The Relationship Between Sport Role Models and Youth Sport Participation in Oman: A Comparison of Local and Global Sport Role Models

Abstract

Sport researchers have conducted an extensive amount of research on the topic of youth sport participation (YSP). This study complements the ongoing discussions about the determinants of YSP. More specifically, this study focusses on a careful and critical examination about whether the success and behavior of local and global sport role models can influence and precipitate YSP. This includes determining how local and global sport role models can be utilized to improve sport participation among the youth in Oman.

To accomplish the goals of this investigation, quantitative and qualitative methods of inquiry were undertaken. One thousand and three hundred sixty-six youth between the ages of 12 and 24, from 11 provinces of Oman, were surveyed regarding whether they had a sport role model, and if they did, the gender, category (local or global, Omani or non-Omani), type and sporting background of that individual. Participants were asked about their connection with sport and whether sport role models affected their sport participation. They were also asked about ten behavioral aspects and whether these aspects influenced YSP. The descriptive statistics (frequency, mean, and percentage), an independent sample t-test, one-way ANOVA and a chi-squared analysis were conducted to analyze the data.

For the qualitative method, structured interview type questions were used to collect data from six sport experts in Oman. These experts proposed suggestions to utilize the SRMs as an essential factor in increasing the YSP among young people in Oman, especially in the future. The study adopted the general guidelines for the thematic coding analysis of qualitative data (Robson, 2011).

The quantitative results illustrated that the majority of participants (male and female) nominated a non-Omani global professional athlete (PA) as a sport role model. The study results also confirm that both local and global SRMs success and behaviors influence YSP. Young people were more likely to participate in their SRMs sports. The comparison between the local and global SRMs found that global SRMs have a greater influence on Omani youth to participate in their SRMs sports. Furthermore, the findings suggest that both local and global SRMs have no significant influence on Omani youth to participate in a new sport.

Regarding the examination about whether the behavior of local and global SRMs can influence and precipitate YSP, the quantitative results show significant differences between the means of academic achievement, work productivity, personal attributes, following the sports media, and attending sports events

the F ratio was significant (p < 0.05). There were no significant differences between local and global SRMs in sport performance, physical abilities, self- esteem and confidence, and appearance.

The qualitative data suggested that a variety of recommendations were proposed to activate the concept of the sports role model in Oman through the design of sports programs aimed at young people. This was based on their view of their SRMs, the national SRM program, cooperation between the local media and the sport governing bodies, an increase in the knowledge of SRMs and their relationship with youth through research, and to include the concept of SRMs and YSP in the curriculum.

Keywords: Sport Role Models (SRMs), Youth Sport Participation (YSP), Professional athletes' success and behavior, Local and Global Sport Role Models, Oman