Citation

Visek AJ, Achrati SM, Mannix H, McDonnell K, Harris BS, DiPietro L. J. Phys. Act. Health 2015; 12(3): 424-433.

Affiliation

Dept of Exercise Science & Nutrition Sciences, The George Washington University, Washington, DC.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2015, Human Kinetics Publishers)

DOI

10.1123/jpah.2013-0180

PMID

24770788

PMCID

PMC4201634

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Children cite "fun" as the primary reason for participation in organized sport and its absence as the number-one reason for youth sport attrition. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to develop a theoretical framework of fun using a novel mixed-method assessment of participants in sport (FUN MAPS) via concept mapping.

METHODS: Youth soccer players (n = 142), coaches (n = 37), and parents (n = 57) were stratified by age, sex, and competition level and contributed their ideas through (a) qualitative brainstorming, identifying all of the things that make playing sports fun for players; (b) sorting of ideas; and (c) rating each idea on its importance, frequency, and feasibility.

RESULTS: The FUN MAPS identify the 4 fundamental tenets of fun in youth sport within 11 fun-dimensions composed of 81 specific fun-determinants, while also establishing the youth sport ethos.

CONCLUSION: The FUN MAPS provide pictorial evidence-based blueprints for the fun integration theory (FIT), which is a multitheoretical, multidimensional, and stakeholder derived framework that can be used to maximize fun for children and adolescents to promote and sustain an active and healthy lifestyle through sport.

Language: en