Differences in the Image of Sports due to Extracurricular Sports Experiences in High School: From Two Surveys Targeting University Freshmen

The image of sports is important because it is relevant to sports practice as adults. We examined the effects of adolescent extracurricular sports experience on university freshmen's image concerning sports. University freshmen in the Tokyo area (N=81, and N=79) participated in two retrospective surveys using different measures. In Study 1, we asked participants to list positive and negative aspects of sports, and in Study 2, we asked them to list three words associated with sports and evaluate the desirability of these words. Results indicated that playing sports has a positive overall image. Social function and personal growth were listed more often than physical health as positive aspects of sports. Students who experienced extracurricular sports listed other merits besides physical health resulting from their experience, suggesting that they gained different advantages. The physical burden was most often listed as a negative aspect of sports by students with and without extracurricular sports experiences. Moreover, over one-third of the participants responded "none" to the question about the image of sports, reflecting their positive attitude about sports. The analysis of words associated with sports also indicated the overall positive image of sports. Also, students with extracurricular sports experiences had more positive images of sports than students without such experiences. However, students who participated in sports club activities more often had a more negative image of sports than students with less frequent participation in club activities, suggesting that too many sports activities might reduce intrinsic motivation. These results are discussed from the perspective of club activity management.