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05 NATIONAL OUTCOMES
If we are to achieve our vision, the challenge will be to deliver two key outcomes:
> Increasing participation
> Improving performance
Major sporting events such as the Olympic, Paralympic and Commonwealth Games provide electrifying experiences for competitors and spectators. If such events are to provide an enduring legacy, they must be used as catalysts for change. Having sparked the public's interest, we must be ready to promote and provide opportunities to try out a range of sports and to sustain regular participation.
We must turn spectator interest into participation. This will expand the pool of sporting talent from which Scotland's elite performers emerge. We must therefore have the necessary infrastructure in place in advance of these events. This must include provision for those seeking to develop their skills and a pathway for those who have the potential to become elite sportsmen and women.
While this is a demanding agenda, we should not forget that Scotland has already made significant progress towards meeting these challenges.
INCREASING PARTICIPATION
Figure 1: Participation According to Age
Figure 2: Participation Based on Social Grouping
Figure 3: Female Participation
Figure 4: Participation in Sports
Increasing participation is critical to the achievement of our vision. However, there is some way to go towards achieving the 2020 challenge of 60% of Scotland's adult population participating in sport at least once a week.
The Challenges
Across many western societies participation in sport is in decline as people's lifestyles and leisure preferences change. Today's children live in a world of competing distractions. Their leisure time is dominated by the potential of 24-hour entertainment from a games machine or computer. We can no longer take it for granted that young people will choose sport as a leisure option. Additionally, increased pressures on time and an ageing population are resulting in a significant decline in participation in sport. Parental support and encouragement can be vital to a young person's commitment to sport and instrumental to their success. However, this can be demanding in time and resources and parents may find this difficult to sustain.
Despite the health and social benefits of participating in sport, research shows that 50% of our population do not take part in any form of sport or physical recreation (excluding walking) with women participating significantly less than men 2. People with a disability, who equate to one in five of our population, are also less likely to participate in sport 3.
Statistics reveal that participation declines with age at key transition points from primary to secondary school, from school into further education or work, on starting a family and with the onset of ill health 4.
Participation is influenced by social class and declines in line with socio-economic grouping 5. There is also significant geographical variation across Scottish communities, with a 21% difference between those local authority areas with the highest and lowest participation rates 6. This variation cannot be explained by socio-economic factors alone, for example in the west of Scotland, participation is significantly lower than the rest of the country across all socio-economic groups. It is essential that the rationale for these variations is explored.
Girls are more likely to drop out of sport and are doing so at an earlier age. The decline is steep with 94% of girls aged 15 and under participating in sport (98% boys) but in the 16+ age group participation rates stand at 59% against 68% of young men 7.
Now more than ever, we cannot afford to be complacent about sport or to take our sporting heritage for granted. The profile of popular sports is also undergoing change, with a decline in the popularity of team sports and a rise in participation in individual sports such as swimming, cycling and climbing. Young people seem to be attracted to new sports such as mountain biking, skateboarding, snowboarding and surfing. We need to encourage non-participants to give sport a try in ways that are enjoyable, sociable and fun. As stressed at the First Minister's Sport Summit, it is important to give young people opportunities to experience a range of sports from an early age.
If we are to increase participation levels it is vital that we understand why sport does not feature in many people's lifestyles. Barriers to participating in sport include:
- Lack of time;
- Ill health or low level of fitness;
- For many girls and women the very image of sport as male-orientated and dominated, is off putting;
- Women with children may have little leisure time and no child-care provision;
- Some people fear intimidation on the basis of their sexuality or race and others may not find the sporting environment welcoming;
- A negative experience of sport, even at an early age, can influence participation for life;
- Many disabled people face problems in accessing sporting facilities;
- There are cultural barriers for some religious groups and this can be especially so for women, for example, Muslim women;
- A lack of transport is often an issue particularly in rural and disadvantaged communities;
- Poor quality facilities and access, can also have an impact;
- A lack of clubs and volunteers to generate sporting opportunities in communities.
