Factors which influence young people’s experience of gaelic games. A secondary analysis of results from a large cross-sectional national study

Abstract Enjoyment of sport is an important factor in preventing dropout or drop off. Using a cross-sectional design, and a sample of 4,594 Gaelic games players (aged 13 to 20), the present study was a secondary analysis, examining which factors (if any) were significantly related to self-reported past-year experience in sport. Results show that when comparing those reporting their experience as very poor/poor, fair, or good against those reporting it as very good, the three variables that were consistent in their statistical significance were, age (being younger associated with a better experience), mean scores on a coaching autonomy measure (higher associated with a better experience), and self-reported playing time (higher associated with a better experience). There were nuanced results depending on the nature of the comparisons. At the most extreme comparison (‘very poor or poor’ versus ‘very good’), the former were significantly more likely to report playing other sports, and reported a lower likelihood of continuing to play Gaelic games. Results in the comparison of ‘fair’ and ‘very good’ were slightly different. Here, rather than playing other sports being statistically significant, there was a lower likelihood of playing in multiple contexts (or viewed conversely, a higher likelihood of playing Club only). Finally, when comparing those reporting their experience as ‘good’ versus ‘very good’, the former were significantly more likely to be male. The standout finding of this study (regression coefficients) is that coach autonomy score is significantly related to past year experience of Gaelic games, adjusting for a range of other relevant variables.