5

“3x30” Sports participation indicator

The sports participation indicator measures the number of adults (aged 16 and over) participating in at
least 30 minutes of sport at moderate intensity at least three times a week. Performance against this
indicator is measured by the Active People Survey.

“3x30” Sports participation – 16 years and over

 The latest Active People Survey results cover the 12 month period from April 2010 to April 2011.

 During the period April 2010 to April 2011, 6.924 million adults (aged 16 and over) participated in
sport three times a week for 30 minutes at moderate intensity. This is 108,600 more adult
participants than the 2007/08 baseline (Active People Survey 2) when 6.815 million adults (aged
16 and over) participated in sport three times a week for 30 minutes at moderate intensity1.

10.0

9.0
2012/13 target,
7.815m
8.0 APS4 2009/10,
3x30 sports participation (m)

APS2 2007/08, 6.938m

7.0 6.815m Apr10-Apr11,
APS3 2008/09, 6.924m
6.0 APS1 2005/06, 6.930m
6.295m
5.0

4.0

3.0

2.0

1.0

0.0
APS1 APS2 APS3 APS4 APS5 APS6 APS7
2005/06 2007/08 2008/09 2009/10 2010/11 2011/12 2012/13

Year
“3x30” Sports participation - Key demographics
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The following shows the Active People Survey (April 2010 to April 2011) results for key demographic
groups, highlighting changes from the baseline figures (Active People Survey 2).

Gender

 During the period April 2010 – April 2011, the number of male participants was 4.215 million
(20.3%) which is 188,100 greater2 than Active People Survey 2 (4.027 million, 20.0%).

 Compared with Active People Survey 2, there has been a decline3 in participation among females
from 2.788 million (13.1%) to 2.708 million (12.5%).

Age Groups

 The table below shows there has been an increase in the number of people participating in the
35-542 age group. There has been a decline in the rate of participation amongst the 16-342 and
55+3 age groups (although due to population growth there is an increase in the number of 16-34
year olds participating three times a week).

APS2 (Oct 2007- Rolling 12 months

3 sessions a week (at least 12 Oct 2008) (Apr 2010 - Apr 2011)
sessions of at least moderate Statistically
intensity for at least 30 minutes significant
in the previous 28 days) % n % n
change from
APS 2
16 to 34 26.7% 3,421,900 26.2% 3,461,000 No change
35 to 54 15.9% 2,293,900 16.3% 2,372,700 No change
55 + 7.8% 1,099,300 7.4% 1,090,100 Decrease

Source: Sport England's Active People Survey

Ethnicity

 Compared with Active People Survey 2, the rate of sports participation among white adults has
decreased3 from 16.5% to 16.2% (although due to population growth there is an increase in the
number of white adults participating three times a week, from 6,092,300 to 6,133,400).

 Compared with Active People Survey 2, sports participation among non-white adults has
increased3 by 67,300, from 722,800 (16.1%) to 790,300 (17.2%).

Disability

 Compared with Active People Survey 2, the rate of sports participation among adults with a
limiting disability / illness has decreased2 from 6.7% to 6.5% (although due to population growth
there is an increase in the number of adults with a limiting disability / illness participating three
times a week, from 594,500 to 597,300).
Socio-economic groups
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 The table below shows that participation among adults from socio-economic groups NS-SEC 1-
23, NS-SEC 32, and NS-SEC 42 has increased. Participation among adults from socio-economic
groups NS-SEC 5-83 has decreased. An explanation of NS-SEC can be found in the notes page
of this factsheet.

