Challenges to sport development and sport participation from sport managers' perspectives

Abstract

This study addresses the need to advance knowledge on sport participation from the perspective of managers and complements studies that examine this phenomenon from participants' perspectives. Using the case of basketball in Australia, data were collected from selected managers via two focus groups and 24 interviews in Queensland, Australia. Results demonstrated that managers believed basketball offers opportunities for participants to achieve an active and social way of living, and overcome challenges related to: climate (i.e., sun safety, rain) and population density, obesity among youth, integrating individuals from diverse cultural backgrounds, and community members' increasingly busy lifestyles. Whilst some of these findings reflect global trends (e.g., promoting healthy lifestyles), others manifest more local challenges (e.g., climate). Findings from this study enable more informed decisions on policy direction and program design and in promoting sport-specific attributes to address participant-specific challenges. Addressing sport participation challenges in an informed way encourages integrated and comprehensive solutions to sport development issues.