Study finds young people play sports less when they get their first job, but social support helps
Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain Every year, around 90,000 young people make the transition from school to work. A large number of them start to participate in sports less during this transition. This is worrying, because those who participate less in sports usually do not pick it up again automatically. However, an activating social and work […]
Every year, around 90,000 young people make the transition from school to work. A large number of them start to participate in sports less during this transition. This is worrying, because those who participate less in sports usually do not pick it up again automatically.
However, an activating social and work environment can restimulate participation in sports, according to research by sociologist Sara Wiertsema. Wiertsema’s Ph.D. defense is May 28 at Radboud University. The study is published in the journal International Review for the Sociology of Sport.
Your first job is a milestone that also brings about quite a few changes in terms of sports. “Compared to school pupils and students, working young adults exercise less and are more likely to choose individual sports over team sports,” explains Wiertsema.
The sociologist investigated the role of the workplace in this decline. To this end, she used various questionnaires completed by thousands of young adults in the Netherlands and Europe. They were asked about their sporting activities, the physical and mental demands of their first job, and their social life, among other things.
Wiertsema said, “A new routine with a stricter schedule, fixed working hours and work stress all determine whether you feel like it and have time to continue exercising. The study clearly shows that young adults adapt their sporting behavior to their new working life.”
Keep your brain and body fit
The type of work this group does can determine how active young adults remain. “If you have a job that involves a lot of cognitive demands, you want to use your body after a long day of working with your mind. This group exercises and plays sports relatively more.
“However, this can also backfire: some of this group prefer to stay at home because of the stress they experience from the mental pressure of work, and are more likely to take up unhealthy activities such as smoking, drinking or unhealthy eating, according to previous research.
The freedom to organize your own day is also important, Wiertsema states. “If you have to be at the office from 9 to 5, five days a week, you have little autonomy over your working hours. But if you can sometimes work from home, or come to the office an hour later, or decide for yourself in which order you carry out your work tasks, you experience more freedom and therefore also the space to go for a walk in between or visit the gym in the morning.”
Support from your environment is important
Young adults who did continue to exercise often did so because they received social support from their environment, for example, in the form of encouragement or offers to exercise together. Wiertsema discovered that colleagues can also play an important role in this.
“It helps enormously if you have sporty colleagues who encourage each other. Going to the gym with your colleagues after work, or having an office group that regularly encourages each other to cycle or run, limits the decline in physical activity among young working adults.
“The more physical activity and encouragement you get from your social circle, the more likely you are to maintain your exercise habits.”
More information:
Sara Wiertsema et al, Staying active in sports during the transition from school to work: The role of social support in young adulthood, International Review for the Sociology of Sport (2025). DOI: 10.1177/10126902251328439
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Radboud University Nijmegen
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Study finds young people play sports less when they get their first job, but social support helps (2025, May 28)
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FCA Futures Camp fills Santa Maria High School with youth athletes | Photos | Youth Sports
Athletes across multiple sports, in grades 5 through 8, ended a four day camp hosted by the Fellowship of Christian Athletes at Santa Maria High School on Friday. See photos from the final day in this gallery. Nearly 300 local athletes and volunteers took part in a four-day Fellowship of Christian Athletes’ Futures Camp at […]
Athletes across multiple sports, in grades 5 through 8, ended a four day camp hosted by the Fellowship of Christian Athletes at Santa Maria High School on Friday. See photos from the final day in this gallery.
Nearly 300 local athletes and volunteers took part in a four-day Fellowship of Christian Athletes’ Futures Camp at Santa Maria High School this week. The camp was open to area youth in grades 5-8 and focused on building sports skills as well as learning about Christian values.
David DuBransky,Contributor
Local athletes worked on their soccer skills during this week’s Fellowship of Christian Athletes’ Futures Camp in Santa Maria. The camp was open to area youth in grades 5-8 and focused on building sports skills as well as learning about Christian values. More than 230 local youth and 50 volunteers participated in the four-day event.
David DuBransky,Contributor
Mentors and athletes meet in their huddle group during this week’s Fellowship of Christian Athletes’ Futures Camp in Santa Maria.
David DuBransky,Contributor
Local athletes worked on their flag football skills during this week’s Fellowship of Christian Athletes’ Futures Camp in Santa Maria.
David DuBransky,Contributor
Local high school athletes led area youth in small groups during this week’s Fellowship of Christian Athletes’ Futures Camp in Santa Maria.
