L.0.

2 - Barriers
to
participation-
Mr. Davies.
 Introduction.
In sport we have to take in a range of
different performers, who come from various
different backgrounds cultures and beliefs,
each of these has its own demands and
regulations for participation in sport and so it
is the job of different organisations and
sporting parties to overcome this, finding
ways to include and allow everyone to
participate in sport.

The sports Development / Performance

pyramid is an explanation of how
participation and ability can be measured in
sport. It helps to highlight the route a
performer can take to become an elite
performer. It includes four different sections;

-The Foundation stage

At this stage sport practisers are classed as
novices, where the achievement and learning
of basic skills and techniques are achieved. A
scheme run by the government which helps
to widen the amount of children participating
in sport is called the 5x60 scheme.

-The participation stage

This stage consists of anyone who
participates in sport regularly, for reasons
such as socialising, health or fitness or
enjoyment, to develop their skills in an
activity.

-The performance stage

The Performance level consists of anyone
involved in sport who aims to improve their
skills. A participant will show commitment to
help perfect their skills and they will be at a
club or regional standard.

-The elite stage

Consists of skilled performers who aim to
achieve set standards that are measurable
usually through competition. Activities at
Excellence level usually have rewards that
motivate the individual, such as trophies or
money.

At each stage of the sports development

continuum there are different factors which
can sometimes prevent and hold back
individuals from participating in sport, these
are known as ‘barriers to participation’. Some
examples of these would be as below, each
of which will be discussed and explored
within this essay;

-Cultural
-Economic
-Historical

As well as this I will be looking into the target

groups within the sporting industry…the
participants. Finding out how their different
group types can affect them in a sporting
environment. The three I will be exploring are
as below;

-OAP
-Women
-Young people.

AGE-OAP.
The biggest differences in participation relate
to age, the older people become the less
likely performance at competition standard
and elite activity occurs, this is why they
aren’t associated with the elite stage of the
performance pyramid, and instead fall into
the bottom category - the foundation
stage, it is here that sport is taken at the
lowest form of its competitive and serious
atmosphere, where participants play more
for enjoyment and social aspects, with little
technical and skilful actions/movements to
follow. It is the least physically and mentally
demanding sector, with little stress and
pressure to succeed, meaning it does not
require huge amounts of training and
commitment from its members.
The section below taken from a study found
at (www.scotland.gov.uk) discus’s age
differences in relation to participation,
showing how it can be a major factor of
concern within the sporting environment.
Age best predicts participation in sport,
exercise or physical activity. The proportions
in each age-group who exercise several times
a week are:
• 50% of those aged 16-24
• 36% of those aged 25-34
• 38% of those aged 35-44
• 32% of 45-59 year olds
• 34% of 60 to 74 year olds
• 20% of those aged 75 and over.
The above data collected from
(www.scotland.gov.uk)
Shows a significant drop in participation
levels between the ages of (16-24) and (75
and over) stating that the older generation of
people take part in a lot less physical activity
than those younger than them.
Taking part in sport and exercise by
age;
Base: All (2,077), 16-24 (179), 25-34 (257),
35-44 (394), 45-59 (541), 60-74 (454), 75+
(252)
Again the above picture outlines the
decrease in participation partnering with an
increase in age.
Reasons for exercising
The oldest group were much less likely than
younger people to be exercising to keep fit,
relieve stress/relax, keep in shape or lose
weight but instead more likely to be taking
part for enjoyment and social aspects or
because it helps with an injury/disability
Reasons for not exercising
People in different age groups have quite
distinct reasons for not exercising. This is
illustrated in the picture below. Health is a
barrier that increases steadily with age and is
by far the main issue affecting the older
generation.
Reasons for not exercising (% of
respondents)

Views on exercising more often

When asked if exercising more regularly was
something they wished to achieve the study
found that; the oldest age groups were more
likely to indicate that they did not want to
exercise more: 58% of 60-74 year olds and
72% of those aged 75 or over did not want to
exercise more.
Economical reasons.
Being an ‘OAP’ comes with many different
discounted opportunities especially within
the sporting environment, the older
generation are often offered with a range of
different options for sport. This is a great way
in which to encourage elderly people to
participate in sport. By reducing prises you
widen the desirability of the opportunity and
due to retirement=lack of money and funds…
reducing prises makes sport more affordable
and therefore doable to senior members of
society.
An example of where this applies would be at
the lc2 Swansea, where senior citizens are
offered with discounted opportunities
regarding the pool. Paying £3 per time
instead of the regular adulated prise of £7.

