Half of kids involved in less organised sport

FEARS of catching Covid, kids losing interest and fitness, and financial pressures have been revealed as the key reasons why half of Australian children are participating in less organised sport since at the start of the pandemic.

The latest Royal Children’s Hospital National Child Health Poll found that while 63 per cent of Victorian kids continued participating in at least some of their regular sport online during lockdown, a third were doing a lot less or no sport since Covid started.

The survey of more than 1800 parents also found more

than a third of families felt the effort of organised sport was not worth it because of the disruptions.

Poll director and RCH paediatrician Anthea Rhodes said given two-thirds of families said the costs of equipment, fees and uniforms were too expensive,

there was an opportunity for sporting clubs to get creative in keeping costs low to keep participation high.

“Our previous research has shown that more than one in four families have had some sort of financial impact from the pandemic and that impacts decision-making around what kids might be able to do,” Dr Rhodes said.

“There are different ways costs can be kept down in organised sport, such as programs where if you offer to donate your time in some way, you get reduced fees.”

Dr Rhodes said in interviews with children about the reasons why they loved organised physical activity, social connection and having time away from their worries rated highly.

“We need to recognise that having some participation in organised sport or other physical activity for kids is really important for their wellbeing.”