Recreationa Sports Participation at a Predominant ack University

Recreationa Sports Participation at a Predominant ack University

Recreationa Sports Participation at a
Predominant
ack University
Alfonso Zapata
Howard University
Crucial to the success of any campus recreational
sports program is an understanding of the activity
preferences, behaviors, and opinions of the population being served (Colgate, 1978). In view of this
requisite, studies have been conducted at several
universities to gather such information. For example, Hammitt and Hammitt (1980) surveyed 414 users
of recreational sports facilities at the University of
Michigan to determine their opinions, use patterns,
and administrative priorities. The findings revealed
that physical exercise and a change of routine were
very important reasons for participation, and that
most students were willing to pay higher activity
fees to keep facilities open for more hours each
week.
Stevenson, Reznik and Zuercher (1979) used a telephone survey of 643 students at the University of
Michigan to measure user and non-user interests in
and perceptions about the recreational sports program. Findings revealed that 35% of the students
did not participate in the recreational sports program, and that twice as many males as females participated.
Foster, Sedlacek and Hardwick (1977) surveyed
407 undergraduates at the University of Maryland to
compare the recreational preferences of commuters
and resident students. The study revealed that resident students participated in nearly twice as many
activities as commuters, and were less likely t o use
recreational facilities off campus.
Zuercher, Sedlacek and Masters (1982) conducted
telephone interviews with 286 undergraduates at the
University of Maryland to determine their experiences with and perceptions of the intramural
program. The results indicated that females were
more interested in sports and recreational activities
outside the intramural program than within it, and
that publicity, officiating and equipment were rated
very poorly.
Lastly, Chestnutt and Haney (1983) surveyed 143
recreational sports program participants at the University of Minnesota to determine their reasons for
participating, use patterns, opinions, and administrative priorities. Findings revealed that most
students preferred co-recreational leagues to single
sex leagues and team sports to dual sports or individual sports.
Granting that these studies were conducted primarily to benefit the particular school recreation programs, collectively they also contribute to a general
understanding of campus recreational sports proFALL 1986
grams. However, these studies were conducted at institutions having predominantly white student
enrollments. No studies were found in the available
literature that focused on recreational sports programs at institutions having predominantly black
student enrollments. Whether the understanding
gained from studies conducted at predominantly
white institutions can be said t o include recreational
sports programs at predominantly black institutions
is debatable, because there is evidence that the
recreation behavior of blacks and whites differ significantly as a result of cultural differences (Enosh,
Christiansen, Staniforth, & Cooper, 1975).
Although it can be argued that black students
have been included in studies conducted at predominantly white institutions, the number of blacks included has been small as a result of sampling and
their responses have been diluted in the volume of
data collected. Little understanding of activity
preferences, participation patterns, and opinions of
blacks has been gained from these studies. Also, opportunities provided at these institutions reflect
largely the preferences of the majority white
students.
This study was conducted at Howard University in
Washington, D.C., a predominantly black university
of about 11,000 students. The primary purpose of the
study was to gather information about participation
patterns and opinions of recreational sports participants. A secondary purpose was to compare findings of the study with those of studies conducted at
predominantly white institutions.
Undergraduate students enrolled in activity classes in the Department of Physical
Education and Recreation during the 1985
Spring semester were selected as the study
population for this survey.Students in activity classes were considered to be representative of the undergraduate student population
because the activity classes are very popular
among students and are required in nearly all
schools and colleges in the University. Data
were collected by the author via a self-administered questionnaire from 377 undergraduates in 10 randomly selected classes. The
questionnaire was designed and validated by
the author. Questions focused on recreational
sports participation during Fall semester, 1984. Percontinued on next page
continued from page 23
mission to survey the classes was obtained from the
instructors. The questionnaires were administered
during the first 15 minutes of each class. No student
refused to participate. Examination of the questionnaires resulted in 16 being eliminated because they
were too incomplete. This yielded 361 useable questionnaires. Because of the exploratory nature of this
study, findings are discussed in descriptive terms.
