Participation In Individual Sports Research Articles

The longitudinal association between sport participation and self-esteem in youth in the Netherlands: The role of sport type

ObjectivesTo investigate the longitudinal associations of sport participation with self-esteem in youth, and whether this relationship differs between team compared to individual, and non-esthetic compared to esthetic sports. DesignProspective data on sport participation at age 10 and self-esteem at age 13 years was used, collected from 2970 participants within Generation R, a population-based cohort study in the Netherlands. MethodsHours of sports per week were measured with a questionnaire, completed by the primary caregivers. Participation in sports was classified into team vs. individual and non-esthetic vs. esthetic sports. Self-esteem was assessed by the Harter's Self-Perception Profile. Linear regression analyses, adjusted for multiple testing were conducted to test the association between sports and self-esteem subdomains. Then, differences in self-esteem among youth participating in different types of sports were explored by two separate sets of linear regression with team and non-esthetic sports as the reference groups. ResultsMore hours of sports were associated with higher self-esteem (β = 0.081, pfdr < 0.001). This association was driven by the subdomains social acceptance (β = 0.057, pfdr = 0.004) and athletic competence (β = 0.242, pfdr < 0.001). Participation in individual or esthetic sports was associated with lower self-esteem compared to the team (β = −0.196, pfdr < 0.001) or non-esthetic (β = −0.172, pfdr = 0.002) sports. ConclusionsSport participation, particularly team and non-esthetic sports, may be beneficial for self-esteem among youth, driven by aspects like socializing and one's ability to do well at sports. The aspects of different types of sports could be considered for developing improved sport-related environments and effective physical activity interventions.

The locality challenges facing the ‘levelling up’ of sport participation and health inequality in England

ABSTRACT In the context of the UK Government’s levelling up agenda, current sport policy seeks to reduce inequalities in sport participation, supported by investment in facilities. Drawing on a socio-ecological theoretical framework, this paper analyses a large-scale dataset measuring individual sport and fitness participation, local authority facility availability and level of multiple deprivation to examine the individual/compositional and locality/contextual influences on participation in sport and fitness activities for men and women in England. Multi-level regressions highlight the challenges faced for policy, arguing that scaled-up local action is needed to account for the interaction between individual factors, facility availability and area deprivation.

Creating a postgraduate syllabus for a team care diploma examination: a Delphi study

ObjectivesThere is no agreed standard assessment of the minimum knowledge and skills that are required to provide healthcare to participants in individual or team sports. This study aims to develop...

The relationship between competitive anxiety and athlete burnout in college athlete: the mediating roles of competence and autonomy

BackgroundIn the cognitive-affective model of athlete burnout, anxiety is a key physiological response to stress that influences the development of burnout in athletes. Despite its importance, there has been little research on the relationship between competitive anxiety and athlete burnout, particularly regarding the mediating mechanisms. This study aimed to explore the relationship between competitive anxiety and athlete burnout, with a focus on the mediating role of general need satisfaction from self-determination theory.MethodsThe current study employed a cross-sectional design involving 618 college athletes (354 females, mean age 20.57 years), comprising 303 participants in individual sports and 315 in team sports. These participants completed the Sport Anxiety Scale-2 (SAS-2), the Athlete Burnout Questionnaire (ABQ), and the Basic Psychological Need Satisfaction Scale in General (BPNSS-G) online. Subsequently, correlation, regression, and mediation analyses were conducted using SPSS and JASP to examine the relationships between the variables.ResultsRegression results indicated that somatic anxiety (beta = 0.116, t = 2.21, p = 0.028) and concentration disruption (beta = 0.259, t = 5.35, p < 0.001) in competitive anxiety were positively correlated with athlete burnout. Worry in competitive anxiety was negatively correlated with competence (beta =-0.149, t=-2.70, p = 0.007) and autonomy (beta =-0.179, t=-3.25, p = 0.001) in needs satisfaction. Additionally, the regression results found that competence (beta =-0.178, t=-3.39, p = 0.001) and Autonomy (beta =-0.208, t=-4.17, p < 0.001) were negatively associated with athlete burnout. Mediation analyses revealed significant direct effects in the relationship between somatic anxiety (Effect = 0.116, p = 0.026) along with concentration disruption (Effect = 0.259, p < 0.001) and athlete burnout. In the indirect effect, worry (Effect = 0.071, p = 0.002) as well as concentration disruption (Effect = 0.082, p < 0.001) had significant effects in relation to athlete burnout, respectively.ConclusionsOverall, the current study found that somatic anxiety and concentration disruption in competitive anxiety are related to athlete burnout. Moreover, competence and autonomy in need satisfaction mediated the relationship between competitive anxiety (worry and concentration disruption) and athlete burnout. The findings of this study not only shed further light on the relationship between competitive anxiety and athlete burnout but also provide theoretical insights into the mediating mechanisms of this relationship.

