Search

Background: Internationally, COVID-19 restrictions impacted negatively on participation in sport and physical activity. Participation in community club sport was particularly disrupted with cancelled training and competitions, and this has been shown to impact the health of individuals. We now need to investigate the effects of the lifting of COVID-19 restrictions., Aim: The aim of this study was to longitudinally investigate the health of Australian adult sports club participants, during and post-COVID-19 restrictions., Methods: Two waves of an online survey were conducted in mid-2020 and mid-2021. The first wave also captured retrospective pre-COVID19 (2019) data. For each year 2019-2021 each survey respondent was categorized as participating (Yes/No) in club sport. Respondents also assessed their current health (overall, physical and mental) in both 2020 and 2021. The six health assessments were cross-tabulated against three patterns of participation (dropout, dropout and return, continuation), for the survey sample overall and for six demographic subsamples: 42 crosstabulations in all., Results: A total of 1,037 Australians aged 18 years and above completed both survey waves. Those who continued playing club sport throughout, and to a lesser degree those who returned to club sport in 2021, reported better physical and general health than those who dropped out. This pattern was consistent, for the overall survey sample and for the sub-samples based on gender, age and region of residence, with statistically significantly associations (p < 0.05) in 24 of 28 analyses. The pattern of club sport participation was only weakly associated with reported mental health, with only one of 14 associations being statistically significant., Conclusion: Changes in club sport participation impact general and physical health of adults; continuation or return were associated with better physical and general health than drop-out. There was little evidence of an association between participation in sport and mental health, which is inconsistent with previously reported cross-sectional results; this may be due to a combination of factors, including confounding with the broader effects of the pandemic. In conclusion, it is clear that retention in participation in sport is not just important for sports management policy and strategies; it is also important for the health of individuals., Competing Interests: Declarations. Ethics approval and consent to participate: Flinders University (project number 8654) and Victoria University (project number HRE 20–049) human research ethics committees approved this study, and thus conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki. Informed consent was obtained from participants. Consent for publication: Not applicable. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests. All experiment protocol for involving humans was in accordance to guidelines of national, international and institutional standards., (© 2025. The Author(s).)

