Welcome fellow denizens of the Great White North!
Whilst Canadians are renowned for our prowess in many sports - curling, figure and speed skating, and of course, ringette, I thought we might begin at that sport which is core to all Canadians' beings: hockey!
The CSA is going to report here, probably at least weekly, on one aspect or another of Canadian sport. With the Olympics approaching, it's a great time to focus on Canada and our place in world sport.
We are also in the process of establishing a private virtual hockey league. More details to follow, but it will probably be on the
Senior League Hockey web site since these can be free leagues. If there is demand, I can get a private league established for us at
Sim League Hockey although this version does cost some money. Both are endorsed by the NHL so I know they're good.
Plese feel free to suggest other fun sport options for us all. Did you know:
Overall, 69% of Canadian youth participate in organized sport at least occasionally during the school year (excluding physical education classes in school).
38% participate at least once a week
12% participate regularly but less often than once a week
19% participate sometimes but not on a regular basis.
From 2002 to 2003, the number of Canadian youth who have reported participating in organized sport at least once a week has decreased.
In 2002, 44% of Canadian youth reported participating in organized sport at least once a week. This number decreased to 38% in 2003.
Weekly participation in organized sport is higher among:
youth in Quebec (47%) and British Columbia (41%)
males (41%) than among females (35%)
those aged 12 to 15 (43%) than those aged 16 to 21 (35%).
Thirty percent (30%) of Canadian youth say they rarely or never participate in organized sport during the school year.
The two leading reasons why respondents do not regularly participate in organized sport are:
they do not have the time (34%)
they are not interested (30%).
Only a small minority of respondents indicated that they do not regularly participate in organized sport because they are not good at sports (7%) or because of health/injury (5%).
The Benefits of Sport
A large majority of respondents indicated that playing sports has the following benefits:
improves their health (99%)
helps them make new friends (87%)
makes them feel better about themselves (85%).
A small majority of respondents indicated that playing sports helps them:
do better at school (58%)
be more active with their family (54%).
