pro-disability attitudes.

Volunteers

Pre-pandemic 2.9 million Australians volunteered in sport and active recreation each year. In April-June 2021 only 61% of adults who volunteered in sport pre-COVID had returned.

Volunteers

Volunteers contribute to the social and economic value of sport, especially at the community level. Many sports and sporting organisations would not be able to run without volunteers who fill many critical roles, including coach, official, manager, administrator, board and committee member. The estimated value of labour input by sport sector volunteers in Australia is $4 billion per year.

For individuals, volunteering has been linked to positive mental, social and physical benefits. Older volunteers in particular may experience less depression and greater life satisfaction than those who do not volunteers.

More information about the role, value and benefits of sport volunteering is available in the Volunteers in Sport topic.

Impact of COVID-19

Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic an estimated 3.1 million Australians participated in non-playing roles in the sport and active recreation sector each year. Over 90% of these participants (2.9 million) were volunteers.

In April 2021, Sport Australia released the Future of Sport Volunteering report which highlighted the impact that COVID-19 has had on volunteers in the sport sector, including concerns about the potential for volunteer to not return to sport once restrictions are lifted, "only 53% of adults who volunteered in sport before COVID-19 were back volunteering by March 2021, and while there has been steady improvement in volunteers returning to sport in recent months, this is a critical time to ensure we are doing everything we can to attract and retain volunteers in sport."

The report highlights several opportunity areas for the sport sector to consider, including better collaboration between community sport clubs to drive operational efficiencies, and reframing the perception of volunteering to enhance its value proposition. The opportunities are focused on action at the community sport level, while outlining the role for sport and volunteering bodies to enable this action.

Drawing on the insights from the report, Sport Australia worked with partners from across the sport and volunteering sectors to develop a vision for sport volunteering.

The National Sport Volunteering Plan outlines Sport Australia’s role in leading and supporting sport to navigate the evolving volunteer landscape. The impact of the national plan will be assessed annually over an initial four-year period.

Vision for the future of sport volunteering, Sport Australia, (accessed 7 September 2021). Realising the vision requires a change in how we think about the volunteer experience. Five elements have been identified that should underpin all volunteer experiences and are agnostic to the sport, club, role or individual. The five elements are: Make it feel like I belong; Make it easy to get involved; Tailor roles to my needs; Support me; Create value for me, the club, and the community.
Sport Volunteering National Plan, Sport Australia, (2021). The National Sport Volunteering Plan outlines Sport Australia’s role in leading and supporting sport to navigate the evolving volunteer landscape. The impact of the national plan will be assessed annually over an initial four-year period.

Riverland Independent Football League club Cobdogla Eagles goes into recess for 12 months due to volunteer numbers, Patrick Keam, The Advertiser, (10 November 2021). A 102-year-old Riverland football club will spend 2022 on the sidelines and is facing an uncertain future just months after breaking a huge losing streak.
Research Briefing: Volunteering during the first year of COVID-19, Volunteering Australia, (20 May 2021). The new ANU CSRM analysis, published in May 2021, explores volunteering using data collected in late 2019 prior to COVID-19, data from April 2020 and data from April 2021. Some key insights included:
- Many of those who had previously volunteered but had stopped doing so due to COVID-19 had not returned to volunteering
- Voluntary work has been impacted even harder by the COVID-19 recession than paid work, at least in terms of relative decline (that is, voluntary work declined at a higher rate than paid work):
- Volunteers had a higher level of life satisfaction prior to COVID-19 than non-volunteers. The impact of COVID-19 on life satisfaction and loneliness varied by volunteering behaviour over the period, with those who managed to continue volunteering during COVID-19 faring much better.