Empowering Through Sports: Breaking the Cycle of Adverse Childhood Experiences and Aggressive Behavior

ABSTRACT This study investigated the moderating role of sports participation types (no sport, individual sport, and team sport) on the association between adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and reactive and proactive aggression in 593 individuals (69.0% females) from the community. ACEs positively influenced both types of aggression, with a stronger effect on reactive aggression. Additionally, participating in team sports (versus no sports) weakened the ACE-proactive aggression link, while participation in individual sports (versus no sports) did not moderate the association between ACEs and both types of aggression. The findings suggest that team sports may provide a protective factor against certain aggression tendencies linked to ACEs, emphasizing the nuanced impact of sports involvement on psychological outcomes among individuals in the community.

Growth status and age at peak height velocity among youth participants in several sports: the Cracow longitudinal study

BackgroundStudies addressing age at peak height velocity (PHV) in longitudinal samples of participants in sports are relatively limited.PurposeTo compare the growth status and estimated ages at PHV of longitudinal samples girls and boys active in sport with peers not active in sport, and to compare estimated ages at PHV among longitudinal samples of Polish youth active in sport.MethodsRecords from the Cracow Longitudinal Study, which measured youth annually from 8 to 18 years, were screened to identify individuals regularly active in sport. Participants in athletics (22 girls, 10 boys), soccer (12 boys), and other team (6 girls, 7 boys) and individual (6 girls, 9 boys) sports were identified; 107 girls and 172 boys were not active in sport. Heights and weights of participants in sports and non-involved peers were compared. Longitudinal height records of individuals were fit with the SITAR model to estimate age at PHV. Ages at PHV of boys and girls active in sport and peers not active in sports were compared with sex-specific ANOVAs.ResultsAges at PHV of boys participating in athletics and soccer were similar to age at PHV of boys not active in sport, while ages at PHV of boys in other team sports (basketball, volleyball, handball) and individual sports (skiing, gymnastics, acrobatics) were, respectively, slightly earlier and later. Among girls, age at PHV of participants in team sports (basketball, netball) was earlier, while ages at PHV among participants in athletics and other individual sports (equestrian, acrobatics, shooting) were slightly later compared to non-athlete peers.ConclusionAges at PHV varied among participants in different sports and were consistent with estimates in other longitudinal samples of Polish youth athletes.

TRANSGENDER’S RIGHTS TO SPORT COMPETITIONS FOLLOWING THE NEW RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE INTERNATIONAL OLYMPIC COMMITTEE (2021)

The topic of human rights is taking on new relevant forms, especially when it comes to transgender rights. Their right to participate in sports has always been a subject of much debate. In November 2021 the International Olympic Committee adopted the new recommendations “Framework on Equity, Inclusion and Non-Discrimination on the Basis of Gender Identity and Intersex” on transgender people, which declared that each federation has to decide for itself when setting its own rules regarding the right of these people to participate in sports competitions. So, one thing is clear there is no common position on this issue. The article aims to reveal the practical aspects of such regulation regarding the possibilities and limitations of transgender participation in individual sports. The applied research methods are analysis of legal acts and other documents, review of articles and scientific literature, and qualitative comparative analysis. The research results showed that despite the principles specified in the Framework prohibiting discrimination, in practice these principles can be difficult to harmonize, especially if we speak about fair competition and equal opportunities.

Development and validation of a test instrument for the assessment of perceived basic motor competencies in first and second graders: the SEMOK-1-2 instrument.

