Provision

Provision of sport

Provision of sport is influenced by several factors, such as public and private sector facilities, opportunities in schools and local clubs, location, and coaching.

Participation in sport

The role of local and national sports providers

The government, out of taxes and the National Lottery funding, usually funds public sector facilities. These facilities include:

• Sports/Leisure Centres that are council run
• Sports/recreation facilities that serve the community e.g. 4G pitches, grass pitches and open spaces, cycle paths and lanes
• Schools and their PE/Sports facilities Public Swimming pools
• Public Swimming pools

Benefits of Public Sector facilities:

• Available to everyone regardless of need e.g. disability
• Offer access to classes and target audiences e.g. mother and toddler, aerobics
• Offer affordable opportunities – e.g. facilities are subsidised, open spaces are free
• Provide facilities to schools and communities to allow all people the opportunities to experience sports and recreational activities
• Cheap coaching
• Provide a hub for community
• Offer government initiatives e.g. free swimming, cardiac rehab session
• Links to sports development, and school physical education programmes

Private Sector facilities are set up by companies to make a profit, often these are member clubs only e.g. vid Lloyds health and tennis clubs

Benefits of Private Sector Clubs:

• Tend to have better facilities and equipment
• Exclusivity i.e. not open to general public
• Better coaching, as members pay

Voluntary sector

Local Sports clubs and organisations/associations that offer sports activities e.g. local rugby club, netball club, running club.

Benefits of voluntary sector clubs:

• Free or minimal cost
• Free coaching
• Serve community – develop a community ethos and culture
• Develop friendship bonds

National Sports Provision

The organisations that are responsible for a range of sports participation including funding, from grass roots (sports development) to elite level e.g. Sport England, Sport Wales

Physical Education (PE) and School Sport

All young people from 4 to 16 in the UK must take part in physical education. The governments across the UK see the importance of young people exercising to combat the growing problems associated with obesity and the need to get young people hooked on sport for life.

There are various initiative across the UK to improve the provision of PE and School Sport, e.g. the Primary PE and Sport Premium Fund in England and the Physical literacy Programme in Wales.

Benefits of the Physical Education and School Sport:

• Better at physical activity – physical literacy
• Knowledge and skills – to continue to engage in activities
• Motivated and enthused about participation – benefits of the exercise
• Health and Well being – physical, mental and social
• Life long participation – hooked on sport
• Engagement in learning across school – self confidence and self esteem