An analysis of the determinants of sports participation and time spent in different sporting contexts

Using data from a survey of Irish adults, this study analyses sport participation from the perspective of four different sporting contexts, organised training, organised competition, participating with friends and family and individual activities. The results reinforce the belief that different profiles of sports participants exist. Volunteers, club members and spectators at events are all more likely to be involved in organised sporting activities. City dwellers, highly educated individuals and individuals with disabilities are more likely to spend time in a sporting activity on their own. Gender and lifecycle variables are also important in determining the type of sport activity an individual undertakes. Income, whilst being a barrier to overall sport participation, does not surprisingly influence the choice of sporting context. A clear implication is that the funding and development of policies toward increased sports participation rates need to be designed in such a way to appeal to different sporting preferences.