Title: Determinants of middle school sport participation: a comparison of different models for school sport delivery

Authors: Michael A. Kanters; Jason N. Bocarro; P. Brian Greenwood; Jonathan M. Casper; Luis Suau; Thomas L. McKenzie

Addresses: NC State University, Campus Box 8004, Raleigh, NC 27695-8004, USA ' NC State University, Campus Box 8004, Raleigh, NC 27695-8004, USA ' Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo Recreation, Parks and Tourism Administration, San Luis Obispo, CA 93407, USA ' NC State University, Campus Box 8004, Raleigh, NC 27695-8004, USA ' Shaw University, 118 East South Street, Raleigh, NC 27601, USA ' San Diego State University, 5127 Walsh Way, San Diego, CA 92115, USA

Abstract: Different models of school sport delivery, such as intramurals (IM), may attract students who are less skilled or less interested in traditional varsity sports (VS). The purpose of this study was to examine whether school sport delivery models (IM or VS) differentially influence middle school students' motivations to participate in school sports. Using the theory of planned behaviour (TPB) as a conceptual framework, participants in school sponsored sport programs (n = 2,021) from four middle schools (2 IM; 2 VS) completed a school sport participation questionnaire at the beginning and end of a school year. Results suggest that intentions to participate in sport either increase or are maintained through participation in school sports, and the intentions of non-participants decrease over time. A singular model of school sport that only includes highly competitive varsity sports may limit opportunities for children to play sport and diminish their intentions for enduring sport participation.

Keywords: middle school sports; school sport delivery; adolescents; physical activity; theory of planned behaviour; TPB; intramurals; sport participation.

DOI: 10.1504/IJSMM.2012.052665

International Journal of Sport Management and Marketing, 2012 Vol.12 No.3/4, pp.159 - 179

Received: 10 Jan 2012
Accepted: 24 Sep 2012

Published online: 31 Jul 2014 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article