David DuBransky,Contributor
Rocky Barilone scissor kicks a soccer ball into the goal during this week’s Fellowship of Christian Athletes’ Futures Camp in Santa Maria.
David DuBransky,Contributor
Local baseballers listen to their huddle leaders during this week’s Fellowship of Christian Athletes’ Futures Camp in Santa Maria.
David DuBransky,Contributor
Local athletes developed their basketball skills during this week’s Fellowship of Christian Athletes’ Futures Camp in Santa Maria.
David DuBransky,Contributor
Local athletes work on their wrestling moves during this week’s Fellowship of Christian Athletes’ Futures Camp in Santa Maria.
David DuBransky,Contributor
Local athletes honed their golf skills during this week’s Fellowship of Christian Athletes’ Futures Camp in Santa Maria.
David DuBransky,Contributor
Local athletes focused on their volleyball skills during this week’s Fellowship of Christian Athletes’ Futures Camp in Santa Maria.
David DuBransky,Contributor
Local athletes worked on their soccer skills during this week’s Fellowship of Christian Athletes’ Futures Camp in Santa Maria.
David DuBransky,Contributor
Local athletes developed their pickleball skills during this week’s Fellowship of Christian Athletes’ Futures Camp in Santa Maria.
David DuBransky,Contributor
Local softball players take a break following their skills lesson during this week’s Fellowship of Christian Athletes’ Futures Camp in Santa Maria.
David DuBransky,Contributor
Pastor Ace Concepcion delivers some sound Biblical advice to area youth during this week’s Fellowship of Christian Athletes’ Futures Camp in Santa Maria.
David DuBransky,Contributor
Local athletes developed their basketball skills during this week’s Fellowship of Christian Athletes’ Futures Camp in Santa Maria.
David DuBransky,Contributor
Local baseballers race across the football field at Santa Maria High School during this week’s Fellowship of Christian Athletes’ Futures Camp in Santa Maria.
David DuBransky,Contributor
Local athletes worked on their flag football skills during this week’s Fellowship of Christian Athletes’ Futures Camp in Santa Maria.
David DuBransky,Contributor
Local athletes developed their basketball skills during this week’s Fellowship of Christian Athletes’ Futures Camp in Santa Maria.
David DuBransky,Contributor
Local athletes meet in their huddle groups following a session on pickleball during this week’s Fellowship of Christian Athletes’ Futures Camp in Santa Maria.
David DuBransky,Contributor
Local athletes worked on their flag football skills during this week’s Fellowship of Christian Athletes’ Futures Camp in Santa Maria.
David DuBransky,Contributor
Local athletes listen to speaker Ace Concepcion during this week’s Fellowship of Christian Athletes’ Futures Camp in Santa Maria.
David DuBransky,Contributor
Local youth strengthened their pickleball skills with the help of area mentors during this week’s Fellowship of Christian Athletes’ Futures Camp in Santa Maria.
David DuBransky,Contributor
Local athletes focused on their softball skills during this week’s Fellowship of Christian Athletes’ Futures Camp in Santa Maria.
David DuBransky,Contributor
Local youth jog around the track at Santa Maria High during this week’s Fellowship of Christian Athletes’ Futures Camp.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services investigating MSHSL for potential Title IX violations
ST. PAUL, Minn. (KTTC) – The U.S Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office for Civil Rights (OCR) has started an investigation into the Minnesota Department of Education and the Minnesota State High School League. According to a press release by HHS, federal officials are investigating whether Minnesota engaged in discrimination on the basis […]
ST. PAUL, Minn. (KTTC) – The U.S Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office for Civil Rights (OCR) has started an investigation into the Minnesota Department of Education and the Minnesota State High School League.
According to a press release by HHS, federal officials are investigating whether Minnesota engaged in discrimination on the basis of sex for allowing transgender athletes to compete in girls’ sports.
HHS officials say Minnesota is in violation of Title IX.
“Females cannot be relegated to the sidelines under Title IX,” said OCR Director Paula M. Stannard. “As a recipient of Federal funds, Title IX requires Minnesota to ensure fair and safe opportunities for females to compete on sex-segregated teams – regardless of state law obligations.”
Earlier this year, the MSHSL put out a statement stating participation in sports will continue to be determined by state law which allows students to participate in accordance with their gender identity.