Background: Globally, COVID-19 and associated restrictions impacted negatively on recreational physical activity (RPA). Participation in community sport was significantly impacted with cancelled training and competitions. Whilst team and club-based sport participation declined during COVID-19 restrictions, participation in some physical activities actually increased, particularly individual and online activities and outdoor activities not requiring facilities., Aim: The aim of this study is to investigate changes in the patterns of participation in club-based sport, informal sport and other RPA in Australia from pre, during and post-COVID-19 restrictions. Further, these participation patterns are broken down by gender, age and region of residence., Methods: Two longitudinal waves of an online survey were conducted in mid-2020 and mid-2021. The first wave also captured retrospective pre-COVID19 (2019) data. Two sections of the survey dealt respectively with two 'settings' of RPA: organised club sport, and less structured sport and recreational physical activity (designated 'other RPA'). For each year 2019-2021 each individual was categorized as participating (Yes/No) in each of club sport and other RPA. For each setting, the proportions of each pattern of participation were tabulated, and the results for the demographic cohorts were compared., Results: A total of 1,138 Australians aged 13 years and above completed both waves of the survey. Overall, there were considerable differences between the patterns of club sport and other RPA. Most individuals who participated in other RPA (69%) were able to and did participate continuously throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. However, and not surprisingly, the club-sport participants were forced to drop out in 2020 during COVID-19 restrictions, and less than half reported returning to play post-COVID-19 restrictions. Less than a quarter of sports club participants were able to continue to play throughout COVID-19 and beyond. Significantly more males returned to playing sport 51% than females 44%., Conclusion: Participation in community club-based sport has been significantly negatively impacted by COVID-19, more so than participation in some other recreational sport and physical activities. Further, fewer females than males returned to playing community sport, and priority and specific attention should be given to understanding why women and girls have not returned to playing community club-based sport., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Introduction: Improving physical activity (PA) and healthy eating is critical for primary and secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Behaviour change programmes delivered in sporting clubs can engage men in health behaviour change, but are rarely sustained or scaled-up post trial. Following the success of pilot studies of the Australian Fans in Training (Aussie-FIT) programme, a hybrid effectiveness-implementation trial protocol was developed. This protocol outlines methods to: (1) establish if Aussie-FIT is effective at supporting men with or at risk of CVD to sustain improvements in moderate-to-vigorous PA (primary outcome), diet and physical and psychological health and (2) examine the feasibility and utility of implementation strategies to support programme adoption, implementation and sustainment., Methods and Analysis: A pragmatic multistate/territory hybrid type 2 effectiveness-implementation parallel group randomised controlled trial with a 6-month wait list control arm in Australia. 320 men aged 35-75 years with or at risk of CVD will be recruited. Aussie-FIT involves 12 weekly face-to-face sessions including coach-led interactive education workshops and PA delivered in Australian Football League (Western Australia, Northern Territory) and rugby (Queensland) sports club settings. Follow-up measures will be at 3 and 6 months (both groups) and at 12 months to assess maintenance (intervention group only). Implementation outcomes will be reported using the Reach, Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation, Maintenance framework., Ethics and Dissemination: This multisite study has been approved by the lead ethics committees in the lead site's jurisdiction, the South Metropolitan Health Service Human Research Ethics Committee (Reference RGS4254) and the West Australian Aboriginal Health Ethics Committee (HREC1221). Findings will be disseminated at academic conferences, peer-reviewed journals and via presentations and reports to stakeholders, including consumers. Findings will inform a blueprint to support the sustainment and scale-up of Aussie-FIT across diverse Australian settings and populations to benefit men's health., Trial Registration Number: This trial is registered with the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ACTRN12623000437662)., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2023. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

Background: Leisure-time physical activity and sport participation trends are often reported, both in aggregate and by specific activity. Recently there has been a rise in overall leisure-time physical activity, but little change in the prevalence of organised sport. It is important that the development of sport policy, infrastructure and strategic developments meet the changing landscape of participation. However, there has been relatively little research into the settings in which people participate. The aim of this study is to investigate the settings of participation of children and adults in 12 major Australian sports., Methods: This study utilised data about participation in sport and recreational physical activity collected in the AusPlay survey from a representative sample of adults and children in the Australian state of Victoria. For each type of physical activity, the settings of participation are identified. Respondents can report participation in a particular activity in more than one setting. Therefore we use the term "instance of participation" to refer to a person playing a particular sport in a particular setting. Participation and settings across 12 major sports were investigated for children and adults., Results: For children, the most popular sport was swimming with a weighted estimate of 323,565 (30.3%) instances of participation in the Victorian population, followed by Australian football (n = 180,459; 16.9%), and basketball (n = 137,169; 12.9%). For adults the most popular sports were swimming (n = 703,950; 30.9%) followed by golf (n = 274,729; 12.1%), and tennis (n = 260,814; 11.4%). There were considerable differences between the profiles of settings of participation for the 12 sports. Across the 12 sports, the majority of participation by children took place within a sports club or association setting, representing 63% of all instances of sport participation. For adults, sports clubs and associations was also the most popular setting, but it represented only 37% of instances of participation., Conclusions: Traditionally, community clubs and inter-club competitions provided the main setting for sport participation, but this is no longer the case, particularly for adults. If the community sport sector is to continue to flourish, it must consider new strategies and participation options more attractive to other segments of its potential market.