Both actual motor competencies (AMC) and perceived motor competencies (PMC) play an important role in motor development research and children's physical and psychological development. PMC refer to children's perceptions of their motor competencies. To assess the PMC of first and second grade children (aged 6-9 years), the SEMOK-1-2 instrument was developed. The instrument is aligned to the validated MOBAK-1-2 instrument which assesses AMC in the competence areas "object movement" and "self-movement" Accounting for possible reading difficulties in younger children, the motor tasks and answer options were illustrated and explained verbally. The purpose of this study was to test and validate the SEMOK-1-2 instrument and investigate the associations between the constructs AMC, PMC and physical activity (PA), whereby PA was measured by the participation in team and individual sports. Data from N = 404 pupils in the German-speaking part of Switzerland from first and second grades (M = 7.8 years, SD = 0.69, 49% boys) were analyzed. Confirmatory factor analyses were conducted to test the factorial validity of the SEMOK-1-2 instrument. Structural equation models were used to investigate the association between the constructs. The analyses confirmed a two-factor structure with the factors PMC "object movement" and PMC "self-movement", corresponding to the factors existing in the MOBAK-1-2 instrument. Latent correlations between AMC factors and the corresponding PMC factors were r = 0.79 for "object movement" and r = 0.76 for "self-movement". Associations with external criteria and covariates, such as sex, were associated with both AMC and PMC. Analyses also revealed that children who participated more often in individual and team sports showed higher levels in both AMC and PMC. The confirmation of the two-factorial structure of the SEMOK-1-2 instrument and the associations between AMC and PMC as well as external criteria indicate construct and criterion validity. The SEMOK-1-2 instrument can be economically utilized for assessing PMC and is also suitable for the monitoring of PMC in the context of Physical Education.

Team and individual sport participation, school belonging, and gender differences in adolescent depression

In light of the growing concern for the mental well-being of adolescents, this study sought to investigate the impact of team and individual sports participation within the school setting on depressive symptoms and explore the mediating role of school belonging in the relationships between team and individual sports and depressive symptoms among adolescents. We also examined gender differences in the effects of the types of sports (i.e., team and individual sports) participation on depression. A series of full structural equation models were tested with data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (Add Health). Results suggest that joint team and individual sports participation had an indirect effect on reducing adolescents’ depressive symptoms through their sense of school belonging. Team sport participation was found to predict lower levels of depression both directly and indirectly through school belonging. When including all the gender variables and their interaction terms in the moderated mediation model, male students who played team sports had significantly lower scores of depression through school belonging, compared to students who played no-sports. Female students participating in individual sports reported lower levels of depression while male students participating in individual sports showed higher depression scores than males who did not participate in sports. Our findings provide important insights concerning the key role of team sport participation and school belonging in reducing the risk of depression and the types of sports and their separate effects on depression symptoms in male and female adolescents.

A08: Effects of Participation in Sports Clubs Activity on College Students’ Perceived Stress and Well-Being

Purpose: Mandated social distancing to prevent the spread of COVID-19 pandemic has brought more anxiety and stress to college students. The primary purpose of this study was to examine whether college students' participation in sports club activities can reduce anxiety and stress. The secondary purpose was to compare the effects of different types of sport clubs. Methods: The sample consisted of 242 college students (143 males; mean age=22.63 years old) in an academically prestigious university. They were voluntarily enrolled in either team sports clubs, such as volleyball, football, baseball, and softball, etc. (n=96), or individual sports clubs, such as squash, cycling, mountaineering, etc. (n=146). They responded to validated scales to assess perceived stress (Sheldon Cohen, 1983) and well-being (Diener &amp; Biswas-Diener, 2009). Self-compiled questionnaires on motivation to join sports clubs and basic information on club organization activities were collected. All surveys were conducted in October 2021. Results: A considerable proportion of students (34.7%) participated in sports clubs to reduce academic pressure. Most of them (72.26%) have already recognized the physical and mental health benefits of physical activity. Significant decreases were observed for perceived stress in both groups: team sports group (ΔM = -0.76, p &lt; 0.01), and individual sports group (ΔM= -0.77, p &lt; 0.01). A significant increase in well-being was observed in two types of courses led by the team sports group (ΔM=1.55, p &lt; 0.01) followed by the individual sports group (ΔM=1.34, p &lt; 0.01). Individual sports clubs have a more pronounced effect on reducing negative emotions than team sports clubs (ΔM = -2.01, p &lt; 0.05). Conclusion: Participation in both team sports clubs and individual sports clubs reduced perceived stress and increased well-being. Individual sports clubs had more decreases in negative emotions compared to team sports clubs.

