Varför slutar respektive fortsätter ungdomar tävlingssegla? : En studie av Åländska Segelsällskapets optimistjolleseglare

Sammanfattning: Aim The general aim with the study was to investigate what the reasons for quitting and/or continuing with a sport are, using competitive sailing as an example. Methods The used method was partly a survey investigation of 20 people and partly deep interviews with 8 of the persons who responded to the survey investigation. The respondents in the investigated group are all former active sailors within the Aland Island Yacht Club. Half of the group have continued sailing actively since the optimist class and the other half have quit competitive sailing. In the survey 15 men and 5 women participated and in the deep interviews 4 men and 4 women participated. The survey covered a great age span. The respondents were between 14 and 44 years of age in order to avoid that all of the competitors would have been active during the same period of time and management. Results According to the survey and the interviews, most of the sailors quit sailing due to lack of time and commitment. Another reason were other interests, which were prioritized higher, and that the own interest of sailing was diminishing. Another crucial factor was the last year in the optimist dinghy class (the year you turn 15). If this final year was characterized by setbacks, often due to the fact that many are too tall or too heavy for the class, the motivation to continue in another class was easily lost. The sailors that continued sailing claimed that the reason was that their friends also sailed. Both the groups enjoyed the trainings, competitions and the atmosphere at the club and also friends and the summer camp (Rodhamns camp). Criticized was the lack of training events for others than beginners in the optimist class and the non-existent trainings in other classes than the optimist class. Conclusions The conclusions drawn in the study are that many factors play a vital role why young people continue or quit with competitive sailing in their young years. The most important factors are the following: - The active sailors do as their friends do. Either they continue or they quit. - Other interests, lack of time and a diminishing interest for sailing, were some of the reasons for quitting. - Setbacks during the final year in the optimist dinghy class were important reasons for quitting. - Several sailors quit because there was no organized activity to continue with after the optimist class. A coach who would support the trainee in the following class and a two man boat was also something that the respondents requested. - Many considered it to be important to have organized trainings for sailors competing in the optimist class, even though the lack of these trainings opportunities not had been a crucial factor when deciding to quit.