Author: Sarah Crossman
Crossman, Sarah, 2025 Engaging and Retaining Adults in Organised Sport: The Development of the Adult Sport Participation Framework, Flinders University, College of Education, Psychology and Social Work
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Adults are among the most physically inactive subpopulations in Australia. Organised sport provides a valuable context for promoting physical activity and delivers many health, social and economic benefits. Despite these advantages, sport participation among Australian working age adults (25-64 years) has declined over the past decade. Working age adults are increasingly engaging in less-structured, non-competitive physical activity, such as informal sport and gym-based exercise, rather than organised sport, reflecting shifting preferences. Significant life transitions, including career development, relationships, and parenting, further impact sport engagement by altering personal priorities. Given long-term health behaviours are typically established during the working age, supporting adults’ sustained engagement in organised sport is critical for lifelong health and wellbeing.
There is limited evidence on the factors that shape working age adults’ sport engagement and retention. This thesis addresses this gap by offering novel theoretical and practical insights into the dynamic, multi-layered influences on adult sport participation. Using a social-ecological and life course perspective, a series of mixed methods studies explored the facilitators, constraints, and experiences of sport-active and sport-inactive adults, and identified characteristics of successful engagement programs.
This thesis comprises a systematic literature review, a policy overview, and three interrelated studies. The review synthesised research examining the facilitators and constraints affecting working aged adult sports participation. It revealed a complex interplay of social-ecological factors. Enjoyment and health benefits were key facilitators, while injury, illness, and family commitments were common constraints. Adults negotiated barriers through strategies such as financial planning and social support.
A cross-sectional quantitative study (n = 744) compared sport-active and sport-inactive adults, confirming that individual-level factors (e.g., enjoyment, being active) were important sport facilitators for both groups. Importantly, sport-inactive adults identified a broader range of constraints (e.g., individual, social, time) and placed greater value on structural factors (e.g., quality coaches, sport appropriateness) than their active counterparts, offering new insights into an under-researched subpopulation.
Qualitative interviews (working aged adults; n = 10 sport-active, n = 6 sport-inactive) explored how sport experiences impacted engagement and retention. The findings highlighted that sport provides meaningful experiences shaped by dynamic interactions across individual, interpersonal, and organisational domains, which fluctuate over the life course. Key themes included the importance of social connection, family, and sport identity. Adults who maintained involvement through non-playing roles (e.g., coaching, administration) retained a strong sports identity, facilitating future reengagement.
The final study involved a multiple case study of three successful adult sport programs, providing practical insights into effective recruitment and retention. Program success depended on effective promotion, structured sessions, group cohesion, and clear pathways to club membership. Central leadership, co-design, succession planning, and regular evaluation were critical for long-term success.
Overall, this thesis significantly advances understanding of factors shaping working age adults’ organised sport engagement and retention. It presents the Adult Sport Participation Framework, a novel conceptual model integrating participation phases, social-ecological factors, life course effects, and participation roles. This framework offers actionable insights for clubs, organisations, and policymakers to design inclusive, accessible, and appealing sports opportunities for all adults. Applying these findings can enhance participation and contribute to the physical and mental wellbeing of working age Australians.
Keywords: organised sport, adults, engagement, retention, sports participation
Subject: Health & Physical Education thesis
Thesis type: Doctor of Philosophy
Completed: 2025
School: College of Education, Psychology and Social Work
Supervisor: Murray Drummond