Research in New Zealand and around the world consistently shows that young people play sport to have fun. But what does fun actually mean?
It’s easy to think of fun as simply having a laugh or not taking sport too seriously. Research suggests it’s more than that. Fun is one of the most important reasons young people choose to play sport, stay involved and keep coming back. Understanding what makes sport enjoyable can help parents and coaches create better experiences for young people.
Fun means different things to different people
Amanda Visek and colleagues at George Washington University developed the Fun Integration Theory to better understand what makes sport fun for young people.
The theory found that fun is not one thing. It’s made up of several factors that work together to create positive sport experiences. These factors became known as the 11 fun factors.
The 11 fun-factors are:
- Being a good sport (sportsmanship)
- Positive coaching
- Trying hard
- Team friendships
- Team rituals
- Game time support
- Swag (material novelties like kit, medals, travel)
- Games
- Practices
- Learning and improving
- Mental bonuses
Importantly, three factors stood out above all others:
- Being a good sport
- Positive coaching
- Trying hard
Do adults and young people see fun in the same way?
A follow-up study explored how parents, coaches and young people viewed these fun factors.
While parents and coaches generally had similar views, they did not always align with what young people valued most. Differences were particularly noticeable among teenage athletes.
This highlights an important point: adults shouldn’t assume they know what makes sport enjoyable for young people.
What parents and coaches can do
Ask what matters
Take time to understand why young people play sport and what parts of the experience they enjoy most. Individual answers may differ, even within the same team.
Focus on effort, learning and growth
Helping young people try hard, learn new skills and improve can make sport more enjoyable and rewarding.
Create a positive environment
Positive coaching was one of the strongest contributors to fun. Encouragement, listening and supporting learning all play an important role.
Build connection and belonging
Friendships, team support and shared experiences can help young people feel connected and enjoy being part of a team.
Fun and athlete development go hand in hand
Visek’s work suggests many of the things that support good athlete development also support fun.
Young people are more likely to enjoy sport when they:
- Get opportunities to play and participate
- Are active and appropriately challenged
- Receive positive feedback and encouragement
- Feel safe to learn through mistakes
- Build confidence and supportive relationships
- Train in well-organised, age-appropriate environments
- Compete against evenly matched opposition
When these conditions are present, fun and development often go hand in hand.
Key takeaway
Fun is not about lowering expectations or making sport less competitive. It is about creating environments where young people feel supported, challenged, connected and able to do their best.
For parents and coaches, a good place to start is simple: focus on being a good sport, encouraging effort and providing positive coaching. These were the three factors young people rated most highly when it comes to making sport fun.
References
- Toward Understanding Youth Athletes’ Fun Priorities: An Investigation of Sex, Age, and Levels of Play – Visek et al. (2020)
- Perceived importance of the fun integration theory’s factors and determinants: A comparison among players, parents, and coaches – Visek et al. (2018)
- The fun integration theory: toward sustaining children and adolescents sport participation – Visek et al. (2015)
