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Sport Participation Across the Lifespan: Australian Trends and Policy Implications

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Sport and Physical Activity across the Lifespan

Abstract

This chapter will explore the sport participation trends in Australia across the lifespan. Utilising the Sport and Recreation Spatial programme of research which integrates over 1 million club-sport participant records annually, this Chapter will present the participation rates from 4 to 100 years. Key results are:

  • Sport participation is the highest among young children (aged 5–14 years)

  • Sport participation rates drop significantly during adolescence

  • Sport participation rates among females are half of those among males

  • Sport participation rates are higher in regional areas compared to metropolitan areas, including how sport participation rates differ based on socio-economic status

These key results are discussed with reference to Australian Sport policy.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Health, Federation University Australia, Ballarat, VIC, Australia

    Rochelle M. Eime & Jack T. Harvey

  2. Institute of Sport, Exercise and Active Living, Victoria University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia

    Rochelle M. Eime & Jack T. Harvey

Authors
  1. Rochelle M. Eime
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  2. Jack T. Harvey
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Charles Sturt University, Port Macquarie, New South Wales, Australia

    Rylee A. Dionigi

  2. University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

    Michael Gard

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Eime, R.M., Harvey, J.T. (2018). Sport Participation Across the Lifespan: Australian Trends and Policy Implications. In: Dionigi, R., Gard, M. (eds) Sport and Physical Activity across the Lifespan. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-137-48562-5_2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-137-48562-5_2

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  • Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, London

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-137-48561-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-137-48562-5

  • eBook Packages: Social SciencesSocial Sciences (R0)

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