Young people.
Young people are the most active and
involved with sport in the UK, they shape the
future of the sports industry being the
nations up and coming talents. And so it is
highly important that they are offered with
the right pathways and opportunities in sport.
There are many different factors and barriers
which prevent young people from sometimes
reaching their full potential in sport. Below
these are listed and explained, evaluating
how these problems can be and are resolved.
Economical.
The are a number of different economical
reasons that affect young people in the UK, if
the child comes from a not so privileged
background where money is a major issue,
performing in sport can be an extremely
difficult task to complete, Not having enough
money/funds to attend outside school clubs,
afford correct equipment and uniform etc will
prevent the young person from reaching a
possible talent.
There are a number of different schemes that
are put together to overcome barriers such
as these, an example of this would be the
5x60 scheme, who are an organisation with
the main aims of increasing mass
participation with young people, they help to
get children involved in sport no matter what
their background to encourage them into
participating in sports. By the 5x60 scheme
coming in and offering these opportunities,
this ecological barrier is broken as no money
and funds are needed from the participants.
As well as this the ‘dragon sports’
organisation also help to overcome young
peoples sporting barriers. They to offer a
range of different sporting activities and
through these they can identify potential
talents of participants and help to feed them
onto further possible success.
As well as the sporting organisations there
are a number of different offers provided by
sporting clubs and industries that are aimed
to encourage the participation of younger
people. An example of where this is present
would be the lc2 who by offering a
discounted price widen the amount of young
people interested in sport increasing their
motivational levels regarding participation.
Lc2 offer a range of different activities for
younger people, an example is as below
taken from their website;
Pay and Play – from £2.50 per visit.
As well as the money issues young people
are often faced with the barrier of being too
young to attend certain clubs and sign up for
different memberships. For example most
gyms don’t allow people under the age of 16
to enter. A way of overcoming this would be
to offer young people classes only, where
they have set times and designations to
participate in sport. An example of this would
again be at the Lc2 who offer a club for
young people only.
IZone (11 - 15 yrs):
Monday – Friday: 6.30am – 10.00pm
Saturday – Sunday (including Bank holidays):
8.00am – 9.00pm
By doing this it gives young people the
reinsurance that they can part take in sport
just as much as any other social group.

Women
The last few decades have shown a rise in
levels of participation in existing areas of
sport. Many sports have been and still are
‘gender stereotyped.’ Meaning that they are
commonly thought of as favored towards one
or other gender. This is a major consequence
for the sporting world of development as it
restricts talents and opportunities for both
gender parties.
Historical.
Historically it had been thought of and
acceptable for sport to be associated with
male domination which of course led to
serious discrimination towards women in
sport. It was believed that the concept of
feminism and fertility could be threatened by
participation in all but the most genteel of
sports.
In the Victorian era is was thought of as
unsuitable, undignified and even dangerous
for women to participate in any form of
sporting activity and during the Nineteenth
century women were not only constrained by
societal attitudes but also by the lack of
opportunity and provision. There were was no
support both financially or socially and it was
strongly thought of as being morally wrong
for them to behave in such a way.
During the late 90’s female champions
started to emerge, but were highly criticised
for their ‘’ aggressive and extremely
competitive behavior’’ (advance pe for OCR
and A2, Daniel Bonney, John Ireland etc…
2004) they then had their sexuality
questioned and were labeled with the term of
being ‘butch’
Cultural.
The are many different people who
participate in sport, all coming from different
backgrounds and beliefs. Culture and religion
can determine the path of one sporting
participation. Each religion and belief comes
with its individual set of rules/guidelines /
beliefs that followers must honor and for
some religions such as Islamic there are a
few rules which affect how women participate
in sport. Below are some of their beliefs and
an outline on how it can affect them in sport.
All Islamic observances must be followed,
regardless of any school policies or social
stigmas. It is very important to ensure that
there are no males watching. Mixing of sexes
is forbidden in normal situations.
When participating in sports, the clothing
must be islamically acceptable. This would
therefore exclude shorts, t-shirts, leotards,
swimming costumes etc. Wearing even body
suits is sometimes not sufficient enough for
their culture.
Distinction between Muslim women and other
women is intended to safeguard Muslim
women against the influence of women who
do not follow their way of living. According to
Ibn 'Abbas "...a Muslim woman is not allowed
to display herself before the women of the
unbelievers any more than she can display
herself before other men"
Another strong belief of the Muslim culture is
where ‘Allah’ has commanded the believing
women to lower their gaze, this meaning that
it is another barrier for Muslim women when
watching sport. It is frowned upon for the
women to watch men in shorts and small
amounts of clothing.
Women Conclusion.
In today’s society there is a strong desire to
address and over come the sexist issue,
there are many different programs and
opportunities out there to help increase the
participation levels with women in sport.
Offering separation classes for those with
various cultural and religious believes, school
activities to help provide and encourage
women from an early age and sports centers
offering crèches for woman with young
children.
Below are some examples of where these
plans are put into action.
An example of where sporting organisations
produce women with the opportunity to
exercise as a group would be at the lc2, who
offer women only spa session; Female only
sessions: Fridays from 5.00pm – 6.00pm
In schools, sport education programs are
mixed whenever possible a project which
helps to do this would be the 5x0 scheme, a
government run program which offers a
range of different activities for mixed classed
school children. As well as including both
sexes it is a great way to spot future talent
and help feed children up through the sports
development continuum .
Female role models are used frequently in
the ‘sports person in schools’ project- a
project used in an Australian school named
‘Victoria’ who brings in both able and
disabled athletes on a regular basis to
advice and act as role models. (Advance pe
for OCR and A2, Daniel Bonney, John Ireland
etc…2004)
As well as the above, national heroes such as
dame Kelly Holmes, Paula Radcliff and Mary
King are advertised and showcased in the
world of sport to act as role models and
inspiration to women everywhere.
In the USA ‘title IX was passed as a law in
1972 and is a perfect example of how the
issue of gender inequality has been
addressed. It stated that;
‘’No person in the United States shall on the
basis of sex be excluded from participation
from any education program or activity
receiving federal assistance.’’
(Advance pe for OCR and A2, Daniel Bonney,
John Ireland etc…2004)
It is from opportunities such as the Title IX
law that provide women with that reinsuring
sense of equality and rightfulness within the
sporting environment, therefore encouraging
a greater amount of participation = more
talent identification = more success (medals,
trophies, awards) hence greatly supporting
the sports development continuum.
 Bibliography.
(Advance pe for OCR and A2, Daniel Bonney,
John Ireland etc…2004)
(www.scotland.gov.uk)
Classroom notes
www.relig/womanilsam.com
http://www.thelcswansea.com/