Sport plays a large role in the lives of many young people in Australia, forming an important part of their identity. Many young people strive to perform at the top level, but it takes more than just sporting ability to perform at an elite level. What sort of social and emotional skills does it take for young people to perform at the top of their game?
Half (49%) of GENERATION participants regularly participated in at least one sport in 2023.
50% of males, 51% of females and 36% of non-binary/other gender young people played at least one sport.
One in ten (12%) young people participated in both an individual and team sport. With 23% participating in at at least one individual sport, and 38% participating in at least one team sport.
11% of young people participate in an elite sport representing their town, city or state. 3% of young people played an individual sport at an elite level and 10% played a team sport at an elite level.
More females than males played sport at the top level. Of those participating in elite sports, 56% identified as female, and 44% identified as male.
Participation rates were higher for team sports, including football, cricket or netball, with 2 in 5 (38%) of young people participating in at least one team sport, compared with individual sports, including swimming, tennis, karate or gymnastics, with just less than a quarter (23%) participated in at least one individual sport.
While the GENERATION study asked participants about participation in team individual sports, including coaching and lessons, the Australian Sport and Physical Activity Participation Survey (AusPlay), collected data on national participation rates in sports-related activities. At a national level, 68% of young people aged 15-17 years participated in a sports-related activity at least once a week in 2022/2023. The most popular sports related activities undertaken were basketball, running/athletics, football, swimming and netball.
As part of the GENERATION Study, young people were also asked about their experience in playing sports at an elite level, representing their town, city, or state. One in ten (11%) young people played at least one sport at an elite level.
Young people were asked a series of questions to assess their Social and Emotional Skills, including creativity, curiosity, tolerance, perseverance, self-control, assertiveness, cooperation, empathy, trust, emotional control and stress resilience.
Data presented shows increased odds of playing an elite sport by level of social emotional skill.
As shown in the graph above, a young person playing an elite team sport is more likely to possess high levels of persistence and lower levels of curiosity. Compared to those with low to moderate levels, those with high levels of persistence are 2.14 times more likely to be playing in an elite team sport. Those with low to medium levels of curiosity are more likely to be playing elite team sports than those with high levels (1.9 times more likely).
Young people playing an elite individual sport are more likely to have high levels of stress resilience. Compared to those with low to moderate levels, those with high levels of stress resilience are 1.83 times more likely to be playing in an elite individual sport.
Young people who played at least one sport at an elite level were more likely to possess high levels of persistence. Compared to those with low to moderate levels, those with high levels of persistence are 1.90 times more likely to be playing in an elite sport.