From Sidelines to Comebacks: How Youth Sports Transformed Before and After the Pandemic

Abstract

The study examines the impact of COVID-19 on youth sports participation and whether these changes could correspond to personal change, perceived support, or demographic information. Moreover, participants under the age of 15-24 were selected from schools, colleges, and other community-based organizations on the bases of stratified sampling i.e.500. The before-and-after pandemic effect of youth sports (cricket and football) participation was compared through Mixed- Design ANOVA. The findings reveal that the COVID-19 pandemic caused huge disruptions and negatively influenced sports activities and participation rates. The demographic analysis revealed that lower socioeconomic status groups had the largest losses. From this aspect, there is no doubt that such status groups are highly vulnerable to external situations. In addition, regression analysis showed that Impact of Pandemic significantly and negatively related to youth sports participation. While personal development and perceived support is positive and significantly associated to youth sports participation. Thus, the present research highlights the importance of planning for future outcomes and impacts of an ongoing pandemic with regard to contemplation of enhancing subjective well-being of young persons through sporting exercise.