AusPlay: A focus on volunteering in sport, Sport Australia, (October 2021). Each year in Australia, 8.5 million adults aged 15+ and 3.4 million children aged 0-14 participate in organised sport. That equates to 40% of adults and 69% of children. An estimated 3.1 million Australians participate in non-playing roles in the sport and active recreation sector each year. Over 90% of these participants (2.9 million) are volunteers. This report presents high-level information on nonplaying roles across all sport and physical activities. It then focuses on those in organised sport since this is where the vast majority occur. It examines whether these roles are all taken on by volunteers, who gets involved the most, what roles they take on and in which sports. The report also draws on other research projects conducted by Sport Australia that have identified different volunteer types and what drives them to become involved. In April-June 2021, Sport Australia’s Community Perceptions Monitor asked those who previously volunteered in sport whether they had returned to their roles since restrictions were eased...61% (or only three in five) were found to have done so. The restrictions in the second half of 2021 will only exacerbate this issue and have added to the need for the considered and collaborative approach to attracting and retaining volunteers
Supporting Regional Clubs Research: Interim Report, Regional Sport Victoria, (October 2021). Responses to this survey paint a picture of the challenges faced by community club, leagues, and associations throughout regional Victoria, particularly due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. These survey results raise concerns in three key areas: the impact of COVID-19 on volunteers, member and volunteer participation and retention, and the demand for grants and other assistance. Some key findings relating to volunteers include:
- 29% of respondents completed the survey during the strictest lockdown rules for regional Victoria, the easing of restrictions has not made for a more positive outlook for respondents, with many reporting that the stop-start nature of seasons or having no set return to play date making it impossible to plan for future events and meaning, "we're unsure of what the future looks like".
- 33% of clubs with decreasing membership and 34% with decreasing volunteer numbers were not adopting any strategies to address the situation. Many citing that there was no point at the moment because they can't play anyway or that there was, "nothing to be done".
- 42% of organisations reported a decrease in participants over the past twelve months, whilst 30% saw a decrease in volunteers by an average of 25%.
- A number of clubs and leagues have adapted with the times and taken approaches that have worked for them. Some initiatives highlighted included, more inclusive uniforms for a netball competition; moving social and fundraising online; Orienteering Victoria's use of an app so people could participate from home/anywhere; requiring parents to volunteer (or pay a small fee) for children to participate at a Little Athletics centre.
- The final area where respondents require assistance is with specific educational courses. First aid and CPR and coaching courses are often required for specific roles, but they may not happen in regional and rural areas, or require travel to Melbourne, which adds barriers to participation, including time and cost. Accidental counsellor training could also be added to coaching courses to equip coaches appropriately to support distressed members and players. Lastly, courses around inclusion, particularly for people with disabilities, were highly requested. Many community sports organisations would like to be able to offer such programs but are unsure as to where to begin or how to do it.
Volunteering during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic (April 2021), Biddle, N & Gray, M, Australian National University (ANU) Centre for Social Research and Methods, (May 2021). The April 2021 ANUpoll, the seventh in the ANU Centre for Social Research and Methods COVID-19 Impact monitoring program, collected data on volunteering and this can be combined with data on volunteering collected from the same group of individuals collected in late 2019 prior to COVID-19 and in April 2020 during the early stages of the pandemic in Australia. This paper provides data on changes to volunteering and voluntary work since COVID-19, and the impacts of these changes. The proportion of adult Australians doing voluntary work has fallen very substantially since COVID-19. This fall appears to have had a large impact on life satisfaction in Australia, particularly up until October 2020.
The future of sport volunteering: insights report, Sport Australia, (16 April 2021). While the sport sector has suffered from fragmentation and a lack of clear roles and responsibilities, there is a strong recognition across the sector that things must change. COVID-19 has shaken the sector with immediate concerns about the return of volunteers to sport. For many, this is the burning platform for change that is needed. To consider this position, Sport Australia brought together diverse stakeholders from across the sport and volunteering sectors. Together they are the beginning of a coalition of support that will enable change to happen. This is a team effort. While this report has been commissioned by Sport Australia, it is designed for everyone, whether you are a National or State Sporting Organisation, community sport club or a volunteer seeking to make change.
Re-engaging Volunteers and COVID-19, Volunteering Australia, (February 2021). New data shows volunteering is not ‘snapping back,’ even as COVID restrictions lift, with nearly three quarters (72%) of survey respondents saying their volunteer programs were not fully operational. During the height of the COVID pandemic in 2020, two out of three volunteers (65.9%) stopped volunteering, equating to an estimated loss of 12.2 million hours per week. Volunteering Australia has set out proposals for how the Australian Government can invest in a Reinvigorating Volunteering Action Plan and a whole of Government National Volunteering Strategy.
Market Segmentation Study for Volunteers, Australian Sports Commission (2014). This research identified segments of the Australian community with the greatest potential for recruitment as sports volunteers and assesses the best practices and strategies for recruiting and retaining current volunteers. Attitudinal segmentation is a useful means of grouping people within the broader population into groups or segments with similar dispositions towards volunteering. Segmentation across the Australian population, aged 14-75 years, resulted in 10 identified types of people, based on characteristics related to their attitudes to volunteering and current volunteering behaviour. The study also provides key insights for the sport sector to better understand their volunteer workforce and how they might need to manage them into the future.

