Food & Health Alliance

Sports Council Wales.  (2009).

Report that examines the impact of the ‘Young People First’ (1998) and ‘Climbing Higher’ (2005) strategies that aimed to increase participation in physical activity, address gender differences in participation and set target for increasing physical activity levels for young people in Wales.  Numerous quotes from focus groups are included in the document. 

Method: 12,929 pupils from Years 7 to 11 completed questionnaires.  Topics such as physical activity types and levels, use of leisure facilities and club membership were covered by the questionnaire.  Focus groups were also held in order to further investigate some topics, such as barriers to participation, peer influences and enjoyment in physical activity. 

Findings:  The number of curricular activities participated in increases with age, in contrast participation in extracurricular activity decreases with age.  47% of the participants took part in extracurricular activity (an increase of 5% since 2004), with the gender gap between female and male participation being closed for these types of activities. 

53% of pupils had represented their school at sport.  80% of the sample had participated in a club based physical activity in the last year, with 61% of young people regularly participating in club sport.  49% of participants used a leisure centre once a week.  81% of participants had received coaching in the past year, an increase of 15% from 2004.  87% of young people identified a sport or activity that they would like to participate in, but had no prior experience of.  Gender equality has also been achieved in terms of receiving coaching. 

35% of young people meet government physical activity guidelines (an increase of 11% from 2004).  Parental involvement was established as an important influence on physical activity levels.  Young people who were members of a club were more physically active than non-members.

Recommendations:  Focusing on curricular and extracurricular sport can help to broaden access to physical activity opportunities.  The use of Physical Education can help to develop motor skills, increase motivation and improve physical and sports literacy.  Parents should be encouraged to motivate their children and young people to participate in physical activity.