Thursday OK Kids baseball state tournament scores | Sports
Three area youth baseball teams were in action in OK Kids 6-and-under T-Ball state tournament in Sallisaw OK Lookouts 21, Muldrow Hot Shots 0 8-and-under coach-pitch in Clinton Wister Wildcats 11, Anadarko Warriors 10 Blanchard Braves 16, Wister Wildcats 9 12-and-under in Weatherford Oklahoma Bandits 8, Washington Warriors 2 6-and-under T-Ball in Sallisaw OK Lookouts […]
Three area youth baseball teams were in action in OK Kids
6-and-under T-Ball state tournament in Sallisaw
OK Lookouts 21, Muldrow Hot Shots 0
8-and-under coach-pitch in Clinton
Wister Wildcats 11, Anadarko Warriors 10
Blanchard Braves 16, Wister Wildcats 9
12-and-under in Weatherford
Oklahoma Bandits 8, Washington Warriors 2
6-and-under T-Ball in Sallisaw
OK Lookouts vs. Blanchard Rangers 3:15 p.m., vs. TBD 7 p.m. Friday (with a loss) OR 10 a.m. Saturday (with a win); the Lookouts can reach the final four with two wins.
Wister Wildcats vs. Washington Warriors Benson-Vian Wolverines winner 5 p.m., vs. Sentinel Bulldogs-Mannford Bandits/Anadarko Warriors winner 8 p.m. (with a win); the Wildcats need two wins to advance to the final six on Saturday, starting at 11 a.m. and that third win to reach the final four.
12-and-under in Weatherford
Oklahoma Bandits vs. Navajo Indians 5 p.m., vs. Elgin Boyz-Altus Bulldogs loser 7 p.m. (with a win); the Bandits need two wins to reach the final four on Saturday, which begins at 11 a.m.
Highlighting Our Partners: #WeRideTogether | Johns Hopkin Center for Injury Research and Policy
Visit the #weridetogether website Tell us about the work that #WeRideTogether does. MC: Our mission is to make the youth and amateur sport environment safer for all athletes. We believe sport should be the safest and healthiest place for children and young adults to grow and flourish, and that every individual has the right to […]
MC: Our mission is to make the youth and amateur sport environment safer for all athletes. We believe sport should be the safest and healthiest place for children and young adults to grow and flourish, and that every individual has the right to learn, play, and compete without fear of sexual abuse. #WeRideTogether is committed to creating the radical change needed to fulfill that vision by addressing education and awareness, creating a safe place for survivors to find resources and share their voices, and eliminating the stigma around these necessary conversations.
#WeRideTogether strives to continuously advocate for safe, healthy, and fun sport. We believe in empowering every member of athletic communities with abuse prevention resources and safeguarding education and best practices, as well as ensuring that survivors and their loved ones have access to athlete-, survivor-, and trauma- informed resources that can support them in their unique healing journey.
To date, our team has worked to scale #WeRideTogether, founded in 2021, into an organization that supports all athletes at every level of sport, internationally, with simple, tangible abuse prevention resources and palatable safeguarding education. In 2024, #WeRideTogether directly supported over 300,000 athletes, coaches, and parents, 23 organizations, and 2 International Federations. This year, #WeRideTogether was proud to form a partnership with Sports Integrity Australia, branching key #WRT resources into Australia’s safeguarding education and training materials.
What has your organization done that has been the most interesting to you?
MC: At #WeRideTogether, we provide evidence-based, professional, educational, ethical, compassionate, creative, inclusive, celebratory, and advocatory services. Heart-centered and mind-driven, our team commits to improving sport communities in a sustainable and socially responsible manner. By focusing on current research, integrating insights from our trusted partners, and, most importantly, listening to athletes and survivors across all sports, #WeRideTogether delivers trustworthy and timely solutions. For example, our team created a resource called the C.A.R.D. Diagrams. These diagrams serve as a “gut check,” and can help individuals discern between healthy and unhealthy coach-athlete relationship dynamics.
Tell us about a project that #WeRideTogether is working on.
MC: One project that we are very excited about is a collaboration we have with the Sports Equity Lab. The Sports Equity Lab at Stanford has partnered with #WeRideTogether to break the IOC Consensus statement: interpersonal violence and safeguarding in sport down into bite-sized chunks. The result of this collaboration is The People’s Guide to the 2024 IOC Safeguarding Consensus, which unpacks and expands critical points from the Consensus. This dissemination project will provide 10 modules highlighting key takeaways from the 2024 IOC Consensus with visuals, activities, and social content that can be tangibly applied and integrated into sports communities. This 10-part series aligns with the values and missions of the Sports Equity Lab at Stanford and #WeRideTogether to promote awareness, eliminate inequities, and provide everyone with accessible information on positive values and best practices to keep sports healthy and athletes thriving.
