Title: Strategies to increase sport participation in Canada: the role of a coordinated network

Authors: Laura Cousens; Martha Barnes; Joanne MacLean

Addresses: Department of Sport Management, Brock University, 500 Glenridge Road, St. Catharines, Ontario L2S 3A1, Canada ' Department of Recreation and Leisure Studies, Brock University, 500 Glenridge Road, St. Catharines, Ontario L2S 3A1, Canada ' Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Fraser Valley, 45190 Caen Avenue, Chilliwack, BC V2R 0N3, Canada

Abstract: In an effort to address some of the issues facing sport in Canada, the Canadian Sport Policy suggests that improving collaboration among sport organisations is one strategy for creating a more connected and coordinated sport system. This research seeks to examine collaboration in community sport in order to understand the role and impact of integrated networks of sport organisations for driving sport participation. Swimming and basketball networks in one region were studied and findings reveal many unrealised ties between providers and organisations. A formal approach did not necessarily equate to a greater level of collaboration for swimming in comparison to basketball.

Keywords: social network analysis; SNA; community sports; collaboration; sport participation; Canada; coordinated networks; coordination; swimming networks; basketball networks.

DOI: 10.1504/IJSMM.2012.052667

International Journal of Sport Management and Marketing, 2012 Vol.12 No.3/4, pp.198 - 216

Received: 14 Dec 2011
Accepted: 16 Oct 2012
Published online: 31 Jul 2014 *

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