Factors that affect the participation of girls in sports in Zambia: The case of Olympic Youth Development Centre (OYDC) in Lusaka

Abstract

This research aims at assessing the participation levels of females in sports at the Olympic Youth Development Centre in Lusaka – Zambia. The issue of low participation levels of females in Zambia has been in existence for a long time with some interventions put in place by various stakeholders one of which was the construction of the OYDC. The research helped to understand the different views of the society surrounding this issue, although it was deemed challenging to investigate the view points of the real factors that contributed to the low levels of participation of females in sports in Zambia. The research objectives were to determine the extent to which parents’/guardian’s education levels contributed to female participation in sports, to identify and analyse social and cultural factors that affected the participation of girls in sports at OYDC and to determine the extent to which the gender composition of the coaches contributed to the participation levels of the female athletes. The research methods were based on the review of relevant literature as well as the questionnaire for athletes at OYDC, interview guide for staff at OYDC, interview guide for two professional athletes in Zambia and Focus Group Guide for parents of the two OYDC surrounding communities. The presentation reviewed that social cultural factors were the major reason that contributed to the low participation levels of girls in sports in Zambia. It was found that social cultural factors, beliefs and traditions that the Zambian people have had from a long time ago still existed in among the people of Zambia. As a result, the involvement of female children in sports was difficult at a very tender stage as it is believed that a girl child’s place was in the kitchen for house chores while a boy child would play around. It was for this reason that female children were taught the traditions of the society at a tender stage meant to better their future, hence this deprived them the ability to fully participate in sporting activities. The importance of this dissertation and female participation in sports cannot be overstated. Female participation in sports helps them to reduce various risks which come with inactiveness. Therefore, information generated from this research may go a long way in encouraging more females to take part in various sporting activities. This information may also be essential in informing the policy on gender and sports. The information will also add to existing literature on female participation in sports. The nation will benefit from this research as it will lay a foundation for the present and future of female sports activeness in Zambia.