How have you partnered with Johns Hopkins School of Public Health?
MC: The team at BSPH has consistently provided us with essential feedback on many of our key projects, like our Preventing Misconduct PSA series. Additionally, in 2024, our team was proud to sign on to a Dear Colleague Letter in partnership with colleagues at BSPH that was used to advocate for increased funding for the CDC Injury Center’s Division of Violence Prevention to research child sexual abuse prevention.
Tell us a fun fact about your organization.
MC: #WeRideTogether started as a viral video campaign in the equestrian community — and grew into a nonprofit that tackles sexual abuse prevention across all sports, at every level, around the world.
What is unique about your structure?
MC: We pride ourselves in our ability to translate incredible research being done in the abuse prevention space into simple, tangible tools and resources for coaches, parents, athletes, and organizations.
What can other similar organizations learn from you?
MC: At #WeRideTogether, we like to say that we all have a role to play in creating and maintaining safe and healthy athletic environments. As organizations within and adjacent to our space continue to collaborate and intentionally de-silo, we are able to amplify each other’s voices and efforts, resulting in more impactful, sustainable results long term.
What would you like our readers to know about your work?
MC: Our safeguarding education and abuse prevention resources are completely free. Anyone is able to utilize our content and bring it to their unique athletic space. Additional pro bono services include:
Policy Consultation/Creation
Supplemental Support
Content Support
Education Creation (paired with athlete focus groups)
In-person, Virtual, Recorded Training
Event and Competition Support
Custom Merchandise
Video Creation/Consultation
What is your goal for 2025?
MC: One of our goals is to continue building out partnerships into new athletic spaces and listening to the needs of all types of athletes to ensure our content is as informed as possible.
Inside the plan to build a destination for women’s soccer — Waterbury Roundabout
The Green has a solid foundation on which to rest ambitions for a second team. Vermont led the nation in youth sports participation in the most recent measure by the federally funded and directed National Survey of Children’s Health: 69% of kids ages 6-17 played on a sports team or took lessons in 2022, well […]
The Green has a solid foundation on which to rest ambitions for a second team. Vermont led the nation in youth sports participation in the most recent measure by the federally funded and directed National Survey of Children’s Health: 69% of kids ages 6-17 played on a sports team or took lessons in 2022, well above the national average of 54%.
Vermont families have 46 competitive clubs and 51 recreational programs to choose from under the Vermont Soccer Association, the state’s arm of U.S. Youth Soccer. When Andrew Minnis joined the state org as executive director last December, he looked to collaborate with the Green’s founders right away.
“A big push of mine since I came in has been really trying to bridge the gap of southern Vermont,” Minnis said.
Clubs under the association are more abundant in and around Chittenden County, with less access to youth soccer south of Montpelier, he said.
The association’s partnership with U.S. Youth Soccer’s Europe branch, announced last month, holds promise for an exchange of knowledge overseas that could help coaches add teams to Vermont’s inventory, Minnis said.
At the moment, when teens surpass the challenge of local clubs, their paths upward become more sparse. Players can be selected for Vermont’s Olympic Development Program with the chance to represent their state, region or country but have few options outside those rosters.
In high school, the Green’s Liv White commuted three hours from her hometown of Pittsford to play with New England Mutiny, a Massachusetts club, she said on “The Women’s Game.” When coaching local clubs, White’s teammate Lauren DeGroot sees that routes to elite teams lead kids out of Vermont.
“These girls are super talented, and we’re able to see that from such a young age, and it’s unfortunate that you see those girls and you feel like you’re doing them a disservice cause there aren’t those opportunities,” she said. “You think, ‘Can we send them down to Massachusetts, Jersey, so they can get that? Cause they aren’t getting it here.’”
Female footballers of the Green’s caliber are still looking elsewhere for off-season training.
“I have to drive an hour and 15 minutes to Quebec to play soccer over the summer,” said Sydney Remington, a UVM player, of her training without the Green.
Green forward Erin Flurey closed shop that night, poking in a loose ball to slash Blainville’s 1–0 lead and chipping the keeper in a bold signoff for a 2–1 win. The women’s exhibition team concluded year two undefeated.
