6285.0 - Involvement in Organised Sport and Physical Activity, Australia, Apr 2001  
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 16/01/2002   
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MEDIA RELEASE

January 16, 2002
Embargoed 11:30am (AEST)
02/2002

Fewer people involved in organising sport

One in ten Australians aged 15 or over (1.4 million people) were involved in a support role such as a coach, referee or committee member in an organised sport or physical activity in the year ended April 2001, according to figures released today by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).

The most common roles were committee member or administrator (595,000 Australians), coach, instructor or teacher (558,400), scorer or timekeeper (453,700) and referee or umpire (340,000). Among those involved in a support role, 480,300 (34%) reported involvement in more than one role.

These data indicate a fall in the number of persons involved in such roles from 12% in 1997 to 10% in 2001. In 2001, there were 69,900 fewer coaches and instructors, 116,800 fewer referees and umpires, and 134,400 fewer sport administrators and committee members than there had been in 1997.

Most of the people involved in organising and running sport and physical activities volunteered their time. In 2001, of the 2.1 million support roles undertaken, 11% of these roles attracted any kind of payment (either in dollars and/or goods and services).

The survey also provides information about people who played or participated and the results indicate that 3.5 million people (24% of those aged 15 years and over) had played organised sport and physical activity in the previous 12 months.

More men than women were involved in organised sport and physical activity as players (27% of men and 20% of women), as well as in support roles (11% of men and 8% of women).

A greater percentage of people in the 35 to 44 year age group were involved in support roles (15% of this age group), whereas more of those aged 15 to 24 years were involved as players (40% of this age group).

Catalogue reference: Involvement in Organised Sport and Physical Activities (cat. no. 6285.0).