4901.0.55.001 - Children's Participation in Sport and Leisure Time Activities, 2003 - 2012 Quality Declaration 
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 21/12/2012   
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Contents >> Participation in organised sport and/or dancing >> Participation in selected organised sports over time

PARTICIPATION IN SELECTED ORGANISED SPORTS OVER TIME

Looking at the top ten organised sports (including dancing) since 2003, the number of children participating has increased by approximately one quarter for dancing (27%) and martial arts (24%). Though participation in outdoor soccer increased by 17%, there was not enough evidence to suggest that this increase was statistically significant. Participation in tennis and netball has declined over the time period, down by 10% and 8% respectively.

2.2 Children's participation in top 10 organised sports (including dancing), Persons - 2003 and 2012

NUMBER ('000)
PARTICIPATION RATE (%)
2003
2006
2009
2012
2003
2006
2009
2012

Swimming/Diving
439.1
462.5
502.9
492.1
16.6
17.4
18.5
17.7
Dancing
329.3
332.6
390.4
418.1
12.4
12.5
14.3
15.0
Soccer (outdoor)
355.9
351.1
360.4
397.6
13.4
13.2
13.2
14.3
Australian Rules football
193.6
200.4
235.1
226.5
7.3
7.5
8.6
8.1
Netball
241.2
225.8
228.5
222.7
9.1
8.5
8.4
8.0
Basketball
205.0
176.3
201.9
220.2
7.7
6.6
7.4
7.9
Tennis
228.5
195.1
214.8
205.2
8.6
7.3
7.9
7.4
Martial arts
129.7
120.4
154.6
161.0
4.9
4.5
5.7
5.8
Gymnastics(a)
. .
. .
. .
134.5
. .
. .
. .
4.8
Cricket (outdoor)
133.6
143.5
142.5
130.7
5.0
5.4
5.2
4.7

. . not applicable
(a) In 2009, callisthenics was included in the Gymnastics category. In 2012, callisthenics was excluded from organised sport altogether, and cheerleading was included in the Gymnastics category. Therefore the data are not comparable.
Source: Children's Participation in Cultural and Leisure Activities, Australia (cat. no. 4901.0).








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