Association Between Sports Participation and Psychosocial Wellbeing of Australian Children: An 8-year Longitudinal Study

PurposeSports participation is associated with children’s health and wellbeing; however, existing evidence is predominantly based on cross-sectional studies. This study examined the longitudinal association of sports participation with psychosocial wellbeing of Australian children. MethodsData were from five waves of the Longitudinal Study of Australian Children aged 6–7 years in 2010 (n = 4,242) and followed up until 2018. Outcomes were assessed using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire and the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory. Sports participation was measured using two items assessing regular participation in team and individual sports. ResultsMultilevel mixed effects modeling showed that any sports participation was beneficially associated with psychosocial wellbeing. Boys who participated in team sports had 1.78 point lower difficulties score (β = −1.78; 95% confidence interval: −-2.01,−1.55), while this was 0.58 points lower for individual sports (β =−0.58; −0.81,-0.34). In girls, difficulties score was 1.22 point lower for team sports (β = −1.22; −1.44,-1.00) and 0.49 point lower for individual sports (β = −0.49; −0.71,-0.26). Sports participation was positively associated with better quality of life with team sports (β = 4.72; 4.15,5.28 for boys; β = 3.44; 2.87,4.00 for girls) offering more benefits than individual sports (β = 1.00; 0.83,1.98 for boys; β = 1.40; 0.83,1.98 for girls). Participation in both team and individual sports had the strongest benefits. Prolonged engagement in sports was associated with better psychosocial wellbeing in a dose-dependent manner. DiscussionRegular participation in any sports can benefit children's wellbeing with team sports being more beneficial than individual sports. Encouraging children to regularly participate and remain engaged in sports can help to optimize their psychosocial wellbeing.

Do local expenditures on sports facilities affect sports participation?

AbstractThis paper contributes to the literature evaluating the performance of local governments by analyzing the effect of local public expenditures on sports facilities on sports participation in Germany. To this end, we use a new data base containing public expenditures at the municipality level and link this information with individual level data. We form locally weighted averages of expenditures based on geographic distances and analyze how effects of sports facility expenditures change with different expenditures levels (“dose‐response relationship”). We find no effect of sports facility expenditures on individual sports participation. These findings are robust across age groups and municipality sizes.

Beating trauma: Physical activity to promote resilience against substance use

BackgroundThe relationship between adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and frequent substance use (SU) is not well understood, impeding prevention efforts. MethodsWe assessed the relationship between ACEs and frequent SU and investigated if different modalities of physical activity (PA) moderate this pathway. The analysis included persons enrolled in the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health who responded to surveys at Waves I (11–20 years), III (18–27 years), and IV (24–33 years). The impacts of cumulative ACEs and PA modalities on daily cigarette smoking, daily cannabis use, and binge drinking ≥ 3 times a week in emerging and early adulthood were assessed through adjusted logistic regression models. ResultsAmong the sample (N=9451), 29.3%, 12.5%, and 7.8% experienced 1, 2, or 3 or more ACEs, respectively. With exception to binge drinking, cumulative ACEs (3+) were strongly associated with daily cannabis use in Wave III (aOR: 2.5; 95% CI: 1.6–3.6) and Wave IV (aOR: 2.1; 95% CI:1.3–3.3) and daily cigarette smoking in Wave III (aOR: 2.4; 95% CI: 1.9–3.0) and Wave IV (aOR: 2.3; 95% CI: 1.8–2.8). No PA modality moderated the ACEs to SU pathway; however, walking for exercise lowered the odds of current and prospective daily cannabis and cigarette use by 20–40%. Strength training, team sports, and individual sport participation were associated with 20–30% reduced risks of future daily cigarette use. ConclusionThe impacts of ACEs exposure on frequent SU persist into emerging and early adulthood. Future research should investigate the potential of PA to improve SU prevention strategies.