APS2 (Oct 2007- Rolling 12 months

3 sessions a week (at Oct 2008) (Apr 2010 - Apr 2011)
least 12 sessions of at
least moderate intensity Statistically
for at least 30 minutes in significant
% n % n
the previous 28 days) change
from APS 2
NS SEC1-2 18.4% 2,083,300 18.9% 2,189,000 Increase
NS SEC3 14.4% 563,500 14.5% 583,400 No change
NS SEC4 14.3% 413,100 14.9% 441,200 No change
NS SEC5-8 12.6% 1,647,900 12.2% 1,635,600 Decrease

Source: Sport England's Active People Survey

“3x30” Sports participation - By region

APS2 (Oct 2007- Rolling 12 months

3 sessions a week (at Oct 2008) (Apr 2010 - Apr 2011)
least 12 sessions of at
least moderate intensity Statistically
for at least 30 minutes in significant
the previous 28 days)* % n % n
change
from APS 2
East 16.2% 741,800 15.9% 752,500 No change
East Midlands 16.8% 601,300 14.6% 536,800 Decrease
London 16.5% 1,004,500 16.3% 1,026,500 No change
North East 16.3% 341,600 16.8% 359,000 No change
North West 17.0% 944,000 17.7% 996,900 Increase
South East 17.1% 1,151,400 16.4% 1,134,200 Decrease
South West 16.0% 679,400 16.5% 719,400 No change
West Midlands 14.5% 628,900 15.1% 663,200 No change
Yorkshire 17.2% 722,200 17.0% 735,100 No change

Source: Sport England's Active People Survey

 Between APS2 (2007/8) and April 2010 – April 2011, there has been a statistically significant
increase3 in sports participation in the North West where 52,900 more adults are taking part in at
least 30 minutes of sport at moderate intensity at least three times a week.

 Between APS2 (2007/8) and April 2010 – April 2011, there has been a statistically significant
decrease3 in sports participation in the East Midlands and the South East where respectively
64,500 and 17,200 fewer adults are taking part in at least 30 minutes of sport at moderate
intensity at least three times a week.
Footnotes:
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1
However, the increased number of participants is a consequence of population growth. The rate of
participation for the period April 2010 to April 2011 (16.3%) has shown a decline (not statistically significant)
since the APS2 baseline (16.4%)
2
Not Statistically Significant (i.e. we cannot say with 95% confidence that there has been a real change in the
participation rate)
3
Statistically Significant (i.e. we can say with 95% confidence that there has been a real change in the
participation rate).

Notes
To find out more about the sports participation indicator, see the briefing note on Sport England’s
website which highlights the activities included.

http://www.sportengland.org/research/active_people_survey/active_people_survey_3/idoc.ashx?doci
d=65e2f302-dbfb-49b2-b7bd-a05bb087cfc3&version=2

The latest Active People Survey results are based on the 12 month period April 2010 to April 2011.
178,000 adults in England (age 16 and over) were interviewed by telephone.

Active People Survey 2 was undertaken between October 2007 and October 2008. 191,000 adults in
England (age 16 and over) were interviewed by telephone.

Please note that this report highlights whether changes from Active People Survey 2 to the latest
rolling 12 month period (April 2010-April 2011) are statistically significant. A statistically significant
increase is indicated by ‘increase’, and a statistically significant decrease is indicated by ‘decrease’.
This means that we are 95% certain that there has been a real change (increase or decrease) in the
participation rate. Where there has been no statistically significant change, this is indicated by ‘no
change’.

For more information on measuring statistically significant change, see the briefing note on Sport
England’s website:

http://www.sportengland.org/research/active_people_survey/active_people_survey_2/idoc.ashx?doci
d=c2da16fe-f44b-4715-a798-5cd4f62fc422&version=2

ONS (Office for National Statistics) 2007 and 2010 population data has been used in this report.

NS-SEC is the National Statistics Socio-economic Classification. It is derived by combining

information on occupation and employment status. NS-SEC: 1. Higher managerial and professional
occupations; 2. Lower managerial and professional occupations; 3. Intermediate occupations; 4.
Small employers and own account workers; 5. Lower supervisory and technical occupations; 6.
Semi-routine occupations; 7. Routine occupations; 8. Never worked and long-term unemployed; 9.
Full time students and Occupations not stated or inadequately described.