- Title
- Participation, retention and dropout of children and adolescents in club-based community tennis
- Creator
- Unni, Ambili
- Date
- 2021
- Type
- Text; Thesis; PhD
- Identifier
- http://researchonline.federation.edu.au/vital/access/HandleResolver/1959.17/187225
- Identifier
- vital:17063
- Abstract
- Promoting participation in sport to achieve sporting excellence and health outcomes is a national policy of Australia. Organised, club-based sport at community level is important as it provides a pathway to elite sporting success and contributes to health and wellbeing of participants. Dropout from all forms of club-based sports including tennis occurs specifically during adolescence in Australia and internationally. Little is known about the factors that collectively influence this age group in their choice to continue playing club-sport or to drop out. This PhD program of research investigated the trends and determinants of retention and dropout among children and adolescents playing community level club-based tennis in the Australian state of Victoria. The program of research used the socio-ecological model underpinned by Leisure Constraint Theory and Fun Integration Theory to understand the different factors that influence retention. The mixed-methods explanatory sequential research design comprised of two consecutive phases of quantitative study that involved secondary data analysis of state-wide club-tennis participation and an on-line survey that examined the determinants of retention and dropout with a socio-ecological perspective. This was followed by an informed qualitative study to explore the key findings in depth. Players aged 10-18 years who were or had been registered players at tennis clubs in Victoria were invited to participate. Analysis of survey data and interviews identified a range of factors that influence and impact the decision of young players to continue playing club-based tennis or to drop out. The result from this program of research highlighted the two intrapersonal determinants ‘enjoyment’ and ‘competency’ as ‘core’ determinants of young players’ choice to be retained or to drop out. Many previous studies have listed enjoyment and competency and several other socio-ecological factors as determinants influencing retention. This research created new knowledge by explaining how each individual socio-ecological element influenced retention through enhancing or diminishing the two core determinants. Mapping of the interaction of multiple socio-ecological elements in leading to retention or dropout while presenting enjoyment and competency as core determinants is unique. Improving retention in club-based tennis during adolescence is important for maintaining participation as a habit into adulthood. As a practical way to achieve this, factors that are identified in this study as influencing enjoyment and competency can be targeted through interventions at various levels through policies and strategies in delivering club programs, coaching and competition. Competency and enjoyment are interconnected in promoting retention. Increasing access to affordable and good quality coaching promotes enjoyment through improving competency and hence should be prioritised to sustain children’s interest and passion for the game. The knowledge about interconnectivity of several apparently distinct elements reiterates the importance of a holistic approach in sport retention studies. It provides the theoretical backing for strategies aimed at retaining more children and adolescents in organised sport which is important for carrying regular physical activity habit into adulthood and ensuring sustainability of organised sports.; Doctor of Philosophy
- Publisher
- Federation University Australia
- Rights
- All metadata describing materials held in, or linked to, the repository is freely available under a CC0 licence
- Rights
- Copyright Ambili Unni
- Rights
- Open Access
- Subject
- Retention; Dropout; Socio-ecological model; Adolescents; Behavioural theories; Club-tennis
- Full Text
- Thesis Supervisor
- Eime, Rochelle
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