Non-participation in sport by black learners with special reference to gender, grades, family income and home environment

Abstract

This study was aimed at finding reasons for non-participation in sport by black learners at secondary school level. According to the findings of this research, factors that have the most important influence on non-participation in sport by black secondary learners are (in order of importance), facilities, political factors, social factors , self-image, economic factors and health. In terms of facilities it has been revealed that black township schools do not have adequate equipment, properly organized recreational facilities, coaches for the different sport codes and upgraded as well as well-maintained sport fields. Cultural isolation of black players in sport surfaced as an important political factor for non-participation. Through this research it has also emerged that while gender and income do seem to have an influence on non-participation in sport, grades and home environment do not. The results indicate that income as a reason for non-participation in sport is significantly more important for learners from low-income families than for learners from average-income families.