Objective: Community sports clubs provide an important contribution to the health and wellbeing of individuals and the community; however, they have also been associated with risky alcohol consumption. This study assessed whether a club's alcohol management strategies were related to risky alcohol consumption by members and levels of social capital, as measured in terms of participation in and perceived safety of the club., Method: A total of 723 sports club members from 33 community football clubs in New South Wales, Australia, completed a computer assisted telephone interview (CATI) and a management representative from each club also completed a CATI. The club representative reported on the club's implementation of 11 alcohol management practices, while club members reported their alcohol consumption and perceived levels of safety at the club and participation in the club., Results: A structural equation model identified having the bar open for more than four hours; having alcohol promotions; and serving intoxicated patrons were associated with increased risky alcohol consumption while at the club; which in turn was associated with lower levels of perceived club safety and member participation., Conclusion and Implications: The positive contribution of community sports clubs to the community may be diminished by specific inadequate alcohol management practices. Changing alcohol management practices can reduce alcohol consumption, and possibly increase perceived aspects of social capital, such as safety and participation., (© 2014 Public Health Association of Australia.)

Objective: The current systematic review aimed to identify and critically appraise research on food environments in sports settings, including research into the types of food and beverages available, the extent and impact of food and beverage sponsorship and marketing, and views about food environments among key stakeholders., Design: A systematic review. Fourteen English-language studies (two were papers describing different facets of the same study), published between 1985 and 2011, were identified from searches of electronic databases and bibliographies of primary studies., Setting: Most studies originated from Australia (n 10), with the remaining studies originating in the UK (n 1), New Zealand (n 1), the USA (n 1) and Canada (n 1). Data were collected from observations in stadia, websites and televised sports events, through in-depth interviews, focus groups and surveys with sports club members, parents and quick serve restaurant managers., Results: Literature exploring food environments in sports settings was limited and had some important methodological limitations. No studies comprehensively described foods available at clubs or stadia, and only one explored the association between food and beverage sponsorship and club incomes. Club policies focused on the impact of health promotion funding rather than the impact of sponsorship or food availability in sports settings., Conclusions: Further research, including comprehensive studies of the food environment in sports settings, is required to document the availability, sponsorship and marketing of food and beverages at national, regional and club levels and to estimate how sports settings may influence children's diets.

Objective: Approximately 4.5 million Australians are involved in community sports clubs. A high level of alcohol consumption tends to be commonplace in this setting. The only program of its type in the world, the Good Sports program was designed to reduce harmful alcohol consumption in these Australian community sports clubs. The program offers a staged accreditation process to encourage the implementation of alcohol harm-reduction strategies., Method: We conducted a postintervention adoption study to evaluate whether community sports club accreditation through the Good Sports program was associated with lower rates of alcohol consumption. We examined alcohol consumption rates in 113 clubs (N = 1,968 participants) and compared these to consumption rates in the general community. We hypothesized that members of clubs with more advanced implementation of the Good Sports accreditation program (Stage Two) would consume less alcohol than those with less advanced implementation (Stage One)., Results: Multilevel modeling (MLM) indicated that on days when teams competed, Stage Two club members consumed 19% less alcohol than Stage One club members. MLM also indicated that the length of time a club had been in the Good Sports program was associated with reduced rates of weekly drinking that exceeded Australian short-term risky drinking guidelines. However consumption rates for all clubs were still higher than the general community. Higher accreditation stage also predicted reduced long-term risky drinking by club members., Conclusion: Our findings suggest that community sports clubs show evidence of higher levels of alcohol consumption and higher rates of risky consumption than the general community. Implementation of the Good Sports accreditation strategy was associated with lower alcohol consumption in these settings.

