IMPEDIMENT TO EFFECTIVE SPORTS PARTICIPATION AMONG STUDENTS ATHLETES OF A TERTIARY INSTITUTION

This research aimed to explore the impediments to effective sports participation among student-athletes at tertiary institutions. The study employed a descriptive survey design, focusing on a diverse population of student-athletes across five universities in Edo State, Nigeria. The research was guided by six main research questions, examining time management challenges, financial constraints, injury and health issues, the role of social support networks, the quality of coaching and training, academic pressures, and strategies for support by universities and sports administrators. Data were collected using a self-structured questionnaire distributed to a sample size of 200 student-athletes. The questionnaire was vetted for validity and reliability, ensuring comprehensive coverage of the various aspects of sports participation among student-athletes. Analysis of the data was
conducted using descriptive statistics, including mean and standard deviation.