Comparison of physical activity and sports engagement between children with ADHD undergoing pharmacotherapy and healthy peers

Abstract: Background: Children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) often face problems in the engagement and adherence of health-promoting behaviors, such as physical activity and sports. Stimulant treatment is effective for managing core symptoms, but it remains unclear if this type of treatment also normalizes the engagement in health-promoting behavior. In this case-control study, we aim to compare physical activity and sports participation between children with ADHD and healthy peers. Motor skills and aerobic fitness are investigated as potential mediators of differences between groups. Methods: Children with ADHD were matched to healthy peers based on sex, age, and socioeconomic status. Participants ( N=120; age: 10.8±1.4) reported their physical activity and sports participation using a 7-day recall protocol. Their engagement in activities at moderate and vigorous intensity as well as participation in individual and team sports was derived from the protocol. Participants further completed the Movement Assessment Battery for Children-2 (MABC-2) and a submaximal test on a cycling ergometer (PWC170). Results: Children with ADHD showed lower vigorous physical activity and participation in individual sports than healthy peers. They also achieved lower scores on the MABC-2 and the PWC170. Based on path-analyses, low PWC170 partially mediated the ADHD-related fewer engagement in vigorous physical activity and individual sports. Conclusion: Children with ADHD undergoing stimulant treatment show less participation in vigorous physical activity and individual sports than healthy peers. Poor aerobic fitness partly contributes to the relation between ADHD and low physical activity.

Youth Team Sports Participation Associates With Reduced Dimensional Psychopathology Through Interaction With Biological Risk Factors

BackgroundPhysical activity is associated with mental health benefits in youth. Here, we used causal inference and triangulation with 2 levels of biology to substantiate relationships between sports participation and dimensional psychopathology in youths. MethodsBaseline data from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study, which recruited children from 9 to 10 years of age across the United States, were included in multilevel regression models to assess relationships between lifetime participation in team sports (TS), individual sports, and nonsports activities and Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) scores. We calculated polygenic risk scores for 8 psychiatric disorders to assess interactions with sports exposure on CBCL scores among European descendants. Following rigorous quality control, FreeSurfer-extracted brain magnetic resonance imaging structural data were examined for mediation of CBCL–activities relationships. ResultsAmong those with complete data (N = 10,411), causal estimates using inverse probability weighting associated lifetime TS exposure with a 1.05-point reduction in CBCL total (95% CI, −1.54 to −0.56, p < .0001) a relationship that was specific to TS and strengthened with more years of exposure. Associations of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder polygenic loading with CBCL total weakened in European children with TS exposure (n = 4041; beta = −0.93, SE = 0.38, p = .013). Furthermore, TS participation and lower CBCL each associated with increased subcortical volumes (n = 8197). Subcortical volume mediated 5.5% of TS effects on CBCL total. ConclusionsOur findings support prior associations of TS participation with lower psychopathology in youths through additional studies that demonstrate specificity, dose response, and coherence across 2 levels of biology. Longitudinal studies that further clarify causal relationships may justify interventional studies of TS for high-risk youth.

Trends and determinants of organised sports participation in immigrant and Australian children: A nine-year follow-up.

This study aimed to examine trends and determinants of organised sports participation among children of immigrant parents from low-and-middle-income countries, high-income countries, and Australian children. Longitudinal (nine-year follow-up). Data were from the birth-cohort of Australian Children aged 6-15 years with follow-up between 2010 and 2018. Organised sports participation was measured using two items about regular participation in team and individual sports. Multilevel logit modelling was used to assess the determinants of organised sports participation across groups. Both team sports participation and individual sports participation increased between 6 and 11 years and declined between 11 and 15 years across the three groups. Children of immigrant parents from low-and-middle-income countries (OR 0.65; 95 % CI 0.57-0.74) and high-income countries (OR 0.82; 95 % CI 0.76-0.89) had lower odds of team sports participation than Australian children. Children of immigrant parents from low-and-middle-income countries had lower odds of team sports participation (OR 0.79; 95 % CI 0.69-0.90) than children of immigrant parents from high-income countries. Female children, high screen time, high psychological difficulties, increased number of siblings and low socio-economic position were identified as determinants of lower team and individual sports participation. The present study identified evidence of disparities in organised sports participation among children of immigrant parents and Australian children. Multilevel and multicomponent interventions to promote children's organised sports participation should be prioritised, with a focus on children of the female sex, older children, children with lower socioeconomic status, and children with higher screen time and higher psychological difficulties.

Sport Participation for Academic Success: Evidence From the Longitudinal Study of Australian Children.