Background: Children's exposure to unhealthy food marketing influences their food knowledge, preferences and consumption. Sport sponsorship by food companies is widespread and industry investment in this marketing is increasing. This study aimed to assess children's awareness of sport sponsors and their brand-related attitudes and purchasing intentions in response to this marketing., Methods: Sports clubs known to have food sponsors and representing the most popular sports for Australian children across a range of demographic areas were recruited. Interview-based questionnaires were conducted at clubs with children aged 10-14 years (n = 103) to examine their recall of local sports club and elite sport sponsors, and their attitudes towards sponsors and sponsorship activities., Results: Most children (68%) could recall sponsors of their sports club, naming a median of two sponsors, including a median of one food company sponsor each. Almost half (47%) of children could recall any sponsors of their favourite elite sporting team. Children aged 10-11 years were more likely than older children to report that they thought about sponsors when buying something to eat or drink (P < 0.01); that they liked to return the favour to sponsors by buying their products (P < 0.01); and that sponsors were 'cool' (P = 0.02). Most children had received a voucher or certificate from a food or beverage company to reward sport performance (86% and 76%, respectively). Around one-third of children reported liking the company more after receiving these rewards., Conclusions: Children's high recall of food and beverage company sport sponsors and their positive attitudes towards these sponsors and their promotions is concerning as this is likely to be linked to children's food preferences and consumption. Limiting children's exposure to this marketing is an important initiative to improve children's nutrition.

Objective: Australian data indicate that 63% of children participated in sport in 2009, a 4% increase since 2000. Children's high participation in sport, and the association between sport and health, means that these settings provide an opportunity to promote other aspects of health, such as healthy eating, to children. This study aimed to determine healthy eating practices and policies at children's sports clubs., Methods: Sports clubs (n=108) for the nine most popular sports for children aged 5 to 14 were randomly sampled from three large geographical areas across one state and one territory in Australia. A purpose-designed telephone questionnaire for sports club officials was developed to determine the food and beverages sold, provided and promoted at sports clubs and the availability of healthy-eating policies., Results: The most frequently sold item at canteens was water, followed by sports drinks, chocolate/confectionery and soft drink. Only 20% of canteens promoted healthy food. Thirty-nine per cent of clubs made recommendations on the food and beverages to be consumed during sport, mostly relating to water consumption. The majority (76%) engaged in fundraising; many in collaboration with chocolate/confectionery companies. Only three clubs had a written policy on healthy eating., Conclusion: Addressing the low uptake of healthy eating policies would be a useful strategy to improve the healthiness of sports clubs., Implications: Policies could seek to reduce the availability and promotion of unhealthy food and beverages through canteens, vending machines and fundraising., (© 2010 The Authors. ANZJPH © 2010 Public Health Association of Australia.)

Purpose: The study examines the association of involvement in sports and arts with five health risk factors. The aims were to evaluate the argument that promotion of sports alone will achieve health objectives and to assess the suitability of sports and arts populations as targets for health promotion sponsorship., Design: Personal and telephone cross-sectional surveys were performed in Western Australia in 1992 (N = 2629) and 1994 (N = 2031)., Setting: Sports and arts venues in Western Australia., Subjects: Random samples of household respondents aged 16 to 69 years., Measures: Measures of association between risk factors and involvement in sports and the arts were adjusted for sex, age, residence, income, and other types of sports/arts involvement., Results: Spectators attending sports events, who were not members of organized sports clubs, were more likely to possess three or more risk factors than nonparticipants (OR = 1.43; 95% CI 1.20-1.70). They were more likely to report cigarette smoking, unsafe alcohol drinking, and poor sun protection practices. Sports club members had a similar profile of risk factors, except that their prevalence of smoking was reduced and they were much less likely to report inadequate physical exercise. The most elevated risk factor in sports populations was unsafe alcohol drinking (OR = 1.81 in club members, 1.88 in spectators, and 2.25 in spectators who were also members). Arts populations were less likely than average to report elevated risk factors, especially in the case of members of arts organizations who also attended arts events (for three or more risk factors, OR = 0.59; 95% CI .45-.75). However, the majority of arts respondents had at least two risk factors. Levels of inadequate exercise in arts populations were the same as those in sports populations., Conclusions: The promotion of sports alone is unlikely to achieve health objectives. Highest priority in the use of health promotion sponsorship funds should be given to the populations attending sports events and involved as members of sports clubs. Investment in arts sponsorship is warranted, but at a lower level than health sponsorship of sports.