Women in Intramurals and Club Sports at Marist College
1. Combines both sports interviewing and reporting backed by quantitative and qualitative research findings
A Capping Project that:
2. Is a project aimed to help improve the “business” side of intramural sports, that is, what can be learned from this study that will help the intramural department increase participation and improve the overall experience of female students
3. Promotes sports and Marist Athletics across the student body
Women in Intramurals and Club Sports at Marist College
Reasons Behind the ProjectIt has been reported that the level of women’s participation in intramural sports is decreasing, yet the the performance of American world class women athletes has never been more impressive as evidenced by the last Summer Olympics, and a recent NCAA news release reports that participation for both male and female student-athletes are at an all-time high.
It was the right time to see for myself what the state of affairs are at Marist College with regard to the level of participation by women in intramurals and club sports and how women keep physically fit.
Women in Intramurals and Club Sports at Marist College
Methodology
- Created a questionnaire to collect data and information
- Collected a total of of 100 in-person and online responses to the questionnaire - Videotaped several interviews to gain experience in sports interviewing and reporting - Created a spreadsheet to gather and analyze the data - Updated my blog regularly which included some videotaped interviews - Created a Table of demographic data of the respondents to the questionnaire - Prepared a final report/presentation for use for by Club and Intramurals at Marist - Created and had published a Marist Athletics Trivia Crossword Puzzle in The Circle to promote Marist Athletics. Winners won Marist Athletic hooded sweatshirts.
Women in Intramurals and Club Sports at Marist College
Background
I was struck by some statistics that I came across:
- Men participate at a 70% level in intramurals while only 30% of women are involved
- At some colleges the difference is as high as 90% for men versus 10% for women
That the level of involvement among women at Marist College is higher than what was reported in other colleges
Assumption
- Marist College reports 4,536 undergraduates – 58% of which are female = 2,630
- 11 club teams and 1,600 students participating in intramurals (www.Marist.edu/about)
- “About 65% of the student population participates with our numbers increasing each of the last three years.” (www.Marist.edu/athletics website) (# would be 2,948 undergrads)
Women in Intramurals and Club Sports at Marist College
Limitations and Extrapolation
There is no way to get an accurate number on the actual number of female participants or the percentage of female undergraduates that participate in intramurals and club sports at Marist College*
From my survey sample, I can extrapolate the percentage of women who are participating in intramurals and club sports at Marist
*Kristy Nix, Coordinator of Club Sports & Intramurals, says, “As far as the number of women who participate, we do not have a way to calculate the number. There is a new system in place now that can keep track of the number of people who participate.” (Email exchange on Sept. 17, 2012)
Women in Intramurals and Club Sports at Marist College
Explanation of Groups
Groups 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 refers to the group that each participant is placed in:
Group 1 - participated in high school sports only Group 2 - participates in sports at Marist but did not participate in high school sports Group 3 - participated in high school sports AND in sports at Marist Group 4 - only uses the McCann Center for wellness and to stay physically fitGroup 5 - no sports and does not workoutGroup 6 - varsity athletes
Table 1 – Demographic Data (click on Table 1 in the Appendix)
Women in Intramurals and Club Sports at Marist College
PercentageGroup 1 – 46 Group 2 – 9Group 3 – 21* Group 4 – 14Group 5 – 1Group 6 – 9
Percentage of
Respondentsby Group
Percentage*Group 3 has 30 but 9 have to be backed out since they are varsity athletes
Group 1
Group 2
Group 3
Group 4
Group 5
Group 6
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50
Women in Intramurals and Club Sports at Marist College
Quantitative Results
30% of woman participate in intramurals or club sports at Marist College
39% are involved in sports overall, including varsity teams
21% participated in high school and do so in college- 9% joined a team or decided to play sports since entering Marist College
By extrapolating the data, approximately 789 undergraduate females play intramurals and/or club sports at Marist*
An astonishing 99% of women responded that they workout and/or use the McCann Center facilities
46% of women who were involved in sports in high school do not participate in college
*Based on this number, it would mean that 2,159 men would have to participate in intramurals and/or club sports if 65% of the student population participates
Women in Intramurals and Club Sports at Marist College
Reasons Why Women are Involved inIntramurals or Club Sports*
*Respondents were able to give more than one reason
1914
23
15
1
Physical
ly Fit
Compete
Socia
l Reaso
ns
Priorit
y Points
Emotional Release
05
10152025
Qualitative Results
Women in Intramurals and Club Sports at Marist College
Reasons Why Women do not Participate in Sports at Marist College*
*Respondents were able to give more than one answer. Not everyone gave a reason why.
Do not like sports/not an athlete
Lost interest after high school
Lazy
Don't have the time/takes too much time
Focus on music, academics
Too competitive
Not good enough to play
Friends are not involved
Can't play DI/no interest in intra-murals
33
6
6
51315
3
33
3
3
6
6
1
1
5
5
Women in Intramurals and Club Sports at Marist College
Qualitative Results
For the question, “What is missing for you…..,” there were some very interesting comments:
- “There needs to be better facilities/more room/more machines.”
- “There needs to be better advertising, promotion and awareness and make it easier to sign up.”
- “It is too competitive.”
- “It needs to be better organized/more detailed information on sports offered.”
- “My friends don’t play so neither do I.”
- “ Time.”
- “I feel if I did not play as a freshman it is now too late.”
Women in Intramurals and Club Sports at Marist College
What is missing for you that you don’t participate?*
*Respondents were able to give more than one answer. Not everyone gave a reason why.
Better FacilitiesBetter AdvertisingMore OrganizationToo CompetitiveFriendsTimePost-FreshmanQuit after 1 yearLateness
1217
9
342
1
1
1
# of Comments
Women in Intramurals and Club Sports at Marist College
Asked what sports are missing that if there you might think about playing? Screen Shot from Intramurals SiteAnswers: (and number of times)
•Club volleyball (3)•Wrestling•Shuffleboard•Kickboxing (2)•Club swim team (3)•Gymnastics•Intramural track•Tumbling•Golf
•Intramural tennis
•Martial Arts•Field hockey•Club lacrosse•Club soccer•Intramural lacrosse (2)•Softball•Intramural swimming
The screen shot is there to show that golf, lacrosse, running, and tennis exist – so the question is, “How effective is the communication and information and how is that information and the sport being made available to female students?”
Women in Intramurals and Club Sports at Marist College
Summary - Based on my research findings, the level of participation by women in intramurals and club sports at Marist College is exactly the same percentage as the number reported in the article I read – 30%. My assumption was incorrect since I thought the number would be higher.
-The #1 reason why females participate is Social Reasons followed by to Stay Physically Fit
- The #1 reason women do not participate at Marist College is due to lack of Time
Women in Intramurals and Club Sports at Marist College
Summary
- What is missing? Intramurals clearly needs better advertising and awareness in terms of when/where the sports are played, how to sign up, where to sign up, etc. My early research highlighted the need for a better, more comprehensive intramurals website, hosted by Marist, that is easy to find and use, i.e., register, schedule of games, locations, etc.
- An overwhelming majority of women at Marist workout to stay healthy and physically fit, but there is a concern about the facilities and lack of machines to use
Women in Intramurals and Club Sports at Marist College
A Few Wise and Practical Statements / Takeaways “I play intramural sports at Marist because it is fun, allows you to meet new people, and if taken seriously, allows you to stay fit.”
“There should be an all-girls soccer intramurals league. Many girls are intimidated playing against boys.”
“For a female, if you want to play intramurals, it is there, but you have to find it yourself. It is not going to present itself to you.”
Women in Intramurals and Club Sports at Marist College
Recommendation Report