Home News & Publications Research & publications Victorian participation in organised sport Our yearly snapshot of participation in organised community sports in Victoria. Neighbourhood & built systems 7 May 2015 Research and Publications Scroll down On This Page Sport participation in Victoria 2015-2022 TL:DR - the important bits Quick stats Recommendations More resources Previous research Sport participation in Victoria 2015-2022 TL:DR - the important bits Quick stats Recommendations More resources Previous research Body Spanning 8 years, this annual research project is a partnership between VicHealth, Sport and Recreation Victoria, Victoria University, Federation University, and 13 Victorian state sporting associations. You can access all the reports below. Previous research Body Sport participation in Victoria 2015-2022The 2022 research summary looks at how the organised sport participation has evolved over an 8-year period with a special focus on the impact of COVID-19 and the recovery of participation in sport.The research reveals data from 10 popular sports and compares participation rates across age, sex and region between 2015-2022.Sports surveyed:Australian rules footballBasketballCricketfootball (soccer)GymnasticsHockeyNetballSailingSwimmingTennis. Access full report Sport Participation Research Summary 2022 (pdf, 7.68 MB) Body TL:DR - the important bits2022 represents the highest year of overall participation in sport in Victoria, since the Sport Participation Research Project commenced in 2015.Participation in community sport rose by over 119,229 participants, after being significantly impacted by COVID-19 restrictions in 2020.The sport participation rate across all ages is higher for males than females.The research calls for a continued strategic focus on engaging, retaining and re-engaging women and girls in playing sport.Quick statsThe total participation numbers and participation rate (of the Victorian population) across the sports in 2022 were: 924,235/14.1% of total population.Sport participation is highest among children and adolescents 10–14 years (57%) and drops significantly during late adolescence (15-19 years, 32%).Sport participation rates (across all ages) are higher for males (19%) than females (10%) in Victoria.Sport participation rates are higher in regional Victoria (17%) compared to metropolitan Melbourne (13%).Metropolitan-growth areas have considerably lower sport participation rates (10%) compared to all other regions.RecommendationsCreating focused strategic policy development to retain and re-engage children and youth in sport.There is a need to focus on policy, investment, strategy, programs, and research for children and youth, and hear from them directly. Body More resourcesGetting more women active: Sign up as a This Girl Can Vic supporter to access resources to make your services safe and inclusiveDoing Sport Differently resources can help you in designing alternative ways to make sort engaging for everybodyPrevious research 2021 research Sport Participation Research Summary 2021 (pdf, 7.86 MB) 2020 research Sport Participation Research Summary 2020 (pdf, 6.11 MB) 2019 research Sport Participation Research Summary 2019 (pdf, 1.24 MB) Sport participation rates – Aggregation of 10 sports, Victoria 2019 (pdf, 2.13 MB) 2018 Research 2018 Sport Participation Research Summary Part 1 (pdf, 889.65 KB) 2018 Sport Participation Research Summary Part 2 (pdf, 300.29 KB) Sport participation rates: Victoria, 2018 (pdf, 1.36 MB) Sport participation retention summary report: Victoria, 2018 (pdf, 1.7 MB) 2017 research Sport participation in Victoria, 2017 Research summary (pdf, 7.79 MB) Sport participation rates: Victoria, 2017 (pdf, 645.19 KB) 2016 research Sport participation in Victoria, 2016 Research summary (pdf, 883.65 KB) Sport participation rates: Victoria, 2016 (pdf, 664.79 KB) 2015 research Sport participation in Victoria, 2015: Research summary (pdf, 474.91 KB) Age profiles of sports participants: Victoria 2015 (pdf, 572.08 KB) Sport participation rates: Victoria 2015 (pdf, 629.93 KB) VicHealth Physical Activity Research Practice Fellowship 2011-15 Victorian participation in organised sport: Research highlights (pdf, 443.18 KB) Victorian participation in organised sport: report (pdf, 2.14 MB) You might be interested in these Everything Topics All topics Commercial & economic systems Food systems Investments & partnerships Local government Neighbourhood & built systems Media Release Partner release Tips and ideas Medical research Update World Health Summit Vaping Roundtable Media release 3 min read 23 Apr 2024 E-cigarettes (vaping) , Tobacco prevention Media Release Misinformationitis: Leading experts and influencers tackle the impact of digital misinformation on our health Media release 4 min read 15 Apr 2024 Victorian tobacco retail licensing scheme commitment Media release 3 min read 28 Mar 2024 Tobacco prevention Partner release We must end vape menance Article 2 min read 22 Mar 2024 E-cigarettes (vaping) VicHealth welcomes proposed landmark e-cigarette legislation Media release 2 min read 21 Mar 2024 E-cigarettes (vaping) High inflation and implications for health Resources and downloads 1 min read 13 Mar 2024 New research reveals key insights to help tackle teen vaping Media release 5 min read 6 Mar 2024 E-cigarettes (vaping) Partner release Parents a secret weapon in tackling teen vaping, new research shows Media release 5 min read 22 Feb 2024 Influencing Gen Vape Summary Report Resources and downloads 2 min read 20 Feb 2024 Vaping conversation guide for parents Resources and downloads 14 min read 15 Feb 2024 E-cigarettes (vaping) Commercial & economic systems Why kids should be involved in lunch box prep Article 2 min read 15 Jan 2024 Be Healthy Audience General , Be Healthy Content Healthy Eating Food systems, Tips and ideas What young people are doing about vaping Article 8 min read 12 Jan 2024 E-cigarettes (vaping) Commercial & economic systems Victorian-first curriculum-aligned resources launched to help teachers and students learn about youth vaping harms Media release 4 min read 11 Jan 2024 Australia leads once again: VicHealth welcomes passing of globally groundbreaking tobacco legislation Media release 2 min read 6 Dec 2023 E-cigarettes (vaping) , Tobacco prevention Media Release Public health leaders praise moves to curb food industry’s misleading ‘no added sugar’ claims Media release 3 min read 4 Dec 2023 Healthy eating , Policy Partner release Future Healthy Countdown Research and publications 5 min read 28 Nov 2023 Jump to Share Share Share Sport participation in Victoria 2015-2022 TL:DR - the important bits Quick stats Recommendations More resources Previous research Discover Physical activity and sport Research Back