The Agenda for Change
We all have a role in making sport more accessible, desirable and enjoyable. We need to ensure that the sporting community:
- Strengthens the sporting infrastructure in Scotland's priority areas by supporting and developing community capacity in respect of club development, coaches, volunteers and community sports leaders; 8
- Identifies and engages with non-participants including parents;
- Encourages parents to support their child's sporting development; 8
- Addresses low levels of participation particularly from hard-to-reach groups;
- Delivers experiences which are enjoyable and supported by well trained coaches; 8
- Implements and monitors equity and diversity policies;
- Develops and improves the basic movement skills and fitness levels of our children through the school curriculum, after-school and community based provision for children and families with a focus on fundamentals and having fun; 8
- Secures delivery of extra-curricular sports programmes; 8
- Develops the role of Active Schools in the wider community and strengthens links to clubs; 8
- Identifies and addresses the needs of individuals, particularly at points of transition within their lives;
- Supports employers, private sector providers and clubs to widen opportunities to participate in sport;
- Addresses particular needs of an ageing population;
- Develops and supports well organised clubs which provide an inclusive, enjoyable and developmental environment;
- Adopts a positive attitude to providing an image of sport and an environment that encourages an equitable membership;
- Adopts a policy of inclusive membership regardless of ability;
- Promotes and contributes to research and evaluation.
If we are to increase participation levels and reach the 2020 target of 60% of adults taking part in sport at least once a week, we need the commitment of sportscotland, local authorities, sports governing bodies, sports clubs, schools, further and higher education, employers and many others. Section 7 sets out the actions key agencies need to address. Progress will be monitored and evaluated ( Section 8) but we must regularly assess impact and share best practice if we are to meet the 2020 challenge.
IMPROVING PERFORMANCE
Reaching Higher is not simply a strategy for getting more people involved in sport; it is also about addressing the challenge of improving performance at all levels.
While sporting success on the world stage makes a vital contribution to national pride, improving individual performance at any level, even slightly, is just as important. For any participant, raising their skill level brings personal satisfaction and enjoyment and raises self esteem.
The Challenges
Despite being a small nation, Scotland has, over the years, been able to boast a number of world class sportsmen and women. With an ever-increasing number of smaller nations now taking part in international sport and using it to promote their country, the environment is extremely competitive. While we have achieved success at events such as the Melbourne Commonwealth Games, we are not consistently world class in many sports.
Against a backdrop of falling participation, the pool from which future stars may emerge is shrinking. With a greater range of sports available - from the traditional to the specialist and the extreme - spotting those with potential and guiding them onto the most appropriate development pathway can be challenging. There is some way to go before a player pathway is available in all sports and in the interim, potential high level performers may be slipping through the net.
We have not always been clear about how we develop our sporting potential. With a reduction in competitive school sport and a lack of formal connections between schools, clubs and other sports providers it can be difficult for parents, teachers and others to offer advice and direction. This is further exacerbated by the fragile club structure and the shortage of full-time coaches. There is significant variation across our communities in terms of the number of accessible, well run, supportive sporting clubs providing quality opportunities for all. Feedback from the First Minister's Sports Summit was clear that these are significant challenges that must be addressed.
It is vital that clear pathways for progression are developed for each sport based on sound understandings of skill and development needs. A long term player development framework has been developed and needs to be extended across the country to every sport. The First Minister's Sport Summit expressed the need for greater clarity of roles across the sporting sector and between various organisations involved in providing the player pathway.
The Agenda for Change
An essential element of improving Scotland's sporting performance will be to roll out an integrated series of pathways to improve the sporting performance at all levels. This will undoubtedly place significant demands on coaches, teachers, sports clubs, sports governing bodies and local authorities. We must ensure that:
- long term player development concepts are integrated into the planning and delivery of sporting opportunities;
- clear performance plans are in place which highlight how partners will work together linking to UK plans where appropriate;
- there are effective links and partnerships between those organisations delivering the pathway;
- support is provided to coaches, teachers, schools and clubs about talent identification and the opportunities available to support progression; 8
- strong pathways are developed between schools and clubs through the Active Schools programme; 8
- effective workforce development planning identifies coaching requirements throughout the pathway; 8
- there are accessible, quality facilities which support competition and training;
- competition programmes are developed which expose those with potential to appropriate national and international opportunities. 8
We need to build on achievements and it will be important for sports organisations and individuals to routinely evaluate their work, assess its impact and share experiences with others in the sector.
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