2021 Direction of Sport in the Digital Age- Session 2, Vicsport, YouTube, (14 September 2021). Presented by Vicsport and GameDay, The Direction of Sport in the Digital Age is tailored to grassroots sporting clubs, associations, Victorian based SSAs and NSOs based in Victoria. Session 2 dealt with 'Attracting and Retaining Volunteers' and featured guest presenters Rob Flude from etrainu, Shannan Gove from Rosterfy and Dana Assenheim from Sport Australia.
Impact of COVID-19 on Volunteering in Sport, Sport Australia, YouTube, (20 November 2020). Volunteers play a critical role in sport, but COVID-19 has led to a 71 per cent reduction in volunteer numbers according to AusPlay research. Sport Australia and Volunteers Australia will work together to tackle the issue.

Impact on different market segments

In 2013, the Australian Sports Commission (ASC) commissed research to better understand the consumer market segments for Australian sports participants (players and volunteers) and non-sports participants.

The Market Segmentations Studies provide key insights regarding how participation in sport is consumed among the Australian population. The research was designed to help organisations refine strategies to recruit and retain adults, children, parents and volunteers in sport and sport clubs and ensure our sporting landscape remains strong.

Based on some of these market segments, if current trends continue, how might customer segments behave in the future?

Ted: Sport driven child

“I like being part of a club to play sports but they sometimes do other stuff that’s annoying”

Ted: Sport driven child

“I like being part of a club to play sports but they sometimes do other stuff that’s annoying”

Ted is 12 years old and lives in Sydney with his family – he has a sister called Jane who is 10 years old.

In 2020, before the pandemic, Ted was highly active and participated in organised sport clubs, other recreational clubs, school and courses. His participation was for competitive as well as recreational purposes.

Ted has always liked sport and is a big cricket fan, he loves watching the Big Bash League and often goes to games to watch the Sydney Thunder with his Dad. Jane sometimes comes but prefers to play with her friends and do activities with her Mum;

Ted has been attending Cricket Australia's In2Cricket program for a few years and has enjoyed playing the fun games, but was a bit put-off with the expectation to start playing competitively.

Ted would prefer to just keep playing the fun stuff and learning new skills – he is also a bit jealous that Jane gets to do a variety of fun things at the weekends. He wishes he didn’t have to commit to cricket so much.

Impact of the pandemic

In 2020, In2Cricket was cancelled, and Ted started doing more things at home – he loved having the extra freedom and started spending more time with his family;.

He did miss playing cricket though and so when social restrictions began to ease, he met his mates to play cricket at the local park – it was great to be playing with his friends again.

