Examining Adolescent Sport Dropout and Prolonged Engagement from a Developmental Perspective

Abstract

This study examined youth sport dropout and prolonged engagement from a developmental perspective focusing on physical and psychosocial factors. Twenty-five dropout and 25 engaged adolescent swimmers, matched on key demographic variables, participated in a retrospective interview. Results indicated that dropouts were involved in fewer extra-curricular activities, less unstructured swimming play, and received less one-on-one coaching throughout development. Dropouts reached several developmental milestones (i.e., started training camps, started dry land training, and were top in club) earlier than engaged athletes. Dropouts were more likely to have had parents who were high-level athletes in their youth, were more likely to be the youngest in their training group, and were less likely to have a best friend at swimming. Findings are discussed in relation to past research; future directions and implications for researchers, sport programmers, coaches, and parents are suggested.

Support for the writing and data collection for this manuscript was given by doctoral and standard research grants from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC Grants #752-2003-1319 and #410-05-1949).

Notes

∗ represents number per year.

∗∗Time in hours per year.

∗Support and pressure as a percentage.

∗∗Time in hours per year.

∗∗∗ Influence on 5-point Likert scale.