The data indicated that 55% of the sample
were female and 45% male. Although all
undergraduate classifications were adequately represented, Freshmen were represented higher than any other group (35%),
followed by Sophomores (23%), Seniors
2%) and. Juniors (20%). The overwhelming
ajority lived in university housing (69%)
cated in or close to the campus. Also, 68%
the students were from major metropolitan areas primarily in the northeastern section of the United States.
-
Recreational Sports Program Participants
Fifty-one percent of the sample (119 males and 64
females) participated in recreational sports. In reference to drop-in participation, the activity engaged in
by the greatest number of students was jogging
(29%), followed by swimming (28%), weightlifting
(25'/0), use of exercise machines (24%) and basketball (24%). Sex differences were observed in these
activities with relatively more males participating in
basketball (31% vs. 11%), weightlifting (42% vs.
9%), and use of exercise machines (29% vs. 19%).
More females participated in jogging (61% vs. 13%),
and swimming (59% vs. 13%). Males tended t o participate in more activities (M = 3) than females (M = 2)
and more often. Males participated an average of 20
times in sports activities during the semester, and
females an average of 12 times. However, examination of individual activities revealed that this pattern
was not true for every activity. Males participated
more frequently in jogging (M = 18 vs. M = 12),
basketball (M = 27 vs. M = 5), weightlifting (M = 15 vs.
M = 3), and use of exercise machines (M = 25 vs.
M = 5). Females participated more often in swimming (M = 18 vs. M = 9).
Eighty-five percent of the sample was aware of the
intramural program, but only 15% (40) participated.
Of these, 60% participated in basketball, 30% in
volleyball and 15% in badminton. Also, most participants were male (77%).
Seventy-five percent of recreational sports participants also engaged in other campus recreational activities. Tke most popular ~ctiQities'includedvideo
games, bowling, billiards, ping pong, and table soccer. Males generally participated in more activities
(M = 2 vs. M = 1.2) and more times per semester
(M= 10 vs. M =4).
recreational opportunities. The reasons given were
no free time (50%), lack of skill (25%), preferred
activity not available (15%), and inadequate facilities
(10 %).
Study findings relative to other campus leisure activity involvement by sample members revealed a
very high interest and participation in campus social
activities. Eighty percent of the sample frequently attended campus dances, 55% frequently participated
in sorority and fraternity social activities (e.g. festivals, and evening socials), and 32% belonged to and
regularly attended social club activities (e.q. dances,
game nights, and outings).
Sample members reported greater interest
in sports participation in the drop-in program
than in the intramural program. Similar findings were also observed by Zuercher et al.
(1980) at the University of Maryland. However, intramural participation at the University of Maryland was substantially greater
(30%) than at Howard (15%).
Although Howard has more female students than male students, as is reflected in
the sample, male sports participants outnumbered female sports participants two to
one. This same malelfemale ratio was observed by Stevenson et al. (1979) at the University of Michigan. Chestnutt and Haney
(1984) stated that low female participation is
common to many institutions, but they also
indicated that the reasons for this occurrence are
not fully understood. Male dominance at Howard
was also noted in the number of activities engaged
in and the frequency of participation.
Students were generally satisfied with the recreational sports program. While similar findings were
also reported at the University of Maryland (Zuercher
et al., 1980) and the University of Minnesota
(Chestnutt and Haney, 1984), the finding at Howard
was surprising. The sports program is limited to indoor sports because no space is available for field
sports. Also, facilities are shared with the Department of Physical Education and Recreation, and the
Department of Athletics, which severely limits usage
of facilities for recreational sports. The reasons why
students were satisfied with the sports program in
view of its severe limitations were not evident from
the data. Additional study is needed to identify them.
Findings relative to sports nonparticipants suggest that a large portion of the student population
(44%) does not engage in physical recreational activities on campus. Even nonparticipants who
engage in other campus recreational activities
preferred activities that involved little or no physical
activity (e.g. video games, card games, billiards,
backgammon and table soccer). It was very surpriscontinued on next page
NlRSA JOURNAL
Zapata
continued from page 24
ing that one out of five sample members did not participate in any campus recreational activities.