When In2Cricket started up again, Ted decided to sit it out this time. Some of his friends had started playing competitively and he did not fancy committing again;.

Ted and his mates still play cricket socially and he has found some fun cricket-related content online to practise some of his skills.

Ted might go back to cricket but currently he’s enjoying the freedom to choose how to spend his free time and does not see the benefit of going back to a club structure.

Aisha: Sport indifferent adult

“While I don’t have an issue with sport in general, I didn't see what joining a sport club would do for me.”

Aisha: Sport indifferent adult

“While I don’t have an issue with sport in general, I didn't see what joining a sport club would do for me.”

Aisha is 23, lives alone in Melbourne and works in IT.

Before 2020, Aisha was not very active – she knew exercise was important but she preferred to spend time with her friends and binge watch her favourite TV shows on Netflix. Sport clubs were not her scene.

Impact of the pandemic

During lockdown, Aisha struggled at home on her own – she searched for online activities she could do at home and discovered a Youtube channel for a dance workout. The workout was fun and convenient, she could log in and do the exercise anytime of the day.

Motivated by the dancing, Aisha searched for more online content and discovered ‘virtual’ challenges – people doing home-based challenges such as running a 5k in their garden or athlete led training sessions.

Aisha tried some of the activities and enjoyed the sense of satisfaction on competing the challenges – she especially enjoyed the football challenges and participated in a keepy-uppy challenge using a toilet roll as the football.

Aisha challenged her friends in the challenge and they shared videos of each other doing their best effort – she won and decided to buy a football to keep practising.

Wanting to improve her skills, Aisha looked for online football coaching content and found a link to her local football club – she connected with the club and began engaging with the club community. She had lots of questions about playing football.

When social restrictions eased, Aisha decided to visit the football club face to face but was a little nervous of going alone so she asked her toilet roll keepy-uppy friends to join her. Her friend Jill agreed and they went together.

Aisha and Jill are now members of their local football club and have started training regularly and play a game when they have time at the weekend;.

Aisha enjoys football but is still not sure the commitment fits with her lifestyle – she will keep going while Jill goes with her and see how things work out.

The Smiths: Family focussed parents

"We appreciate the benefits of physical activity, but there's not enough time for everything!"

The Smiths: Family focused parents

"We appreciate the benefits of physical activity, but there's not enough time for everything!"

The Smith family, Mum - Sue, Dad - Jeff, eight year old Jimmy and his big sister Amy who is 14, live in Adelaide and consider themselves an active family.

In 2020 Sue and Jeff were relatively active; Sue went to her local parkrun every week and yoga at her local gym when she had time. Jeff used to play football but more recently played golf and his weekends usually involved driving the kids to their sporting activities;.

They do support their kids sporting choices but they also wish there was more time for the family at weekends;.

Jimmy loves sport and enjoys playing AFL, tennis and judo. Amy has always played netball but started to lose interest as many of her friends stopped playing and she prefers to hang out with them.

Impact of the pandemic

When sport was cancelled in 2020, Sue and Jeff were actually a little bit relieved – for the first time in years they were able to spend quality time with the kids. Amy was also not too disappointed as it gave her an excuse to drop-out of netball – she does miss playing sometimes though.

Being an active family the Smiths looked for new ways to be physically active and they dusted off their bikes and scooters to ride around their local area. After all, exercise was one of the few permitted reasons to leave the house;.

Jimmy found new activities also and has become an avid esport player. Mum (Sue) limits his playing time but he enjoys going online and competing against his friends;.

When sport resumed, Jimmy couldn’t wait to get back to AFL but Sue and Jeff decided tennis and judo detracted from the family time – Jimmy didn’t mind too much.

The Smiths are still very active but now they do more things together, they have even started going to parkrun as a family, and Amy has challenged her Dad to a race;.

The Smiths are enjoying the new freedom but still believe in the value of sport – if only there was a way to keep playing sport without the impact on time and cost.

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