We aimed to identify long-term patterns of sport participation (overall, team, and individual sport) from childhood into adolescence, and to examine the association between these patterns and academic outcomes. This cohort study used data from the Longitudinal Study of Australian Children in wave 3 (4-5y) to wave 9 (20-21y). The participants were a nationally representative sample of 4241 children. We conducted latent class analyses to identify sport participation trajectories and assessed the association between these trajectories and academic outcomes. Continued sport participation was associated with lower odds of being absent from school (OR = 0.44; 95% confidence intervals [CIs], 0.26 to 0.74), better performance on attention (B = -0.010; 95% CIs, -0.019 to -0.002) and working memory (B = -0.013; 95% CIs, -0.023 to -0.003), higher numeracy (B = 20.21; 95% CIs, 14.56 to 25.86) and literacy scores (B = 9.42; 95% CIs, 2.82 to 16.02), higher end of school academic performance (B = 3.28; 95% CIs, 1.47 to 5.09), and higher odds of studying at university (OR = 1.78; 95% CIs, 1.32 to 2.40). Team sport participation was associated with reduced absenteeism, better performance on attention and working memory, and being awarded the Higher School Certificate. Whereas individual sport participation was associated with higher literacy scores and end of school academic performance. Team and individual sport participation both benefit academic outcomes, but differently. Given the decline in sport participation during adolescence, these findings highlight the need to develop educational policies to establish an environment that promotes sport participation, which in turn could improve academic outcomes.

Trajectories of team and individual sports participation in childhood and links with internalizing problems

AbstractThe purpose of this 5‐year longitudinal study is to identify trajectories of team and individual sports participation in childhood, and to compare these trajectories on different types of internalizing problems. Parents reported their children's annual sports participation from the ages of 6–10 (n = 785) and teachers reported internalizing problems (depression, anxiety, social withdrawal) at the beginning and at the end of this period. The study used latent class growth analyses to identify two trajectories of team sports and two trajectories of individual sports participation were identified: (1) high participation, and (2) low participation. Considering baseline level of internalizing problems and gender, children in the high participation team sports trajectory show significantly fewer depression, anxiety, and social withdrawal behaviors at age 10 than those in the low participation team sports trajectory. No differences between individual sports trajectories were observed. Comparison with joint trajectory groups partially confirmed these results but also showed that sustained participation in multiple individual sports could also be linked to decreased anxiety. Our findings suggest that participation in team sports should be encouraged to promote certain aspects of children's mental health.

Investigating levels and determinants of primary school children’s basic motor competencies in nine European countries

Basic motor competencies (BMC) belong to the key learning goals of Physical Education (PE) in primary school curricula in Europe. These competencies are necessary to participate in sports inside and outside of school. Children should therefore achieve age-adequate BMC in PE and any need for educational motor support should be identified at an early stage. Studies in German-speaking countries showed that various endogenous and exogenous factors are related to children’s BMC, but international studies are missing. In the present cross-sectional study, the two BMC areas object movement (OM) and self-movement (SM) as well as the associations with endogenous (age, sex, body mass index) and exogenous (participation in extracurricular sports) factors were investigated in 1721 8‑ to 10-year-old primary school children from nine European countries. Over 25% of the children showed need for educational motor support in OM and over 20% in SM. BMC levels differed significantly between the country-specific subsamples. In all subsamples, boys showed better performances in OM, while girls scored better in SM. Older children performed better in OM and SM than younger children. Higher body mass index predicted lower BMC scores in both competence areas. Participation in ball sports was positively associated with OM and SM, and individual sports participation was a significant predictor of SM. As exogenous and endogenous variables consistently predicted BMC in all subsamples, there must be other reasons for variation in BMC levels. Future studies should address country- and school-specific characteristics like content and amount of PE.

From athletes to entrepreneurs: Participation in youth sports as a precursor to future business endeavors

ABSTRACT Building upon athletes’ positive attributes recognized by the theory of deliberatepractice and research in sports psychology, this study examines the relationship between a person’s participation in competitive sports during formative years and the propensity for creating a new venture later in life. The analysis of the biographies of 2,084 American executives reveals that individuals who participated in competitive sports in their youth are more likely to become entrepreneurs. Our research indicates that participation in individual sports (such as tennis, running, and swimming), but not in team sports, drives the results. Moreover, being a star youth athlete further enhances the likelihood of entrepreneurial action. Thus, we contribute to research on personal characteristics in entrepreneurship by shedding light on the relevance and importance of an athletic background and qualities developed through sports to entrepreneurs. We discuss the practical policy implications of our findings.