Sports development and informal sport participation
Author Identifier (ORCID)
Dawn Penney: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2000-8953
Abstract
This chapter explores shifting trends of adult sport participation, focusing on the rising prominence of informal sport and its implications for sports development policy and practice. While traditional sports development models have emphasised club-based participation to support mass engagement and elite pathways, participation trends reveal a significant shift towards adult participation in informal sport formats. Informal sport is characterised by flexibility, participant agency, and reduced barriers, making it a format that can be accessible and appealing to diverse communities. Informal sport participation can further foster benefits such as enhanced mental health, social cohesion, and cultural belonging. The chapter considers informal sport participation within the context of existing sports development systems. These have largely been developed to support club-based participation, with existing policies and systems marginalising informal formats through restrictive policies, inequitable resource allocation, and limited recognition. This misalignment hinders the capacity of sports development to effectively support mass adult participation across diverse populations. The chapter advocates for a reconceptualisation of sports development, emphasising a spectrum of participation contexts that are more reflective of contemporary preferences and participation trends. Recommendations include redefining “sport” to encompass informal formats, making changes to resource distribution, and the adoption of community-centred sports development approaches. By embracing informal sport, sports development will better align with current participation trends, enhance inclusivity, and maximise the potential health and social benefits of sport for diverse populations.
Keywords
Informal sport, sports development, adult participation, community sport, social inclusion, participation policy
Document Type
Book Chapter
Date of Publication
1-1-2026
Publication Title
Routledge Handbook of Sports Development
Publisher
Taylor & Francis
School
School of Education
Copyright
subscription content
First Page
209
Last Page
220
Comments
Jeanes, R., Spaaij, R., Penney, D., & O’Connor, J. (2026). Sports development and informal sport participation. In Routledge handbook of sports development (pp. 209–220). Taylor & Francis. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003503910-18