Lack of sport activities in the age 3-18 in nothern Italy

Lack of sport activities in the age 3-18 in nothern Italy Casolo F.1,2, Cereda F.1, Galvani C1, Mondoni M.1,2 1Faculty of Motor and Sport Science, Catholic University of Sacred Heart, Milan, Italy 2Department of Phsycology , Catholic University of Sacred Heart, Milan, Italy Introduction The Italian schooling system has not yet understood the importance of movement for children and adolescents. As a consequence of this a progressive and substantial reduction of the number of young people practising sport is observed along the ages of the growth. Aim of this research is to show how and why in northern Italy there is a progressive and substantial reduction of the number of young people practising sports in their leisure time from 3 to 18 years of age, despite the fact that there are favourable, structural and environmental factors to the sporting practice. Methods The analysis has been conducted in 23 northern Italy cities (range population 12.000 + 50.00) The considered ages have been the followings: 3-5 years (4500 answers from parents), 6-10 years (5600 answers from children), 11-14 years (5200 answers from boys and girls), 15-18 years (3805 answers from teen-agers). Questionnaires have been distributed through the schools and via mail/telephone interviews. Search analyzed four factors among the most important influencing sport practice: 1. Sporting structures of the territory ; 2. Evaluation of free and paid sports structures. Each of the two types has been quantified and divided in weekly hourly and in relationship with age range; 3. Evaluation of leisure time besides school time according to range age; 4. Percentage of the individuals in the age of 3-18 practising sport and the most important motivations for lack of sport activities. Results In northern Italy there is an high middle percentage (42,31%) of people that in the age of 3 -18 years do not practise sporting activities. From the 11th year, there is a significative number of students that drop out from sports (26,12%) due to a schooling system that occupies academically with lessons and studing most of their leisure time ( Table 1). No relevant motivation about lack of sport structures of the territory and about payment for sporting courses. Table 1. Age/ Not practicing/ Motivations Age Not practicing Motivations related to lack and drop out from sports Age Not practicing Motivations related to lack and drop out from sports 3-5 years 56,22% Premature age for sport activity (33%) 11-13 years 27,23% Lack of amusement in sport (28%) Lack of an adult companion (31%) Lack of time due to study ( 25%) Lack of structures (26%) Sport activity too much tiring (16%) 6-10 years 32,44% Lack of amusement in sport (35%) Lack of an adult companion (26%) Lack of time due to study (57%) Lack of time due to study ( 18%) 14-18 years 53,35% Lack of amusement in sport (14%) Conclusion Reduction of leisure time due to study is the principal factor of sporting activity lack and drop out, even if there is a favourable situation for sports. In order to solve these problems, we can choose different ways: to increase the sporting offer inside the scholastic system (more than the actual two hours of physical education per week !); to leave at least two free afternoons for sporting activities, especially in High school period; to support a closer interaction and collaboration between scholastic system, out-of-school sportive system and families, in order to enhance a better lifestyle necessary to preserve children health. References F.Casolo et al, Proceedings Pre-Olimpic Congress, Thessaloniki 2004 A. Pellai et al, IJ of Sport Sciences, 10-13,l Aquila 2000 C.Bosco et al, National Conference CONI, Official Acts, Rome 1994 Statistic Yearbook Lombardia Provinces, ISTAT Data, Milan 2002