Purpose
Little is understood as to the current challenges that inhibit individuals in Wales moving from school and / or grassroots participation in sport through to a recognised sporting pathway.
Therefore, the following project sought to understand what currently inhibits 11 – 16-year-olds progressing from school or grassroots participation to a pathway recognised by a Welsh Governing Body?
Method
The project favoured a qualitative approach, making use of focus groups and creative methods to understand participants journey through sport and the support they require, the barriers they had and were likely to encounter while moving through the sporting pathway, and their knowledge of specific sporting pathways.
The 2022 School Sport Survey was used to identify potential participants, and 25 focus groups were delivered, speaking to over 125 male and female grassroots participants, across eight schools, five regions, three free school meal quartiles, and six sport categories.
Results
Participants cited several perceived barriers which currently or potentially inhibit their progression along a recognised sporting pathway. Barriers were organised into the following themes and sub-themes:
