Australia - Children's Sport Participation - 2000, 2003, 2006

The (Australia) National Centre for Culture and Recreaton Statistics conducted longitudinal surveys looking at children's participation in organized sport in 2000, 2003 and 2006. The surveys ducumented those who had participated in the two weeks prior to the interview. Participation in organized dancing lessons was included. In general, the surveys showed:

• participation rates increasing between 2000 (64%) and 2003 (67%, with little change occuring in 2006 (68%)
• an increase in the average hours of participation by children in organized sport occurred between 2003 (5.2 hours) and 2006 (6.4 hours)
  
• an increase in the average frequency of children's participation occured between 2003 (75 times per year) and 2006 (81 times per year) - increase primarily by children aged 9-11 years and by girls of all ages.

The average hours that children spent watching television, vidos or DVD decreased from 22 hours in 2000 and 2003 to 20 hours in 2006. The proportion of children playing computer games decreased from 71% in 2003 to 64% in 2006; however the average hours spent over a two week period increased from 7.5 hours in 2003 to 7.9 hours in 2006.

Participation in sport and/or dancing by age and sex - 2000, 2003, 2006

percentage of child population (5-14 yrs) participating in previous two weeks

	2000	2003	2006
Boys 5-8 yrs	58.9	63.7	63.4
Boys 9-11 yrs	74.3	74.3	74.7
Boys 12-14 yrs	69.2	70.7	71.7
Boys Total	66.6	69.0	69.4
Girls 5.8 yrs	55.3	58.6	63.1
Girls 9-11 yrs	67.5	70.5	73.5
Girls 12-14 yrs	63.1	65.4	63.6
Girls Total	61.3	64.3	66.4
All 5-8 yrs	57.1	61.2	63.3
All 9-11 yrs	71.0	72.5	74.1
All 12-14 yrs	66.1	68.1	67.8
Total (5-14 yrs)	64.0	66/7	67.9

Source: http://www.ausport.gov.au/_data/assets/pdf_file/0011/276914/ABS_-_Childrens_participation_in_organized_-_2003.pdf