Stride into Sport

The days are getting longer and summer sport seasons are around the corner. It’s time to get back involved in your local club!

Research conducted through VicHealth and Sport and Recreation Victoria’s joint research (Sport participation in Victoria 2015-2020 and the impact of COVID-19 on participation Research Summary – https://www.vichealth.vic.gov.au/media-and-resources/publications/victorian-participation-in-organised-sport) into organised community sport participation in Victoria has helped to inform our focus. Key findings for regional Victoria include:

• Decline in participation in regional areas The participation rate dropped from 18% in 2019 to only 10% in 2020 in established regional areas (Regional – other). For those 4 years of age, participation dropped by 70% and for those aged 5-9 it dropped by 54%. Sport participation is generally higher in regional Victoria than metropolitan Melbourne as community sport is embedded in regional culture as a means to congregate and develop and maintain social connections (Eime, Charity et al. 2021). Given that there are fewer other leisure-time activities available in regional and rural area compared to major cities, it is likely that the absence of sport has negatively affected regional residents more than metropolitan residents.
• Largest participation decreases seen in regional Victoria. Participation in the Regional – Growth region decreased by 27%, and in Regional – other by 44%.
• For all children and youth (aged 4-19 years) there was a loss of 175,708 participants in 2020 compared to 2019.