Although this study did not investigate participation
in sports and other recreational activities off campus
by nonparticipants, there is evidence that such participation is relatively low (Zuercher et al., 1980).
The high number of sports nonparticipants may in
part be related to the large number of international
students enrolled (about 20% of the student population), particularly from the African and Caribbean
countries. The popular sports in the Caribbean are
net ball, field hockey, soccer and cricket, which are
not available at Howard. Many African students do
not participate in sports during their early school
years. Both groups may be reluctant to participate in
the sports activities available at Howard because
they lack the needed skills. This should be investjgated to make sure that no group(s) is being totally
excluded from the recreational sports program. If
this is happening, an instructional component to the
recreational sports program to introduce students to
sports with which they are unfamiliar may help to get
more students involved.
Findings relative to participation in other campus
leisure activities indicates that sports nonparticipants are not totally physically inactive, since a very
large percentage of the sample was involved in
social activities, particularly dancing. Dances and
other social events of various magnitudes are held
frequently at the university. However, since all social
activities do not possess the physiological benefits
of sports and other physical recreational activities,
they cannot be regarded as equitable substitutes for
sports and other physical recreational activities.
Social activities have their own role in campus life.
Results of this study revealed similarities to findings of studies conducted at predominantly white institutions. Some difference~were observed in the
proportions involved, such as in intramural participation. The study of participation in social activities
was a minor part of this research but was included
because of the magnitude of the findings and the impact on sports participation.
It should be recalled that findings of this study are
based on a student population that is predominantly
from large metropolitan areas. A different population
could yield other results; therefore, this study
should be replicated periodically in succeeding
years, especially when there is evidence that more
students are being drawn from other geographic
areas. Replication of this study at other predominantly black institutions could refute or support the
findings since the student populations at these
schools very likely differ from that at Howard.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Colgate, J. A. (1978). Administration of intramural and recreational
activities. New York: John Wiley.
INSTITUTIONAL MEMBERSHIP
A commitment to staff development and
professionalism in recreational sports by
colleges and universities, military establishments, and recreational agencies.
Don't be left out
- be a leader.
Be sure your institution joins NIRSA.
Contact:
Will M. Holsberry, Exec. Sec.
NIRSA Headquarters 221 Gill Coliseum
Oregon State University Corvallis, Oregon 97331
(503) 754-2088
Chestnutt, J. T., & Haney, R. L. (1983). Preferences, satisfactions,
and use patterns of campus recreational sports participants. Selected Proceedings of the 34th Annual National
Intramural-Recreational Sports Association Conference
(pp. 191-201).Corvallis, Oregon: National Intramural-Recreational Sports Association.
Enosh, N., Christiansen, R. A,, Staniforth, S. D., & Cooper, R. B.
(1975). Effects of selected socio-economic characteristics
on recreation patterns i n low income urban areas: Part II.
Madison: University of Wisconsin, Recreation Resource
Center.
Foster, M. E., Sedlacek, W. E., & Hardwick, M. W. (1977). Student
recreation: A comparison of commuter and resident
students. (Research Report No. 4-77). College Park: University of Maryland, Counseling Center.
Hammitt, S. A., & Hammitt W. E. (1978). Campus recreation users:
Their preferences and administrative priorities. Unpublished manuscript, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.
Stevenson, M. J., Reznik, J. N., & Zuercher, S. M. (1979). Development of a model for a recreational user indicator survey in
recreational sports programming. Proceedings of the 30th
Annual Conference of the National Intramural-Recreational
Sports Association (pp. 73-81). Corvallis, Oregon: National
Intramural-Recreational Sports Association.
Zuercher, S., Sedlacek, W. E., & Masters, M. D. (1982). University
student participation and perceptions of intramural program activities. National Intramural-Recreational Sports
Association Journal, 10(2), 34-36.
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FALL 1986