Understanding the constraints shaping women’s intentions to stop playing community sport

This study explored the types of constraints that inhibit women’s participation in community basketball. It investigated whether the perception of these constraints changes at different ages to understand how this impacts one’s intention to leave the sport of basketball. A mixed-methods approach was used. In phase 1, Concept Mapping examined the types of constraints faced by Australian women community basketball players. In phase 2, quantitative survey data were analyzed to understand how age and the constraints identified from phase 1 impacted on women’s intention to leave basketball. Results demonstrated that key types of constraints are a lack of playing opportunities and gender discrimination. Younger women were more likely to intend to leave basketball when they reported higher incidences of these constraints, indicating that they are more difficult to negotiate. Sport organizations must increase playing opportunities for young women and eradicate nuanced gender discrimination to improve the retention of younger women.