“Uncool to do sport”: A focus group study of adolescent girls’ reasons for withdrawing from physical activity

Girls playing sports and being physically active may be viewed as uncool or not feminine by some of their peers.

“There is also research indicating girls playing sports and being physically active may be viewed as”

Injury, time commitment required, cost, part-time jobs, and/or having other interests have been cited as reasons for girls dropping out of sport.

“Injury, time commitment required, cost, part-time jobs, and/or having other interests have been cited as reasons for girls dropping out of sport (Butcher et al., 2002; Slater & Tiggeman, 2010).”

Other wider school policies that created barriers to physical activity included physical activity uniforms, amounts of homework and school scheduling that leaves students too tired or busy for physical activity.

“Other wider school policies that created barriers to physical activity included physical activity uniforms (particularly for girls and related to body image concerns) 64, amounts of homework 78 and school scheduling that leaves students too tired or busy for physical activity 55, 56.”

Studies highlighted lack of opportunities for physical activity, poor range of sporting options for girls, or lack of extracurricular sport for all as barriers to physical activity.

“Studies highlighted the lack of opportunities for physical activity 59, poor range of sporting options for girls 64 or a lack of extracurricular sport for all 54, 58 as barriers to physical activity.”