Sport Participation and Awards from Architectural Signs

According to the AusPlay April 2017 State and Territory Results, 3,681,500 NSW adults participated in sport or physical activity at least three times/week in 2016. This was a participation rate of 59%, which is in line with the national rate of 60%.

Adult participation in sport or physical activity

Unlike adult data, the AusPlay survey measured children's participation in organised sport or physical activity outside of school hours. It found that almost 292,000 or 21% of NSW children aged 0-14 years participated at least three times per week. This includes games, training and practice.

The national rate was 20% and all states were in line with this figure.

Children's participation in organised sport or physical activity outside school hours

Top 10 activities

Barriers to participation

The Australian Sports Commission in partnership with the CSIRO released two reports in 2013. Market Segmentation for Sport Participation - Adults (aged 14-65 years) and Market Segmentation for Sport Participation - Children (aged 5-13 years old). This research reported a range of barriers to club participation including that Australians:

• Are increasingly time poor, have limited budgets, and are being inundated by new forms of entertainment;
• Have new preferences for greater flexibility, more tailored products, and sport that works around peoples' busy lifestyles;
• Are increasingly favouring more flexible, non-organised forms of physical activity, such as running with headphones on and pursuing new adventure sports;
• Are developing new tastes as our population becomes more culturally diverse; and
• Adolescents are self-conscious and embarrassed by their lack of sporting ability.

In recognition of the fact that there has been an increase in non-organised or time-flexible pursuits and a stagnation of participation numbers in organised sport, the research provided key insights outlining how the sport sector can influence motivations and behaviours that children have towards sports club membership.

The benefits of being active

An active population brings health, social, and economic benefits. The Office of Sport is therefore committed to increasing participation in sport and active recreation to address rising obesity rates and reduce healthcare costs to cardiovascular and other lifestyle related diseases. Being active doesn't only have a positive impact on physical health, it can improve our mental and emotional wellbeing too.

Architectural Signs has been providing engraving services for sporting and general awards over the last 30 years. For more information on these awards and other engraving services visit www.arcsigns.com.au.