Why Do People Play Sport? The Theories Behind Participation

Why do some people stay active all their lives, while others drop out early? Is it about money, free time, facilities, or motivation? A literature review by Simon Grima, Alan Grima, Eleftherios Thalassinos, Sharon Seychell, and Jonathan V. Spiteri dives deep into the theoretical models of sport participation — and the findings can help Malta understand its own challenges.

Three major models

1. The Beckerian Approach - Sport is treated like any other economic decision: people trade off time, money, and personal capital (skills, health). Participation is shaped by how households allocate resources.

2. The SLOTH Framework (Sleeping, Leisure, Occupation, Transportation, Home) - Developed by Cawley (2004), this model looks at how individuals “produce health” through daily choices in each of these areas. Sport is just one of many competing activities for limited time and energy.

3. Green’s Sport Development Model - Focused on recruitment, retention, and transition, it explains why people join sport, what keeps them there, and what drives them to drop out. Motivation, opportunities, and system-level support all play roles.

   
   

Key determinants of sport participation

• Age: Activity generally decreases with age, but walking and non-competitive forms increase among older adults.

• Gender: Men are more active than women in most countries. Women face greater barriers, from childcare responsibilities to facility access and cultural norms.

• Education and income: Higher education and income usually mean higher participation — but time pressures at higher levels of education can reduce frequency.

• Time: Workload, family size, and caring responsibilities heavily restrict participation. Retired people often have higher activity levels.

• Facilities: Access and proximity to facilities are major drivers. Satisfaction with facilities also affects retention.

• Social networks: Friends and parents significantly influence participation — both positively and negatively.

• Culture: Southern European and Mediterranean countries, including Malta, consistently report lower participation rates than Scandinavia.

Lessons for Malta

The review highlights that sport participation isn’t explained by one factor but by a web of economic, social, and psychological drivers. For Malta, this means:

• Policies must address not just cost, but time barriers and gender inequities.

• Schools and parents are vital in shaping habits, especially for adolescents.

• Investment in facilities must go hand-in-hand with building a supportive culture.

• Sport needs to be seen not only as competition, but as a lifelong habit that adapts with age.

The takeaway

From theory to practice, the message is clear: if Malta wants to raise participation rates, it must build policies that address the whole person — their time, resources, motivations, and social environment.

Reference: Grima, S., Grima, A., Thalassinos, E. I., Seychell, S., & Spiteri, J. V. (2017). Theoretical models for sport participation: Literature review. International Journal of Economics and Business Administration, 5(3), 94–116.