A case study of drop outs in a maltese football nursery.

Abstract

Thousands of children attend training sessions at various local football nurseries. Year after year many children drop-out from football. This study aims at exploring the reasons for dropping out. It also explores whether drop-outs take up another sport or stop completely from doing any sport or physical activity. Reasons for dropping out are also explored. It focuses on a local nursery and the sample includes 150 players from 8 to 16 years of age who have registered with the nursery during the last two seasons. Children who still attend the nursery were asked about their motivation to participate and their plans for future participation. The other 45 children who have dropped out from the club were asked about the reasons for dropping out and whether they are still physically active or not. The main reasons for quitting from sport are problems with the coach. Such problems include the dislike of the coach and a lack of fairness and equal treatment to all players. Others reasons were school and their studies, injuries and peer pressure.