Kraus' Recreation and Leisure in Modern Society 10th Edition by Daniel McLean, Linda Dayer-Berenson, Brian Luke Seaward, Amy Hurd

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Sport Participation Over the Lifespan
Participation in sport by individuals is assumed to occur for many. Who participates in sport, why they participate, and how lifespan influences sport participation, however, are much broader issues.
An elite athlete may be considered old at 30 and ancient at 40. The average NFL player, for example, retires at age 28, the average major league baseball player is retired by age 29, and the average world class athlete retires at age 33. Recently an 80-year-old man crested Mt. Everest, the Earth's highest mountain. The question remains, how long do people participate in sport At what levels do they participate What sports do they participate in And what is their motivation for participation and does that motivation change as they age The focus of this Case Study is on motivation for participation.
Research has reported that participation, frequency of participation, and intensity of participation varies by age. As a general rule, as individuals grow older sport participation declines. As youth leave their high school and collegiate years and enter the workforce they find more interests and demands competing for their time. Families, careers, access to sport opportunities, and changing interests and motivations all influence participation in sport. At the same time, definitions of sport change. Youth, teens, and young adults consistently participate in high-activity team sports, such as football, baseball, and soccer, while older individuals more frequently participate in individual sports such as walking, fitness, bicycle riding, and the like. None are sedentary, but activities frequently involve significantly reduced opportunity for injury.
Participation in team sports for men and women peak near age 15 and decline for the remainder of their lives, occurring more quickly for women then men. Indoor fitness for women peaks in the mid-30s, but continues strong into their 60s. The same appears true for men, but not at the same levels. The growth of fitness centers in communities across the United States is an example of the emphasis on fitness. Outdoor activities, the third broad area typically measured, are more prevalent among men throughout their lifespan then they are for women. They are participated in as frequently as fitness for men until their early 50s, whereas women's participation is lower but remains constant until their early 40s, when a slow decline begins. a
Data about participation only tells part of the story. Understanding motivation for continued participation is also essential. It is generally accepted that regular physical activity is associated with a number of physical, psychological, and social health benefits across one's lifespan. These benefits include decreased risk for diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, obesity, depression, cancer, hypertension, and improved social relationships, self-esteem, and quality of life.
Self-Determination Theory (SDT) is one of the most commonly used theories to explain motivation for participation in sport. The two primary types of SDT are intrinsic and extrinsic motivation; the latter is classified into four categories. Individuals experience intrinsic motivation when they participate in an activity because they choose to. Participation in the activity results in feelings of pleasure, fun, and satisfaction and reinforces the desire to participate. b
The four types of extrinsic motivation focus on a relationship of regulation and self-determination. For example, integrated regulation is present when an individual participates in an activity because it is in harmony with his or her personal values, goals, and needs but is not inherently enjoyable. For some this might be engaging in fitness exercises. One knows the activity is of value to them, but it is not necessarily enjoyable. A second type is identified regulation , which occurs when an individual participates in an activity that he or she judges personally important and from which he or she will attain a desired outcome. Returning to the fitness example, a person participates in the fitness program focusing on a desired outcome that may be more than just a physical outcome. Further, the individual engages in the activity with a high degree of perceived autonomy, suggesting he or she does not need external motivation and can perform it on his or her own. Introjected regulation is controlling rather than autonomous and occurs when an individual participates in an activity to avoid guilt and shame or to attain ego enhancements and feelings of worth. This might be a group fitness program an individual was coerced to participate in. It is not enjoyable, and he or she is not anticipating benefits from participation. The final type is external regulation , where participants engage in the activity to avoid punishment or to receive an external reward.
Researchers have suggested that across the lifespan individual preferences and motivation change. For example, young adults (18-24), adults (25-44), and middle-age adults (45-64) were motivated for different reasons. Young adults reported the highest level of controlled regulation, focusing on external and introjected motivations. The adults and middle-age adults reported higher levels of autonomous motivation including intrinsic and identified regulation. Further, young adults had a negative association with physical activity behavior because it was externally motivated and adults and middle-age adults had a positive association because they chose to participate and recognized positive health benefits. c
In summary, individuals do participate in sport across the lifespan. Types of sport individuals participate in change dramatically over the lifespan. Motivations for participation, likewise, change with age and for the most part the motivations change in a positive manner because participants are intrinsically motivated for their own benefit and enjoyment.
Ask why each person participates in a particular sport(s). Are their motivations different from yours How would you classify the motivations