Author(s): MALCOLM, J., SULLIVAN, P., BEAN, C., KWAN, M. , Institution: BROCK UNIVERSITY, Country: CANADA, Abstract-ID: 2143

Introduction
Girls leave organized sport at an alarming rate during adolescence, with participation declines only stabilizing in young adulthood. Nearly half of girls participating in sport drop out during their teenage years, contributing to persistent gender disparities in sport engagement. This trend is concerning not only due to the well-documented developmental, psychological, and physical benefits of sport participation, but also because of the broader social consequences. Girls and women who participate in sport report developing important life skills (e.g., leadership, problem-solving) that may influence both individual trajectories and societal outcomes. Consequently, there is a need to explore the factors that drive attrition and those that promote sustained engagement in girls’ and women’s sport. Guided by Self-Determination Theory (SDT; Ryan & Deci, 2000), this preliminary qualitative study explores the reported reasons current and former athletes provide for staying in or leaving girls’ and women’s team-based sport.
Methods
This study employs a cross-sectional survey design. Participants were 143 individuals aged 14–25 (99 current athletes; 44 former athletes) who had participated in girls’ or women’s team sport at any point. Participants completed demographic information and open-ended questions regarding motivations for continued participation and drop out. A manifest content analysis approach was taken, using a combined deductive-inductive approach. Responses were first examined in relation to SDT constructs, then organized into themes grounded in participant responses.
Results
Three overarching domains were created relating to sport persistence and dropout: (a) structural doorways, (b) push-pull forces, and (c) the moving person. Structural doorways reflect contextual constraints (e.g., cost, travel) that shape access to sport opportunities. Push-pull forces represent interpersonal and sport-related experiences (e.g., friendships, coaching quality, skill development, competition) that either propel individuals toward continued participation or divert them away. Finally, central to these processes is the moving person — the evolving individual whose identity, enjoyment, and physical and mental well-being shape how they respond and engage with sport over time.
Discussion
Findings highlight that sustained participation depends not only on available opportunities but also on supportive relationships, competence-related experiences, and alignment between individuals’ evolving priorities and sport environments. Girls and women want to play sport – but leave when participation is no longer accessible, supportive, or enjoyable.
Reference
Ryan & Deci, 2000. American psychologist.